Jackal Among Snakes

Epilogue 4.1: Family Reunion

A tall, black-haired man with a white eyepatch over his right eye stared out across the ocean. The eyepatch had a peculiarly round ruby embedded on the front, giving the faintest illusion of an eye in the socket. His good eye was gray as slate. The sapphire-blue waters of the shore washed at his feet, while a faint smile played about his lips.

“Vincent!”

Vincent turned his head toward the voice. There, Sophia of Vasquer waved at him as she ran carefreely. She had grown to be a vivacious woman, with bright red eyes, cheeks full of color, and a touch of innocence that hadn’t faded even after ninety-seven years. Seeing her, Vincent’s smile only widened. He walked up to greet her, giving her a hug.

“Missed you,” Vincent said.

Sophia pulled away and looked up at him. “You always say that.”

“It’s always true.” Vincent patted the top of her head. “Did the trip go okay? Anybody give you trouble?”

“Would that you would show such concern for our other siblings,” Sophia said dryly. “I’m fine. I always am. But enough about me—what do you think mom and dad have planned? Their invitation was a little ominous. ‘The world will change forevermore.’ They don’t tend to exaggerate.” Sophia began to walk away from the shore, back toward the estate.

Vincent inhaled, following Sophia calmly. “Perhaps they’re abdicating to you.”

“Pfft.” Sophia scoffed. “What would be the point? All they have to do these days is a bunch of ceremonies on one day, twice a year. Even if it was true, hardly world-changing.”

“Hmm.” Vincent looked around, spotting distant grand orchards and beautiful gardens in the approach to the of-yet out of sight mansion. “Perhaps they have another child on the way.”

Sophia inhaled through her teeth. “Could you imagine? Can they still, even? Mom’s an elf, and they have Raven… anything is possible.” She almost looked excited at the prospect, but further thinking ensured reality hit. “Still… it’s been a long, long while. Not sure they’d break discipline now. They don’t really know how to stop being disciplined.”

“Then I’m out of guesses.” Vincent shrugged.

“Really? You don’t know?” Sophia sounded genuinely surprised. “It always seems like you know everything.”

“I just loaf around all day. Why do you have such a high opinion of me?” Vincent asked.

“Do you remember when you were just a little baby, newly born?” Sophia looked at him.

his

with your brain. But then I came, remember? And you cried, came alive, grabbed my finger with your little itty-bitty fingers… it was such a happy day. Mom and dad

hands in his pockets. “You’re telling me I

I could just tell, even then, that you were smart. A genius. You knew everything that was going on, you just didn’t want to feed. You needed a little push.” Sophia grabbed his arm. “So, stop lying to me, you little gremlin, and tell me why our parents called us

at Sophia. “It’s not a bad thing, Soph. Don’t worry

I tell your wife about

“I’ll give you a little hint, but that’s all you’re getting. You’ve got a big mouth, and you can’t lie if your life depended on it, so that’s all

“That’ll do,” Sophia conceded.

decided to be a little selfish for once—to do what they want, instead

toward the family estate. Its black roof entered into view, and soon enough its white walls. Goldrest was an elegant, four-story estate split into three sections by three islands bridged by serene walkways. Built entirely of stone

on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the

of white-haired and black-haired children who hungered early, drawn here by the smell of cooking meats. The children that had learned the lesson of delayed gratification waited under a pavilion with Elenore, who gently combed the hair of a red-haired child while she

son, Castro, oversaw some teenagers as they ‘sparred’ with simple F-rank spells. The majority of the other adults were chatting away at the white tables spread out throughout

Vincent’s arm, pulling him away from his thoughts. “Hannelore’s found an audience. We should spare

where Hannelore sat in a secluded corner of the garden, easily recognizable from her untamed white hair. A few of the children

come on. Just think about it.” The sixth princess Hannelore tapped her temple while her gray eyes darted about passionately. “Every time you cast a water or ice spell, there’s more water in the world. Not only that, it sticks around. Water’s gotta go somewhere, right, kids?

think

have to go. Just remember this. Fellhorn was misunderstood.

Sophia tactfully explained to the children that Hannelore was a little overeager about those theories of hers. When Hannelore walked away, Vincent looked out to the rest of the family. In a nearby table, he spotted his wife, Christine. When

rejoined Vincent. “I never could’ve imagined this when I was young. This wasn’t what a family was, to me.” Even as

Vincent with a slow nod. “A little dementia never hurt anyone.

“Don’t be

watching in silence as one of his nephews chased around one of his nieces with

the good times will go on forever?” Sophia asked. “I mean… they can’t, can

always be happy, at least. Our parents have built something that’ll always give us the opportunity for

liberally when another person on another continent suffers because of the choices our parents made? Can we stop and rest

Yeah, maybe. Everyone can. If every living person spent every second of theirs helping everyone, we could solve every problem in the world at once. So