Death, Devotion, Dissonance

It didn't take long for Evin to understand what was happening. Lora agreed to go to the North with Ssatsko, but Theor was against it. Evin didn't know where Ssatsko and Sasha was, but that didn't seem very important. Perhaps the old man was taking the girl for a walk, so the couples could talk privately.

Evin didn't want to bother them, but he knew he was the cause of all this so he had to say something. 

"Hello, Theor," Evin greeted, hoping he sounded friendly enough.

"You!" Theor snarled. "What did you bring upon my family?!"

<Stay calm if you want to convince him,> Endra reminded. <Remember my talk about conversations?> 

Evin remembered, and he knew that shouting back at Theor was meaningless. Evin looked at Lora, who was meekly standing in front of Theor, not even bothering to reply. The sight angered Evin a bit, but he calmed himself the best he could and replied.

"Yes, yes, I know it's all my fault and I'm sorry," Evin bowed. 

"You think you'll be forgiven with an apology? Do you know what you're putting my family though?"

"I'll explain everything as best as I can, but can you tell me what Ssattsko told you?"

"He told us we might get attacked again, and that it had something to do with you."

"I see," Evin sighed. "I'm really sorry for what's happening to you. I just didn't expect that asshole to target you guys just to get back at me."

"You know who's behind all this?" Theor asked. 

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"Yes," Evin lied.

"Then why can't you do anything about it?"

"Well, the problem is, there's no proof he's behind this… and even if there was something, I can't do much with it," Evin sighed again. "We're against the Acting Count of Greater Ankelite, after all."

"What?"

Both Theor and Lora's face changed considerably. For them, someone like that sounded much too distant and much too powerful to imagine as enemies. Evin used to think that as well, but after spending some time with these high and mighty nobles, he stopped thinking of them as something above the skies. King Seth's letters also served a purpose in shattering his unbending adoration of king Roland.

"Again, I'm sorry… I'm irreconcilable enemies with Decatur Carew, who happens to study in the same Academy as me. I was under the impression that we agreed to not bother with each other again, but I suppose he had different ideas. And even then, I didn't think he'd stoop so low to attack my fa… my mother's family like this."

"What among the Empress's sins did you do to him in the first place?"

Evin had to chuckle at that. "Honestly, I don't know. We had a spell-casting competition one day and turned out I was better than him. Since then, he's been butting heads with me and eventually, our little rivalry turned ugly. He got convinced that everything wrong in his life was somehow my fault."

"… I still can't leave my house like this," Theor was stubborn.

"Theor, I know you wouldn't want to leave behind something you worked so hard on… but it's not like you're going to leave forever. You can stay in the North for a while and come back after I've dealt with Decatur.

"You might think I'm speaking nonsense, but rest assured, I have a plan to deal with him. It might take a while, but I'll definitely succeed," Evin said. "Before that, enjoy your time in the North. Think of it as an extended holiday! I'll make sure to keep your house here unoccupied and untouched."

Theor looked back at him, still unconvinced. Evin was getting a bit annoyed, having to convince a grown man to bend to the circumstances, but he had to keep calm. If he couldn't do that. He had to keep up fake smile at the very least. 

'Even if I hate Theor, I don't want mother to be separated from her husband…'

<Sigh, Endra?> 

<Mm?>

<Can you show Lora and illusion of me convincing Theor in some other way?> Evin asked.

<Mmhmm…> Endra sounded amused. <But are you sure you want that?>

<Probably not, but I'll still have to do it, aren't I?>

<I guess that's the simplest way,> Endra sighed and got to work. 

When Evin was sure his mother was seeing an illusion, he walked up to Theor and asked. "Are you sure you won't change your mind?"

"No. If you have to leave, leave. I won't hold Lora and Sasha with me, but I will not go with them."

Evin frowned and grabbed Theor by the hand. Before the man could understand what was happening, Evin pulled him down and kneed him in the guts. 

"Guhaah!" Theor spat out. He crawled away on all fours, his limbs moving frantically. Evin did not wish to prolong this, so he walked over to kick Theor onto his back. 

"Stay- Stay the fuck away from me!" Theor struggled. "Lora! Lora! Why are you just standing there!?"

"She can't hear you, I'm afraid," Evin sighed and made Theor heavier, before he could struggle again. 

"Gah!" 

"I'm really sorry for doing this to you, but I don't want my mother to go to the North without you," Evin said. "Please, obediently pack up your things and go with us. Like I said, the world won't end because you'll be gone for half a year. I'll have killed Decatur by then, and I'll bring you back home. You can do whatever you want after that."

"You two-faced fucking monster."

Evin kicked Theor in the guts. "No, I'm afraid I'm just a mage. Our glorious country raises us to be ruthless and a little lacking in morals, you see. They teach us to dominate others using pain and fear, and if we can't do that, to simply accept being dominated by others… And I… decided to be the dominator. I turned out a pretty good one if I do say so myself. Perhaps I got it from my father."

"I-"

Evin heeled Theor's palm. "Sigh, I'd have cut off a few fingers or toes to drill in my point, but I'll let you off easy, considering my mother. Curse me all you want but leave her out of this… Now that I think about it, I'm still curious on why she looked so despondent when I first met her. Was that you? Well, no matter. You'll do nothing to hurt my mother again." 

"Sto-"

Another kick. "And don't bother playing the brave hero. If I can beat you up while making Lora see a completely different scene now, I can certainly make you act the part during the whole trip. Sure, it would be a pain, but I'll be sure to thoroughly take out the frustration on you when we get some alone time. Perhaps I'll still get to dismember you finger by finger then."

"Please!"

Evin put his feet to Theor's throat, gradually increasing the pressure. "Of course, you won't get such treatments if you simply act as if nothing's wrong. Easy, no?"

Theor nodded rapidly under Evin's feet, tears in his eyes. Evin smiled, pulled up his feet and helped Theor up. 

"There, there," he said, rubbing the man's back as the latter struggled to calm himself. It took quite a bit of time. 

"That wasn't so hard now, was it? Do you think you can act normally in front of Lora now, or should I create an illusion for you?" 

Theor looked at Evin with a mix of fear and disgust, but he had stopped breathing so roughly. 

"I-I'll do it myself."

"Is that so? Well, the illusions Lora's seeing is almost wrapping up. Look how her face brightens to have you come with us?" Evin said. "I'm sure you want to make her happy too, so let's cooperate on that."

Theor nodded and Endra merged reality and illusion together. 

"I'm so glad you're coming with us!" Lora hugged Theor. "You'll enjoy the North, I promise you alright?"

Theor seemed shocked by the sudden hug, but did not shy away from it. "Sure… honey."

"Are you okay?" Lora asked, perhaps noticing something amiss.

Evin sent Theor a professional smile.

"Everything's fine, love… Let's pack up."

Evin was glad Theor didn't make a scene. Endra was ready to interfere just in case, but it would've been best if Theor did so himself. Illusions weren't perfect, and Evin couldn't possibly keep up an illusion for so long anyway.

<Wasn't your acting a bit too overkill there?> Endra asked. 

<You're the one who told me to act psycho when torturing someone.>

<What, when did I say that?> Endra laughed. <My bad then, I guess.>

Evin decided to hide the fact he was enjoying the process. 

…