The girl sitting across from them stopped and looked closely at the painfully thin girl. She had sensed a trap in the seemingly innocuous question. Zara was wearing a set of clean, extremely worn clothes. The hem of her shirt was limp and frayed, the color washed out. Her pants had been inexpertly patched several times in the past, though they fit her well. They weren’t hand-me-downs and instead must have been bought especially for her.

She took that information in before moving on to the girl’s cute, but rather gaunt face. There were the barest hints of healthy fat appearing under the skin. Her hair had begun to regain its luster and was carefully organized into a pair of adorable buns.

It was only then that Tessa began to put everything together inside her mind. The small signs of health returning to a formerly malnourished person.

“I was thinking your age was ten, max, likely younger.” She answered honestly. “Now that I look closer, though, I realize that is not the case. How old are you?”

“I’m twelve, almost thirteen.”

Tessa had no response to that, and the uncomfortable silence returned.

The silence was broken by Zara for the second time, as the car slowed. “I believe she shall be known as Aisha. It fits her.”

Zack covered his mouth, hiding the smirk. “Agreed, I think it will match her even better soon.”

Tessa was confused and unable to understand the hidden meaning in their words. Luckily for her, the car had stopped without them realizing it. With a click of the door opening, they could see the chauffeur Ben patiently waiting for them to exit.

Beyond him, a large, lush garden abutted the side of an even larger mansion.

“Come, my mother is undoubtedly already waiting for us inside.” Tessa gracefully accepted the waiting hand and exited the vehicle first.

“What about Aisha? I can’t carry her and Zelda?”

“If you don’t mind? I can bring her inside and store her in the room you will be staying in during your time here.” It was the first time they had heard Ben speak, and the deep cultured voice shocked them both.

Zara slowly nodded. “I would appreciate that. Thank you.” She smiled at him and hopped out with Zelda held close to her chest like armor.

A moment later, Zack followed her, George in hand. A ball of anxious uncertainty was growing rapidly in the pit of his stomach as he glanced behind them. He had no idea where they were, or even where the city was. There was nothing but trees in every direction but the one the house and garden occupied.

There was nowhere for them to escape to if this meeting went wrong. He shook his head and adjusted his thinking. Not everyone was out to hurt them. Besides, knowing Tessa’s mother, a woman who had the ear of the king, was not a bad thing.

The short walk up the path to the front door passed in a flash that was both short and long at the same time. Each step had been filled with a sense of dread that warped both siblings’ perception of time.

“Why do you both look like you are going to be ill?” Tessa asked them as they walked into the foyer of her family’s mansion. An impressive set of stairs leading up to the second floor were set further in. On the main floor, he could see several closed doors and the hint of a hallway hidden behind the stairs leading further in. Above their heads was a chandelier constructed entirely of mana crystals, in an opulent display of unbridled wealth. Any doubts they had pertaining to how rich Tessa’s family was fled with that single item.

Zack glanced around the open space, and after noting that Ben was the only person there, decided to tell her the truth. “How should we be feeling, then? We, as powerless orphans, have just walked into the home of people in power. People who, if they wanted to, could do anything they wanted with us without worrying about the consequences.” He shook his head, and following an instinct looked up the stairs to a hanging tapestry of her family crest. “I was already used once by your schemes, and I have trust issues.”

Tessa looked confused at his change in speaking at the end, and angry at what his words implied.

“Your senses are sharp,” A female voice drifted out from behind the tapestry.

Tessa’s head snapped up. “What are you doing up there, mother?”

An elegant woman with hair that matched her daughters, walked out from behind the hanging piece of embroidery. She was wearing a green dress, with slits down the side for ease of mobility. She was easily one of the most beautiful women that Zack had ever seen, despite the cross-shaped scar on her cheek.

“I wanted to see how they would react to our home and being here.” Her eyes drifted over first Zack and then Zara, who was hiding behind him. “A simple test to see what kind of people they are. If they were arrogant, wastrels with no ability, then I would have kicked them out without a second thought. If, however, they reacted like the cautious and… damaged people that they were reported to be. Then I would have at least given them a chance.”

“And?” Tessa prompted her at the slightest pause.

“He noticed me. Do you even need to ask? Of course, they have passed.” Her gaze focused on Zack, then with the barest upturn of her lips, she spoke again. “You have already gone through the portal, again.” It was a statement, not a question.

Tessa whirled around. “How? Even I’m not allowed to go through early!”

“What gave it away?” He asked, deciding there was no point in maintaining the charade any longer.

She merely smiled and didn’t answer. Instead, changing the subject. “Would you like to see your room first or talk with me?” She observed her daughter’s reaction. “Alone. I believe you and Zara have some things you would like clarified.”

Zara nodded, her expression shifting to a glare as she overcame her fear of the woman.

“That would be for the best.” Zack kept his arm around his sister, preventing her from possibly doing anything. “Clear the air, and all that.”

“Indeed.” She drawled. “Tessa, go get your father from his lab in the basement. Let him know that we will be dining with guests in a short while.” Tessa hesitated. “Now, Testarosa dear! You can chat with them more later.”

They waited for her to leave before doing anything more.

“So, how did you know that I had gone through the portal early?” The siblings carefully made their way up the stairs, subconsciously looking for signs of a trap.

“There is no need to be so cautious and on guard here. As you said earlier, if I wished you harm there is hardly a need to hide it.” The woman quickly grew exasperated with their slow, meticulous pace.

“Maybe, but that is also what someone who wanted us to let down our guards would say.” Zack returned. Despite his words, he found himself relaxing regardless. Their cautious actions had more to do with ingrained habit than a belief she meant them any immediate harm.

Speeding up, they followed her off the second-floor landing and down a short hallway to the side. There was only one door in its short length at the very end. It was a thick, solid wood affair. The varnish on it had been worn away by countless hands over the years, creating divots along its surface in places. It was something that someone could only find in the homes of families that had existed for a very long time.

Tessa’s mother pushed the door open on well-oiled and silent hinges. Her fingers making their way naturally into the deeper impressions on the wood. She held it open for them and ushered the siblings into a brightly lit study.

A desk made of the same heavy wood as the door occupied the space at one end. At the other end were a set of chairs and a single couch around a small table in front of an empty fireplace. Bookshelves, every single one full to bursting, took up the entire wall across from the door.

“This is a rather imposing room.” Zack cleared his throat and spoke as the duo naturally headed for the couch.

“Good, it is meant to be. This is the office I use to meet with the occasional official, and the few other people of import who know of me.” She pointed to the vague outline of a door near the desk. “My actual office is off to the side there. This one is used mostly for the impression it gives. I rarely do any actual work in this room.”

Grabbing the edges of her dress, she sat down carefully across from them.

“Why did you have to hurt my brother?” Zara burst out, unable to contain the anger-filled question any longer. “Why can’t you people just leave us alone? Why do you all keep targeting us? There are millions of other people out there you can use!”

The tirade continued to spew forth for a minute. It only stopped when Zara ran out of breath, her face pale, and beads of sweat spreading across her forehead. Her current weakened body wouldn’t let her continue for any longer than that.

“That is true. There are millions of other people out there that I could have possibly used against the Albrights. None of them would have created quite as explosive a reaction from Dorn, however. That boy is the family’s weak link and has more arrogance in his body than he does in brains. To put it simply, I used you because of the stir your acceptance into the academy and record-breaking test result caused. It made you a prime target.” Mrs. Ricerca entwined her fingers and leaned forward in the chair. “I want you to know that none of this had anything to do with your background. If, and I do mean if I had known of those events, I would have used someone else.”