Syverine came back from Broadmoor Hospital, where she visited and spoke to her mother, probably for the last time. Making her way back to the embassy, she spotted a little boy at the courtyard sitting underneath a big oak tree. There were also water fountains and man-made ponds with drawbridges surrounding the courtyard.

Syverine walked into the courtyard and saw a familiar face. Someone who is sitting under an oak tree, sorting out strands of silk yarn with his hands.

Distinctively enough, it was now her newly found rival in everyday clothing, and since Mordechai is the only angel-winged boy with a mixture of royal blue and royal purple feathers, she didn’t have to wonder who it was. Although she wanted to walk off that argument that she had with her mother, she couldn’t help to bring herself what Revan’s successor was up to.

In reality, Mordechai just minded his own business. Simply winding down from a long day of meetings. He was amazed at everyone’s kindness and acceptance as Revan’s successor. Though he was a tad bit worried that his true identity might end up in jeopardy if anybody else finds out.

Yet, it was somewhat of a blessing to have most key figures know who he is and what he’ll become in the future. Maybe they just realized that what he accepted is a considerable burden for such a young age, like Mordechai’s, for him to take on so soon. Eventually, the world needed a constant reminder, and he fitted the bill perfectly.

Even though he knew it was getting kind of late, Mordechai wanted to make sure that at least he got one part of his project done. Holding the stitching up to the park light, eyeballing every strand to see if it’s sturdy enough. Unbeknownst to him, he will have a visitor.

“So, how is the thread count?” A young woman with a low, sweet and compelling voice asked. Luckily, he’d recognized the voice as he looked at him and see a smiling Syverine holding a brown parchment bag.

Mordechai kindly replied, “the thread count is 800. It took me a while to find the right kind of yarn for the project.”

I can’t believe I let this little turtledove got the best of me, Syverine snickered at the thought that he is very determined on this project. Not the same drive and determination she had a glimpse of weeks ago, but it was just the same. To her, it shows how genuinely self-disciplined and dedicated Mordechai is at everything.

As Syverine decided to sit down next to Mordechai, this makes him a bit nervous. Fortunately for Mordechai, Syverine knew that. During the events of the holy firebombing in London, they were a lot of shocking revelations on both sides. Not as much shocking on the side of Syverine’s. At least Mordechai has a loving family to go home to.

Syverine always felt bitter about her lineage and her upbringing. She loathed everything about herself before, during, and after the events in London. She was going through a downward spiral, finishing her father’s work.

No one was in a position to stop her from creating mass genocide to their xenophobic oppressors by lifting the launch codes from London’s military mainframe until Mordechai showed up. Even when meeting him for the first time, Syverine didn’t think much of him, being at least 137 centimeters tall and only weighing about 39 kilograms.

Boy, did Mordechai prove her and everyone wrong?

Not only he was physically stronger then Syverine, but he was more resilient and nimbler of dangerous situations then Syverine ever was. Admitting defeat, Syverine would’ve gone to jail under citizen’s arrest. However, Mordechai chose not to, knowing she wasn’t in the right state of mind and needed rehabilitation.

Instead, in a bizarre twist of fate, her own mother Maria confessed to the crime. Still to this day, it bothered Mordechai since Maria never really showed any affection or love to her own daughter, Syverine. To him, this was probably her penance for being a bad mother.

As for Syverine and Mordechai, there was no hatred between them. Mordechai deeply cared about Syverine and didn’t want to follow into her father’s twisted revenge. Then there was a silence between them, but it wasn’t a painful silence.

This silence was justifiable and understandable. She wanted to at least talk to him to see what he has been up to, so she pulled out the pumpkin log from her brown parchment bag. She took a piece of the pumpkin roll that she wanted to share with her mother and savored the delicious morsel.

While Mordechai was knitting, he couldn’t really look away from the weird confectionary item. This was really new to him. Yes, he saw things like this before, but he usually disciplined himself eating sugary pastries in moderation by maintaining a healthy diet.

Seeing this, Syverine knew that he definitely hooked him in as she offered him a cutoff piece. He gingerly obliged and took one of the pieces of the parchment paper. He took the smell of the sweet yet spicy aroma of the pumpkin roll and took a bite. Chewing and tasting the pastry, Syverine saw his eyes lit up as he finished off the rest of the pastry.

This made Syverine giggle, “I had the same reaction when I had something like this when I was younger. If you’re interested, there is a bakery around here about three blocks east from the University.”

“If I eat stuff like pumpkin logs every day, I’ll end up getting big,” Mordechai commented.

“Well, that will be a shame since nobody around here would call you Little Morrie anymore,” Syverine teased.

Poor Mordechai, even though he doesn’t really have a problem with warmongers and dealing with terroristic threats around the world, he couldn’t help feeling rather inferior to them. I mean, yes, most of them are women who are extremely good-looking and well-built.

He was much smaller than the average fourteen-year-old boy. To make matters worse, Syverine being the same age as Mordechai, she could pass being in her early twenties. He knew he had a lot of growing to do, and it’s kind of frustrating to him.

Steadfastly, Mordechai tried to defend himself, “I’m not that small. I’m about 50 kilos.” Overinflating about his weight.

Sadly, Syverine didn’t buy it, “I wouldn’t worry about it. You’re fine the way you are.” Syverine commented as it made Mordechai somewhat better. “So, what are you working on?”

“Well, I’m working on a silk scarf,” Mordechai announced as this intrigued Syverine.

“Oh, a scarf!”

“Yes, it’s for my friend Chloe,” Mordechai added. “I heard her last one was burnt, so I figured I would make her a new one as a gift.”

Syverine pretty much about what happened to Chloe and her family being burned alive on that day. However, she wasn’t going to stop doing what is not only right but necessary, “What kind of colors are going to use?”

“I plan on using her favorite color, which is yellow or blue, to match her eye color.” Mordechai contemplated.

“What, no, emblems?” Syverine rebutted.

“I guess I could make something up,” Mordechai agreed.

Then, there was silence again. Even though there is acceptance between them, Mordechai decided to change the subject.

“I have seen you were on your way to talk to your -- I mean, mother the Holy Mother an hour ago. I’m sorry… How is she feeling?” Mordechai asks.

At this point, she’s not really surprised at Mordechai and his empathy. To her, it was quite comforting, “We had… something… it wasn’t an argument or a conversation… it was something… let’s just say, this was brewing for a very long time.”

This saddened Mordechai, knowing he is the cause of all this, “Syverine, I’m sorry…”

“It’s okay, Morrie. You have nothing to be sorry about.” Syverine reassured as she rested her arm around Mordechai’s shoulders, pulling him in for a hug.

It kind of freaked out Mordechai a little bit while he was heavily blushing. Many people within the Royal Nephalem Order pointed out how strange Syverine’s emotional involvement with Mordechai. Many people claim that she wanted to keep him on a short leash while others genuinely believe that she wanted to sincerely understand him.

The fact that these two are getting along so well is a miracle all in itself, and no one wants to either spoil a good thing. And as long as someone like Syverine is preoccupied with friendship and happiness, that’s a plus.

Syverine lets out a depressing sigh, “I received a letter from the royals today. I didn’t bother reading it. I guess you can say… I saw this one coming for a very long time. Before I met you, I… I was just so hardened. I pretty much pushed everybody away. Everything that I have dealt with over the years, I… I desperately shoved everything in a small little box in a locked it all away. I became numb. Being strong, both physical and emotional, was my only goal. ‘The Game’ my father and I called it. We did everything we could to achieve our goals. A lot of unsavory things, I can admit to that. Now our common goal is pretty much over, and I have nothing to show for it. I only have myself to blame for that.”

Mordechai listened to her new set of problems and tries to come up with a simple solution, “I don’t think so. I mean, you have so much to live for. It’s what my own teacher says to me all the time when we are gardening together, ‘sometimes it starts with the roots and what you put in is what you get out of it.’”

Syverine raises her head and looked at him face-to-face, “I understand your teacher’s words, but whatever do you mean?”

“You have already told me that you have been a practitioner of Daemonic Swordsmanship pretty much all your life. How did you ever become so good at it?” Mordechai asks.

“By studying and training. You have to study the nether to at least make the technique work.” Syverine answers as Mordechai nods.

“You get out what you put in. Like anything in life, Syverine. Whether that’s gardening or magic.”

The true answer hit Syverine like a ton of bricks. The truth was right in front of her face the entire time, “You mean I should study being… a monarch?”

“I think you should study more about people, in general, on how others think and feel,” Mordechai clarified. “Since you really don’t have a grudge against anyone, and you have a parent who is well versed in the aether. It is not always about might and power, but the connections you make with others. I just think it’s the obvious choice of action for you.”

Syverine nods, “After everything has happened, will they ever accept someone like me?”

Mordechai stuck out his hand and held hers, “Syverine, if most of these Daemon Monarchs and Daemon Knights can accept me for who I am and what I am, then, of course. I mean… the worst thing they can do is excommunication, and I don’t think they will.”

Syverine giggles a little bit as she decides to tease him, “it’s either that or all of the Daemon Princesses find you adorkable.”

This embarrasses Mordechai, “W-well, they’re the ones asking about me! I-I thought you would never… want to talk to me ever again…”

This puts a smile on Syverine’s face as she loves how he has taken responsibility and his genuine sincerity. Growing up to being not only a great warrior but as a great man.

Feeling brave, Syverine cups Mordechai’s chin as leans towards him for a kiss. Of course, this surprised him. But after the mild shock went away, he liked it. To Mordechai, feeling her warm lips on his were soft and gentle. This was his and Syverine’s first kiss and it felt so natural.

And so did Syverine, resting her forehead on his, “Mordechai, of all the men in my life, you’re pretty much the only one who’s ever treated me with any kind of respect.”

Still rattled by the kiss, Mordechai looked up at her in confusion, “I don’t know if that’s good or bad, considering…”

“Confusing, yes. But at least I'm sincere,” Syverine added as she playfully poked Mordechai’s nose.

It was getting dark out, and both of them had to get back inside. Mordechai had to get up early in the morning to take another slew of final exams for engineering while Syverine has to check in with Revan and the Royal Nephalem Order.

When Syverine tried to get back up on her feet, she started to feel a bit dizzy from the stress. Luckily for her, Mordechai caught her. Syverine, who is in Mordechai’s arms, never felt so comfortable and so safe which was a far cry from weeks ago. But even then, he always treated Syverine gently and took care of her in those dark moments.

Bringing her back to the argument she had with her mother, she began to cry as Mordechai sees this, “It will get better between you three. Everything will get better in time. I won’t give up if you won’t. Deal?”

Syverine didn’t say a word, but she nodded in agreement. As they both left the courtyard together, someone else is watching them from afar. That person him or herself well-hidden and out of sight. Disgusted, the observer decided to leave the cozy teenagers alone, walking away from the scene.