I worried that Hayla might feel betrayed, and I hoped that she might just not care all that much, given her personality. But she seemed genuinely happy instead. The way she beamed at us, you might’ve almost thought that she was just waiting for something like this to happen.

“I guess you’re not mad...” I said in confusion.

“You thought I’d be mad?” Hayla asked, equally confused.

“Well, not necessarily, but the thought crossed my mind.”

Even when pondering on it, I couldn’t quite think of a reason she would be happy about this. The answer I was looking for came from the fourth person in the room, who had mostly just listened so far.

“She’s happy that her new family is growing,” Berla said. When I looked at her, she was staring at the ceiling in exasperation, annoyed by her cousin. Suddenly, she addressed the expectant mother though. “Aelene.”

Prying her piercing gaze off her main source of ire at the moment, she turned around to glance at Berla. Close to tears, angry, confused—between us, this was clearly most difficult for her.

“What?” she asked.

Berla walked over to her to put a hand on her shoulder, at which point all anger seemed to fade away.

“I’m very sorry,” Berla said to her.

Aelene bit her lip as she began to sob lightly, and when Berla hugged her, the dam broke and she began crying without constraints, grabbing Berla tightly. It was clearly the right move, but showing others compassion and consoling them was so far outside my wheelhouse that it almost seemed alien to me. At least I felt bad about my emotional handicap though. Peering at Hayla, she appeared entirely unconcerned.

That was me in my teenage years...

Aelene was still sniffling when she let go of Berla a minute later, having calmed down a little. I waited a moment longer, until Aelene sat back down, before I carefully asked Hayla and Berla a question.

“Growing the family?”

“Yes,” Berla responded. “My family is constantly concerned about the next generation. She chose you for your power. If you produce children that become powerful as well, it strengthens the family. She doesn’t care who the mother is.”

Hayla seemed perplexed. “Isn’t that obvious?” she asked.

It makes sense if your goal is to build a dynasty I suppose. But is she thinking that far ahead?

“Obvious? No. Sensible? Though one. Rational? I guess,” I said.

She smirked. “I’ll take rational. So, will it be like you?” she asked hopefully.

If she had big plans for the future, more awakened humans would certainly be helpful to ensure the power and prosperity of this “family.” Thinking about her question brought forth the answer from somewhere deep inside my mind, somehow still pulling new information out of thin air.

“It’s possible,” I said. “However, it’s—”

“Wait, what!?” Aelene interrupted. “It’s going to be like us? No... No way! Tom— Lil— Whoever you are! You need to do something about this!”

She was scared, not having had a great time since she awakened. And the information about the moderators I shared with them recently certainly couldn’t have helped either.

“Aelene... We can’t do anything about it. But what I was going to say is that it won’t be exactly the same. Being born with it, the mana would be a natural part of the baby. It would never feel any discomfort by it.”

“But these beasts would still target it!” she yelled at me.

“Think about it... Is that so different from how it was before?” I said, attempting to rationalize it. “Weren’t beasts always a threat to anyone?”

She put one foot forth in anger. “Not these ones!”

Got me on that...

“You’re right...” I admitted. “Listen, I’m not Tomar, but if you let me, I’ll be there. Be it to protect you two or whatever else you’d like my help with. I don’t want you to feel like you’re suddenly alone with this, regardless of the circumstances.”

Aelene scrutinized me and the others with reddened eyes. They then shifted back and forth as she seemed to remember something. “Miles...” she said quietly. “Is that you? That wasn’t a nickname for Lilana, was it?”

“Yea,” I said sadly.

I was surprised that anyone believed that lie in the first place, but I figured this might serve as another indicator for me telling the truth in this situation.

“You want to take care of me... of us... Why would you do that?” she asked.

A simple question, but for some reason I didn’t have a simple answer. Surprised by this, I had to actually think about it for a moment.

Why? Hm... For Tomar? That’s certainly a large part of it, but...

I felt responsible. No matter where we’d go from here, one way or another, all of this started with me. I didn’t mean for people to die, for beasts to target this town, or for innocents like Aelene to suffer. But that’s still what happened. And if I was the one who created this world, I felt even more at fault. Especially because I could vividly picture myself designing this world like a video game, with little regard to the very real people who would live here.

Will she accept my help if I state this as the reason though?

Aelene would’ve preferred to not be involved in any of the craziness that surrounded us or the scripts. If I wanted her to let me support her, I couldn’t risk her waving me off because she didn’t like my reasoning.

Let’s go with the other major reason then.

“Because of Tomar,” I said finally. “I liked him and I owe him a lot. I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself for not doing everything I can for his child and its mother. I can only hope that you will accept my offer.”

She hung her head as her eyes darted around, seemingly attempting to organize her thoughts. She briefly glanced at Hayla and Berla, but she was quiet, until she suddenly shot up and went for the door.

“I need to get out of here,” she said.

“Uh, okay,” I said, trying to get something out before she disappeared. “Please consider it.”

She stopped at the door, the handle in hand. “I... will,” she said before exiting the room, leaving the rest of us behind.

I let my shoulders hang with a sigh. This conversation had gone much smoother than it could have otherwise, though I wasn’t entirely happy with the outcome.

Just like everything else right now... Nothing is terrible, but nothing is great either.

“So, what about you two?” Hayla asked the moment the room grew quiet. “Are you expecting as well, cousin?”

“I’m not...” Berla said, irritated.

“But you two have a relationship. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? All of Tomar’s—or Miles’— woman in one place,” she giggled. “I assume you thought I’d be mad about this as well and were going to tell me the truth about it.”

Berla was about to shoot something back when I stepped in. “Are you fucking serious!?” Hayla was noticeably taken aback by my sudden mood shift. “This was a difficult conversation for others, you acting like it’s a joke is disrespectful at best! And what was that with Aelene just now!? It’s perfectly fine to not feel empathy, but you need to at least act the part!”

I was surprised over my own reaction, but the yelling did help with my pent up emotions. Seeing Hayla’s retracting neck and her sinking into the chair uncomfortably made me feel bad, however.

“I’m sorry...” she said.

“No... That was...” I took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for it to come out like that.”

I understood her. If I had been in her shoes, I might not have cared either. And at her age I also wouldn’t have shown much compassion. Gathering even the modicum of it I had now had been a process. I was also all too familiar with others not understanding this, and how unfair it could feel. She was starting to feel comfortable around us, and as a result, she put on less of an act. It was good that she was trusting us, but I wanted her to be more aware of it.

“I know you didn’t mean anything by it. But you understood that Aelene was agitated. And you could guess that I wasn’t ready to laugh about all this in this situation. Your ‘royal self’ is less cozy, but you understand why we need to control ourselves at times, don’t you?”

She nodded, still sank together, but with a curious glint in her eyes.

It had almost certainly been drilled into her that she needed to act the part if she were to become queen. That’s how she always carried herself, right until she felt like it wasn’t necessary anymore.

“Alright. I’m happy that you feel like you can act naturally around us, just be mindful about it.”

When I gave her a light smile, she relaxed as well and said, “I’ll do my best.”

“But yea, you were right... Berla and I are in a relationship. That’s okay for you then?”

“It doesn’t matter who you’re involved with, I will make it work,” she said, straightening her posture. “You’re my fiance, nothing changes that.”

“I suppose it doesn’t,” I said, thinking, Though I haven’t given up hope of finding a way yet. “Well... That was everything I wanted to address. Unless one of you has anything else.”

“I’m good,” Hayla said.

Berla shook her head.

“I should really get back to work then,” I said, and walked in the door’s direction. Expecting Berla to come with me, back to the garden, I was surprised to see her fixing her gaze on Hayla. “Is everything okay?” I asked.

“Yeah, go ahead. I’ll come in a minute.”

Unsure what this was about, I did as asked and left the office, a little curious, a little jaded, but mostly relieved that none of this blew up in my face.

Maybe this is an uptrend?

***

Berla waited a moment for Miles to leave the office and the hallway in front of it behind him before she spoke up, still watching Hayla closely.

“Now that it’s out... You do care, don’t you?” she said.

“I do,” Hayla responded curtly.

“You like him.”

“More and more by the day.”

“I assume you didn’t initially though... Or the contract would’ve reacted retroactively. You didn’t care, and gave your implicit consent.”

“You know how it is... Feelings developing somewhere down the line can be bothersome. But I will make it work, no matter what. And I’m also not planning to take this lying down.”

“Didn’t think so... Don’t get your hopes up. I’m not planning to share him.”

“We’ll see where we land, won’t we?” Hayla said.

Berla knew her cousin to be someone who did what’s necessary to get what she wants, but she wasn’t truly concerned about the competition. Maybe her boyfriend was tangled up in this irritating contract, but that didn’t have to mean anything. Even if he never managed to get rid of it, and even though it came with certain responsibilities, he was with Berla, and he wouldn’t easily be seduced by the likes of Hayla. Of that she was certain.

Berla turned around, saying, “Just forget about it,” as she moved to follow Miles. Though her confidence wavered slightly when she glanced back at her cousin one last time and saw a sneer on her lips, just before she closed the door.