Master Illusionist

[Eyami]

When Hikaru bursted out something about how Eyami's treatment of him made him braver, Eyami just continued staring at him. He didn't buy such an excuse for a second. "Braver?" Eyami questioned in a flat tone, staring straight at his cowering brother. "Yet you've been cowering in fear since you first looked at me."

After finishing everything he had to say, Eyami simply stared at Hikaru. After a while, he noticed a hint of moisture building in Hikaru's eyes. Eyami's eyes widened slightly as he noticed Hikaru's body actually beginning to glow a bit. Eyami was surprised that a simple speech was enough to make Hikaru happy. He continued to watch his younger brother as Hikaru wiped at his eyes and apparently began to laugh.

When Hikaru finally lowered his arm, it was evident that he seemed to be both laughing and crying. Eyami found the sight to be a bit confusing, wondering for a moment if it meant Hikaru was happy or sad. The sound of Hikaru's voice, breaking and hushed, concerned Eyami even more. He continued to stare at his brother as he seemed to be trying to pull himself together.

Eyami's eyes widened slightly again as Hikaru finished speaking, saying that he loves him. That genuinely surprised Eyami, after all he had put Hikaru through in the past. He supposed it was just a testament to Hikaru's gentle and kind nature. After a moment, the muscles in Eyami's face seemed to relax and he closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened his eyes again, they were staring directly at Hikaru again.

"Thank you, Hikaru," Eyami spoke in his usual flat tone. "You've always had a good heart. I'm sorry I didn't respect that sooner."

[Sy]

"....." As much as Sy wanted to speak, he was rendered silent by the sight of his lady seeming like she's absolutely about to explode. He ended up just staring at her and her silent anger, realizing that there is nothing he could do except to wait for her to notice it herself that she's smoking again. He himself glanced at the brothers, mentally noting that Muri likes the white one but completely detests the red one. "Hm..." Despite his preoccupied mind, Sy unconsciously fulfills his duty as a former butler by filling up Muri's emptying cup of coffee with more coffee. His eyes are on the brothers the whole time, yet the coffee did not spill a drop.

Glancing towards Muri again, he found her already taking a hold of herself. "Excuse me for prying, but how many siblings do you have?" He couldn't quite recall her saying exactly how many, but it sounded like a lot from the bits and pieces she whimsically decided to reveal to him. It would be wise to learn about her family if he were to serve her well.

[Hikaru]

For a short moment, Hikaru wondered what exactly that made his brother so concerned of how Hikaru feels for him. The light around him faded at the thought, that perhaps he had done something wrong that warrants the worry of his brother. The smile on his face drops a bit, but his tearful eyes maintained its light. He's the essence of light, it's not in his trait to wallow in something that brings him down for long.

"N-no! Um! Thank YOU, nii-san, for...talking to me about it! Thank you for talking to me at all, actually!" The redhead had to admit, it was kind of weird for someone, especially his brother, to apologize to him. To Hikaru, whatever anyone does to him, he takes it like a lesson of life or the sort, and that he'll get better at handling it, eventually. Nevertheless, he has to admit, casually talking to Eyami like this makes him excited. There's another brother he could talk to! There's so much he wanted to say! "Oh, oh! Nii-san, nii-san! Look!" The redhead excitedly brings up his arm and pulls the sleeve of his shirt up his shoulders. "I have biceps now! Look at it..! You and Zeph-nii-san always work so hard to keep us safe, so I'm trying my best too!"

He did work hard. While Hikaru is primarily a healer, his weapon still is a sword, so he sees it as his responsibility as well to engage in a fight if the situation calls for it. "You can rely on me now! So you don't have to take everything on your shoulders, I'll help too!" The sincerity on his tone could only be matched by his extremely bright smile.

[Muri]

In spite of her anger, Muri did notice that her coffee was being refilled. She was glad Sy was competent, though she didn't say anything as she slowly and angrily finished her slice of cake. When her cake was done, she focused only on her coffee, closing her eyes and breathing deeply through her nose as she smelled and tasted the bitter hot coffee, trying to let it soothe her.

Muri gracefully placed her cup down on the table as Sy questioned her about her siblings. She released a somewhat heavy breath and looked up at him, meeting his eyes. "Five", she replied in a flat tone, appearing to be bored of the question, though also wanting to distract herself. "Three brothers, two sisters." She raised her cup again, closed her eyes, and took another much needed sip of coffee, still trying to ease her temper down.

[Eyami]

Eyami was taken aback for a moment when Hikaru started to thank him instead, even for simply talking to him. He stared at his little brother, almost in awe of his cheerful attitude. His expression softened as he looked at Hikaru, grateful at the feeling that he wasn't still hurt or upset over the past anymore.

Eyami looked where Hikaru excitedly directed him, to Hikaru's now more muscular arms. He remembered how small and scrawny his little brother used to be and was impressed by how much he's grown. There was almost the slightest trace of a smile on Eyami's face as Hikaru declared he's now reliable also. "You certainly seem to have grown a lot, Hikaru. I'm proud of you."

Eyami suddenly noticed he was beginning to feel just a little bit tired, though it wasn't obvious by looking at him. He chalked it up to the anxiety and relief he felt towards finally being able to apologize to his younger brother.

[Sy]

"Huh." Sy simply released a breath once Muri answered his question of how many siblings she has. He had a lot to say to that but by the state that his lady is in, he wondered for a moment if he should keep quiet and let her be in her silent anger.

And then he remembered he could care less.

"As an only child, I could not relate. I don't envy you, though." He pops a piece of cake in his mouth right after he said so. Having so many people around would tire him out, he suppose. He's fine serving only one person, he would do less mistakes that way. Sy slowly gazes towards her two brothers now, noting how one of them is glowing for some reason. Sy cocks his head to the side at that strange sight, before darting his attention back to Muri.

"Are you all... strange, for the lack of better term?" He had to ponder how he stands now with this new information. How he will act around them, how he will treat them, how he will communicate with them. "More importantly..." His tone of voice has a worried note now. "I... do not do well around individuals who can see into my mind. I am hoping none of your siblings are of the sort..?"

[Hikaru]

There is a sparkle around Hikaru's wide eyes at his older brother's words of affirmation, and the redhead had to break eye contact with Eyami just to make sense of what he's currently feeling right now. His eyes feel hot, something warm and fluffy is bursting inside of him, and he's unsure whether he's having a panic attack or it's simple overwhelming happiness.

"Sorry... sorry.." He whispered a few apologies at his inability to continue the conversation, but even those words got choked up. Hikaru has his eyes down, seeing his opened palms on his thighs through blurred tears. He's not very smart, he's having trouble processing things. Perhaps Eyami saying something he'd only wish to hear for so long has broken something in him.

Hikaru finally looks up to his brother after a moment, the tears welling in his eyes streams down rapidly the moment his face tilted up to face Eyami. "Uhg... I... can't.. st-op crying.. S-sorry, for bein'.. weird.." Now even his nose is clogging. He really looks exactly like how he was when he was younger, crying and full of snot.

[Muri]

Listening to Sy's comment as she lowered her cup of coffee after taking another sip, Muri opened her eyes to look at Sy. She then looked down at her coffee, briefly recalling how she chose this family. Her eyebrows knit in annoyance as she thought of how she'd tried and failed so many times to keep them together as such.

When Sy continued to speak, Muri looked back up at him, her eyebrows still partially knit in annoyance at her previous thought. She raised one eyebrow, curious of his use of the word strange. "If by strange you mean we all have abilities, like yourself, then yes." She emphasized that if Sy considered abilities to be strange, then he was too.

Her expression dropped to a more neutral mild irritation as Sy continued. After staring at Sy for a moment with that expression, assuming he meant telepaths, Muri finally spoke in a straight tone. "The oldest. Although I haven't yet determined exactly how much control he has over it." She reached down to pick up her coffee, looking at it now instead of Sy. "It's not that hard to guard your mind against it with a little discipline." Her eyes flicked back up to Sy as she lifted her coffee and took another sip.

[Eyami]

Eyami stared at Hikaru as he suddenly looked away. His eyebrows furrowed slightly at Hikaru's choked apologies. Eyami wasn't sure what sort of reaction he was expecting from Hikaru, but he certainly wasn't expecting him to start crying over what Eyami assumed were kind words. He couldn't imagine that his words might be the reason Hikaru began to cry. Eyami stared at Hikaru with concern, unsure what to do or how to help.

When Hikaru finally looked back up at him, Eyami tensed for a moment in concern over the full sight of his younger brother in tears. He couldn't understand why Hikaru was suddenly crying or how to get him to calm down. His stomach felt knotted, disturbed by the sight of Hikaru crying as though he'd just done something cruel to him again.

[Sy]

Sy has popped a piece of cake in his mouth and is thoroughly chewing it when Muri answered his question regarding that they all, including him, are strange. He only nods lightly at her response. "Mm. Good." He said, unclear if it was about Muri's comment or the taste of the cake after he swallowed it. "It really does have excellent ganache." With that added comment, Sy cuts another piece from that same cake and consumes it with added appreciation.

Though, he has long finished the cake once Muri enlightened him that there indeed is a telepath among their familial ranks. Sy's eyebrows visibly creased at this information, expressing his distaste with a scowl. The scowl curled deeper when Muri commented that it's not difficult to guard his own mind. "I deeply prefer the privacy of my thoughts, and the idea that someone can read it is extremely uncomfortable for me." He states clearly, a new flavor of venom lacing his voice.

He has no memory of this, but his experience with Saiya and Anthony prior to his meeting with Muri gave him a small advantage against telepaths. Before her memory was erased, Saiya's final gift to him was a thin layer of veil that protects his thoughts, eternally. It is not too strong that telepaths can never read his thoughts at all, it more so serves like a curtain that blocks the view initially, but will be opened if a telepath reaches out and pulls the curtain aside. The veil will fall back and obscure his thoughts indefinitely if the telepath simply looks at him, like a blurry mist.

"Before your oldest brother comes here, I prefer to be out of his sight. Wouldn't want to accidentally behead him." He intends to say it as a morbid joke, but the poison in his voice had made his delivery sounded like a threat instead. "I will wait outside." He's already standing up, fully intent to leave, but stood ready for Muri to give her permission to. "If you let me."

[Muri]

Muri stared at Sy as he explained how telepaths make him uncomfortable. She also tended to despise being easily read by certain people, which is one of many reasons she tends to have so many defenses in the first place. "A telepath can only read what's left unguarded." She stated, matter-of-factly, knowing more than most on the topic. "My mind is virtually impenetrable." Her stare almost held a sort of challenge in her eyes, as if demanding him to want to meet her level of skill.

Hearing him say how he'd prefer to leave, a more dissatisfied look flickered across her eyes. She shifted slightly, almost sitting taller as he "joked" about beheading her brother. "I forbid you from attacking any of my siblings." She spoke in an almost casual sounding tone, as if it were a simple conversation that bored her. As though it was just something she wanted to throw into the air, for a sense of security if nothing else.

Muri followed his movements with her eyes as he stood, preparing to leave. She held an expression that she was clearly disappointed with his request. She then turned her head away from him, crossing her leg over the other pointing away from him and crossing her hands across her lap. "Fine. You may wait for me outside." She remained in that position, expressing disatisfaction with her entire posture.

[Sy]

Sy violently fought the urge to roll his eyes at Muri's comment of her own mind being impenetrable. 'Of course everything is about you,' he replies in his thoughts. Still, knowing that it's possible to combat such an awkward ability such as telepathy by guarding against it instead of straight up decimating the person themself is a new concept to the butler.

Once he had made his intention clear to simply leave the establishment before he assaults someone in a moment of silent uncontrollable rage, Sy awaits Muri's permission, albeit seeming a little bit impatient. She forbids him from attacking her kin, and he gave her a vague look that seems to be a mix of 'I wish I can' and 'God help them if I can't'.

Finally receiving Muri's permission to leave, Sy nods curtly before making his way out of his seat rather quickly. At this point, he does not care if she's dissatisfied with his choice to leave if he can avoid the bigger problem of him unconsciously beheading her brother in blind rage, especially after she had specifically commanded him from attacking any of her siblings. He simply cannot be unruly after only a few days of being enslaved employed.

As Sy makes his way to the exit, having to pass by the cash register counter, a man in a white double-breasted chef jacket walks out of it. The butler moves lithely around him, not wanting to be in the way of such a large person, especially with how urgent his steps seem to be.

Making his way out of the cafe, Sylvester inhales in the familiar Evnae air and immediately smiles at the memories filling his thoughts. He likes Evnae, he was raised here for half of his life, after all. Sy makes his way to the side of the glass doors, right agaist the window where the cafe's name was painted on and leans comfortably against it. His position makes it visible for anyone inside the cafe to see his backside, and for him to check on things inside from a safe distance, if need be.

Remembering his other parent, he takes out his cellphone and began informing his father of his arrival in Evnae. Surely, he would have to visit him once his duties settles here.

[Zephel]

At finally finishing the required amount of pastry batches safe enough for him to take an early and extended break, Zephel discards his apron (neatly) on his workspace before storming out of the kitchen in a blur of white and silver. He had only met 3 new siblings only a few days before, and was not able to get much sleep since the youngest went missing suddenly.

As the eldest, he maintained a rather controlled sort of calmness and assured the rest of his siblings that he will find Muri. Behind closed doors however, he called Hikaru in panic --controlled panic, he assures himself-- to help look for their missing sister.

He had taken it upon himself to search on his dragon when he has free time, but work and accommodating his siblings took priority. The only reason he's not completely losing his mind is due to the fact that Hikaru successfully ensured him that Muri is definitely fine on her own and will return. By how he had seen her masterfully manipulated the air particles before, Zeph is keen on believing him. She is more than she lets on.

One of the waiters informed him that there's a crying customer up front, and Zeph immediately knows Hikaru has arrived. It's spring. That boy has allergies. For a kid who works with plants but have pollen allergies is too funny, Zeph couldn't help but remember. Which is why he went to the first aid box near the counter behind the cash register to grab a blister pack of antihistamine tablets.

He can see Eyami is there and he went straight to their table, completely missing to notice Muri at the corner of the area. Upon arriving, he drops the medicine on the table with a smack. "Dry swallow it, you're a big boy." He looks over at Hikaru, expecting no complaints. It didn't even occur to him that Hikaru is crying for other reasons.

[Hikaru]

Hikaru visibly jumps in his seat once someone threw something flat on the table and looks up in alarm, only to find a familiar face looking down on him in subdued concern. The redhead grins and opens both of his palms up in a joking-begging posture, "Tissue, pease.."

His clogged nose makes him unable to speak properly and mispronounced his words, but he's the youngest brother, he's allowed to mess up and cry. It was then that Zeph reaches over to the next empty table, grab a handful of complimentary tissues and gave it to him.

Hikaru blows his nose on the tissue, then very suddenly remembered something. "Oh!! I found Muri..!" He points over to the table where she's at, gaining his brothers' attention to look over where she's sitting. "She saved me from bandits! She was with..." Hikaru's energy in his words diminished at the end when he couldn't see the young man his sister was with.

He puts an arm over his seat and looks around, failing to notice Sy standing just outside the store. "Huh..? He's gone.."