Disenchantment

Throughout the day I stay at Callahan's residence. From dusk to early evening, I ascend and descend the flights of stairs and fill the hours contemplating on how to sway the other nobles to my side. I concluded that my mother will be the most difficult. Not seeing her after she requested my presence would not tip the conversation my way, especially since I sent a servant to tell her that I have arrived and decided to stay at Callahan. However, she has always been fond of her fellow STM colleague and that is what I will appeal to. Noble Odessa should follow in toe when I convince my mother as a three to 1 situation would not favor her stance.

When we are summoned to diner, we make our way to the dining hall with Noble Odessa joining us not long after. Stripped of her Order of Konn armor, she is bare, dressed only in white shirt and slacks - like the rest of us. She acknowledges her father and I before standing to attention as she waits for the doors to open. Their relationship was always strange and strained. Calhan never discussed it with me, and I never could sum up the courage to ask, however to his credit there was nothing to discuss. Time was probably the enemy between them, yet they never agreed to that. Maybe they found their passive aggressive relationship as a form of catharsis.

The doors soon open. The ball room turned dining hall echoes the sound of our bare feet as we make our way to our respective seats. The bleeding skies of the twilight evening fill the room in cinnamon satin and other light shades of purple. A large square concrete-grey table fans the large room. With everyone spread apart by quite some distance we sit down. Callahan takes the seat from across me and noble Odessa to my right. My mother, who is already seated on my left, eyes us as we all enter – particularly me. With my blank mask of indifference on I take my seat, making sure to not make excessive eye contact with her than needed. The servants place our starters on the table. A bowl of warm soup with two slices of white loaf bread.

With everyone present, we begin eating. I dip the lightly toasted golden-brown bread into the steaming soup before bringing it to my mouth.

"Everyone together in peace and quiet. Expensive commodities found rare in this castle." Callahan suddenly says. From the corners of my eye, both my mother and Odessa stop before continuing through their food. I stare down at my soup, which distorts the reflection of my face as I dip my bread into it. My mother and Odessa have something planned. I feel it in their quietness. I know they have planned some form of rule of entry for tonight. So, I brace myself when Odessa says.

"A far cry from the events that happened today."

To which my mother responds with.

"Indeed."

To this - my cue. As if caught in the stage lights, with no recollection of my clearly planned out lines. I feel eyes pinned on me as I dip my second bread. A thought of Luca being tortured fills my head.

"A wrong turn-" I try.

"There's footage of you and Luca taking the staff elevator," my mother says cutting me off, "As well as boarding a Synthetic designated amusement park ride."

I frown. Synthetic designated? I don't recall any such sign...There was no such sign...was there?

"The ride did not indicate that it was only designated for Synthetic-"

Odessa slams the table with the ball of her fist.

"More lies!" She exclaims, "did you happen to not see a Synthetic board the ride with you?"