Back in the Val Planetary Council Chamber
Right when Ashley left
The White Enforcer falls to her knees after seeing her daughter's booth disappear. Likely implying that she's left the council chamber.
And she's not the only one as she barely sees her husband coming to a slow stop before falling to his knees as well. Not having even reached the booth yet.
Both of them ignore the other council members as they feel their emotions flooding them.
None... none of this should've happened...
Catherine Sinclair has always had one plan in mind. Ever since they had their first children. No, even before that.
Her main plan, her endgame result, was to build a world where her and her husband's children could be safe. And she felt assured of that plan when their first child was born with her own ability.
But when their second child, one born in a pair of twins, was born without any ability?
Things changed.
She saw her plan, her goal moving further and further away from her grasp. From her reach.
So she started working even harder towards that goal.
And harder.
And harder. To the degree that she began to lose sight of herself.
They became so focused on growing their power, their family, and their position, that they forgot to actually spend time with their family.
Forgot to be a family.
They pushed their children to the brink without realizing it.
And there's nothing Catherine regrets more.
She raises her head to see the other council members all looking confused at her and her husband, both of whom are on their knees near but not at where their daughter's booth was. But then they quickly go to other booths to avoid them, as they always do when it comes to their family relationships.
Catherine turns her gaze towards her other children.
Blake, who was always with Ashley no matter where they were. The two of them practically tied at the hip, always protecting each other. Even wearing the same things and having matching hairstyles all the way through the first few years of elementary school. Until he could no longer get away with it.
An act that Catherine and her husband later realized was Blake's attempt to make it difficult for them to realize which one was which.
To realize which one had no ability.
Because he believed they hated her for that fact.
"Yeah," Liz says, sounding like she's nearly crying. But Blake doesn't look away from the screen, even as his twin sister is teleported back to her own platform.
None of them say anything about what they're witnessing. About Ashley using powers despite supposedly not having an ability.
Because they all know it's not for them to speak about.
It's Ashley's secrets. Not theirs.
Although Blake already has a pretty good idea of what her skill is, simply because of Etheria's meddling.
"Is that what you call a teacher trying to help her student rekindle his bond with his twin sister?" Etheria's voice echoes in his head, making him narrow his eyes ever so slightly.
Says the person who didn't even realize she was my twin until a few hours ago, when Chaos threw it in your face.
His teacher, or rather, Primordial, doesn't say anything for several seconds before muttering, "Do you treat all of your teachers this way?"
Only meddling ones.
The Primordial of Magic doesn't say anything in return, meanwhile Blake's focus quickly zeroes in on the screen again when Ashley returns to the battlefield for the second time in a row. Although whether it's because she was challenged or she challenged someone else, he isn't sure.
He understands the trouble she's having though either way. Since he's also a Successor, making people target him nearly as much as they target her.
On that note, he glances at the number in the corner of his interface showcasing his total followers. A number in the six digits, which is far higher than anyone else he knows.
Other than most likely his twin sister.
He glances at the other side of the top layer of the chamber, where the Successor of Order is discussing matters with other council members.
And him.
He returns his focus to the screen again when a loud cry of pain echoes from it. And what he finds is the opponent facing Ashley this time having been impaled by her feathers without being able to do much in return. No doubt not having expected that attack.
Just like the man who she killed in the meeting earlier.
"She's changed so much..." Liz mutters, but Blake doesn't say a word.
She really hasn't changed at all. You just didn't know her enough to realize.
If Blake's being honest with himself, he was surprised when she left her booth and killed the man. Not only because it revealed one of her skills she was no doubt hiding – which is likely why she's not hiding it anymore, since it's already been revealed – but because the man in question was a top enforcer. His root skill let him create storms filled with lightning and ice that were powerful enough to destroy a building. Albeit also draining on mana.
"She only succeeded as she did because she caught him off guard," Etheria agrees.
Blake continues watching the livestream as his twin is teleported back to her platform, leaving all of the other participants shocked once more.
A reaction that Blake is pretty sure has become commonplace amongst Ashley's events.
Especially with her constantly showing new powers.
I wonder how much longer she'll be able to hide her skill?