CHAPTER 49: FAMILY 1

Aegis’s legs still wobbled as she made her way up the Sky Piercer.

The magical lift hummed softly, carrying her to the meditation platform while she tried very hard not to think about how Scarlett had basically rearranged her insides.

[At least the guards were half-asleep... They didn’t notice me walking like a newborn penguin.]

The lift opened to reveal Queen Rosanna standing at the platform’s edge, purple eyes gazing over Rosevale City. Her ghostly form looked more solid tonight, the high aether density giving her an almost living appearance.

Which made her usual lack of clothing hit a bit harder than normal.

Aegis swallowed, looking away.

[Damn.]

"You’re late." Rosanna turned, then paused. A knowing smile curved her lips. "And you can’t seem to stop smiling. Did something good happen?"

"What could you possibly mean?" Aegis tried for innocent. Failed spectacularly when another grin broke through.

"Mm-hmm." Rosanna’s eyes sparkled with amusement. "That particular brand of happiness usually comes from one source, child."

"I have no idea what you’re implying." Aegis smoothed down her rumpled clothes. "I’m just excited about meditation. Love sitting still. Big fan."

"Of course." Rosanna beckoned her closer. "Though perhaps we should work on healing techniques tonight? You seem to be favoring your left leg."

[Shit.]

"Must’ve pulled something during combat practice."

"I see. And these marks on your neck?"

Aegis’s hand flew to cover the hickeys Scarlett had left.

"Mosquitoes?"

"In winter?"

"Very determined mosquitoes."

Rosanna laughed, the sound like wind chimes.

"Come, child. Let’s begin before you concoct more ridiculous excuses."

They settled into their usual positions, Rosanna guiding Aegis through the aether breathing exercises. The energy flowed easier now, her pathways more open after weeks of practice. She could feel the magic pooling in her core, expanding her reserves bit by bit.

"Your progress continues to impress," Rosanna observed. "Most students take months to achieve what you’ve managed in weeks."

"Well, I’m very motivated." Aegis focused on pulling aether in and releasing it. "Plus I have an excellent teacher."

"Flattery will get you nowhere."

"Really? And here I thought it had gotten me pretty far already."

Rosanna shook her head but grinned.

"Incorrigible today, eh? You remind me of myself. Always barking up all the wrong trees, hoping I’d find the right one..."

[Is that what I’m doing?] Aegis wondered. She wasn’t too sure.

"Now, let’s work on refining your Aether Veil. Your casting time needs improvement."

They spent the next hour drilling defensive techniques. Rosanna corrected her form, adjusted her visualization, pushed her to cast faster and more efficiently. By the end, Aegis could throw up a barrier in six seconds instead of ten.

"Better." Rosanna nodded approval. "Practice this daily. In real combat, four seconds could mean death."

"Cheerful thought."

"Reality often is." Rosanna’s expression grew serious. "The darkness you’re courting with your other teacher... it will demand its price eventually."

Aegis tensed. They’d danced around this topic before, but Rosanna had never addressed it so directly.

"I’m being careful."

"No. You’re being clever. There’s a difference." Rosanna sighed. "I won’t forbid you from walking that path. I did the same in my youth. But remember, shadow magic corrupts. It whispers promises of power while eating away at your soul."

"I’ll keep that in mind."

"See that you do." Rosanna’s form flickered slightly. "The hour grows late. You should return before someone notices your absence."

"About that..." Aegis stood, brushing off her skirt. "Any chance you could teach me that healing spell? For my, uh, mosquito bites?"

Rosanna’s ghostly eyes twinkled.

"Perhaps next time. Some lessons are best learned through experience."

"You’re evil."

"I prefer ’educational.’" Rosanna waved her hand, summoning the lift. "Until tomorrow, dear child. Do try to avoid any more... mosquitoes."

Aegis grumbled all the way down the tower.

---

Back in her dorm room, Lune sat at her desk, already awake, paintbrush moving in careful strokes across canvas. She glanced up when Aegis entered, took in her disheveled appearance, and returned to painting without comment.

[Pretty ideal roommate, if I do say so myself.]

Aegis collapsed at her own desk, pulling out her Political Intrigue textbook.

She already knew most of this from the game, but appearances had to be maintained. Plus, focusing on Valdrian succession laws kept her mind off how sore certain parts of her anatomy were.

"You missed dinner." Lune’s quiet voice drifted over. "Yesterday."

"Yeah, I grabbed something in town."

"With Scarlett?"

Aegis’s head snapped up. Lune continued painting, expression neutral.

"What makes you think I was with Scarlett?"

"Your shirt’s on backward."

[Fuck.]

"Fashion statement?"

"If you say so." Lune dipped her brush in violet paint. "I like Scarlett. She’s nice."

"She is." Aegis gave up on pretending to study. "Very nice. Extremely nice. Some might say too nice."

"Hmm."

They lapsed into comfortable silence. Aegis actually read a few pages while Lune painted. The scratch of brush on canvas mixed with the turning of pages created a peaceful atmosphere.

Then someone knocked on their door.

"Mail delivery!" A cheerful voice called out.

Aegis frowned. Mail this early was unusual. She opened the door to find a academy courier holding an envelope.

"Aegis Starcaller?"

"That’s me."

"Letter for you. Came by express post." The courier handed it over and hurried off.

[Huh? A letter? For me?]

Aegis stared at the envelope. Her name was written in careful script across the front. The return address made her blood freeze.

[The Starcaller Family Farm, Sparker Village]

Aegis froze.

[Excuse me?]

"Bad news?" Lune asked.

"I... I don’t know." Aegis tilted her head as she slowly opened the letter.

Dear Aegis,

I hope this letter finds you well at the academy! Mother says I shouldn’t bother you while you’re studying, but I couldn’t wait any longer to write.

The harvest went well this year. Father managed to fix the old plow, so we didn’t have to borrow the Hendersons’ again. The sheep had twins! Little white fluffballs that follow me everywhere. I named them Star and Light.

Mother’s been telling everyone in the village about your perfect test scores. Mrs. Henders didn’t believe her until the official notice came. You should’ve seen her face!

We’re all so proud of you, big sister. I know you’re busy becoming a great mage, but I miss you terribly. Mother cries sometimes when she thinks I’m not looking. Happy tears, she says, but I think she misses you too.

Father’s been saving every copper to come visit. He says we’ll have enough by tomorrow to make the trip to Rosevale City. We want to see you! Mother’s already baking your favorite honey cakes.

Please write back when you can. I want to hear all about your adventures!

Love,Sophie

P.S. - Is it true the academy has floating lights? Do you really get to learn magic from ancient ghosts? Tell me everything!

The letter slipped from Aegis’s numb fingers.

[Wait. Wait wait wait wait wait.]

She sank onto her bed, staring at nothing.

The memory came to her, then. The Starcaller family was part of Aegis’s backstory. Flavor text she’d written for her character profile. A perfect loving family to contrast with the one that had abandoned Emily in that hospital.

This letter...

[They’re real?]

"Aegis?" Lune had stopped painting, one brow raised slightly. "Are you alright?"

"I..." Aegis’s voice came out strangled. "My family’s coming to visit."

"Oh. That’s good, isn’t it?"

Was it?

A mother who cried happy tears upon hearing how she was doing. A father saving every copper. A little sister who named sheep.

[Sophie. I wrote that Aegis had a little sister named Sophie who adored her.]

The weight of it crashed down.

She’d written this backstory herself, back when Aegis Starcaller was just pixels on a screen. A perfect loving family to contrast with the one that had abandoned Emily in that hospital. Pure wish fulfillment. Fantasy.

Except now they were real.

"I need some air." Aegis stood abruptly.

"It’s past curfew."

"I’ll be back."

She fled before Lune could respond, leaving the letter on her bed. In the empty hallway, Aegis pressed her back against the wall and slid down until she sat on the cold stone floor.

[They’re real. My fictional backstory family is real... and they love me.]

Tomorrow.

They’d be here tomorrow, bringing honey cakes and hugs and expectations. She’d written them as doting parents and an adorable little sister, but she’d never written actual memories. Never crafted real relationships beyond "they love Aegis very much."

How was she supposed to face them?

[If my backstory is real, what else is real? Did I write other things into existence?]

The implications made her head spin.

Every detail she’d added to her character sheet, every bit of flavor text, every throwaway line about Aegis’s past might be walking around in this world.

Aegis pulled her knees to her chest and stared at the ceiling, just like she used to in the hospital. But this time, the white tiles were stone blocks, and the body that breathed was healthy and whole and hers.

[I wanted a loving family so badly I wrote one. And now I have to actually be their daughter. Do I...]

Aegis swallowed.

[Do I just go along with that?]

She had no clue.

Somewhere in Sparker Village, a family packed for their journey, excited to see their brilliant daughter.

And here, in Rosevale Academy, a girl that thought she was living a fantasy just learned that sentiment was even more correct than she’d known.