"Did you hear about the youngest Veilkerhurst?"
Those were the words Priscilla overheard, floating through the air from an aunt who had come to see mother about some upcoming event. With her, was a young female cousin, not yet having her debut but getting closer to the date.
Though she may not make it, were the words stewing in Priscilla's mind. Her thoughts turned to the most corrosive of her potions. Her fingers clenched into fists, her harsh gaze glued to the dwindling backs of the gossiping harpies. She knew her anger was tempered more by embarrassment for what had been going on in their household. Priscilla felt frustration build in her for even having a reaction. Shame in how her face grew warm, a reaction she had long since train herself out of. The fact that there were other members of the Veilkerhurst household gossiping about their personal situation meant soon that the gossip would soon go outside of their household.
Even Reilard's presence had gone from being a reassurance to another sign that the Veilkerhurst's main branch had something--though they still lacked the full details--was going on and that it had to do with their weakest link. Reilard did not usually return home unless he was summoned by father or their was a special occasion or a mission he had to oversee. Now he had rushed home in haste to resolve an issue that had nothing to do with the betterment of the Veilkerhurst family. What did that say to the others? Nothing good or refine.
Their servants knew better than to loosen their tongues as that was the quickest way to lose the appendage and their life. But there has been some visiting family members at the last bout between Brakus and the youngest. They had witnessed the child's neck be knocked back at an impossible angle, before he snapped it back into place. Priscilla would have been foolish to dismiss this tidbit of detail and the others that led to renewed interest in the youngest Veilkerhurst. Yet as soon as she became aware of one example of chaos the youngest had brought into their household, she began to be subject to an onslaught of information about other strange feats that had been committed by the brat.
How Priscilla missed the days where she could slip into a fugue state as she single-mindedly tried to glue her attention to potion making and other experiments. Now she was walking around the residence, trying to clear her head as he concentration suffered. Was it possible to just end it by poisoning him? Yes, they were not allowed to directly harm or dispatch a rival during the competition, but this went beyond that. They were at their wits end trying to maneuver these new rules. But that voice mentions how the youngest had died multiple times before. That time had been rewound due to it. And that it had led to rift that were affecting the magic beast they had to hunt. If his death did cause time to rewind and negatively impacting their world, then they could not easily be rid of him. They were stuck.
Priscilla does not know how they were going to be able to manage him once he went off to Gaulikier Academy. They were not allies and they were not family. They were student who had to prove themselves by their own merits. And it was not like she or Brakus could form an alliance with the youngest, Many knew how much the older sibling despised the lest and to have them suddenly adhering themselves to them would have many talking about being at his beck and call. And Priscilla would rather die than have that shame be subjected to her.
Before Priscilla knew it, she ended up outside of the youngest's bedroom. She had to fight the urge to kick down the door and instead knocked. There was not any movement inside. Priscilla felt her face warm before she felt anger fill her again. It had escaped her to ask the servants if the youngest was even in his room. Another sign of how things were falling apart. She was going to leave when she felt the familiar sensation of a small hand slipping into hers. Instead of wrenching her had free, she turned to look down at the brat.
Instead, she saw his arm. Or an extended version of his arm. She stared at the small hand, the fingers wrapping around her own. Then she followed it to his wrist. Her eyes trailed the extended forearm, to the elbow that was INCHES longer than it needed to be, to the upper arm what was now at least an extra few feet longer than before, to where the youngest peeked at her from around the corner of the hallway. He wore an excited smile, jumping up and down as he made obnoxious squealing noises.
Priscilla did not even think about it, she grabbed his extended arm and pulled the youngest towards her. He shrieked, struggling to resist her strength. But she had age, training, and anger fueling her. When the youngest reached her, Priscilla slammed her fist on the top of his head. He did not fall over--even though she wished so much that he would so that she did not have to deal with him while he was conscious--at the impact. He let out a cry as his arm snapped back into his body, becoming crooked for but a moment before returning to its proper length. The youngest clutched his head--with two normal sized arms thank all things that were holy--and glared tearfully at Priscilla.
"What was that for?" He asked her, his offense written in his pout.
Priscilla just rolled her eyes, before reaching down to tug harshly on his ear. The youngest let out a cry as he clawed at her fingers. Though it was difficult for her to keep her grip. The helix stretched further than she expected, the entire ear enlarging in size. Priscilla let go in confused revulsion. She watched as the youngest tugged at his other ear--this one still normal in size--and pulled it. The larger ear responded by collapsing into his head before popping out in its normal size. The youngest shook his head and glared at her.
"I see that you're still mean," was his ever regular accusation.
Priscilla just huffed and stomped away from him, unable to even come up with a retort. She was not retreating. She just planned on dealing with interacting with the brat at a different date. For now, she was going to seek refuge in her lab.