Click.
That sound announced the opening of the massive doors before him, welcoming him to the meeting hall.
It was a massive room with a long table, a high ceiling, and huge windows overlooking the gardens outside.
At the head of the table sat his father, sipping what smelled like black coffee. His mother, Flora, sat to his right, her hands folded neatly in her lap. His older brother, Acer, lounged casually, one boot propped up on the chair's lower rung, while his older sister, Rosa, sat with perfect posture, glancing at her reflection in a small ornate mirror.
Ignotus looked at them one by one, and just like that... Flashes of memories he didn't really want dredged up from the depths of his mind, reminding him of past lessons, scoldings, family dinners, punishments, and cold shoulders.
Acting completely beside himself, or at least the 'self' they knew of, Ignotus gave them a polite nod.
"Good morning, Father, Mother, Elder Brother, and Elder Sister."
All of them blinked in surprise, not at all expecting this type of greeting.
Usually, he mumbled something like "m-morning" or nothing at all and kept his head down, but not today.
Without waiting for permission, he walked over and plopped into his seat.
Acer let out an annoyed scoff but said nothing more, knowing that his message was received.
Caring not for that, Genus clasped his hand and ordered:
"Let's talk."
Everyone glanced at Ignotus.
Flore was the first of them.
"Is something wrong today? You're different than usual. The way you acted in the arena, too."
Ignotus turned to her.
"Do you know anything about a group of eight Higher Gods with really colorful eyes?"
She blinked once more, stunned, while across the table, Rosa stiffened, shooting him a warning look.
"It's a simple question. Please answer it."
Underneath the table, Rosa kicked his shins hard, but he didn't even appear to acknowledge her.
"No..."
Eventually, Flora shook her head.
"But if you focused on your lessons, you'd know that there isn't such a group."
Ignotus nodded.
"Yeah, I know, it's mostly the lower caste of Gods, the mostly dead ones, one for each Element, but it's weird; I never knew this group existed before, and that doesn't make sense to me, like, at all. You can't really live a life this long and not know such a gargantuan truth of the world... or perhaps that's how it was always designed to be."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Dead silence met his words.
But, of course, he didn't stop.
"I didn't really attend the Academy; I was too busy trying to survive, so I don't know. Maybe the upper-caste dogs there were taught that."
"…"
"..."
"..."
Everyone kept staring at him like he'd grown a second head, growing more confused with every other word that left his mouth.
"What? You all think I'm dumb?"
His smile widened a little.
"Oh, yeah, I am, at least academically, but I'm hoping I can fix that this time around."
"..."
They all wanted to say something, 'ask' something, and his sister was the first to do so:
"Live this long?! Gargantuan truth?! Attend the Academy?! Upper-caste dogs?! This time around?! What the Hell are you on about?!"
Or rather, she was the first to snap, and before Ignotus could answer, his mother 'snapped' too:
"Language, young lady!"
Though for an entirely different reason.
"I've taught you better than to utter such a word in vain."
After her... stern reprimand, she turned back to Ignotus, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"And you—can you stop being weird for one day? I get that you're... lacking... but can you at least try to be more like your older brother? Or is the stress of going to Ascend affecting you this much?"
Ignotus glanced left, where his "older brother" sat, puffing out his chest like he was the Gods' gift to humanity, or perhaps a rooster ready to fight.
"Hm."
That sight had him tilt his head.
"I'd rather die than be that."
"Huh?!"
Acer shot up, slamming his fists into the table hard enough to rattle it.
"Say that shit again, you waste of Divinity!"
Ignotus's smile didn't falter, his eyes returning to his mother.
"Don't ignore me, Ignotus!"
"Ah... right."
He fully turned to him, seemingly coming to a realization.
"I'm not used to being cursed at again."
His head nodded a few times, as if his 'realization' turned into some Divine understanding.
"Also, brother, what do you think of my name?"
Acer, becoming as confused as the rest, began to calm, sitting back down.
"...T-Think what?"
"It's fitting, right?"
"Fitting?"
Ignoring his confused question, Ignotus continued:
"It means 'Stranger,' so I feel like it's Fate. What do you think?"
Now, more frustrated than confused, Acer clenched his fists.
"Fuckin—what?!"
"Isn't it Fate?"
"And I'm asking you, what is?!"
Ignotus shook his head.
"Ah, what an idiot."
Acer snapped back up, enraged.
And Ignotus's smile widened even further…
'Baiting him into rage... oh, it's so calming~.'
Before he turned to his father, expecting the classic:
"Enough."
And sure 'enough—'
"ENOUGH!"