Thinking about Fionn, a wave of guilt washed over her soul once more. She instinctively closed the ancient book, and as if trying to sever herself completely from the source of her guilt, she stood up from the heavy, dark brown pearwood table with a determined yet measured motion. She placed the old, intricately carved chair back in its place so slowly, it seemed as if she wanted to buy time to sort out the storm of thoughts within her.
"I neglect everyone around me, but I feel like I've betrayed Fionn," she lamented.
The moment she thought of the boy again, guilt was gradually replaced by love and a sense of security-something their families had carefully guarded ever since the very first uncertain, blushing teenage love began to take shape in the souls of every young couple.
"Fionn deserves honesty too," she decided, and a dreamy smile appeared on her lips as she closed her green eyes for a moment, letting his image form before her.
She and Rhys had kept their tangled experiences a secret from everyone because they themselves didn't yet understand what they could even say about them.
"Would anyone even believe us?" she wondered. Everyone would think Rhys and I had simply started making up stories about the same topic for fun, then got too caught up in the fantasy.
From her living room, furnished with old, solid furniture, she walked with graceful, effortless steps into the adjacent room on the left of her desk-her dressing room. At first glance, it seemed almost empty except for a small coffee table, four chairs, and a black, palm-sized plaque hanging on the wall. This section had only been partitioned off from her bedroom a few years ago, but if she ever wanted to restore the room to its original size, all she had to do was issue a command to the transformation device in the basement, and the space would revert instantly.
She lightly touched the small plaque on the wall with her palm, and a spiral of pink and golden light flickered into existence in the middle of the room. Aisling turned once, and after a few flashes, the spiral took on her exact likeness.
Normally, she would have carefully planned what to wear to a family and friends' gathering, trying on multiple outfits using her holographic double, but today she only checked that her knee-length, light-yellow silk dress-chosen earlier in the afternoon after school-was neither dirty nor wrinkled. She had paired it with comfortable white canvas shoes before leaving through the holo-gate to attend the mentor meeting at the Millennial Oak.
She examined her holographic replica from every angle before dismissing it with the same practiced motion.
What mattered now was not keeping Fionn waiting too long. Instead of just sitting in the tablinum, he could have visited her in her personal quarters, as he was no longer bound by the one-year subordination period-he was now an ephemer.
Aisling's personal quarters were located on the second floor of the current three-story house. Though she usually preferred to use the stairs, this time she hurried to the living room, heading for the holo-gate-a black square set into the floor to the right of her desk, just beside the huge window. She stepped onto the center of the square and, after the usual "Activate!" command, gave her destination:
"House, Hall of Ancestors!"
At first, she felt her body grow heavy, then suddenly weightless. The pink and gold spiral of light wrapped around her, now glowing more vibrantly. After just a few flashes, she was already standing in the Hall of Ancestors.
Though every family member had a personal holo-gate in their own living quarters-usually in the living room-only the Hall of Ancestors, the peristylium, and the basement had fully open access, even for those living in the house. In their private rooms, family members had to first accept a visitor before granting them entry. The holo-gate could also be used to travel to the city's public spaces and communal buildings without requiring an invitation.
The atrium, more commonly known as the Hall of Ancestors, was the most unique part of the house. From here, the traditional front door led to the street, a white marble staircase ascended to the personal quarters on the upper floors, and entrances led both to the tablinum and the peristylium. This was also where they preserved the memories of their long-passed ancestors. Instead of funerary masks, now holographic portraits of the ancestors lined the walls. Alongside, above, and below each image hung significant artifacts they had created, a modern way of honoring the deceased.
The atrium's furnishings and lighting were designed to match the colors of the mosaic floor, an ancient masterpiece made of terracotta, white, black, and blue tiles arranged to depict a carefully crafted lake with swans and water plants. The impluvium, which once collected rainwater, now only provided natural daylight. In place of the old compluvium, a modern fountain-composed of interlocking squares, circles, and triangles-stood.
Barely any light filtered through the impluvium's glass anymore. Dusk was settling.
"Dusk or dawn... both are thresholds between worlds," she mused, finding the thought strange.
She turned toward the tablinum, toward Fionn-and perhaps toward safety as well. The boy was sitting beside the reading desk, deeply immersed in a book.
Fionn didn't feel like a stranger in the house.
While waiting for Aisling in the blue room-now used as the family library-he flipped through The History of Water Sports from Aodhan's collection. He liked reminiscing about his subordination year and the long afternoons spent talking with Aodhan in this very room. Both of them were passionate about water sports.
Here, in the blue room, he waited for the girl. Even if she had only invited him as far as the tablinum, he still wanted to distract Aisling from her exams, even if just for a little while. In her personal spaces, everything now reminded her of studying and the upcoming tests. He had also hoped to exchange a few words with Rhys-his cousin and best friend-before the family gathering. However, Rhys's parents and grandparents had just arrived through the holo-gate, stepping directly into the peristylium. His family members had already taken their places among Sophia's relatives. Two of Sophia's three mentor-peers from her own year had arrived much earlier. She herself, accompanied by Ulf and Thana, was descending the stairs cheerfully, taking the traditional route. Rhys followed them a few minutes later, hurrying after them, but only had time for a quick greeting. Of course, he added a kind, apologetic smile.
Fionn had met all of Sophia's and Aisling's mentor-peers and former mentors during his subordination period. Throughout their school years, Rhys had been one of Sophia's mentors. Fionn had gotten to know Aisling through his growing friendship with Rhys-long before Sophia and Rhys's mentor-student relationship fully blossomed into a deeper friendship.
Not much time had passed since Lady Lívia informed Aisling of Fionn's arrival.
Lifting his gaze from the book, he spotted the girl approaching the tablinum.
At that very moment, the sentence he was forming about water sports fell apart in his mind, the words refusing to arrange themselves into coherent thought.
They would have, had the girl not appeared. Had she not appeared in her knee-length, yellow silk dress, looking so impossibly unreal, as if outside the flow of time itself.
Fionn looked up from his book just as Aisling stepped under the impluvium, where the last rays of the sunset still greeted her.
Something about the sight both enchanted and unsettled him.
"Are these moments of presence or of loss?" he mused, thinking, of course, about the sunset.
Even though he lowered his eyes back to the book, the half-formed sentence about water sports faded into the melancholy darkness of oblivion, vanishing with the last light of the setting sun.
The girl was already approaching the Ancestors' Altar.
As soon as Fionn arrived, he had placed fresh flowers on that simple marble altar.
"She's noticed the flowers, but she would have gone there anyway," he thought with a small smile.
During his subordination period, he had come to know Aisling's habits well. He knew she never passed by the marble altar without pausing for a few respectful moments in silent tribute to her ancestors.
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He knew that the flowers placed upon the Ancestors' Altar had brought her joy.
Proud and content, he stepped toward her and quietly took her hand.
She looked at him with gratitude. No further greeting was necessary.
Fionn glanced at the altar.
"The way of transition," he thought, sensing something inexplicable-something dark and tangled within.
"Hey, kids! You haven't seen Rhys around here, have you?"
Both of them flinched at the sudden arrival of a whirlwind-a red-haired, medium-height, curvaceous woman with gentle hazel eyes, radiating both charm and unwavering determination.
If anyone always looked surreal in both presence and attire, it was Daphne-forty-eight years old, Sophia's mother, Lady Lívia's sister-in-law.
While most of the family and their social circle adhered to traditional clothing styles, integrating modern technology only for comfort and practicality, Daphne disregarded convention entirely-even outwardly. At least, more than the others did.
She wore a Greek-style top made of shimmering, translucent fabric that shifted between pale gold, silver, and deep indigo depending on the light. She had tucked this lightweight garment into a high-slit white skirt. Around her waist, she wore a sturdy belt adorned with Thracian symbols. Her light sandals, reinforced with metallic accents above the ankles, completed the look.
On her wrist, she wore a simple, delicate bracelet that changed color with her mood-a piece she never removed. It rarely reflected anything other than balance, love, and joy.
Though her tastes and personality resembled neither her mother, Callista, nor her father, Rhesus, nor even her sister, Euxena, this charming yet resolute woman was beloved by all.
None of her three daughters had inherited Daphne's bold style.
Everyone enjoyed her company-especially the youth and children.
Her personal spaces were always filled-not only with Sophia's, Aine's, and Thya's mentor-peers and students but also with young people and children beyond their immediate mentor circles.
Daphne's question didn't linger in the air for long. The colors on her bracelet hinted at mild agitation.
"About half an hour ago, I saw him hurrying toward the peristylium while I was waiting for Aisling," Fionn responded readily.
He had been so lost in thought that he had only managed a friendly wave as Rhys rushed after Sophia's group.
Aisling, intrigued, waited to learn what had unsettled the usually cheerful Daphne-and how exactly it involved Rhys.
"Didn't he come down with Sophia? Didn't he stop to talk to you, even for a moment?" Daphne pressed on, though her eyes now studied Aisling instead.
Aisling's open gaze and composed posture seemed to nudge Daphne back toward her usual balance and warmth. The colors on her bracelet softened slightly.
"No, Sophia arrived with Ulf and Thana. Like she does everywhere these days," Fionn stated.
He sensed that Daphne had detected the scent of some impending trouble and was now investigating with purpose-hoping to prevent it before it could unfold. She had an uncanny ability to sniff out problems before they fully formed-and she never let them escalate.
She meddled in everything, but no one ever resented her for it-because it always led to good outcomes.
"You two haven't been spending as much time together lately. Is everything alright?" Daphne asked, abandoning all pretense of discretion.
Aisling hesitated for only a moment before the lie became irreversible.
Fionn met her gaze with unwavering confidence.
Daphne, however, looked at her as if she were the very source of whatever trouble lay ahead.
"I last saw Rhys at lunch," Aisling fibbed, gracefully turning her left palm upward.
"After lunch, as you know, I went to the Millennium Oak..."
Daphne's scrutinizing, doubtful gaze lingered on Aisling before shifting to Fionn with a kind, sympathetic expression.
Fionn stepped slightly closer to her. His calm, attentive stance helped ease the swirling tension in the air.
'Yes, that much I know," Daphne cut off Aisling's explanation.
The way she emphasized that suggested she was aware of the obvious-but that something more important still remained hidden. For now.
Guilt over keeping a secret.
Shame for the small lie just told.
Both emotions pulsed in the air, almost visible.
Daphne's mysterious agitation seemed to subtly reshape the tones of unease within Aisling.
"Is everything alright between you two?" she repeated more gently.
"Lately, you haven't spent much time together."
Fionn sensed Aisling's growing tension from the smallest of signs.
"Things will change after the exams," he intervened smoothly.
"Right now, Aisling is focused on her research."
A lively, colorful group approached from the direction of the peristylium. The curly, dark-blond, freckled boy was quietly telling a story, while the black-haired girl with long locks gazed at him adoringly and laughed. The thin, short, auburn-haired girl watched the stairs with wide eyes.
The trouble lurking around them drew Sophia, Ulf, and Thana's attention.
Standing next to Daphne, they all seemed rather casually dressed. Ulf, as always, wore a light tunic with a leather-like texture, almost completely plain except for the white geometric patterns edging the sleeves. Around his wrists, as usual, he had thin, braided synthetic leather bracelets, handmade by his sister-he had worn them everywhere since. Sometimes, he highlighted his Viking or Greek heritage with different pendants, but today, he wore no necklace at all.
Thana was dressed in a simple, black, long gown made of fine fabric, leaving her shoulders and back bare. Of course, this was just another way for her to emphasize her hair, much like the numerous hair ornaments and headbands she alternated between wearing. Today, however, nothing about her appearance hinted at her Etruscan-Vandal ancestry.
Sophia, as always, expressed herself through colors. She had chosen her favorite light green blouse, paired with a cream-colored, long, delicately pleated skirt. Her slender waist was accentuated by a simple, braided black belt.
"Have you seen Rhys?" Daphne tried her question again.
Sophia laughed, pointing toward the stairs, though now her expression was not one of surprise but of confusion.
"There he is, Mom! He just changed. Put on some hideous thing."
The "hideous thing" in question was a patched-up pair of pants and a rough linen shirt.
"What are you presenting to us today?" Daphne asked, now struggling to contain her own laughter.
"You'll see," Rhys winked at Aisling, who looked stunned.
Aisling didn't laugh. She recognized Kaelen from the dream-image Rhys had sent her not long ago.
Guilt. Shame. Shock.
And as if the threads running toward the future carried a faint, formless, dark, and foggy message trying to reach her. Or perhaps it was the past, struggling to take shape in her thoughts? These tangled emotions felt as distant as possible from the current merriment.
Rhys performed poetry and songs beautifully-ones he had written himself. He had dressed up for such performances before. To everyone else, his appearance seemed amusing rather than strange. Even Daphne found it funny. Only Aisling felt otherwise.
"Your parents and grandparents have arrived," Sophia informed Fionn matter-of-factly.
"Well then, we can head back to the others," Rhys said, turning to Daphne with a smile.
Daphne nodded in agreement.
"We'll wait for our mentor-partners. Aisling, are you staying too?" Sophia asked in a tone that made it clear that even if Aisling had wanted to join the others, it would have been rude to leave her cousin behind with Thana and Ulf.
"Of course. My mentor-partners are arriving with yours," she agreed easily. "See you outside," she added, glancing at Fionn.
Daphne, moving at a relaxed but determined pace, linked arms with the two boys and started toward the peristylium as if shielding them from some insidious danger creeping between them.
Although the holo-block had been lifted for all invited guests in the house's communal areas, only family members and future family members proceeded straight to the peristylium. The others were received in the Hall of Ancestors so they wouldn't feel out of place or uncomfortable if they weren't yet entirely familiar with the family. This was the custom.
