01.21 - An Unexpected Move

It was the last evening before the midsummer festival, and the air around the pavilion of the Stellaris estate’s gardens was filled with the scent of blooming hydrangea.

Vega leaned forward slightly, her fingers poised over the go board. Her white stone clicked onto F12. The pavilion lights cast a warm glow over her contemplative face, her long blonde hair catching the golden hues of the sunset.

Across from her, Deneb’s grey cat ears flicked in defeat. “You’ve improved again,” they said.

Vega’s lips formed a small smile. “So it seems.” Her blue eyes sparkling. “I think there’s still some time left. How about another game?”

“Fine with me,” Deneb said, gathering the black stones into their palm.

The half siblings prepared for another match.

Vega placed the first black stone on Q16.

“So, we’ll be back in the same school again this year,” Deneb said, placing a white stone on D4.

Vega set the next stone on C16 in silence.

Deneb responded with R4. “Excited about high school yet?”

“It’s just going to be the same as last year anyway,” Vega said with a soft sigh, her stone clicking onto P4. “Plus, some of the mean girls from your and Altair’s grades. I didn’t miss them during my final year of middle school.”

Deneb placed a white stone at P3. “Ah… yeah. Good news is that they’ve gotten busier with their own lives. And you can always count on me.”

“For the next three years at least,” Vega said, as she placed a stone on O3.

“Right,” Deneb said, continuing with Q3. “But before you know it, you’ll join us at Avalon II. Until then, you can rely on Kass and Merope, right?”

“Yes,” Vega said, placing a stone on C6. A small smile graced her face. “Thank the Lord on High for those two.”

Deneb played F3.

“Keep your friends close,” Deneb said, their tail flicking lazily. “I wouldn’t know what I’d do without mine.”

“Doesn’t it get much better with the years?” Vega asked, placing a stone at N4.

“A bit,” Deneb said with a small shrug, playing R6. “When they are young, kids are so easily influenced by their surroundings. When they grow up, they might form some opinions of their own…”

The click of a white stone on J17 broke the quiet as Vega leaned back. “I just hate how they look down on us because of our fathers,” she said.

Deneb’s grey cat ears twitched. They placed a black stone on D10.

“As if they were something better,” Vega said. She leaned forward and set her next stone on Q5, her fingers brushing the edge of the board before retreating.

“But Mom had to deal with the same prejudice,” Deneb said, laying their next piece on R5.

“Funny how most of those inbred Houses haven’t seen a battlefield for three generations,” Vega said, setting her stone at C4. “And yet they have the gall to act all high and mighty.”

Deneb exhaled as they played C3. “‘Noblesse oblige,’” they said, the phrase dripping with irony.

“As if,” Vega said, her next stone set on B3. She sat back, folding her arms and casting a critical eye over the board.

Deneb tilted their head slightly as they played C5. “I remember Grandpa Sirius telling me similar things from his own youth.”

“Funny how little has changed in almost a century,” Vega said, placing B4.

Deneb chuckled lightly as they set a stone on B5. “I heard our great-grandparents gave their blessing immediately.”

“That must have shocked a lot of people,” Vega said, setting her piece on D5.

“You bet,” Deneb said, placing B6.

“The heir to the then greatest house marrying a war orphan without any fame to her name,” Vega said, laying her stone on D3.

“I think it would still cause outrage today,” Deneb said, placing E4. Their eyes flicked up, watching Vega’s reaction.

Her brows furrowed. “I can imagine.” Vega’s next move, D2, was slower and more deliberate.

“I guess compared to Grandma Polaris, our fathers were highly distinguished when they married into the family,” Deneb said, dropping C7 onto the board.

“Grandma and Grandpa must have had a really hard time,” Vega said, setting her stone at K4.

Deneb followed with C13. “But they overcame it, and so will we.”

“Easier said than done,” Vega said, placing E16.

Deneb played R14 with a faint shrug. “Well… it’s not all bad, is it?”

“Right,” Vega said, dropping a stone on R15. “House Pleiades and Aeneidis are still standing strong beside us.”

“And so are others,” Deneb said, setting Q14.

“Let’s just hope it stays that way,” Vega said, as she placed O16.

Deneb’s eyes flicked toward her with a faint smile as they played Q11. “As I said, keep your friends close.”

Then Vega's hand hovered briefly before placing the black stone at O10.

Deneb froze, their purple eyes narrowing in thought. “An unexpected move,” they said softly, tilting their head.

Before Deneb could plan their next response, a figure emerged from the twilight shadows beyond the pavilion.

The sound of gravel under boots broke their concentration.

Their older brother Altair stepped into the light, his short blonde hair illuminated faintly in the hues of the pavilion lights. He carried two glasses of berry iced tea in his hands.

“Thought I might find you here,” he said. “Waiting for the practice fireworks again?”

The half siblings nodded in unison, their faces softening as they reached for the drinks. The glasses were cold against their palms.

“The effects have gotten more intricate over the days,” Vega said, her voice thoughtful as she set her glass down. “You could hardly call it a firework during the first nights.”

Deneb swirled their drink lazily, their tail swishing back and forth in relaxed arcs. “Luc seems to be really giving his all.”

“I bet Mary convinced him that it’s some kind of good training,” Vega said.

“Wouldn’t be so sure,” Deneb said, their violet eyes glinting with mischief as they tilted their head.

“A little bird told me that there are some different stakes at play,” teased Altair.

“Was it Hannah?” Deneb asked with a knowing grin.

“I’ll keep my sources anonymous, thank you very much,” Altair said, his tone light.

“Bet it was,” Vega said, with a widening smile. “The two of you have been sparring a lot lately.”

Altair smirked, his blue eyes narrowing slightly. “A gentleman never tells,” he said.

“Right,” Deneb said, their ears flicking as they took another drink. “So… got any plans for the midsummer night?”

Altair leaned casually against the table. “Yes.”

“With Hannah?” Deneb asked, their grin widening.

“Possibly,” Altair said smoothly. His grin matched Deneb’s. “How about yourself?”

“Got plans,” Deneb replied.

Vega watched the exchange with amusement. “Kass, Mero, and I will be at the waterpark, as always.”

Altair gave a small nod. “Sounds about right.”

The conversation was cut short as the first burst of firework imitations exploded above the horizon and lit up the night.