Duality of Friendship

After the residents finished dinner, they cleaned up and met back in the living room. Solomon surveyed the youths as they huddled close to the blazing hearth and relaxed on the couches and chairs. He paced around the room, inspecting each individual as if they were rookies in a training field.

“In order to achieve Crimoire Awakening, vampires must consume a certain amount of blood to fuel such power, get plenty of exercises to get their hearts active, and experience a critical moment in their life to overstimulate their hearts—which should be emotional enough for the heart to respond to it. Of course, most vampires rarely achieve that third requirement without dying from heartbreak or simply never experiencing that certain ‘peak’ of their ambitions.”

He set down two empty glass cups placed directly in front of a sibling on the table. “Although you two didn’t have much exercise, exceptions do occur when vampires far exceed at least one of the three requirements. Therefore, your blood diet and emotional resolutions from your long-term regrets should not fail you. How about you both try levitating these cups?”

“How?” asked Theodore.

“Picture it in your mind and pour your will into it. Imagine your heart pumping out light and flowing throughout your veins.”

Penelope blinked down at her hands and closed her eyes in silent focus.

“Hmm. Okay.” Theodore closed his eyes next and pressed his index fingers at his temple. “Ommm…”

Within seconds, the glasses wobbled around before rising a few centimeters.

“Ooh! You two did it!” said Cherry, clapping her hands.

“Eh? I did?” Theodore opened his eyes, widening them once he spotted his achievement. “Woah! I did it!”

“It’s… not as high as I imagined,” said Penelope.

“That is because you two simply lack some exercise. Now that you can safely control it, it’s just a matter of proper physique. As long as you continue to harness it, you’ll both grow at a more rapid pace.”

Cherry closed and opened her palms, frowning. “Guess I’m not ready yet, huh?”

“Yeah, you’ve slept like a log for eight whole months,” said Charlie. “You definitely need to get back into shape.”

Cherry sighed and nodded. “I guess so.”

Solomon turned to the cyborg next. “I would recommend some exercise for you as well, Eloi. You haven’t been back in your body for a long time.”

“Yeah, it feels so strange to be back,” said Eloi, moving his prosthetic arm around. “Not to mention—this arm is insane! This thing can break skulls if I’m not careful!”

“Clearly. You broke so many dishes while we were cleaning,” said Theodore, squinting.

“Heheh, my bad.”

“Speaking of that, I’ve been meaning to ask something,” said Cherry. “Did your new eye get any upgrades too?”

“Actually, yeah. I can see things more clearly now. Somehow, I can see some red light coming out of you guys too! I’m guessing it’s the amount of Crimoire or something, ‘cause I can see a lot of them out of Solomon and Charlie while these two have a little bit.”

“Ooh, what about me?”

“Yeah, you got some too.”

“Oh! That means I have potential, right?”

“Certainly,” said Solomon. “In fact, every one of you has the potential to grow stronger. Strong enough to even stand up against Clover or Horace.”

“I still prefer that we don’t fight them,” said Cherry with a frown. Penelope nodded at her words with a huff.

“I beg to differ,” said Eloi, clenching his silvery fist. “We gotta knock some sense back into Clover somehow.”

“Exactly!” said Theodore. “Talking things out didn’t work last time, so how can we be sure we won’t start another fight the next time we meet? Even if they decide to stop and listen, we can’t guarantee they won’t come alone either.”

“Whether or not Clover and Horace will listen will not change my decision to train you all,” said Solomon. “The Chevolaires are not the only threat to worry about in this world, after all. It’s about time you all learn how to defend yourself.”

With a sigh, Cherry nodded. “I guess that’s fair,” she said. “So, what exercises should we do?”

Solomon curiously glanced at the clock that chimed eight in the evening and out at the black sky through the windows. “It’s too dark to have them out there, and not all of us can see through the night,” he said. “In that case, we will start our official training tomorrow morning. For tonight, we can have some mild exercise by using this mansion’s size to our advantage.”

“So we’ll be having indoor activities, huh? It’ll be hard to move around with so much furniture in the way.” Charlie widened his eyes in realization. “Unless…”

Solomon grinned. “Precisely. We shall practice our Crimoire by interacting with the obstacles in this mansion.”

“Ooh, now that sounds fun!” said Theodore, grinning with twinkling eyes. “So, what’s the game?”

Solomon tilted his head. “Game?”

“Yeah! We’d always play games and make a mess around the house when we were little. Right, sis?”

Penelope giggled. “I remember it was mostly you making the mess.”

“Please cut me some slack…”

Solomon rubbed his chin, his eyes gleaming with nostalgia. “I suppose a game doesn’t sound so bad at all.” He grinned and crossed his arms. “Very well. What game shall it be?”

Cherry’s eyes sparkled, and she raised her hand. “Speaking of playing games, can we somehow make use of Penny's gadgets?”

The mechanic raised her brows. “My gadgets?”

“Huh, now that you mention it, we’ve always played with them whenever we hang out at your house,” said Eloi.

“Yeah, they were definitely fun!” said Theodore.

“Then, which gadgets should we use?” asked Charlie.

“Ohh, how about that box of insects?” Cherry suggested. “I remember seeing them. We can play catch with them like before!”

“Eh? But they’re made for the outdoors,” said Penelope. “And they’re pretty slow…”

Solomon chuckled. “If you wish, I can control them with my Crimoire to make it all a challenge for you to catch.”

“You can do that?” asked Cherry.

“Why, certainly.” He extended a hand radiating red wisps, pulling a few books off the shelves and spinning them around the room. “Controlling light objects is of no issue. I’ll make sure it won’t get stuck behind some furniture.”

“Ooh, now we’re talking a real game!” said Theodore, smirking. “Winner goes to whoever catches the most insects then?”

“Sure,” said Solomon. “And anything goes—just don’t go outside. Is everyone fine with it?”

“Sounds fun to me!” said Eloi, nodding. “Count me in!”

“Me too!” said Cherry, smiling excitedly. Penelope nodded with her as well.

“I don’t mind anything,” said Charlie with a shrug.

“Alright, it’s settled!” said Theodore with a thumbs-up. “Time for some insect-hunting!”

✦☆✦

There Cherry stood, a bug net gripped in her hand, staring at a fluttering clockwork butterfly flapping across the hallway and radiating a trail of red wisps of Crimoire. She squinted like a bird eyeing its meal, and with a stomp of her feet, she charged.

As fast as a dragonfly, it zipped out of her way.

“Ugh, seriously?!” Cherry huffed and panted. “Damn it, Solomon! This isn’t fair! Butterflies aren’t supposed to go this fast!” She swung her net around, chasing it across the hallways.

Playfully, it landed on her head, prompting her to swing her net onto herself without thinking. She stood with a scowl, her net stuck on her head as the butterfly soared away. She hurriedly untangled herself from the net and continued pacing around the hallways until she caught Penelope sneaking and cornering a bronze bee perching on the ceiling.

Penelope poured a portion of her Crimoire into the net, hovered it before her hands, and shot it up, slamming it against the ceiling, but the bee dodged it on time. The net fell to her sides while the bee began flying around her shoulders. She picked her net back up and tried swinging her net around in the same manner as Cherry did a minute ago.

Cherry rushed over and shouted, “Let me help!”

The bee glanced in her direction and back at Penelope. It kept dodging, but when Cherry closed in, Penelope instantly read her movement and swung hers as well.

Both slammed their nets together, successfully trapping the bee inside. The bee buzzed around for a few more seconds before it stopped, releasing a ball of red light that dispersed into the air.

The two spared a moment to catch their breaths and wipe the sweat off their faces. Penelope stared at the bee resting in her net, and with a smile, she handed it over to her friend.

Cherry blinked. “Eh?”

“You take it,” she said. “You helped me.”

“What? No, no, it’s all yours!”

“But I wouldn’t be able to get it without your help. You have it.”

“No, please. I was only trying to help you.”

Penelope pouted.

“...Rock paper scissors then?” Cherry suggested.

“Okay.”

The two spent another minute playing a little game Cherry won in the end. Penelope smiled, handed it over, and walked away.

Cherry frowned, only remembering now that Penelope’s analytical eyesight allowed her to read her movements and let her win. She got her!

With a sigh, she went to a different hallway and continued wandering around.

Somewhere else close by, a copper dragonfly rested on a wall… right in the middle of Eloi and Charlie, both eyeing it intensely.

The two faced each other with the most stern expressions they’d worn yet.

“I’m sorry, friend. There can only be one keeper,” Eloi deadpanned, pointing his net at him.

“And that keeper is me,” said Charlie, brandishing his net.

“And that’s where you’re wrong!”

“We’ll see about that!”

The two stomped their feet and swung their nets, crossing them together and releasing sparks as if they were swords. War cries flooded the hall as the two swung their nets at each other while frequently chasing after the dragonfly that breezed through all their attempts.

In the end, a third net—radiating Crimoire—swooped in, caught the insect, and flew back to its owner. Theodore blew raspberries and bolted away. “Ha! Thanks for the free bug!” he sneered. “See you later, suckeeeers!”

“Oi! Get your ass back here!” said Eloi, chasing after him.

“Yeah, give that back!” said Charlie, following suit.

“If you want it, come and get it!” said Theodore, shooting streaks of Crimoire at the nearby vases and toppling them over. Charlie began to run on the walls while Eloi jumped over.

The three ended up running around across the mansion, blocking each other’s paths, and competing against each other as such, until no more clockwork insects were found. The youths all headed back to the living room, drenched in sweat and out of breath.

“Goodness me,” said Solomon. “Looks like you’ve all exercised plenty.” He scanned at each of the piles they carried in their arms. “Ah, Charlie won. Congratulations.”

“Ugh, no surprise there,” said Theodore. “He’s more built than the rest of us!”

“Honestly, I don’t even care who won in the end anymore,” said Eloi, still breathing heavily. “I’m so tired now.”

“Y-Yeah…” Cherry coughed and set aside her pile of catches. “I’m sore all over…”

Penelope groaned and nodded.

Charlie stretched his arms. “Yeah, it’s been fun, but I think that’s enough for today.”

The other agreed as they messaged their aching legs and shoulders.

Solomon glanced at the clock and crossed his arms. “Alright then. Well done today, all of you. We’ll start our official training at sunrise, so rest up.”

With tired nods, the youths wiped their sweat, left the room, and went to bed as instructed, leaving Solomon alone in the living room. He glanced out the windows, briefly pondering how his other children were faring with Horace. Knowing his old friend, certainly his children were well taken care of.

With this in mind, he left the living room and headed to bed.