Rosie's Games

Lachlan Blaize's face contorted into a frown as he confronted his father, seeking answers to the decisions that had transpired. "So, you agreed to her proposition?" he questioned.

His father, the patriarch, retorted with a gruff tone, his words dripping with sarcasm. "Did you expect me to refuse?" he scoffed, his gaze piercing through Lachlan. "Were you under the impression that I would chase her away? Have I truly raised such a dim-witted son?"

Lachlan's patience waned, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "Stop calling me stupid!" he snapped.

The patriarch seized the opportunity to delve deeper into the turmoil, his accusatory tone resurfacing. "Ah, there you are! I knew you were involved! Is this all because of the woman you brought home?" he bellowed, his eyes ablaze with anger.

"Father, this has nothing to do with Josephine!" Lachlan reasoned, desperately trying to defuse the mounting tension.

"Humph!" the patriarch grunted dismissively, his skepticism lingering in the air.

Their heated exchange threatened to escalate further, but it was Lachlan's son who interjected, his young voice resonating with a surprising sense of maturity. "Can we please stop fighting?" he pleaded, his tone carrying a plea for unity. "Grandfather, Father, we have more pressing matters to attend to."

The patriarch's voice boomed through the room, his disdain clear as day. "There are certainly more important things to focus on than pursuing a woman! A sorceress, no less!" he declared, his frustration echoing in his words. If there had been a table in the room, it surely would have been reduced to splinters by his wrath.

Lachlan grew exasperated, feeling compelled to defend himself. "I am not pursuing her! What do you even think of me? She is as young as my son!" he exclaimed.

"Hah! Don't you know that sorceresses age differently?" the patriarch countered, his argument cutting through the air like a sharpened blade. "She may appear as young as your son, but I suspect she is as old as you are!"

The exchange reached a boiling point, threatening to tear the family apart until Lachlan's son bravely intervened once more. "The demons!" he interjected, his voice commanding attention. The room fell silent as both men turned their gaze to the young heir. "We are here to discuss the demons! We are not enemies! Grandfather, Father, I may not possess the same blessing, but I am still a member of this family. Right now, we must focus on what lies ahead, on the future of our family."

The mention of the word "demons" seemed to jolt the patriarch back to reality. He let out a weary sigh and slumped back into his seat, exhaustion etched on his face. "You are right," he began. "I agreed to collaborate and initiate the creation of the portal as soon as possible because of what the Duchess revealed. There is no need to conceal this from the younger generation. Both of you should listen to what I have to say. You need to understand the true nature of the demons that reside on the other side."

As the Patriarch settled into his seat, the atmosphere in the room grew heavy with anticipation. His son, Lachlan, and grandson leaned in closer, their eyes fixed on the patriarch, eager to hear the tale he was about to unfold.

The patriarch took a moment to collect his thoughts. He began recounting a story that had been passed down through generations, a tale shrouded in mystery and power.

"There was once another continent," the patriarch began. "A place where demons and other supernatural beings dwelled. In that realm, humans were considered the lowest of the lowest, mere playthings in the eyes of the powerful."

He paused, allowing the significance of these words to sink in. The room fell into a silence punctuated only by the crackling of the fireplace, as the implications of this inverted social order settled upon Lachlan and his son.

"The humans in that land were enslaved, forced to endure a life of servitude and oppression. They were treated as the lowest class, devoid of the innate power possessed by the other beings," the patriarch continued, his tone tinged with a mix of empathy and anger. "But amidst their suffering, a beacon of hope emerged—a young woman who would come to be known as the goddess."

The patriarch's eyes gleamed with reverence as he spoke of the fabled goddess, a fierce warrior who defied the constraints of her humanity. "This young woman, born a human, acquired the ancient magic that flowed through the veins of the supernatural beings. She became a formidable force, wielding her newfound powers to protect and save her fellow humans from their torment."

The room was filled with a sense of awe, as the image of the goddess, a warrior of unparalleled strength, began to take shape in the minds of those listening.

"In a daring act of sacrifice," the patriarch continued, "the goddess led her people to this side of the continent, away from the clutches of their oppressors. She shielded them from harm and created a powerful barrier, one that would keep the demons from crossing over and wreaking havoc upon this realm."

Lachlan and his son exchanged glances, their eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and curiosity. They were beginning to understand the weight of the goddess's selfless act and the sacrifices she had made for the sake of her people.

"And before she departed from this world," the patriarch added, his tone growing solemn, "the goddess bestowed upon the seven influential families the abilities they needed to defend themselves from the Dark Lord, the malevolent entity who led the demons from that forsaken another side. She left behind a legacy—a duty to uphold the barrier and protect our land from the encroaching darkness."

Silence enveloped the room as the gravity of the tale settled upon Lachlan and his son. However, this silence had nothing to do with the responsibility that the seven families have. It had something to do with the old man's story. "Why was this not included in the other tales?"Lachlan asked.

What other continent!? They thought the dark lord betrayed the goddess! Isn't this what the seven families had been telling their families?