Ahah, some lazy post because help69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDZURZoyH4
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Mercury and Oliver were cloud gazing one sunny summer day, taking turns pointing at the sky and laughing. To help with his own language skills, Mercury tweaked his brother’s vocabulary. The luxury of illusions.copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡwc2dYJRj4d
Mercury lets out one last chuckle and sits up. “I think that’s enough for today.” Oliver sits up with him with a playful nod. The two hug, and in their embrace Oliver shimmers into non existence. A small hollow sensation fills his chest as Mercury stands, brushing himself off. Oliver wouldn’t even remember today. The downside with illusions.copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2wQA1CVf9
He heads back inside the cabin with a heavy sigh. He felt Isaac’s eyes dart briefly in his direction as he kicked the door closed with his foot.copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPU7r1vBTA
“Is everything alright?” Mercury is asked.copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXZVUdkItY
“Of course,” He replies, avoiding the General’s gaze. Isaac maintains his skeptical frown, yet returns to the newspaper he was reading that morning.copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJFdTBHSPr
“So how was your time with Oliver?”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WoVtuf0a0
Mercury couldn’t help but smile. “Same as always.” He reaches for a bowl from the cupboard with one hand while opening the silverware drawer with the other. The spoons, forks, and knives all clink together merrily, waiting to be used.copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡoN1rdRRc80
Isaac chuckles on the couch. “I wish I had a brother.”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8leegTZgwc
Mercury turns to look at him. “You were an only child?”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQht5uTAme
“Sadly,” Was the hummed reply, and the General turns the page. “Jae and Sam are as well, if my memory serves me correct. The others weren’t entirely close with their siblings.”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8N043kF04
“How unfortunate,” Mercury sighs, reaching for a box of cereal. “Hungry?”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjMSijU6Kn
“Already ate, thank you.”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKmOZv6WPo
Mercury finishes preparing his cereal and takes a seat next to Isaac, cradling the bowl in his hands. Everything was so easy nowadays. Compared to his old home, where they grew all their food. He was practically built for farming, harvesting wheat and milking cows and going to the market for vegetables with Oliver…copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKhL9QUyl5
He stalls for a moment, spoon in his mouth. Without knowing it, he sucks the milk from the cereal, leaving behind a mass of partially damp food behind.copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhTUSn3Toa
He chews the bite and swallows hard. The bowl was cold in his lap as he sat comfortably on what would have been a privilege to have back in his time. Now everyone had a couch, and now it was almost practically expected to own one.copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJhpzIC7HF
Oliver would have liked the couch.copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43JixShorF
“Do you ever summon illusions?” Mercury asks, keeping his eyes fixated on his bowl. “You know, like I do with Oliver?”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2elu7BsNZ9
“I’d be lying if I said that I never did,” Isaac replies with a sigh. “But not recently.”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡQq461spzQN
Mercury clangs the spoon against the ceramic bowl as he goes for another spoonful, the chime ringing for a few moments before fading. He could hardly remember what it was like eating from wooden bowls and wooden spoons, with milk that was lukewarm and that spoiled seemingly the next day. His cereal was oats, or sometimes it was a thin slice of bread. It was hard living on the farm, but he was used to it. Now all he was today was being spoiled rotten.copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIViiVOeKR
Isaac folds the newspaper and places it on the coffee table in front of them. “You humans…” He shakes his head. “You’re all very interesting, if I say so myself.”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzBNKRv4Jp
“Thanks,” Mercury replies blandly.copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlvnmKon8D
Isaac stands from the couch with a small smile. “I mean it sincerely. The others would rather see your race burn.”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcrrjGsUzD
“I’m well aware.”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡED9swGEpkW
Isaac fingers his gloves. “I’ll be out back doing a bit of my own practicing if you need me.”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tMPMyAPIF
“Mhm.”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5O2cgsFzl0
“I was beginning to think you were avoiding me.”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsCOTKzi8o
“I…” Isaac chokes. It has been a while since they spoke. Too long.copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1QGnEGT8J
Edwin grins at him. An illusion, sure, but he was almost as lifelike as he was when he was alive. With memory retention no less, possibly the hardest part of illusionary magic to perfect.copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHEjVz7Ej2
“I’m sorry, I’ve just been so busy lately,” Isaac says.copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCaP8z4Y7Q
“Well,” Edwin spreads his arms. “We’re here now, aren’t we?”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeL3MFI4VS
Isaac nods. He waves a hand to his left, and a set of chairs appear. The Illusion Dome he had summoned shimmers and shifts to a view of London. It’s been a while since he’s been here, too.copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrsV2DYjJ8
They sit and watch the humans go about their busy lives, the sun high overhead.copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡhT9EftrxwF
“I see much has changed,” Edwin hums, staring at the cars below.copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVmms5AHgU
“Those are cars,” Issac replies with a sigh. “Yes, a lot has happened.” Too much has happened. Guilt churns in his gut, making it light and bubbly in a bad way. He fingers his amulet, gaze fixed to the streets below.copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡzW06Iq1S4I
“I’ve been teaching magic,” He says. “To a kid called Mercury.”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWhoKezH5M
Edwin’s gaze makes his skin buzz. “Really?”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHiEhxHg48
“I… took him a few years ago from his family. But he’s back on Earth and… well, we made a deal.” His eyes dart towards his Second. “I teach him, and he returns kids to Earth.”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIw1rTys46
Edwin’s smile grows again. “That’s good to hear.” He turns back to the cityscape. “Does this mean you’ll Fade?”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0555V24fC4
“No, why would I?” Isaac replies, anger seeping into his voice. “Even so, I won’t subject Mercury to the others. There’s too much on my shoulders to just pass on to him. Maybe one day, in a century or so.” His mouth hangs open for a moment. “I really want to see you again.”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsHRd57Ycm
Edwin chuckles, leaning to rest the side of his head in his hand, elbow propped up on the armrest.copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKoSTMRzrl
“Is that why we’ve not talked in a while? Because you took what I said to heart?”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡi69t3EaEyk
Illusions won’t fill the void, Isaac.copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnhFmvWIZv
Isaac taps his thumbs together. “I guess so. And…” Finally, he looks at Edwin, and the two lock eyes. “And I’ve enjoyed teaching Mercury.”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcXSAquHJh
“That’s new,” Edwin muses. It makes Isaac chuckle lightly.copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTHhJwRlPY
“Yes, I’ve enjoyed my time with him,” He echoes. “He’s bright and hard working. The only downside is that illusion he constantly summons…” He trails off. He was one to speak.copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxsEIeGowa
“Oh?”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNvW5NMo2N
“He sometimes ignores his practicing for Oliver. His younger brother who died a few centuries ago. Mercury’s hung up on him.”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnjfzYNzS6
Edwin scowls. “Is this illusion like me?”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPGkUHGD6I
Isaac shakes his head. “Oliver doesn’t retain memories like you do.”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡc35ihPA7kR
“And you’ve not cared to teach this to Mercury?”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iZ2qub3TH
“No…” The word comes out quiet, shame stirring within. He probably should have, a long time ago. He’s not even tried to help Mercury get over it at all. In almost every way, Mercury was finally developing with the times, but… he was still, in a way, very young. He didn’t have his family anymore, and he was trying to fill that void. Like what Isaac tried to do, when he first came to Earth. When he summoned Edwin almost every day, to cry or to talk or to have the feeling of comfort.copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfJWSZoMHA
“I’d like to meet Mercury,” Edwin says.copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99wRhSajM3
“Soon,” Isaac replies. “Very soon.”copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡOR1X8R9SuM
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