The Gambit of the Faceless God — Epic Fantasy

Later that day, Caelum and Vaelen sat together with Aurora at the dinner table after having nourished themselves. It now only comprised of a teacup perched in Aurora’s slightly wrinkled arms.

The traversal of time, as well as other disturbances, seemed to have taken an effect on her physical appearance. The luminosity her face had once been embellished in was no more, all left a shell of the woman she once was. Her once beautiful brown hair appeared weathered, the hue of grey overtaking most of her tresses. Her face was wrinkled, shallow, with hollow cheekbones accentuating the state of her fragile body. She was dressed in a silk, loose robe-like coat of white hue over the brown shirt underneath.

The space itself seemed to mirror the comfortable atmosphere. Dark, sturdy wooden surrounding walls carrying paintings of the three when they were younger. A crackling fireplace was also present, broiling calmly in the background before Aurora took the word, staring at her cup with a closed smile.

“Time goes so fast, don’t you boys think? You were both so… small and oblivious… And now—look at you, starting your journeys at the Gaian temple.”

“Not only that,” Caelum chimed in from her right. “But Sequencers!”

“There he goes again…” Vaelen sighed from her left, facepalming, to which Caelum responded,

“Mom, if you had to choose between one of us, who would you reckon to be the strongest?”

Aurora let a bittersweet chuckle escape her lips. “I always saw the both of you as the sun and moon. When you wanted to play outside and cause a ruckus, Vaelen always sought after staying inside with me reading a book or the sort.”

“Not… quite the answer I was looking for…” Caelum sighed as Aurora continued.

“A good metaphor I can think of right now… A wooden ship. I imagine you, Caelum, being the one rowing the vessel, whilst Vaelen is steering it. You may have the strength, but it will only go so far without proper guidance. The same goes for the wheel—it serves no real purpose without any fuel.”

“I like that idea,” Vaelen smiled. “Caelum could never survive without me.”

“Not a bad metaphor, indeed,” Caelum added. “This world seems crazy enough as it is. You would definitely lose your mind if I wasn’t by your side.”

“Well,” Vaelen began, looking at Aurora with his arms crossed. “How are you doing besides, Mom? Are the medicals helping you well?”

“They are, yes… Don’t worry.”

“That’s good. Resigning from a position many could only dream of was always going to be your best choice, so if you still feel any regrets, don’t. I genuinely think you would have been far worse off if you still had to deal with the Assembly.”

Aurora’s eyes turned even darker than they were before as if Vaelen’s words struck a deep nerve within her.

“…Luria… has deteriorated.”

Both Caelum and Vaelen squinted their eyes in contemplation. The silence prompted Aurora to continue her anecdote.

“I can only tell you both since you are my sons… It is the truth. Ever since a certain person rose to power, things changed drastically within the ranks.”

She then took a deep sigh, preparing herself for her next words.

“Did I not tell you about a man who I considered a close friend?”

“Ah, what was his name again?” Caelum asked.

“Dark, wasn’t it?” Vaelen added, to which Aurora slowly nodded, taking a sip from her tea as if gulping down the palpable emotions that tried to escape her body.

“…Yes, his name was Dark. Soon, after a man who went by the name Phineas Leander rose to prominence, Dark passed away. It was prior to Leander’s knowledge that Dark wished to become the First Administrator of Luria. His death was labelled as a suicide, and Wilfred—Leander’s right hand—was given the role instead.”

She then continued, lowering her head slightly.

“…I knew Dark well. He never showed any suicidal tendencies. I was always sceptical about Leander for albeit shallow reasons, but I never forgot the words Dark told me about the man. He was never to be trusted…”

“Soon afterwards, key figures within the Assembly who publicly opposed Leander’s ideals were all either disposed of or killed, much like how I believed Dark met his end. Especially after…”

Aurora stopped herself from finishing her sentence, taking another deep sigh whilst staring into her warm cup.

“…Sorry, I got taken away.”

“It’s okay, Mom,” Vaelen said calmly. “I am sure he is in a far better place now, watching over you with a smile. You don’t have to deal with the Assembly anymore, so just rest enough and be soon rejuvenated.”

She remained silent in response, as Caelum added, his back now leaning against the chair’s support, contemplatively staring into the distance.

“…If people like us could make a change…”

“Bringing a change to a theocracy?” Vaelen said, knowing what his brother had in mind. “As democratic as Ventoria may seem, in reality, it could not be any further from that idea. The people in power will forever remain in power because that has already been preordained even before their birth. People are born to be successful, wealthy, adequate… That is how the world works.”

Caelum ticked his tongue in annoyance.

“What does a theocracy even mean?”

Vaelen then responded, fully turned towards Caelum’s direction.

“You know the temples and churches? Those are institutions that hold the greatest power and influence in this world. The Assemblies like Luria, Zephyr, and Monlay, are all acolytes of the central church, as well as the temples associated with a country. For us, Denevians, the church of Urdall is the central embodiment of the country’s role and purpose within Livayae.”

“However, with the sheer amount of churches and their temples scattered across the world, they all serve as planets orbiting around the dominant sun, the greatest church of them all; the Golden church. It is the Golden church the entire world gravitates towards. Theoretically speaking, the entirety of Livayae could be considered a theocracy.”

He then continued, his voice slowing down, sounding a lot more calm and collected as he lowered his head.

“Bringing a change to Ventoria is equivalent to plucking a single grass leaf in the hopes of stripping an entire field naked. Everything was already destined to be when All created this world.”

Aurora could only stare aimlessly into the distance as she listened along. Caelum looked at Vaelen and began to speak in a rebellious tone.

“So? You think changing the world is impossible when people like me exist?”

He then stood up, confidently looking at Vaelen, who, alongside Aurora, looked at him with silently surprised expressions.

“Remember this well, Vaelen. I will change the world. In one way or another!”

“Is that so?” Vaelen chuckled, crossing his arms. “Well, you won’t be able to do that alone, then.”

“Which is why I have you, Vaelen!”

Aurora then finally chimed in, a closed smile forming on her face.

“As long as the two of you are together, nothing, not even the greatest powers in this world will be able to tear you apart. You should cherish this gift in your lives for having a sibling who loves you just as much as you love them.”

“Of course I do! Isn’t that right, Vae?”

Vaelen chuckled, closing his eyes.

“Right, right. It is getting late. We should be heading to bed now.”

“I didn’t even have to remind you two myself,” Aurora tittered. “Since your sister will be picking you both up tomorrow, I won’t be able to see you off, sadly. But…”

She raised her head to meet Caelum’s eyes and then turned towards Vaelen with a bittersweet smile.

“…Promise me that you will pay me visits every now and then.”

“No worries, Mom,” Vaelen said, patting her hand, as Caelum gently brushed her back with his hand.

“We will be sure to do so as often as we can!”

“Thank you… Sleep well, loves.”

The two brothers then made their way to the upper level after saying their goodbyes to their mother. Aurora’s face turned contemplative once more, taking a sip from her now coldened tea.

***

The next day arrived. The two brothers, as Aurora had foretold, never had the chance to be properly seen off, however, their new, eagerly anticipated journey awaited them. Alongside Helvega, who was dressed in a long black coat that blended seamlessly with the black shirt and pants she wore, stood before the main gates leading into the Gaian temple.

The threshold was connected with towering, grandiose walls stretching from both directions, as well as a large bridge they traversed. Two guards wearing dark green leather armour opened the gates, unveiling a medieval-like town eagerly awaiting their first steps inside.

“Here we are,” Helvega said, taking a deep breath. “Do you both have everything you need? If you tell me now, I can quickly make my way back home and bring the things you’ve forgotten.”

“I’m good, thanks!” Caelum said as Vaelen added the same sentiment.

“Well then, let us go.”

An ornately decorated room housed two important individuals conversing with each other. One was a young woman, Eunice, clad in a dark brown suit that sharply contrasted with her white hair. She had a carefree demeanour, standing in front of one of the large arched windows with her arms crossed behind her back.

“This year’s Inquisition is bound to be quite the spectacle, don’t you think, Simeon?”

Behind her, a man, also dressed in a dark brown suit, sat on the centre wooden table. His demeanour appeared substantially more ‘serious’ than hers. Sharp eyes, short, well-groomed blond hair, and a semi-muscular frame. He sighed, closing his eyes, as he responded,

“While my hopes aren’t high, it is bound to be a special one, indeed. This will be the fifth year of our service to the Gaian temple, and I can comfortably say that this will be the most anticipated one we’ve been a part of to date…”

“It may have actually been a good idea to properly disperse the students for the sake of the family members to remain with each other. Flock of Veils houses members of the Yraemonde family, brought under my supervision, whilst you have been given the responsibility over Pale Fangs, the group comprising the Heamour family—leaving the third group—Jormungandr—in Vash’s hands. The only group consisting of scattered individuals. Not to discredit them, though…”

Simeon leaned over, resting his elbows on his lap.

“Luria’s former First Administrator… Emon was his name, no?”

“Indeed,” Eunice responded, walking back towards the table. “His two biological sons are participating, although under the Jinton family name. Quite ironic given we are dealing with both the Yraemonde and Haemour families, right?”

Simeon chuckled. “I don’t think much resentment will brew amongst these youngins. The people of Ventoria are very well known to be bohemians. Regardless of their shared history, I assume their elders wish for them to just focus on the Inquisition and that alone, rather than engaging in unnecessary conflicts. This is not Vayonne, nor is it Grudea.”

The adjacent door in front of Simeon opened, followed by Vash, a young man appearing quite dishevelled, with unkempt long brown hair, a stubble, and a loose dark brown suit detailing his tall and slender frame. He smiled with closed eyes, waving at them both friendly.

“Sorry for being late, guys!”

“It’s fine,” Eunice said, crossing her arms in front of her. “The Head Master hasn’t arrived yet. We were in the process of describing this year’s Inquisition.”

“Oh, yeah?” Vash began, walking inside. “I do have to thank the both of you again for your hospitality. This is my first time overseeing an Inquisition, so I will be doing my utter best in order to be up to standard.”

“No worries, Vash,” Simeon said. “There have been quite a few adjustments to how the temple decided to hold the Inquisition. Given the status and role of the Head Master within Ventoria, both Eunice and I are confident in believing you were chosen for a good reason.”

The door behind Vash opened the moment Simeon finished his words.

It was followed by the appearance of a certain man.

He was clad in an impeccable red and black suit, carrying his black overcoat in his arms. A tall, and well-defined man in his sixties. His short, blonde hair never diminished its splendour, and the same could be said for his charismatic demeanour and speech.

“A good reason it was, indeed,” he said with a smile, as Eunice looked at him with great fondness and admiration.

“Ah, there you are. We’re glad to have you here.”

“Likewise,” he said. “Let us prepare for the opening ceremony. There’s not much time left.”

Caelum, Vaelen, and Helvega eventually arrived at the medieval-esque ceremonial building, with green vines latching onto its facade. In front of the building, a long, stone-arched gateway was situated. Beneath the gateway, three other individuals stood in front of the wooden door, awaiting the arrival of the two brothers.

They were a trio of late teenagers. The tallest, most commanding attention one was a young man named Declan. He was dressed in a dark brown leather, loose-fitting long coat over the black shirt he wore underneath. He had a handsome face, and his hair was short blonde.

Next to him was an androgynous young man named Lunar. Someone noticeably shorter than the other two. He was dressed in a form-fitting hooded black tunic. His skin was smooth and pale, and his white tresses were short and curly. His face appeared charming. Not as chiselled as Declan’s, but a lot more… eloquent, in a way.

Finally, there was Geneve. A well-built young lady almost as tall as Declan. She had long, crimson-red hair that fell over her shoulders. Her skin was tanned, and she was dressed in a white Victorian blouse with loose sleeves that matched well with her black pants. Her face often seemed serious, and unsocial.

Caelum waved at them upon arrival, greeting them all with a joyous tone. Declan walked towards him with a wide smile, patting his back like a proud father.

“Look who it is!”

“Perfect timing,” Vaelen said behind Caelum, crossing his arms as he, too, smiled. “Seems like the three of you got ahead of us.”

“We did,” Declan said. “Not too long ago, though.”

“Let me guess, did Declan bring you both here?” Caelum asked, looking at the other two. Lunar stepped towards him with his arms crossed behind his back.

“He did. It wasn’t necessary to bring guardian figures since we only needed to have our identities confirmed.”

He then raised his head to meet Helvega’s eyes. “Though, it seems like your sister brought you here. It is a honour to meet the caretaker of Ventoria’s greatest library here, within the clutches of the Gaian temple.”

“It’s okay,” she smiled. “They wouldn’t be able to locate the ceremonial room without my aid, anyway.”

She then took an uplifted breath as she looked at Geneve, who also stepped into their bubble. “Do the three of you know about the upcoming procedures?”

“As far as I know…” Geneve began. “We’ll be given keys to our dorms at some point, as well as the Initiation Ritual that will take place soon after settling in.”

“Correct,” Helvega nodded. “It seems that the other groups have already gathered, given you are all the only ones outside the building. I will have to stand by the background, so this will be the last time we’ll see each other for a little while.”

“Thank you for bringing us,” Vaelen responded. “We’ll make sure to visit both you and Mother as soon as we can.”

“Don’t worry about that for now,” Helvega smiled. “You can think about visiting us after you’ve done your necessities.”

She then turned to the other side, passing a final wave before walking towards the adjacent building, where parents or guardian figures were to spectate the ceremony. Declan took the word after silence seeped into their bubble, folding his hands.

“I couldn’t help but eavesdrop on some people who apparently already knew about the other students. It seems like we’ll be dealing with members from prominent families.”

“Oh?” Caelum sounded, raising his eyebrows, as Lunar added, lowering his head.

“Apparently, people from both the Yraemonde and Haemour families are participating in this year’s Inquisition.”

His words caused Vaelen to squint his eyes.

“Yraemonde…”

Lunar then turned his head towards him. “Ah, you remember?”

“I do. I am quite well-versed in the history of our family, the Jinton family. For as long as the Jintons and Yraemondes were established, they, in essence, initiated many wars against each other for the sake of Grudea, the homeland of the Jinton family.”

“However,” he continued. “It went far deeper than just that. The two then acknowledged Heads, during the fourth Age, were known to have a deep-seated hatred and resentment towards each other. For centuries, the Yraemonde sought after the destruction of Grudea so that it would correlate to the downfall of the Jinton family.”

“But, at a grander scale-wise, none of their plans ‘really’ succeeded mostly because of the alliance between the Jinton and Haemour families. This resulted in even more conflicts between Haemour and Yraemonde primarily within Vayonne, the homeland of the Yraemonde family.”

Lunar then crossed his arms, adding to Vaelen’s anecdote.

“Makes you quite curious as to how this Inquisition will play out, no?”

“We’ll find out later,” Geneve said, opening the door. “Let’s head inside.”

***

The group was met with a small threshold with three different pathways leading towards different directions. Geneve took the lead, walking onto the left verge as the others followed suit. After several moments, she opened a second door which led right into the heart of the ceremonial room.

It was a wide, empty vast space that only comprised wide, lengthy balconies for the guardians and parents to stand on. Helvega was to be seen alongside just two other individuals. A middle-aged man and a middle-aged woman, both dressed in dark, Victorian suits.

The two other groups were indeed also present. Standing at the far right, and far middle of the space. Whilst most of them did not mind the arrival of the third group, one of them, a young man, dressed in a brown suit with a leather hat over his curly blonde hair turned his pupils towards them. The moment his eyes were met with Caelum’s figure, he couldn’t stop the corners of his lips from curling up in a closed smile.

Caelum and the others respectively took their stance at the left, as their attention was lured towards the centre of the room, where another balcony stood, allowing for the Head Master to step inside…

…Helvega, standing above, held a rather composed demeanour until it all shattered as soon as the Head Master stepped inside. Her eyes widened, her mouth left ajar, as sweat began to rise from beneath her skin. Phineas, dressed in an ancient, dark green layered robe that was engraved with intricate carvings, revealed himself from the shadows.

Ph… Phineas?! Helvega thought once more.

“Welcome to the Gaian Inquisition,” Phineas began, his deep voice echoing throughout the large, hollow space. “My name is Roderick Clinton, the Head Master of the Inquisition. It is a pleasure to meet you all.”

Vaelen squinted his eyes recalling Aurora’s tale from the day before. He then cautiously turned his head to the left to see Caelum looking right back at him, silently mirroring his passive emotion.

Phineas cast a quick glance at Helvega, as if he was aware of the tumultuous state of her mind. He then turned his attention back to the students, reaching his right hand in the air.

“The time has come for the worthy students of the city of Ventoria to gather and journey towards their Awakening. Given this period is considered a ‘trial’ procedure, meaning that your capabilities will first be tested, I advise you all to succeed your limits if you want to be someone acknowledged as one of the strongest individuals Ventoria has ever witnessed.”

“Officially, this is the 250th Gaian Inquisition. Our Saint Avarion’s name shall be cherished, and held in high regard during this sacred period. Given the Gaian Administrative Office already predetermined the groupings, your assemblage shall be titled with a given name, followed by the arrival of your respective masters.”

After uttering these words, he clicked his finger, commanding a large, arched hole to form on the wall beneath him. From within, the three Masters stepped outside and stood adjacent to each other, silently awaiting Phineas’ guidance.

Phineas then turned his head to the far left. “Starting from the Haemour family. You will be given the name ‘Flock of Veils’, and will be put under the supervision of Eunice Wintermann.”

Eunice then stepped towards the Pale Fangs and graciously greeted the five group members.

“The second group will be titled ‘Pale Fangs’, Phineas continued. “And it will be held in collection by Simeon Carley.”

Simeon then stepped towards the group comprising the Yraemonde family, greeting them all with a bright demeanour.

“And lastly… we have Jormungandr, who will be taken care of by Vash Duncke.”

Caelum turned his eyes towards Vash’s approaching figure, who then gave everyone a firm handshake before turning back towards Phineas.

“Any possible queries you may have, your Master will be your main guiding point. They will be the ones explaining the upcoming procedures,” he said, as he continued,

“You will all be staying in three respective dorms. Each dorm consists of all the necessities you may need. Given your short arrival, let your Master guide you all towards your places of accommodation. Station your luggage and settle in before we begin the Initiation Ritual. I will see you all soon.”

Vash then turned towards the others, speaking in a friendly, whispering tone.

“We’ll be going first, follow me.”

Helvega, still standing above the others, silently watched Caelum’s group depart from the ceremonial room before turning towards an adjacent door leading towards the other building. The two other figures turned their heads towards her with little to no care for her actions.

***

Meanwhile, Vash led the group through the town, with pedestrians, most dressed in dark green layered robes passing by. Ancient-looking buildings, their facades evidently eroded with time, serving to accentuate the mystical atmosphere that encapsulated the place. He then turned towards the others, speaking in his usual friendly tone.

“Is the place finding you all well?”

“It exceeded our expectations, truly,” Declan responded, to his left. “We were already aware of how the Gaian temple was amongst few others one of the most aesthetically pleasing temples—but experiencing it firsthand is definitely a stark contrast to the tales we’ve been told.”

“Indeed,” Vash began, smiling. “We are currently close to the heart of the temple, where the Gaian Creed resides. The temple primarily consists of three separate locations: the threshold, where anyone interested in our culture and methodology is welcome to enter. Often visited by children or students under the age of eighteen.”

“Secondly, we have the Inquisition. This is where everything regarding one’s Inquisition occurs, given its advantageous location, with a few gates leading straight towards the Great Eastern Forest, the place where most of your quests will happen.”

“Lastly, we have the Creed, the holiest of places, where those who succeeded the Inquisition and wish to delve deeper into the Gaian phenomenon are allowed to enter. It is there where the Creed, as well as the Ruler of the temple, reside. The only times when the Creed is open for outsiders is during special and honoured ceremonies, such as the Gaian Requiem, where fallen soldiers, who served the temple, are memorialized and sent to the eternal Continuum.”

“Ah,” Lunar said, placing two fingers under his chin. “So that was it. I always assumed the Gaian temple was just one massively-scaled place.”

“Not at all,” Vash responded. “Most temples are built this way. This is why, when people comment on the state or situation of a temple, they will most likely refer to the outer layer. In our case, it would be the threshold. As you may know, given the threshold is situated in Eastern Ventoria, it is not necessarily renowned…”

“…But! Let me properly introduce myself,” he continued, raising his pointer finger in the air. “You can all just call me Vash. This will be my first time overseeing a group for an Inquisition, so I will be sure to do my best!”

“That’s reassuring to hear, Vash!” Caelum smiled.

“Surely!” he responded, taking a few moments before continuing as he squinted his eyes at the two brothers. “Caelum and Vaelen, wasn’t it? I learned that both of you were adopted into the Jinton family. Your father, Emon Moreau, was someone widely considered to be one of Ventoria’s most successful individuals. But you must have heard thousands of tales about his adventures at this point.”

Caelum, still smiling with closed lips, lowered his head as he responded,

“We don’t really know much about him. Most of what we’ve been told was regarding his role within the Luria Assembly. At the peak of his career, it was said that he was picked to become Luria’s new Head, but it was during that period when he suddenly vanished from existence…”

“The same goes for our biological mother,” Vaelen said, mirroring Caelum’s bittersweet crestfallen demeanour. “She died while giving birth to us, which resulted in Aurora taking us in as her own.”

“But, hey,” Declan joined in, patting Vaelen’s back. “That is not to say your current household is any less than Emon’s heritage. Like, seriously, I should be jealous of how well-off the both of you are. Aurora was also a former member of the Assembly, and held an esteemed position as both Emon’s right hand and the Head Overseer of Operations.”

“Not only that,” Lunar added, next to Caelum. “But Helvega, Aurora’s daughter, ended up becoming the Caretaker of Ventoria’s greatest library.”

He then smiled at the brothers.

“Quite the weight of responsibility that has fallen on your backs, no?”

“It doesn’t matter!” Caelum explained, raising his fist in the air. “We will all pave our own paths and reach greatness! Your birth is and will never be an excuse for the dreams you have,” he then turned towards his brother. “Is that not right, Vae?”

“Indeed it is,” he nodded, as Geneve from behind chimed in, her arms crossed and eyes closed.

“Funny how even our dreams are scattered around, perfectly mirroring our group as opposed to the other two.”

“The Inquisition was actually supposed to hold around thirty participants, but some prominent changes were made, and the ones left available to be invited just so happened to be you all, as well as the other two groups,” Vash said. “The groupings often consist of people from various backgrounds, so this is most definitely a special occasion.”

“Indeed,” Declan responded. “That, as well as the fact that this is the 250th Inquisition, officially. However, given the Gaian temple is one of the oldest out there, how did people become Awakened under the Gaian influence?”

A doubtful expression washed over Vash’s face. He, as a Master, was expected to be knowledgeable regarding Gaian history. It was a completely reasonable explanation with a reasonable answer, yet, Vash remained silent for a few moments, casting the question away as he said,

“…Good question. Perhaps you may find more about the history in one of our libraries.”

“You guys have libraries here?” Caelum sighed. “What’s up with Ventoria and its libraries, man? It’s as if there has to be a library in any corner I turn towards…”

“The main city only has two libraries,” Vaelen retorted. “As far as I am concerned, the libraries designated for temples aren’t considered ‘libraries’, there’s a specific term for that.”

“They are referred to as Divine Archives,” Lunar responded, his arms crossed behind his back. “Places comprising old books and tales regarding any specific temple. However, fragments of their books aren’t limited to the Archives alone. For example, a book containing the history of the Gaian temple can reasonably be found within any regular library due to Ventoria’s alliance with the church of Urdall.”

“Indeed,” Vash nodded, confidence suddenly alighting his countenance. “Ventoria solely houses the church of Urdall, the central point of the entirety of Deneve. Correspondingly, Urdall’s church has two acolytes, which are the Gaian and Arcane temples. The distribution of the holy books throughout the country stems from the Convention Slate. Have any of you been taught about this specific event?”

“Yes, I remember,” Vaelen said, staring into the distance as a horse-powered carriage passed them, its driver waving his hand in the air in greeting. The group would then arrive at a long bridge that led straight towards their dorm which was now visible in the long distance.

“The Convention Slate, in essence, refers to the third Age when the church of Urdall signed a treaty with the two temples to further spread out their alliances. The Slate, currently held within the church, held various agreements stemming from Inquisitions, infrastructures, associations with foreign temples, and the distribution of materials, as well as intellectual resources, which I will assume the allocation of the holy books within the generic libraries stem from.”

“Seems like someone’s well taught, huh?” Declan jested, as Caelum responded,

“He’s always like this. It doesn’t outweigh his lack of social skills, though.”

“Very impressive, young man!” Vash exclaimed. “It seems that the Inquisition will be held in good hands!”

***

Outside the temple, Helvega would have already crossed the bridge leading to the main parking lot. She sat in her car, contemplating Phineas’ appearance.

What… is happening?

Why is Leander here…?

Is it not practically impossible to overtake the role of a Head Master at any given time?

Why… why is he here?!

Urgh!

…

There was no mistaking it.

That smile, that posture…

…Mother has to know about this!