Chapter 19 - Journey to Adulthood

<Two years later>

Dear brother Adelphos,

Have you been well? We have all been great. Our parents have been extremely excited about your recent academic achievements, I'll never hear the end of it! As you aren't coming home this holiday, I wanted to send a letter to share the good news with you as soon as possible. Elina and I have both been accepted to the same academy as you! Once the next academic year begins and this holiday finishes, we will be able to see each other much more often. I hope you are just as pleased with the news as I am. As always, I look forward to hearing from you. I shall see you around the academy in a few weeks.

With love, 

Your ever impatient sister, Persephone 

The two years had passed by in a blink and yet had felt like it had lasted an eternity. I was preoccupied with diligently studying and didn't notice the seasons passing by me. Of course the seasons weren't the only things to change. For I had grown enough to no longer be considered a child, but not yet enough to be considered an adult. On the boundary between the two, I was continuing to change. As my dark red hair grew until it reached my waist, my features continued to sharpen. My bright yellow eyes continue to adorn my pale face, that may have been one of the only constants in my appearance. In accordance with my appearance, the number of harsh calluses on my palms increased with each inch added to my height. I was, in all ways, Persephone Gabris. Regardless, I found security in the fact that despite my constantly changing outward appearance, at the core of who I was, nothing had changed. In stark contrast to my now villainous appearance, Elina bloomed with a gentleness that cannot be put into words. Her wavy blonde hair that was often braided, was so light it could have been mistaken for white. Her face never lost its childlike softness, her deep blue eyes always shining with excitement and determination. No matter how old she was, her milky white skin was always contrasted with a soft blush residing on her cheeks. 

Despite all of that, our friendship remained the same. Elina and I studied tirelessly to be accepted to the same academy as our brothers, and our acceptance was the fruit of our labour. We had spent many days with each another, studying through the night and ensuring that we would never have to wonder 'what if we had tried harder'. This being the case, we did have lives outside of studying. The two of us had supported one another in growing more comfortable in the presence of others. And so, through pure determination, we gradually became more involved in social activities. Surprisingly, it hadn't taken very long for us to find ourselves making new friends, two of whom were May Croce and Charlotte Hart. It was strange in a way, how Elina was destined to be close with them, but also how I now found my place among them. Unsurprisingly however, Elina was at the forefront of every social event. Many would turn their heads at her passing, hoping to catch another glimpse at her beauty. She soon became regarded as the 'Yellow Rose of the Empire', someone one cannot merely reach out and grab, but also someone who many sought after. My reputation had also gotten significantly better. Aside from Theodore and his lackeys, no one was against me, at least not explicitly. I was no longer feared nor scorned, I was just another person.

Although it had been a while since I had seen Adelphos and Helios, they too had undergone a metamorphosis. Their earlier slim appearance was now replaced with muscles that were no longer comfortable to the touch. Their now chiselled appearance made them seem intimidating but all the more eye-catching. Elina as the Yellow Rose was still nowhere near as sought after as the two of them. Where they went, hearts were broken in tearful confessions and firm rejections. Perhaps that is what adulthood would do to people. It would take them some place else and rid them of any childlike features, to form someone new. They had broken out of their cocoons and come back as men who barely resemble their past selves. 

More than anyone else, Helios had changed. One day, our relationship had inexplicably fallen through. The efforts I put into maintaining our friendship were no longer reciprocated, and day by day, we had become strangers to one another. I was merely the friend of his sister and he was the friend of my brother. It was painful, seeing someone I was fond of suddenly pushing me away without reason. Had I known what I had done wrong, I could have apologised for it, but instead I received no explanation. The letters he would send me gradually stopped coming and so I also stopped sending them. I woke up from a long dream and found him a long distance away, no longer in arms reach or a short letter away. Now, I only hear of him from others. If someone had asked me what he was like, I couldn't say. All I knew was what I could see and take at face value whenever he came for Elina or Adelphos. Everyone was aware of this tense atmosphere between us but they were just as confused as I was. Only Helios knew why he tossed me aside and threw away our friendship, but he has always been good at keeping secrets. Without my knowledge the present had become the past and we are no longer who we were. Now our memories together were just that, memories. 

Upon my 16th birthday, I began to receive marriage proposals from families wishing for power. It was easy enough to distinguish the good from the bad, the power hungry from the genuine. Although everyone had assumed I would still get engaged to Theodore Vitalis, I was quick to reject the Vitalis family's proposal. The relationship between the two of us had not improved in the slightest. Regardless of how rarely we would bump into each other, we were always at each others throats. Even when he was a potential suitor, his terrible attitude would not go away. I couldn't pinpoint exactly why he was so hostile to me but I also didn't care enough to ask. If he wished for a fight, I would give it. Thus, I had decided that Nicholas Slater was the best candidate out of all of the ones I had received. I made everyone aware that I would get to know him once we both reached the academy, and only then would I make my decision on the engagement. Thankfully, both my family and the Slater household accepted my proposition.

Nicholas was someone I initially wanted to avoid, what with him falling in love with Elina in the game. It made me feel uncomfortable choosing him but he was the best of the lot. His father was the emperor's direct aid and his family had a good reputation, it was enough to know that they didn't seek more power. It's still strange seeing people in terms of their social standing but there was no other way. I was constantly bombarded with men who only wanted my name. An easily claim to fame for the men who only view women as objects, incapable of accomplishing anything by themselves. Until I found someone who wouldn't do that, and could be a decent person, I was holding onto Nicholas as a life line. My considering his proposal would stop others from coming in and would prevent men pestering me. I assume he must have felt the same, given how quickly he agreed to my requests.

With not long left until the start of the academic year, everyone was busy buying stationary and uniforms. The hustle and bustle of excited students filled the streets wherever I went. They were in the shops buying daily necessities, in the restaurants celebrating their acceptance with family, and at the parks meeting up with friends for the last time. Every corner of the town was filled with excitement of a fresh new start for the youth of today. I was no better, spending most of my remaining days outside. The joy from the acceptance letter was taking long to die down. Summer was leaving but it felt as though it had just arrived. Elina and I packed our suitcases with enthusiasm that was hard to beat. As the weeks passed and it was finally time to leave, our hearts were beating out of our chests. Elina had said goodbye to her family first and head towards my house to pick me up. As her carriage approached I began to say my goodbyes.

"Make sure you constantly send us letters, okay?" my father says.

"Of course. For every letter you both send, I'll send two in return", I respond.

"I've packed some warm clothes into your suitcase for you. Make sure you don't get sick", my step mother warns.

"I won't", I smile.

"Don't forget about me!" Anna chimes in.

"It's impossible for me to forget you."

None of us had anything more to say but we also didn't want to be the first one to say goodbye. It was up to me to start.

"Goodbye, take care of yourselves", I say as I envelope them all in a warm hug.

"You too", my parents reply, speaking over one another.

"I'll get going now", I whisper softly as I begin to let go of them and slowly walk towards my carriage.

I wave all the way until I reach the carriage and continue to wave until me and the carriage are out of sight. From now on, our journey to adulthood would begin. As Elina and I looked at each other, we both knew that we were embarking on a journey that would shape who we would become.