Spellbound Empire: Reincarnated in Balance

Midterm was crazy but ay we won in the end, but the real problem was just arriving... The greatest enemy of all time, my nightmare of freedom... Dad's sisters... My aunties...Vesperithia and Cassandra... Damn those ladies I hate em...

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"Dad!! Do we really have to go?! I don't like it there!!" I said groaning as I flop back to the couch.

"Dad... I also kinda don't like aunties... They're scary and overly dramatic..." Zyron said as he has also suffered the same annoying fate as me. Dad gave me a look, the kind that made you feel like the most ungrateful kid alive. I hated that look. I hated it because I knew what was coming next.

"Laziel, family is important," Dad said, in that calm, patient tone that made it impossible to argue. "Your aunties just want to spend time with you. They've been asking for weeks"

"Yeah, to ruin my life," I muttered under my breath, earning a sharp glance.

Zyron leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Dad, let's be real. Aunt Vesperithia thinks we're her personal servants, and Aunt Cassandra... don't even get me started on her drama. She'll make us listen to that story again, the one where she almost got engaged to some prince but turned him down because she 'loved herself too much...'"

Dad chuckled. "She just wants to share her experiences with you."

"Her delusions" I corrected, sitting up. "Dad, I'm serious. Every time we go, they act like they're queens and we're peasants. Last time, Aunt Vesperithia made me carry her entire shopping haul. In public. Do you know how embarrassing that was? People took photos, Dad"

"And don't forget the time Aunt Cassandra yelled at us for not complimenting her new dress enough," Zyron added with a grimace. "She called me 'ungrateful' for not noticing the shade of gold matched her earrings. Like, who even does that?"

Dad sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Look, I know they can be... difficult. But they're still family. And sometimes, you have to put up with things for the sake of family..."

"Why?" I asked, throwing my hands in the air. "Why do we have to suffer because they're unreasonable? Just because we're younger doesn't mean we owe them anything. Respect goes both ways, doesn't it?"

Dad didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gave me that look again- the one that told me I'd already lost.

"It's just one afternoon, Laziel," he said finally. "You'll survive"

I groaned, flopping back against the couch dramatically. Zyron followed suit, muttering, "We're doomed..."

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By the time we arrived at Aunt Vesperithia's mansion- a garish monstrosity of gold and marble- I was already planning my escape. Zyron had a similar look of despair plastered on his face.

The door opened, and there they were. Aunt Vesperithia, in a gown so sparkly it could blind you, and Aunt Cassandra, dramatically fanning herself like she was about to faint.

"Darlings!" Vesperithia cooed, pulling us into a suffocating hug. "Look at you! Still as scrawny as ever, Laziel. Have you been eating? You look starved-!"

"Nice to see you too, Aunt Vesperithia," I said through gritted teeth.

"And Zyron!" Cassandra chimed in, pinching his cheek. "Oh, sweetie, you look so tired. Have you been sleeping? You know, your aura looks dull. You really should try that tea I sent you- it's life-changing!"

"Yeah, sure, Aunt Cassandra," Zyron mumbled, avoiding eye contact.

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The afternoon was worse than I'd feared. Aunt Vesperithia immediately put us to work, ordering us to rearrange her furniture because she decided the "feng shui was off." Zyron and I spent two hours moving sofas and vases while she criticized every angle.

Cassandra, meanwhile, had us sit through a slideshow of her latest "spiritual journey," which was just an expensive vacation to a spa in the mountains. She paused every five seconds to lecture us about "self-love" and "manifesting greatness."

"See this waterfall?" she said, pointing at the screen. "I meditated here for five hours. It was life-changing. You boys should try meditating. It might help you grow!"

"Then why the hell is your brain not intact yet after all this meditation-!!" Is what I wanted to scream... But couldn't.

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By the time we left, my patience was gone, my back hurt, and my sanity was hanging by a thread.

"Dad, this is cruel and unusual punishment," I said as we climbed into the car.

"Yeah," Zyron added, slumping in his seat. "I feel like I aged fifty years in there..."

Dad just laughed. "You'll appreciate them one day, I promise"

"Doubt it," I muttered.

But as much as I hated it, I knew we'd be back. Because that's how it works. No matter how annoying or overbearing they were, they were still family. And sometimes, even the coolest guys have to put their pride aside for the sake of family.

Even if it's the worst.

I turned around and looked at the invisible camera, "My fellow suffering readers, stay strong"

"Big brother, please don't lose your mind yet" Zyron hushed me as he closed his eyes and went to sleep.

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_To Be Continue_