Pious Newelle looks up after his prayer, a smile creeping onto his face at the sight of his assembled family, their heads bowed, each one holding the hands of two others. He takes a moment to be thankful for each one in turn as eyes move across the table.
- Jessica, his wife of 17 years, mother to four of his six children
- Daniel, his eldest son, and heir to the Newelle family name.
- Psidias, the middle son
- Habib, his youngest boy.
- and Anna, his only daughter, until three months ago anyways, born between Psidias and Habib.
Pious did not acknowledge the look he recieved from his wife as she once again had to remind Kaleb of proper table manners, instead he watched the young Ni-Kunni girl who had barely said a word since she arrived into his custody. As it had been since she arrived, she had all but finished before most of the family had barely started. Jessica had resisted his request to continue increasing her portions until a time was reached that she would be unable to finish her meal. Ultimately, as master over the household, his desire was obeyed. She had steadily grown healthier looking, her complexion becoming less sickly, and good dose of meat forming on the childs naturally thick frame.
"You know... no one is going to take it from you, don't you?" He asked of the young girl.
She did not raise her eyes to meet his, but nodded an unconvincing nod.
"Mmmhmm" was his equally unconvinced reply.
Anna began shaking her head towards Mitara, but she quickly morphed her head shake into a scan of the room, looking for some unknown object as he shot her a scolding glance. For each of Kaleb's transgressions, lapses in manners, or other slights to the Order of Things, hers was an exact opposite. It was as if she was born Amarrian, even moreso than his birth children. All it took was one instruction on behavior, or beliefs, and it became as natural to her as breathing. This was not some mimicry either, of someone simply trying to appease, it was if all these things were already part of her, but just needed to be pointed out to be flipped on. He let the thoughts out of his mind as the dinner continued on.
"I am going to take Habib with me tonight, Father" Psidias spoke, sounding more like a question than a statement at the meals end.
"Mmmmh... You have spoken with the Sensei about bringing your brother to the dojo?"
"Yes, Father. He said he would try to arrange for an appropriate Kyu to pair Habib with." replied Psidias before covering his mouth as he coughed.
Pious felt a pang of guilt as he looked upon his middle son. He was a lean young man, but what strength he did have was etched into his body for all to see. Years of combating multitudes of sicknesses had taken its toll, but his spirit was as bright as a sun, and Psidias would not let himself be withheld from whatever athletics he set his mind to.
"What sin did I commit to force such trials on this lovely child?" Pious silently asked.
He was about to comment to Psidias about Habib's partner when something caught his eye at the end of the table. Mitara had actually looked at her new brothers with something that resembled interest.
Pious stood as he pushed his chair away from the table and started walking towards his study.
"Take Mitara with you."
He smiled to himself at the sudden silence behind him while he walked.
* * * * *
"Be quiet!" yelled Habib at the chuckling Psidias, covering his left eye.
"Now tell me what happened again?" a confused Pious Newelle asked of the same laughing boy.
"Well, Sensei thought since they are both the same age and neither have had any training, that they would be a good match, Father." Psidias was now fending off his younger brothers flailing fists with ease. "He was more worried about Mitara really..." Psidias's laughter stopped adruptly as he missed deflecting one of Habibs now increased flurry of blows.
"Enough."
The two boys stopped dead at the hint of command in their father's voice that was usually reserved for his Navy subordinates.
"Go."
Psidias and Habib quickly dissappeared from the study, leaving a frightened young Ni-Kunni girl trembling in the corner alone with their unhappy father.
"Come here."
Mitara obeyed immediately, but did not take her eyes off the floor.
Pious held up an open palm to the girl, "Punch me."
Her body began to shake even more, and her voice came out meek and broken, "I cannot, Sir."
"Do as I say."
She flinched at the increased command in his voice. Willing herself to obey, she took the stance the Sensei had shown her, spotted her target from the corner of her eye as she looked away, and slammed her fist at it as hard as she could. Mitara closed her stance, placed her hands before her, and planted her eyes at her feet.
The seconds passed as hours as she stood there awaiting her fate.
"Good girl."
His voice was no longer commanding, but soothing, warm.
Pious reached out, gently raising the childs chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. He held her gaze for a moment before drawing her into a fatherly embrace. She stiffened in his arms, but did not resist. "Progress," he thought, before releasing her. This time she held his gaze afterwards, "More progress."
"My subordinates call me Sir, Mitara. You are my daughter, and I am your Father." He nodded at her, willing her to comprehend. His only response from her was her level gaze. Sighing, he added, "You will go with Psidias again tomorrow."
The girl's lip quivered a moment, then one corner curled up ever so slightly. She looked back at the man with a thin lipped, smug half-smile, "Yes, Father."
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