Chapter: 580 – Auntie

Tala, Rane, and Lea spent more than an hour slowly going through breakfast, trying various things.

Throughout the process, Tala had an odd dissonance within herself. On one side, she felt undeniable love and attachment to Lea. She felt like the automaton was her daughter, and desired to protect, nurture, and instruct her.

On the other side, she felt like she shouldn’t feel that way.

She hadn’t carried Lea, nor birthed her—those two being obviously linked—and she wasn’t genetically related to the body before her at all.

She understood that genetic relation wasn’t required for parent-child bonds, but she’d thought that it was needed for such immediate attachment. She also understood that some people struggled with attachment, even when there was that component.

As she considered the facts, and analyzed her own feelings, she came to a realization. It was really only her Paragon level senses and practice analyzing souls that made their connection so starkly, undeniably obvious. It was tangible to Tala in a way that just wasn’t the case for most people.

This was her child, she knew it down to the core of her being—literally within her very soul—and no one and nothing was going to change her mind.

Oh, Tala. This might get messy.

Alat chucked. -That’s an understatement. If the powers that be decide she needs to be destroyed?-

Then we’ll leave. We’ll fight our way out if needed. She looked up, meeting Rane’s gaze, and she saw a spark of the same determination—likely due to thoughts along similar lines—echoed in his eyes.

Lea was looking at the greatly diminished spread of food before them, and spotted a sausage out of her reach. She pointed. “I want that sausage.”

Rane smiled. “Lea, don’t just state what you want. We’ve been talking about this.”

“Give me that sausage.” She nodded once, satisfied with her change of wording.

Tala huffed a laugh. “Lea. You need to ask politely.”

The girl grimaced slightly, then looked toward Rane once more. “Father. Would you give me that sausage?”

He nodded. “You’re just missing one word there, little miss.”

Lea tilted her head, narrowing her eyes for a moment before speaking again. “Please… don’t call me ‘little miss’.”

Tala hid her renewed smile behind a hand, and Rane blinked at their daughter a few times before centering himself and nodding. “Alright, Lea. Please ask politely.”

Lea watched him in return for a moment, but after he didn’t move to give her what she wanted she capitulated. “Would you please pass me that sausage, father?”

“Of course.” He did so with a smile, holding onto it as she tried to take it. One eyebrow rose in expectation.

The girl saw his face and remembered what they’d discussed over the past hour. “Thank you.”

Rane let go, smiling. “You are most welcome.”

They had quietly—and rather without having to directly discuss it—decided to begin working with Lea on manners and proper ways to interact with people. It had started rather naturally with the whole ‘berry’ interaction, and simply built from there.

It was something that parents normally had years to both teach and model for their children. So, Tala and Rane were at a stark disadvantage, but Lea was a quick study. After they’d explained to her that interacting with others was a must—and if she wanted those interactions to go well, she needed to be cordial—she was willing to hear them out.

They had no idea what punishment would look like with Lea—if there would even be any in the first place—but Rane had taken the tack of patiently ensuring that she asked and acted properly before giving her what she wanted, and that was bearing fruit.

I suppose having a child that understands what we’re saying makes all this much easier. Still, they would have to decide how to handle bad behavior.

-It would be kind of funny to see you try to spank an automaton.-

I mean… she can feel through the white steel as if it were flesh, and I’m durable enough, but would it even be useful? What would be the point?

-I more meant it was a silly thing to consider, not as a serious suggestion.-

Oh… I guess? It does hit an odd chord. I don’t foresee it happening though.

-True enough.-

Tala wasn’t even considering such discipline in the context of regular parenting. She and Rane were in uncharted territory, here. She did know that while she hoped to never need to discipline Lea, it would be foolish to assume that the girl would act perfectly. With that in mind, never considering how they’d react would just be foolish.

Rane and I will need some time…

-Very true. Enar and I can watch her… but not soon. We have a lot of appointments with people about this whole situation.- Alat only gave a beat of silence. -Speaking of which, Mistress Ingrit will be here in about a quarter hour.-

Oh! Tala frowned. Alright. I suppose we should start preparing, then.

Tala cleared her throat, getting the attention of her husband and daughter. When they looked her way, she smiled.

“Mistress Ingrit is going to be here very soon. Before she gets here, Alat and I thought it would be worthwhile to introduce Lea to Lyn.”

Rane lit up. “Oh! That’s a great idea. It will let Lea meet someone new who will be an easier first attempt.” He hesitated, then amended. “Not that Mistress Ingrit isn’t a kind, wonderful person of course.”

Tala nodded, then turned to their daughter. “Lea? Are you ready to meet Lyn?”

The girl hesitated a moment, then gave a slow nod. “People seem nice. Yes, please.”

Alat had been in communication with Lyn, and so the adjunct was ready for it when Tala willed her to join them.

Lyn blinked a couple of times before orienting on Lea. She gave the girl a bow. “You must be Lea. I am your auntie Lyn.”

Auntie?

-Hush. Don’t spoil it. Lyn is doing her best to forge an immediate connection.-

Through a familial title? I suppose that might work?

-Most people aren’t you, Tala. They aren’t us. I think it will help Lea.-

Lea stood—just as Tala and Rane had told her was appropriate—and gave a slight bow. “Good to meet you… Auntie?” She glanced toward Tala and Rane. “You are father’s sister? Or mother’s?”

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Lyn smiled. “Oh, no. Sometimes a good friend of the family is called an aunt or an uncle. I fall into that category.”

Lea brightened at that. “Oh! Auntie Lyn, then.”

“Yes.” Lyn had a smile on her face, but Tala could see tension in how the older woman moved, and in how her expression was just a bit forced. Even so, she had been informed in no uncertain terms what Tala’s—and presumably Rane’s—stance was on Lea, and she was open to understanding it.

The four of them chatted for a bit before Tala felt Mistress Ingrit approach the location Alat had given her from which to enter the sanctum. “She’s here.”

That caused everyone to pause.

Lyn had gotten more comfortable over the few minutes of conversation. Part of that was likely due to the fact that Lea acted exactly like a little girl would, rather than as the killer construct she appeared to be.

Tala willed away the remnants of the food, along with the table, and brought over another chair before opening a portal for Mistress Ingrit to step through.

She could have simply willed the Librarian inside, but it was more polite to allow her to step across the threshold entirely of her own volition.

Mistress Ingrit didn’t show any nervousness as she entered.