#syliph

“I don’t know, Stan… Benni is such a good kid despite everything. And I feel like they’ve been… outperforming even me lately. Maybe I should retire.”

Stan rolled his eyes. “For real this time?”

“Yes, for real this time. Besides, I can still keep up with my hobbies.”

“Your hobbies become jobs. You like the praise and attention your work gets you. I don’t think you’re capable of fully retiring.”

“Well, Irma has a contingency plan for when, or if, I do. Honestly, I think it’d throw her through a loop if I actually went through with it.” Alphonse sighed and stared at the ceiling. “When Cadmus finally settled into being a functioning adult, I worried he’d never find something to excel at. Then he got into big business, finance, and whatever else he does around the realm. Then the triplets came along and started carving out their own paths. Artisanal workmanship practically baked into them.”

He paused.

“And I think Benni finally found their spark. Despite the life they were handed… we were never great parents, but I’m proud of them. Proud and a little devastated that they’ve surpassed me.” He snorted softly. “Also mildly annoyed that the fashion genius turned out to be Karnus, who refuses to actually create anything.”

Stan frowned. “What are you getting at, babe? You’re rambling.”

“…I think our time is slowing down. We’re not the main characters in our own lives anymore.” Alphonse’s eyes darted away, suddenly sheepish. “I think we should try to put things right before we’re… written out.”

Stan looked at him for a long moment. “What exactly do you have left to put right?”

“I said we. And it’s not like we’re leaving anytime soon, so we still have time to ask forgiveness and break a few generational curses.”

“Generational?”

“We’ve lived for generations, Stan. You more than me. Our baggage is generational by definition.” He rubbed at his face. “Point is, we should work our shit out now so our later years are easier to live with.”

“What’s easier than this?” Stan gestured lazily around the room. “You keep us comfortable. We spend half the winter fucking to the annoyance of our children.”

Alphonse laughed despite himself, then quieted again. “That’s not the same thing as being at peace with ourselves. Honestly… wouldn’t you rather have a better relationship with Benni?”

“I do have a relationship with them. I get along with Karnus, and the grandkids love me.”

“…Stan.” Alphonse turned to him flatly. “Do you not see Benni as a separate person from Karnus and Syliph...Do you even talk to Syliph?"

“Well, they all came from the same kid..…”

“They’re triplets, We need relationships with each of them individually. Or at the very least, one where I’m not getting shot at with crossbows.”

Cadmus: You should see me in a crown- Billie eilish

Benni: I believe in peace- Kate Douglas

Karnus: Masterpeice- Able heart

"Oh, what a great question! All my children possess wonderful qualities. Except for you, of course. Now, let's evaluate. Who boasts a rather successful business? Ah, yes, Karnus! His gym is thriving, or so I hear. Yet, no one can rival the achievements of the firstborn...triplet, Benni. I mean, those chocolates are truly out of this world, absolutely divine. And then there's our little mind reader, Syliph, who seems to know which book you need without you even asking—truly incredible talents. I wouldn't dare pit them against each other, and you should refrain from asking me that again, Cadmus, unless you want me to go all out on you. I love you all equally so there is no favorite."

@passimtemere

Cadmus was late. Benni and Syliph sat in a booth at Uncle Jeffy’s Speed Burger, the fluorescent lights buzzing faintly above them. The scent of greasy fries and over-salted burgers filled the air, a stark contrast to the anticipation hanging between them.

Benni was slouched in the worn vinyl seat, idly playing Candy Crush, while Syliph sat upright, hands neatly folded, exuding an almost ceremonial patience as he waited for their magic lesson to begin.

Benni glanced up from their game, raising an eyebrow at Syliph’s attire. “Why did you dress up for this?” they asked, popping a fry into their mouth. “It’s just Cadmus. And he asked us to meet here of all places. It can’t be that important of a lesson if we’re doing it in public.”

Syliph adjusted the lapels of his neatly pressed coat and smiled. “It’s a magic lesson. I always dress up for these.”

Benni shrugged. “Fair enough. But that’s when Dad teaches. You never know what lesson he’s gonna throw at you, so you have to dress for anything.” Their eyes flicked to Syliph’s face. “But you look kinda daft wearing safety goggles in a burger joint.”

Before Syliph could respond, the door swung open, and Cadmus finally strolled in, pulling off his sunglasses. In his other hand, he held a Black Star Frappe—a caramel mocha from the café next door, its whipped cream still intact despite the walk over.

The cashier behind the counter opened their mouth, probably about to recite the usual no outside food or drink policy, but Cadmus shot them a withering look. The kind that said, mind your business, you don’t get paid enough to care. After a beat, the cashier just shrugged and went back to the fryer.

Cadmus turned toward his younger siblings, flashing a tired but warm smile. “There you two are! Forces, what a day. I just had to sit through an excruciating amount of political nonsense—all that just to be told which of my businesses to sell off so I don’t get slapped with a monopoly charge. Can you believe it? Really.”

He took a sip of his frappe, exasperation rolling off him in waves as he slid into the booth across from them.

“So,” he continued, setting his drink down, “Dad wanted me to teach you two the importance of wands and…” He glanced at his phone. “And how they direct magic to a point. Plus, how other magical foci work as well.”

He reached toward Benni’s tray, aiming for a fry, only to be met with a sharp slap on the back of his hand.

"Unlike you," Benni huffed, pulling their tray closer, "we don’t have jobs and infinite money for fries."

Cadmus gave a dramatic sigh, looking momentarily wounded. "Fair point." Without missing a beat, he turned toward the counter. “Hey, you. Two fries to the table, quick as you can.”

The cashier, who had already decided not to bother arguing with him, gave a resigned nod and dropped two more baskets into the fryer.

Turning back to his siblings, Cadmus finally noticed Syliph’s eyewear and frowned. "Syliph… you’re blind. Why are you wearing safety goggles? Take ’em off."

Syliph hesitated. “Oh… well, I just wanted to be safe in case anything explodes?”

Cadmus rolled his eyes. “Nothing’s gonna explode today. Relax.”

He spun around, reaching back toward the condiment station. With a quick swipe, he grabbed a handful of straws and turned back to the table. “Now—wands,” he announced, stripping the paper off a couple with dramatic flair. He held one up between his fingers. “These… are wands, right?”

“Wrong. Those are straws,” Benni deadpanned.

Cadmus smirked, letting out a low chuckle. “Nope. These are wands. Watch.”

He pointed one of the straws toward a garbage can outside the restaurant, took a deep breath, and—rather than an incantation—let out a loud, exaggerated burp.

The lid of the garbage can rattled, popped off, then shot straight into the air before landing back in place with a clank.

Benni tried to remain unimpressed, but the sheer absurdity of Cadmus burping a trash can lid into the air was objectively hilarious. Despite their best efforts, a chuckle slipped out.

"Okay, sure… straws can be wands."

Cadmus grinned, victorious. "Yes… but in this case—" He held up the straw, and they all immediately noticed that it hadn’t survived its encounter with his burp magic. The plastic was bubbling and curling back, as if it had been scorched from the inside out.

Benni blinked. "Uh. That feels like a design flaw."

Syliph, still wearing his safety goggles, nodded sagely. "This is why I prepare for explosions."

"The point is," Cadmus continued, shaking the ruined straw for emphasis, "anything can be used as a magical focus. This straw, that fry, my frappe—" He gave his drink a protective glance. "But I like my frappe."

He leaned forward, tapping the table. "If you're ever in a bind, keep that in mind. If you wanna get fancy, though, a proper wand—wood, crystal, metal—will last a lot longer than some random object. In a pinch, even a pencil will do, but those tend to burn at the tip if you push too much power through them."

Benni looked at the melted straw again. "Yeah, no kidding."

"What we call wands is just a general term for anything that helps focus magic to a point—kind of like a laser pointer." Cadmus scanned the room for another example, his eyes landing on a gumball machine near the counter. A thought struck him, and he pulled two quarters from his pocket, flicking them across the table toward Syliph.

"Syliph, get me two gumballs."

Syliph caught the coins with ease and, despite still wearing his safety goggles, moved toward the machine without question.

Benni caught on quickly. "Okay, gumballs are spherical… so that would make the magic… the same?"

Cadmus grinned. "Very good. Not as dumb as you look with your shoes untied."

Benni instinctively glanced down—only to regret it immediately when Cadmus flicked them on the nose.

"And mad gullible, too," Cadmus added with a smirk.

Benni scowled, rubbing their nose. "Every time," they muttered.

Syliph returned, placing the gumballs in Cadmus’s hand.

Cadmus popped one into his mouth and set the other on the tray. Without hesitation, he tore open a salt packet and poured a little ring of salt around the gumball. Then, for good measure, he added a smear of ketchup beside it.

"Alright," he said, leaning back. "It's small, but I want you to clean up that mess—focusing through the gumball."

Benni stared at the tray. "Wait, why did you add ketchup?"

Cadmus shrugged, chewing his own gumball. "Chaos. Now get to it."

Benni rolled their eyes but did as instructed, taking a deep breath and closing their eyes.

They visualized a pristine metal countertop at the candy store—the kind that was polished to a mirror shine, perfect for pouring freshly melted sugar. Holding that image steady, they focused on the gumball, willing the mess to vanish.

And suddenly, the salt and ketchup were gone.

Cadmus nodded approvingly. "Very good, Benni. Have yourself a taste."

Feeling triumphant, Benni popped the gumball into their mouth—only to immediately gag and spit it back out.

"I hate you," they choked out, grabbing their Coke and taking a desperate gulp.

Cadmus gave a chesire grin, propping his chin on his hand. Tastes like Ketchup and salt huh." Soon the fries arrived and Cadmus began to dig in. "I'm sure you'll get your revenge on me. But until then have some fries curtesy of my infinite money."

"Now, children, we find ourselves in the capital for a crucial lesson in etiquette, specifically when interacting with politicians—be it a senator, congressman, cabinet member, or president. Remember, it is important never to bow or shake hands when greeting a politician."

Benni looked at his dad with confusion. "But wouldn't that be appropriate? You told us to treat everyone with equal respect."

Alphonse smiled. "Very good, Benni. I'm glad you remembered. However, politicians are different. They're often driven by personal gain rather than the greater good. While one might assume they are here to lead the world into a better tomorrow, as you've learned in social studies, many politicians struggle to make a positive impact and are primarily motivated by money. Despite starting with good intentions, those rarely endure long enough to make a significant difference."

Karnus seemed to grasp the concept, nodding first. "So what? Does that mean we can bite them?"

"No, Karnus. As much as you might want to, biting a politician is a terrible option. They can be quite greasy and often carry a myriad of diseases. Take this one, for example." Alphonse pointed out a man in a suit with an American flag pin, walking by and attempting to conceal his rather punchable face with an ill-suited beard. "The correct course of action is to give a terse nod followed by a look of disdain."

Syliph raised his hand shyly. "Would you say it's wise to spit at their feet after?"

Alphonse patted Syliph's head. "Well, Syliph, spitting at a politician's feet was a traditional method until everyone started carrying cameras everywhere. I personally prefer to say 'Memento Mori' with direct eye contact if a politician ever seems to have a glint of joy in their eye."

You might think Karnus would be opposed to the idea from the start... and to be fair, he was. However, the prospect of having his own pet, magical or otherwise, was quite appealing to him. So, when Cadmus instructed the triplets to contemplate the idea, Karnus eagerly embraced the task. He was adept at meditating, having spent considerable time doing so in The End. He focused on what he considered the essential qualities of a pet. The idea of having a companion in The End for extended periods was particularly attractive, helping to prevent him from spiraling into madness and conversing with the ghostly images, as he had done before. He envisioned something small, perhaps pocket-sized. To him, Cadmus's massive wolves, which seemed more like hellhounds, were bizarre. Karnus, capable of assuming such a form himself, preferred the idea of a smaller companion. The sound of Syliph stirring snapped him back to reality. Without opening his eyes, he spoke, "Done already? I thought you'd need more time to decide."

Syliph's response was straightforward. "You might think so, but I've already made up my mind. I want a seeing-eye dog, and I know exactly where to find one. It seems Benni has already left without us. Do you need more time to meditate, or would you like to come with me?" His curiosity was evident; it wasn't common for Syliph and Karnus to spend time together, because of their differing social circles even though they had no underlying animosity.

Karnus nodded, his eyes now open. "I'll join you. Besides, I believe we're headed to the same place for our pets, if I'm not mistaken," he remarked, rising and stretching his limbs. The prospect of their shared journey added an element of camaraderie to their quest for companions.

Karnus shared a unique bond with Syliph; despite being "born" at the same time, he often viewed Syliph as a younger brother. This perception might have stemmed from Syliph's demeanor, which suggested a certain naivety or lack of understanding of the world—a trait Karnus felt he shared to some extent.

As they strolled down Animal Alley, a vibrant street nestled in the gold district of the Inner City, they were surrounded by an assortment of shops catering to the needs of current and prospective pet owners. It was a place where one could find anything from basic pet supplies to more exotic pet-related items.

Karnus glanced at Syliph, who was also holding a bell. "Ready?" he inquired.

"Ready," Syliph responded, lifting his bell.

Together, they rang their bells and chanted in unison, "Familiares Invenire." This ritual, performed in harmony, signified their readiness to embark on the next phase of their journey, one that involved finding and bonding with their respective familiars. The chime of the bells echoed through Animal Alley, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.

"Alright, you three," Cadmus began, his tone tinged with slight irritation, "Dad's busy with a fashion show, so today I'm in charge of your magic lesson." They found themselves in Curl Park, a sprawling forest near the Silver District of Inner City, seemingly stretching endlessly. "But today, I'll teach you something genuinely useful—Familiars and how to summon them. Even Karnus can join in, though he might have to resort to non-magical methods."

"Great, thanks. I guess I'll just head off to the pet store, then?" Karnus retorted sarcastically, turning to walk away.

"No, you won't. Get back here," Cadmus commanded, twirling his finger. Instantly, Karnus's feet swiftly reversed direction.

"Damn it," he mumbled under his breath.

Cadmus then turned to Syliph. "Resident bookworm, would you care to enlighten the class on what exactly a familiar is?"

Syliph, adjusting his glasses with a hint of enthusiasm, stood up. "A familiar is more than just a pet or an animal companion. It's a magical entity, often an animal, that forms a deep bond with a magic user. This bond grants both the familiar and the mage enhanced powers and abilities. They're not just summoned; they're connected to the magician's soul, making the relationship symbiotic."

Cadmus nodded approvingly. "Exactly. And today, we're going to learn how to summon and establish this connection. It's a delicate process, requiring empathic energies and an understanding of oneself. Suffice to say, you'd need that anyway if you are going to care for another creature."

"Okay, so what's with the bells?" Bennie asked.

"You should already know the answer. What are bells used for?"

"Announcing intention, summoning, and banishing," Bennie said simply.

Cadmus gave the universal sign for 'right on the nose.' "But before you do that, you need to have a meditative moment and think deeply on what you want, need, and are willing to give to your magical companion. It took me a long while to figure all that out the first time I did this spell."

"Do you even have a familiar? I've never seen you with a pet aside from Cujo and Alter on occasion," Karnus chided.

"Alter isn't... Karnus, shut up," Cadmus retorted. "As for my familiar, you've already met on multiple occasions." He snapped his fingers, and two bodyguards appeared, one in a white suit and the other in black. They hardly spoke a word, but Cadmus turned and gave them a nod. In response, they turned to mist, taking the form of wolves, one black and one white.

"Holy!" Bennie exclaimed, taking a step back, while Syliph did the same in response to the appearance of the bodyguard wolves.

"Oh, relax," Cadmus snapped, and the wolves disappeared. "Now, after your meditations, ring the bell once and say 'Familiares invenire.' Make your intentions known to the universe. Who you are and what you're looking for, about as easy as making a Tinder profile. If you did it right, you'll have a familiar by the end of the week. If not, you can try again."

Benni, Karnus, and Syliph had just completed a long day at school and decided to convene at their cherished sushi spot, conveniently located near their campus. Before school started, Alphonse had emphasized to them the importance of their sibling bond, despite their individuality and desire for independence, suggesting they make an effort to catch up weekly. Initially, they had brushed off this notion, but being creatures of habit, they frequently found themselves at the same sushi place. Perhaps it was the diverse menu that catered to their varying tastes or the secluded seating area in the back, where Karnus could assume his eccentric positions, Bennie could enjoy some privacy, and Syliph could sink into a comfortable armchair.

Their conversations flowed naturally.

"So, Benni, I heard you've become quite popular in the theatre club. I never thought of you as someone with stage presence," Karnus remarked, dramatically lounging upside down on the couch, making it seem like his legs were doing the talking.

"Well, I guess it's all the trauma that makes method acting easier. Plus, I needed an extra elective besides culinary arts, so I thought I could bluff my way through acting class by mimicking Dad," Benni explained with a shrug.

"Oh, that's funny, I'll be keeping an eye out for that. And Sy, how's religious studies treating you?" Karnus asked, a bit unsure where this topic might lead with his bookish brother.

Syliph sighed. "It's not as diverse or intellectually stimulating as I hoped. The professor seems fixated on exploring colonial perspectives of different cultures, which is disappointing considering he's a universalist. I thought he'd be more open-minded, but the classes are disappointingly one-sided. Maybe he's just pretending to be open-minded; I don't know."

Karnus shifted to lie down on the couch, making it easier to sneak a piece of sushi from Benni's plate and pop it into his mouth. "Wow, that's rough," he said, sounding almost nonchalant, though Syliph seemed to miss the hint.

"I know! There are so many captivating cultural beliefs to explore from different angles. I do all my research by immersing myself in the time and place I'm studying. How would my daily life be perceived through my beliefs? But no, he wants us to dissect these beliefs in a clinical manner. I even wrote a thought-provoking dissenting essay on this issue to the department head, who completely ignored it," Syliph lamented, taking a sip of his boba tea.

Bennie couldn't help but smile at Syliph's intellectual frustrations. "Well, you could consider asking Dad to help you gain admission to collegiate cou—" Bennie began, but Syliph cut them off.

"I'd rather not," Syliph bristled at the suggestion. They all often felt overshadowed by Alphonse's influence, making it challenging to establish themselves independently.

Bennie nodded. "Fair enough," they said, swatting Karnus's hand away as he made another attempt to pilfer a piece of sushi.

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