Illuminated regrets

[Iron Dragoon]

"Hello! I was hoping to find you all here!"

[Anastasia]

Father stands up and says, "We're here, Alyssa. What is it?"

[Iron Dragoon]

"I've decided to leave for a time. I brought you all here and uprooted you, so I thought I'd offer to continue the trend. Would you like to go with me?"

[Anastasia]

"We had a long talk about this," Mother says, demurring after that.

"We will. Family stays together," Father agrees, "Not only when it's easy."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa smiles at them.

"Thank you. But you do have places here, and I will be back. If you come with me, it won't be easy, and I'll have to rely on you for at least a few things."

[Anastasia]

"We're  with you," Father insists, "I'm not ready to retire yet."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa nods.

"And Alihana?"

[Anastasia]

"Ahem," Alihana clears her throat, "I was trying not to ruin the moment, Father said it all."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa considers.

"Alihana, I once asked you what you wanted to do. Before I take you with me, I want an answer for that. What do you want to learn, to do?"

[Anastasia]

With a moment's beat before a smile, Alihana says, "Be the sister of someone famous?" A hand is on her hip, "I'm heading for spinsterhood as it is, but at least that lets me do it comfortably."

[Iron Dragoon]

"No. I will not allow it."

Alyssa walks up and takes her hands.

"You aren't just the sister. You are you. Don't give up on anything because you're trying to compare yourself to me. You can and will find your place if you want to come with me. Whatever you have interest in, even if you have a hundred ideas, we will try every single one until you're happy."

[Anastasia]

That smiles sours right away, "It was a joke, you idiot," she snaps, eyes blazing. "If you can learn magic," she tosses her hair back, "Anyone can!"

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa gets a knowing smirk.

"Then you won't have an issue with my personal tutoring. I expect you to have all the books for the entry level magical calculations, circles, and arcane languages copies for personal use before we leave."

[Anastasia]

"I will." Alihana agrees, "You can wait and see on that."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa grins mischievously.

"I can't wait to cause chaos with both of casting spells."