<i>Better late than never,</i>Valentine left Asterrio’s home without a goodbye. He would be seeing everyone tomorrow anyways, what goodbye would he need for them?<br/><i>I’ll need all my clothes that fit, I’m sure Callum has a shirt or two that I can take if I don’t have enough… all my clothes were his at some point anyways. I’ll take my books, and the star chart dad bought me, and the telescope… </i>He would leave everything except the presents his dad had given him over the years. The telescope and star chart were his birthday presents from years ago, on clear nights when his father wasn’t home, and sometimes when he was, Val would go out and look at the stars, finding constellations and his father telling him how they told directions.<br/>‘<i>If you can read the stars, Valley, then you’ll never be lost. The stars will always guide you to where you need to be, even in the open waters.’</i><br/><div class="bbCodeSpoiler">
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</div>Valentine opened the door to the small hut that the Graylaw family lived in, awaiting the chaos that was about to unfold among the family of four.<br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(204, 204, 204)">  “Hey, Ma, is Dad home yet?”</span>Valentine stood awkwardly at the door, ready to make his escape into his room if Thomas Graylaw wasn’t home.<div class="bbCodeSpoiler">
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</div><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(247, 218, 100)">   “He’s in the living room, brat, now get out of mah hair!” </span>Imogen Graylaw shoved roughly past Valentine, going outside and coming back with a bucket of snow.<br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(32, 178, 170)">  “Valentine,” </span>Thomas called kindly from the living room, sitting in his rocking chair beside the fireplace with a book in his hands. He put the book down as Valentine stood in front of him, smiling warmly at his youngest son.<br/><div class="bbCodeSpoiler">
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</div>Valentine noticed that his father hadn't changed at all since he'd last seen him, almost three months ago. A comforting constant in his life. The only constant, between his mother and brother's stormcloud moods and the regularity of Ashburn.<br/>Callum looked up from whittling a piece of pine at their father’s voice. While Valentine had their father’s ginger hair and green eyes, the warmth and colors of summer, Callum had their mother’s sharp features and gray eyes and ashy blond hair. They couldn’t look more different.<br/><div class="bbCodeSpoiler">
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</div><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(204, 204, 204)">   “I have a surprise for you, Dad, but you can’t freak out or anything,”</span>Valentine rocked on the balls of his feet, nervousness tingling in his bones.<br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(32, 178, 170)"> “Yes, Valentine? You seem happy, did something good happen?”</span>Thomas leaned back in his chair, rocking gently as he looked up expectantly at Valentine.<br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(179, 179, 179)">  “Two people from White Castle, that school down south- anyways, two people came to Ashburn to examine students for potential and to give out scholarships, and I was one of the students picked. I get to go to White Castle to study, isn’t that amazing? It’s fully paid for, you don’t have to worry about paying any money, and I’ll get to go and learn how to get even <i>better</i> at my memory magic, and it’s going to be so fun, and Annie gets to go too! I can’t wait to go, and I’ll send letters every week, so you’ll know how I’m doing, and I’ll study hard so I can make you <i>proud </i>of me, and-” </span>Valentine paused to take a breath, shaking in excitement as he looked around at his family. Imogen had come into the living room, the spoon she had been holding now on the floor at her feet. Callum had stood up, shaking.<br/>Only Thomas Graylaw was looking as proud and happy as Valentine felt.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(243, 121, 52)">“You can’t be serious,” </span>Callum laughed in disbelief,<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(243, 121, 52)">“you’re a damned fool!”</span><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(179, 179, 179)"> “I- I <i>am</i> serious, Callum, they did a test and everything and I <i>passed</i>. Mr. Dayyan did an interview and I <i>passed it</i>. Please… Ma? Mom?”</span><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(247, 218, 100)">  “What? Do you want me to jump for joy that you’ll finally be out of my home? Honestly, expecting to be praised for the tiniest thing, White Castle is far beyond <i>you</i>, and you’ll just be a blip in its fine halls,”</span>Imogen scoffed.<br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(32, 178, 170)">  “Imogen! Please, he’s our son, be happy! Valentine, I’m thrilled for you, you’ll do very well, you were one of Asterrio’s star pupils when you went!”</span>Thomas got to his feet, hugging Valentine.<br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(32, 178, 170)">  “<i>Imogen, enough</i>,” </span>he heard Thomas hiss at his wife, Imogen scoffing as she went back to the kitchen. Callum went outside, slamming the door behind him. Valentine saw nothing of it though, safe and protected in the warm and solid arms of his father. Thomas hugged him tightly, smoothing ginger curls, not unlike his own.<br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(32, 178, 170)">“I always knew you would be great, Valley,”</span>Thomas whispered,<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(32, 178, 170)">“I’m so proud of you. Go to White Castle, son. Make friends, study hard, and be happy. You have my blessing.”</span><br/>Valentine sighed.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(204, 204, 204)">“I will, Dad. Thank you.”</span>