"Well, one of us has to stay behind to make sure that mother doesn't do something truly stupid to the family house. Might as well be me. Sides, I am used to taking her flack at work. Nothing new there" Aloysius took a moment to organise the boxes, so that thst the bigger ones were at the bottom and the smaller ones were ontop.

"Did you get around to practicing those exercises that the Guild showed you? I know they are boring and not great, but they do come in handy" Aloysius did not envy Lola one bit. Having to balance Magical training with schoolwork and vice versa, he was glad he no longer had to do any of it.

Lola watched from her spot on the couch as Aloysius rearranged her boxes for her, a gentle small playing on her lips. He did have a point, someone had to keep their mum somewhat in check and Aloysius had much more bargaining power with her than Lola did. Besides, he was her older brother, it was his job to protect her, right? That's what their dad would always say at least. That was when Al snapped Lola out of her thoughts when the mention of the hydromage exercises the guild gave her.

Although she wasn't as powerful as Salem and Aloysius was next in the Leighton line thanks to both age and power rating she was still a Leighton, great things were expected from her. She didn't feel like a Leighton though, she wasn't strategic or cunning. Although Aloysius was relatively decent there were moments where cracks would show and the potential of a ruthless and pompous person would show, Lola didn't seem to have that. Not to mention she didn't feel powerful, seeming to be somewhat on par with the higher rankers from normal magi families. Honestly Lola wasn't sure if she even wanted to be a magi, part of her wanted to run from it all.

She gives an exasperated sigh. ”Not really. School's been a lot and the SATs are coming up." Only a half lie. Registering to do her SATs in Junior year was an almost tactical affair for the young woman, knowing it could be an excuse to get out of bulk training as she figured out where she stood with her powers.

Aloysius gave himself a slight sigh as he heard Lola's reply. She always seemed to find a way out of practicing. It wasn't that Aloysius was angry at her answer. That wasn't true. He wasn't even disappointed. Confusion was more like it. He didn't understand why someone wouldn't want to learn the full extent of their power. Lola was a powerful woman. And while Aloysius had a high power ranking, Lola was on his heels, not to mention she was higher than her mother. A fact she had done a good job of keeping from Lola it seemed.

"Yiubreslly should focus yourself on your magical studies too. You have an impressive amount of talent. Hydromancey is hard. One of the hardest forms of evocation magic. To be able to master it shows a level of dedication and control. And if I am being honest, I think you would be the only one in the family who could control it. It requires a far more relaxed and calm mind to be able to control the flow of something that doesn't want to be controlled."

Lola didn't want to admit it but it seemed with each passing week their mother's influence seemed to be pushing through. Most of it came off of things he already held dear; a want for power and greatness the most prominent but it seemed he'd now picked up the speeches. To Al's credit he sounded more concerned and caring rather than disappointed in her but that didn't stop the exasperated sigh that escaped the teen. This was becoming reminiscent of the days Esme Leighton cared about her daughter, urging her onto power she wasn't sure she wanted.

At his mention of calm and relaxed Lola couldn't help but chuckle. She'd argue that with the stressors in her life she was far from relaxed but she'd be lying if she said she'd also inherited the classic Leighton uptightness at its full-force, courtesy of the Hayashi's softer temperament. She looks her brother up at down. She was sick of lectures about her potential. That's all she got. From her mum, from the Guild leaders and now from her brother. It was never If this is what you want but always You will

”And what if I don't want to be to master it? What if I just want to be a normal teenager who goes into the world and gets a normal job where people look at me more than my birth given quote unquote "potentional"," she mutters, her eyes pointing to the ground.

"If I am being totally honest, I had never really considered not exploring my full power. To me it always seems strange" Aloysius gave a soft sigh. He knew better than to try and push further. He had always wanted to see Lola blossom into the powerful Magi she had the potential to be. But at every turn she looked away from it.

"Ultimately it is your choice. I can't force toy to learn or get better. And if you want to live a normal life, then I can't stop you. But please don't let mothers opinions and views of you sully your magical abilities. I know the Magi world hasn't exactly been kind to us."

At Aloysius' first proclamation Lola gives an unconvinced snort. ”For someone who doesn't care for exploring your full power you seem to have a lot of 'You should work to your potential' speeches under that belt of yours," she snaps back, looking up at the man. ”I know this speech Al. I've heard it countless times. From lots of people. You need to train harder, you have so much potential, you could be so much better if you practiced I don't think there's any words in the English language that describe potential that I haven't heard." With that the young woman lets out a huff, leaning back into the couch.

"It is not easy being a Leighton you know. I really wish it was easier at times" Aloysius let out a soft sigh. Clearly Lola had crossed the point of caring and had turned on her defenses, snapping back at him for his comment.[/color]

"I constantly get compared Salem. Ignore our relationship for the moment. But just all the things like 'Have you seen how powerful she is? She might be the strongest Magi history has ever seen. I wonder how the other great families will try and keep up? '" Aloysius let out a softer sigh, clearly emotionally exhausted " Every time I walk into that Guild, I am being judged against someone. Every action I make every power I use. Someone is judging my actions."

There he went again, making the conversation about Salem and him. Of the great family children Lola was oft left put or cast aside. Seeming as she was younger than the other two it was to be expected. She didn’t mind not being seen but it could get lonely some days.

”Mm-hm," Lola mutters as the man finishes speaking. ”Thank you for once again making the conversation all about you. Don't know what I'd do without knowing you have it worse," Lola huffs

"I didn't mean it like that. I wasn't trying to turn the conversation across to me. I was just highlighting that we all have it bad in this family. I want to work with you for whatever you want to do." Aloysius threw his hands up, unsure exactly what to do with Lola at his point. He loved his sister, but at times she could be so dense. Not everything was about her and her quiet life she wanted. Like it or not, she was a Leighton.

"I didnt help you get free of mother or help get your money, for no reason. I want you to be happy"

Lola looked the man up and down and gave a sigh. She almost hated the genuineness she could see in his eyes. She wished he was consistent, that those cracks that showed pieces of a Leighton would shatter the glass and she'd have a reason to hate him. Instead she was playing a game of keeping him at an arm's length to prepare for the day their mother won him over while remaining close enough to not lose the last close family member who cared for her.

At his statements, Lola shook her head. ”Sorry," she mumbled. Lola wasn't certain exactly what she was sorry for. Snapoing at Al? Accusing him onhoggung the spotlight, talking bapit her plan. Regardles sorry felt like the right word to say