Thirteen days had passed since Roric's departure.
Brynja and Sigrid were in the house's kitchen, beginning their first tasks of the day.
"Thirteen days," Sigrid murmured. "He barely comes out. Only for meals... and even then, he forces down a few bites and immediately returns. His night lamp is constantly lit. I don't even think he sleeps."
"The Captain gave orders, Sigrid. The child isn't going to forbidden areas. He's in his room or the training room. Minding his own business. But yes, to be closed up like this... it's not normal."
"He hasn't visited the Silverfang Clan again either," Sigrid added. "I thought he would at least pay a courtesy visit."
Brynja shrugged. "Perhaps he doesn't want to get into trouble in the Captain's absence. Or... perhaps he's up to other things in that room." Both knew what those things might be. Energy experiments, forbidden by the Captain.
But it wasn't their business. Until the Captain returned, all they could do was wait and observe.
"Fortunately, the Captain should be back today or tomorrow," Brynja said. "Then we'll see what's what."
At that very moment, in the training room, Aurelion was as silent as a breath.
For thirteen days, these stone walls had been his sanctuary, his temple, and his laboratory.
Roric's absence had granted him an invaluable space of freedom.
Now, he was in one of the basic stances Roric had taught him. But there was no longer the clumsiness, the strain of the early days in his stance. He had gained a fluidity, a balance.
His movements were soft yet resolute. As he transitioned from one stance to another, the tensing and relaxing of his muscles, the rotation of his joints, everything was as it should be.
But the real change was a detail that would be difficult to notice from the outside.
During his movements, especially when he moved his arms or legs rapidly, a faint, a pale, golden energy would appear and disappear around his limbs.
Sometimes, when he threw a punch quickly, momentary, tiny, white blue sparks would crackle at his knuckles.
There wasn't the slightest sign of strain on his face. On the contrary, satisfied smile played on his lips.
"The conservation of energy... A fundamental law. Energy is not lost, only transformed." This knowledge, a remnant from his past life, was a simple but now priceless truth. "The Core energy here is no different. When I move, when my muscles work, energy is expended, kinetic energy. But at the same time, heat, friction, a kind of waste energy is also generated. Normally, this would be lost. But what if it isn't?"
He smiled without opening his eyes. His discovery was simple, but its implications were revolutionary.
"That kinetic energy born from movement... I can convert it back into Core energy. Not entirely perhaps, the efficiency is still low... but I can recover some of it. That's why I can continue for hours without tiring. My body has entered a cycle. Movement generates energy, energy supports movement."
"And the reverse is also true." When he focused his internal energy on a specific muscle group, he had felt how that muscle responded instantaneously, stronger, faster. "Converting Core energy directly into kinetic energy... Instantly increasing physical strength." He wasn't a master of this conversion yet either, he couldn't create large bursts, but even those small increases, when used at the right time, could be lethal.
"This knowledge..." he thought, a satisfaction rising within him. "That Vespera... or those so called masters in these clans... They just feel, they try, they repeat blind methods passed down through generations. But I understand. I know the fundamental principles. This knowledge... with this knowledge, I can make Vespera kneel before me. With what I can offer her, I could buy her damned soul in return. But no..." His expression hardened. "This is my weapon. The foundation of my unique path. It will not be shared with anyone. It cannot be copied."
He slowly raised his hands in front of him. Tiny sparks began to dance again in his palms, under his control.
They were brighter now, more regular. "Different from the simple energy flares of these pathetic whelps or those who think themselves strong... This control, this understanding... This will be my difference."
His pride was stroked, but at the same time, there was an impatience within him. When would he be able to transform these sparks into something like lightning from the sky? Time... Damned time.
He returned to his movements, suppressing the thoughts in his mind. He had to focus. Solidify the basics, perfect his control. When Roric returned... yes, when Roric returned, he had to be ready. He knew what he would show him, what he would tell him.
He quietly pulled the heavy door of the training room shut behind him. The faint smells of food and sounds coming from the kitchen were calling him. He had expended energy, and his body needed fuel.
"Finished your training, Aurelion?" Sigrid asked. "You seem to have pushed yourself hard again, you look a bit pale."
Aurelion just nodded and took his place at the table.
Brynja turned to him. "You shouldn't exhaust your strength completely before the Captain returns. You spend hours in that training room... Are you sure you're only practicing the basic stances the Captain taught you?" She coughed lightly. "Sometimes when I pass by the room... it feels different." Even these servants, perhaps, could smell the the energy leaking from Aurelion.
Aurelion ignored Brynja's veiled insinuation. He knew what the woman meant. "I'm just concentrating, Brynja. As the Captain said, mind control is important."
"Come on now, sit down. Brynja made a wonderful stew today," she said cheerfully. "Maybe you'd like to go out for some fresh air after eating? It's not good to stay inside, in that room, all the time."
Aurelion shrugged indifferently. "No need." He picked up his spoon and focused on his food. The servants' curiosity was annoying, but he had more important matters at hand for now.
He had just taken a few spoonfuls when the door of the house was knocked. Brynja and Sigrid looked at each other in surprise.
"At this hour?" Brynja murmured. She put down the cloth in front of her and straightened up. "We weren't expecting anyone. I'll get it." She headed towards the hall. Sigrid followed her curiously.
Aurelion continued to eat, but his ears were on the conversation in the hall. Brynja's voice, then a muffled male voice from outside... A short conversation. Then the sound of the door closing and Brynja's returning footsteps.
When Brynja appeared at the kitchen doorway, there was surprised expression on her face.
She was holding a folded parchment, sealed with red wax, official-looking. She approached Aurelion directly.
"Aurelion," she said "This letter is for you."
Aurelion frowned. For him? He wasn't expecting a letter from anyone. "From whom?" he asked.
"The warrior at the door said he was from the Frost-Axe Clan," Brynja explained, handing the letter to Aurelion.
"The seal is theirs too. I don't know why they would send you a letter, but... he said it might be an invitation? Something about that girl from the orphanage who's your friend... Lyra?"
Aurelion looked at the proffered letter. The icy axe seal... Frost-Axe... These names didn't mean anything in his mind, just one of the six powerful clans. But Brynja's last words... Lyra.
Aurelion's gaze suddenly sharpened. What could Lyra possibly have to do with the Frost-Axe Clan? It was illogical. He slowly took the letter.
He carefully broke the wax seal, unfolded the parchment. His eyes quickly scanned the lines.
"Young Aurelion,
Our Clan, Frost-Axe, would be honored to host a valued guest such as yourself, who is under the protection of Captain Roric, in our clan. We have recently learned that young Lyra, who has left the orphanage to join us, is also a close friend of yours. She is quickly adapting to her new home and training, and would undoubtedly be happy to see a friend like you by her side.
On this occasion, we would like to host you at our clan at your earliest convenience, to allow you to spend time with Lyra and to offer you our clan's hospitality. We will be awaiting you at any time you deem suitable.
On behalf of the Frost-Axe Clan,
[Seal of Leader Einar]"
When Aurelion finished reading the letter, the parchment remained motionless in his hand. His eyes were fixated on the phrase, "young Lyra, who has left the orphanage to join us." He read it again. And once more.
Lyra... had joined the Frost-Axe Clan? When? How? Had she been adopted? Why hadn't anyone said anything? How could this be? And the others? Kael? Elara? What had happened to them?
A cold fire had begun to burn in his eyes. Was this a trap? A game? Or... was it real? While he had been cooped up in that training room for thirteen days, what had been happening outside?
Brynja and Sigrid, noticing the sudden change in the child's face, they looked at each other worriedly.
Aurelion slowly raised his head. Then he suddenly shot to his feet.
"I need to go to the orphanage," he said. It was like an absolute command, leaving no room for questioning or explanation. "Now."
The absolute certainty in his command made it impossible to object.
"Alright," Brynja said. "You're coming with me. Not alone." She gave Sigrid a quick glance. "You stay here, Sigrid. Let us know if the Captain returns or if anything else happens."
Sigrid nodded worriedly. Aurelion, however, had already headed for the hall, as if he hadn't heard Brynja's condition.
Brynja hastily threw on her thick cloak and followed the child.
Together, they stepped out of door of the house, into the stone streets of the Upper District.
They didn't speak a single word on the way. Brynja carefully watched the tense steps of the small figure beside her.
Aurelion's face was expressionless, like a mask, but his golden eyes were locked ahead, towards the direction of the orphanage.
When the familiar orphanage finally came into view, Aurelion's pace quickened unconsciously.
The main gate was open, and the muffled roar of the usual orphanage chaos came from within. Children's voices, scurrying feet, caregivers' orders...
Aurelion burst through the door. The common hall was crowded as usual.
But Aurelion didn't see this general chaos. His eyes scanned the hall rapidly. He was looking for familiar faces.
There, Harek and a few Northerner children were in a corner. Over there, near the food line, was that small, blonde child had pushed. A little further, leaning against the wall, there was aGrok. A few Northerner beside him...
They were all there. The familiar, annoying, known figures of the orphanage...
But they weren't who he was looking for. His eyes searched for two specific people. Kael... Aurelion scanned the corners of the orphanage.
No. He wasn't there.
His gaze scanned the hall again. Elara... Was she in her usual spot by the window? That freckled face, those anxious green eyes...
He couldn't see her either.
He looked again. More carefully. Every corner, every group...
Lyra's orange hair would have been immediately noticeable in the crowd. Kael's calm posture... Elara's usually timid silhouette... None of them were there.
He stood calmly in the middle of the courtyard. The blood in his veins quickened.
For a moment, the world seemed to fall silent. Lyra had "joined" the Frost-Axe Clan. The letter said so. What about Kael? What about Elara?
The pieces in his mind began to connect rapidly. Those thirteen days... Those thirteen days he had shut himself in the training room, cut off from the outside world... Everything had happened while he was gone. They had taken his team, in a planned, coordinated manner.
"So they too..." he whispered to himself. They were gone too. All three of them... Taken by the clans. Why? How? With whose permission?
Just as these thoughts ravaged his mind, he felt a gentle touch on his shoulder.
Brynja was beside him. "Aurelion? Are you alright? What happened?"
Aurelion didn't answer. He slowly turned around. And there she was. At the other end of the hall, standing in front of her office door, looking directly at him, was Linnea.
There was a complex expression on the woman's face. A faint smile at seeing Aurelion here again, but also a deep sadness in her eyes, perhaps some guilt, and the weight of an inevitable confrontation. She knew. Linnea knew everything.
Aurelion's eyes turned to ice. The shock and confusion within him gave way to a single, pure emotion. Cold, sharp wrath. Without a word, he began to walk directly towards Linnea.
Linnea, seeing the child approaching, the dangerous glint in his eyes, the complex expression on her face vanished, replaced by tense anticipation.
She knew what to say, how to begin, but she couldn't predict Aurelion's reaction.
Aurelion stopped right in front of Linnea.
His golden eyes, without blinking locked directly onto Linnea's blue ones. The silence stretched.
Then Aurelion spoke. His voice was low, but leaving no room for argument.
"Office." He paused, then repeated the command. "Now."
Linnea silently nodded and turned, opening her office door.
Aurelion entered right behind her. Brynja hesitated for a moment at the doorway, then enter.
Linnea gestured for her to close the door. When the door closed, Aurelion and Linnea, with Brynja beside them, were left alone in the silence of the office.
Linnea went behind her desk but didn't sit. She stood, her hands clasped in front of her.
Aurelion, on the other hand, stood straight in front of the desk. His eyes hadn't left Linnea's for even a moment.
A few more seconds passed. Linnea took a deep breath, as if preparing to speak... But Aurelion didn't give her the chance.
He narrowed his eyes. He uttered a single word.
"Explain."