Dawn washed the council hall in a golden glow.The air smelled of paper, wax, and strategy. On the central table, the kingdom's maps showed Zeknier's latest movements: a web of red points advancing like veins of fire.
Tifa, standing before them all, kept her hands clasped behind her back. Around her were Blair, Asori, Mikan, Mikrom, and Aisha —the last curled up with a cup of warm milk between her hands.
—Zeknier isn't the only danger —Tifa began—. His generals are receiving a portion of his power. Some can channel his Astral, becoming as strong as the ancient bearers. If we want a chance, you must all grow stronger… together.
Mikrom nodded gravely.
—So he can give his power to others? That would explain why Kael endured so much during the tournament.
—Exactly —Tifa replied—. What he did with Kael was only a sample. If he replicates it with his other followers, we'll face enemies who wield not only technique, but overwhelming force.
Mikan folded her arms.—Then we need to level up, as Asori would say.
The young man raised a brow.—Me? What do I have to do with this?
—You're always talking about "getting stronger to protect Blair," so I reminded you —Mikan teased.
Asori sighed while Blair tried to hide a smile.
—And you will —said Tifa—. But not with simple training. Each of you must seek guidance. There are Sages who embody the elements, and perhaps among them you'll find a way to balance your power.
Blair looked up.—When I was a child I had a teacher… Aurelia, the Crimson Forger. She taught me not to fear fire, but to listen to it. But she disappeared after my parents' incident.
Tifa nodded.—I've heard rumors. They say Aurelia took refuge in Donner, the Realm of Lightning. Beneath the sleeping volcano of Kaenor. If she's still there, perhaps fate is guiding you, Blair.
The young woman nodded, a fiery resolve in her gaze.—Then I'll go find her.
Tifa regarded her with pride.—You're a prodigy, Blair. Your command of Astral is something seen once every several generations. Even your parents would be proud.
A voice from the back broke the silence.—Prodigy?… —Asori echoed, arching a brow—. Blair, a prodigy?
Blair turned to him, crossing her arms and lifting her chin with pride.—That's right. Your girlfriend is a prodigy. You should feel honored.
Asori pointed at her, scandalized.—Honored? Two days ago you almost left me bald!
Mikan's eyebrow shot up, amused.—What?
Asori folded his arms, wearing the face of a victim as he looked around.—She tried to practice a fire-arrow technique and used my head as a stand for an apple.
—Exaggeration! —Blair shot back, blushing yet defiant—. I only missed because of you! You wouldn't stay still and screamed like you were being murdered.
—Because there was a fireball aimed at my skull! —Asori retorted, indignant—. "Trust me," you said. And I nearly ended up hairless!
Mikan burst out laughing.—HAHAHA! So that's why it smelled like something burned that day!
—Give me a break —Asori said, eyeing Blair with a mix of annoyance and amusement—. And you call that a prodigy?
Blair narrowed her eyes and smiled wickedly.—Of course. Or would you rather we practice a different kind of training, bush-head?
Her tone shifted—soft and dangerous.
Asori flushed at once.—T-that sounds like a threat…
—Oh, no —Blair whispered, leaning toward him with a mischievous smile—. It sounds like a promise.
Mikan slapped the table, laughing.—Finally! If you're going to train like that, give me a heads-up so I can get invited.
Tifa pressed a hand to her forehead.—Please… —she sighed, though her lips trembled as she fought a smile—. If you're done flirting, we can go back to planning how to save the kingdom.
—Yes, Aunt —Blair said, pulling herself together with a playful blush.
The mood eased. Mikrom wore the hint of a smile; Mikan was still laughing.Aisha watched everything in silence, a warm glimmer in her eyes. She didn't fully grasp the jokes, but she did feel something she'd never had before: belonging.
Tifa resumed her serious tone.—Donner will be your destination. If Aurelia lives, she may help. But remember: your path is filled with enemies who are no longer human. Zeknier's generals know no limits.
Blair nodded, resolute.—Then we'll find our own.
Asori smiled at her, laying his hand over hers.—And if we break them, we'll do it together.
—That's what I like to hear —Blair said, looking at him tenderly.
Mikrom leaned forward, voice serious.—There's something we should discuss. Transformations. Neither Mikan nor I have used them.
Blair raised a brow, surprised.—Never?
—What for? —Mikan answered with her usual mocking smile, leaning back in her chair—. I can already handle several elements thanks to my ninja techniques. If I transformed, I'd only gain physical strength and, frankly, it would drain my Astral too fast. I prefer to end my enemies before they can blink.
Mikrom nodded calmly.—In my case it's different. I only transformed once. The earth made me stronger, yes, but also slower. Later I realized it was better to use Astral to reinforce my body without losing mobility.
Asori studied them for a moment and sighed, resigned.—That's what I suspected. It's not that you don't want to transform; it's that you can't fully control it.
Mikan stopped laughing and looked away with an innocent whistle.—Well… training transformations is exhausting, okay? I'd rather spend my energy on something more fun.
Mikrom lowered his head, serious.—As for me… I never had a master to teach me how to do it without burning out.
Asori, arms crossed, frowned.—That explains why you didn't transform during the tournament against Kael.
—Besides, at the time only we knew we were bearers —Mikrom replied without hesitation—. Showing it would have painted a target on all of us.
Asori nodded, understanding.—Makes sense… though I did transform before entering the coliseum.
Mikan burst into laughter.—Of course! You had to do it to look more "threatening"! —she said, making air quotes—. I'm sure you did it to impress a certain little princess.
—What?! —Asori protested, blushing—. I did it to avoid drawing attention!
—Uh-huh, sure —Mikan shot back with a wink—. Because getting a bit taller, with that intense stare and those defined muscles is the most discreet thing ever.
Blair, trying to keep a straight face, stared at Asori for a heartbeat… then looked away, a faint blush on her cheeks.—Well… she's not entirely wrong —she murmured, almost under her breath.
Asori swung toward her, incredulous.—You too? Oh, come on!
Mikan howled with laughter.—I told you! Sometimes you don't even need to fight—just show up transformed and Blair's already melting.
—Mikan! —Blair shot her a murderous look, though the color on her face betrayed her.
Mikrom crossed his arms, ignoring the scene with habitual serenity.
—So —Asori said, lifting a brow— am I the only idiot who can control his transformation? That's not fair; I practically died during training.
—Well it's not the end of the world either —Mikan answered—. We're still really strong even without transforming.
Asori looked a bit confused, but Blair explained:
—That's what Eryndor told you once, right? —she recalled, smiling at him—. That a time would come when you wouldn't need to transform, once you fully controlled your Astral.
—Yeah, something like that —Asori muttered, rolling his eyes.
Tifa, who had been listening with her arms crossed, cut in with a tone like a blade.—No excuses. Transformations are part of you as bearers. If you don't learn to master them, you'll be limiting your own power.
Mikan raised her hands with a sigh.—Got it, boss. We'll practice…
Blair looked around with determination.—Then it's settled. Each of us will master our transformation before we depart. If Zeknier and his generals wield their power without limits, we'll learn to wield ours with purpose.
While the adults discussed, Aisha watched from her seat, eyes wide and attentive. She had spent so long being treated like an object that being included in these meetings felt strange.
The cup of warm milk heated her hands, but what truly calmed her was Asori's presence a few steps away. Every time her gaze drifted to him, she felt a strange tingling: safety.
She remembered when she'd tried to call him "master" out of habit, and how he'd reacted—confused, almost uncomfortable. No one had ever worn that expression when hearing her words. No one had wanted to see her beyond what her powers could do.
And Blair… Blair was different. Aisha had seen her smile in a way that seemed to light even the castle's shadows. Though she still trembled inside, little by little she was beginning to trust the woman who embraced her as if she were blood.
"Maybe…" Aisha thought, gripping the cup tighter, "maybe believing in them isn't so terrible."
She leaned back in her chair and, for the first time in a long while, let out a peaceful sigh.
The meeting gradually loosened. Mikrom joked with Asori about who would win in a fight between them; Mikan swore that one day she'd make Asori train without transforming "so he knows what it's like to really fight"; and Blair watched them all with that mix of pride and melancholy of someone seeing her family grow.
From her seat, Tifa observed in silence. In those youths she saw the spark of a new dawn for Azoth, even if war darkened the horizon.
At last she stood and adjourned the meeting.—Rest for now. The journey will be long, and you'll need all your strength.
Blair rose, taking Aisha's hand to guide her toward the exit. The girl didn't let go for a second. Asori joined them at once, walking on the other side so Aisha remained in the middle. That simple image —the three of them walking together— brought a genuine smile to both Mikrom and Mikan.
—Well now… —Mikan murmured in a teasing tone, though without malice—. In the end you do look like a family.
Mikrom snorted, though he didn't hide his half-smile.—A strange family, but a family all the same.