The following day, Rue was trying to figure out what to do. His sister had somehow just awakened at 8 years old, and he didnt know if he should be shocked or have expected it. He thought he was talented with his Snow Affinity, but this had to be next level.

He had convinced her not to tell anyone for the time being. He wanted to bring her to Kiera and ask for some help. He wasn't sure what would happen to his sister if the news of her awakening became public, and he didn't want to risk it either.

Later in the day, Rue managed to drag Jule along with him to Kiera's.

Kiera was equally shocked. "My God, it must be the family. That is the only explanation!" She couldn't help but mumble. Rue alone was impressive enough, not to mention his Snow Affinity, but now Jule, naturally awakening at merely 8.

Staring both children down, Kiera solemnly said, "You were wise to hide Jule's awakening." Kiera met Rue's gaze, a knowing look within.

Rue widened his eyes; he couldn't help but think back to when Kiera heartily laughed at him for assuming humans were the only things that could Tame others. He shivered, thinking of the implications.

If someone with sufficient talent emerged, even if they happened to be of the same race, would it not be tempting to use them?

Kiera sighed, "You kids are making my life much more complicated than I bargained for."

Gazing into Jule's now anxious eyes, Kiera comforted, "Don't worry, dear. Just make sure nobody finds out. You can come to me with any questions that you may have."

Feeling a sense of urgency, she hardened her gaze. "Even if I cannot protect you both, I will see that both of you can fend for yourselves." Kiera paused, pursing her lips. But first, Jule here needs to awaken some Affinities."

Kiera closed her eyes, turning her head towards a nearby shelf. "Squirrel, I am ready to trade."

A furry head poked out from the edge, his black eyes sparkling in understanding. Shiny disappeared from view, diving into Rue's Soul Ocean.

Rue spoke up, reassuring Kiera, "He is searching his stash." Glancing to the side, Rue continued, "I wish the little stinker would share with me more, but he won't let me touch his stuff."

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Surrounded by a giant wall of thorn bushes, two children dueled. One was a black-haired girl, freckles gracing her nose. Her brown eyes stared into a violet pair. Across from her, a smaller black-haired boy stood alert. His arms extended in front of his body.

Jule's eyes flashed green, and her body darted forward. Underneath each step, a series of thorn bushes formed, bouncing her forward.

As she quickly approached, a sandstone pillar formed in front of her. Jule pushed off the ground, lauching herself to the side.

Just as her vision expanded to full, she was only able to catch a glimpse of Rue before a thin layer of snow blocked her view.

Furrowing her brows, Jule closed her eyes, sensing the movements of the wind.

Detecting an anomaly, she leaped away, striking with a powerful punch covered in orange flames.

The punch melted a temporary hole through the blizzard, showcasing merely an empty plot of dirt.

From behind, Rue tapped on her shoulder, "My win." He said, a giant smirk on his face.

Jule's body slumped, and her face turned into a pout. "How do you always win? I'm older, so I should be better!"

Kiera sat nearby on her wooden porch, rocking back and forth in her favorite rocking chair. "He is actively countering your detection. When you cannot observe, you are bound to fail."

Rue nodded, "I modified the air currents with my pillars, blocking them with the blizzard."

Jule's eyes widened, "How did you escape my detection though?"

Rue chuckled, "I can control the snow, so in some ways, I can control the direction and movement of the wind. I was able to alter the air currents behind you, making them look normal while directing your attention away from my actual position."

Jule crossed her arms, scowling. "You never let me win. It's not fair."

Kiera gazed at Jule. Now that she was interacting with Rue in the presence of another child, she had learned just how much more odd he was than she initially thought. His way of thinking and ability to strategize were something a child should not be capable of. She did know what Rue was, but now she was certain—he was not a child.

Kiera sighed, breaking up Jule's attempt to convince Rue to let her win. "Alright, now that you know what he is doing, how will you counter it?"

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Jule brought her attention to Kiera, mind churning over the new question that she had asked. "I could blow away all the snow?" She questioned

"Or?"

"Or... I could... Cover the ground with plants!"

Kiera nodded, "Why not try both?"

Now that she was ready, she got back into a fighting position. Rue merely backed away, thinking of ways to trick Jule's new detection methods.

In position, Kiera signaled for them to start their duel once again.

Quicker than expected, snow blanketed the field, covering up Jule's vision. Before she moved, Jule closed her eyes and willed small blades of grass to rapidly grow, piercing through the powdered snow covering the ground. Not entirely satisfied, she also searched the wind for any oddities.

With her detection methods prepared, she felt two noticeable larger sections of her new grass disappear, quickly wilting away.

Scrunching her nose, she tried wrapping her brain around where Rue might be.

"Hmpf." Frustrated, she decided to just get rid of the snow. Connecting with her fire and air affinities, she channeled them both, superheating air and firing it off in all directions.

The thin layer of snow quickly melted, leaving behind a clear field of now-wet grass, two circular patches empty.

Glancing around, she twirled, looking for Rue. Nowhere to be seen, she looked up. Her vision was met with nothing but the sky; her eyes squinted.

Then, the earth beneath her feet crumbled, plunging her into a small pit. Flailing about, she tumbled down, rolling in the freshly excavated dirt. Hitting a wall, she glared over at Rue, who now victoriously stood nearby, his black hair covered in dirt. But he had won. That's what mattered.

"Another win for me." he mused, his signature smirk on his face.

"Hmpf," Jule couldn't help but scowl. Her little brother was annoying.

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Click clack click clack

The sound of heels echoed through a long quartz hallway. Light blue chandeliers adorned with silver and gold hung from the ceiling, the candles burning a bright white.

A woman, dressed in a long flowing blue robe strode down the hallway, 6 silver ripples sewn above her heart.

Her silver hair swayed with each step, bouncing the blue-tinted ends of her hair back and forth.

She arrived at a large door flanked by two men dressed heavily in intricate plate armor with thorned berry bush crest lying on their hearts. Nodding at the guards, they pushed open the large double doors.

The doors now open, revealed a massive room supported by several quartz pillars, trailing at the center a long blue carpet lay, leading up to a series of stairs..

Following the blue carpet, the woman's eyes meet a pair of innocent, deep blue eyes.

The woman took steady steps forward, her head tilted down and her demeanor passive. Arriving before the owner of the deep blue eyes, she knelt.

Sitting on a throne several steps above the woman, a young boy, maybe 11 years old, stared down at her. His hair was light blue and curly, and his face clearly still maintained some baby fat.

His round eyes examined the new arrival, curious about her reason for visiting.

He widened his eyes, slapping his forehead, "I forgot again. You may speak."

The woman could not help but smile, trying her best to stifle the chuckle threatening to escape her.

"Count Oasis, a mage has claimed the discovery of an Aether Nodule located in your domain."

Count Oasis tilted his head, turning towards a nearby man wearing glasses and holding a series of documents in hand. "What is an Aether nodule, Franklin?"

Franklin cleared his throat and adjusted his collar; looking into the Count's gaze, he professionally spoke, "An Aether nodule, simply put, is the origin point of a specific type of Aether. They are expecptionally rare. Those of the rank Duke and higher are the only ones fortunate enough to maintain and use them currently."

The young Count nodded, his eyes widening as he realized the implications. "So it is a location that naturally generates unlimited Aether?"

Franklin nodded but was quick to correct the Count's folly, "Theoretically, yes, Aether nodes are limited by how much Aether they can produce during a set time. Some production can decline while others improve. It is unknown why."

Satisfied with his answers, he turned back toward the lady still kneeling before him. "How do you propose we use this resource, Frila?"

Frila's forehead scrunched; she hadnt expected the Count to ask her opinion, "If I would recommend anything, it would be the immediate reinforcement and exploration of the Node. The team that had discovered it did not consist of purely our people, so it is highly likely that other noble houses will soon learn of the discovery."

The Count nodded, closing his eyes. After a brief moment of pause, he spoke up: "We will do as you say. Reinforce and explore the Node. I assume we must find the Node's origin to best use the Aether that is being produced." Pausing, he looked at Franklin: "Make sure we send gifts to Baron Pike, who had helped with the discovery of the node. Request that he keeps the information of the Node private for now."

Turning back towards Frila, he continued, "Organize a suitable squad of researchers from the College of Aether Application. They will assist you indevelopingf the Node."

Turning to his right, he stared at a heavily armored man dressed in full silver plate amor lined with gold. "Grevic, organize a portion of your elite guard to defend the node."

Grevic nodded, a grunt echoing from his helmet.

"That will be all." Staring down at Frila, the Count asked, "Is there anything else?"

Frila nodded, "There is one thing. Count Ichor has been stationing troops near your borders. The Collective is reluctant to get involved with such affairs."

Count Oasis furrowed his brows. There were always neverending problems that needed to be solved.

"What does Ichor want?"

Frila looked down, her silver hair covering her smirk. "Count Ichor desires to be more than just a Count, but that is not what his current goal seems to be."

Frila paused, covering her smirk with pursed lips. "He is thankful that you had so 'Graciously' held on to his Peasants but now is requesting them to return."

Count Oasis furrowed his brows again. Taking a moment to rub between his eyes, he glared at Frila, anger lacing his tone. "Those people were abandoned in their weakest moments, left in the midst of a beast tide." Taking a breath, he continued, "But to 'appease' Count Ichor, I will send a message to each new Hamlet and announce Ichor's request. The people will choose; I will not choose for them."

Frila couldn't hide her smirk this time. "I will let Count Ichor know," she said, bowing before leaving the tall room.

Count Oasis turned to Franklin as the doors shut, "Verify Frila's claims. She has been becoming too bold of recent."

Franklin nodded, his lips pursing, "The Collective may be plotting against you, Count. They had not taken kindly to your underwhelming offering last year."

Sighing, Count Oasis massaged his temples, "It was the best we could do."

Franklin nodded as he looked at the Count softly, "It was; very few would have done the same."

Count Oasis glanced at Franklin, his eyes wide with furrowed brows. "Is it so strange to show kindness?"

"Indeed, it seems this world has come to that."