Sitting up in bed, Juliana craved…what was it? A warm drink that energized. She forgot what it was called. It was brown. What it was made from, she had no idea. Only that it was from Earth. She knew she drank it frequently, but that was all she could recall. She looked at her hands. She remembered she oversaw a city, but not exactly what her hands did from day to day.

She was losing her memories.

Calling out for Nue’ant’s servants, she asked for a communications device to send her voice to a friend.

“What’s this?” Eirian asked as he listened to the woman’s voice. “Is she mad? How can a woman start her own clan?” He leaned over Royce’s shoulder as they listened to the transmitted message. Eirian was spending his break with his friend and the two had been discussing architecture when Royce’s communication’s crystal sounded clear notes, indicating a message was delivered.

Eirian walked around the table, thinking. “It’s brilliant, really. I hate how clans are the same color eggs and rank of a particular colony here. It’s hard to split off your own clan. So explain her plan. What’s this ‘speed-dating’?” Eirian was known to be quite progressive as an Adasion. Open to change, they saw wisdom in different perspectives, histories and technologies.

“It sounds like she wants to interview them as fast as a speed-date. That’s when men and women introduce themselves in a few minutes and then decide if they wish to date. Err…court?” Eirian looked confused. Royce tried again. “Be romantic?”

“Ah! How your kind reproduces. Lovely. But we can’t do that, can we?”

“She wants to figure out who they are as Adasions. She’s asking for my help to think of some questions.”

“And she says she only wants those who are wise. Doesn’t care about rank. Very strange.”

“Her case is strange. She couldn’t be measured for her mana transfer.” Royce explained.

“So that’s what that was. She could have just demanded the best. Kept up the quality of life she’s living right now with High Judge Nue’ant.” Eirian thought for a moment, “All right! I’ll help!”

“What?” Royce was confused.

“Your friend needs guidance and who better to help than me. If we left it to old Nue’ant, he’ll slip everyone associated with his clan and she’ll not get a chance to meet anyone else. Tell her that I’ll meet her.”

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“Are you sure—this might cause trouble for your clan.” Royce warned as he took a sip of a thick drink made of sweet moss that the locals brewed for tea. It felt heavy on his tongue.

“Trouble? Since when do healers care about that? Everyone needs us when the trouble starts. Nue’ant might be annoyed, but he can’t say no. Not if doesn’t wish to be accused of blocking his ward from finding a clan.”

“We’re going to place an ad!” Juliana announced.

Nue’ant’s steward looked dumbstruck.

Jun’ep was equally lost, “What is this ad? For what?”

“An advertisement to find a clan! Let’s call Adasions in the neighboring towns. I know the capitol got to be introduced to us women first, but there are many more Adasions in Asa Dominon.”

“But Judge Nue’ant could easily match you with a clan. They are honorable enough that many Adasions would fight to be connected to them.”

“That is not good enough, Jun’ep. I want to form my own clan. My own family. I don’t want to be the puzzle piece just added. I want to build a team where the Adasions connect to each other. I want to create a powerful clan that could shake up this continent. I know I can do it!”

“I believe you could do this as well, but it’s most unorthodox my lady. Advertising like a business? No offense, but it may make you appear of less honor. Common. A lower-sounding note, if you will.”

Juliana folded her arms, “Not with this ad. ‘Woman of Earth Seeking Adasions of Wisdom for New Clan’.”

“Not many would want to leave their own clan. They’ve worked and lived together for hundreds of years.”

“Those who are happy would not. But if this planet is anything like mine, not all families are happy. Those who’d apply would be ambitious enough to leave. I need someone of that drive. As long as they’re not power-hungry enough to be destructive. But don’t worry Jun’ep. I’ll have help.”

Once Juliana explained her plan to form her own clan, High Judge Nue’ant became grumpy. He complained about the opportunity she’d miss if she didn’t pick an ally of his. That he was investing in both their futures. She was supposed to be like the others, open to Asa Dominion. But she was older and a leader like them. She threated that she knew she could pick an Adasion not of the Asa Dominion instead. They acquiesced.

The two of them debated whether or not she should pay for an advertisement on the district boards. Nue’ant felt that they’d be judged as not giving her the best introductions. She argued that if she was to build the best clan and not on a single power, she’d need to meet a variety of Adasions. They eventually agreed.

But what they could not understand were the words coming from their blue streaked steward’s mouth.

“High Judge, she invites outsiders to assist her in the selection.”

“Well?” They prompted.

“There’s a few she arrived with, and she invited a Healer Fa class to join.”

Nue’ant feet lifted off the ground as they floated.

“What? Do we know them?”

“Yes. Their name is Eirian.”

“Does she intend to add them into her clan?”

“That is unclear, master.”

“Well, I’ll be there to help with her selection.”

“I’m sorry master, but no.”

“What‽” They hollered.

“She has arranged a location in the Mi district,” the steward answered.

Nue’ant started to have the beginnings of a headache.