"how absolute intriguing!" the scientist Xoqax thought, bouncing in the air, his wings fluttering around as he watched the data that was sent to him by the lord of pride's helper. and in a few hours, he was going to receive an energy sample, which he would be able to test more than a few things on. the helper had recently sent him data about where the energy was being generated from. comparing it to other races he could figure that anything with an evolved enough brain had this part.

"so this applies to so many races! are their differences from biological reasons?" he was so excited, this could help so many people if done right. "ah, calm yourself you have to prepare for the test and studies!" his wings fluttered as he moved around the lab and prepared the machines when the delivery arrived he barely stopped to thank the service worker before rushing to start his test.

it was a day cycle on his home planet before he got through the test, "how interesting. it shows signs of being a mental type of energy. but there are elements of more than emotional energy. "so is pride more than an emotion! but what is pride then?" he fluttered backed between some interfaces trying to find some answers or a clue.

study and research could take months maybe years, he was prepared to give that time to this project. why wouldn't he this was the most exciting thing he's done in years. "let's dive into the mystery of pride shall we!"

back on Augustine, aero was a moment from starting a fight with the creature that stood before him. it was around several feet, a bear-like thing covered in thorns. it was actually kind of ignoring him but it was also sleeping against his cart. "where did you come from!" he left the cart alone to bathe and this creature decide to rest against it.

he glared at it more before going around to grab his staff,' a good wack should get it moving. he circled it for a moment before deciding the right place to hit it from the back. he put half his all behind the strike! "Wow!" only to have to dive back as the spike shot off skewering the trees behind him.

straightening out he watched as the spines quickly regrew, much to his annoyance. but he didn't hit it again, instead, he tested out the reflex of the spines. "no wonder it would sleep in such a way, it doesn't need to be awake to defend itself. he would be more impressed if this creature wasn't half knocking over his cart. grumbling he decided to think this through. how could he get this creature to move without risking his cart, "if hitting could solve this problem!"

thinking over it, while observing the creature sleep he decided to drown the creature. it took two melodies to summon water from the grass and to encase the creature's head. three seconds it was on its feet in a panic. Aero's cart fell back to this wheel and aero hoped that nothing had been too big of a mess, but he didn't have time to think about it as the creature charged at him.

spinning out of the aero let the water drop so the creature could breathe. thankfully it wasn't interested in fighting him, so it took off running into the trees and aero climbed into his cart. "why didn't you some something about that." the creature tied to his cart only blinked at him as it got to its feet and started walking out of the clearing while aero climbed on board. but paused as something reached his ears, "of course, it wouldn't be that easy!"

looking out he saw the since-covered creature charging back at him, 'you don't give up do you!' he could see it was planning to ram them. 'won't be that easy though,' at the last moment he encourage his creature to move faster. it pulled the cart out of the way just in time.

as the spined creature passed by the back out the cart, aero swung out. held tight to the upper frame of the cart as he swung his foot into the creature's face, "tch!" when the blow connected he knew there wasn't enough weight behind it. cursing he switched his hands and pulled himself back into the cart, just like he expected the creature quickly shoot the hit off and started chasing after him.

'well how should I deal with this?' he didn't have any plans to stop and fight it, nor did he want to test its stamina. "okay how about this!" it wasn't a bit matter to quick put other an ice medley and freeze the ground behind his cart. the creature's feet slipped right from under it, it went sliding right into a tree.

"that should at least buy time if not straight out knock it out," he watched ready to create a melody if need. but it seemed that this action was done, so aero climbed to the front of the cart and steered the cart northwards. he had a stop to make before he returned home." an annoying stop at that," the teen grumbled as the cart trodded on north.

the reason he was heading north was simple, his mother asked him. but as much as he loved his mother he would never enjoy heading north to meet his foremother. the mother of his mother, an 80 years old and completely against aero's path in life. Nora didn't like this either but despite that, she still got along with her mother as long as this topic wasn't brought up.

she asked at least once a year that her son and mother meet. she didn't think they could stand each more than once a year, both of them were stubborn people. it ran in the blood, along with as the topic of his life choices didn't come up aero and his foremother could be at peace.

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'i'm not making any bets,' he didn't have too high of an opinion of this woman. honestly, it was lower than his usual opinion of women, as she knew him long enough to know that he wasn't going to change his mind. Bringing up the topic was pointless unless she wanted a fight, but somehow someway she brings it up. something without even saying anything.

Aero dreaded the entire way to his foremother's place, her community was full of a mix of aging men and women, and younger workers. the place wasn't all that exciting though it was probably for the best as the aging people couldn't handle that much. it was another reason that aero wasn't looking forward to this.

but the time passed with the helper reading him a tragedy book, if he cried there were no witnesses to say anything.

"you've arrived!" his foremother happily greeted him, and aero responded with a strained expression. parking the cart and pouring out some food for the creature he turned to her, it was an awkward moment of them staring at each other. before they went inside, "you should come to me visit more often!"

"that never going to happen," he stated without mercy," so what do you want?"

"to spend time with his child's child." aero remained unblinking as he looked at her, "oh come now I'm being serious." he didn't believe her in the slightest and took a seat at the table covered in some frilly fabric. it was a pretty design and color, one thing aero couldn't deny about his foremother was he could sew like no one business.

the tense air between the two didn't waver as the day went on, aero was too on guard and his foremother knew this. it was after aero washed that his foremother said something that put him even on more guard," oh tomorrow a friend of mine is coming over. she just wanted to the boy I was always talking about." the look aero gave her at this information was scorching.

the next morning aero woke up to a conversation downstairs,' that gossip isn't it!" people spent a bit too much time gossiping about him, which left the action in general with a bad taste in his mouth. he complemented jumping out the window, he knew there was a way down. 'i don't run from such simple things!' though running was a simple way to deal with this problem it was likely just pushing it back.

His staff was coming with him as he descended the stairs, and walking into the living room aero blinked at the large man that was sitting across from his foremother. "hello?" he greeted them deciding he should test if he would like this person or need to avoid him.

"oh my zalts you here!" the absolute look of amazement that man had when he looked towards Aero caught him off guard. he wasn't expecting this, but it wouldn't be the first time. aero just smiled at him. letting the man gush before changing the topic about something else. he also took the chance to eat, before heading out after half a flower of a conversation he barely participated in. they talked about him a lot.

'my lord Xoqax has sent a report, he has a there he's requesting that you test it if possible.' aero pushed in his stretches, lowing his leg to the ground.' what kind of theory?" the Lord asked. the helper easily explained to their lord.

'he's been working for what 7 days!' aero was impressed and focused on his energy. the theory was about the dissipation of energy, he heroized it had a range. the further from its source or container it got, the more it dissolved before fading away completely. That kind of made sense when aero opened his eyes to people's pride, looking closer it got thinner the further away it got from the person.

what interested aero was the implications or the ones explained to him by his helper. he could possbily make bubbles of pride, if they were far enough his body might mistake the energy for loss and then generate more. since they were close enough that they wouldn't fad then he would have extra energy to use. since there was a limit to how much energy he could produce in a time frame before it hurt him.

"a workaround has been found," the question is how hard it was going to be. he was still working on the sensing trick the helper taught him, it was useful and he was going to keep it. lots of smaller creatures went for the eyes if they were given the chance, so closing his eyes to fight wasn't strange. but a chance to improve was before him and he was going to take it.

'can you keep this idea on record for later? I wish to improve my skill with the other technique more.' the helper gladly did so and aero closed his eyes, wrapping a layer of energy around his form. he returned to his stretches, then moved on to practicing with his eyes closed. he used to lose his depth perception, but the energy layer added a new sensation.

His practice went on for a while, the slightest things that came in context the with layer, even a leaf. sent him into an attack mode, 'i should learn to tell the difference.' while he was taking a break for water he wondered how he would do such a thing. maybe he should find a practice partner, "ugh!" that idea was pleasant.

"didn't I send out a team flyer?!" what had happened to that, then again he hasn't been home to see if he got any replies. "ugh," aero wasn't looking forward to sorting through all of that when he got back so instead he focused on his training. practicing high tricks and jump attacks for a flower before heading back into town.

"your back, the first thing you should do is take a shower I'm having some guests over in a moment. wouldn't want to meet them like this would you."

'i don't want to meet them at all!' aero thought but he still went to the bathroom as he did want to clean up a bit. afterwords as he got dressed he came down to find a group of older women around the living room. 'this better not be a gossip hour!' and the zalts willing they didn't plan for him to join them.

thankful beyond some introductions and questions about his personal life he refused to answer they left him alone and he was able to eat his second meal before returning to his temporary room, where he took the chance to listen to more stories from the helper. a tragedy short story had his years a little wet. but he didn't let that stop him from listening, or asking for more from that writer.

"What happened to you? his foremother asked when he came down later that night for more water. "a story," he shortly responded grabbing his water before turning back towards the stairs. but his foremother stopped him before he could assened them. "tomorrow I'm visiting someone and this one you have to talk to!"

"you don't have the force to make me!" he continued up the stairs but before he could make two steps she made a statement

"it's my late husband." aero didn't have much memory of his forefather, but what he did was warm. just this general sense of safety. but what meant more to aero was the practice staff, his first weapon brought by his forefather. also, the man he learned the basics of the flute from." I'm not spreading the whole day at his grave," not by her side.

"That alright, he wouldn't want us to wallow at the loss of him anyway." they didn't speak much on the matter when aero came downstairs for dinner. they were both avoiding the topic of the deceased. of course, they did so by talking about anything else. the foremother brought all kinds of gossip she's heard in the last few months, but not much of it was registering with aero. he acted like he was paying attention up till the point it was good for him to slip out to his room dropping onto his bed.

the next morning was sober as they prepared to head to a man's grave.