When I came home my father hasn't arrived yet, as expected.

I sat down at the table and scooped myself some steaming rice-porridge.

With onions and cress, salted hare and water-chestnut to give it a little bit of crunch. It was my favorite: late summer congee!

“Well look who came back! Our new Cultivator!” Rena said from the door before she sat down to eat.

“Where is my apology brat!? You can't scare your cute sister like that and think of getting away with it!”

“Where are you cute, Ogress? And Apologize for what? You told me you stared a wolf down once. Was that a lie?”

Don't give me lip you twerp! Anyway your gaze was fierce enough to cause a heart attack! Also don't call me....”

“STOP! I heard enough of you two!” My father Sahli bellowed from the door. “ I heard from my brother that you brought black grass to the warehouse instead of hunting. Why?”

“Yes fath...” I started to say but father went on: “What did you do to your sister?”

“I uh...” I began, but Rena had to butt in:

“He did some magic trick that made the twerp actually intimidating!”

That made father raise his eyebrow in inquiry. Not a good sign.

I began to explain to him Master Bran's Cover story: “While hunting I saw a Wolf hunt a hatched stag and I was enlightened.” I saw my father’s eyebrow rise higher somehow.

“Dad I could feel something in my like a spark! I asked Third Uncle about it and...”

“What about your duty?” My father simply said. I didn't take his interruptions to heart he says little and he doesn't like it when we talk too much.

“Of course I will continue the hunt proper tomorrow father! I also didn't waste this day and did other duties. I found the black grass while shepherding. My new powers made it easier...”

I tried my best to give a report and not let the pride I felt color my voice.

He grunted his approval “Hmm good. Apologize to your sister.”

Her mocking grin was making it harder than it should be but then the scene from the morning came back into my mind and I still was wrecked with guilt...

“I am sorry Nee. I shouldn't have done that.” Her reaction to my words was balm on my heart.

She seemed touched and awkward. Who knew that apologizing could feel like a victory?

I was glad that the matter was solved this quickly and this amicably. My family had to yet digest my status as cultivator and even my sister was speechless in the first time since... well what felt ages at that time.

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Not that it held long:” Hmm good how sincere of you!” she said “Do that trick again! Father you too! It's like the wolves in the forest no... More like the hunting dogs!”

That got my father and my younger siblings interested. Drakan and Ahli got scolded by mother and I too agreed that it wasn't good if i scared them before bedtime.

Of course, them being kids, they were quite whiny about that.

At least until father got the might of my eye.

He was panting and simply said:” That is worse than wolves.”

Considering that he was a tall lean man with a full scraggly beard and crisp wild dark brown hair, seeing him shaken was... unnerving.

Rena heard that. “I want to tend to the hunting dogs. Who knew my little brother could be useful for practice?”

“Again with that!” he simply said. “I wont bother my father with another request from you.”

Father was still against a woman being a hunter and dog handler and never left an opportunity to say so, but my mother was not having that.

Narra woman were leaders why should Hansa woman be less? She always asked father

“Look Dad you always say that a real Hansa knows how to hunt! Let me become a real hunter!” Rena was the only one who dared to square off with our father like that and I always respected that part of her.

However I hated the part where she dragged my into her mess:

“Look. The Twerp loves his books and can be wed to the Narra.” I glared daggers at my sister. To her delight. “Please Let me be your successor of the spear.”

Maybe that thought or my newfound power caused me to say this. I interjected somewhat annoyed before the same old story plays out.

“Father I too agree with Nee somewhat! She helped me with bow practice and is better than me with it. Well actually she is better than most with all martial arts.”

Now father looked very angry. I wasn't supposed to show the Clan Arts to her.

“Also what better dowry than the skills those make the Hansa Clan famous?” I tried to defuse that one before I too get an earful. “Help her getting a chance! The old traditions are under review. Even Grandfather said so!”

That last part made Renas proposal viable in the first place. The three Clans were changing a lot since becoming part of the realm.

Rena was flustered again and punched my shoulder:” Shesh what is it with you today! I'm not used to you piping in or siding with me.”

I grinned at her in response while massaging the budding bruise.

“Don't get used to it.” I said with a mischievous tone. “Maybe you can catch wolves with your brutish hands that would prove it to everybody”

Father was seething first. But after some whispered words from mother he seemed to deflate and I added something:

“You are the one that always says: tradition is passing the fire and leaving the ash.”

He flashed a rare smile and simply nodded. I guess that saved some of his authority. He muttered something about grandfather under his breath.

“OH, well.” he said “I speak with my father again.”

Before we could celebrate however he added:

“And Grandfather will personally come to talk to you all if the elders refuse.”

As much as we love our Grandfather Jehmed, he had a rough way of showing his love and he took his duties as elder very seriously.

He was very political active, unlike father, and was the one who arranged the Marriage festival between the three clans where my parents met.

I again had to fend off both of my younger siblings. They felt left out since only the grown ups got to feel my magic.

Drakan was pouting while Ahlia seemed close to tears.

Mother told them to go to bed and I had to at least them a story to pacify them.

I invented one on the spot of a magical mouse that could eat a whole house till they both slept.

Now I had finally the time to turn the Carex into a potion.