They stepped to the side where a pile of large balls waited.

“What will it be, the thirty jin one or the forty?” Sienna asked while juggling the two balls.

“Can’t we do the ten?”

“Just for that, it’s going to be the bigger one.” She tossed the smaller ball.

Hyrua raised his hands behind his head. “Why even give me the choice?”

Sienna twisted her body before launching the ball into her brothers gut. He let out a pained grunt as he took the impact with his full weight. After the ball rolled back to her feet she picked it up and twisted in the opposite direction before firing it again. Eight more times.

“Ready for the rematch?” She asked as she towered over Hyrua.

“I feel like I’m being punished for something.” He groaned.

“Hmm, I wonder.”

Before long, morning practice came to an end and all of the different clan members gradually left. Some off for individual training with hopes of achieving some kind of breakthrough. Others attending to their businesses. But, the majority had various tasks assigned by the head family.

Hyrua was doubled over and wheezing when he felt a cold towel land on his neck. “Hurry up and catch your breath Elder Brother, I do believe you promised to treat me.” Sienna chuckled.

Hyrua hadn’t quite caught his breath enough to respond though.

No matter how many mornings they trained together, his breath was alway taken away with her raw power. And in more ways than just literally. It couldn’t have been more than a year ago that she had finally surpassed him in every physical way but size.

He watched as she wiped the sweat from her umber face, and dried off her short hair leaving it in a wild mess that seemed to match her. Sometimes it was hard not to forget that she was only nineteen, what with her well muscled physique and palpable aura.

He made all kinds of guttural sounds and coughed several times before he could finally speak, with some effort. “I don’t believe I made any promises, favored sister.” He reached out attempting to flick her fledgling horns. Mid-reach she caught his arm and flipped over her half-dead half-brother.

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“Don’t call me that either. I don’t want to be treated like I’m better than any of you.” She reprimanded him before taking a seat on his back. “Or I could use what little authority I have and declare that from now on you are only allowed to call me either little sister or by my name. So does decree your future matriarch and such.” She lazily waved her hand.

Sienna stepped away and watched her reflection in a nearby open barrel. On either side of her forehead protruded two thumb sized horns. They were a shade darker than her skin and slightly curved upwards.

Hyrua eventually appeared beside her reflection, his own smooth forehead standing out next to hers.

“I know that they’re already more developed than the others just because I was born with them. But, it doesn’t make it any less embarrassing that they’re still so small.”

He gently placed a hand on her shoulder. “Come on then, I guess I’m obligated to treat you after teasing you twice this morning.” They gathered their things before heading towards the shops. “They’ll grow you know.”

“I know.”

“And only one in a thousand have them before ascending, even fewer have them from birth.”

“I know.”

They kept walking, the sounds of the next training group growing more distant.

“Look at the hundreds of thousands of regular citizens in Tianshan. Most of them will never develop any characteristics of a divine body, much less a noble one.” Some excitement leaked from his voice.

“Don’t you think it’s sad?” Sienna’s emerald eyes shone with a warm glow as she waited for his response.

“Which part?” He finally asked.

“Well, I mean, the fact that most people aren’t able to accomplish the things we can. I mean unless they joined a school or some powerful faction.” Sienna stared off ahead of them. “Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone could at least have the power to protect the ones they cared about?”

He thought about it for several breaths before speaking. “Aren’t you assuming everyone wants to pursue power? Sure, it makes sense for us to do it.” He rested his arms behind his head as he continued. “If you think you think about it from their perspective, why would they need to ascend? The city provides all of their base necessities. And in return all they have to do is work any number of jobs for a fraction of the year.” Hyrua started to count off on his fingers. “There’s no fear of starvation, living on the street, not being able to afford medicine, not being able to care for your family, or even boredom.”

Sienna wasn’t sure what to say. She looked down at her crossed arms as she kept moving. There were dozens of faint scars running from her shoulders all the way to her fingertips.

“It’s rather peaceful if you think about it. I mean, they don’t even have to worry about outside threats because not only are we surrounded by a massive lake. But, we also have the caldera walls on all sides. It’d take something on the level of the city leaders to even be considered a threat.”

The two of them continued to walk in silence for a few minutes. It wasn’t until they were almost at the market district before Sienna finally spoke up.

“I guess you’re right. Though, I don’t think I’ll stop wanting more for others.” She smiled and turned around in front of him. “Now, catch me if you can. Ri-ver Snaaail.” Then she sprinted off towards the most expensive stalls.

“Sienna! You dirty cheater!” She was out of sight in seconds.