Norbuik City is well-known as a historical site, having been the birthplace of two ascendants: Ender, the destroyer, and Luscious Blackspire, the Malefic warrior. Nestled in the southeastern region of the 5th Sector, Norbuik City epitomizes peace and serenity, warmly welcoming all without discrimination. Despite its beauty and charm, Norbuik can be exceedingly quiet and somewhat dull, thus earning only a three-star rating.
Gavin, the Explorer
Travel and Lifestyle Magazine
Ragnarok, Year 2273
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Aodhán stepped out of principal Zatya's office an hour later and sighed. He'd of course rejected the mission at first and had even managed to resist for a minute or two, but one mention of his identity and he had instantly caved.
Aodhán wasn't sure which action was most foolish. Agreeing to steal a magical item from a high-ranking noble family or resisting the principal in the first place.
He sighed once again, because why the fuck not? When he'd boarded the Raventhorn to come to the academy, this wasn't what he'd envisioned for himself at all.
Zatya had called it his first mission, but her enthusiasm only pushed Aodhán's rebellious buttons. He wanted to fail the mission, just to see if she would get bored and leave him alone like Eldrith said she would, but he doubted that would be happening in his case.
He checked his messages and saw that Andrew, Daruk, and his other friends were already waiting for him, so he sent a quick reply, explaining that he would be with them shortly.
He arrived at the academy gate a few minutes later to find Daruk, Andrew, Yurin, and Lupin all gathered around the entrance.
“Finally!” Yurin exclaimed. “If I had to stay one more minute within these walls, I would have died.”
“Dramatic much.” Lupin rolled her eyes as she approached him and inquired. “What held you so long?”
“It doesn't matter.” Andrew shouted in excitement. “We're finally leaving these blasted walls.”
“Uhm, you realize we're coming back, right?” Daruk chuckled. “The break is only a week long.”
Yurin groaned miserably. “Ugh, Raol, have mercy. A week isn't nearly enough to recover from all this madness.”
“You make it sound like we were imprisoned for the last five weeks.” Daruk chuckled, and Aodhán shook his head, turning away from the bickering boys to smile at Lupin. “I'll miss you.”
She giggled. “I'll miss you too, but it's only for a few days. I'll see you when you come to the party.”
“A few days away from you is torture, and you know it.” Aodhán complained, and his hands tightened around Lupin's waist. He'd never gone that far before, but the fact that he wasn't going to see her for the next five days filled him with a gnawing sense of unease. “I'm really going to miss you.”
She smiled and brushed his hair back with her delicate fingers. “I'm really going to miss you too.”
"Okay, that's enough; you guys sicken me.” Yurin shouted, and Aodhán glared at him before reluctantly letting Lupin go.
“Text me when you get home.” He said to her, and she nodded. “I will. Now I have to go; my driver is waiting for me.”
Despite the loud grumblings and complaints from his friends, Aodhán insisted on following Lupin to the private hovercar her family had sent to pick her up, and it was only after the car disappeared from view that he turned back to his friends and grinned. “Now, where's the first bus heading for Norbuik?”
Andrew had a driver of his own, while Yurin was headed for the port, so they soon parted ways, and five minutes later, after buying their tickets, Aodhán and Daruk boarded a hoverbus headed for Norbuik. Surprisingly, they found Aida seated in the front row, and she waved to them excitedly. “I can't believe you guys live in Norbuik.”
“Our parents just moved; how about you?” Aodhán asked as they took their seats behind her.
“I've lived there my whole life.” Aida chuckled. “By Raol, we could be neighbors!”
“What part of Norbuik do you live in?” Daruk asked.
“The Barny fields, north-west of the arcade.” She replied excitedly, but Aodhán frowned as he scanned the address Synove and Unrid had sent.
“Uhm, I doubt it's the same area.” Daruk replied, unsure. “There's no mention of an arcade or a field at this address.”
Aida looked disappointed but asked, "Where do you stay then? Maybe I can guide you."
"A place called Menton. It's supposed to be a small town in Norbuik," Aodhán replied, causing Aida's expression to fall even further.
“Oh, that's literally in the opposite direction of my town.” She gave a sad smile. “It would have been nice to have other students around; Norbuik can be so dull sometimes.”
“Is it that bad?” Aodhán chuckled, and Aida groaned. “Like you wouldn't believe. By Raol, I cannot stand the place.”
“Okay, now, you're scaring me.” Daruk frowned. “Aren’t there any interesting sights in Norbuik?”
“Not as much as there is in the capital here.” Aida shrugged. “Don't get me wrong, Norbuik is a beautiful place; it's just quiet and sleepy most of the time.”
Their conversation continued as the shuttle slowly filled up. It rumbled to life a few minutes later, and the journey to their new home began.
Aodhán's thoughts drifted back to his conversation with Principal Zatya, which had covered everything from fame to the impact his presence might have on his family. He wasn't sure how bad things could get—maybe Principal Zatya was being overly cautious—but he figured it was better to be prepared. He decided he would talk to Unrid and Synové as soon as they got home.
He suspected Synové would handle the situation well and adjust to a bit of fame without any trouble. Unrid, however, was a different story. In fact, the more he thought about it, the more he realized that Unrid might be the only one to struggle with the changes. Aldric's charm and carefree attitude seemed perfect for the spotlight. Besides, would a little fame really be such a bad thing?
Yes. It would. Aodhán remembered how the press had ruined the lives of many celebrities and their families back on earth, distorting their image and reputation with every foul word they printed.
He sighed. Perhaps he couldn't save his family from the press after all, but he could at least prepare them.
Daruk leaned back at one point and whispered, "So, what are you thinking about?"
Aodhán shared his thoughts, and by the time he finished, Daruk replied, "Don't worry too much. Mum and Aldric will be fine, and even Dad will adjust, though it might take him a bit longer."
"I know that," Aodhán sighed. "I just don't want to cause them any trouble."
Daruk laughed. "It's just a bunch of reporters. What's the worst that could happen?"
Aodhán groaned, convinced that Daruk had jinxed it and that they would now find a million reporters outside the house by the end of the week.
He said as much to Daruk, who burst out laughing. "What kind of horrid superstition is that?"
"It's not superstition; it's reality," Aodhán argued. "Never say, 'What’s the worst that could happen?' You're tempting fate when you do."
“I can't.” Daruk burst out laughing again. “By Raol! I'm sorry; it's just so absurd. I can't believe you actually believe that.”
Rather than continue arguing, Aodhán shook his head and asked, "What do you think their reaction will be when they see us?"
Daruk smiled and shook his head. "Dad would be proud, of course. Mom would be an emotional mess. And Aldric—well, Aldric is the one I'm worried about."
Aodhán nodded in agreement. He was concerned that Aldric would feel outshined. In just two months, they had evolved, gained bloodlines, and advanced to the 20th tier, a feat Aldric hadn't managed in the last two years at the 12th Academy.
When they left the Warren, Aldric had been at the 12th tier. His slow advancement was due more to the scarcity of powerful cores in the sector than to a lack of talent. Thankfully, Aodhán's storage space was filled with conceptual cores, most of which had been donated by Varéc, and while he intended to sell a few for money, he didn't mind saving some for Aldric.
They arrived at Norbuik city an hour later, and just as Aida had said, the city was sleepy. Compared to the hustle and bustle of the sector’s capital or Nematon, Norbuik seemed like a different world entirely. The city exuded a timeless charm. Cobblestoned streets wound lazily between rows of quaint, beautifully preserved houses, their facades adorned with ivy and blooming flowers. A few dozen people walked around, unhurried, ambling along the pathways, exchanging warm greetings and indulging in leisurely conversations.
Merchants lined the streets, their brightly painted stalls blending seamlessly with the picturesque surroundings.
“By ascendants. I hate this place.” Aida muttered, her face scrunched up in disgust, and Aodhán chuckled. “It doesn't seem so bad to me—a little quiet perhaps, but it's beautiful.”
Aida shrugged, her expression unchanged. “Give it a few weeks. By then, I'm sure you'll come to share my sentiments.”
“We won't even be staying here for a week.” Daruk reminded them, his expression neutral, neither enthused nor disappointed.
“Well, good for you.” Aida shrugged and began walking forward. “We should find you a shuttle headed for Menton near the mall.”
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Not yet," Aodhán said, holding her back. "Is there somewhere we could do a core exchange?"
She frowned but pointed to a street just after the shuttle park. "There's an exchange pavilion down that street; in fact, let's go together. I have a ton of cores I'd like to exchange myself."
As they walked towards the exchange pavilion, Aodhán admired the architecture around him, a unique blend of rustic and elegant styles with terracotta roofs and pastel-colored walls. Each house featured a cozy garden or charming balcony overlooking the serene streets.
They arrived at the pavilion a few minutes later. It was a small square building made entirely of wood and sheer glass, and as they approached the shop's entrance, a small bell above the door tinkled, announcing their arrival.
The visible interior of the pavilion was quaint and cluttered, with shelves lined with various books and items. Behind the counter stood an elderly merchant, his eyes twinkling with curiosity as he greeted them. "Welcome! What can I do for you today?"
"Can we come in?" Daruk asked. "We have some cores we would like to exchange."
The man smiled, opened the door, and gestured for them to enter. Once they were inside, he shut the door, and, with a wave of his hand, three wooden stools grew out of the floor.
Aodhán raised an eyebrow in surprise, not expecting to see such finesse and control in a place like Norbuik. It shouldn't have surprised him, though; considering the nature of the man's job, it was only natural that he could protect himself.
The man sat opposite them and asked, "So, how many cores are you willing to sell?”
Daruk spoke first. “I've got a total of fifteen elemental cores between tiers 17 and 21 that I'd like to exchange. How much could I get for them?”
The man raised a brow in surprise. “That's a lot of cores, more than we usually get here in Norbuik, but the exchange rate of cores depends on several factors, mainly its affinity, class, and tier.” He folded his arms and leaned back slightly. “I can only give you a reasonable price after I see the cores.”
Daruk frowned; they had only delved into the Rugwort Rift, which was the only rift they were allowed access to for now. Perhaps, after the midterms, things would change. He took out the rugwort cores, which had a greenish-brown hue of mud affinity. The man picked up a core and scrutinized it for a moment before placing it down. “This is identified as a Tier 21 rugwort core. I see you've taken good advantage of the academy rifts.”
“I've got about a dozen of the same cores,” Aida said. “What are the exchange rates for these?” Aodhán lay back, watching as the man picked up one of the smaller cores, scrutinizing it for a moment before responding. “How about five silver coins for a core above tier 15 but below tier 20, and six silvers for any core below tier 25?”
Aodhán frowned slightly. That was a decent offer, in his opinion, and if he'd been here alone, he would have taken it. However, Aida disagreed. “That's too low; a tier 10 evolved core is worth nothing less than five silvers. These cores should be worth much more.”
The man smiled thinly. “I see we've got an experienced one among you, green beans. Well then, eight silvers for any core above tier 15, but below tier 20, and ten silvers for any core below tier 25.”
Aida looked like she wanted to continue haggling, but the man shook his head. “That's the highest I'm willing to go.
These are mud affinity cores after all; they have almost no other utility outside of advancement.”
Aida exchanged glances with them before shrugging. “Fine, we'll take it.”
“Very good.” The man smiled and looked at Aodhán. “What about you, young man?”
Aodhán smiled and poured out about forty shimmering cores—an entire half of all he'd accumulated so far. The cores were mostly conceptual, with a few rugwort cores mixed in, and they all ranged from tier 16 to 22.
The merchant's gaze went wide, and Daruk snorted in envy, while Aida turned sharply in alarm.
“That's…that's a lot of cores.” The merchant stated quietly, and Aodhán nodded. “I assume conceptual and elemental cores do not have the same exchange rates. Also, I've got some pretty rare affinities here,” he said, pointing to a translucent core. “This is a Tier 21 silence core, while this blue one is a Tier 22 sky core.”
“I see.” The merchant frowned as he picked up a cloudy white core and raised it to his eyes. “This is a Tier 20 mist core; I didn't realize the academy had opened up their more advanced rifts to first-year students.”
“They haven't.” Aodhán replied simply,not offering any more information on the matter. When he said nothing else, the merchant sniffed and said. “Well, I guess we'll have to crack the safe open.”
Fifteen minutes later, Aodhán stepped out of the exchange shop, several cores lighter but thirty-five gold coins richer. It was an immense amount of money, and Aodhán was glad. Now he had enough to get himself a few outfits worthy of the noble events he needed to attend.
Daruk had also made a nice haul, gaining almost twenty gold, although he'd added a few more cores to the initial amount he'd intended to exchange.
All in all, Aodhán was happy, and after sending an emotional burst of gratitude to Varéc, they parted ways with Aida and made their way back to the park, where they boarded a shuttle headed for Menton. It took almost an hour before the shuttle filled up, and Aodhán breathed a sigh of relief when it finally rumbled to life and began moving.
The journey from the park to Menton took only fifteen minutes, much to Aodhán’s annoyance. If he had known the distance was so short, he would have simply created a platform and zoomed off.
After alighting from the shuttle, they walked down the quiet street, counting the houses until they reached the tenth one, a Victorian-style duplex whose facade was a tapestry of blooming flowers and verdant vines. Already, he could detect Synové's unique touch in the way the vines clung to the ornate, weathered woodwork.
A manicured lawn lay before them, littered with budding flowers, and the barking of a pet echoed in the distance.
The perfect word to describe the area was serene, but that serenity was broken a moment later when Unrid walked out of the house, dressed in dirty work clothes with a shovel slung over his shoulders.
When he saw them, his eyes widened in surprise. The shovel fell from his hands, and he shouted. “My boys!”
Aodhán choked back tears as Unrid ran towards them and swept them both into a hug. He buried his face in Unrid's dirty clothes, breathing in the familiar smell of soil and fire he hadn't quite realized he'd missed.
“Oh, my boys, I've missed you both so much.” Unrid cried, and Aodhán forced himself not to squeeze harder to avoid breaking Unrid's bones.
“We missed you too.” Aodhán replied as he pulled back to observe Unrid's face while Daruk clung tightly to his father. Unrid looked much older than he had been only two months ago; his skin was weathered and leathery, a dark ruddy brown from prolonged exposure to the sun, with spots scattered across his cheeks and forehead, yet his eyes were bright and alight with joy.
The front door barged open an instant later, and Aodhán turned to see Synové running towards them, her gown held tightly in her hands as happy tears streamed down her face.
“Oh Aodhán.” She cried as she pulled him into a hug, and this time, Aodhán was unable to hold back his tears.
Despite the fact that he was several inches taller than her, Synové cradled him, and he buried his face in her chest.
Soaring the skies gave him a feeling of freedom and usually filled him with joy, but in this moment, Aodhán felt whole, loved, and accepted.
When he pulled back, Synove grabbed onto Daruk, squeezing him tightly as if he were a lifeline. A moment later, she pulled Aodhán in for another hug, unable to help herself, and Aodhán willingly slid into her arms, while Unrid wrapped them all in his arms.
Aodhán sighed blissfully. This was a moment he would never forget. His heart was full, and in that moment, he realized he would do just about anything to protect this family. He was lucky to have found a family who loved him as their own, and he would be damned to let anything happen to them.
They stood in that position for several minutes, just enjoying the comfort and warmth of each other's arms, until Daruk muttered. “Uhm, this is nice and all, but I'm beginning to have trouble breathing.”
They all pulled back, laughing, and Synové ran her hands through their hair. “By Raol, your bloodline manifestations are so beautiful.” She choked back another round of tears and pulled them back into a hug. “I'm so proud of you both. I'm so, so proud.”
Over the course of their correspondence, Synové had slowly become obsessed with understanding everything about awakening and advancement. She had argued that, with three awakened children, it would be foolish of her to remain ignorant.
She'd bought several textbooks, and over the last three weeks, she had become so informed that she even offered them advice on skill creation. Contrary to what Aodhán had expected, the advice had actually been pretty solid, and he wondered if her unique understanding stemmed from her perspective as a sleeper.
Unrid wasn't as interested in the topic and barely said much about it in their letters, but Aodhán couldn't blame him considering his limited core.
When Synové pulled back, Aodhán opened up his spirit, and Varéc rushed out, causing Synové to stumble back in alarm while Unrid stood with his arms out, his stance protective yet fearful.
Aodhán grinned and said, “Guys, meet Varéc, my familiar.”
Varéc roared, the sound an ominous rumble of thunder, as he stretched his sinuous neck towards Synové.
Slowly, her expression morphed from fear to amazement, and with wide eyes, she stretched a hand forward and placed it on Varec's head. Electricity crackled, and Synové jerked back in alarm.
“Don't be scared; it won't hurt you.” Daruk chuckled and placed his hands on Varéc before guiding Synové's hand to do the same.
Varéc growled contentedly, and Unrid finally joined in, his rough palms coming to rest on Varéc's hide.
“Amazing.” Unrid gasped as he caressed Varec's hide.
The sound of doors and shutters soon drew their attention away from Varéc, and Aodhán turned to see several of their neighbors staring at them. Some from their windows, others from their balconies, and the most disturbing was an elderly woman who was hanging half out of her window, eyes wide with fear.
“Perhaps, we should go inside.” Aodhán muttered uncomfortably, and after another growl of contentment, Varéc returned to his spirit.
“Never in my life have I seen anything more beautiful.” Synové sighed, but when she noticed the watching neighbors, she grabbed their arms and pulled them towards the house. “Come on, I've prepared your favorite meals.”
They walked into the house a moment later, and Aodhán choked when he realized that Synové had tried her hand at decorating once again.
The living room was a patchwork of mismatched colors that contrasted painfully with each other. A set of sky blue couches were arranged on a burnt orange carpet that clashed with the neon curtains and yellow walls.
It was a disaster, and Aodhán decided that this time he would do something about it. The living room was spacious, and by the left, an artfully designed staircase wound to the upper floor.
Synové led them to the dining room and pushed both of them to their seats with excitement. Unrid asked about their journey as he slid into the chair opposite them, and while they spoke, Synové rushed to the kitchen.
She returned barely a minute later with a tray filled with steaming bowls of porridge, and as she placed the last bowl before Aodhán, she grinned. “Now, I'm ready. Tell us all about your exciting adventures.” Her gaze shifted to Daruk. “Especially how you managed to change your affinity from earth to ice; you didn't tell us that in your letters.”
“And don't leave anything out.” Unrid spoke around a mouthful of porridge, and Aodhán chuckled as Daruk began narrating. “Well, after we left the Warren, we boarded the Raventhorn, which was supposed to bring us to the fifth sector, but only a few days after leaving the harbor, we met with a devastating accident that destroyed the ship and took the lives of many.”
They'd had several discussions on how this particular conversation would go, and they'd both decided to keep the truth of Raventhorn’s event hidden from Unrid and Synové.
Synové gasped as Daruk continued, her hands tightening in shock as he narrated the accident. Aodhán kept quiet for most of the conversation, only adding in a few details Daruk neglected to mention.
They narrated their journey through the forest and into the inheritors trial, where they'd found the legacy seed, after which they moved on to their time spent in the 8th sector and their eventual admittance into the 5th academy.
“That's quite the adventure you've both had.” Unrid said as soon as they finished, and Synové nodded in agreement. “I'm still shocked by the fact that you met an ascendant.”
“Yeah, that was pretty cool.” Daruk chuckled, but Synové frowned, and her next question hit Aodhán like a hammer to the head.
“Do you think it's possible for one to be rid of the limit if they encounter an inheritors trial?”
Aodhán blinked, stunned that the thought had never crossed his mind before now. He exchanged glances with Daruk and Unrid, who looked just as shocked by the idea as he was. Daruk swallowed slowly before responding. “It won't be a cure, persay. It's more of a reset. A painful reset.”
Aodhán nodded in agreement, although he doubted Unrid would mind the pain if it meant a chance to restart his advancement with his current knowledge.
“But it’s possible?” Unrid asked, his voice tinged with hope and barely contained excitement.
“It should be,” Aodhán replied with a frown. “Daruk was at the seventh tier when he changed his affinity, though I have no idea what effect your limit would have on the process. It might make it harder or even fatal.”
“Still, it’s worth a shot, isn’t it?” Unrid pressed, his hope and excitement growing.
Aodhán sighed and shook his head. “I understand your excitement, Unrid, but I wouldn't want you to get your hopes up. Finding the legacy of an ascendant is almost impossible, even for high-tiered seekers, and apart from fortunate encounters like ours, an inheritor's trial is almost impossible to locate.”
Unrid's expression fell with disappointment, and he chuckled sadly. “I guess I got too excited.”
“It’s alright,” Daruk smiled. “If we come across another inheritor's trial, I’ll make sure to teleport you over.”
They all laughed, and the conversation shifted to lighter topics. They discussed their housemates, the forge rankings, and their classes, carefully avoiding any talk of war. Soon, they were all laughing as Unrid narrated a recent amusing incident at work.
An hour later, as Daruk and Synové cleared the plates, a knock sounded at the door, and Aodhán stood up.
“I’ll get it.” He announced as he moved towards the door, but the moment he opened it, he was instantly blinded by hundreds of camera flashes and bombarded with the voices of a dozen reporters, all shouting variations of the same question: “How did an evolved class awakened bond with a familiar?”
Panicked, Aodhán slammed the door shut and turned back to his family with wide eyes. “Oh shit!”