I walked through the front door of my house and noticed that mom and dad's shoes were there. In the kitchen, there was nothing. Actually... nothing. All the decorations which were previously present were no longer there. Before moving into the living room, I heard a mishmash of movement and noises. Upon entering, I saw the both of them sorting the various items into different crates.

"Ah, you're back. Perfect timing." Dad shot me a quick glance before continuing. "You can get started on packing up your room."

"Before I get on that, I have a lot of questions," I said.

"Then help us here while you ask."

"Ok?"

"The white crate is for essential items," Mom said, turning around and pointing at multiple boxes. "The two brown ones are for everything else."

I tip toed over the clutter on the floor and started to remove items from the large display. "So, how are you two doing?"

"Not good," Dad said.

"Tired." Mom nodded.

"Unfortunate. Where is Mitre, by the way? Because just based on some assumptions, I'm sure he's why this is happening right now."

"He's in a meditative state that cannot be disturbed. So we left him with Ethelm for now."

It took me a few moments to recognize who the name belonged to. "Chief Fane? What does he have to do with this?"

"In order to cut a long story short—oh actually hand me that ceramic bowl." Mom waved her fingers. I handed it over.

"There is no best way to tell you this, but your mother and I also used to be Weavers."

"Huh, I would have never guessed." I scratched my chin. "I don't think it's a thought that even crossed my mind."

"That's because we were Weavers long before we arrived at Stillside. However, ever since being here, we haven't been."

"You can—unbecome a Weaver?"

"Yes, but that's not what she meant."

"Sorry, I should have worded it better," Mom said.

"Purple Wyrm poison, dangerous stuff I tell you." Dad quickly added, looking up from the painting in his hand. "Ah, you probably don't know what that is."

"No, of course I do," I said. "I've seen purple worms many times in the woods. I never suspected them to have such potent poison though."

"Not that kind of worm."

"Obviously."

"But, not entirely incorrect either," Mom said. "Just increase its size by ten-thousand fold and instead of having skin, it instead has scales thicker than the walls of this house."

"They're actually underselling how strong of a creature purple wyrms are," Syn said. "And unless more time than I realized possible has passed, they do have mutated draconic bloodlines. So even at the peak of my strength, it was difficult fighting one on one against it."

"That sounds, uh, frightening to say the very least." I took a step back so they could roll up the rug.

"Yes, it almost cost the two of us our lives."

"Luckily we survived, but the antidote, hm, how do I put this in a way you can understand?" Dad stroked his mustache, trying to think of a good way to explain his thought. "Let's just go with—it suppressed our abilities and strength. So much so in fact, that using any of it could cause a backlash."

"That's part of the reason we came to Stillside. Ethelm comes from the south and thusly so, has connections with some of the tribes down there."

"He's been managing trade between them and us for over a decade now, allowing us to purge the poison out of our body completely."

"Is it?" I asked.

"Not completely."

"Holy Hell, that's some potent poison."

Dad nervously chuckled. "You don't even know the half of it."

"Then, based on the previous statements, I assume you're heading down? But why now? Because Mitre became a Weaver?" I asked.

"Yes," Mom answered. "Mitre shouldn't have become a Weaver in the first place."

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"I'm going to need a lot of help here," I said, rolling my hand.

"Right. In short, I have a special bloodline that can only be awakened through a unique method. However, Mitre never went through that method and still became one," Dad explained. "If possible, we would have continued to recover gradually, but we're not sure if Mitre will face adverse effects. However, we can't return until we're healed. Thus, even though it is dangerous, we have no other choice besides travelling down and recovering as fast as possible. That way we can return and make sure Mitre gets checked up on."

The concept of such wasn't foreign to me. In fact, something similar needed to be done to activate my Belmont bloodline. Except... I shook and cleared my head.

"I'm sure you're a bit overwhelmed right now."

Pinching my fingers until a small gap was between them, I said, "Just this much. Although, I must ask, is there any chance that activation method could make me a Weaver?"

Of course, I already was one, but they didn't know. I had been meaning to explain the whole situation with Syn, but finding the proper words to do so always escaped me.

"Unfortunately not," he said, wiping a drop of sweat off his brow.

Mom laughed. "It would make you very dead instead."

I exaggerated a sigh.

"However, since all of this is finally out, I can tell you that my physical training, and specifically the sword technique I was teaching you, was all done to activate your soul."

"Oh?" I raised my pitch.

"It's why I wanted you to take it more seriously. That and it might even help improve your heart's condition."

"Hopefully, you'll put some more effort into it now."

"Well, uh, actually, you see," I cleared my throat. "Branne is travelling to Osetia alongside the Oxcross garrison."

"I knew that a diplomat from the Vallonian Empire stopping by here from talking with Ethelm, but I didn't realize Branne was leaving with them."

"I didn't either, and upon learning about it, I talked to Vice Captain Cyrne, and while it isn't cleared yet, Athas and I might be able to join as Oxcross garrison recruits, and travel alongside with them."

"Cyrne? He's a vice captain already? My, how time flies."

"I had a good feeling about him from back when. I'm more surprised that you decided to join the Oxcross garrison."

"It's only a temporary joining for me. I just had to think up of an excuse in order to tag along. I've always wanted to visit Osetia, and finally, an opportunity showed up for me."

"So you're finally leaving us," Dad said, crossing his arms.

"He's not gone yet," Mom corrected, raising a finger. "But, good on you for deciding to make something of yourself."

Dad nodded. "I'll do some talking. The least we can do now is make sure you get to go."

"Also, since it's the capital of the empire, I'm sure it will be expensive, and since you guys are Weavers—"

Mom shook her head. "Gold is only useful in large cities, excluding Mirror Mountain. Since we aren't living in one, and since its worthless to the southern tribes, we exchanged all the coins we had for rare resources and items which would be useful in trade. Unfortunately, what we have remaining are large and heavy items, like the stuff in the crates. Although, we might have a gold ring or two stashed away somewhere."

"I'll look out for that when we get to our room," Dad said. "I think Ethelm might carry some coins though, so I'll ask him about it."

"It's fine." I waved it away. "I'll just ask Branne about some coin, or sell off some with we don't need. There's some good stuff in his stash for sure."

----------------------------------------

The sun had already started to set, even though it was only five hours past midday. Cleaning up my room went by without any hiccups because it was mostly empty besides books and jars of ingredients. I stretched and wriggled my body like a cat as I sunk into my bed.

"Your day's not up just yet," Syn said.

"Just," I paused for a second, thinking of a response, but just gave up. "Just let me sleep."

"No."

"I am both physically and mentally exhausted."

"No."

"What do you mean, no?"

Syn took in a deep breath before rattling off a bunch of issues. "You still can't cast [Lightning's Ark], when you tried [Flame Creation] you said your hand was too hot and then proceeded to almost burn down the entire forest. [Bend Water] always ended up in creating cubes of ice and every casting of [Lesser Illusion] created nothing. At least you have a bit of control over [Spectral Snap] and have a hand on [Spectral hand], while [Spectral Armor] and [Debilitation Ray] haven't even seen the life of day."

"Give it some time."

"Ok, then you must have an idea of how you plan on practicing spells during your journey surrounded by tens of armed and dangerous soldiers."

I flipped my body over and looked at her. "I'm going to be honest and say that I didn't give it that much thought. I just assumed that there would be some time when I'm alone and I can just cast them and what not."

"And if someone catches you."

"I'll just admit to suddenly becoming a Weaver. I have been working on a good cover story."

"Pray tell."

"I was just communing with the fates and reading the cards. That was when I was hit with a spark of revelation, allowing me to gain a better understanding of the world—and cast magic."

"Could be better, but, not horrible."

"Well, it can't be too good, or else it seems suspicious. And it can't be too bad, or else it's just as suspicious. Just like Cyrne's story."

"So you don't believe?"

"He doesn't really have a reason to lie. And I'm sure the whole becoming a Weaver confused him, which is quite understandable, and probably doesn't know all the details. Even if he did, listing all of them would just get too boring and complicated. Anyway, in short, yes. I do believe him even if it's a shit story."

"Still, your time is going to be limited and you will also need to focus on hiding it. Unlike now, where you can just practice freely."

"Ugh." I groaned and rolled off my bed.

"If it's going to be with that attitude, then go back to bed."

"Ok." I slide back into bed.

"Wait, no."

"Now it's no? I'm getting some mixed signals." I got up again. "Alright, I'll practice. Just for you."

"You shouldn't be doing this just for me, though. You should also do this for you."

"Helping you help me."

"Fine." Syn gave up and rested her hands on her hips.

I sat in my chair and stared at the walls with my chin on my raised hands. "Alright. [Lesser Illusion], [Magic Detection] and [Bend Water] are probably the easiest to get away with during the journey. [Lightning's Ark] is naturally destructive, making it hard to get away with in my room so, [Flame Creation] it is."

"Before you start, don't forget our one attempt per day at [Spectral Armor]," Syn said.

I moved and stood in the middle of my room. My left hand turned black as the symbol glowed. I performed several hand movements and let the summoned anima flow. With a snakey whisper, I said, "Scinna Eorlgewæde."

That anima stopped moving and started to condense into an almost transparent layer of frost around my body. Two seconds passed by before the layer vanished.

Syn let out a lengthy sigh. "An entire second more is improvement."

"At this rate, it will only take me a decade for it to last for the entire hour!"