Loric couldn’t hold still. At long last his daughter would be coming home. Loric knew he shouldn’t be so excited, but he was. He couldn’t help it. What was she like? How was her mother?

A knock at the door flung him out of his seat. Before Bellos could answer the door he was there pulling it open. There she was. He drunk in the sight of her. She was beautiful like her mother although most of her was hidden beneath a cloak. The blue fur and pale flesh contracted nicely highlighting both her kin and human heritage. His excitement died at her face. Being a half kin her face was human except for the ears and eyes. Her eyes… This wasn’t his daughter. This was the Azure Magebane. The person who slaughtered dozens of mages. That was when he noticed that the mana around his entire home was being drained away like water down a sink. He swallowed. He wondered for the first time if this was a good idea.

“Well can I come in? Or do you make kin go in some back door?” The tone was harsh and unforgiving.

“No, no of course not. Come in,” Loric said stepping back. Azura stepped in looking around with some interest before focusing on him.

“So you’re him? Loric?” She paused briefly. “My father?”

“Yes,” Loric cleared his throat. “How’s your mother?”

“Alive.” Bellos chose that moment to come forward.

“May I take your cloak madam?” Bellos said proper as always. Loric tense as Azura sized up the other kin.

“Sure,” Azura said. She pulled off her cloak to reveal a form fitting armor made with some high quality scales he couldn’t identify. In the center above her breasts was a circled indent in the armor like a large pendant could lay there. Bellos took the cloak giving her a small bow.

Loric cough unsure what to say. He’d been so excited. Now, well, this was just awkward.

“Let’s go to the parlor and talk,” Loric said. Azura turned toward him. She had the same eyes as her mother but her face was very similar to his own, but feminine.

“Lead on,” Azura said. Loric turned and walked back the way he came. The parlor was a spacious room with a long table lined with snacks of all kind. Mostly meat based that would appeal to predator type kin. There were several fish dishes which he noticed with a small smile that Azura immediately locked on to. Then her gaze shifted to Elise who was standing near the table a nervous expression on her face.

“Well met sister. My name is Elise,” Elise said with a bow. Azura flinched back at that, her surprise clearly evident.

“Sister?” Azura asked.

“Half-sister naturally,” Elise clarified.

“Ah, of course,” Azura said slowly taking a seat. “So where’s this council? I want to get this done.”

“I will send word of your arrival. We will meet with them tomorrow morning. Although a few interested parties might arrive earlier to speak with you,” Loric said then gestured to the food. “Please, eat all you want.”

Azura frowned. “Why am I here now? It would’ve been easier to arrive tomorrow.”

“Today is for family,” Loric said. “I thought we could talk.”

“You’re not my family,” Azura said coldly. Loric felt the pain of those words strike his heart. It was true, he hadn’t been a father to Azura. He’d left her for fear of what his own father might do. Before he could go on Azura continued.

“My mother was left alone to raise me. She was nearly killed by some mage. I had to pull her from the brink of death. The next day my best friend was brutally murdered trying to stop a mage from raping his sister. Then one of the kin who helped raised me had his head blown off during your little capture the slave event. I’ve already lost plenty of my family. You’re not part of it.” Azura speech grew harsher as she spoke. Elise blanched at her words.

“True as all that probably is, we are still connected by blood,” Tarwin said coming into the room Elise’s mother Maeve right behind him. He sized up Azura for a long moment. Loric held his breath hoping his father didn’t make things worse. He really wished that Maeve wasn’t here, but she insisted on joining.

“You really do absorb all the mana around you. I can only feel a little and it’s all being pull directly into you,” Tarwin said. “How do you do that?”

“Who are you?” Azura asked.

“Proper manners suggest that you answer a question before asking your own,” Maeve said taking a seat, which was the farthest away as possible from Azura. “I would assume even kin practice manners.”

“My mother tried her best to teach me. It never took hold,” Azura said blandly. “So, who are you?”

“Persistent and tough,” Tarwin said in approval. “You must get that from your mother.” Loric winced at the insult. Azura frowned.

“To answer your question I’m your grandfather. You can call me Tarwin. Will you be so kind as to answer my question?” Tarwin took a seat.

“Trade secret,” Azura said.

“Pity,” Tarwin said. He didn’t seem upset, Loric knew he expected such an answer. “Shall we eat then we can discuss family matters after.” Loric took a seat looking nervously at Azura. This wasn’t going well. The tension was thick enough to bounce a coin off it. They all sat waiting for the kin to come and take their plates to serve them. Loric saw Azura look around confused, then she shrugged. Unbelievably a fish began floating over to her plate where it spontaneously cut apart as if invisible knives were at work. His own shock was mirrored by all the others. There was no flare of magic. No incantation spoken. It happened naturally like an apple falling from a tree.

“How are you doing that?” Tarwin asked. For the first time Loric could remember he heard actually awe from the man.

“Trade secret,” Azura answered again before fish flew into her mouth making it quite impossible to answer further. She stuffed her mouth to a level that was… well it was frankly obscene. Loric had a mental grimace. The girl clearly lacked any table manners. He knew his daughter and father wouldn’t make an issue of it however… As if on cue Maeve sniffed haughtily as the kin began arriving to serve them.

“Clearly kin lack the proper manners of their betters,” Maeve said with as much distain as she could muster. Azura eyes harden as they locked onto the woman her mouth still full.

“Maeve,” Loric said angrily. “We shouldn’t judge others like that. She is our guest and you should treat her kindly.”

“I am,” Maeve said snidely. “I’m treating a kin like a kin.”

Azura swallowed. “How true. I’m guess I’m just a filthy kin with poor manners.” Azura said then an entire pudding suddenly flew across from the table in a blink eye. Maeve was impacted by the projectile dessert covering her face and ruining her clothes. Everyone froze except for Azura who blatantly pointed and laughed.

“HOW DARE YOU! YOU FILTHY…” Maeve began but was cut off as more pieces of food flew toward the woman. A constant barrage kept her from completing the sentence. Loric looked at the disaster in progress with a stunned helplessness. He wasn’t sure to cry or laugh. His father also appeared dumbfounded. Only Elise seemed to know what to do. She picked up a piece a food and threw it at Azura. It landed in her hair and Azura turned toward her attacker. Elise just picked up a bread roll.

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“To arms!” She declared. Then the most bizarre thing happened. Azura actually smiled at Elise as the two began an impromptu food fight. For several seconds the two engaged in battle and that might have been the end of the tense situation but for Maeve’s next action.

“MAJOR FORCEBOLT!” Maeve shouted.

“No!!” Loric shouted as the blast of death came for his daughter. Even as he started to cast barrier he knew it was too late.

Azura slapped the spell out of midair. The spell was redirected to the far wall which exploded outwards. The mages froze as did the kin who had wisely retreated when the food fight had begun. Maeve eyes were wide which were easy to see as her face was covered in dark pudding. Suddenly Azura was standing before Maeve hand around her throat. Azura effortless held his wife off the ground as she struggled in her grip. The others shot to their feet. They hadn’t even seen her move.

“You shouldn't have done that,” Azura said coldly. “Hmm, what should I do now?” Azura lifted her free hand to scoop some of the pudding off Maeve and tasted it. “Damn that’s good. What a waste.”

“Drop her now!” Tarwin said.

“Oh? Do you have the power to make me mage?” Azura asked. “You can all attack me at once if you like.”

“Please stop,” Elise said frighten tears in her eyes. “I know my mother can be mean to kin but please let her go.” Azura looked at Elise and then Loric. This is all going so wrong. He should have prevented this disaster.

“Fine,” Azura said dropping the woman who coughed.

“Loric help me with your wife,” Tarwin said. He turned toward the kin. “Please fetch some hot water and cloths so we can clean ourselves after this little mishap.” Only Loric’s long time experience with his father told him how startled the man was. The man had never said ‘please’ in his entire life. Azura’s power was unlike anything they’ve seen. Naturally they heard of her feats, but seeing it person was immensely intimidating.

The front door suddenly burst open. Archmage Denayd came in looking a bit winded his long green beard waving.

“Oh my. What did I miss?”

Elise watched the Archmage fawn over her sister. Elise for her part was doing her best to hide her fear. Her sister was so powerful it was terrifying. She had slapped a high level spell away like it was a wade of paper.

“My dear Azure Magebane! Hmm that’s a mouth full can I call you by your proper name of Azura?” The Archmage said in a rush.

“Sure,” Azura said cautiously.

“Oh please don’t confuse me with those other mages. I’m a learned fellow and I’m quite interested in meeting you. I’ve been trying to research you ever since I saw the recorded memory of your fights. Truly remarkable. Could you perhaps give me a demonstration?”

Elise blinked at the Archmage Denayd. The man was acting like a fan girl when a famous bard came to town. Her sister shrugged then walked to the wall where she did a 90 degree turn and kept walking. Elise gapped as she did it again and now was on the ceiling looking down at them. Elise couldn’t detect a trace of magic.

The Archmage squealed with delight. The man actually squealed. He sounded like a 5 year girl old presented with a kitten. He clapped vigorously at the display.

“What else can you do?!”

“Well that was nearly disastrous,” Tarwin said as Maeve, who had taken off her first layer of clothes, washed her face. The woman was trembling. She had fled to her room where the pair had found her like this.

“What were you thinking?!” Loric shouted at her. It was rare that he and his father ever saw eye to eye on anything.

“She, she was just a kin…” Maeve said weakly.

Tarwin snorted in disgust. “Only a kin? Haven’t you been paying attention to anything that has been going on this past year? She might be the most powerful being in the city.” He shook his head before continuing. “No, she’s certainly the most powerful. I would say the most powerful in all of Asluin and you had to antagonize her. I don’t care if she was eating naked. You will show her the upmost respect or I will cut off funding to your entire family!”

Maeve eyes went wide. Loric knew this was no idle threat. Maeve’s family was not well off. The support of the Coldwell family was the only thing keeping them from finical ruin.

Tarwin began pacing back and forth. “We need to get her into the family. Her power could make us the most powerful mages in all of Asluin. Loric I want you and Elise to spend as much time with her as possible. Win her over. In time she will be willing to share her power with the rest of us I’m sure.”

Loric was conflicted. Not on the actions but the motivations. He wanted to spend time with Azura because deep down he wanted her to become his daughter in more ways than just because he was a seed donor. He didn’t care about the secrets of her power. How did the old saying go? ‘Don’t question a free gift.’ The reasons didn’t matter. He would take it.

Loric walked back downstairs with his father after ensuring that Maeve would stay away for the remainder of the night.

“We need to be careful to not insult Azura further. This is too great a …” Tarwin said then stopped as they entered the sitting room near the parlor. Azura was standing on the ceiling with multiple objects orbiting her as Archmage Denayd bounced up and down in excitement.

“My dear Azura,” Denayd said his eyes wide. “Please you must show me the secrets to this power! I can’t sense anything. All my detection spells are useless!”

Azura laughed heartily before responding.

“I can’t do that Archmage Denayd. No matter how sweet you are.”

“Aww come on dear, I told you to call me Grandpa. All beautiful young women should have someone they call Grandpa.”

A vein appeared on Tarwin’s forehead as his left eye twitched.

The evening was much more pleasant after that, Elise had to admit. It was exceptionally amusing as her Grandfather tried all the polite ways he had to expel the Archmage from their home. The old man refused to budge and kept trying to pry secrets out of her sister. It wasn’t until her father gave her an imploring look that she got involved.

“I’m so sorry Archmage, but I have a lot of lost time to make up with my sister,” she seized Azura’s hand before pulling her away. “So I hope you’ll excuse us. You can speak with her at the meeting tomorrow.” The Archmage looked like a child who had their puppy taken away.

“That man was certainly excitable,” Azura said once they were in the foyer.

“That he was,” Elise chuckled letting Azura’s hand go.

“Your family is mostly nice,” Azura said as Elise led her outside.

“They’re your family too,” Elise said as she opened the door to the garden.

“Perhaps,” Azura answered noncommittally.

The night air was crisp with a full moon illuminating the garden. Night birds chirped or hooted as the pair walked. Strangely Azura raised her left hand high in the air for a minute before letting it drop.

“So tell me about yourself.” Elise said.

“Not much to tell. I work to free the kin.”

“Oh,” Elise said before she could continue a shadowy form was in front of them. Startled she took a step back as Azura took one forward.

“There are several mages watching the house but nothing unexpected. There is no suggestion of an attack at this time.” The hooded figure said.

Azura nodded. “They want me to stay the night then meet with this council in the morning.”

“The big rat won’t like that.” The hood figured replied.

“I’m not a fan of it either. Just keep an eye out. Unless they march an army here it won’t be a problem.”

“Take care Magebane,” the figure said as he slunk back into the shadows.

“Who was that?” Elise asked trying and failing to track the figure.

“A friend,” Azura said. “Just to be clear if you all are planning to kill me in my sleep it won’t work.”

“We wouldn’t do that!”

“Good. If you tried I would slaughter everyone here.”

Elise shivered at her sister’s cold tone.

“Perhaps we should go back inside and retire for the evening…” Elise said. Azura nodded as they went back. What kind of life did her sister live that left her so jaded?

Azura looked at the room the kin servant led her too. It was incredibility spacious.

“Here is your room madam,” the deer-kin said he started to turn away.

“What’s your name?” Azura asked.

“Bellos and I know who you are, savior of kin.”

“So, what are they like?” Azura asked gesturing back down to the others.

Bellos paused. “They’re good… for mages. I helped raised the young mistress and have been mostly happy. Her mother is a hand full but your father has always treated the kin with kindness. Even when he was force to do less than desirable activities.” The kin rubbed his shoulder.

“Do you want to leave?” Azura asked. “I can free you from those runes. I can take you out of here along with any family or friends. They can’t stop me.”

“I’m grateful for the offer. I really am. But this has been my home most of my life. And it has been mostly pleasant.”

“I understand. Please extend this offer to the rest of the kin. Any who want to go someplace safe from mages I can arrange it.”

“I will spread your message,” Bellos paused again before answering. “Thank you for all you’ve done Azure Magebane. From the spectacle this evening I saw your legend does not do you justice.”

Azura smiled at the deer-kin. “You should see me when I’m serious.”

“I rather not,” Bellos said as he walked away.

Azura inspected the room before moving a large wardrobe in front of the door and laying down. A little extra security never hurt. Next she tested the bed. It was soft. Softer than any bed she’d ever touched before. Azura sat down on it holding her head in her hands. That’d been hard. She’d almost ruined everything with how she behaved. It’s just that… well, she’d been so angry. She wasn’t even sure why. Perhaps at the future that been denied her? The sight of her father and… her sister. It had been much harder than she’d imagined. She’d have to do better tomorrow.

The bed was even more comfortable when she was laying in it. It was like a cloud. As Azura felled asleep, other more distant forces, began moving.