Teyva stood in the gardens, having blessedly changed out of that restrictive dress. She had been enduring the ceremony that had followed the initial meeting with the First Elders for over an hour. Niko had blessedly distanced himself after their encounter and returned to the column. After the ceremony, there was what amounted to a reception, the nobles of the various houses-over a hundred of them-all gathered in one of the large dining halls in the lower levels of the Pinnacle. After more than her fair share of enduring various attempts at flirtation and pressing questions about her heritage, she had managed to slip away to her chambers with Nephral in tow.

She had changed into a pair of white slacks and boots along with a fitted tunic that had been made for her by the castle staff. She was far more comfortable this way. At her ankle, Nephral sat and stared out over the vast wildlands beyond Osan. In the distance, she could see the camp of what she assumed was the Northern Cardinal Clan. She looked down at the bundle in her arms, the small creature swaddled within a soft blanket stirred and a pair of yellow eyes opened to peer at her mother. Teyva smiled and leaned in to kiss the baby on the head. “You sleep a lot, you know that?” She crooned.

“Unsurprising,” Nephral chimed in, “Rilks enter rotating hibernation cycles and unless working for the sake of their nest will sleep for over sixteen hours a day. It is how they extend their lifespans.”

“Sixteen sounds about right for her,” Teyva said, glancing at the feline, “You’ve been pretty reserved recently, don’t think I haven’t noticed.”

“I apologize, mother,” He said dipping his head, “I have felt inadequate as an attendant to you, it weighs on my mind.”

“Well you can cut that out,” Teyva said sharply, “You were doing just fine, dearie. I don’t expect you to defend me, I want you to be there by my side, sharing your wisdom. It saddens me more that I don’t hear your voice as often.”

The sphinx looked up at her with big eyes and offered her a feline approximation of a smile, “You are kind to me, Mother.”

Teyva sat down and let the infant rest in her lap. She reached over and stroked Nephral’s head, staring out over the fields of grain. Nephral drew in closer and placed his paws on her thigh, peering down at the small thing that squirmed a bit now and then. Baby Stella opened her mouth and showed the beginnings of pointed teeth, her tiny fingers twitching and grasping at Nephral. Teyva relaxed, closing her eyes and leaning her head back. She felt the cloud of mana in the room, drawing it in and forming it around her body. The action soothed her mind, easing the tension that had been slowly winding down since the ceremony.

“You’ve been listening to Tiisha I see,” A powerful voice said behind her.

Teyva opened her eyes and smiled, “She told me that training my mana manipulation with the baby closeby would help her adapt to it more quickly when she’s older,” Teyva said and then glanced over her shoulder, “Shouldn’t you be meeting with the Four and the First Elders right now? Father?”

“You sound like Azrael,” Thrake said, closing the distance between them and sitting down next to her.

“Perish the thought,” Teyva laughed, “I’m not that much of a nag.”

“Don’t let her hear you say that,” He chuckled and turned to peer down at the baby, “And how is this little one?”

“Healthy, with a voracious appetite,” Teyva said, tapping the baby on the nose. Stella squirmed and giggled, reaching up with her clawed hands to grip her mother’s finger. She playfully tugged back and forth with the baby while the King watched. “I barely know how to be a mother,” Teyva said, “I’m basically just doing what my real mother would never do.”

“You don’t talk much about your past life,” Thrake pointed out, “Why is that?”

“What is there to say?” Teyva grunted, “I was what amounted to a machine with a pulse in my world, I worked tirelessly for little pay, had an absentee drunk of a mother, and friends who were better described as parasites.”

“Your father?” He chimed in.

“Never knew him,” Teyva said, “My uncle did most of the work.”

“I am sorry,” Thrake said.

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“I’m not,” Teyva shook her head, “I have a better life now,” She said, reaching out to run her hand over Nephral’s head, she scratched his chin and pulled him a little closer. She could feel him purring against her thigh. She mused quietly for a moment before glancing in the King’s direction. “May I ask you something?”

“Of course,” He said, “You can ask anything.”

“I suppose I have a few questions,” She scratched her nose, “Do you intend to make me your heir?”

The king went silent for a moment and looked out over the fields from his spot next to her, “Bluntly asked,” He said playfully, a wry grin on his face, “Azrael has no interest in taking my place should something happen. She’s sworn herself as a warden and now as your knight,” He turned to her, “It would be a little strange for a Queen of the Azar to be sworn as a knight to another Queen.”

“Point taken,” She said, “But you hardly know me, we met barely two months ago.”

“I know enough, and more than you think,” The King said, “But you are right that at this time you are not in a position for me to begin calling you Crown Princess.”

Teyva let out a relieved sigh, “Well that’s good at least.”

“That’s why I want you to participate in the games, and do as well as you can,” He said to her, reaching around and putting a hand on her shoulder. It was surprisingly warm. “You have the potential, you have a great deal of wisdom already and you have great teachers and advisors who can fill in the gaps if necessary,” He said, nodding to Nephral, “What you lack is the love of the people. They must acknowledge you as someone capable of taking on that mantle. You need to demonstrate to them that you respect our culture and have the power to protect them one day if need be. They must admire you.”

“And you think my participation will earn me that?” She asked.

“It can’t hurt!” He laughed, “Do well enough and they will be forced to acknowledge you.”

Journal Update!

[The Unification Festival]

The people of Osan are celebrating a festival that includes competition. Take advantage of this competition and earn the respect and renown you need to be formally recognized by the King.

You must survive.

Place as high as possible in the Unification Competition.

Reward: Variable Experience, Variable Reputation Increase with the Azar, Variable Rewards

Accept the Quest?: Yes / No

“I’ll do my best,” Teyva said, letting out a breath. “My next question is related to Aspects. Yaga said that you know more about them than anyone else.”

“Ah,” The King murmured, “I’ll do my best but even I am no fountain of knowledge on the subject.”

“I have five Aspects,” Teyva began, drawing a look from the king. “But the system tells me I have six, but I cannot see it or use its powers,” She looked at her hand and clenched her fist, “I’m missing something but I can’t figure out what it is.”

“There are many different types and grades of aspects,” The king began, “I’m sure you’re familiar with their rarities and potencies,” He continued.

“Yes, Pathetic, Capable, Threshold, and so on,” Teyva said.

“Well there are two different types of Aspects,” He pointed out, drawing her attention, “You are familiar with what are called Mortal Aspects or Standard Aspects. These Aspects are those that anyone can acquire, either through a gift from an Aspect Being or by ritual. I myself have five such aspects as well.” Teyva remained silent as he continued his explanation. “The second kind of Aspect is known as a Divine or Sovereign Aspect, you cannot acquire a stone for such an aspect nor can it be given to you by an Aspect Being. Instead, such an Aspect is born within a person who personifies a trait or concept. It grows and takes shape until it finally manifests as a full aspect. What is unique about the Sovereign Aspect is that it changes the relationship between your Mortal Aspects, pulling them into line and creating harmony between them.”

She stared at him, wide-eyed, “So what you’re saying is that I’m developing a Sovereign Aspect.”

“It would seem so!” He said with a smile.

She paused, frowning a little as a thought occurred to her, “Wait…”

“Catching on, are you?” He teased, “A sovereign aspect is the ultimate difference between a mortal and an Aspect Being.”

She froze, “Then I’m becoming an Aspect Being,” she said quietly, the revelation sending a chill down her spine. She was becoming what amounted to a goddess in this world in a very literal sense. She turned and looked up at him, catching the shine in his eyes. “You have a Sovereign aspect already.”

“I do,” He said, “It completed its manifestation before I took the throne.”

“No wonder the people revere you,” She said thoughtfully.

“It’s not public knowledge,” He corrected her, “How the Sovereign aspect works anyway. But it is known that I am able to grant one of my aspects to another person if I so choose.”

“Close enough, then,” Teyva laughed, “But how do I get it to finish manifesting?”

“It takes time, or the right trigger,” The King said, “Be patient. Is that all your questions?”

“Just one more,” Teyva said, “Will you be watching the games tomorrow?”

The King barked out a laugh, “Something like that.”