“I wonder how many spatial bags with conservation enchantments I can fill with dumplings when it is eventually time to move on from this kingdom,” Jarvan LanCaire mused as he started his third plate of the savory goodies and their different dipping sauces. “While I’ve been around quite a few places back in my active adventuring days, none really make them like you people.”


    “Why director, I’m not sure to be pleased that our humble cuisine has gotten to you or wounded that the dumplings are what you’ll miss the most,” Kite retorted fondly while trying to finish his current plate and catch up to the older man.


    “Bah! At that time, you and the others will be influential enough to come visit. Adventurers move a lot easier than good dumpling places.”


    “How old are the twins now? Four? That should leave us a good amount of time to further ingratiate ourselves then. Assuming that your plan still is to leave once they come of age?”


    “Ah, yes, they do grow up so fast,” Jarvan said, getting that wistful look reserved for parents and other close relatives. “Even after a few years, Fantina almost seems lost now that she can constantly move around unhindered by that belly. Had we not had a most clear agreement, she would probably just have kept them coming. But I suppose that is truly the luxury of a silver-ranker to be so cavalier about such things, when it is barely a hindrance to be mentioned.


    As to our plans, they do remain. We’ll see how the twins fare. I suspect that they’ll be early bloomers, but that should leave at least a dozen years and change as we want to really make sure that they’re settled in somewhere before uprooting ourselves properly.”


    “Thank the heavens then. I’m not sure what I would do without my favorite branch director around.”


    “Given that you’re on track to reach gold before me, Kite, I’m sure you’ll manage,” Jarvan grumbled good-naturedly.


    They continued like that while they ate, with Kite getting more updates on the goings on of Jarvans’s horde of children while giving him the latest news and gossip of the guild. Around them, the popular dumpling restaurant bustled with constant activity and a mishmash of auras all squeezed into the tight confines, as the restaurant’s close proximity to the adventure society campus up at topmost step of Bastion’s stair-like layout gave it an impressive concentration of essence-users in the clientele.


    It was only when the cups of steaming tea that would round out their impromptu feast had arrived that Kite leaned back and broached the topic he had been most eagerly awaiting.


    “If it wouldn’t be too much of a bother, director, I am most curious as to what information you were hinting at earlier. And while my patience is decently tempered through meditation and experience, even that is starting to crumble due to curiosity alone.”


    “Hah! Well I suppose I can be generous enough to get to it. Honestly, I’ve been dying to tell you this whole time, but there aren''t too many opportunities for us to just catch up these days.”


    Pausing, Jarvan touched his director’s pin which caused a privacy screen to spring up around the pair and the small booth they shared. Even though the restaurant was crowded, none had so far tried to approach the two silvers or asked to use the empty seats, and the shimmering screen was only another layer of deterrent as well as to keep out any attempts at eavesdropping.


    “As you might have guessed, it is in regard to your little tree and the changes you’ve described in Glint since she ate one of its fruits. Both Dobrazza and I have reached out to trustworthy contacts, both fellow adventurers as well as the magic society, and she gave me leave to share the responses she’s received in return.”


    At that, he produced a stack of letters which he placed on the table, gesturing for Kite to look through them. Kite did just that, his rank allowing him to quickly scan and memorize their contents. While the individual tone and contents varied, there was a distinct theme throughout which quickly became obvious.


    “Huh… So it wasn’t just us who thought it an extraordinary occurrence. From the wordings of some of these, I imagine that I would have some pretty motivated help, should I wish to extend the invitation. Just this one alone even seems to be threatening to stab you, director, unless you provide them with more details this instant. A threat made through… mail…”


    “Oh, that? That’s just Savialaina. She’s always like that. If she hasn’t threatened to stab me at least once, then we haven’t had a proper conversation that actually interested her,” Jarvan chuckled. “Her part of the Mirror Kingdom is an odd one. Somber people but still somehow passionate and ever fond of their knives.”


    He finished what was left of his cup of tea in a single, long gulp before continuing. “But honestly, Kite, I’m not too surprised. As you well know, I’m definitely no scholar. But if that tree of yours produces a fruit which can essentially, and assumedly permanently, add to the nature of an inherently magical being? And in just a week? That ought to cause a stir in certain parts of the magical world. Some sub-species like the Stormcaller Leonids didn’t appear in just a week or two.”


    “Assuming that is indeed the case, of course. We still don’t know too many details about it.”


    “True, true,” Jarvan agreed. “But astral spaces, while often more mundane and boring, can produce some oddities of their own from time to time; something which shouldn’t be possible in that part of the world or the environment outside their apertures. You’ve made yourself quite the real estate deal with that piece of land of yours.”


    “Then I will need to thank Fortune once more. And also figure out what to do about it,” Kite said, sharing his thoughts. “While auntie Dove will keep looking into it, she has been clear that she will also need help to properly understand the tree within any reasonable timeframe. We need to know if it poses any hidden dangers and if there are other properties we should be aware of. So, do you have any thoughts on which of these I should begin with? Of those that seem eager to know more, that is?”


    “While Savialaina would probably stab me for real if she heard this, my first answer is none.”


    “None?”


    “None of them,” Jarvan confirmed with a grin.


    “Then I assume that you have some other suggestion which you’d like to share?” Sage advice for this young adventurer and his mysterious gains?”


    “Ah, you know me so well. The young does show some wisdom at time, stopping to listen to the advice of their elders-”


    “Director, please-”


    “Fine, fine. I’ll get to the point,” Jarvan said, leaning forward conspiratorially. “Ponder this, Kite, if you please; both mine and Dobrazza’s contacts found these fruits of yours most interesting. But they are both scattered across the world and - honestly - not that important people, at least not on the grand scale of things. Through them, you could get some help in researching forward, but I can’t help feeling that it would be to waste the potential here. If these few contacts find it so interesting, then there are surely more who might. People or organizations who might pay handsomely for a sample. Because I’d imagine that even with your essence and stone-spewing, wonderful familiar, the guild, your equipment and that compound of yours does eat it’s fair share of coin.”


    “So you recommend that I try selling them? The fruits?” Kite asked, sitting back as he pondered the implications of such an action. “But how? And where? Wouldn’t that just risk what I have so far tried to avoid; some random gold-ranker deciding to just come and take it from me?”


    “Not if you’re reasonably smart about it. Say, how familiar are you with the auction houses?”


    “Somewhat. There is one in Heavenward, no? I’ve yet to visit one myself though, beyond using their services to trade essences through proxies.”


    “And what if I told you that the one in Heavenward is just a small peddler in comparison to one in the great adventuring capitals of the world?”


    “Jarvan, I’ve visited Rimaros briefly with Gauntlet. I don’t need you to tell me that my homeland is small by comparison.”


    “Ah, sorry. I keep forgetting that you’ve actually been around a bit these days,” the director excused himself, holding up his hands placatingly. “But what I’m trying to get to is that in places like Rimaros, there are truly important and powerful people who use their services. People who truly value their privacy. As such, these auction houses are discreet. You want to be anonymous? It shall be so unless - I suppose - some random diamond-ranker suddenly decides to take an interest. And there’s not really anything anyone can do about that ever, as are there almost never reasons for them to take notice anyway. You want to add a way for some of the bidders to make contact with you for potential future arrangements if you find them interesting or agreeable? The auction house will make it happen. Want to be hand-fed grapes by a hunk of a leonid while the auction goes down? The auction house will make that happen… As long as you pay enough.”


    “That was… oddly specific.”


    “What I’m trying to say is-” Jarvan said, charging onward while ignoring Kite’s raised eyebrow. “- is that going through some establishment like the great auction houses might be your best shot at getting paid well and finding hints as to which people or organizations might be able to help you further, should you wish for it. And their appraisers are some of the best in the world, so they’ll even be able to help verify what those fruits do. Heck, I’ll even come with you and help you along.”


    As the onslaught of information wound down, Kite once again found himself sitting back in his booth. And, staying true to the habit he had long since tried to keep cultivating, he took a while and really thought things through. Risks warred with potential rewards, his mind their battlefield while Kite himself sought to temper outlandish fears or too grand dreams with a healthy dash of realism.


    To his credit, Jarvan too leaned back and let Kite take his time, pouring himself another cup of tea while waiting. And, soon enough, Kite felt that he had made up his mind.


    “While certainly a lot more… bold… than what I’d initially had in mind, director, I will admit that you make a convincing point. Quite a few, actually. While I’ll wish to discuss the matter with my family, I’d be willing to give a preliminary agreement here and now. It does sound quite exciting. Your help would also be greatly appreciated, of course,” he finished, smiling inwardly as he felt the other man’s excitement start leaking into his aura.


    “Great! Great!” Jarvan exclaimed, almost leaping out of his chair as Kite’s budding suspicions were all but confirmed as the man animatedly started making suggestions of where to go and other points of logistics to take into consideration. Because it did indeed seem like their esteemed branch director was much in need of a vacation.


    <hr>


    “I do apologize, Felicity. Bloom was most insistent, so I hope that I haven’t held up our plans for your day off too badly,” Kite quietly murmured to the woman at his side while they both waited for the man in question to finish the reservation of a private dueling area which could accommodate silver-rankers at a booth off in the distance.


    Winter Morning Felicity looked much like her usual self even after reaching bronze rank through cores, auburn hair kept in the usual neat bun held in place by the golden hairpin which Bloom had once gifted her. While some grew leaner and more athletic while ranking up, Felicity’s features had rather leaned into the dimpled cheerfulness she had always possessed, further highlighted as she happily waved to her colleagues working at the local adventure society branch.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    “Oh you’ve just noticed? Then try living with the man,” Felicity noted with cheerful sarcasm. “Showing off silver to you seems to have been everything Bloom has been talking about as of late. Had he been able to, he would probably have run off to you first thing. Good thing you were out of the country when it happened.”


    “Really? Is it that important?”


    “Well, I might be exaggerating a bit, but less than you’d think. Friendly rivalries are all well and good though, even if your absence has probably made you all the more of a giant in my dear husband’s head. So it will honestly be good for him - and therefore me - to finally get it out of his system. Lunch can wait until afterwards,” she finished, joining Kite to meet the eager Bloom who had now finished at the counter and started making his way back.


    “Senior brother, I managed to reserve the enclosed hall for us,” the former young master said as he reached the pair. “It should give us ample privacy to really let me show you what I can do.”


    “I don’t doubt it, my friend,” Kite replied with a smile as he and Felicity fell in behind the excited Bloom even if Kite already knew the way well. He and Vista had spent plenty of bouts there during his time in Bastion, after all.


    The pair were soon sizing each other up from across the spacious hall, adorned with the amulets that connected to the protective enchantments of the place. Kite wore his usual plate armor which shimmered slightly as his mana started running through it. Across from him, Bloom had just finished tying his long black, red-streaked hair up in a high ponytail before falling into a ready stance of his own while his shimmering butterfly familiar - Glitz - manifested at the side of his head like a living ornament. The man wore light combat robes in white and red of the classic Hua-Xi style, augmented by metal armor pieces around the torso, lower arms and shins.


    “I’ve been training intensely for this moment, Senior Brother. You may have reached the wall, but the next few years will be when I finally catch up to you,” Bloom said proudly, the excitement palpable within his aura. As he spoke, his sword of pure light manifested in his hand while the air around him started to shimmer with glittering particles.


    Kite was pondering on how to approach this bout when he found himself meeting Felicity’s eyes at the sideline. Bloom’s wife rolled her eyes once before winking and mouthing ‘Show him up good’ before she raised her hand and let it drop, signaling the start of the bout.


    At once, the shimmering cloud burst outwards from Bloom, the power of his dust essence turning the inside of the practice arena into a complete haze. Gleaming blades of light manifested at once around Kite, held by semi-tangible illusions who immediately went on the offensive.


    “Ward.”


    Having sensed Felicity’s intent in her aura, Kite decided to heed her words as he was most curious to hear of her reasoning after this bout was over. As such, the tattoos of his mantle lit up immediately. Along with the barriers of Heaven-and-Void Warding, the incoming specters were rebuffed and dissolved through precise counterattacks which dissolved a few of them as Kite ripped the magical constructs asunder.


    “Still, the cloud isn’t as affected,” Kite thought, noting that the shimmering haze did not ripple as much as it had during previous bouts. “More resistant to disruption? A most useful silver upgrade.”


    “See, senior brother?” Bloom called from somewhere in the room, unseen. “My shroud has grown strong. You can’t simply shatter it anymore with a wave of your- Agh!”


    His words were interrupted as Kite had turned and jabbed out the side with his staff, sending a rippling attack projecting out into the swirling shimmer which connected. Carrying Disrupting Strike’s alternate function, targeting a special ability which Kite had no doubts would prove quite effective.


    “Wha- what did you do? I- I can’t see!”


    Kite didn’t answer, but instead used some of the stored power in Unyielding to make a powerful leap straight towards where he had managed to catch hold of Bloom’s aura. To the other man’s credit, it hadn’t been an immediate process through the distortion of the haze, and it had taken Kite a few seconds to manage. But unlike his friend, hard-working and driven as he may be, Kite had trained extensively with Gauntlet for just these kinds of situations, further tempered by the guidance of Ardent Horizon Seeker.


    As Kite drew close, guided by spiritual sense alone, Bloom managed to get his sword up just in time for an instinctive parry as he finally noticed Kite’s approach. An instinct which, in this case, betrayed him as the first strike was made with one of Matra’s descendants. Its dispelling attack shattered the sword of light before Kite’s staff impacted the side of Bloom’s head in a heavy, stunning strike before he followed up with a few more mana-draining one’s during the brief moment of the other silver reeling back.


    Bloom did have good instincts though, tempered by experience in fighting through all the monsters which Bastion’s surrounding and working for the guild would offer. He almost managed to disengage before Kite managed to lock him in place, first through the Inescapable affliction of the trio of vortices and then more physically with the barriers of Leyline warding. And when that failed, Bloom instead went as evasive and elusive he could while creating more and more offensive illusions through his phantasmagoria confluence in an attempt to ward Kite off and bog him down.


    Against many others, both monsters and essence-users, it would have made quite the difference; forcing them to retreat if not suffer outright defeat. But in his case, the sustained and heavy expenditure of mana led to him being unable to keep up with Kite who drank freely of the other man’s magic through presence, attacks and retaliation all. Even striking Kite’s barrier had become a trap these days, after all.


    “I do believe that the bout is mine, Junior Brother Bloom,” Kite eventually said, laying his staff at the neck of the other man who was currently wobbling on his feet as the mana fatigue began to set in.


    “Curses…” Bloom muttered, but did indeed step down as the haze around them vanished. “What was that you did to my perception power? I have never felt so blind.”


    “A sealing effect. While it cannot target your aura power, any other passive ones might find itself blocked,” Kite explained. “I’ve needed to get much practice in assessing or guessing lynchpins in my foes’ paths. Most effective when used right, I assure you. Even if this is the first time I’ve found myself wanting to go after the perception power. Thank you for this help in tempering my path,” he finished, allowing a bit of cheekiness to bleed into his comment.


    “Bah, such nonsense should only be expected from the Pathbreaker,” Bloom muttered. “Then I say we go again. I will need to temper myself further against your tricks.” He swallowed a mana-restoring pill and sat down to meditate, shaken by the sudden turn. But determined.


    <hr>


    “Well, he is nothing but not driven,” Kite noted where he and Felicity sat next to the unconscious Bloom, waiting for him to once again recover enough mana. “The guild is truly glad to have him among our ranks.”


    “Oh, he is. Such a sweetheart,” Felicity agreed, seeming unbothered by her husband laying sprawled on the floor of the dueling arena.


    “If you don’t mind me asking though, why did you suggest me taking such an unrestrained approach? I would first have assumed that letting him show off a bit more might have been more satisfying for him. Even though I suppose that his multiple attempts did go through most of his path.”


    “Because that’s what he truly needed, at least from how I know him,” Felicity said fondly. “My dear Bloom is most fond of showing off, and his self-proclaimed rivalry with you drives him greatly. It gives him something to strive towards and have him constantly pondering new ways to improve, even though he somehow never fails to shower attention upon me between his contracts. While some superficial part of him might have thought him ready to hold firm against you this time, I am quite sure that he would soon have sensed any attempts at holding back on your end. And for the Bloom I know, not being taken seriously would have been a much more grievous blow. Now he can set new goals.”


    She looked at Kite, suddenly abashed. “Oh, look at me rambling. Sorry.”


    “Oh, don’t be. It is honestly most heartwarming to see how much you think of him. And how well you know him.”


    “Well, as his wife I must look out for his interests, don’t I?” Felicity replied with a bright smile.


    “Speaking of marriage though, I believe that I owe the two of you a gift. Seeing that it happened as I was away with Gauntlet.”


    “Why Kite, that’s so sweet of you. But you don’t have to-”


    “Please, I insist,” Kite said, using a gentle nudge of his aura to drive the point home. “It is honestly the least I can do. Bloom might remember it differently, but our meeting next to the stream all those years ago feels quite fated now that hindsight provides some context. That encounter is not unlike a stepping stone for me, and our continued friendship and his help with the guild makes it a bond which I cherish. This makes the bond between the two of you all the more worthy of celebration.”


    The two continued to trade some stories of their memories of Bloom over the years. And, lying on the floor a short distance away, the prone - and barely conscious - man smiled.


    <hr>


    As Raven’s little aura slipped into the placid state of blissful sleep, Kite slowly rose from where he had sat at the edge of her bed. Seeing the now three year old girl clutching the stuffed toy rune tortoise - full scale, which meant that it was bigger than Raven in most dimensions - along with the awakening stone of the cloud which was the latest addition to her collection of shiny rocks, he couldn’t help the widest of smiles which colored his features.


    “Happy birthday, little Raven. May the heavens bless your fourth year as well.”


    He then made his silent exit, gently closing the door and joining his aunties, Dragonfly, Sprite,  Will and Laevyeth who were spread out around the common room of the main house after an evening of celebration.


    “Given how she clutched your gift even while asleep, Dragonfly, I would deem it a great success,” Kite said as he sat down next to his lover in one of the couches.


    “Well that’s a relief. Did you hear that, Sprite? Thanks for helping me pick it out.”


    Dragonfly’s student straightened at the praise, but couldn’t get very far as she was currently seated in front of auntie Dove while getting her hair braided and being clearly ambivalent about the whole experience.


    “As the past year has been one to celebrate and remember until the end of days, may the heavens tremble before what we can accomplish in the one to come,” Will called from where he sat next to Laevyeth, their feet lightly touching as they partook of steaming hot tea. “As soon as you get back from this auction trip, Kite, we should make plans to really test ourselves. Let no contract be left hanging on those boards!”


    “Speaking of the trip, did you finish your list, auntie Dove?” Kite asked the woman, who sighed.


    “I think so… But there’s probably so much I can’t even imagine… Vitesse… The famed city of flowers,” she said wistfully. “Use your best judgment, little Kite. Bring back as much as you can carry!”


    “Any idea why the director chose Vitesse? Pranay should be closer,” Crow asked, looking up from the formation plate she was currently working on.


    “According to him, distance. While I would definitely not be recognized by anyone in Pranay, the risk is even less once we cross the continent. With all the rumored exotics of the city, it is most probable that the fruit won’t stand out enough to cause any problematic ripples,” Kite explained, before adding. “But honestly, I believe that our dear director might also be a bit homesick. He is from Estercost, after all, and apparently hasn''t been home for over two decades. Seeing that he would manage the portal reservations, he won’t find me complaining either.”


    Looking around the room at his friends and family, Kite smiled as he continued. “Not that the current company leaves any room for complaints either. Thank you for your continued patience as it seems fate will once more carry me across the world. It’s not entirely without risk for us this time, but I still find that Jarvan’s words make a lot of sense.”


    “Little Kite, you are probably the most worried in that regard. We trust your judgment,” Crow said, smiling slightly as she kept her eyes on her work.


    “And we do need the help,” Dove added with a sigh. “Just me working alone will take ages, and I freely admit that I lack the more analytical mindset for this kind of exploratory work. That tree is a marvel, but it’ll just remain a frustrating one unless we change our approach.”


    “Someday we’ll have to go together too though,” Dragonfly added, leaning her head against Kite’s side. “Once Sprite is old enough for her essences, I’m sure that things will be stable enough around here for us to see the world a bit more, like so many adventurers seem to do eventually.”


    “Then let us toast to that, my ardent Dragonfly,” Kite said, raising his teacup and gently clinking it to hers as he once more looked around the room and the people therein, each important to him in their own way.


    “To unknown riches, potential benefactors and future plans. Even if I admit to feeling quite wealthy here and now already.”


    <hr>


    In the capital of Heavenward, the mountainous district of the heavenly stairway was bathed in the light of the winter moons. Much like the bustling city beneath, the loftier perches of Hua-Xi’s most influential families saw traffic and activity at all hours. Essence-users required less sleep, after all, and while the darkness of night was less of an impediment to them, each family still prided itself in its display of colorful lanterns to bathe the streets outside in pleasant luminescence.


    Therefore, Little Crow Plucks the Moon had quite the view from where he sat on a balcony at his family’s compound, relaxing with a good book and a small cup of fine wine. At least until he felt the nearby shadows emit a most potent presence as Obsidian Crow Unseen on Skies of Night - or Senior Brother Crow, as most silvers called the gold-ranker - made himself known.


    “We finally have something to track,” the disembodied voice said as it spoke from the shadows.


    “Oh? So you managed to get past the interference of their gold?” Little Crow asked, the book now forgotten as he sat straighter in his seat.


    “Perhaps… But given the previous hindrance they have proven, this lapse makes me wary,” Obsidian Crow replied. “Still, it is plausible enough to be just that; a gap in their defenses, finally revealed. It isn’t much though, but at least it is a thread. And sometimes, pulling on that one is enough for the whole tapestry to start to unravel. Ready yourself and the family, Little Crow. It seems like we will have to truly earn our keep in the months to come.”