《Lunar Eclipse: Rising Dawn》


 Chapter 1

    When Sera woke up, she noticed Nick''s scent was more faint than normal. She frantically searched for a note, but there were none to be found. She grabbed her phone and called him.


    Nick was walking down the hall to Gafael''s room when his phone went off. He looked down at it and was about to answer when he heard Gafael''s enraged voice.


    "What are you doing here?"


    Shit. Nick declined the call and ran towards the argument.


    "I''m a guest," Ierin replied. "The same as you."


    Gafael turned to Nick as soon as he arrived. "You never disclosed that you were wooing the Galens as well. Trying to set up some competition?"


    "No," Nick said. "I forgot to tell you last night and intended to explain this morning before this could happen. Miss Galen is..." He paused and looked at her. "If you''ve been disowned, can you still go by your last name?"


    Ierin thought a moment. "I suppose not."


    Gafael narrowed his eyes and looked back at Ierin. "Disowned?"


    Ierin nodded. "I walked away from my family."


    He stared at her for a moment. "Why would you do that?"


    "Because my ex-husband and my daughter are more important to me than anything my mother could offer," Ierin said. Gafael looked back at Nick.


    "I''ve vetted her," he replied. "It''s true. Oelya hasn''t announced it because she''s trying to find a replacement for her."


    Gafael thought for a moment, then let out a breath. "I understand. I apologize for my outburst."


    "No harm done," Ierin said. She smiled. "If anything, it helped wake me up. Now if you''ll excuse me." She looked at Nick. "Nick."


    She walked away, and Gafael looked to Nick. "That apology was to you as well."


    "It''s accepted," Nick said. "And it was on me for forgetting about that."


    Gafael let out a breath. "So, what''s on the schedule for today?"


    Nick started to walk towards the dining hall, and Gafael fell into step with him. He typed up a quick text, then looked at Gafael. "Nothing in particular. For you, at least."


    Gafael blinked. He''s not even going to try to pretend to woo us?


    "I have a variety of obligations I need to set to," Nick continued. "Namely preparing for Christmas Week."


    Gafael blinked. "It¡¯s that big?"


    Nick nodded. "It''s a large festival out here, akin to Hallowed Week. My grandfather decided to put me in charge of it this year, so I need to meet with the committee. Regardless, I thought you''d like to explore the valley yourself. It''s a beautiful place." He fired off another text, and Gafael''s phone went off. "If you get lost, ask anybody nearby. Same if you need help. If there are any other problems, you now have my number. Do recognize that though our people are a little rough around the edges, they just like to have fun, so don''t take things too personally if they crack a joke or two."


    Gafael slowly nodded. "I''ll relay that to Penny and Wytny."


    They reached the dining hall, and Nick found Sera and Ashley already there, as were the rest of the Brens, Isaac, and Penny and Wytny, and the rest of the House Staff.


    Nick stood next to his seat beside Sera. "Good morning everybody. We have some new guests who''ll be staying with us for a bit, the Jorhen Family." He gestured to Gafael''s table. "Feel free to introduce yourselves to them as the opportunity arises." He cleared his throat. "Now, without further delay, let''s eat."


    He sat down, but when a plate was brought to him he waved it off.


    "Already putting out fires?" Sera asked quietly.


    He nodded. "I forgot to tell Gafael about your mother being here. I had hoped to catch him this morning before they''d meet, but instead they bumped into each other in the hallway."


    "How did that go?"


    He shrugged. "It''s been resolved, for now. By the way, I''ll have some time after the Christmas Committee to do some shooting with you."


    She blinked. "Oh, you don''t have to-"


    "I do," he said.


    She glanced at him.


    "I said I''d teach you," Nick said. "And I''m going to leave the Jorhens alone for a couple days, so I''ve got time."


    He looked down at his watch, then at Ashley. "Hey Ash, wanna play for a bit after breakfast?"


    She nodded furiously as she chewed, then ate faster, and messier.


    She was about to leave the table once she finished, but Sera cleaned her face. "You gotta remember to do this, no matter how excited you are."


    "I know!" Ashley protested as she grabbed the napkin and did it herself. She looked up at her. "There. Clean."


    Sera smiled. "Okay. Get going."


    Nick kissed Sera on the cheek, then walked off with Ashley. They went out into the field behind the estate, and started to roll together a snowman.


    "Hey Ash," Nick began. "Would it be alright if I slept in your room sometimes?"


    Ashley stopped rolling her snowman head and looked back at him. "Are you and mom having a fight?"


    "No," Nick said. "She''s just been coming home real late, and I have a hard time sleeping alone."


    "Okay," Ashley said as she resumed rolling her snowball.


    "Have you been having fun here?" Nick asked.


    "I''ve been lonely," Ashley said. "Last year, and before that, you''d play with me a lot. But you''ve been really busy this time."


    "I know," Nick said. "Gg-pa asked me to take over as head of the family."


    "You''re going to replace gg-pa?" Ashley asked, her eyes wide.


    "Not replace him," Nick said with a laugh. "I''m just going to start doing the jobs he used to do."


    "Oh," Ashley said.


    "But-" Nick''s phone went off, and he picked up as he continued to roll his snowball with one hand. "Hello."


    "Daddy, that''s good!" Ashley said. He stopped rolling it.


    "Hey, Nick," Frederick said. "Remember how I said I''d take a rain check on that dinner?"


    "Yeah," Nick said as he helped Ashley pile together the snowman. She then started a new snowball, and Nick followed suit.


    "Well, my family''s free from now till the end of December. What would you say to us all going out sometime? My treat."


    Nick opened his mouth, then paused. "Counter offer."


    "What''s that?" Frederick asked.


    "Ashley could use a little company, and I''m sure you and Teresa wouldn''t mind a little vacation."


    Frederick paused. "What did you have in mind?"


    You''re juggling too much at once, Nick... he thought to himself.


    "We''re staying in Sunspeak for the month. Why don''t you guys come out for a bit, and if you like it here stay for Christmas Week."


    Frederick was quiet.


    "Fred?"


    "Oh, sorry, I just... I''ll talk to Teresa about it."


    "Okay," Nick replied. "If you decide to come by, let me know, and I''ll send someone to pick you up."


    "Will do," Frederick said.


    He hung up.


    "Will Colm be coming to play?" Ashley asked.


    "Maybe," Nick said. "His mom and dad need to talk it over first."


    Meanwhile Teresa saw her husband pacing in the living room.


    "Honey?" He looked up at her, slight amounts of fire sparking at the corners of his eyes, and she almost took a step back. "You look... Excited."


    "I am," Frederick said. "I''m really, really excited, but I also don''t want to seem too excited, and-"


    She walked up to him and placed her hands on either side of his head, and her eyes glowed with ice as cool air washed over him. He relaxed and let out a breath.


    "Nick invited us all to come and stay in Sunspeak for the rest of the month."


    Teresa blinked. "The month?"


    He nodded. "So that would include the Sunspeak Christmas Week."


    "What did you say?"


    "That I''d have to talk with you," Frederick said.


    "Are you..?" She shook her head. "Say yes."


    "I know, I just didn''t want to seem too eager, because that would be weird, and-"


    She kissed him, then pulled back. "Calm down. You are Frederick Brakken; war hero, drill instructor, and my husband."


    He let out a breath, and she smiled sweetly. "So be yourself."


    He nodded and straightened, his demeanor changing. "Alright. I''ll give him a call, you start packing with Colm, and I''ll join you in a moment."


    She kissed him again, then walked away. He watched her go, then took out his phone and called Nick. "Hey, we''ll be there. I''ve got them packing now. I''ll fire off a text when we''re ready."


    "Alright," Nick said. "There''s no rush."


    Nick hung up then looked at the three snowmen he and Ashley had made. It only now dawned on him that they were meant to represent himself, Sera, and her.


    "Hey daddy?" Ashley asked.


    "What''s up?"


    "Is Holly ever going to write back to me?"


    Nick went still. Right.


    Nick cleared his throat. "She..." He thought back into Larkin''s memories and plucked out the memory of the letter. "She wrote you a letter. But... Remember the mean man that attacked us and hurt mom?"


    Ashley nodded.


    "He..." He cleared his throat. "He made her... Go away, like my parents."


    Ashley stared up at him. "Why?"


    Nick shook his head. "He was... Hurting, and at least a little crazy. He had wanted to protect us, and he hurt her because she''d hurt me."


    "Did you ask him to?"


    "No," Nick said firmly. "I didn''t want Holly to get hurt."


    "Then why did he hurt mom too?"


    "He thought she was going to attack us," Nick said. "Which she would never do."


    "Where is he?" Ashley asked.


    Nick let out a breath. "Gone, forever."


    Ashley tilted her head. "Can I have the letter?"


    "The mean man destroyed it," Nick said. "But, I was able to get him to tell me what was written on it. Do you want me to write it again for you?"


    She nodded. "Yes please."


    "Okay," he said as he gently ruffled her hair. "I''ve got to get going now, but Colm and his parents should be here soon."


    "Okay!" Ashley said. "I''m gonna go wait for them in the entry hall!"


    "If that''s what you want to do," Nick said. He gave her a hug and kissed her cheek, then walked off.


    Ashley went into the house and marched to the entry hall, and she sat down out of the way and stared at the door. House staff walked past her, but Sandra stopped and followed her gaze. Soon others took note and stopped as well, until Ithan himself had joined them.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "What''s go-"


    "Sh," one of the house staff silenced him.


    He lowered his voice. "What''s going on?"


    He gestured to Ashley, who sat completely still.


    Ithan blinked. "Is this some kind of focus training?"


    Suddenly the Brakkens appeared in the hallway with Cyrus, and Cyrus then disappeared, and both groups stared at one another uneasily until Colm spoke.


    "Hi Ashley!"


    Ashley woke up, and stood up. "Hi Colm!"


    Fred looked through the gathered house staff. "Nick said I should find and speak to an Ithan?"


    Ithan stepped forward. "I am he. How may I help you, mister..?"


    Fred held out his hand, and Ithan hesitated, but shook it.


    "Frederick Brakken, but you can just call me Fred."


    Ithan blinked. "Brakken. I see."


    We''re going to start running out of rooms at this rate. Ithan thought.


    He turned. "Sandra, Dinlan, please see to it that the rooms are prepared." The two in question walked off, and Ithan looked to another two. "Ilya, Ray, please take their luggage and show them the way. The rest of you, there are plenty of preparations to set to."


    The group dispersed, and Ithan waited until they''d all walked away before he went to go himself. "Nick texted me that you could show me to him when I got here."


    Ithan turned back to him. "He is in a meeting at the moment."


    "I''m aware," Fred said. "He said he wanted me to attend."


    "Very well, then," Ithan said. "This way."


    Fred followed Ithan through the house as Teresa and Colm followed Ashley to their rooms. They arrived at a door, and Ithan was about to reach for the door handle when shouting came from inside.


    "We can''t keep doing the same blasted thing every year!"


    Ithan opened the door and smiled at Fred. "This is your stop, sir."


    Fred walked in and Ithan closed the door behind him. Nick spotted him, and glanced at a chair in the corner. The people gathered around the table didn''t take notice of him as he took the seat.


    "It''s tradition!" An old woman declared as she brought her fist down on the table to punctuate her point.


    The man rolled his eyes. "I''m not saying we have to change everything all at once."


    "We have been doing it this way since I was a child!" The woman exclaimed.


    "And that was great when you were a child, but people and times are changing!"


    Nick glanced at Fred and nodded. Fred blinked, then cleared his throat.


    "Excuse me?"


    Everyone in the room suddenly took notice of him.


    "What exactly is the issue?"


    The two leading the argument looked at Nick, who nodded, and they turned back to him.


    "It surrounds the desserts to be served at the opening ceremony," the man said. "My mother wants to continue to enforce the fruitcake, but I think we should try something else, because they clearly don''t enjoy it as much as she does."


    "Hogwash!" She spat. "You just don''t appreciate the work I put in to making it!"


    "That''s not true and you know it!" He shot back.


    "You''re an ungrateful-"


    "Silence!" Nick raised his voice, and the two went eerily still. He looked to Fred and spoke normally. "Mr. Brakken, what are your thoughts on the matter?"


    At the mention of his name, the people there began to whisper, but one look from Nick silenced them.


    "Why do you think people don''t enjoy it?" He asked the young man.


    "Because there''s more than half of a cake left over each time, and the way these are made, they take more effort to compost for the fields. It wastes time and resources."


    "Then why not just make a variety of desserts?" Fred asked.


    "But it''s tradition!" The woman declared.


    Fred tilted his head and held up a hand slightly. "Can you give me any solid reason for why everyone should be expected to eat something they don''t want at what''s supposed to be a joyous event?"


    She fell silent.


    "By all means, make some fruitcake," he continued. "But make less of it to accommodate those who actually want it, and let those who don''t try something else."


    "People will gravitate to the new things," the old woman said. "None of my fruitcake will be eaten."


    "This year, maybe," Fred said. "But once they''ve tried something else, you will have the people who still want fruitcake ask where it was. All you have to do then is say we were trying something new, and it''ll be there next year. Record the number of people who come up to you, and then make the appropriate number next year."


    The old woman stared at Fred, until her gaze fell to the table, and she nodded.


    "That concludes today''s meeting," Nick said as he stood up. He leaned down and whispered to the young man, whose gaze fell. He then walked around the table to Fred and the pair left the room.


    "What was that about?" Fred asked.


    Nick shook his head. "They''d brought me to my snapping point with their incessant arguing. It''s been like that every day since this started with those two."


    "Then you told him to stop?"


    "I told him to tell his mother the truth," Nick said.


    "The truth?"


    "She runs herself ragged for every holiday event," Nick explained. "She''s hit her stress point each event for the last two years, and it''s caused some serious problems. Her son, however, grew up with her being incredibly domineering when it comes to events. Outside of it she''s incredibly sweet and easy to talk to and work with. But he grew up basically in fear of her whenever a holiday came around. He''s grown more concerned for her, and wants to step up and alleviate the stress on her, but didn''t know how to express it, and he reacted angrily today." Nick took in a breath. ¡°Both of them have been reacting angrily the last few meetings. It¡¯s wasted a lot of time.¡±


    "So today wasn''t about fruitcake?" Fred asked.


    Nick shook his head. "It was about getting her to accept she can''t do everything, and that other people have good ideas surrounding events as well."


    "Why didn''t you step in?"


    Nick shook his head. "My word is law. If I said something, they''d have to just go with it, and neither would have the opportunity we just gave them. Not to mention he''s going to be taking her place as the head of the Van Rochenberg family."


    He motioned for Fred to follow him and they stopped at a corner. They peered around the side, and saw the young man and his mother hugging in the hallway, tears streaming down their faces as they held each other. Nick smiled, then continued on his way.


    "I would have asked Sera to help; since we''re not married yet she''d still be an outside perspective and they wouldn''t consider her matriarch, but she''s got other things occupying her lately." He looked up at Fred. "So your call came at a perfect time."


    "So... This isn''t a vacation?" Fred asked.


    "It is," Nick said. "I just might call on you every now and again."


    "Okay," Fred said. "So, where''s the next fire?"


    "Funny you should say..." Nick said as he took out his phone. "Hey Sera. Yeah, the meeting''s over. By the way, Fred, Teresa and Colm are here. Yeah, I thought it''d be good. I was just about to ask. Alright. I''ll pick you up in-" he paused. "Okay. I''ll get the guns, and meet you there. Love you."


    He hung up and disappeared, then reappeared with the two rifles over his shoulder, and a holstered handgun strapped to each thigh. He had a duffle bag in each hand, and held them out to Fred.


    "Are those..?"


    "Yep," Nick confirmed. He started to walk down the hallway, and Fred followed.


    "Where did you get them?"


    "A Solarian that shot Sera and I," Nick said. "In fact, the black rifle was used on Sera, and the hand cannon on my right was used on me."


    "And you didn''t get rid of them?" He asked.


    "They''re merely tools," Nick said. "I don''t thank the plough for tilling the ground, but the people and animals that operated it. Why should I hate the gun, when it was the person behind it who committed the crime?"


    "Fair enough," Fred said.


    They made it outside and went up the mountain. Once they reached a clearing, Fred paused. "Hold up. You said your word was law back there, and that Sera isn''t matriarch because she isn''t married to you yet. Does that mean you''re the Bren Patriarch now?"


    "Heir apparent," Nick corrected. "Which means I have all the responsibilities, and my grandfather has all the veto power."


    Fred whistled. "So you''ll be Bren Patriarch and Harbinger. That''ll be a bit to handle."


    Nick raised an eyebrow as he started to set things up.


    "My grandfather was a Sub-Harbinger," Fred explained. "I learnt to identify the signs, such as access to the Royal Teleportation Network, and considering Eterna was Harbinger..."


    Nick slowly nodded. "I guess I''ll have to be more careful about teleportation."


    Frederick shrugged. "Most don''t know how the Harbinger''s get around. I''m sure you''ve teleported some people that have no idea."


    Nick thought back on when he''d first teleported Ierin. "Fair enough..." He looked back at Fred as he walked to the other edge of the clearing with him, targets in hand. "By the way, there are two other Elatha noble family members here."


    "Oh?"


    "Ierin Galen," Nick said as they finished setting up the targets. "Sera''s mother. She left her family and got disowned for it."


    "That''s a ballsy choice," Fred remarked. "And the other?"


    "The Jorhens."


    Fred raised an eyebrow as they walked back to the guns. "Didn''t you cause the schism between them and the Galens?"


    "It wasn''t my intent, but yes," Nick said. "And now I''m trying to convince them to work with us in a similar capacity for our weather detection system."


    Fred eyed him. "Another thing you want me to help with?"


    Nick raised an eyebrow. "How would you help?"


    "Using our friendship to show him your influence," Fred replied.


    Nick furrowed his brow. "I had no intentions of that. I only told you so you weren''t surprised when you bumped into them."


    Fred blinked. "You..?"


    Nick let out a breath. "I try to avoid using my friends without their knowledge and consent. If I want your help with something, I will usually tell you as much, and everything relevant to your part in it." He stood up. "I really did want you and your family to come out and have fun, and I wanted Ashley to have a solid friend. She has a hard time with most of the children here because they know about how bad Bren stress points can get."


    "What do you mean?" Fred asked.


    "When most people snap, they usually just turn mean," Nick said. "Maybe cruel. But they''re usually pretty easy to stop just by having someone stronger around. Brens are born with a huge amount of energy in them, and it puts huge strain on their small bodies. They reach stress points much sooner, and more explosively, until they''re bigger, usually puberty. Then it''s a matter of fine control over their powers."


    "I thought you were adopted?" Fred asked.


    "She became a mantle bearer her first year here," Nick said. He shook his head. "She could cause a flaming thunder blizzard if she snapped, though, luckily, she''s most proficient in ice. Your son got her started on fire, though."


    "Hey guys," Sera said as she approached.


    Nick looked back at her and smiled. "Hey. Have any trouble getting here?"


    She shook her head. "I followed your scent." She looked up at Frederick. "Hello! It''s been a bit."


    "It has, miss Aala," Frederick said. "It is good to see you."


    "Likewise," she replied. She then turned back to Nick. "So, how does this work?"


    Nick gestured to the rifles and handguns on a blanket. "First, safety." He pulled out three pairs of earbuds and held them out. "These will deafen the sound of the gun so it doesn''t hurt your ears."


    Fred put them in and Nick put his in. He noticed Sera struggling to get them in right. "Let me."


    She gave them to him and he carefully got them into her ears. "There. Now to test they work. Did you just hear what I said?"


    "Test if they work?" Fred asked.


    Nick nodded. "Good, they''re letting conversational sound through." He shouted. "How about now?"


    They blinked. "It was the same volume."


    "Perfect," Nick said. "Now, next up, the guns themselves." He picked up one of the rifles. "This is a semi automatic rifle. It fires as fast as you pull the trigger." He showed the safety, the magazine and ammunition, the sights, and appropriate handling of the firearm. "This has a bit of kick, but out of everything here it''ll be the easiest to hit something for your first time." He laid on the ground and took a shot, striking near the center of the target. He adjusted the scope slightly, then took another shot and it hit center. "Who''s first?"


    Fred gestured to Sera, who took Nick''s spot. She took a shot, and missed the target. He placed a hand on her leg. "May I?"


    She blinked, but nodded. He moved her legs a bit further apart, then adjusted how she held the firearm. "And you want to keep both eyes open when you actually shoot." He gently pat her shoulder and knelt beside her as he lifted his binoculars to his eyes and watched the target. "Fire when ready."


    She let out a breath and aimed. After a moment, she shot. "You got midway to center," Nick said. "That''d be a center mass shot, which is great."


    She stood up and let Fred have a turn, yielding similar results. Nick ran them through safety for the other firearms. Sera picked the larger of the two handguns, but her shots were all over the place.


    "Probably try the other one," Nick said. "It has much less recoil. Once you''ve gotten used to it, try the big one again."


    Frederick glanced up at them from the larger rifle as Nick handed her the smaller of the two handguns. He stood behind her and put his hands on hers. He used his feet to shuffle hers, and then held her as she took a couple of shots. Her tail started to thwack him, and he smiled as he let go. "Shoot some more, then try the other one and we''ll know what''s best for you to use."


    She nodded and continued to fire. Fred tried the larger handgun, and had to use both hands to fire with any measure of accuracy.


    "How does a human, even a Solarian, manage to handle such weapons?" Fred asked.


    "The larger rifle and handgun were made specially for the Solarian," Nick said. "The other two I picked up for Sera."


    "Even still, how would he be able to handle these when fighting against a Lunarian?"


    "He was a Nightingale," Sera said.


    Fred blinked. "You killed a Nightingale?"


    Nick shrugged.


    "Nick, that could have serious repercussions," Fred said. "The Solarian community could-"


    "It''s fine," Nick said. "He came to Lunaria illegally and assaulted two Nyxelene citizens. The situation has already been cleaned up and handled some time ago."


    "But if they decide to retaliate-"


    "They won''t," Nick said as he held his hand out. Fred handed him the large handgun.


    "Why not?"


    Nick aimed with one hand and took a shot, the handgun barely moving in his grip. "Because it was a fight between family members. There''s nothing to avenge."


    Fred went still as Nick emptied the magazine into multiple targets, then handed the gun back to him. Fred looked down at the handgun, a frown on his face.


    "Who was he?"


    "My uncle," Nick said as he leaned against a tree. "Mother''s brother."


    "It can''t have been easy," Fred said as he put more bullets into the magazine.


    "It was, actually," Nick said. Sera''s ear twitched. "He almost killed Sera."


    "He was still family."


    "Family looks out for one another," Nick said. "We care for each other, and support each other. We call each other out when we go too far, and we laugh and cry together. Larkin and I may have shared blood, but he was as much my family as any random person on the street. Less, considering..."


    Fred watched him for a moment. "Alright."


    They continued shooting, and after a while both had to stop.


    "That really hits the joints," Fredrick said as he rolled his shoulder. "Especially the larger rifle and handgun."


    Nick smiled. "I''ve got a bit of an advantage there."


    Fred''s phone went off and he looked down at it. "Looks like Ashley wants to take Colm and Teresa into town..."


    "I''ll teleport you to the house," Nick said. "Sera, I''ll be right back and we can clean things up."


    She nodded, and Nick disappeared with Fred. He soon reappeared and started collecting the brass casings on the blanket. Sera joined him, and they worked in silence until they collected them all.


    "So, which gun do you prefer?"


    She thought for a moment, and picked up the smaller handgun. "This one."


    "Then it''s yours," Nick said.


    She looked up at him. "Are you sure?"


    "Like I said before, I got that handgun and the one rifle for you," Nick said. "Both are yours, if you want them. If you''d wanted the bigger ones, I''d have gotten another set for you."


    She looked down at them, then nodded. "I like this one, and the rifle''s good too. We''re going to want to teach Ashley about these." Nick paused, and Sera looked over at him. "Not necessarily get her into them, just... If they''re going to be around, it''d be a good idea for her to have a good understanding of them, so she can be safe."


    He nodded after a moment. "Yeah. We''ll have to do that sometime soon." He cleared his throat. "By the way, have you spoken to your mother yet?"


    Sera looked away. "No."


    He took off the one pistol holster and held it out to her. She took it and put it on her leg and frowned. He flipped it for her so it''d face the right direction, and she holstered her handgun.


    "What''s stopping you?"


    "I don''t know where to start," Sera said as they walked to the other end of the clearing and collected the targets.


    "Most conversations start with hello," Nick replied. She gave him a look, and he smiled. "Don''t overthink it. Just treat her like any person you''ve never met."


    "But I know she isn''t," Sera said. "And... I still want to know what happened between her and dad, and why dad''s even talking to her, let alone trying to restart their relationship."


    Nick watched her, and she felt his gaze. "I know what I said before, and I still hold to that. I don''t want you to tell me. I want her to say it herself."


    "She can''t," Nick said.


    "Then what''s the point if she won''t tell me the one thing I need to know from her?" Sera asked.


    Nick shook his head. "Not won''t, can''t."


    Sera blinked.


    "I tried talking to Sterling about it after I found out," Nick said. "He literally couldn''t talk about it. Cyrus told me everybody involved took a vow of silence on the subject, and I''m guessing that entailed magic. Even if they wanted to tell you, they can''t."


    Sera watched him, then looked off to the side.


    "I can still tell you, if you want," Nick said.


    "I don''t..." Sera trailed off.


    Nick put the targets into one of the duffels and took her hands. "It''s part of how we started, and I understand why you wanted me not to tell you before, but I''m not going anywhere." He smiled and tenderly lifted her chin. "Are you leaving if I tell you?"


    She stared into his eyes, and felt her anxiety slowly melt away. "No. No matter what."


    "Alright, then," Nick said. "Let''s get this home, and then we''ll talk about it."

 Chapter 2

    Sera woke up to find Nick gone again. Her usual moment of panic set in, and she searched the room for some sign of him. After seeing one of his drawers was left open, she relaxed slightly, but his scent was still fainter than normal. She got dressed and walked out of their room and down the hall. She saw Ierin, whom upon seeing her daughter paused. She fidgeted for a moment, and started to turn when Sera spoke.


    "Good morning, mom."


    Ierin blinked, and half turned back to her. "Good morning." They stood in silence for a moment, and both spoke. "I was-"


    "Oh, sorry," Ierin said.


    "No, you go," Sera replied.


    Ierin crossed one arm and gripped her other. "I was wondering if, perhaps, you wanted to talk today. Over tea, or go for a walk, or... Something."


    Sera watched her for a moment, then nodded. "I''d like that. After breakfast?"


    Ierin''s eyes lit up. "Absolutely. But... Which one?"


    "We can get some tea and go for a walk," Sera said. "The town is quite lovely."


    "Okay," Ierin said, a barely reserved smile touching her countenance.


    "Also," Sera said. "You should eat in the dining hall with the rest of us. Should pass that along to dad."


    "I will," Ierin said. Sera walked away, and Ierin rushed back to her room. She got properly dressed, then knocked on Sterling''s door. She opened it and went in without waiting for a response, and he looked up in surprise as he was in the middle of changing. He quickly pulled up his pants.


    "I''ve seen it all before, dear."


    He paused, then casually finished getting dressed. "What''s got your fires going?"


    "She said good morning to me this morning first," Ierin said as she started to pace. "And then I said it back, and then we spoke at the same time, and she let me go first, so I asked her to tea or a walk, and she said yes to both, and that we should eat with everyone else in the dining hall, and I''m kind of freaking out now because I thought she''d say no, and-"


    Sterling put his hands on her shoulders, stopping her, and stared into her eyes. "Firstly, you''re talking about Sera, right?"


    Ierin nodded, and Sterling smiled. "That''s great. I''m proud of you."


    Ierin nodded. "It''s wonderful, and nauseating, and-"


    He kissed her, and she blinked rapidly, staring at him until he pulled back. "Ierin, just talk to her. Find something you can use as an icebreaker to start."


    Ierin''s eyes widened, and she kissed him back as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She suddenly pulled back. "Thank you! I got so nervous I forgot." She smiled and took his hand, pulling him along as he tucked his shirt in. They reached the dining hall and saw Ashley sitting with a family they hadn''t seen before. Ashley saw them come in, and her face lit up. She hopped off her chair and ran over to them. "Grand-" she paused. "Sterling, I want you to meet my friend!"


    Ierin looked up at Sera as Ashley took Sterling''s hand and lead him towards her table. Sera was watching, and she gave a single nod, and Ierin returned it and joined Sterling.


    "This is Colm, and his mom and dad," Ashley said.


    Fred stood up and held out his hand to Sterling, and Sterling shook it. "Frederick Brakken."


    Sterling froze up, and Ierin touched Sterling''s elbow. He stirred. "Sterling Aala, I''m..." He glanced down at Ashley. "I''m Ashley''s grandfather."


    Ashley''s eyes sparkled as she looked up at him, and she happily retook her seat.


    "Sera''s father, then," Fred said. "This is my wife, Teresa, and my son Colm."


    "Ierin Galen," Ierin said. They took their seats.


    "I''d heard about what happened," Teresa said. "It must be difficult."


    Ierin smiled. "I, uh... I should have left the family a long time ago."


    "So it was your decision?" Teresa asked.


    Ierin nodded. "It was. I realized what was more important."


    Teresa smiled. "Well, so long as you''ve got mister Aala there, I''m sure you''ll be fine."


    Sterling raised an eyebrow as he ate.


    "You''ve quite the reputation, Sterling," Teresa said.


    He swallowed. "Is that so?"


    "Is my grandpa famous?" Ashley asked.


    "In some ways," Teresa replied. She looked back to Ierin and Sterling. "Are the two of you staying for the month?"


    "We''ll see," Sterling said.


    Over at the Bren table, Sera leaned in to Nick. "Did you come to bed last night?"


    He shook his head. "No."


    "More committee stuff?"


    "I didn''t want to wake you," he replied.


    She paused. Liar.


    "So I slept on a futon in Ashley''s room."


    He''s looking pretty haggard.


    Sera finished her meal and stood up. "I''m gonna head out with my mom."


    Nick smiled. "I''m glad to hear it. I''ve gotta head out too." He teleported away as Sera walked around the table and approached Ierin''s. Ierin started to stand up, but Sera held up her hand. "Finish your breakfast. Hey Ash, could I talk to you a sec?"


    Ashley nodded and hopped off her chair and Sera walked with her away from the other tables.


    "Did daddy sleep in your room last night?"


    Ashley nodded. "Yeah. He did nights before too."


    Sera furrowed her brow. "Did he say why?"


    "He has a hard time sleeping alone," Ashley said. "And you''re staying out late, and he needs sleep."


    "Oh," Sera said quietly.


    "Is everything okay?" Ashley asked.


    "It''s fine," Sera said. "I just wanted to know where he was."


    "Okay," Ashley said. "Can I go back to breakfast?"


    "Yeah, go ahead, sweetheart," Sera said. "But not before one of these!" She scooped her up in a hug, much to Ashley''s delight. She finally put her down and walked back with her to the table and looked to Ierin. "Shall we?"


    Ierin quickly nodded and stood up. Sterling watched them go, and let out a breath as he returned to his cup of tea.


    "Worried?" Fred asked.


    Sterling eyed him over the brim of his cup, then placed his cup down as Ashley and Colm wandered off.


    "This is the first time they''ve spent any time together in... Well, since Sera was younger than Ashley," Sterling said. "And I know how anxious Ierin is about it."


    "It''s weird to think of one of the most famous music artists of our time being anxious," Fred said. "But, I suppose it can happen to anyone."


    Sterling nodded. "Yeah. I''m just hoping they''ll both have enough grace for each other today."


    Meanwhile, Sera and Ierin walked in silence towards their rooms.


    "Can we stop at mine first?" Ierin asked.


    Sera nodded and waited outside of her room. She subtly sniffed the air that wafted out, and confusion touched her eyes. She quickly hid it as Ierin came back with the stuffed wolf. "You may not remember this, but-"


    "Arctis?" Sera asked.


    Ierin smiled and held it out to her. "Yeah."


    "I wondered what happened to him..." Sera trailed off, and she looked up at Ierin. "You kept him all this time?"


    "It was in my room," Ierin said. "But Oelya caught me partway through packing, so I didn''t get the chance to get everything I wanted."


    "Then how..?" Sera asked.


    Ierin smiled to herself. "That man of yours really cares about you. You know, it was like he knew where it was."


    "He didn''t say he went to get this," Sera muttered.


    "I wanted this to be a surprise," Ierin said.


    Sera''s smile bore her bittersweet memories, and she sniffed and looked up at Ierin. "Thank you. I''ll uh, I''ll put this in my room, and we can get going."


    "That''s why I wanted to stop here first," Ierin said. She followed Sera to her and Nick''s room and she peered inside.


    "Wow."


    Sera glanced back as she put Arctis on the dresser and grabbed her coat. "It''s definitely bigger than the one back at the house." She smiled as she walked up. "I kinda miss how cozy it was, though."


    They walked out of the estate and to the lifts, which brought them down to the town.


    Ierin fidgeted until people started greeting them. Sera observed the change in her mother as she turned into a completely different person, smiling and greeting them warmly. They reached a park and Ierin sat down.


    "Dear lord..."


    Sera raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"


    "It''s draining," Ierin said. "I''m a lot more introverted than people think."


    Sera blinked, then sat down beside her. "Then why push yourself so hard?"


    "Habit," Ierin said. "Mother would always tell me, ''You''re never fully dressed without a smile''."


    "She''d told me that a few times too," Sera replied. "And she always said it with the biggest frown."


    Ierin laughed. "She did that to you too?"


    Sera nodded. "Yeah. It felt like a smoker telling their kid to never smoke."


    Ierin nodded. "Exactly. I guess we weren''t worth the effort of even a fake smile."


    Sera shrugged. "It helped me remember where I stood with her. She turned on the charm for Nick, but he saw right through it."


    "What''s the story with that, anyways?" Ierin asked.


    "With what?"


    "You and him," Ierin said. "I mean, did you meet at Marcellus, or before, or..?"


    Sera smiled. "Oh, we met at Marcellus, and we did not have a smooth start. But... We grew close."


    "Huh," Ierin said. "Your father and I were the same way."


    "Really?" Sera asked.


    Ierin nodded. "I was... Not a nice person. Well, I mean, it''s not like I went out of my way to cause problems for others, but I was really inconsiderate. One day I was inconsiderate to the wrong person, and he did not care that I was a Galen; he let me have it. Said all kinds of things that were assumptions on his part, but they cut deep because so many were based on some level of truth. Not to mention it was in public."


    "And dad came to your defense?"


    Ierin shook her head. "The man was your father." Sera blinked. Ierin smiled and nodded. "I know, it''s hard to believe Sterling would blow up on someone like that, but this was a ways back, when he was still dealing with his childhood." She half laughed. "When he spoke, there was this sharp bite to everything he said. He always knew what to say to cut into a person. I like to think that I rounded out his sharp edges, and he softened my heart." She sniffed. "Mother hated him with a passion, but she never said it in front of him. She was too afraid of what he might say, both to her or publicly, and the fact I told him... Maybe more than I perhaps should have, gave him an added layer of protection."


    "Oelya did tell me one time that I reminded her of him," Sera said.


    "What''d you do?"


    "First I said ''what will happen will happen''," Sera said.


    "Sounds like your father now," Ierin said.


    "Then when she made the claim, I almost said ''Better than turning out like you'' to her," Sera said. "I stopped before saying ''you''."


    Ierin chuckled. "And that sounds like him when I first met him, though a lot more tame. He''d have added all kinds of observations that''d take her out at the knees."


    "Is reading people his innate ability?" Sera asked.


    Ierin looked at her. "He never talked about it?"


    "Thinking back, I don''t remember ever asking."


    "It is," Ierin said. "And since you didn''t inherit it, he and his sister are, quite possibly, the last people alive with the innate ability. But who knows, it may skip you and go to your children."


    Sera furrowed her brow. "No wonder he became a counselor."


    "And he had such a hard time with people when he was younger," Ierin said.


    "What do you mean?" Sera asked. "Wouldn''t it be easier?"


    She shook her head. "His ability doesn''t turn off. It''d be like being able to read people''s minds at all times. You''d see all of the darkest parts, and always know what''s really going on. Since he''s not naturally inclined to manipulation, he didn''t use it to advance himself socially. Instead he used it as a defense mechanism to push people away."


    "Then how did you two even end up together?"


    "After getting over the shock of what he said, I realized I wanted to change. Unfortunately, just about every Galen sees things the way mother does, so none of them could help me with that."


    "So you went back to the source," Sera said.


    Ierin smiled. "Yeah. Oh, you should have seen his face when I asked him out. I might as well have told him I was pregnant with his child. Which of course did happen eventually..." She winked at Sera. "But, he declared he didn''t want to date a stuck up, inconsiderate... Well, he flexed his vocabulary, and ended it with ''even if you do look like Aphrodite.'' I took the compliment and ran with it, which got him flustered in the cutest way, and then I told him that I agreed. He shouldn''t date such a person, and that I don''t want to be that person anymore."


    "And Oelya just let you two date?"


    "Oh God no," Ierin said bluntly. "We went out in secret all the way until he proposed."


    "I thought you said Oelya..."


    "She''d intended to arrange me off to someone else," Ierin explained. "Which put Sterling in an unfavorable position with her to begin with. Then, even though I''d rounded most of his edges, Sterling''s first impression of mother was even worse than when he met me. He ended up lashing out. If you''ve ever heard of someone going beet red, she actually was. I thought she was going to implode... It took some time for her to acknowledge the marriage, but considering it was to another-" she choked on the words, and she cleared her throat and smiled. "Well, there were advantages."


    Sera watched her mother for a moment. "So it''s true."


    Ierin smiled. "What is?"


    "That you can''t talk about what happened."


    Ierin went incredibly still.


    "I''m sorry," Sera said. "I was so mad at you, and dad, and everyone who knew for not telling me, because I can''t remember anything from the time of the divorce."


    Ierin took in a shaky breath. "What do you know?"


    Sera looked down at her hands. "That it wasn''t something you wanted, and it protected dad and I."


    Ierin sniffed. "You were so young... Your memory was-" she stopped, and growled.


    Sera blinked. "My memory was altered?"


    Ierin nodded. She thought for a moment, then spoke purposefully. "It is dangerous to cast intricate spells that keep people from talking on a subject on a child. It is safer to simply remove the memory, and it''s assumed to be lost like many other childhood memories." Ierin looked to her. "Who told you?"


    Sera rubbed her thumbs together. "I can''t really say."


    "Right," Ierin said. "That was a silly question."


    Sera''s phone went off, and she looked down at it. "I''ve gotta go."


    "Nick?"


    "No," Sera said. "Well, sort of. I mean, it''s a bit... I just gotta go."


    "Can I help?" Ierin asked.


    "I don''t..."


    Nick did say I should spend time with her¡­ Sera thought. She looked at her mother. "What do you know about runes?"


    The Jorhens walked the streets of Sunspeak Hollow, and once they reached a square they all looked at one another and split up. Wytny Jorhen walked towards a bakery nearer the outskirts of the village and she went in. Nobody else was in there, and a bell chimed as she opened the door.


    "I''ll be with you in a moment!" An eerily familiar voice called from the back. Wytny furrowed her brow, then inspected the goods on display.


    Not much here... Are they really feeding their people?


    The baker came out and she wiped flour from her hands with a damp rag. "You just missed the midday rush, so we''re currently restocking for the evening rush. If what you''re looking for isn''t here, then I''d recommend-" the baker fell silent, and Wytny paused. She stood up and turned to face her, and both women stared at one another.


    "Delilah?"


    Meanwhile, Penny Jorhen quietly moved through the streets. She purposely went down the darker streets, and stumbled into a man. She looked up at him, expectantly, and he smiled and took off his hat and held it over his heart.


    "My apologies, miss. Are you lost?"


    "No," she said.


    "That''s a relief," he said. "Cause I sure am. Could you guide me outta here? It''s like a doggone maze."


    She frowned, and guided him back through her steps. Once they were out he bowed.


    "Thank you muchly, miss." He straightened and scratched the back of his head. "I don''t make it into town much, so I can never remember my way around."


    "What brings you to town?" She asked.


    "I live out in the middle of the woods up on Mount Pollo, so I don''t get to meet many people ''less I''m getting supplies or sellin'' wares," he said. "And my momma, may she rest in peace, said I need to find me a wife."


    Maybe he''s illiterate. That''d be-


    "She even gave me a notebook full on how to woo women," he said holding it up. "Though, I don''t think people are the same as they used to be. Lotsa the stuff in here is outdated, from what I observed. I guess the life of an artist is s''posed to be a solitary one."


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    "An artist?" Penny asked.


    He nodded. "Yes ma¡¯am. I used to travel a lot, but I fell in love with Sunspeak. Her landscapes, the skies, and the sea at the other end of the valley. Ma''am, you really oughta check it out."


    "What''s your name?"


    He smiled toothily. "Ulwar Nyressa, ma''am. At yer service."


    She froze. "You painted the ''Lilacoast''?"


    He nodded. "The one and the same. You know, folks around here don''t know much ''bout my work. ''Cepting the Brens, of course. Are you from the city?"


    "I am," she said. "I''m Penelope Jorhen." She held out her hand. "It''s an honor to meet someone as famous as you are."


    Ulwar shook it. "Oh, yer makin'' me blush, ma''am." He took in a breath. "In any case, I need to honor momma''s last wish. I wish you the very best. If you and your husband would like a family portrait, I''ll be in town at the Fire Keeper Inn for some time. It''s the least I can do for getting me outta that maze."


    "I''ll take you up on that," Penny said. She watched him go, then turned and absently walked the streets.


    Elsewhere, Gafael Jorhen walked through the town, a spell making people not notice his presence. There has to be something...


    He caught sight of Nick, and paused to observe him. He was shovelling a particularly deep snowdrift in front of a shop with the owner.


    "How''s Mal doing?"


    The shop owner smiled. "She''s doing well. Her leg''s healing right up since she took that tumble, so we should be good to dance for the Bren Fire Festival."


    "That''s great to hear," Nick said. "But I guess you guys will take all the attention from Sera and I."


    "Oh come off it," the shop owner scoffed. "You''re a better dancer than most of us, and if that city girl of yours is as good as you are..."


    "Exactly," Nick said.


    The shop owner started to nod along, then paused. "Oi!" He exclaimed as he tossed a shovel full of snow at Nick.


    Nick raised his own shovel with a laugh and blocked most of it. "That''s no way to treat someone helping you!"


    The shop owner shook his head. "An'' that''s no way to treat your elders!"


    "Oh, you''re barely sixty," Nick said. "You''ve still got at least a hundred and forty years left in you."


    "Uh huh," he muttered. "You uppity little..."


    "Why''re you watching daddy?"


    Gafael practically jumped out of his skin and looked down to see Ashley and Colm. "Oh, I, uh..."


    Maybe she can tell me more.


    "What can you tell me about your daddy?"


    Back at the bakery, Delilah was frozen as Wytny stared at her. "I thought you were executed, or imprisoned."


    Delilah crossed her arms and held herself. "I wasn''t."


    "Then what happened?" Wytny asked.


    "I..." She trailed off. "I was given a second chance."


    Wytny blinked. "A second chance? To live as a baker? Why don''t you reach out to Oelya-"


    "No!" Delilah exclaimed. She lowered her voice. "You have to promise me you won''t tell her I''m here."


    Wytny furrowed her brow. "Why? Don''t you want to go home?"


    "This is home," Delilah said. "I like it here. The people are kind, and the land is beautiful, and... Nobody but the Brens know my past. At least, the people here don''t know the details."


    "Your past?"


    "You know how horrible I was," Delilah said. "I... I don''t even want to think back on it. I just want to leave it all behind me."


    "My family is being strong armed by Nick because of you," Wytny said. "The fact I''m here means your past is catching up with you."


    "Nick wouldn''t do that," Delilah said. "Not unless you deserved it, and he resolved things with you. So unless your parents did something-"


    "Oelya disowned us!" Wytny exclaimed. "She cut all ties because we interviewed Eterna."


    "I''m sorry to hear that," Delilah said. "But you''re better off separating from the Galens. They''re cruel, and manipulative, and only care about themselves."


    "You''re a Galen!"


    "Only by blood," Delilah said. "I''m not like them anymore, and I''m never going back to being that way again."


    "So we''ve just got to let Nick jerk us around," Wytny grumbled.


    "No," Delilah said. "He''s probably actually trying to convince your family to work with him, even though your father doesn''t really have another option."


    "How can you defend a monster like him?"


    Delilah smiled. "Because Sera loves him."


    Wytny blinked. "What?"


    "Sera loves him," Delilah repeated. "I''ve seen them about here together. She genuinely loves him, and there''s no way she''d love the kind of person you''re describing. Besides, I did a lot to him and Sera, and he warned me what would happen if I kept doing it. I didn''t listen, so he did what he had to do."


    "What did they do to you?" Wytny asked.


    Delilah shook her head. "Opened my eyes to all the hurt I caused."


    Wytny grabbed her wrist and tried to pull her out of the store. "No, you''re coming with me."


    "I said I don''t want to!" Delilah shouted as she struggled. "Leave me alone!"


    The bell on the door rang, and both women looked up to see Nick in the doorway. He looked down at Wytny, his eyes tired.


    "What do you think you''re doing?"


    Delilah relaxed as she saw him, but Wytny tensed up as she spoke. "You people did something to her!"


    Nick nodded and leaned against the doorframe. "We did."


    Wytny paused at the honesty. "What did you do?"


    "Gave her a choice," Nick said. "Considering she''d incited attempted rapes, assaults, conspiracy to incite conflict between noble families, threatened the life of a child of the Bren family, et cetera, she could have gone to prison, perhaps even been executed. If we put her through the justice system."


    "Why didn''t you?"


    "Because while she was responsible for her actions, it wasn''t her fault she ended up the way she did," Nick said. "So she was given a choice: to go through the justice system, or take over this rundown bakery. Delilah is fantastic at management, and she took this shop, which was all but failing, and turned it into one of the most beloved bakeries in town. She''s actually quite the pillar of the community now, and it''s only been, what, three weeks?"


    "Give or take," Delilah said.


    "After a few more months, she''ll have shown she''s changed," Nick said. "She''ll then be free to leave the Valley and go wherever and do whatever she wants."


    Wytny looked back at Delilah, who nodded. "It''s true. But, I don''t really want to go anywhere."


    "Additionally," Nick added as his eyes hardened. "Informing anyone on the outside of Delilah''s whereabouts before she can leave the valley will be treated as an offensive action against the Bren family, and doing so after, without her consent, will be treated as action taken against one of our citizens."


    Wytny went still.


    "Of course, feel free to talk with her and such, if she wants to," Nick said, his eyes softening slightly. "But if she doesn''t want to talk to you, then respect her wishes just like you should anybody else. And don''t go trying to drag people around; it''s rude." Nick waited until Wytny let go of Delilah''s wrist, then smiled. Wytny left the bakery, and Nick waited till she was gone before he looked at Delilah. "By the way, you really should talk to Sera when you see her."


    "I know," she replied. "I''ve just been... Busy."


    Nick watched her for a moment. "I know it must be hard, to see her and not just think about the past. But you''re here to build a new future, and I think she''d love to see what that looks like."


    Delilah sniffed and nodded. "I''ll try."


    Nick smiled. "Good. How are the Christmas Week preparations going, by the way?"


    "Good," Delilah said. "I''ve got just about all the ingredients we''ll need for the new cakes, and I''ve started making the ones that''ll stay fresh until then."


    "Good to hear," Nick said. "Give me or one of the Christmas committee members a call if you need anything regarding that."


    She nodded. "Thank you."


    Nick turned, but she spoke again.


    "And thanks for showing up."


    He looked back at her. "Now you know the ring works."


    He left the store, and Delilah stood at the counter for a moment before she took in a deep breath, let it out, and returned to the back of the store.


    As the Jorhens ran amok, Sera brought Ierin to Leander and Isaac. The two looked up as the women entered.


    "What''s she doing here?" Isaac asked.


    "I thought a fresh set of eyes might help," Sera said. "We''ve been focusing on this for too long."


    "What is this?" Ierin asked as she looked over the books. "Runes?"


    Sera pulled the pictures of Nick''s tattoos from the different spots around the table and laid them out in front of Ierin. She looked them over.


    "I''m afraid runes aren''t my specialty..." She trailed off. "But, aren''t they not supposed to work on living flesh?"


    "These ones do," Isaac said. "They''re modified and inflicted by a human organization."


    "Then why not ask the people who designed them?"


    Isaac paused. "Why don''t we?"


    "Nick killed them all," Sera said.


    "Oh," Isaac muttered.


    "This is Nick?" Ierin asked, her finger pressing on one of the pictures.


    Sera nodded. "The runes are literally burning out. They were designed to contain his... Affliction. We don''t know though if he''ll be fine or not after they''ve all burnt out, so we''re trying to figure out a way to safely recreate the runes on him while dispelling the old ones."


    Ierin looked back down at the pictures. "Why not just make him a mantle bearer?"


    They all stared at her, and she noticed their collective gaze. "What?"


    "What would that accomplish?" Leander asked.


    "The Bren Mantle is based in the spirit, but it has great effect on the body,¡± Ierin said. ¡°It makes them immune to almost every disease, even Gluttony''s Wrath, and survive a lot of wounds that would kill most people. Whatever affliction Nick has would be cured or controlled if he just got the mantle, and he wouldn''t have to renew it."


    "Mantles can only be passed on during the Bren Fire Festival," Leander said. "And that''s in the Spring. Would we have enough time?"


    "Probably," Isaac answered. "I calculated it out, and we should have another six months before it becomes an issue, so long as the burn out doesn''t speed up."


    Sera hugged Ierin. "Thank you!"


    Ierin went stiff for a moment, and slowly returned the embrace. "My pleasure."


    Sera looked to the other two. "And thank you guys for all you''ve done, too."


    "Of course," Leander said.


    "I owed him," Isaac said. "I''ll still write up the process of renewing the runes, including what each one does and all of that so that there are no hiccups or explosions, just in case."


    "Good idea," Sera said. "I''m gonna go tell him." She turned and swiftly left the three of them behind.


    "I''ve a feeling we shouldn''t have gotten involved," Leander said once Sera was gone.


    The other two looked at him. "What do you mean?"


    "Nick doesn''t like surprises," Leander said. "And we all just conspired on something that, though it could save his life, is incredibly personal. Something he only revealed to Sera."


    They all stared down at the table for a moment, then Isaac continued writing. "It''s too late now."


    Meanwhile Ashley regaled Gafael with stories about Nick.


    "And then-" she looked past Gafael. "Daddy!"


    Gafael''s mirth melted away and he didn¡¯t move as Nick picked up Ashley in a hug.


    "Keeping mister Jorhen company?"


    She nodded. "Uh huh. He asked me about you."


    "Oh yeah?" Nick asked. "You told him all good things, I hope."


    "And funny things," Ashley said. "Like when you got embarrassed about grandma seeing the show you and mom did."


    Nick raised his eyebrows. "Oh, well, in that case I''ve got some stories about you..."


    "No!" She exclaimed as she pushed against his chest. "Don''t say it!"


    Nick glanced at Colm, who was paying close attention. "You know, when she was-"


    She placed her hands over his mouth. "Daddy!"


    Nick smiled. "Okay, okay." She pulled back her hands and he kissed her cheek as he set her down. Ashley grabbed Colm''s hand and quickly ran off before Nick could change his mind. Nick watched them go, then looked to Gafael. "So, how''re you finding things?"


    "Honestly, it''s almost creepy how peaceful things are here," Gafael said.


    Nick slowly nodded. "Anybody that wants to move in here is screened by the locals to see if they''ll fit in, so you''ll find we¡¯re a rather homogenous community, with the exception of Bren charges."


    "Charges?" Gafael asked.


    "Yeah," Nick said. "Criminals we, and sometimes Harbinger''s and Sub-Harbingers, think deserve a second chance at life."


    Gafael slowly nodded. "Rather magnanimous of you."


    "Depending on the crimes committed, and public exposure of those crimes, they can leave and go or do whatever they want after a trial period. Very few leave."


    "How much of the population are they?"


    Nick took in a breath and ran a hand through his hair. "Oh, probably... Ten percent, currently. More if we''re talking about descendants."


    "How many return to crime?"


    Nick sniffed. "Well, the only ones that would are the ones that leave or the ones that refuse to chip in and work to earn their place. But those ones we counsel, then send off to sentencing if they continue to refuse, so we don''t keep around the ones that are likely to relapse."


    "But they''re treated just like anybody else here, outside of that?"


    Nick nodded. "Pretty much. You''ve probably met a fair few of them while wandering around here."


    "So... Had my daughter refused to help you..."


    "She likely would have ended up here," Nick confirmed. "Until she''d learnt her lesson, then been given the option to return to you, as long as we were certain you weren''t the cause of her destructive behaviour."


    "As her parent, aren''t I responsible?"


    "To some degree," Nick said. "But even the best parents can produce a terrible child, and the worst parents can produce an angel. As far as I can tell, you didn''t intentionally do anything to set your daughter down the path she was walking. And your sons chose to serve out of a sense of duty and honor, and so that their little sister wouldn''t have to."


    Gafael flinched. "You... Looked into my sons?"


    "Of course," Nick said. "I wanted to know the kind of man I was about to get into business with. I''m sure you''ve looked into me as best you could." Nick paused. "You have my condolences about your sons, by the way."


    Gafael sniffed. "Thank you."


    Nick gave a single nod. "They were great men, from all the people I talked to. It can''t be easy to deal with that."


    "You talked to men in their platoon?" Gafael asked, a hopeful curiosity sneaking into his voice.


    "Yeah," Nick said. "Don was a natural leader, and always cool under pressure. Len... He kept morale up, always making jokes, poking fun, and pulling pranks, but when it came down to it they could always rely on him."


    "I... I never got the chance to talk to any of them."


    "Two of them are here," Nick said.


    Gafael''s eyes widened. "Really?"


    Nick smiled. "We may seem rather isolationist, but Sunspeak valley members serve just like everyone else. Interestingly enough they don''t have to due to being food production, but they have the same honor and pride your son''s had." Nick looked around for a moment. "They''ve been wanting to meet you and your family since I told them why I was asking after Don and Len. I told them to wait a few days and let you get acquainted with the town first, but if you''re ready-"


    "I do!" Gafael exclaimed as he grabbed Nick''s arm. "I mean, I am. Where are they? I''ll have Wytny and Penny meet me there."


    Nick smiled. "They''re over in Zernia Square. They''ll recognize you."


    Gafael pulled out his phone and called his wife as he hurried off. Nick watched him go, then let out a breath of relief and started to walk home.


    "Tiring, isn''t it?"


    Nick looked over to see Cyrus leaning against a wall. Nick nodded. "Yeah. Fixing other people''s problems, and I can rarely find who I need, and everybody else finds the things and people I don''t want them to."


    "Underestimated the Journalist''s mind, did you?"


    Nick nodded. "Wytny found Delilah, so I had to handle that, then I had no choice but to tell Gafael about our rehabilitation program before Wytny could sour those waters, and I had to find his son''s squad mates and get them ready and available. Thankfully they were easy to find and eager to meet Gafael, so that was probably the easiest part of the last two weeks."


    "Still think you''re up for it?" Cyrus asked.


    "You wouldn''t have chosen me if I wasn''t," Nick said. "I just... Haven''t had an opportunity to destress, apart from one night, and even that was mixed."


    "Mh," Cyrus muttered. "Well, I suggest you set aside some time for that."


    "It kind of requires a certain person," Nick said.


    Cyrus blinked. "Oh. Then you should probably talk to her about it. After all, this is going to be your life from now on, so you need to make sure she knows exactly what she''s getting into."


    Nick nodded. "I know, I just... We aren''t even engaged yet, so it doesn''t feel right to expect certain things from her."


    "Never expect anything from anyone," Cyrus said. "But don''t be afraid to request what you need, and hope they''ll come through."


    Nick took in a deep breath and let it out. "Right." Nick looked at his watch. "Well, I''ve got another meeting to attend to."


    He disappeared, and Cyrus remained where he was for a time, until he heard someone panting as they ran. He looked in the direction of the sound to see Sera, out of breath, as she ran in his direction. She stopped in front of him, and placed her hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath.


    "Looking for someone?" He asked.


    She jumped and took a step back, and stared at him for a moment before she went back to catching her breath. She nodded, and finally straightened. "I''ve been tracking Nick, but his scent is all over town, not to mention mixed in with everyone else''s, and it keeps starting and stopping in random places because he keeps teleporting. It isn''t fair!"


    Cyrus raised an eyebrow. "So... You''re looking for Nick?"


    "Yes," she said.


    "Well, he was just here a minute ago," Cyrus said. "But he teleported away."


    She paused and looked at him for a second. "That''s what I-" she stopped, and he smiled.


    "He has many responsibilities, Sera," he said. "If you don''t accompany him to any of them, you will find your time with him quite limited."


    She looked down for a moment. "But, we aren''t married. Wouldn''t it be inappropriate for me to attend those things with him?"


    Cyrus shrugged. "Isn''t he the only person whose opinion you should consider?"


    Her brow came together. "I know, but I need to consider my place and what people expect of me. If I make a wrong move..."


    "Then you can ask for grace," Cyrus said. "The same grace you show others. Besides, expectations are tawdry, and steeped in the imagination. They are often best broken in the fields of reality."


    She blinked rapidly a few times and tilted her head. "So... Just go anyways?"


    He sighed. "Yes."


    "Why not just say that?" Sera asked.


    "Now that Nick''s taking over, I get to be a crazy old coot," Cyrus said. "So I''m going to enjoy it."


    Sera chuckled, and shook her head. "Alright, if that makes you happy."


    "It most certainly does," Cyrus said. "And might I offer one more piece of advice?"


    "Hmm?"


    "To find someone quick,


    why run about searching when


    they''re in your pocket?" He winked and walked off.


    "Did he just make a haiku?" She asked the air. She shook her head, then paused and reached for her phone in her pocket. "At least his actually made sense..."


    She tried to call Nick, but it went to voicemail, so she switched to a text.


    ''Hey, I''d like to spend a little time with you, when you''re available.''


    She stared at the phone for a moment, then shook her head and walked back towards the estate.


    Nick glanced down at his phone, then returned his attention to Bill. "So you want to run the same games as last year?"


    Bill nodded. "Of course! They''re tried and true, and everybody loves them."


    "Alright," Nick said. "Is that all?"


    Bill scratched the back of his head. "No, it isn''t."


    Nick waited patiently.


    "I think I offended miss Aala."


    Nick blinked. "Pardon?"


    "My comment the first night you were here," Bill said. "I think that offended her more than she let on, as whenever I''ve attempted to speak to her, she''s rushed past."


    Nick frowned. "I explained things to her after dinner that night, and she felt a little awkward, but not upset, and we all talked in town later on."


    "Right," Bill said. "Then perhaps she''s been working on something that''s got her gears grinding."


    "Probably," Nick said.


    "Well, if that''s the case, then I can start breathing again," Bill said.


    Nick raised an eyebrow.


    "I wouldn''t want to piss off a Bren Matriarch before she even made it into the position."


    Nick smirked. "I''m sure you''re fine."


    "When do you intend to propose?" Bill asked.


    Nick took in a breath. "I don''t know, yet. I kind of want her to get a feel for the kind of life I''ll be leading from now on, so she can walk into it with some reasonable level of knowledge."


    "If you don''t betray her, she will be loyal to you no matter what," Bill said, an unusual gravity in his voice.


    Nick blinked. "Why do you..?"


    "My wife''s a canis-type, remember?" Bill said.


    "Yeah," Nick said. "So..?"


    "They''re often incredibly loyal. Just think about everything she, and probably her father, have done for you without a second thought."


    Nick looked down. "Oh."


    "I''m ashamed to say I took my wife''s loyalty for granted early on, and it led to me neglecting her in many ways. I''ve of course changed that, but..." He shook his head. "Every time I look back on it, my heart twists itself into a knot, and it often takes her to untie it." He cleared his throat. "It also means she''ll take on things she shouldn''t. The number of times I caught Kerry trying to work in the fields while pregnant this last harvest..."


    "Thank you," Nick said as he stood up.


    Bill smiled up at him. "Any time, boss man."


    "That''s not official yet," Nick said.


    "There are many things that aren''t official, but still hold the same weight," Bill said. "And you''re doing a great job so far, and the only month harder than this one is for the Bren Fire Festival, though you don''t have to actually help plan that one so much as just keep it from getting too out of hand."


    "Right..." Nick trailed off. "Then the fires I''m putting out will be real."


    Bill chuckled. "Yeah, but it''s not frowned upon to kill those fires."


    Nick smiled. "True. Anyways, if that''s all?"


    Bill nodded. "It is."


    "Then I''ll be seeing you," Nick said. Bill stood up and they shook hands, and Nick teleported back to his and Sera''s room. He kicked off his shoes and sat down on the edge of the bed and held his head in his hands.


    "Oh... I don''t know how grandpa did it..." He groaned. "He probably just got used to it. I''m taking on a lot all at once because it''s December. It''ll lighten up afterwards, and then it''ll just be regular running of the family and valley. But did he really have to throw me in the deep end?" He fell back onto the bed. "I guess it was the best way to bring in the Jorhens..." He let out a breath.


    "Nick!"


    He lifted his head to see Sera in the doorway. "Hey. Sorry, I completely forgot to respond to your text."


    "No, it''s okay," she said. "I''ve got a surprise."


    He raised an eyebrow. "I''m not a fan of surprises."


    She paused, but continued as he sat up. "Okay, but... I may have found a way to help with your runes."


    His expression darkened as he watched her. "That''s what you''ve been doing?"


    "I was looking through the books, and then I hit a roadblock, so I talked to Leander and Isaac, and we found a way to redo the runes in case we needed more time, and then I asked my mom, and she suggested you becoming a mantle bearer would make the runes unnecessary."


    She looked at him, and paused as she started to feel heat radiating off of him, even from that distance. "Nick?"


    "You''ve been-" he clenched his teeth as a red hot light glimmered through his shirt. "And you involved-" the rune burst into flame.


    "Nick!"


    He teleported away, and she looked around frantically until she felt the ground beneath her feet quake. Across the town people took cover in doorways or under tables. The glass vibrated and warped, and cups clattered. The quakes stopped as suddenly as they''d started, and Sera slowly looked around from her doorway.


    She blinked rapidly as Eterna walked through the hallway.


    "Eterna?"


    She caught sight of her and ran up to her. She held her tight. "You''re not hurt, are you?"


    "No," Sera said. "I hope that was an earthquake."


    Eterna blinked. "We don''t get those around here."


    "Oh..."


    "Sera?" Eterna asked as she looked into her eyes. "What is it?"


    "I... I looked into Nick''s runes," she said. "One of them burnt out a few nights ago, and it''s obviously painful. And... We don''t know what''ll happen when they all burn out. So I researched, and hit a wall, and I asked for Isaac and Leander''s help, and eventually I got my mom involved and she suggested Nick become a mantle bearer. When I told Nick... One of his runes literally caught fire."


    "Oh dear..." Eterna muttered. "Sera, going beyond some of the other things, Nick tried to be a mantle bearer already."


    Sera blinked and looked up at her. "He did?"


    "His first year here," Eterna said. "I''m guessing he thought it''d be how he could watch over and protect Ashley forever. But instead Ashley inherited one. I think that, to him, it was a sign that the spirits of our predecessors didn''t think he was redeemable in spite of his good intentions."


    "So that''s what led him to think he should-" her voice caught on the idea.


    Eterna nodded. "Most likely. So when the person who made him believe he was redeemable brought up such a thing, it probably hurt quite a bit, and he''s been stressing out for the last while with everything dad has put on him. He actually gave him more duties than were his to handle, just to see how the two of you take it."


    "The two of us?" Sera asked.


    "Leading a family is two parts: the Patriarch and the Matriarch. My sister, Helia, has been filling in the latter role since our mother passed, but dad told her to let Nick and you handle it."


    "Why didn''t Nick say anything?" Sera asked.


    "I don''t know," Eterna said. "Maybe he didn''t realize he''s carrying the jobs of two people, because Cyrus didn''t tell him."


    Sera looked down. "Where were you two weeks ago?"


    "I was-"


    "I know, handling an old case," Sera said as she shook her head.


    "No, I wasn''t," Eterna replied.


    Sera looked up at her as she continued. "Dad had asked me to stay away for a bit to try and get him to rely on you instead of me."


    "This was all planned?"


    "To some degree," Eterna said. "At least with him being Patriarch. Father talked to my brother, sister and I about it before he made his decision."


    "So you all just threw him in the deep end without a life jacket?" She asked, her tone cutting.


    "He was supposed to have you," Eterna said. Sera paused. "We thought the two of you would face it together, like you have everything else. I told them that the two of you could do it."


    Sera''s gaze fell. "So I let him down."


    "And he let you down by not asking for help," Eterna said. She shook her head, and looked into the room. She noticed Nick''s shoes on the floor. "So that''s what happened."


    "What?" She looked over her shoulder at the shoes.


    "Nick''s got runes in his footwear that manage his weight so that he doesn''t go through floors. He put the same runes on his beds, in the bathrooms, and the floors of his rooms. If he''s been eating properly, his mass..." She shook her head.


    "What do I do?" Sera asked.


    "What have you done before?" Eterna countered.


    Sera blinked, then let out a breath. "I''ll track him down.¡±

 Chapter 3

    Eterna watched Sera take off down the hall, and Cyrus appeared next to her. "They aren''t ready."


    "Were you any better at his age?"


    "No," Cyrus said. "But I also didn''t become Patriarch until I was forty."


    "You also didn''t have a woman like her supporting you."


    "Neither does he, it seems."


    "They''ll work through it," Eterna said. "Neither of them can do it on their own, but together they are greater than anything that could stand against them."


    "I think-"


    "That you need to have a little more patience and grace," Eterna interrupted.


    "Funny you should interrupt me to say that." Eterna blinked, and Cyrus smiled. "It is good to see you properly taking the role of mother."


    "You''re testing me? Now?"


    He shrugged. "Why would I not want to see how my beloved daughter has grown and matured? Especially since you''re the only one of my children who''s brought me a grandchild, albeit in an unorthodox manner."


    She sighed. "Dad..."


    He turned serious. "When I asked Nick if he was still up to it earlier today, he said that I would not have chosen him if I didn''t think he was. That statement is only partly true." He looked at his daughter. "I trust your judgement, and will until it is proven wrong."


    Eterna looked over at him for a moment. "Thanks, dad."


    He smiled. "Now for the hardest part of parenting: stepping back and letting them work it out themselves."


    "Dad, what''s going on?" A thunder cloaked man asked as he bolted next to them.


    "Ah, Creasio," Cyrus said. "Thank you for coming down from your meditations. It should be fine in a moment. Please go through town and ensure everyone is alright. I''m sure Helia has already begun to do so, and I''ll inspect the estate."


    "What about Nick?" Creasio asked. "If the Heir Apparent isn''t there to ease the tension-"


    "Nick is at the source of the quake already," Cyrus said. "Tell the people that he and Sera are taking care of the cause, and will be back as soon as they''ve finished up."


    Creasio nodded and looked to Eterna. "You coming, Sis?"


    Eterna gave a single nod, cloaked herself in ice and followed him out. They flew into town, looking over the damage.


    "It looks mostly superficial," Eterna reported.


    "Agreed," Helia replied, and Eterna saw her fiery wings ignite as she took to the skies. "People are mostly just rattled. Do we know what happened?"


    "Nick and Sera are checking it out," Eterna replied.


    "Perhaps we should back them up," Creasio suggested. Eterna looked over at her younger brother as he started to fly in the direction the quakes had originated from.


    "No."


    "But if-"


    "If they need help, Nick can easily reach out to us," Eterna said. "We need to make our presence here as big as possible to ease the people. When they ask, tell them we think it was a meteor that managed to slip through the Atmarrier, but it''s being investigated."


    Creasio stopped and hovered in the air, electricity crackling out from his body. "If you think that''s best."


    Eterna spotted Gafael and his family and flew down to them. "Are you alright?"


    "Fine enough," Gafael said. "Is it over?"


    "It should be," Eterna said. The ground shook again, though this time was far less than before. "Aftershocks."


    He slightly nodded. "It''s a good thing Sunspeak has such temperate weather, else we''d have been buried in an avalanche by now."


    Eterna paused. "Yeah, it is. I''m going to do my rounds."


    She took off. "I need every flame and ice capable Bren up in the mountains managing the snow. If the tremors keep up, we could have a serious problem. Everyone else, keep up the presence in town, and relay any communications to noble family leadership for me. Got it?"


    She heard a number of affirmatives in her ear, then took off into the mountains.


    Meanwhile, Sera followed the smell of burnt flesh that permeated the redwood forest. She kept going through, and stopped at the edge of a large crater. She looked down into it to see a massive, half formed human body. It''s flesh and bones were charred, and Nick sat cross legged on its chest, a hole the size of him just beneath the monstrosity''s collarbone. She made her way down the side of the crater and carefully approached, the heat radiating off of it making her sweat. She cast a fae spell to cut off her sense of smell, and continued. She looked up at the body, and jumped up onto it''s forearm. She walked along until she was near Nick.


    "What happened?"


    He didn''t move as he spoke. "I don''t really have a stress point, because I''m always at it. It allows me to generally stay in control, but when I''m pushed too hard one of the runes burns out. The one that went today was designed to incinerate me if I snapped."


    "Then this is..?"


    "Me. I had to create another body around mine that took the rune with it, then separate from it. Apparently it was enough to fizzle out the rune, since all of the cells in this body are dead now." He shook his head. "I told you to leave it alone."


    "Nick, I-"


    He went rigid. "I said wait until December was over!" He stood up, his legs shaking as he did so. Her eyes widened as she saw how emaciated he was.


    "Nick, let''s just take it-"


    "I needed you this month!" He shouted. He took a shaky step forward.


    She silently stared at him, her lips trembling.


    "I was stressing over the Jorhens, for the sake of your cousin''s project, but you weren''t there. I was in charge of managing the entirety of Christmas Week, and you weren''t there. I''m coordinating all of the noble families."


    "You gave up-"


    "I want you to marry me!" Nick shouted. She blinked, and he took another step and collapsed. She was at his side in an instant. She started to pick him up, and she frowned.


    He¡¯s as light as Ashley...


    "Get away!" He shouted.


    "Nick, I''m not-"


    He rolled to the side, and suddenly a massive spike of bone shot out of his chest, through the giant body and into the ground. It caused the ground to shake again. His breathing became incredibly short, his ribcage barely shifting with his quick breaths.


    She walked over to him and gently pulled him up, but even then she felt one of his bones snap, and he grunted. She laid him back down and whispered in his ear. "Nick, I need you to calm down, okay?"


    He began to shake violently, and she noticed the heat had since cooled. "What the..." She saw snow blast up from down the mountain. "Oh no."


    She covered Nick with her own body to keep the snow from hitting him. She went to pull out her phone, then noticed the bump of Nick''s crystal in his sternum. She lightly touched it. "Eterna, don''t blow any of the snow towards the quake site! You''ll kill Nick!"


    "Sera?" Eterna''s voice came back. "How are you talking to me?"


    "Nick''s lost most of his mass, I can feel the crystal through his skin. I need you to teleport us back to the estate."


    "If you can communicate with me, then you can use it to teleport. Just think about where you want to go. I suggest the basement, room five."


    She closed her eyes and thought it, and when she opened them they were in the room. "Thank you Eterna. We need to get food for Nick. Anything you can. His body will reach out and take what it needs without him needing to try, just bring it. Also stress that nobody should go near the epicenter of the quake, unless they''re a mantle bearer."


    "I''ll get the food sent in," Eterna said. "I''ll cleanse the site. We''re telling people it was a meteor. Then I''ll go get Ashley."


    Sera felt a pinch on her wrist and recoiled. Tendrils had reached out from Nick''s shoulder and scratched her. She took a step back, but the tendrils fell flat and were slowly pulled back towards his body. The door opened and Ithan came in with a cart of raw meat. "What do we do?"


    Sera grabbed a large piece and held it out to the tendrils. They livened up, and slowly worked at the meat.


    "Cut it into small pieces," she said as she ripped apart what she had in her hands.


    Ithan did so, and once he was done he was about to give some of the meat when a tendril lashed out at him. He recoiled, and Sera looked up at him. "I''ll handle the rest, Ithan. Thank you."


    Ithan gave a single nod and rubbed his wrist. He noticed the wound on hers, and frowned before he left her to continue to care for Nick through the night.


    "I want daddy!" Ashley exclaimed as Eterna held onto her in her room.


    "I know you do, sweetheart, but he''s healing right now."


    "Then I want mom!"


    "She''s taking care of him," Eterna said. "I know it must be hard, but you''ll see them both soon."


    "When?" Ashley demanded.


    Eterna let out a breath. "Tomorrow. No matter what."


    Ashley sniffed. "Fine. But I''m not going to sleep until I see them!"


    "Okay," Eterna said. "I''ll even stay up with you."


    Ashley nodded, her night time vigil begun, but it wasn''t long until Eterna had to tuck her in. She got a chair and sat next to the bed, carrying Ashley''s will through the night.


    "Are we sticking with the meteor story?" Helia asked Cyrus, in his office.


    Cyrus nodded. "We are. We can say Nick was out in that part of the forest for a walk, and saw it coming in. He used up a lot of his mass to lessen the impact, and is currently recovering."


    "Considering it was the other side of the mountain, it should be plausible," she said. "And how do we handle Nick?"


    "How do you mean?"


    "He just... Exploded."


    "So has every Bren child since time immemorial," Cyrus said. "I think he deserves to do it at least once."


    "That''s not what I mean," Helia said. "He''s an incredibly calm and controlled individual: he''d have to be pushed pretty hard to reach this point."


    "The situation is well in hand," Cyrus said. "And I doubt this will happen again."


    Helia eyed him. "If you say so, father. But what if it does happen again?"


    Cyrus went quiet for a moment. "Then I will take care of the problem myself, if Eterna doesn''t. Just as she did for me."


    Helia nodded to herself. "Alright. In any case, the town is ultimately fine. Eterna''s instructions to handle the snow came just in time. Andrew and Vand stopped an avalanche in its tracks."


    "Good," Cyrus stated. "Now, go get some rest. I''ll take first emergency watch."


    She nodded and left his office, and Cyrus let out a breath. He picked up one of the pictures on his desk. It was of him, Ashley, Eterna and Nick during some harvest event. He stared at it, and sighed.


    Sera was still in the basement by the time the sun had risen, tiredly grasping at the cart. She paused, then looked over at it: it was empty. She looked back at Nick, who looked at least relatively normal again. She let out a breath, and tentatively reached out and touched his shoulder. He didn''t respond, but neither did the tendrils. They all retreated into his body, and she breathed a sigh of relief as she went to pull him into a hug. She held tightly onto him, his frame still a little frail, but his bones didn''t break. Tears started to fall from her eyes as she clung to him.


    "I''m sorry. I''m so, so sorry. I''ve pushed you to this twice. I-" she choked on the words, then let out a breath and lifted him up on her back. She carried him out of the basement, and made her way to their room. A few house staff noticed them as they went, and stayed back as tendrils roiled beneath the surface of his skin whenever one got near. She made it to their bedroom, and she laid him down on the bed, then left the room and closed the door behind her.


    "Is that blood?"


    Sera turned to see Ashley staring up at her. Before she could respond, Ashley went for the door, but Sera stepped in the way. "Not right now."


    "I want to see daddy!"


    "I need just a minute," Sera said.


    "I don''t care!" Ashley exclaimed as she tried to pull Sera''s leg out of the way. Sera was about to grab her when she remembered the blood on her hands. "Ash-"


    Ashley''s eyes began to glow an icy blue. "Get out of the-"


    "Ashley!" Sera shouted.


    Ashley stumbled back and fell to the floor as if struck. The icy glow faded, and she stared up at Sera. Sera let out a breath. "I need to wash my hands. Then I can show him to you, but you can''t get close until I say so. Got it?"


    She slowly nodded, and Sera slumped slightly. "Come with me, okay?"


    "I wanna wait here," Ashley said quietly.


    "I''m sorry, but I need you to come with me."


    "Why?"


    "Because I think that the moment I leave you''re going to try to get in there," Sera said. Ashley couldn''t meet her gaze, but she stood up and walked towards the bathroom. Sera followed her there, and started to wash off the blood.


    "Is that daddy''s?"


    "No," Sera said.


    "Is it yours?"


    "No," Sera repeated tiredly.


    "Then whose is it?"


    Sera closed her eyes for a moment. "Your dad absorbs meat and plants, and he uses that to make muscle and bone and stuff. Like how we do, but he has more control over it and can use all of it. He can gain a lot of weight and not look it, but if he uses up the muscle and bone, he loses it. He used up too much last night, so I''ve been giving him raw animal meat all night so he can make muscle and bone again."


    "Why can''t I get close?" Ashley asked.


    "Because he''s not in control of what he absorbs right now," Sera said. She noticed the wound on her wrist, and carefully cleaned it out. "I had to be really careful while I took care of him."


    Her wound continued to bleed, so she muttered a spell over it, but nothing happened. She frowned and tried again, but again nothing happened. She kept it under the cold water as she rummaged under the sink and took out a first aid kit. She started to treat the wound.


    "Did he do that to you?"


    "Not intentionally," Sera said. "It was before I''d started to give him the meat. But I carried him to our room without a problem."


    Ashley fell quiet and watched Sera finish wrapping a bandage around her wrist. She turned off the water and held out her hand to Ashley. She took it, and Sera led her back to her and Nick''s room. She opened the door and they entered. She placed her hands on Ashley''s shoulders, holding tight enough that she could keep her in place.


    "He looks like when he was sick."


    Sera nodded. "He does."


    "Will he be okay?"


    "Of course he will," Sera said. "He just needs a little more rest and food. He could even be up and about later today."


    Ashley slowly nodded. "Okay."


    Sera guided her out of the room. "And remember, don''t go in there without me, okay?"


    Ashley looked up at her. "I understand."


    She wandered off down the hallway, and Sera let out a sigh. "Alright, a quick nap, then... Back at it."


    Sera later awoke in an unfamiliar bed, and she looked around and sniffed the air. Eterna?


    She got up and found her clothes folded on a chair next to the bed. She got dressed, then made her way through the house. She looked out the window: the sun had long since set. She got to her and Nick''s room to find Eterna just leaving. She looked up at Sera. "Hey."


    "Hey," Sera replied, her voice scratchy. She cleared her throat. "I hope I didn''t sleep too long."


    Eterna thought for a moment. "Well..."


    "What?"


    "I found you passed out in the hallway," Eterna said.


    Sera blinked. "What?"


    She nodded. "The two of you are pretty sleep deprived, so I''m surprised you hadn''t dropped sooner."


    "How long?" Sera repeated.


    "I found you yesterday morning, so..." She looked down at her watch. "About forty hours."


    Sera pinched the bridge of her nose. "Forty hours..." She shook her head. "Has he woken up?"


    "He did," Eterna said. "He hasn''t spoken much, except to Ashley, who''s back to being... Well, Ashley. He did ask after you, though."


    "Thank you."


    Eterna nodded. "I think I''m going to take my bed back." She walked past her and Sera stepped up to the door. She took in a breath, let it out, then opened it up. Nick sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze on the floor as she stood in the doorway. He glanced her way. "Hey."


    "Hey," she replied quietly.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    A chasm seemed to cry out between them, its voice as tangible and resolute as stone, yet only the sound of his breath and her heartbeat reached her ears. She swallowed, and took a step forward when he spoke.


    "I wanted to work on this issue with you, to face it together like we promised."


    She paused as he continued.


    "But I couldn''t handle working on that while doing everything else. Hell, I could barely handle everything else."


    She kept her eyes locked on him.


    "But instead, you didn''t trust me, you went behind my back, and involved other people whom I also needed to handle other things for me."


    "I shouldn''t have looked into it."


    "No," he said. "Doing some reading to prep wouldn''t have bothered me. It was that you tried to hide it, and got Isaac, Leander, and your mother involved."


    "You said I should spend time with her," Sera said. "So... I did. And she turned out to be pretty helpful."


    "Did you do anything other than talk about my situation?"


    "We had a good conversation before that," Sera said. "And when I said I had to go, she offered to help."


    "I''m glad something went smoothly that day," he said quietly.


    "Why didn''t you ask for my help?" Sera asked gently. "You know I would have done anything."


    He let out a breath. "At first I thought you were spending that time with your mom, until I talked to her myself. Then I had no idea what you were doing, but I didn''t want to ask because... When I was raising my little brother, and then Ashley, I never asked for help because I thought it meant I wasn''t fit to be their caretaker. I didn''t want to ask because I thought it meant I wasn''t fit to be patriarch, and I also didn''t think it was fair to have you doing matriarch duties when we aren''t married."


    "Then let''s change that," Sera said. "If that''s holding us back, then let''s do it. What have we been waiting for?"


    "The end of this month," Nick said. She watched him. "Cyrus tapping me as heir apparent pushed back some of my plans. So I wanted this month to be for you to get to see what kind of life you''d have if we got married." He finally looked up at her. "I need to know that you truly understand what you''re signing up for. Then, at the end of the month, after everything was wrapped up, I was going to explain everything about the runes, and if you were ready to accept both things, then I was going to propose."


    "You..." She walked up to the edge of the bed. "You thought that far ahead?"


    "I didn''t want you to leap in head first and not realize there''s no water in the pool," Nick said. "Because I can''t... I don''t want you to resent me."


    "I''d never-"


    "I resented you."


    She blinked. "What?"


    "I didn''t want-" he paused, and looked past her. "Hey Ash, what''s up?"


    Sera didn''t turn as he stood up and walked around.


    "I had a nightmare," Ashley''s voice came back. "And I heard voices."


    "Oh, I''m sorry to hear that," Nick said. "Mom and I are just talking. C''mere." There was a pause as the sound of Ashley''s nightgown brushed against Nick''s shirt as he hummed. "Better?"


    After a moment. "Better. Goodnight!"


    "Goodnight," Nick echoed. He closed the door. Sera still stood in place. He walked back around to stand in front of her, though he was out of reach. Her gaze was on the floor, shadows concealing her eyes.


    "So..." Nick said. He let out a breath. "I had thought that things would be better if I was gone. That was what was going through my head." Nick shifted slightly. "That everyone I ever came to know would be better off without me, so keeping them at arm''s reach, as much as it may hurt them in the short term, would save them greater pain in the long term. Obviously I got a lot closer than I intended; Nayeli, Magnus. You."


    "Bullshit," she muttered.


    "I agree," he replied. "To think that way was incredibly self centered on my part."


    She suddenly looked up at him, tears clinging to her eyes. "How can you say all of that so calmly? Like you''re giving some class presentation?"


    "I''m not calm, Sera," he said plainly. "I am terrified, and pissed off and ashamed. But the stronger the emotions, the calmer the front I put up, because otherwise what happened the other night happens again."


    "So, what do you think now?" She asked tentatively.


    He let out a breath and sat down on the bed. "I''m still petrified I''m going to screw up Ashley somehow, but Sterling says that that''s called being a father."


    "And about me? Us?"


    He tilted his head back. "I always thought you were amazing. Your dedication, integrity. How you''ve got this raging inferno of passion inside you, that''s just so... Infectious. How you flirt with me makes me feel so... Special. You''ve no idea how many times I wished you were Ashley''s birth-mother."


    Sera''s eyes widened, the sharpness of her gaze smoothing out as he continued.


    "What made me resent you was that, in spite of everything, you made me want to live," he said. "I''ve of course come to love that about you. But that resentment, it ate away at me. I don''t want you to feel that way about me. I know you''ve said you''re in it for the long haul, but-"


    She closed the distance between them and placed her hands on his shoulders. "Nick, it isn''t just words. I get that being matriarch may be a next step up from some of what we''ve been through since it''ll be a constant instead of isolated incidents, but I think we''ve been through more than enough that when I say I love you, and I want you forever, I mean it. I don''t know everything that the future holds, but I do know that we can face it together. So..." Her hands slid down his arms and she interlocked her fingers with his. "Remember that night when we got iced in?"


    He eyed her. "Yeah..?"


    "''No quips, no jokes, no room for interpretation''," she said. "I want to hear you say it."


    "Sera, we-"


    "We''ve talked about it like it''s going to happen, but we haven''t said that it''s going to happen. I don''t mind having to wait till the end of the month for it to be official because there is plenty of other stuff we need to focus on, but I want to hear it now."


    He stared into her eyes. "Are you sure?"


    She nodded, and he pulled her into an embrace. "I am."


    "Seraphina Aala, will you marry me?"


    She smiled and held tightly to him. "I will."


    She looked up at him. "There''s something else we need to talk about."


    "There''s a lot we need to," Nick said. "But can it wait for tomorrow?"


    "One half of it can," Sera said. "But the other half can''t. Not before we go to bed."


    Nick let out a breath. "Okay."


    "I don''t want to wake up without you anymore. If you wake up and have to go, wake me up. I don''t care what time it is. I can''t wake up and not see you there."


    Nick watched her for a moment, then nodded. "I can''t sleep without you, and I can''t manage being patriarch without you. Will you be my matriarch?"


    "I already said yes to marrying you," she said.


    "Yeah," Nick said. "But until then, this is a separate position."


    "What I mean is," Sera said as she kissed him. "I''m all in, for everything."


    She gently pushed him down onto the bed and climbed on top of him.


    The next morning Nick woke up to the sound of someone knocking on his door. He carefully got up and walked over to it and found Ithan standing there.


    "Good to see you''re feeling better," He said.


    "Thank you," Nick replied. "What do you need?"


    "First to confirm your guest list," Ithan said. "We''ve yet to find out if the Jorhens, Brakkens, and Mr. Aala and Ms. Galen are staying for Christmas week, or if anybody new is coming."


    "Right," Nick said as he rubbed his eyes. "I''ll talk to them all and get it sorted out. Thanks for the reminder."


    "Of course," Ithan said. "The second is..." He gestured to the sides of his door, and Nick poked his head out to see flowers upon flowers lining the walls.


    "Where did these come from?"


    "People in town were worried about you," Ithan replied. "I have ensured they are all in water, but... What would you like me to do with them?"


    Nick stared at the flowers for a moment. "Can they last until Christmas week?"


    "If we care for them," Ithan said.


    "Then we''ll use them to decorate for that," Nick said. "Any notes or letters remove from them and leave them in my room, but find a way to add the sender''s name to the bouquet."


    "I''m sure they''ll appreciate the thought," Ithan said. "Am I to understand, however, that I''m permitted to read a letter or note to find the name?"


    "You are," Nick said. "I''ll be back at it today-"


    "I''m sorry, sir, but I can''t let you," Ithan said.


    Nick blinked. "Pardon?"


    "I am under orders from Cyrus to not allow you to work today."


    "But it''s only one week until Christmas week starts," Nick said. "I can''t waste any days."


    "A day of recuperation is not a day wasted," Ithan said. "Or have my sick days or vacation days been a waste?"


    Nick let out a short breath through his nose. "Of course not. Sorry, I just..."


    Ithan smiled slightly and bowed. "There is no need to apologize, sir." He came back up with one of the bouquets. "Perhaps something for Sera?"


    Nick paused, then looked through the bouquet. "Are there any-" he stopped as Ithan took out a stem of lavender from the back of the bouquet and held it out to him. Nick smiled. "Thanks. I''ll take it easy today. But if a decision needs to be made-"


    "Cyrus can handle it," Ithan said. "And if he is unsure, then he will contact you. Good day, sir."


    Ithan promptly walked off with the bouquet of flowers and Nick watched him go, then shook his head and went back into the room. He climbed onto the bed, then watched Sera sleep for a moment before he held the lavender beneath her nose. She took in a breath, and her eyes fluttered open. She saw the flower, smiled, and took it from his hand. "Where''d you get this?"


    "The hallway," he said as he kissed her. He got off of the bed and started to get dressed.


    She turned and propped herself up on the bed. "So, where do we start?"


    "I''ve been ordered to rest for today," Nick said. "So... We start with inviting the people we want to come out here, and take the day to have some fun." He sat on the edge of the bed and started to put on his shoes.


    She crawled up behind him and walked her fingers along his arm and over his shoulder. "Last night was pretty fun..." her hand started to slide down his chest, and he caught it.


    "It was." He kissed her hand. "But I think the Brakkens may be feeling a little neglected about now."


    "Oh," she breathed into his ear. "You''re right."


    He let go and stood up as he looked back at her. His eyes followed the bare curves of her body for a moment. "As much as I love you like this, I''m not the only one that''s got to get dressed."


    She stood up and brushed past him, her tail smacking his leg as she went. "I know, I know." She glanced back at him. "We''re not good at sharing."


    He smiled and walked over to his dresser beside her as she got dressed. She watched him out of the corner of her eye as he opened the top drawer and pulled out a box. He took it with him and sat back down on the bed. She put on the necklace he''d made for her, then turned back to him. "What''s that?"


    He glanced up at her, then opened the box. He took something out, then set the box to the side.


    "C''mere."


    She approached and stood in front of him. He took her hand and covered it with his, and she felt metal slide against her skin. He pulled his hand back slightly, and held on just to her fingers.


    "We may not be officially announcing it till later," Nick said. "But it''d feel wrong not to do this."


    She looked down at the rose gold ring that now twinkled on her finger. It held two small opals: one a deep, cloudy purple, the other a starry green. "Did you make these?"


    Nick slipped on its partner ring that bore the same stones. "No. These were my parent''s."


    "I thought..."


    "They left them behind the last time they came home," Nick said. "Originally I thought I''d pass them on to Ashley, but..." He smiled as he stood up. "You''ve given me a reason to use them myself."


    She kissed him and held onto him. "I love you."


    He returned the embrace. "I love you too." He pulled back. "We gotta go see the Jorhens before anything else."


    "Probably for the best..." Sera said. She looked up at him. "We?"


    "You said you wanted it all," Nick said. "That means meeting with other Noble families, when you''re available, is a part of it."


    "Why would I not be available?" She asked as they left their room.


    "A variety of possible situations," Nick said. "But, aren''t you going to finish your education?"


    She raised an eyebrow. "I can''t afford Marcellus anymore."


    "Didn''t you get a scholarship?" Nick asked.


    She shook her head. "That only paid for my first year. Being president meant I didn''t have to pay, but the money I made from it I put into a joint account with my father to help pay rent, and stuff. I''d still get a discount because dad works there, but that only puts it down to average cost."


    "If you want," Nick said. "We can help."


    She frowned. "I don''t know..."


    "It could be an idea to talk to Helia and get some pointers on good courses to take, and focus on those instead of completing the whole thing. I mean, considering what we''re stepping into, a certificate from Marcellus isn''t going to be necessary for upward mobility."


    She laughed. "I suppose not... Why Helia?"


    "She fulfilled matriarch duties after Cyrus'' wife passed away," Nick said. "Well, not immediately, but she took it on, nonetheless."


    "Then she''s definitely someone I should be talking to," Sera said. She looked down at the ring on her hand, admiring it. "How did you size it to me?"


    "I measured your finger while you slept," Nick said. She glanced at him. "But I ended up not needing it. I tried one on the other day, and it changed size to fit."


    "Wait, so did you actually size my finger, or..?"


    He took her hand in his and winked as he gently rubbed her ring finger. "Who knows?"


    She frowned, and they reached the guest area and Nick knocked on the Jorhens'' door. Gafael opened.


    "Good morning, Nick!"


    Nick smiled. "Good morning." He looked past him to see they were packing. "Leaving?"


    Gafael looked back and nodded. "We are. We need to get back to our respective jobs." He returned his gaze to Nick. "I want to say that we deeply appreciated you having us come out here. I think I now know the kind of man you are."


    Outwardly, Nick was patient, but Sera could feel his pulse quicken through his hand.


    "And I''m sure you knew the outcome of all this right from the start, but I''ll say it anyways: it would be my pleasure to work with the Bren family."


    He held out his hand, and Nick shook it. "I''m glad to hear it. Send me a text when you''re all ready to leave, and I''ll take you home."


    "Will do," Gafael said. "We''re going to be going into town before we leave, though."


    "What''ll you be getting?" Sera asked.


    "A family portrait," Gafael said. "My wife ran into Ulwar Nyressa while in town, and he offered to do a portrait of us at the Fire Keeper Inn."


    "That''s not an opportunity you want to pass up," Nick said with a smile. "In any case, I''ll visit after Christmas to plan out programming, communications of weather data, and the construction of a broadcasting station here."


    "Sounds like a plan," Gafael said. He started to turn back into the room, but paused. "And Nick?"


    "Yeah?"


    "Thank you for helping me finally put my sons to rest."


    Nick gave a single nod. "Of course."


    Gafael closed the door, and Nick and Sera walked away.


    "Couple of questions," Sera said.


    "Shoot," Nick replied.


    "Ulwar Nyressa. Isn''t he some famous artist?"


    "I thought the name sounded familiar," Nick said. "I guess he was visiting or something. I should probably track him down before he disappears."


    "So you didn''t set up Penny and him meeting?"


    Nick shook his head. "As far as I''m aware, I''ve never met the man myself."


    "Okay," she said. "And putting his sons to rest?"


    "They died in combat saving squad mates and civilians," Nick said. "The Jorhens haven''t had any closure because the squad mates are from Sunspeak, so they were hard for the Jorhens to find, and they''re commoners, so they had no real means to get in touch with a noble family like the Jorhens. I connected them."


    "You''ve been busy," Sera muttered.


    Nick let out a breath. "You''ve no idea. But you''re going to soon."


    "So, Brakkens or invitations first?" Sera asked.


    "Invitations, then Brakkens," Nick said. He took out his phone and they stopped walking. He put it on speaker.


    "Good morning, Nick," Magnus said. "It has been a while."


    "It has," Nick said. "And I''m sorry about that. Things have been incredibly crazy lately."


    "It was not an accusation, merely an observation," Magnus replied. "Is there something you''d like to discuss?"


    "Yeah," Nick said. "I-" he paused. "Sera and I were wondering if you wanted to come out to Sunspeak for the rest of the month."


    "I would be honored," Magnus said. "However, I spend every Christmas with my family."


    "Why not bring them?" Nick asked.


    Magnus was silent for a moment. "Are you sure?"


    "I am," Nick said. "There''s a whole week for Christmas, and plenty to do between then and now, including swimming in a hot spring."


    "I will teleport my family there with me as soon as we are ready.¡±


    "Uh, shouldn''t you talk about it with your parents?" Nick asked.


    "They will accept," Magnus said.


    "Okay," Nick replied hesitantly. "See you soon, then."


    He hung up, and Sera spoke. "That almost sounded like he forgot to add an ''or else'' afterwards."


    "Yeah," Nick said. "I think he may be excited."


    "Terraia''s need some level of frequent interaction with their master," Sera said. "Else they feel purposeless. That''s actually the leading cause in terraia depression."


    "Heard that from your father?" Nick asked.


    She nodded. "He''s always looking into stuff like that. I mean, it is his job, but it''s also his passion, so he likes to talk about it. Also, if he can teleport, then he¡¯s got a sub-harbinger stone now?¡±


    Nick nodded. ¡°He¡¯s in training under Leander now.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Sera said. ¡°Anyways, who''s next?"


    He made the call. "Hey Nayeli, I''ve got you on speaker with Sera."


    "Oh, hey guys! How''s the winter vacation going?"


    "It''s been pretty hectic, actually," Sera said. "But, there''s still plenty of fun left, and we wanted to invite you and your family to come out for the rest of the month."


    "And my family?" Nayeli asked. "Can''t I just come alone..?"


    "Jolie and Zain have both helped me out a fair bit," Nick said. He glanced at Sera. "And by extension Sera. I''d like to repay them in some way."


    "I''ll ask, one sec." The line went silent for a bit, and then she came back. "Mom and dad can''t come out right away, but they''d love to be there for Christmas week itself."


    "And what about you?" Nick asked.


    "Oh, I''m game," Nayeli replied. "How do I get out there, though?"


    "Go to Magnus," Nick said. "He''ll be able to get you here."


    "You called him first?" Nayeli asked, feigning hurt. "I thought we were friends first, and I never tried to kill you!"


    "''M'' comes before ''N'' in the alphabet," Nick said.


    "Fine, I''ll forgive you two this time, but next time..."


    "See you soon, Nayeli," Sera said. "And you''ll want to let Magnus know he''s bringing you, or else he may leave without you. And bring a swimsuit."


    "Yeah, yeah," Nayeli said. "See you soon."


    She hung up, and Nick went ahead and called Wyn, who happily agreed to come out with his girlfriend and child.


    "Is Leander still in Sunspeak?" Nick asked Sera.


    She shrugged. "I don''t know... But I''m sure he''d be able to come back easily enough, considering."


    "Right," Nick muttered. "Then I think..."


    "Isaac''s family," Sera said.


    "I have something else in mind for them," Nick said. "Could you call Isaac and have him meet us on the corner of Firth and Copenhagen?"


    She blinked, and he called Fernanda. She took out her own phone and called Isaac.


    Fernanda answered Nick¡¯s call. "Hey Nick! It''s good to hear from you."


    "Hey," Nick replied. "Is Saul with you?"


    "He is," Fernanda said. "One sec."


    "Hey Nick," Saul said.


    "Hey," Nick replied. "So, Christmas week is coming up here in Sunspeak, and Sera and I wanted to invite you guys out. You could even come up now."


    "Really?" Fernanda asked. "Are you sure?"


    "I am."


    "Oh, well, what do you think, honey?" Fernanda asked.


    "Sounds like a blast," Saul replied. "But how would we get there?"


    "Let me worry about that," Nick said. "Just let me know when you''re ready to go."


    "Alrighty," Saul replied. "See you soon!"


    Nick hung up and looked to Sera.


    "He''s there."


    Nick took her hand and they teleported to the town. Isaac looked up at them as they approached.


    "I''m sorry, Nick," Isaac said.


    Nick paused. "For what?"


    "For looking into the runes without talking to you first," he said. "I hadn''t initially realized how personal it likely was, and I got caught up in my own desire to pay you back for helping with my weather detection system, and it put you into a tough spot with the Jorhens."


    Nick took in a breath. "That''s alright. You just wanted to help, and it''s done now. But that''s not why I wanted to meet you here."


    Isaac tilted his head, and his tail flicked to the side. "It''s not?"


    "Nope," Nick said. He gestured for Isaac to follow him, and they walked down the street until they came upon a nice two story house. "What do you think?"


    Isaac blinked. "I don''t know much about houses."


    "Well," Nick began. "It''s got five bedrooms, two bathrooms and an ensuite, full kitchen, living room, and a large basement. It''s close enough to the town center that it''s a reasonable walk, but far enough away that you don''t have to deal with the noise."


    He nodded. "It''s a nice place."


    "It is," Nick affirmed. "And I thought, and tell me if I''m wrong, that you may want to live somewhere other than your lab."


    "It''s convenient for me to be at my lab," Isaac said.


    "Very true," Nick said. "But I think a little walk is worth having space for your mom and siblings to come live with you."


    Isaac blinked, going still. "I-We couldn''t-"


    "Would you not benefit from having them here, instead of far away?" Nick asked.


    "Well sure, but we can''t afford a place like this," Isaac said.


    "It is a necessary business expense to ensure you have the best possible environment to work in," Nick said. "Considering your relationship with the Bren family."


    "You''ve already done so much," Isaac said. "I can''t accept-"


    Sera put a hand on his shoulder. "Isaac, as Nick said, this is part of making sure you can do your work to the best of your abilities."


    "I know, but-"


    "Is where Marion and the kids are a better place than Sunspeak?"


    He stared at her for a moment, then shook his head. "Nobody helps each other, or even talks to each other. It''s a small house."


    "And since aunt Marion can''t work, Leander has to try to pay for everything, right?"


    He nodded. "I wanted to use the money I made off of the weather system to buy a better house in a better place."


    "Well, here''s your chance," Sera said. "A better house, in a better place."


    "But..." He fidgeted.


    "Isaac." He looked up at Nick. "You''ve already earned this. The Jorhens have accepted our offer. I''m going to sit down with Gafael in January to hammer out the details, and I want you there for that."


    Isaac stared at him. "But I''m not a noble."


    "Yet Gafael wanted to meet you, nonetheless," Nick said. "So. Please stop trying to find ways to reject what I''m offering." He took the house key out of his pocket and held it out to Isaac. "Because I really, really don''t like it when people refuse my help."


    Isaac looked to Sera, who nodded knowingly. He looked back up at Nick, then took the key. "Then I accept. Thank you very much, Nick. I will do everything I can to repay you."


    "Just keep doing what you''re doing," Nick said. "Research and develop new technologies, make new discoveries, and don''t let that massive brain of yours go to waste."


    "I won''t," Isaac said. "I... I should call mom."


    "You do that," Nick said. He turned and started to walk away with Sera, and they heard Isaac start to talk.


    "Mom! It worked out! Yeah, the system¡¯s going to be used, and the Jorhens are going to broadcast it. I know, and that''s not all. I have a big surprise for you."


    "You really are Saint Nick," Sera said as she hugged his arm.


    "I''m not a saint," he replied. "I''m just taking care of my people."


    "That was more than just ''taking care of''," Sera said. "The two girls could share a room, as could Isaac and his brother. Not to mention everything else I''ve been hearing about."


    "I wonder how many saints did what they did to make up for their past?" Nick asked absently.


    She paused. "Nick?"


    "I know, we''ve had this conversation before," he replied. "It was just a thought that popped into my head, nothing more."


    "Okay," she said. "As long as that''s all it is."


    Nick nodded. "Say, when everybody gets here, how about we go swimming?"


    "There''s an indoor pool?" She asked.


    "The spring that feeds the North River is hot," Nick said. "We can swim in it year round."


    "Oh," she replied. "I forgot my swimsuit at home."


    "I grabbed it and my shorts when I went to pick up your parents," Nick said.


    "I... Don''t know how to swim."


    "I remember," Nick said. "And I said I''d teach you."


    "In front of everybody?" She asked.


    "It''s not like everyone will be watching us," Nick replied. "And I wouldn''t be surprised if some of the other adults don''t know either. I get the feeling Saul may not know..."


    Sera looked off to the side. "Alright."


    He kissed her cheek. "It''ll be fun."