Sylvia looked…good, honestly. It was honestly hard for me to take my eyes off of her after our extended absence from each other. After hearing how she had taken up a position as a small unit commander in the Order in the aftermath of the war, I had expected her to be in a uniform or something.

  But no. Instead, she was in a dress, something I’m…not sure I’d ever seen the Sculpted woman wearing. Light blue and modest, it contrasted well with the shine of her pure Mithril skin. I’d been warned, but I was still surprised to find she had somehow cut her hair. Last I’d seen her, the literal golden strands had been long, reaching nearly to her mid-back in flowing lines. But now the length had been reduced to the point that it barely reached the nape of her neck. The effect was…striking.

  Almost self-consciously, I saw Sylvia reach up and tuck one side of her hair behind a silver ear, turning her gaze away from mine. That was when I finally realized that silence had descended on the foyer in the wake of my greeting.

  Luckily, Aveline saved all of us from the awkwardness in a way only children were capable of. Uncaring about the atmosphere, she slipped from around the corner where she was hiding and wrapped my waist in a hug, smiling up at me. “Hi, Nate.”

  That knocked me out of my stupor, and I looked down to smile at her, happy to hear that name from her lips. I’d finally knocked Aveline out of the habit of calling me ‘Mr. Hart’, after long efforts of trying. “Hi yourself, Lina,” I said, kneeling down to her level. “Did you have a good day with Miss Rachel and…” I said, briefly looking up. Said cook had slipped around the corner to stand at Sylvia’s side with her hand on her hips and a fond smile on her lips. “Miss Sylvia?”

  The Sculpted woman briefly looked back over at the sound of her name, before turning away hurriedly. Maybe it was my imagination, but I thought I saw the familiar sight of a Sculpted blush on her cheeks.

  “Uh-huh,” I heard Aveline say, drawing my attention back to her. The little girl was nearly beaming up at me. “Miss Rachel let me help cook lunch, and Miss Sylvia was showing me really neat things with light! And then, and then, Ms. Honoka-”

  “Did a brief check up on her,” Another familiar voice said, as the crotchety owner also exited the dining room. Honoka didn’t stop to stare at me like the other two women standing off to the side. Instead, she marched right over towards us with her Healer's robe flapping from the abrupt movement, causing me to stand up to meet her eyes. She stopped right in front of me and seemed to search my gaze for a moment. Whatever she found, it was clearly enough for her. She nodded sharply and thrust out a hand in my direction. “Hart. I see you’re doing better.”

  I let a small breath of amusement escape my nose despite myself. Shaking my head, I reached out and clasped her forearm in a warrior's grip. “Still the same as always, I see, Honoka,” I said with a smile. “But yes. I’m…much better, these days.”

  Honoka…really did look almost the exact same as I’d last seen her. Although she was much, much older than nearly everyone else I knew, with only Grey surpassing her by a few years, she still appeared like a well-preserved woman in her early sixties. Stark white hair flowed down her back, done up in a multitude of different braids, while her white and red Healers' robe was cinched tightly at her thin waist. Piercing orange eyes rolled at my words, while a small, reluctant smile stole over her lips. “Get to be my age, and see how much you change in just a few months. I barely even noticed you were gone, you infant.”

  “Hmm,” I acknowledged noncommittally, before a small frown crossed my lips as I dropped the grip. “Now, what’s this about a check-up?” I said, my eyes briefly flickering down towards Aveline. “Doesn’t something like that require consent from a guardian?”

  Honoka just rolled her eyes at my emphasis. “Don’t get your pantie-pants,” She corrected herself, eyes resting on Aveline for a moment. “In a bunch, Hart. It was nothing in-depth. More of a visual inspection. But, now that you’re back, we really should do a more thorough pediatric health assessment. My understanding is that you rescued the child from a particularly…strange situation. That fool Renauld simply doesn’t have the training for a correct read on everything.”

  “That’s fine with me,” I said, my hackles lowering, briefly nodding at Azarus and Liora as they stepped around me to venture further into the house. It didn’t escape my notice that both of them received a friendly nod and a smile from Sylvia.

  As if she recognized them.

  “I was going to ask you to do it anyway,” I continued. “If you’re free…?”

  The aged Healer nodded sharply. “Yes. Follow me. The old goat keeps a fully stocked infirmary here, at my insistence.” Abruptly, she twisted sharply on one foot and stalked off further down the hall, avoiding the staircase to venture along the side of it.

  I rolled my eyes at the typical behavior from the woman and smiled down at Aveline. “You can tell me more about your day, yeah?” I said, taking her hand in mind and following after Honoka. My smile only grew as Aveline took the chance to start chattering away.

  But, as we passed the still form of Sylvia…I snuck a glance her way. Seemingly by accident, my eyes met hers once more. I inclined my head her way, an almost teasing smile flitting across my lips. “Sylvia. It’s good to see you.”

  Almost unconsciously, she returned the smile. “Likewise…Nathaniel,” She said softly. “We should catch up. Later.”

  “Later,” I promised, before I stepped past her with Aveline in hand.

  However, the moment I had turned a corner following Aveline, I wasn’t able to stop a shaky sigh from exiting my mouth. I could feel my heartbeat pounding in my chest as Aveline looked at me curiously. “What’s wrong?”

  I huffed a small laugh and shook my head at her. “Ah…nothing. Don’t worry about it. I’m just…glad to see Miss Sylvia again.”

  Aveline was…a bit young to talk about unresolved feelings with. Maybe…later.

  Much, much later.

  …………………………………

  “There’s something weird about that child,” Honoka muttered to me, about an hour later. The room Honoka had led us to had looked like nothing more than a small doctor's office, complete with cabinets holding a variety of different tools and potions. The actual examination hadn’t required any of it, as probably the most experienced Healer on the face of Vereden had only needed half an hour of hands-on inspection to do the job. I’d seen her hands flash a brief green a few times, as she moved Aveline about and poked at her. Thankfully, Aveline herself didn’t seem to be bothered by any of it. I was a bit relieved she wasn’t one of those children who were scared of doctor’s visits.

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  Probably came from how often she had seen Travers in the past.

  However, I wasn’t relieved by Honoka’s verdict in the aftermath.

  “How so?” I whispered back to her, as the shadow of Aveline kicked her legs on a high bench behind a veil in front of us. “Is she…alright?”

  A quiet, frustrated noise escaped Honoka’s lips, and I saw her raise a hand. From it came a subtle wave of Ki, carrying an Art that had a familiar effect. Noise around us canceled out in a way similar to Grey’s Spell, and the Healer at my side spoke in a normal tone. “That’s the thing, Hart. She’s the very definition of health for a child. And that’s the problem. She’s like…a perfect little doll with no imperfections.”

  I slid my eyes over to Honoka with a furrowed brow. “What the hell does that mean?”

  “I’ll start from the top,” Honoka said, affecting a clinical tone. “For one, I’d barely call her human. She just…doesn’t have the little imperfections we’re born with. She doesn’t have wisdom teeth, for one. That’s not totally unusual, I suppose, but it’s just the start. She’s unusually tall for her age, in the top percentile of girls. Her skin is almost flawless, with no visible scarring from any childhood accident. She also doesn’t have a tailbone.” She said, tapping the small of her back. “It’s just missing altogether. In fact, if I didn’t know any better, I would say she was missing more bones in general. I believe her ribs are wider than ours are, and she has one less set than she should. I…I’m not sure about this, of course, but I believe she might just have more efficient organs as well. If I didn’t know any better…” Honoka trailed off, staring into space for a moment.

  When she didn’t continue, I prompted her. “Know what?”

  Honoka blinked and focused back on me. “Many of these things…” She said slowly. “Are similar to what happens to Humans as they progress through Cultivator Ascension rituals. Their imperfect, flawed bodies are slowly perfected over time as we-”

  “Evolve,” I finished for her quietly.

  “That’s…one word for it,” Honoka nodded, before surprisingly hesitating for a moment. “Hart, with your permission, I’d like to take a blood sample from the girl for analysis. To be clear here,” She held up a hand, as if to stop a complaint that never came. Honoka blinked in surprise at my raised eyebrow, but continued anyway. “I’m not looking to experiment on her. I just want to see if there’s something deeper going on here, or if anything she might encounter would hurt her. I’ll run some tests when I have time and get back to you about it.”

  I nodded easily, starting to understand her issue. Blood tests were something I, and likely Aveline, were familiar with. They were even expected. But for Herztal and Vereden as a whole, which sometimes had some very backward beliefs? I bet lots of people had issues with the taking of blood. Honestly, it made me wonder if there had ever been a ‘leeching’ tradition here as well.

  But I shook such thoughts off. “Go ahead. I’m fine with it, and I doubt Aveline will be too startled.”

  Honoka returned my nod and then swept the curtain aside, her entire demeanor changing in an instant. I’d noticed that the older woman was…much nicer with Aveline than she was with everyone else. Almost soft.

  Meanwhile, I leaned against a nearby cabinet and pondered Honoka’s revelations. In a way, I wasn’t surprised. Aveline was Human, I was sure of that. But…I’m not sure she was the same type of Human that either I or Honoka were. I’d been very deliberate in my choice of words to Honoka, after all.

  ‘Evolved.’

  Honoka didn’t have the cultural context or understand that I did of the word. Even with my basic ass American High School education, we’d still been taught extensively about evolution. It sounded to me…like Aveline was just a more evolved form of Human. That the Netherim were a form of advanced Humanity, better adapted to…something.

  But what? Aether, maybe?

  This was all just more evidence that was pointing towards one outcome. I had wondered, before, if Earth was connected to Vereden in some way, where were we in relation to the time I had known? Backward…or forward?

  I was leaning more and more towards forward, now.

  ……………………

  The next morning, Grey had returned from his staff meeting. He was shooting Honoka a dirty look over the breakfast table, which she just ignored in favor of pouring tea for both Sylvia and Aveline. When I realized why, I suppressed a smirk by hiding it behind my own cup of sweet, sweet coffee.

  Honoka had outright ignored his summons for the meeting. Just like she was ignoring him right now.

  “In my own home, no less…” Grey muttered to himself irritably. He shook his head to clear it and then clapped his hands, catching everyone else's attention. Which was, essentially, all of the students. “I’m sure most of you,” He said, with one last glare at Honoka. “Are aware by now, but the succession crisis is over. Matters moved very swiftly overnight, and not just on campus. Lord von Steinmark has already been sworn in as Lord Regent of the Herztalian throne-”

  Honoka choked on her tea, finally acknowledging Grey with a wide-eyed look. Meanwhile, Sylvia just looked mildly surprised.

  “-in a closed-door session of the High Assembly,” Grey said with a smirk at Honoka. “Apparently, when Lord Wenzel was presented with the idea of a true ceremony with all the pomp and circumstance, he shot it down. Called it a ‘waste and frivolity’, which is…typical of the man. Knowing him, I foresee some future years of economic austerity, as he works to introduce stability to the Kingdom. One of his first edicts was to sign the formal treaty that the Uprising presented to the High Assembly at the close of the war. Which means…”

  “Classes are starting soon, right?” Renauld jumped in, eagerly taking the bait. The Gnoll had wandered in not long ago, apparently not above bumming a free meal when he knew he was welcome.

  “Indeed, Mr. Renauld, indeed,” Grey nodded tolerantly at him. “The news is circulating on the campus as we speak that we can stand down now. And as such, students have been instructed to prepare for the start of a new semester. So!” He said with a smile to the gathered young around the table. “All of you need to choose your classes.”

  I saw Sylvia blink in surprise before pointing at herself. “Even me, father?”

  “Yes, my dear, even you,” Grey said, smiling at the daughter he had quite literally constructed. “I know you’ve been enjoying your work with Order, as you’ve fought to cull the increased monster presence. Both the Break Stones and the war contributed to more monsters in the wilds, and it was necessary, honorable work. But,” He said, standing up and approaching Sylvia. Grey took one of her Mithril hands and smiled at her. “My wish was always for you to have a gentler life, despite the turbulent times you were born into. Even if you ultimately desire further roles in the Order, I ask that you at least attempt a single semester, purely to see if it’s to your liking.”

  Sylvia stared up into her Father’s eyes for a moment before she glanced around at everyone sitting at the table. For the most part, we were all trying not to stare at the little family moment.

  Not Honoka, though. She was giving her Sculpted apprentice an encouraging gesture with her hands, waving Sylvia on.

  I coughed into one hand awkwardly.

  The Sculpted woman sighed and nodded her head with a tolerant smile. “As you wish, Father. I’m…aware you wanted such a thing. I will attend with the…others.” Her eyes drifted my way, and I did my best to smile at her.

  As Grey smiled widely at her, I felt it as Azarus dug into my ribs with an elbow. I met his smirk with a narrow-eyed glare.

  “Wonderful!” Grey exclaimed, leaning down to kiss Sylvia on the cheek. She accepted the gesture with patience and then returned it before Grey sat back down. Once he was situated, my mentor turned to everyone else.

  “Best get a move on, then,” He said with a chuckle. “You’ll need to get in line with everyone else if you’re to register for classes in time.”

  “Hurry up,” Honoka snuck in tauntingly. “There’s going to be a scramble for seats in the best classes.”

  My friends and I sat silently for a moment, absorbing that.

  Before all of us jumped from our seats and flew out of the door.

  Chased by the smug chuckles of our elders and the confused questions of Aveline.