AN below, but we're back, baby!
Marcus slid into sleep as easily as always.
It was less like falling asleep and more like falling inwards. He didn't do it every night – his parents were both adamant that doing so would be bad for his health – but three times a week, he could access his Sacred Gear.
Opening his eyes, Marcus got up from the bed. The Senators had converted several of the side chambers of the amphitheater into barracks. Over the past few years, Marcus had trained himself to wake up in one of those beds, rather than on the middle of the stage.
No one wanted a repeat of his first time visiting. The amphitheater still bore scars.
Looking down, Marcus checked himself over. Stretchy pants and a molded tank top were all he had on. He'd changed his attire over the years, veering away from the togas quite a few of the Senators seemed to favor.
Looking around, Marcus grabbed his sword belt. He strapped it on, the pulled on both the upper and lower body harness rigs. That was followed by hooking his shield onto the back of his harness, bucking on his sword and sheath, and clipping the various knives and their holsters in the correct positions on his rigs.
The last step was his helmet, which went on a hook opposite his sword.
"Hello, Consul." Zabraski said, nodding from his position beside the barracks door.
Marcus shut the door behind him. "Hi Zabraski. They got you doing clipboard again?"
Zabraski grinned, his wooly beard parting to reveal pearly white teeth. "I volunteer. Is good practice."
Marcus nodded. The Senators were all perfectly understandable to him and each other, but they were speaking in their own languages. Once they'd started trying to teach Marcus their various tongues – of which there were twenty seven at last count - they'd discovered that they weren't all speaking the same language. There'd been some sort of motion, and the Tribunes were now helping any Senator who wanted learn whatever languages they wanted. Zabraski, who was from some place called Pulvaria, was working on English.
"Mmkay, have fun." Marcus nodded.
Zabraski chuckled. The desk he was seated at had different piles of paper on it. Marcus wasn't sure what all of the paperwork was for, but all the Senators were usually working on paperwork if they were in the amphitheater.
"Go bash Tribune Aurelius's shield. Is cathartic." Zabraski gestured with the clipboard.
Marcus made his way through the hallways, arriving at one of the side entrances to the main amphitheater.
Once upon a time, the amphitheater was the entire structure of the Sacred Gear.
The place was everything Marcus pictured when his parents told him stories of old theaters and coliseums. A stage, with a U shape of seats arranged around it. The seats rose upwards, stairs giving access to each new level. The levels formed sets of stairs themselves, each containing multiple rows of chairs, slightly elevated from the row in front of it to offer a view.
The stage was stone, mostly grey with a few splotches of black and white in starburst patterns. The lip of the stage was about two feet tall, elevating it above the first two rows of seats. In the very center of the stage was a ball of white light. Marcus didn't know what it did, but apparently it was inert while he was within his Sacred Gear.
The Senators had a rule about that ball. No one was supposed to touch it, especially while Marcus was present. Marcus couldn't blame them.
Bad things happened when the ball woke up. The missing seats on the third and fourth levels were the result of the last time the ball had been activated. Marcus hadn't been there, but he'd been given a very explicit explanation by Aurelius and Damir.
Senators had vanished along with those seats.
The hallway Marcus stepped out of was halfway up the levels of the amphitheater. Turning to his right, he started counting.
Drat. Still only at ten. Maybe it really is connected to how old I am.
That would be annoying.
"Consul!" Aurelius's powerful voice boomed out. "Come down!"
Marcus smiled. Aurelius was loud, and kinda harsh, but he was all about Marcus training to be better. Much like he could understand his parents pushing him, he could understand Aurelius. The Tribune was unflinching in his criticisms and remarks, but he was also usually right.
The Senators, most of whom were in the seats doing paperwork, stopped and watched while Marcus made his way down.
It had been creepy at first. Knowing that there were a bunch of other people inside of his soul freaked him out. Their explanations, about being collected by his Sacred Gear in order to advise and guide him, hadn't done much to ease that.
"Yo, kid." Atweiler said, waving at Marcus as he pulled himself up onto the stage. "Good job with the tracking spell."
"I had to change it from what we theorized, cause dad's wind magic shreds stuff close to him, but it worked." Marcus beamed. "Can we do it from multiple different angles next time?"
Atweiler snorted, running a tattooed hand through his long hair. "You're a ways from that kid. Combining power types or not, you'd need a lot more finesse before we're ready for that."
Marcus let out a sigh. "I was worried you'd say that."
"We can make it shoot repeatedly though." Atweiler smirked.
"Oohh." Marcus's eyes widened. "Really? Like a machine gun?!"
"Uh, not that fast, not yet." Atweiler said. "Unless your combination of runes and latticework does more than we think it will."
"Dang." Marcus said.
He turned to Aurelius. "So, you gonna beat me up today?"
The Tribune smiled slightly. "After your training with Damir."
Marcus turned to the third Tribune, grinning. "We're training today?!"
He didn't get to train with Damir often. They only really talked when the Senators had new theories about his powers or Aspects.
"Yeah." Damir nodded.
"Do we get to visit Drake?" Marcus asked, bouncing up and down on his feet.
"Where else did you think we'd be training?" Damir asked, shaking his head. "We don't want to blow up one of the few training rooms we have left."
"Ah." Marcus winced. "Um, I'm still really sorry?"
"We should've learned our lesson with your second Aspect." Aurelius said, waving a hand. "Go train with Damir. I expect you'll have extra energy left to burn when I come collect you."
Marcus followed the Tribune. Halfway up the levels, he noticed two of the Senators get up, following them.
Damir was motioning them along. Marcus recognized both, but usually his only company for these trainings was Damir. Zeist, the tall, lanky Senator from Germany, sometimes came along to play fetch with Drake.
"Ah, Tandwell, you decided to join us?" Damir asked with a smile.
Tandwell nodded. "You said this was about Aspects. Of everyone here, I'm the most experienced with raising someone who's discovering them."
Marcus nodded along. He knew the basic stories of every Senator. Tandwell had a daughter that was like Marcus. She'd died, though Tandwell hadn't elaborated on how.
It irked Marcus that they wouldn't tell him what about him was similar to Tandwell's daughter. He assumed it had to do with Drake, but he wasn't sure. All he knew was that it had to do with the mystery power he didn't have a great grasp on.
"Good, good." Damir said.
Walking out of the amphitheater, Marcus glanced around. He didn't see any new buildings or hallways branching off of the amphitheater, which wasn't surprising. Those expansions had only happened a few times, when Marcus's personal power had spiked. The most recent was when he and his parents had to move after Sairaorg fell through a rift.
In fairness, the expansion nearly tripled the available space. The Senators didn't use it – there was some sort of restriction that wouldn't let anyone but Marcus in – but the sixteen new buildings were all big.
A look over at the buildings in question showed they hadn't changed. Still two rows of eight, alternating cubes of burning orange and dark blue.
"You don't need to go exploring again, Consul." Damir said, dragging Marcus's attention back.
Marcus nodded. He liked walking through the buildings. He couldn't quite say why, but he always walked out feeling warm and fuzzy.
The edge of the Sacred Gear was obvious. The ground went from grass with concrete sidewalks to sand. Dunes crested far above their heads as they trudged a well worn path. The faint sound of water crashing could be heard, growing louder as they moved forward.
Rounding the last dune, Marcus couldn't help the grin on his face.
Their new home didn't have great beaches, but he got to visit one inside his soul at least once a week.
Pristine blue waters crashed into the white sands regularly. Waves crested and fell, an endless repetition that soothed Marcus every time he heard it. A light wind blew, tousling Marcus's hair as he inhaled the tang of brine. There was a sun, burning bright orange, that hung above them in a cloudless blue sky.
A rumble pulled Marcus out of his temporary entrancement. He turned, dashing towards the source.
"Drake!" Marcus called out.
A baying roar responded as Marcus found himself pounced on.
Drake's foot was the size of Marcus's head, the dragon easily strong enough to pin him to the ground. Drake's talons were retracted, the warmth of his blue brown scales reaching through Marcus's clothing.
Marcus reached up as Drake lowered his snout. Marcus scratched the spot on Drake's lower jaw, a rumble of content coming from the dragon.
"Missed you too, buddy." Marcus said, patting Drake's leg. "Can ya let me up?"
Drake snorted, blowing cool air that blasted across Marcus's face. He laughed, swatting at the dragon's leg.
With a step back, Drake released Marcus, eyes turning expectantly towards the three Senators.
"I got the good stuff." Zeist held out a bag that caused Drake's eyes to narrow. "Let's go swimming, ja?"
Drake blew a small spark out of his nostrils, turning toward the waves. With a few bounding steps, the dragon was crashing through the waves.
"This is the best." Zeist said with a large grin as he began walking toward the water.
"Let's make some seats." Damir said.
Marcus got to his feet, following the Tribune's example. He used a few spells to draw water over from the waves, allowing them to create sturdy seats rather than piles of sand.
"Surprisingly comfortable." Tandwell said.
"It's warm too." Marcus hummed, turning to Damir. "What am I learning today?"
"We'll get to that in a moment." Damir said. "Tandwell has some questions for you first."
"Hmm? Okay." Marcus turned to the other Senator.
"What's the most important thing in the world to you, Marcus?" Tandwell asked.
"My family." Marcus replied instantly.
Tandwell blinked.
"Sorry." Marcus apologized, before looking at Damir. "I'm trying."
"You're doing well." Tandwell said, surprising Marcus. "I was just…startled. You're a little more settled into your Aspects than I had expected. Sara was…older than you before her Aspects began manifesting at all."
"But…I thought Sara was more whatever I am, than I am." Marcus said.
"She didn't have a Sacred Gear, or parents that were mages." Tandwell said, his voice slightly pained.
"Oh." Marcus said. "Um, I'm sorry."
"It's fine." Tandwell said, shaking his head. "You're a curious kid, questions are natural."
"Back to the questions: who are your family?" Tandwell asked.
"My moms and my dad." Marcus said. "And…my aunts and Rover too, before they died."
"Okay." Tandwell nodded. "Do you think anyone else could become your family?"
Marcus blinked. "Become family? Uh, you mean like dad marrying another lady?"
Both the Senators looked at each other. There was a moment Marcus could only interpret as shared commiseration, then Tandwell looked back at him.
"I meant outside of your father getting even luckier, or you having siblings." Tandwell said.
Marcus frowned for a moment. He understood what Tandwell was saying and how his heart immediately reacted, but it took him some time to work out why.
"I think so." Marcus said slowly. "I mean, really good friends like my moms and my aunts are basically family. Just family you can choose."
"Okay." Tandwell said. "Outside of friends?"
"Mmm, like having wives?" Marcus asked.
"I think I hate his father more than a bit." Tandwell muttered.
"Don't hate dad." Marcus frowned.
"He's jealous, not hating." Damir said. "And Tandwell, you know the circumstances of this world."
"Yeah." The red headed Senator sighed, rubbing his face. "Yes, Marcus. Like having wives."
"I mean, yeah." Marcus said, a bit confused as to why he'd need to make the distinction. "Wives are like family times two. Dad always says they're the best thing that ever happened to him and when I have kids, I want them to have as good of moms as I do. Wait…is this about the stuff the misogynist was saying?"
Both the Senators stiffened. Marcus frowned when they both looked at the sky for a few moments before relaxing.
"Yes." Damir said after a moment.
"Did I say something I shouldn't?" Marcus asked.
"You, no." Damir said. "But we can't say the names of the Senators who have left."
"The isolationist, the anarchist, the betrayer, the misogynist, and the abuser." Marcus said, shaking his head.
Then his eyes shot wide open. "Wait. Will the ball get you if you say their titles?"
"They don't have titles to us, but names." Damir said. "And…we're uncertain, the warning was unclear. So we don't use them."
"Sorry." Marcus said penitently.
He didn't want to get the Senators in trouble. They could be weird, but it was like having a whole second family to visit every couple of nights. A bunch of weird uncles, sure, but Marcus had come to trust them. They were family, and as annoying as they could be on occasion, he never wanted bad things to happen to family.
"Yes, Marcus, to steer back again." Damir said. "It has to do with those things that…the misogynist said."
After another tense moment, Damir exhaled heavily. "Not how we wanted to test that, but I suppose it works. Marcus, if any more Senators happen to get removed or leave, give us their titles, alright?"
"Sure." Marcus nodded. "What about the stuff? I liked all the stuff about having a big family and lots of love."
The two men winced. Tandwell hadn't arrived until after the misogynist had been removed, but apparently Damir had spoken to him.
"That wasn't exactly what he was talking about." Tandwell said. "But, through the filter of your Aspects and your relative youth, it's how you interpreted it. And yes, in that regard, I was curious if the idea felt right to you."
"Mmm." Marcus nodded. "It does. I know I'm not ready yet, but it feels right."
He frowned. "It's not going to be a harem though. That's not my Aspect."
Damir nodded but Marcus saw Tandwell's eyebrows rise. "What do you mean it's not your Aspect?"
"That Aspect doesn't belong to me." Marcus said. "Never will. It's…I mean, harem is the best word, because it's a lot of moms and one dad, but I want all my wives to love each other the way Mom Yumi and Mom Yara love each other. Not a whole bunch of moms just obsessed with me. That's…it's close, I guess, but Family is better."
Tandwell waved at Damir when the Tribune opened his mouth. Marcus wasn't sure what that was about, but he waited. It was pretty clear Tandwell was thinking.
"How do you know that's not your Aspect?" Tandwell asked.
"It's not." Marcus shrugged. "I just know. The same way I knew Drake's name and that my biological father likes sleeping in trenches."
Tandwell grunted.
"What?" Damir asked, his expression sharp.
"He has family." Tandwell said. "Somewhere. Other than his biological father."
"I do?" Marcus's hands crushed the armrest he'd built. "I do?!"
"Sara…knew her mother's and elder sisters' Aspects." Tandwell said. "The same way you do, even without meeting them. She just knew."
"You're certain?" Damir asked.
"Well…" Tandwell shook his head. "For his definition of family. And given his third Aspect, his definition is looser than most."
"I…like a best friend who's family?" Marcus asked, trying to piece together what the Senator was saying.
"I don't know." Tandwell said, shaking his head. "You know your father's Aspects, they're part of your blood. It's why you're so good with water magic, among other things. You cannot inherit them, unless your father dies, but you benefit."
"Am I ever gonna get to meet him?" Marcus asked.
"If you grow strong enough that your parents are willing to part with the information." Damir said. "Don't lose focus, Consul."
"I know." Marcus grumbled. "But you're telling me I've got more family out there. It's hard not to get distracted."
"Distractions mean you'll take too long to get strong enough to protect your family and bring them along with you." Damir said.
Marcus huffed. "I knowwwww."
He paused, realizing he'd lost track of the previous conversation in his excitement. "What were we talking about?"
"I was asking questions." Tandwell smiled slightly. "Knowing, Love, and Family are fairly obvious. Not a…normal combination, I'd guess, but I'm not an expert in the traditional sense. Your father's people typically aren't as protective as you are."
"They need better moms and dads then." Marcus said.
"Regardless, having already aligned with three Aspects is…remarkable." Tandwell said. "Most adults of your father's species cannot claim that much."
"Yeah, they're all super powerful though. Dad told me that my biological father can level mountains with a punch." Marcus said. "Uh, which species can do that?"
"Any with sufficient motivation." Damir smirked. "Good try though."
Marcus rolled his eyes. "I know my biological dad was a dragon, you know he was a dragon. I know there's something weird about it, but I really hate that you guys won't confirm it."
"Because he's not necessarily a dragon." Damir said.
"Gah!" Marcus threw his hands up. "Fine. Do you have any other questions, Tandwell?"
"No." The redhead smiled. "I don't know any of my daughter's or your kind that have ever aligned to more than four Aspects. Do be careful, as you're almost out."
"Can't do anything about it, they just pop up on their own." Marcus crossed his arms. "Right, Damir?"
"We haven't deciphered a pattern yet." Damir shrugged.
"So I'm stuck regardless." Marcus said. "I like my Aspects anyway, and whatever you're saying with aligning myself to them, it doesn't feel like that. When I knew them, I just…knew them. They were, they always had been. I just hadn't recognized them."
"I know." Tandwell nodded. "But there's a reason its referred to as aligning."
"We'll move on to training." Damir said. "Have you come up with an answer to my last puzzle?"
"Not really." Marcus shook his head. "Some dude that can just…cancel out Sacred Gears has to have a weakness, but the only one I can think of might be arrogance. And it's kinda hard to exploit arrogance. I mean, maybe if I could lure him into a trap, but you said he's some super wizard. I can't out magic him. Am I allowed to go recruit a dragon or a god to drop a mountain on his head?"
Damir snorted. "Amusing, but I'd think a super wizard could destroy that."
"Yeah, but it might actually distract him enough for something else to hit him." Marcus argued.
"I suppose." Damir mused. "Did you have a follow up to dropping a mountain on him?"
"Some sort of power drain." Marcus said. "I dunno if it's a big ward, or hex, or maybe some really big attack he'd constantly have to block, but I can only really think of draining him of power."
"And your survival?" Damir asked.
"Sucky." Marcus grumbled. "I'd need really strong and fast allies. Moms and dad still don't count?"
"The three of them, put together, might momentarily irritate this particular opponent." Damir said. "Then he'd snuff them out. You want them at that battle?"
"No." Marcus muttered. "Definitely not."
"So, you'll need other allies." Damir said. "Ones as strong and fast as you'll be."
"How the heck am I gonna find those?" Marcus asked. "You said-oh. Is this why Tandwell was asking those questions now?"
"At some point in your life, your family is going to expand, Marcus." Damir said. "And super wizards are going to target you while they're around."
"Stupid super wizards." Marcus grumbled, then blew out a sigh. "Wait, how the heck am I gonna train my wives to be that strong? I don't even know how I'm gonna get that strong."
"Is this a carry over from your last training?" Tandwell asked.
"Before you arrived? Yes." Damir nodded. "As for your question Marcus, that's why we're doing these thought exercises. If you're not already planning, you might fall behind."
"My head already hurts." Marcus mumbled. "Um. Mom Yumi's gravity arrays?"
"That's a start." Damir said. "Keep going."
()()()()()
()()()()()
Hayden walked along behind the old man in the robes.
The Himejima Clan Head had been overjoyed to receive their message. His response had come with such alacrity that Hayden wondered if the Clan had fallen on hard times since his last time there.
No Yumi, this time. Given all the black haired, red eyed, rather buxom women in shrine maiden outfits in the manor, Hayden was quite confident his wife would've said or done something regrettable already.
Yumi was further west, somewhere deep in the mountainous recesses of China's southern half. Hayden didn't know exactly where, just that the enchanted coin hanging from his collar told him west and south.
Yara, meanwhile, had the easiest task out of all of them. She got to stay home and play with Marcus.
Well, what passes for play with them. She's probably making runic puzzles for him to solve.
Yara's niece was a formality. His wife had already gotten in contact with her mother, her future apprentice's grandmother. The woman was happy to have another family member show positivity to her granddaughter. It was trumped only by Yara actually appearing in person for the first time in thirteen years.
Yara was still grouchy that the first thing her mother chided her about was 'the imaginary husband' still not appearing. Hayden had made the appropriate noises of sympathy in that regard. That particular form of grumpiness never handled humor well.
He still planned to poke fun at it later, though.
"Renfried-san, I cannot over-express how happy we are to have you come seeking an apprentice." Suou Himejima said, his voice quavering with just a hint of age.
For a man who had to be past his first century of age, the Clan Head was in remarkable shape. He looked a healthy sixty, a far cry from most purely human mages who made it past the century mark.
"I thought it was about time." Hayden said in a purposefully careless tone. "And given the bounty on my head, I had to seek mages who I knew didn't care much for Devils."
Suou snorted. "Yes. Their power is respected, but we are beholden to a different power."
"And my lightning might just give your Clan member a leg up on the others of the Five?" Hayden asked insouciantly.
The old man turned, offering a slight smile. "We would be foolish not to grab every advantage."
Silence occupied the rest of the walk. Hayden chose to admire the architecture; the Himejima compound had been something he'd only seen from a distance last time. Up close, the shrines and shogunate era buildings held a reverence.
Literal weight to their presence, too. These buildings have been houses of respectful worship and duty for centuries. Maybe millennia.
Working with Marcus has been good for my senses. The subtlety of the blessings intertwining with one another would be white noise, otherwise.
"We are here, Renfried-san." Suou said.
Hayden stepped through the doorway Suou gestured to, entering a small courtyard.
Inside were nearly two dozen children. They ranged in age, the oldest looking close to adulthood while the youngest were perhaps six.
Mentally, Hayden eliminated all the boys, reducing his number down to fourteen. Looking at the girls close to his son's age, he was left with six within a year or two in either direction.
"Greetings, Great Uncle." The children chorused as Suou stepped out after Hayden.
The unison bow was a bit weird, but Hayden had been married to Yumi for over a decade. She'd taught him more than how to communicate in Japanese.
"Greetings, children." Suou said. "Our guest is Renfried Hayden-san, a mage who is especially talented in lightning magic. He is hoping to take one of you on as an apprentice."
Hayden watched their reactions carefully. The younger ones looked excited without understanding exactly what was happening. The older ones had much more comprehension in their eyes, some of them completely unsurprised by their elder's announcement.
The clenching of fists by one girl, who looked about Marcus's age, caught his immediate attention. Her eyes, carmine red, locked onto him with a surprising amount of intensity.
"Hello children." Hayden said in English.
He saw the reaction to his American accent immediately. Several of the eldest wrote him off then and there.
Glad to see some things are still alive and well. Not.
"Hello Renfried-san." The children all replied dutifully.
They've taught them English, even with the bias. Alright. Boy will Marcus be a surprise for whomever we pick.
"Today we're going to test your affinity for the two magic types I specialize in." Hayden said.
He held up one hand, a pair of blue spell frames coming into existence. One had a small vortex of air spinning above it while the other sparked and crackled. It was annoying, purposefully tinting the coloration of his spellframes, but a small deception might pay off later on. He and his wives were taking no chances, and Hayden didn't have the luxury of their son innocently postulating about a way to hide his spellframes from nearly everyone.
He often envied his wife for her talent with spatial magic, but that was the first time he – and Yara for that matter – had come close to green with jealousy.
"I would never claim to be talented in fire," Hayden continued, "but between wind and lightning, I hope to pass along skills you can eventually teach to your entire Clan."
Hayden saw Suou's face twitch slightly. He ignored it for the moment.
"With that, we're going to work on some very basic spells involving wind and lightning." Hayden said.
As Hayden had discovered with his wives before they were married, and then rediscovered with their son, there was a rhythm to teaching human magic. His unique situation had helped fuel his proficiency with wind and lightning, but stunted his abilities elsewhere.
He and his wives had been determined to avoid that with Marcus, and Hayden wasn't about to make that mistake with a potential apprentice.
Patiently, Hayden walked the candidates through the incantation for a basic wind spell. Once they had it down, he showed them the simple spellframe to copy.
"Let's see." Hayden gestured. "We can go down the line."
The eldest of the candidates went first. Hayden wasn't surprised with their proficiency; even if the Himejima Clan focused on fire and channeling the blessings that their ruling pantheon granted them, most of them picked up a few tricks to augment their arsenal. Wind augmenting fire was as basic as such tricks came.
The ones closer to Marcus's age were less proficient. The three that showed the most promise, given their age, were actually the youngest.
The white knuckled little girl looked supremely disappointed in herself as her spell came to an end. She was clearly comparing her results to the results of the older candidates and the gap did not please her.
All in all, it was nearly an hour and a half of work. The simplicity of the incantation and spellframe meant Hayden didn't have to worry about the dexterity of magical power control in each student slowing them down. Magical Power wasn't as intuitive as using Demonic Power, but with so few complexities, it was easy for them to fill the spell frames without complications.
"We'll be doing the same with lightning." Hayden said.
The minute looks of frustration on the elder students faces amused Hayden, though he kept his expression neutral. They'd undoubtedly be even more upset if they ever discovered he was never seriously intending to apprentice someone of that age. He'd told Suou that he wanted his best candidates, from all age ranges; broadcasting the parameters of his wives' schemes – and they were schemes, no matter how much both women denied it – would be counterproductive.
The lightning spell took nearly three hours. Lightning's intrinsic properties made control and finesse more important. Even the simple spellframes they were using would collapse as the Magical Power being converted escaped at the slightest flaw in containment.
"Excellent job." Hayden said once they were all done.
Suou, who had stood by silently, stepped towards Hayden. "Do any of them meet your qualifications?"
Hayden had pointedly ignored the way Suou had surreptitiously learned both the spells he'd taught the candidates. It would've happened eventually, and they weren't spells Hayden was worried about the old man possessing. Anyone could construct them with a few months of theorycrafting and a basic understanding of the properties and principles of magical wind or lightning.
Hayden nodded. He walked forward, tapping a girl on the shoulder.
"Her." Hayden said.
Turning around to look at Suou, Hayden caught the murmurs around him. The candidates, whispering in Japanese. Fragments of different conversations told him something about Main Branch and important.
Even if the kids thought he didn't speak Japanese, they knew that gossiping in front of the Clan Head was likely a bad idea.
As for the girl, she was staring up at him. Her fists were clenched again, knuckles white. Hayden felt her attention switch from the back of his head to her Clan Head.
Suou's mask of neutrality cracked for a brief moment, showing surprise. "Suzaku-chan?"
"Is that her name?" Hayden turned to look at Suzaku. "Nice to meet you, Himejima Suzaku. My name is Renfried Hayden, and I would like for you to be my apprentice for a few years."
Suzaku's red eyes blinked a few times. The intensity of her stare faded as she registered his words.
Suou stepped forward. "Renfried-san, I'm afraid that-"
"Yes." Suzaku said, flinching at her own voice. "Can I be your apprentice, Renfried-san?"
"Suzaku." Suou snapped in Japanese. "I forbid it."
Hayden affected a look of blank curiosity.
"Great Uncle, he knows lightning magic!" Suzaku responded, her tone slightly diffident. "I could bring that strength to the Clan!"
"Your assessment by our goddess is within the year." Suou replied. "I will not allow a potential heir to the Vermillion Bird to go haring off, no matter how talented this man is in lightning magic."
Suzaku's cheeks puffed up, but she bowed her head. "I serve the Clan."
"Apologies." Suou said in English. "Unfortunately, Suzaku-chan isn't available for apprenticing. She was allowed to attend because she was curious."
"Shame." Hayden replied. "She's got, by far, the most lightning affinity amongst the candidates here."
Second most, but Hayden wasn't taking the six year old. His wives were adamant about not grabbing anyone Marcus might latch onto as an older or younger sister.
And they don't call it 'scheming.' Have to see about not letting her get away, though.
"Please, are there any others you feel can go?" Suou asked.
"Unfortunately not." Hayden shook his head. "May I ask why she's not eligible?"
Suou frowned. "She is part of our Main Branch and is thus under consideration by our goddess to receive her highest blessings. To leave would greatly damage those chances."
"Ahh." Hayden nodded towards the red peaked roofs visible over the courtyard walls. "Staying within her blessings helps, does it?"
Suou blinked a few times, then nodded. "Our Lady's blessing is no easy burden. Only those favored with her grace can wield it."
"Mmhmm." Hayden hummed. "Is there a shrine nearby?"
"A shrine?" Suou's eyebrows hiked. "You wish to speak to our goddess?"
"I won't be asking any Clan secrets." Hayden said. "Merely if the goddess would grant some leniency regarding the blessing. Allow her assessment or whatever it is to be pushed back a few years. Suzaku is talented."
"You are certain?" Suou asked.
"Yes." Hayden nodded.
"If you wish." Suou said in a resigned voice. "I would never stop someone from communing with the goddess, should she wish to speak."
Neatly circumventing any mention of your pantheon's prickly nature when it comes to communicating with foreigners.
Hayden followed Suou to a nearby shrine. It was a small building, with a large number of wood reliefs carved into the walls.
The big three of Shinto. Amaterasu taking front and center, given whom the Himejima take orders from.
Suou paused outside the door, gesturing for Hayden to enter. Hayden waited.
After nearly a minute of expectant silence, Suou lifted an eyebrow.
"I would prefer my conversation to be private." Hayden said.
"Ah." Suou nodded. "Of course."
The old man departed, then hid himself behind an illusion the moment he walked around the corner. Hayden's grasp of the wind, which never truly let go, could feel him still blocking the air flows as he came back around the corner.
Good enough.
Turning around, Hayden removed his shoes. He set them by the entrance to the shrine before entering.
Pulling at his magic power, Hayden let it drift outwards in offering. He felt the moment another presence latched onto it. The presence didn't rip it away from him, weaving it into another structure instead.
A shimmer appeared above the small altar in the middle of the building. "A foreigner who knows the proper offering."
"My wife is Japanese." Hayden replied, bowing at the waist and staying low. "If it wouldn't be an imposition, would you mind if this conversation was kept completely private?"
The shift in the world around him was subtle, but pervasive. Even the winds were less responsive to Hayden.
"Thank you, Lady of the Sun." Hayden replied.
"Why does a foreign mage who speaks Japanese and is married to a proper woman enter my shrine?" The voice was curious and amused.
"I wish to take an apprentice." Hayden said. "The one I deemed most worthy is apparently under consideration for the blessing of the Vermillion Bird."
The subtle changes in the room became less subtle for a moment. Hayden felt the way the goddess's power latched into him.
Then it released as she sighed. "They don't know you speak Japanese?"
"No." Hayden replied.
"Of course." The goddess said. "What is this child's name?"
"Himejima Suzaku." Hayden said.
"Indeed. She is talented." The goddess said. "Yet I smell your magic. There are others here who are more talented in your specialties. Why her?"
"There was a drive in her eye, the moment she heard I could instruct in lightning magic." Hayden said. "She may not be the most talented in either, but she shows enough affinity in both. Combined with the drive, she fits best for the training I have planned."
"Mmm." The goddess hummed.
Hayden's trepidation rose. That hum wasn't a convinced tone.
"Are there any other reasons?" The goddess asked.
Dammit. Can't really talk around it now.
"My son is of a similar age." Hayden said. "Yet he has lived a solitary existence for most of his life, just his family. My wife suggested that if we were to take apprentices, it would give our son an opportunity to make friends his own age."
"Oh-hoh, playing matchmaker." The goddess chortled. "A proper woman indeed, looking out for her child's interests."
"Ah, I believe that might be her intent." Hayden agreed diplomatically. "I've refrained from asking explicitly. A happy wife is a happy life."
This time, the goddess snickered. "A wise man. I have no qualms. Why did her Clan deny her?"
"They believe more time spent in the presence of your blessings will better her chances of obtaining your ultimate blessing." Hayden replied.
"Hmm." The goddess hummed. "I see. I suppose, from their perspective, they aren't wrong. I shall agree, and procure the agreement of the Clan Head."
Hayden waited. That was an 'other shoe' tone of voice if he'd ever heard one.
"In return, I require an agreement." The goddess said.
"As long as it is reasonable." Hayden said. "I have no issues."
A scroll appeared in front of Hayden. Yara's tutoring – and the occasional prank – over the past decades they'd known each other had taught him to read enforced contracts carefully.
Upon reaching the end, Hayden blinked. Shook his head. Read it again.
Same words.
"This is…not what I expected." Hayden said after a moment.
"Is there something wrong with it?" The goddess asked.
"I had only intended to take one apprentice." Hayden said.
"Ah. The other one isn't from a Principal Clan." The goddess said. "I have a troublesome child that my chief priestess could use an extended break from caring for. If your son needs 'friends,' surely your wife would not begrudge one more."
She might. The last time we came to Japan, she almost went ballistic twice. I'm already bringing a Himejima home. Who knows how she'll receive the other?
"Is this second apprentice part of the second clause as well?" Hayden asked in as polite a tone he could manage.
"Of course!" The goddess said. "Surely you wouldn't begrudge your son extra happiness."
Hayden fought desperately to keep the frown off his face. His bow meant nothing; he presumed the goddess had near omniscience within her shrine.
His frown wasn't about Marcus. Given what they knew about his Aspects – mostly the second Aspect, which was not exactly the Love that they'd labeled it as – Hayden had long ago learned to accept some oddities certain to be present in his son's life.
His worry was Yumi. She was the least happy with their plan of action. Hayden didn't want to further irritate her, or make her regret going along.
"As long as my wife is okay with it." Marcus replied. "I begrudge my son nothing."
"I suppose it is a woman's prerogative to ensure her son's woman is up to standard." The goddess said. "Ah. Step outside, speak to your wife, then bring her here if she agrees."
"She and the Himejima Clan do not necessarily get along." Marcus said diplomatically. "An incident from their younger years."
There were likely a few shrine maidens out there who had never forgotten the way Yumi had reacted to Shuri's interpretation of her orders.
"Ah." The goddess said. "If you'll step through the portal then, I'll take you to a shrine outside of their lands. Somewhere your wife can come to, speak with me and read the contract, and then depart, the Himejima none the wiser."
"That is…very accommodating." Hayden said.
"I presume they tried to show you the benefits of being within a Principal Clan, ones a wife has every right to be aggrieved about." The goddess said dismissively. "If she agrees, the temple I'm sending you to is right next to where your second apprentice would need to be picked up."
Hayden searched for an argument. He had several, but they all seemed like they'd fall short against a goddess who clearly had a path in mind. Major deviations might irritate her, and Hayden had no illusions about escaping the wrath of a goddess within her own shrine.
"Hon, hand me the contract." Yumi said as the spellframe faded away around her feet.
Hayden handed it over wordlessly. He'd explained the situation to Yumi, over a messenger spell piggybacked onto their tracking enchantments. His wife had needed ten minutes to temporarily extract herself from her other set of negotiations going on with the yokai in China.
Stepping out of his wife's way, Hayden waited while she read the contract.
When she was done, Yumi let out a sigh. "Stay out here. Kaa-san instructed me in these negotiations, but I didn't think I'd ever need the training."
Thank you Kitara. Rest in peace, wherever you are.
The next thirty minutes were spent cooling his heels. He didn't envy his wife, but he didn't envy the goddess either. When Yumi dug her heels in, it was nearly impossible to change her mind. Hayden was still surprised Yara's idea had even been approved.
She must've been worried about Marcus's lack of interaction too. Only so much parents and a bunch of dead men can do for a kid's development.
Probably an achievement in and of itself that he's come out relatively normal.
"You need a hug." Hayden said the moment Yumi stepped out of the temple.
He ignored her half hearted attempt to stop him, pulling his wife into his arms and holding her. He felt her relax, slumping into him.
"Let me guess, you fleeced her and we're getting our own afterlife where we'll kick back, lay on the beach, and have mind blowing sex under the stars." Hayden said.
Yumi snorted, squeezing his shoulder as she leaned back. "Not quite."
"Well then, hit me with it." Hayden said, smiling down at her.
"Her wayward yokai got a separate contract." Yumi said. "With options to renegotiate and possibly expand later."
"So…we're still taking this wayward yokai?" Hayden asked.
"No." Yumi shook her head. "But we are moving to Japan in a couple of years."
"Why?" Hayden asked.
"Because she needs a place to stick recalcitrant, adolescent yokai. With people she can trust to discipline them without being scared of who or what they are." Yumi said.
"That sounds a lot like managing a daycare for adolescents, otherwise known as middle school." Hayden pointed out.
Yumi snickered. "Not that detailed. More along the lines of overseeing an area. Much like Devil territories."
"Huh." Hayden understood that reference. "Fair enough. Not like there's much Devil traffic in Japan, as long as we stay away from the major cities."
"I thought you wouldn't mind." Yumi said. "And by then, I'm certain Yara will be ready to move out of the marshlands."
"As long as I'm with you, Yara, and Marcus, and we're safe, I could care less where we live." Hayden grinned.
Yumi's brown eyes were warm as she pressed herself into his chest again. "I love you."
"Love you too." Hayden replied. "But when we move to Japan, I'm definitely building a dojo in our backyard."
Yumi sighed. "You couldn't let me have it?"
"I wouldn't be the man you love otherwise." Hayden smirked.
()()()()()
()()()()()
As Amaterasu watched the man and woman depart, she smiled.
Then she picked up a flier. The deep crimson circle on it began to glow, quickly turning and expanding.
"Hello, Amaterasu-sama." Grayfia Lucifuge said, bowing as she appeared. "How may I be of assistance today?"
"Tell your King I think I found the territory guardians we've been looking for." Amaterasu said.
"Ah." Grayfia nodded. "I shall relay that to Maou-sama the moment I return. May I inquire as to whom, or do you wish to wait for a more formal meeting?"
Amaterasu had met the Strongest Queen a number of times. As a rather reclusive and isolationist goddess, she'd become very adept at seeing past facades. Over the past two centuries, and especially over the six years of more regular visits, she had seen past Grayfia's façade a few times.
This was news she wanted to see the silver haired Devil receive without the presence of her King and husband to split the attention.
It galled her to admit that the mortal mage's façade might have fooled her, had he not given her a generous sample of his Magical Power. Still, he had offered, and she had seen through his deception.
Which made the reveal much easier. After all, even as isolationist as she was, Amaterasu kept up with major supernatural events. The series of clashes and conflicts leading up to the immolation of Southampton, England, had become gossip that no major power escaped.
It wasn't every day someone set off an explosion that twisted the ambient power around it, still warping the surroundings over a dozen years later.
"Renfried Hayden and his wife." Amaterasu said.
Grayfia's placid features sharpened, her presence much heavier. "Ah, if you would elaborate, Amaterasu-sama."
"Renfried came looking for an apprentice." Amaterasu said. "His wife is searching as well. They appear to seeking companions for their ten year old son, or so my negotiations with Renfried Yumi revealed."
After a moment, the strength of the Queen's presence receded, her face back to the placid neutrality she usually wore. "Thank you, Amaterasu-sama. Was that the only purpose of your call?"
"For the moment." Amaterasu replied, nodding. "As per our contract, information goes both ways. May I now know why you were so interested?"
The silver haired Devil took a moment. Amaterasu was happy to give her time to think; while she had her own guesses as to the woman's needs, hearing at least one of them straight from the source would make further deductions easier.
"At one point in time, my husband and I had hoped to find a possible child of Bellator Serena, to bring them into my sister in law's Peerage and help raise them." Grayfia said, making deliberate eye contact.
"At one point?" Amaterasu asked.
"We've discovered that is no longer possible." Grayfia replied. "Now, we merely seek to provide aid to those who stood so gallantly beside a friend I could not protect."
"Mmm." Amaterasu hummed. "Repaying the honor of a departed friend."
She considered, looking at the Devil. "I suppose knowledge of why the boy can no longer be recruited would be costly?"
"More than you would be willing to pay." Grayfia said. "And would include a separate, enforced contract about the dissemination of the knowledge."
Amaterasu felt her brows rise. Evidently the boy she was sending her presumed inheritor of the Vermillion Bird to was more interesting than she'd assumed.
Still, she would refrain. No need to muzzle herself unnecessarily when she might be able to learn the information on her own. Especially given the boy's parents would be moving to Japan in a few years as a part of her agreements, both with the parents and the Devils.
"I shall see what I can discover for myself." Amaterasu said. "As always, it is lovely speaking with you, Grayfia-san ."
"The same, Amaterasu-sama." Grayfia bowed her head.
A magic circle spun up and around her, the Devil disappearing a moment later.
"Hmm. Hmm." Amaterasu hummed to herself. "I'll need to think that second contract over a little more, it seems."
In the meantime, she needed to ensure one of her Principal Clans didn't make a mistake trying to track down the abode of a reclusive pair of mages who had a proven record for responding violently to intrusions into their lives. Then came setting up a ritual to ensure her favor within the girl didn't disperse. Contact her high priestess, both to speak of a new potential arrangement as well as pick her brain on which of her youngest generations might be best suited for the plan.
Amaterasu sighed. A goddess's work was never done.
()()()()()
Marcus stood impatiently. He couldn't quite keep still, so he bounced up and down on the balls of his feet. The Senators said it was better than shifting foot to foot, unless he was expecting combat.
He wasn't sure what to expect.
Mom Yara had told him to wait for her in the barn, which wasn't the usual place they did their runic lessons. Marcus couldn't figure out why it needed to be the barn. He hadn't blown up a new rune in nearly a year, and it had been at least two years since he blew one up badly enough to do structural damage to his surroundings.
Weirder still, Mom Yumi and Dad were both waiting with him.
Perhaps this is the first of the new friends your parents spoke of?
Marcus blinked at hearing Damir's voice.
Then he started grinning maniacally. His parents had told him they were going to take apprentices. Partly to pass along their skills in magic to other people, but also because they wanted him to have some more friends around.
Marcus was nervous and excited about the possibility of new friends. He hadn't really had anyone to play with other than his parents and Dexter for over a year. Other than the kids in the village, but the boys talked about a bunch of games he didn't have and the girls called him weird when he tried to talk to them.
"You figured it out." His dad said.
Marcus looked over. "The other kids, right?"
"Did the Senators give you a hint?" Mom Yumi asked.
"Uh-huh." Marcus nodded. "I'm excited!"
"Clearly." His dad said dryly, reaching over to ruffle Marcus's hair. "Don't jump up and down too much, don't want to scare them off."
Marcus immediately tried to still himself. It worked for three seconds.
Do what the Senators said.
Marcus created an inert spellframe. He began filling it with chunks of latticework, interspersed with runic blocks. Currently he could only do checkerboard patterns, but he wanted to start on the lotus pattern Mom Yumi liked to use, outlining the petals with runic while using latticework to fill them in.
The lotus wasn't his pattern, he knew that much, but Mom Yumi and Mom Yara both said that learning more than one pattern was useful for combat. It was also useful for improving his proficiency in general.
"Just practice?" Mom Yumi asked.
"Yeah." Marcus said, focusing as he tried to change the latticework in alternating blocks.
Runic was easier to substitute, because words had less problems sliding around. Latticework was always stiff and substituted begrudgingly. If he wasn't careful, forcing a change or a substitution would destabilize the whole spellframe.
It only took one instance of a mixed latticework/runic spellframe exploding in his face for Marcus to learn how undesirable that outcome was. Even more than regular spellframes destabilizing, it was something to avoid.
The attention required helped Marcus not count each and every second while he waited to meet what he hoped would be a new friend.
When the dark purple of Mom Yara's magic circle registered in his peripheral vision, Marcus stopped feeding the spellframe Magical Power. It winked out as Mom Yara's spellframe flew up, then down.
Mom Yara was standing there with a smile, but Marcus's eyes went straight to the second person.
She was a little shorter than he was, with long silver hair that was pulled back in a ponytail. Her blue eyes were looking right at him, standing out from the paleness of her skin.
She's pretty.
…Why isn't she smiling?
Marcus glanced impatiently at Mom Yara. He'd never disliked waiting for introductions before, but he wanted Mom Yara to introduce them. The lack of the girl's smile was like an itch under his skin, one he couldn't scratch.
"Family, this is my niece, Rossweisse." Mom Yara said. "Rossweisse, this is my wife, Yumi Renfried."
"Hello, Rossweisse." Mom Yumi said, stepping forward and offering a hand. "I've heard lots about you."
"Hello." Rossweisse replied, shaking the hand. "Thank you for having me."
Marcus saw her eyes flitting back and forth between all three of them. Mostly to him, then back to Mom Yumi and his dad. There was confusion in her eyes.
Still no smile.
"This is my husband, Hayden Renfried." Mom Yara said.
"You alright, kid?" Marcus's dad asked as he stepped forward, also offering a hand shake. "You look a bit nervous."
"Hello." Rossweisse said, her face morphing into a smile. "I am not nervous. Thank you for having me."
It was a smile, technically. Marcus did not like the smile.
Maybe because we're talking in English?
"Last, our adopted son, Marcus." Mom Yara said.
"Hello, my name's Marcus." Marcus said in Norwegian. "Mom Yara said you're really smart and good with runic magic. You want to practice together?"
Rossweisse blinked a few times, before her smile shifted slightly. "Hi. Ah, that sounds nice. You use runic magic too?"
"Mom Yara is teaching me." Marcus said, relief washing through him at a smile that didn't make the hair on the back of his neck stand up. "Do you prefer to speak Norwegian or Swedish? I know both."
Mom Yara's smile was radiant as Rossweisse poked her fingers together. "Ah, Norwegian. My family got mad when grandmother tried to teach to teach me Swedish."
"Mom Yara and I can teach you if you want." Marcus said. "I get to learn all sorts of languages, it's pretty fun. Not as much fun as magic, but I like it."
"Okay." Rossweisse said, her face softening as her smile began to show teeth.
Then she glanced up at Mom Yara. "Can I learn Swedish, aunt Yara?"
"Of course." Mom Yara said. "Now, let's speak in English so we don't leave those two clueless."
"Yes aunt Yara." Rossweisse said, still smiling at Marcus.
"Okay."Marcus said, nodding before looking at Rossweisse again. "We can practice English too, if you want. I know that it's weird."
Rossweisse nodded eagerly. "Please. My grandmother's English was not very good. I did not get to practice much after school."
"Great." Marcus grinned. "I wanna know all about my new friend. We can ask each other questions so you can practice and we can learn about each other."
Goddamned savant.
Marcus didn't recognize the word that Bucchol muttered in his mind. He made a note to look it up, or ask the Senator when he next visited his Sacred Gear.
"Let's get her settled in, Marcus." Mom Yumi said, smiling.
Marcus registered the small duffel bag sitting next to Rossweisse's feet. It wasn't very big, and he knew that his parents' apprentices were going to be staying for a few years at the very least.
"That's not a lot." Marcus said, gesturing at the bag. "Are you and Mom Yara going to take her shopping? You always say I have to change like four times a day because of the mud, she's gonna run out of clothes fast."
"Somehow I doubt Rossweisse will dive into a muddy fen just because she sees an interesting frog." Mom Yara said, shaking her head. "And we'll take all of you, once the other apprentices arrive."
"Wait, me too?" Marcus frowned. "I have plenty of clothes."
Mom Yumi stepped over, ruffling his hair. "You're a growing boy. Don't think we haven't noticed that your pants are above your ankles again."
Marcus let out a grumble. Shopping with his moms was always an exercise in patience. The Senators and his dad, independently of each other, had informed him that he'd better get used to it. Especially if he wanted a wife. Let alone multiple.
Which was nonnegotiable for Marcus, so he'd learned to swallow his complaints.
Maybe having the other apprentices along will make it better.
While his moms took Rossweisse to her room – his parents had spent a bunch of money over the last six months to majorly expand the house – Marcus found himself collared by his dad.
"So, what are you thinking buddy?" His dad asked as they stepped outside.
"Mom Yara says she's smart, and she's nice so far, and I like her smile." Marcus said. "I really hope we can be good friends."
"Just friends?" His dad asked.
Marcus looked at his dad in confusion for a few moments.
Then it clicked. "Oh. Um, maybe? I dunno. I like her a whole bunch, but you got to know both moms for a long time before you got married. I can't just look at her and know she'd be an awesome wife or something."
His dad snorted. "If you say so."
Marcus tilted his head. "I do. Why?"
"Because you're my son, and sometimes a dad just knows their son." His dad turned to look toward the fens. "Your moms are going to be helping Rossweisse get her room set up for a while. They need to set up and key the wards."
"Huh, can I-" Marcus started to ask, only for his dad to interrupt.
"No." His dad pursed his lips. "Rossweisse is a young girl, and going to become a young lady soon. There are things they're setting up that she'd be embarrassed to talk about in front of any boys."
"Really?" Marcus asked. "Like what?"
"Ask your moms." His dad began floating off the ground. "I'll give you half an hour to hide."
Two hours later, Marcus was dragging himself out of the shower. He'd finally gotten the art of removing mud from between his toes down.
When he entered the hallway to his room, he found Rossweisse waiting.
Like him, she wore pajamas, as his parents had decreed it was an early night. They wanted their newest apprentice well rested for her first day tomorrow.
Marcus wasn't the biggest fan of pink, but he liked the pink ribbon that was tied around her ponytail. He wasn't sure how that was a part of a bedtime outfit, but he'd heard from the Senators that a woman's nightly ritual was close to sacred, to be questioned only at great need. Aurelius had apparently been stabbed once by an angry lady who didn't like his question. Attire was part of it, as were the strange masks his moms sometimes wore.
Thus, Marcus picked a different topic.
"Hey, we have like an hour until bed." Marcus said. "Want to practice English and ask each other questions?"
They ended up in the living room. Marcus sat on the floor, his usual spot when he wasn't cuddled up with his parents.
Rossweisse sat opposite him. Seated, she was about his height, something that made Marcus blink. He was nearly eleven, but he was already taller than Mom Yumi, as tall as his dad, and almost as tall as Mom Yara. The few times he'd been around other kids in the nearby village, he'd always been the tallest kid there, at least around their age. It hadn't really registered that Rossweisse was almost as tall as he was when she was standing next to Mom Yara.
"We can use English." Marcus said, grinning as he pushed his surprise away. "Let's trade questions back and forth, okay?"
"That sounds good." Rossweisse nodded, her smile peeking out again.
Marcus opened his mouth, then realized he didn't have a question ready.
"Mmm…what's your favorite animal?" The first question that came to mind popped out after a few seconds of silence.
"I like doves." Rossweisse said. "My grandmother keeps some at her home, and they are really pretty. Why did you dive into mud for a frog?"
"It was a weird color and I wanted to see it up close." Marcus said. "I would've grabbed it with magic, but then this sturgeon came swimming up and I had to get in there before it ate the frog."
"What is a sturgeon?" Rossweisse asked.
It wasn't her turn to ask a question, but Marcus didn't mind. "Uh, it's an angry fish. Lots of sharp teeth. Not like a shark, but not like an alligator either. I'll show you one next time there's one in the fens."
Rossweisse frowned. "Are there sharks here?"
Marcus shook his head. "My parents told me almost all sharks can't survive in freshwater, and the ones that can don't come this far inland. You don't have to worry about stuff that wants to eat us. Mom Yumi would never let us move to a place like that. It's why we're here and not Australia."
"Oh." Rossweisse said.
Then she blushed slightly. "Um, your turn for a question."
"How old are you?" Marcus asked.
"I am twelve." Rossweisse said. "How old are you?"
"Ten." Marcus said. "My birthday is coming up soon though."
He was surprised. She looked younger than a twelve year old.
"When is your birthday?" Rossweisse asked.
"October 15th." Marcus said.
"Mine is November 7th." Rossweisse said.
"Oh, that's almost Mom Yumi's birthday." Marcus said.
Gonna have to figure out a gift to give her. Hnnnn.
"Your turn for a question." Marcus said when the silence stretched.
"Um." Rossweisse looked to the side. "My aunt said you are adopted. Do you know your real parents?"
"My parents are my real parents." Marcus said. "My biological mom died giving birth to me and apparently my biological dad isn't good with kids. So my dad and moms adopted me."
He'd been warned – by his parents and the Senators both – about that question. He knew how to respond to it.
"Oh." Rossweisse said. "Sorry about your mom."
"It's okay." Marcus shrugged. "My parents said she was awesome, and she'd be happy that I'm with people who love me. I can't really miss her, since I didn't know her, and I've got two awesome moms anyways."
"What about your parents?" Marcus asked.
Rossweisse's face tightened up. "My mom and dad fight for Lord Odin. I do not see them much."
Huh.
"That stinks." Marcus said. "I wouldn't know what to do if my parents weren't around. Probably be really bored."
"I talk with grandmother often." Rossweisse said. "And now Aunt Yara brought me here, so I can talk to you."
"We can be part of your family too." Marcus said. "Friends are family, and I want to be your friend. Is that okay?"
Rossweisse blinked a few times, her pretty blue eyes crinkling as she smiled. "Yes please. I do not have many friends."
Marcus felt a warm glow in his stomach. "We're gonna be best friends. I promise."
Phew. Okay, we're back. Sorry for the delays - multiple months, unfortunately - but sometimes life treats you nicely, and sometimes it comes around smacking a baseball bat against its palm, asking if you're good for the money.
If you're interested in reviewing, I'm always open to feedback, so lemme know!
Also, finally, finally managed to get that P-word going. AnagrammedPseudonym Writes at the P-place. Currently at two advance chapters, of both this and my other fiction on here.
For the link, just remove the underscore: P_ /AnagrammedPseudonymWrites