Paul arrived home ter than he had hoped that night. After what they had discovered within the darkest corners of that recently seized house, the AOA had quickly spread news between organizations and the nobility to get response teams and procedures in pce, ideally without causing panic among the popution.

  The duke would be issuing a formal announcement across Tulimeir soon, decring Ruwena a Fallen House and exposing their traitorous deeds to the public. Missions for capture or death would also be pced by the ducal government for each member that was connected to the subversion of the city’s Reality Rift defenses and facilitation of the Soul Reaper experimentations.

  Paul had been expecting gruesome things within that workshop after what Avenger had whispered to him about the man he had killed, but he hadn’t expected the sheer number of other bodies they had found that had been experimented on in the months since he first arrived in Tulimeir.

  They had found a small stockpile of Soul Cages, likely including the one he had personally found and delivered to the government for study. That realization had sent a wave of guilt through him despite Orebe’s repeated reassurances that he had no reason to believe treachery at the time.

  Some of the notes Ohsen had left behind had indicated that a handful of the victims were specifically chosen in the lord’s search for revenge against Lord Waynd, targeting human men like him, which made the guilt settle heavier. He would do his best to right the wrongs he had helped facilitate, and that started with assisting in the removal of the remaining Ruwena members from power.

  During the rushed raid, Camrin Ruwena turned out to be a compliant target, offering assistance and helping Paul gain access to the pces he needed to see. This willingness helped greatly speed things along with obtaining the proof the duke and his patron deity desired.

  The strike team had also taken some staff and other children into custody, apparently left behind as cumbersome weight when most of the Casters fled to the heavily fortified Stronghold deep below the surface. He did not envy Agatha or Victor for needing to deal with organizing the imminent assault on that particur target.

  For now, he would get his hour of rest, check in on his little brood of Crystals, and see how his Protégé had handled the mission that took her away from the city again.

  After first meeting with Patricia, he promised he wouldn’t sit the kids on the sidelines again for the expedition to recim Tulisuda. However, he didn’t think the AOA was going to let anyone sit this conflict out, especially when the lives of everyone in the city were the price of failure. Not that he couldn’t push against that if he thought there was a real risk to his heir.

  Ciming ‘Heir’s Privilege’ was an option for any noble house whose leader participated in battles. By keeping their st heir safe behind the city walls, they could fight without fear of leaving their House without a leader. It was not a cim done lightly, though.

  While he was casually making his way up to visit Phoenix’s room, he felt a terrified aura wash over him, instantly recognizing the yered effect and divine signature of it belonging to his Protégé. He forewent the lift to sprint up the stairs to her room.

  He didn’t sense any other auras in the room with her, so he smmed the runed key he carried –which could unlock any door in the entire building– into the door and entered to find Phoenix thrashing in her sleep.

  Paul grabbed her shoulders and shook firmly, trying to wake her up as he realized what was happening. He expected the dagger this time as she opened her eyes and reactively swung the weapon towards him in her confused panic.

  “You’re safe, Phoenix, you’re okay,” Paul’s reassuring voice said gently, “You were having another nightmare. I thought it best to wake you from it. Everything will be okay.”

  As she came to her senses and visibly registered his presence, she dropped the weapon, allowing it to disappear as she stared into his golden eyes.

  Phoenix took a few deep breaths as she continued reorienting her mind to the present. Ta appeared in her p and snuggled against her in an attempt to offer comfort as well. She absently stroked the soft, fluffy feathers, and he continued to stroke her back.

  A few moments ter, she seemed to realize her aura had been projecting itself in her sleep and quickly reigned it in, managing to mutter, “Sorry.”

  He shook his head, “It can happen to the best of us. Sometimes, our dreams make our bodies and auras react. It will take more practice to keep that from happening.”

  Phoenix nodded and continued petting Ta and seemed to calm down more. Paul didn’t say anything as he sat on the edge of her bed and remained a steady presence, his aura holding hers in comfort.

  After a few more minutes, she said, “Thank you for waking me.”

  He simply tilted his head slightly in acknowledgment and inquired, “How did the mission go?”

  She gave him a ft look, indicating that she knew what he was really asking: he wanted to know if they had run into the bandits he had been expecting they would. With a frown, she recounted the battle at Vallinsarvi, and he found himself matching her expression with each new revetion.

  Phoenix expined the broken gates, invading monsters and raiders, and her run-in with a rge troll-like man attacking children. With more difficulty, she expined how she had ended up taking the raider’s life before finishing securing the city and then the rest of the delivery mission.

  She also added in the events since their party got back earlier that morning, unlocking new abilities for her and Dazien and even summoning his new Familiar. Honestly, it sounded like it had mostly gone the way he had expected, though he hadn’t anticipated the raiders actually breaching the walls and the innocent lives lost from it.

  Paul nodded along as she recounted it all and crified certain parts as he listened. When she finished, he returned the favor for her by summarizing what had happened the night before with the sabotaged raid and that he had been busy the whole day trying to muster people to assist in saving the city. He even mentioned visiting the temple district as a newly promoted Delegate Adventurer to liaison with the clergy Casters there in helping.

  When he finished his own story, he asked, “What new abilities did you get from all this? You mentioned two new ones.”

  She slowly dipped her head in affirmation and said, “Right, um, sorry for not waiting to ask you first… I’m not sure you’re going to be happy about them…”

  He raised an eyebrow, and she decided to start slow by showing one at a time. The first was [Avatar of Bakunawa], and she expined which Spirit Gem it came from. As he read it over, his brow furrowed in confusion, “This seems like a powerful brawler ability,” he gnced up at her, “You just keep seeming to diversify.”

  Phoenix gave an annoyed huff, which he had no idea where she had picked up from, and replied, “Yes, but I’m hoping it will help with my skirmishing tactics. Depending on how big of a boost it gives, those rger monsters might not be as big of a problem anymore.” Then her expression broke into a grin as she admitted, “Though turning into a half-dragon does sound totally awesome.”

  He returned her grin, sharing her enthusiasm as he teased, “I’m sure you’ll make for an adorable baby dragon.”

  She chuckled, shoving his arm pyfully, and he felt his heart lighten a bit from the guilt he had been struggling with earlier. He refocused on the floating book, looking over the ability again. “So, I doubt you thought I would get upset over this,” he observed before prompting, “What’s the next one?”

  Phoenix hesitantly showed him the next ability, and his eyes went wide as he asked with concern, “What gem gave you this?”

  She hesitated again, then looked at the floor like a child who knew she had done something wrong and mumbled, “Cataclysm.”

  “Ooo, Little Miss is going to get scolded,” Orebe whispered in the back of his mind, but his attention was focused on the young woman in front of him, who seemed to refuse to look up.

  His gaze bore into her with disapproval, and he crified with incredulity, “Cataclysm? One of the Spirit Gems I specifically told you not to use? Why would you bother spending any time checking with me first only to completely disregard my words?”

  “What did Waynd expect from a teenager?”

  “Not now, Be,” he mentally growled.

  Phoenix winced at his scolding and weakly admitted, “Um, I was trying to comfort Uriel?”

  “So, you made an irrevocable choice that could have done real harm to yourself?” He was baffled by her decision.

  Paul knew he should have cut off that potential friendship early on. That shiny gemite and his silver tongue, pying on his hopes of seeing his Protégé make some friends and find a party she could rely on like he had long ago, had apparently tricked him into taking a fool’s bet.

  “Waynd is being unfair,” his Familiar spoke up again, ignoring his earlier reprimand, “Waynd knows Little King’s Talent with words isn’t that strong and that Little Storm is a victim. This One and Waynd have seen both caring for Little Miss.”

  He let out a huff of annoyance and told Phoenix gruffly, “I’ve done my research on your party. That boy had his aura transfigured by a deadly combination of Aspects and Spirit Gems. It’s the entire reason for his Silencer. You were really going to risk that just to comfort him?”

  “Um… yes?” she said meekly before gesturing at the [Guide Book], “It’s not that bad. No transfiguration. No weird passive effects that alter me.”

  “That’s not the point,” he growled, then stuck a finger on the levitating book to emphasize his words, “This ability is insanely dangerous. You can’t use this. Ever. You’ve basically trapped yourself at Crystal Caste.”

  “I can use it,” she protested, “I just have to be really careful about the time and pce.”

  “Phoenix, you can’t–”

  “I must,” she cut him off, which took him by surprise as she stood up for herself, “I have to get stronger, Paul. An entire nation depends on it, remember? What’s done is done. If it helps Uriel know he can trust me and that I value who he is no matter his abilities, then it was worth it.”

  They stared at each other, her arms crossed and his face locked in a disapproving scowl.

  “Waynd knows that Little Miss is correct. The divine quest will need power like this,” Orebe stated slowly, “Waynd is just mad Little Miss did not listen.”

  Paul gave up the staring contest as he ran a hand through his hair in frustration. He thought through the arguments of the two women closest to him, then gave a heavy sigh and reluctantly said, “It amazes me how you’ll jump to the defense of others but not yourself. You would potentially sacrifice your entire future just to comfort a friend.” Then he offered her a crooked smile, “While it won’t make for the best life choices, you’ll make for a heroic Adventurer.”

  Paul’s expression softened as he added, “I guess I’m not much better. I’ve had to sacrifice much for others in the past. Besides, the Waynd House is best known for two things: providing the people with cultivated food and cultivating Adventurers.”

  She grinned at him, then after a moment said cautiously, “If you’re not so upset at my recent Spirit Gem choices that the offer is withdrawn… I think I’d like to join your House.”

  He was taken aback by the shift in topic and her acceptance of what he had thought she was more likely to decline despite his desires. “Are you certain?” he asked, not wanting to become too hopeful lest he fall further from disappointment should she change her mind.

  Phoenix nodded at him, “I’ve thought about everything you’ve said. Talked with my party as well as your sister and her kids. Weighed the pros and cons. Then I realized how much you’ve already given me and that joining your House would be a way for me to show you how grateful I am for everything you’ve done and are pnning to continue doing for me.”

  They locked eyes and she smiled sincerely, “If I can bring prestige to House Waynd as a great Adventurer, then it’s the least I can do and it’ll make me happy to do so.”

  His mind reeled, and he was having trouble putting his emotions into words. He stared at the gently glowing redhead that had just agreed to become his daughter –part of his family, hopes, legacy, and future. Paul reached over faster than she could react as he pulled her into a warm embrace and whispered softly, “Thank you.”