"Eh?"
The synchronized sound of surprise from Elias and Roric hung in the crisp morning air, a perfectly mirrored expression of disbelief. Elias's jaw dropped slightly, his eyes wide with confusion. Roric's brow furrowed, his easy smile replaced by a look of genuine bewilderment.
Lord Alaric, however, simply chuckled. He clapped Roric on the shoulder, a gesture of camaraderie that seemed to deepen Roric's confusion.
"You heard me Thorne," Alaric said, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
"I said you're going to be their new teacher. Specifically, Elias's. He's preparing for his Rite of Passage."
Roric's eyes narrowed, a flicker of something Elias couldn't quite decipher—a mix of recognition and concern. He paused, his gaze drifting from Alaric to Elias, then back again.
"The Rite of Passage? As in the Dukker ritual of familial recognition?" he mused, his voice thoughtful.
"That old tradition is still ongoing, then? I thought it had… faded from practice."
Alaric nodded, his expression softening with a touch of nostalgia.
"It was never truly abolished, Thorne. It simply wasn't necessary until now. A tradition for a time when the world was wilder, and the Dukker line needed to prove its mettle. But after me,there hasn't been a suitable heir. Until now." He looked at his son with pride in his eyes.
" Elias needs to be ready. He needs to face his fears, to prove himself to the land, and to his ancestors."
Roric's gaze returned to Elias, a deep concern etched on his face. He was no longer the jovial friend but the seasoned hunter, assessing a dangerous situation. "Alaric, the Iron Forest is no place for a child, even one with Flow. It's teeming with Beasts as strong as at the Awakened stage. The Rite is dangerous, even for a grown man. He's only… what, three years old?"
"Four." Elias corrected with a defiant tone. Roric shrugged.
"That doesn't make it any better."
Alaric laughed, a hearty, dismissive sound. "Nonsense, Roric! He's a Dukker. He's got my blood in his veins, and a stubbornness that would make a mountain move. Besides, if I, a mere mundane human at the time who couldn't awaken his Flow until well into my youth, could pass the Rite, how much more my son?"
Roric's eyes twinkled with mischief.
"Ah, yes, your 'passing' of the Rite. If I recall correctly, that involved a rather large amount of my 'assistance,' didn't it? A certain… strategically placed distraction.....?"
Alaric coughed and looked away, waving a dismissive hand, a faint blush rising on his cheeks.
"That's not the point! The point is, I survived. And Elias will too. I have every confidence in him."
Elias, listening to their banter, felt a strange warmth spread through him. They had known each other since his father's Rite of Passage? That meant they had been friends for decades, through triumphs and hardships. It was a bond deeper than he had ever imagined.He had always seen his father as a powerful figure, but this glimpse into his past, into his vulnerabilities and his friendships, made him seem more human, more relatable.
Roric sighed, shaking his head.
"Fine, fine. But if I recall, the Rite usually takes place when a person is six years old, Alaric. Isn't the boy a bit too young to be facing something like this?"
"There's no time like the present." Alaric replied.
"The world is changing. I want my son to be fully trained, fully equipped, and ready for whatever comes. The sooner he starts, the better."
Roric thought for a moment, his gaze shifting to Aina, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, her book now held loosely in her hands.
"And what about the girl?" he asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
Alaric smiled, a proud, almost paternal look on his face.
"Aina is already training Elias in Flow techniques. Don't be decieved by her age,she's a prodigy. Sheossesses two Flow Trait Classes something even the Paragons don't have. I want you to teach her as well. She can adjust Elias's training accordingly, ensure his physical conditioning keeps pace with his Flow development."
Roric's eyebrows shot up, a funny expression crossing his face. He turned to Aina, his eyes sweeping over her small, composed form. He sized her up, from her perfectly silky blonde hair to her impeccable maid uniform, then shrugged, a dismissive gesture.
"Whatever," he muttered, clearly unimpressed.
Aina's face remained impassive, but Elias, who had been observing her intently, saw the faintest tightening around her eyes, a subtle clenching of her jaw. He knew, with absolute certainty, that she was annoyed. 'U ' He dares to underestimate me?' She grumbled internally, a silent storm brewing behind her calm facade.
"I won't be able to come over every day, Al," Roric stated, his attention already drifting.
"Twice a week is fine," Alaric replied, anticipating the objection.
"So,will you do it?"
Roric hesitated for a moment, then shrugged again.
"I'll think about it." He turned to walk away.
"Well, I'll take my leave then."
But Aina moved. She crossed his path with a speed that belied her casual demeanor, her small form blocking his exit. Her eyes, usually so calm, held a sharp, challenging glint.
"You're underestimating me, Hunter Roric," she said, her voice low and steady, though Elias detected a subtle tremor of annoyance beneath the controlled tone.
"You were told I am teaching Elias Flow techniques, and yet you dismissed me as 'whatever.' I request a duel. To relieve you of any notion that I am incompetent."
Roric tilted his head, a slow smile spreading across his face. He let out a hearty laugh, the sound echoing in the training yard.
"A duel?" He turned toAlaric and gestured towards Aina with his thumb.
" I like this one. She's got spirit."
Then turning back to Aina.
"It's not my style to attack little girls." He tried to sidestep her, but Aina was quicker.
A faint, almost invisible shimmer radiated from Aina's hands. Roric felt a sudden, profound pressure, as if the very air around him had solidified, trying to hold him in place. It was a subtle, unyielding force, a crushing weight that sought to pin him to the ground,the sudden increased force of gravity throwing the dust around him into the air. Aina's eyes were locked on his, a fierce determination burning within their depths.
"I will not release you until you agree."
Roric's laughter faded, replaced by a look of genuine surprise, then a knowing smile.
"Ah, I see," he murmured. He didn't struggle against the force. Instead, he simply… moved. The invisible pressure rippled, then shattered, as if it had never been there. One moment, he was standing before her, the next, he was directly in front of her, bending at the waist so his eyes were level with hers.
"Your Trait is 'The Star,'" he said, his voice a low, almost conspiratorial whisper.
"Only those with 'The Star' can manipulate gravity and forces of attraction. A powerful ability, little one. But…"
He straightened, his gaze sweeping over her, then back to Elias.
"The first mistake you made was not fully realizing the difference in our power levels. And the second was not using something else to make up for that gap in power. You have another Trait, don't you?"
Aina's eyes widened for a fraction of a second, a rare flicker of surprise crossing her composed features. Then, she bowed deeply, her voice uncharacteristically soft. "My apologies,Hunter Roric. My rudeness was inexcusable."
Roric waved a dismissive hand.
"It's nothing. Consider it your first lesson. Now, prepare yourselves for tomorrow. We begin in earnest."
He turned and walked away, his stride purposeful. As he passed Elias, he reached into his pocket and tossed a silver coin. It spun in the air, glinting in the morning light, before landing neatly in Elias's outstretched palm.
"Buy some treats, boy," Roric said with a wink, and then he wlked away.
Elias stared at the silver coin, a surge of annoyance rising in his chest.
'Treats? What does he take me for!'
He wanted to yell that he wasn't a kid. But then he looked down at the coin, at his small, childish hand, and the annoyance faded, replaced by a profound, unsettling thought.
'Ok Maybe I am.'