Nick waited for his siblings to collect food on their plates. He flashed a knowing eye at Ren to mind his manners and not antagonize Miri for the rest of the evening. Ren just rolled his eyes and began chomping down on his full plate, with no respect to proper use of a knife and fork. He turned his eyes the other way to Miri, who had proceeded to fill her plate up with oysters and pork.

“Remember to eat your vegetables,” said Nick.

Miri stopped, refusing to make eye contact and her eyes narrowing in irritation. She went on to find the smallest vegetable among the dishes, and forked a single roasted pepper onto her plate.

In other words, it was a perfectly normal dinner, as far as the last five years were concerned. Nick went on to collect up a balanced meal for himself. Balanced in terms of flavor than nutrition.

“So… Lara, what is it like? Being in the Pegasus Corps?” said Miri. Nick knew she was far more interested in the actual Pegasus than life in the corps. She always wanted one since she found out about the flying horses.

“Pretty busy,” said Lara. “A lot of work, both in taking care of a pegasus and learning about things like flying tactics and so-on. Nothing I can’t manage.”

“Oh, I see. Do you have yours here?”

“I do. Scarlet’s in an old stable outside of town. Knight-Captain Volkar offered to look after her.”

“Ooo that is so cool,” said Miri as she went back to eating her food, her eyes brimming with joy. She was definitely going to ask Lara if she can see it before dinner ended.

“Isn’t the Pegasus Corps one of the highest orders you can enter once you graduate?” asked Ren. “Nearly every single victory and hero’s tale has them sweeping in to save the day in some way shape or form.”

“Indeed,” said Nick. “Not only do you need to score near perfect marks on the final written examinations, but you must pass the Spire’s highest flight obstacle course, as well as prove proficiency with the spear, sword, and bow. There is a reason why they are in those stories, and it is because they are among the best of the best.”

“Wow,” said Ren.

“No need for flattery Nick,” said Lara.

“Not flattery if it is true.” Nick pointed the tip of his fork at Lara’s shoulder, where a golden line striped along its edge. “Also, you’re a Seraph-Knight? I think congratulations are in order.”

“What!” said Ren.

“Ha ha, I am,” said Lara, sheepishly brushing at the rank, while flashing Nick a smiling glare. At nineteen years of age, she was one of the youngest in a generation to ascend to the rank. Lara however, was as modest as people went, and disliked attention.

All he did was smile back. He could have made it worse, describing the full detail of her accomplishments. Such as how the symbol on her collar wasn’t reserved for any regular Pegasus knight, but for those of the First Lancers of House Uri. The most decorated regiment in the country.

“How?” asked Ren.

“Impressed enough people during the final bout after earning my reigns with Scarlet.” She shrugged. “The proctors asked for an accelerated promotion as it turns out.”

“In other words.” Nick looked at Ren. “Through hard work and practice.”

Ren rolled his eyes. “Yea, yea. Preach more.”

“Anyhow, enough about me,” said Lara. “How have you all been doing?”

“The same as you said,” said Miri. “Ren likes to horse around. Nick’s either playing butler at the Earl’s mansion or has his nose shoved so hard up his books I’m surprised he hasn’t gone fully cross-eyed.”

That earned Miri another swift bop on the head.

“Ow!”

“What did I tell you about manners,” said Nick. “Aren’t you learning anything from Mrs Mersault?”

“Nothing to learn from that pruned hag- ow!”

She rubbed her bruised head, while Nick went right back to digging oyster meat from its shell with his knife and spoon.

“Manners,” said Nick. “Mrs Mersault is kindly dedicating her time to teach you in proper mannerisms and the use of arms, and you shall give her your due respect, whether or whether not she is present.”

Mrs Mersault was a private tutor he paid to teach Miri, and just like Ren’s tutor, Master Dunwall, cost a significant chunk of his income. Part to actually come out this far to teach them, and another part to keep their mouth shut on how a no-name servant had so much money in the first place.

“Why can’t you be a bit more graceful,” said Nick. “Like Vlara?”

His attempt at building Vlara’s confidence floundered as she cringed away, her cheeks turning a tinge redder. Miri grumbled under her breath.

“Sorry,” said Nick to Cianna and Lara, who were merely watching with amused faces. “It is your house and this is your special evening so I apologize for any uncouth mannerisms on our part.”

“Oh-ho, it isn’t any issue Nick,” said Cianna. “We are all practically family at this point.”

“Exactly,” said Lara, who gave Nick a knowing look as if she wanted to talk about something later. Nick raised his eyes but acknowledged her gesture and went back to eating.

“So, are you all excited for tomorrow?” said Lara.

Neither Ren or Miri said anything. Both, as Nick was aware, were probably thinking of nothing else but tomorrow.

“Ascension Day is always a trying time for the children,” said Cianna. “Why I remember you were quite out the night before yours.”

“I guess I was,” said Lara. “I always knew I would go to the academy though.”

Ascension Day happened once per year, where the children of Vislanda reached their fifteenth year. The same time period when their potential would be revealed.

All Innatum children were born with an affinity for a particular element as evidenced by their hair color. Blonde for Lightning. Red for Fire. Green for Air. Blue for Water. Brown for Earth. Almost all of Vislanda’s people were Innatum, but the country was most famous for their renown Nephilim, graced with a strong affinity for air and a particular type of beauty which accompanied it. All with an affinity for air began attending the Spire Academy at Seraphil to flourish and harness their wings. All other Innatum went to various branch academies as part of the mandatory four-years of military service.

Normally, this meant Miri and Ren would go to a branch academy, as evidenced by their yellow hair and affinity for lightning. However, there were those among the population who awoke a second affinity during their Ascension ceremony. A case which was either a great blessing or cast suspicions of martial infidelity, depending on the affinities for one’s parents. In Miri and Ren’s case however, who knew nothing of their birth parents, it was quite literally up in the air.

Both sought to become Nephilim, both for their own reasons, and would need to awaken a second affinity, and air for that matter, to do so.

A hundred in one case as Nick read in a book. Unbeknownst to his siblings, he was well-aware of how the results would skew tomorrow. Not that he was going to tell them. No need to spoil the suspense.

“Don’t fret about it,” Nick said to Miri and Ren. “It’ll all go well tomorrow.”

“Why? Because we’ll probably end up like you?” said Miri. “Easy for you to say.”

“Miri!” said Ciana.

A palpable silence and coldness drifted into the atmosphere of the table. Nick however, continued on eating as if all was normal. Her words stung, but he had years to get used to his situation among a world of people with elemental affinities.

Nick was not an Innatum, evidence by his black hair and black eyes. That wasn’t the end all though. The Bracers were always an option.

“That was uncalled for,” said Lara, her normally cheerful aura, now radiating disappointment. “I suggest you apologize to your brother now.”

“Sorry,” Miri uttered under her breath, looking at the floor.

“It’s alright.” Nick waved it off with a hand and smiled.

“Anyhow,” she said looking at Nick. “I heard the Earl is hosting a lavish ceremony at the Evergreen Plains for his daughter’s ascension. I take it he had you hard at work for it?”

The evening’s activities cycled through his head. Guiding the boat out of the cove, the battle with the harpies, nearly dying but never having felt more alive, the relatively uneventful trip back.

“The work was… challenging but not too different than usual.” He worked to cut a thin piece from a slice of roast pork. “Supposedly, he is bringing out a few caskets of Adrestan wine stored in his cellars.”

“Really?” said Cianna as she sighed, wistfully. “Adrestan wine is so hard to come by, ever since trade ground to a halt. Nothing quite has such a potent mix of sweetness and tannins. I wonder how the man has so much stocked up. Quite the prophet to have done so.”

Nick nodded, chewing down a cut of roast pork. “Hopefully the turmoil down south reaches a swift conclusion. Six years of fighting with still no sign of ending. It might just break the record of the War of the Five Richards as one of the longest in history.”

“I hope so too.” Cianna sighed. “Honestly, it is such a mess. First the Adrestans overthrow their rightful rulers, instituting whatever that rule of the mob they call good governing. Common people, ignoring the rightful structure of this world. And next thing you know their ideas spread north.”

She shook her head. Nick knew the personal nature of the matter to her. Her husband left when the sparks of that conflict just lit and never returned.

“I fear this is an illness. A mental malady cast upon the people to the south. Sometimes I fear we have let it fester for too long.”

“Don’t worry mom,” said Lara. “Word from the south is that things will be won soon. I believe a lasting peace will settle eventually.”

“I do hope so as well dear,” said Cianna. “Honestly, sometimes I wonder whether the Bracer Revolution did more good than harm.”

From what Eric told Nick, things were going very differently. However, he said nothing. No need to spoil the mood any further.

“Mom, Lara. Where are all the Bracers coming from anyway?” said Vlara. “Aren’t they supposed to be fighting in the Old Continent. Like the Paragons?”

“Honey,” said Cianna. “Nobody knows. Although, the fact they are stirring trouble says a lot about their character.”

“But why though? Didn’t the Bracers make the same oath as all the other Reclaimers? At least that was what Uncle Valdric used to say… “

And the frost in the atmosphere that had just begun to melt, froze once more as Vlara brought up another antsy topic. Valdric.

“Again, I believe that says a lot about the character of those Bracers,” said Cianna.

Conversation stalled for the rest of dinner. A culmination of anxiety for tomorrow and discussion of fragile subjects.

“Well,” said Cianna, looking across the table as everybody seemed to be finished eating. “I believe we are settled for the night. Ladies, I believe we should continue over some tea.”

She looked over to Nick and Ren.

“Gentlemen, you are perfectly welcome to join us.”

Nick saw the horror etched on Ren’s eyes.

“Appreciated,” said Nick, who knew his brother had little to no interest in attending any ‘girly tea parties’ as he called them. “I think Ren and I will head to our room. He and I have a score to settle.”

Miri rolled her eyes. “You’re just going to be playing Thrones and Dominions aren’t you. How childish.”

“You don’t like it because you aren’t any good at it,” said Ren.

“To be fair,” said Lara. “The game is quite popular in the academy. Some of the instructors have even taken to using it to teach war strategy.”

With her idol Lara on the side of the boys, Miri said nothing. The two groups split after cleaning up, partaking different activities for the rest of the evening.