It started as a simple 'thank you'.
The child 2851 saved was waiting for her at the foot of the cliff. Only to be confused when she did not go to the very bottom like the others who weren’t picked up by relatives who had skybeasts. It didn’t take long for them to track her down to the cabin’s location.

2851 woke in the morning to her sky beast egg beside her, warm from the covers wrapped around it and her body heat, to a knock on her door.

Due to where her house was she had yet to have visitors. Quickly changing into a set of clean clothes she had exchanged in the trading system, she ran her fingers through her hair before answering the door.

A tall man with long white hair and gentle blue eyes stood, he smiled before calling behind him.

‘Who is he?’

[…SEARCHING DATABASE…

NAME: ALDEN ARUD

TITLE: SECRETARY, TO CALDER IPHEION

ABILITY: WIND

STRENGTH: 20/100]

“Is this the young maiden who saved you, Lucian?”

A patter of feet came before a bouncing boy came to jump beside the man. Sunset eyes that were familiarly gazed at 2851 with a big grin. “Hello again!”

The man bowed, “It is an honor to meet the young maiden who saved my son. I am in your debt.”

2851’s eyes widened and she stepped back unsure how to respond.

He adjusted the glasses that were at the bridge of his nose, “No need to fear. We only wish to show our appreciation for your heroic act.”

2851 pursed her lips and looked back at the egg that sat underneath her covers, if she was going somewhere she was taking it with her. After going back in and placing the egg in her backpack along with some cushioning she’d gotten the night she came back; she went outside and looked from the boy to the man.

The man…Alden…gestured behind him where a sky beast waited with additional saddles for extra riders.

2851 shuffled her feet, she wasn’t sure if the beast would be able to take all three of them. She was bigger-boned, something that she had gotten used to. Having more skin on her bones had protected her compared to the waif-like subjects back in the labs.

The man didn’t say anything though so she would trust he knew better.

Lucian, the boy she saved, sat in the middle between the man, Alden, and her on the back of the sky beast.

“Hold on tight.” The only warning for what was about to occur.

As the beast jumped from the rock face, an unbidden giggle escaped from 2851 as the wind came up to meet them.

She couldn’t help the giggles that continued to spill forth, the wind whipping through her short dark blue locks.

Her fingers clung to the saddle handles as the beast sprinted straight up in the air twirling around until they reached above the clouds and overlooked the floating isles.

Sunset eyes turned toward her and nodded toward the center isle.

“That’s where we are going.”

It was a beautiful floating isle of green. Ivory bridges and sparkling waterfalls. Arches rose above the waterfalls supporting buildings of stone with turrets and sloping sky-blue tile roofs.

A feeling surged within 2851, anticipation, she felt she was about to embark on another new adventure and the feeling was exhilarating. She couldn’t stop grinning as the beast glided down to the top building at the center of the isle. A courtyard lined with green brush and glimmering ponds waited for them.

As they landed, 2851 noticed that the courtyard wasn’t empty but had two persons waiting by the grand arched doorway.

A pair of similar sunset eyes fixed themselves upon 2851, a gentle smile appeared upon the woman’s features.

As 2851 slid off the sky beast, Lucian pulled her over to the waiting two.

“This is my mother and this is my sister.” His mother was the lady with matching features to him, and his sister matched that of his father.

2851 nodded, feeling slightly overwhelmed by her surroundings.

“Mother, sister, this is…” Lucian blushed and looked up at 2851, “Well she doesn’t have a name, but she saved me.”

The lady with coiled orange hair and sunset eyes glided forward as if her feet didn’t even touch the ground. She came forward and offered her hands to 2851 who cautiously placed them in hers. A soft squeeze of the hands, nothing too frightening followed.

“I’m sure my husband and son haven’t explained much. Come let us have some tea before lunch is served.”

2851 looked at the pristine surroundings of the ‘parlor’ as Lady Arud called it. She tugged at the edges of her clothes, although clean they felt…incorrect for such a fine space.

Tall windows let in soft light from the outside. Swathes of fabrics in a variety of blues decorated the space, some hanging around the tall windows, others made into soft cushions for the seats. Sparkling light dotted the walls as light filtered through hitting a hanging lamp with little pieces of crystal dangling from the vaulted ceilings above. It was all very grand, nothing like the cold surroundings she once knew.

There was a silence that followed as the occupants looked upon 2851 with varying looks of respect and gentility.

A loud clap startled 2851 and she jumped from her seat, she hadn’t noticed when another had entered the room.

A tall man with a well-managed beard and light blue eyes stood in the finery of nobles in shades of blue, a large pendant with a sapphire at its center sat proudly on his chest.

“What a quiet bunch this is!” The man exclaimed.

‘Who is he?’

ALICE was ready with a response.

[NAME: CALDER IPHEION

TITLE: BARON

ABILITY: WATER/WIND/ICE

STRENGTH: 100/100]

‘He’s so strong.’ The Baron was the first person she’d seen with 100 strength in their ability.

“So this must be the young lady, Lucian wouldn’t stop talking about.” He tilted his head down in a slight bow toward her. Something 2851 was sure wasn’t proper for such a high noble to do for a nobody like her.

“I didn’t do much.”

“Your ability with water has been gossiped about throughout my lands and it has only been a couple of days.” His eyes closed as he grinned, “I believe that is something to celebrate.”

2851 grew more confused. She was under the impression that abilities like hers were commonplace in the new world she found herself.

As if he recognized her confusion, he waved his hands. “Come let us eat.”

She stood and wandered to his side. There was something so open to the way he stood and spoke. She didn’t feel as hesitant around him as she had with previous adults.

He was careful not to get into her space and merely walked by her side, hands tucked into his robes pockets long legs slowing down so that he could keep with her pace.

When they arrived at the ‘dining room’ he pulled out a seat for her and nodded toward it before making his way to the head of the table. She sat at his left and the others filled out the other numerous chairs to the side of the long table. It would be only after her studies that she would learn that she had been placed in the guest of honors seat that first day, after all later on she would sit on the other end as the other host but that would come later.

The lunch was a quiet affair, everyone focused on their food. Except for the occasional excited looks from Lucian, and curious looks from his sister and his mother; it was enjoyed in rather silence. The food was like nothing she’d had before and she couldn’t help but ravenously feed upon it. Only slowed down when she saw Lady Arud giving her a stern look and showcasing the more elegant eating of the table. Quietly 2851 tried to copy the lady’s elegant movements as she ate the rest of her food.

“She seems to like food just as much as I. We will get along well, it seems.”

2851 tilted her head, her gaze glancing down at her pack that remained safe beside her, before looking back up with a curious gaze.

After the Baron finished eating he set aside his utensils before wiping his mouth with the cloth that was laden in his lap before turning his chair toward 2851.

“I would like to adopt you.”

2851’s eyes widened. Adoption happened rarely in her old world it was something reserved for the powerful and the useful after they received their names at 12. Unlike her who remained nameless and sent to live far away from her old world.

Her first instinct was to refuse. She had been fine on her own.

Perhaps seeing something in her eyes, the Baron spoke up. “I have no children of my own and have never married. The closest relatives I have are the Aruds. I have no one to succeed me when I pass.”

2851 glanced across the way at Alden Arud, “Why can you not succeed?”

Alden shook his head, his orderly tied hair falling over his shoulder. “I do not possess the correct attribute.” At her curious silence, he spoke once more, “Water.”

“I’m weak.” Even as she saw the Baron shake his head, she continued. “But I will stay for a trial period and if you still wish to adopt me then I will agree.”

The Baron clapped his hands, “Excellent. Is there anything you need from your old dwelling? Anyone to get permission from?”

She shook her head, “I have no one.” Looking down at the backpack at her side, “I already have everything I need right here.”