I heard the sound of tapping as I gazed at Alexis, and I realised it was coming from me. My foot was twitching against the marble floor, unease spreading through my body. The sounds of chatter had died down; emptiness left in their wake.

“Roxxy…” My words drifted off and I blinked.

Why was I talking about Roxxy?

My fingers brushed over my chest, my heart racing. I couldn’t remember why I was feeling so nervous. I’d come into this corridor to find Alexis, and now I had.

Mission accomplished.

I shook my head and contained the adrenaline pumping through my veins.

Was it just Alexis’ words? All he had done was invite me to his study. I thought I was more confident than that.

Gold flapped his wings, bringing my attention to the boy beside me. Alexis stared at me expectantly, a smile crossing his face.

“I’m not going to give you the big brother talk, if that’s what you’re worrying about.” He puffed out his chest. “I’m not that awkward.”

His eyes were genuine, a sparkle of mirth ringing out in his voice. I reached for my inventory and plastered a smile on my face.

“Sure, let me send a message to my parents. They’re expecting me back soon.”

“For sure.” Alexis faltered, his expression paling, and he leaned against the wall for support. “Oh- excuse me, the late-night drowsiness is finally catching up to me.”

I tried to look for any signs of deception, but he didn’t have any. My texting regent glowed in my hand as I sent a message out. I wasn’t sending it to my parents like I’d told him.

‘Hey, can you ask my guards if anything strange is happening around me? I’m feeling a bit skittish.’

Gerial’s symbol light shimmered as the message sent, but I kept the regent in my hand instead of putting it away.

Gerial messaged me back instantly.

‘Will do. Guards have been notified.’

It was brief, and a lot more abrupt than his normal messages, but his reply brought a feeling of relief to my heart. The moment I called out the guards would break into the mansion. The Mitra household reputation wouldn’t hold them back.

I could apologise to Amanda later.

My regent flashed with light again a few seconds later.

‘Nothing strange.’

My back straightened and I added a bounce in my step. Confidence flowed through my body and strengthened my resolve.

“Your study was on the first floor to the left, right?”

The nerves from before were gone, a byproduct of Alexis’ surprise appearance. I fed Gold a treat and saw how tired he was.

His head perked up, and I had a feeling he’d fallen asleep in the last few seconds.

“That’s right.” Alexis’ eyebrows rose in surprise. “How did you know that?”

“Um-” I paused awkwardly as I realised my mistake.

He didn’t know I’d accidentally gone into his room when Agni had led me into it.

“I remembered from when Amanda gave me the tour.” I lied smoothly.

We walked into the kitchen and made our way towards the stairs. I looked down at the first step and placed my foot onto it gently.

I’d tripped near here earlier in the day when I’d walked towards Roxxy.

“Are you okay?” Alexis was already walking up the stairs.

I nodded and gestured for him to continue. We made our way up the stairs and passed Amanda’s study. I heard Gold squawk and I turned-

“Over here.” Alexis’ voice interrupted me.

I looked up ahead and saw him holding open his study door for me. His body disappeared as he walked inside, and I hurried to catch the door before it closed.

I reached it just before it could slam in my face.

My fingers gripped the frame of the door and I paused as I felt a tug in my heart. Something was different. My head turned to my side, and I realised a weight had lifted off of it.

Gold was gone.

I looked from side to side, but I couldn’t see his purple feathers or rotund belly. There was no flapping in the air, or chirps.

Where did he go?

My eyes drifted towards Amanda’s study. If he had gone to meet with Agni, I would have noticed. I narrowed my eyes and spread my senses outwards, trying to find him.

Then my mind picked up a trace of something. A scratching sensation that gnawed at my-

“Come on in, my mansion is your mansion.” Alexis called out, his jovial voice booming from within the room.

I could see him waiting for me, his form calm and dignified as he sat down on the chair in front of his desk.

I turned back and eyed the entrance to the corridor and shook my head as Alexis looked at me. Gold was more important.

“I’d-”

Love to hear you out.

“-love to hear you out.”

The bird would be fine.

The bird would be fine.

Gold was more than well-equipped enough to handle a few minutes by himself.

My feet grew warm as I strode through the doors, fire mana gathering around me comfortably. It gathered around me in droves, clinging the skin across my arms and torso. I saw more entering the room every second.

It had all been hiding inside his study the whole time. A small bed of mana that wafted through the surroundings.

“Nice room you have here.”

Alexis had changed the decorum since I’d last been in here. The torn paintings were gone, and in their place was the single portrait of his mother, looking down at me from the middle of the back wall.

Alexis turned his chair around to face me comfortably.

“I really need to get a second chair here.” He looked around and frowned.

“That’s alright, I can supply my own.” I held a hand up placatingly.

I weaved my fingers through the air and a stream of stone flew out of my inventory. It melded together and formed a seat underneath me.

I saw the fire mana part underneath me, giving way to the chair.

“Handy.” He grinned. “I'm glad you came in here. Honestly, with the expression you were giving me I was worried I was freaking you out for some reason.”

He wasn’t wrong. My body was tense, and I couldn’t stop a headache from forming. There was a thumping sensation as my thoughts pressed against my skull.

Maybe I’d socialised a bit too much today. I’d overdone it.

“Well, I am feeling a bit isolated.” I admitted. “I guess I got a bit jumpy once everyone left.”

Was that right?

I’d felt like there were more people here before. A slight sensation tugged at the back of my mind.

“I was wondering about that. Why are you all alone?” Alexis’ words broke through my thoughts. “Where’s William? I expected him to be with you.”

He looked over my shoulder outside the open door.

“William?” I raised an eyebrow at him. “You didn’t invite him. Just me. I got the impression that you didn’t want him here.”

“But you guys are always together. I wouldn’t separate you.” Alexis tapped his fingers against his desk and frowned.

“I thought… I thought I’d invited him. Didn’t I? It seems kind of… now that I think about it.”

There was a shift in his demeanor, his words turning into a mumble, and his hair flared up as he scratched his head. I saw the fire mana jump around him.

Then he shook his head.

“I must have forgotten.” His eyes cleared up. “Man, I can’t believe I did that. I’ve got to apologise the next time I see him.”

I let out a slight chuckle as I saw his panicked expression. He pulled at the sides of his shirt nervously, a picture of innocence.

I'd gone and assumed the worst when the reality was that Alexis was just a scatterbrain.

I could see him tapping his fingers against his side, and he bit his lip as he struggled to say what he’d brought me in here for.

“I’m not going to bite you.” I leaned forward. “What’s up?”

I deactivated my mana sense and focused on Amanda’s brother.

Then I blinked as my headache cleared instantly. I could still feel the warmth of the fire mana around me but stopping my skill had taken the weight off my mind.

Alexis’ head perked up and his hair blazed to life around him as his confident demeanor returned, his eyes glowing as he looked towards me.

“I have a skill.” His eyes gazed into mine. “It’s… a bloodline ability. One that Amanda hasn’t discovered yet.”

A bloodline ability?

My eyes narrowed as I looked at him, a flicker of suspicion nestling in my heart. His hands twitched as he spoke, and I saw embers burn to life in his hair.

He was nervous.

That made sense. Telling people about your skills unprovoked was rare and revealing details about a bloodline ability was rarer.

“I’ve told a few people now. Most of the ones that came today, and a few of our classmates.”

Alexis continued, unaware of my thoughts.

He moved his hand in front of him and portions of his body began to glow brightly, drawing my attention. From beneath his clothes five lumps wriggled into existence and made their way towards any opening they could find.

I shivered as I watched them, their shine a sickly gre-

I saw red.

I saw red light filling the room as they rolled out of his clothes, five crimson beads identical to the ones Amanda had created.

This was the bloodline ability that William had told me about. The power to contain fire magic inside a small object, the source of the Mitra family fortune.

“Be careful.” Alexis put his hand over the beads, blocking my view of them. “These aren’t your average flames.”

He smiled and his fingers gripped onto them. He rolled them between his knuckles with practised motions, and my eyes followed their movements.

It was almost hypnotic.

“This isn’t new to me.” I tilted my head. “Amanda can do the same.”

Alexis chuckled.

“Not all bloodlines are the same. My sister is able to lock external magic into the orbs.” He held up a single bead and its light shone over me. “I'm the opposite. I can make my power into orbs, and then help others with it.”

He placed the bead onto his desk, and I watched as it rolled over the wood. It was followed by four more.

I could feel them glimmering with power.

I could feel them glimmering with power.

“I started with Cresp and Hutton first. The day after I unlocked my bloodline.” Alexis’ voice floated softly into my ears. “It worked better than we could’ve possibly imagined. They overcame any bottleneck they faced.”

Flames ignited from the beads, drifting across the walls, surrounding me playfully.

“Then I helped others. The ones that really needed a boost.” His fingers curled into fists and his crimson eyes blazed. “It isn't easy having to live up to the expectations set by our noble standing.”

“Unice.”

I recalled her sudden growth, and her inability to use metal manipulation.

How had she gotten-

What a great power.

What a great power.

“She’s always been second to Ouros, and it wasn’t fair.” Alexis shook his head, his expression downcast.

Unice, Cresp and Hutton. I leaned back as I took in Alexis’ words. I could see the power in the beads. The possibilities they offered me.

They weren’t suspicious. They were a gift.

They weren’t suspicious. They were a gift.

My fingers twitched, trying to reach towards them, but I held it back.

“If so many people know, how are you going to keep it a secret?” My voice sounded faint against my ears.

Warmth surrounded my body, and I could feel my mind relaxing.

“Who said I wanted to keep it a secret? Eventually, I want people to find out.” Alexis looked at his magic and then at me. “But first I want to help the people that need it. And I know you’re one of them.”

He gestured towards the desk and a bead rose through the air. He held it in his hand, flames gushing out between his fingers.

The flames of the bead didn’t give off heat, but the warmth surrounding me was increasing.

I didn’t have my mana sense activated, but I knew it had to be fire mana. It swept over my skin and knocked against my temples.

“How?” I asked.

I hoped the question didn’t anger him, it had left my lips before I could stop it, a residual doubt lingering in my mind, powered by the heat pressing against my head.

“The details will come.” He smiled.

“My power guides me to the people that deserve my help. That I can trust.” Alexis gestured with his finger and a bead flew towards me. “It told me about you. A person that I could help, and that could help me.”

The bead wriggled tantalisingly in front of me, a floating ball of power.

“It offers opportunities to those that can take them. Age. Knowledge. Magic. Power. All you could ever want right here in front of you.” Alexis’ eyes flashed. “And it tells me that you can handle many, many opportunities.”

At his words the other beads floated into the air and hovered in front of me.

I could feel their power.

I could feel their power.

My heart churned as I looked at them, but then I noticed something-

I could trust them.

I could trust them.

I felt it intrinsically. The magic was here to help me, I only had to let it do so. Alexis smiled at my realization, and leaned back in his chair, allowing me to communicate with them.

The beads glowed, their magic spinning thoughts into my mind, showing me images of the possibilities in reach.

My memories filtered through all the obstacles and challenges I had faced in my life. Then a single one stood out in my mind. The only roadblock that had plagued me since the first night.

I wanted the power to overcome the watcher.

The beads glimmered as the thought solidified, becoming a necessity that overwhelmed my senses. All rationality gave way to the tsunami of emotion that flooded my mind.

I needed that power.

I would take it.

My lips pursed together, and I nodded.

Then I reached out and grasped the beads.