-The first day of Winter. Midday. Silverstein family.

Houron's POV-

A piece of good news delivered by our spies in Sulow town announces a long awaited chance to acquire a desired piece for the future of my declining family after the Royal's decree which caused an undesirable stalemate. With an opportunity that we cannot pass because of the child's perilous situation while in the presence of a clumsy Dragon which could easily harm a fragile little girl that is approaching adulthood, we plan to do anything possible to secure the precious individual.

I guess it was worth it having the tinkers own me a favor for helping them construct the mine at the volcano which the Ragefires were put in charge after, but it's a shame I couldn't find much information about what the girl is or how to exploit her better due to their rarity. Perhaps ancient beings might know something about the purpose of these individuals since there are only a few records in the whole world, and nobody knows why they even exist. However, I should consider myself lucky to have satisfied my curiosity after realizing it was not a lie that a kid was able to learn Magic at an unheard age, and even more astonishing was awakening Light which is the most difficult affinity. I affirm the value of the white haired little girl recalling the Tinker research.

An Affinity is a connection to Elementals which most of the time matches the natural talent of the individual for a particular Element and manifests as predetermined visible markings. However, Talents can change sometimes for diverse reasons, and the Affinity stays the same during the mortal Life too, but Divine Rank may alter it with recognition from the Elementals. Beyond the High Talent for an Affinity are exceedingly rare individuals loved by an Element known as Exceptionals, and their main characteristic is awakening at a very young age, then learning Magic fast.

However, there is no mention as to what came first... did they achieve Exceptional Affinity because of their Talent, or is it the other way around? Perhaps they are both Exceptional Affinity and Exceptional Talents since they are supposed to Match, but who can test that when there are no visible differences-- No, just because there are no records of markings doesn't mean they won't appear later, and maybe it's just the affinity since that girl stayed Low Rank, but she also went through a trauma that might have stopped her advance. Maybe it has something to do with the Soul since I read that descendant of Ancients beings didn't always have children of High Talents either despite creatures like Demigod Dragons putting a lot of effort into making their eggs. Could these Affinity markings be just a reflection of a branding in the Soul itself? I conjecture the origins of the Exceptional individuals wondering if they have some other hidden advantage.

Well, it doesn't change the fact that the bodies of Exceptional are not average anymore, but they are no different from the rest of the High talented people who don't bother having many children. I realize not many humans actively pursue having gifted offsprings as opposed to beasts.

Still, it's a shame not many do it objectively because complications like love, politics and magic practice for their own Rank, but a pairing of two High Talented individuals has one out five chances of having children with High Talents. Though I wonder if Demigod Dragons or any other Ancient improved these odds, I didn't have time to research anything other than humans, and there were no records of Exceptional beasts, but I doubt they'd let themselves be documented easily anyway. However, even though a High paired with a Medium has one out fifteen, and with a Low is well, very low... any offspring from Exceptionals paired with High Talents is almost guaranteed to be High Talents. I consider the most important aspect of obtaining an Exceptional Light magician.

Kuku, how can Shaila not be considered a treasure when she could start a family of High Talents... BY HERSELF!!... I fantasize watching grow one talent after the other. Not to mention according to one record of two of these Exceptionals shown in a bloodline, it could indicate the possibility of another being born from her descendants, and this would be easier if they are born males since there's only so many children a woman can give birth to. The odds for complications rises significantly after the fifth child delivery, then it would require the assistance of a skilled healer or a High Ranking woman that stays healthy and fertile for longer years. I realize the need to improve the health of the girl in question before giving birth.

Sighs... I look down with sadness while recalling my deceased wife's efforts to give me many children. I loved my latest wife who was only low talented and died after giving birth to just eight children, but she succeeded in giving me what I desired for so many years which was Kairuon. I take a moment to appreciate the brown haired woman who made me very happy but regrettably is no longer at my side. After wandering around and impregnating many women whom I didn't even have feelings for, I finally have a son who is High Talented Earth Magician like me and should be considered very lucky he was born from a Low Talent. I ridicule the streak of bad luck from having average children even with other High talented.

...That girl will be a good partner for Kairuon, and we'll start a new household somewhere else other than this backwater kingdom...a new fresh start won't be a problem for my Rank. I realize the need to call him from the capital before start preparing.

"Don't mess it up again... BOY!" I Sternly warn him not to fail this time while narrowing my eyes.

Argh! I regret not going myself and kill the girl's escort then take her, but I did give Nagai instructions to take the chance if the opportunity presented itself while I was outside of the Kingdom. Though it was productive, I wish I was allowed a longer time in the Tinker library but staying too long resulted in disaster over here. I think back to the times before the worth of the girl was confirmed.

"Y-yes father, of course." Nagai stuttered recalling the shame of being looked down by mere bandits.

Those stupid bandits got greedy and didn't honor the deal because Nagai didn't show them proof who they were messing with, but that was difficult when we were covering our tracks, and our money shortage didn't allow us to offer more than 50 Gold Royals. Either they got cocky because some of them were Rank 7 or they thought even a minor family like the Ragefires had several times what we offered and thus concluded we were inferior, but mustn't reveal my Rank. I concluded the deal with high ranking bandits was doomed to fail.

There aren't many Rank 9s in the Kingdom, and if their interrogation revealed the mastermind to be a Mid-Rank 9 approaching the last tier, then it would be easy to identify who was behind it. Can't take any risk of exposure if someone survives to tell the tale because the Kingdom has a spy unit dedicated to hunting down traitors in other lands which Alphonse belonged to, and it wouldn't be a problem for me alone, but with Kairuon along... I shake my head refusing an open attack that will make the Kingdom go after me.

It was a miracle they 'returned' the girl, but it's hilarious how they thought they'd get away with it... I roll my eyes at the ignorant bandits. They didn't know the quality of Faust's Tungstenium equipment which was handed over by the divine Goldias himself for getting lucky in that invasion where the enemies got drunk at night celebrating the victory before the war. Bah! Idiots, the lot of them! I recall the opportunity the Wind magician took after our armies were underestimated by the invaders, then thought back to the matter at hand.

"We waited an entire year for them to lose their vigilance, and allow the girl out into the open, but we can't afford to fail again, so I'll make a move this time if the pawns aren't enough." I declared staring at him who trembled under my firm gaze realizing the consequences of failing me a second time.

Well, at least I used sufficient money to Rank up, but I can't be considered a good fighter with just a Tilanium sword, and that Faust who is low Ranker has better gear... Though luring Faust in a place devoid of prying eyes to take his equipment might be possible, I should purchase a Mask just in case, and restrain my magic as much as possible when fighting, so they can't narrow me down so easily from the potential suspects. I resolve myself to take action counting on the fact that people know of my frequent travels which can give me some time to disappear.

"Ye-yes, of course, but I'm already committed, so please don't use me as a scapegoat!" Nagai pleaded stammering after hearing me say pawn.

"Just get me what I want, and I'll focus on my project, pairing up the girl with your little brother Kairuon once they grow up, then you can do whatever you want with the family, but don't even think about touching him... His high talent is too valuable to be lost in a petty family squabble, and you are already the family head just like I promised after you showed the capability for management." I anticipate any ideas he might have about my High Talented youngest son.

"Yes, Father..." The brown haired boy lowered his head pondering. "Uh, can I have the Light magician woman after you are done using her?" He requested to use the expendable girl in the mines.

"...That will be difficult since I plan to use her until she can't birth anymore, but if she still survives, then you got yourself another Light magician to spend in the Mines which so far has shown no result despite many deaths." I nodded before pointing out the outcome of his efforts to find another silver vein.

"Can't be helped." Nagai shakes his head staring at the reports on the desk. "We are excavating in places never tried before for safety reasons, but the findings are not enough to fool Royals for the time we need, and if they realize Silver production is dropping, then our family will lose its purpose." He explains his concerns.

Ugh...this situation is so frustrating, but our luck ran out when the silver vein exhausted. However, we can't just get High-Ranks Earth magicians like me to make silver since metal consumes a lot of Mana which is counterproductive for refining Spirit Energy while doing the same thing, and it's imperative to gather essential minerals for equipment. I reject making the metal with Magic that requires High Rank as a viable substitute for an Earth Vein.

Well, no one in their right mind would stay on the sinking ship, but High Talents only follow the family for a time in exchange for the imparted knowledge and resources which they pay back doing works that also bring prestige to the household. I recall the High Rankers that have been leaving our declining family.

Raising anything other than High Talents is a waste of resources since Mediums would require someone knowledgeable like a Divine to reach that Rank as well, and for Low Talents making it just to Rank 10 is tremendously hard when they even die of old age even with a teacher. The prominent families of this Kingdom only have a handful of High talents who are nurtured to be future backers which most let it go to their heads and die senseless deaths or assassinations which keep their numbers in single digits while medium Ranks are kept as guards or sent to wars.

"I'm not saying it's wrong, just make sure people can't follow the trail back to us since Light magicians are rare, and their absence is easy to notice." I remind him caution when doing illegal things.

Although it is possible to find another Silver Vein using mostly Low Rankers of Earth, Light and Wind magicians, will the sacrifices be enough before the Royals shut down mining operations? I wonder what will the Royal family do to keep the silver production for currency. The Firefox clan on the North won't let us mine in their territory, so there won't be another alternative but to start trading silver with another Kingdom. I picture the territorial beasts and beast-people that have a rich land untouched.

"There is no need to worry Father since Light Magicians are useless and Rank up slowly, they are easily tricked by a simple job offer to 'provide light' without knowing how dangerous it is where they have to go haha.." He informed before laughing with contempt.

That's only in this kingdom though. I've seen high ranking light magicians before... I recall my travels in the past three years.

"So? What do you have prepared?" I inquire on the operation to capture the girl.

"I already have there a Rank 7 Earth with other fifteen Rank 6 magicians and auramancers ready to mobilize for infiltration along the construction workers, then a High-Rank wind magician to flee with her." He informs the plot to snatch the girl.

"No." I shake my head. "That plan won't work since Alphonse will see it coming with his eyes closed, and even the Bidlakes stationed there by her grandmother, under Elena's order will interfere." I indicate out the flaw in his method. "Hmm... Let's take a different approach this time and make them move the way we want..." I declared waving my hand.

"But Father, the more complicated a plan is, the higher the chances of failure..." Nagai reminds timidly.

"That depends on the value of the pieces and the bait you use, but I will be the contingency..." I lecture him before explaining an idea I had before. "Collapse one of the mine's tunnels containing toxic water to spill into the river that feeds the reservoir under Bidlake's protection, and wait for them to contact you for helping to contain the leak," I explain the overview watching him turn pale at the radical idea.

"F-father...!" Nagai stuttered in panic before getting up from his chair. "If it's found out we did it on purpose, our family will get in trouble with the Royals.... And how would that get us the girl?" He asks puzzled.

"Calm down boy!" I call out watching him sit down. "It's true it's a dangerous idea, but you can make sure it looks like an accident which we had before, just make it bigger this time and have someone take the blame if needed. After that, you just need an excuse to trigger negotiations with the Bidlakes, then with a lot of people heading to war right now, there is a lack of personnel in both of our families, and asking for a large Sum in return for help will get them to bargain since they are poor." I elaborate the plan to put pressure on the Bidlakes with their responsibilities.

"That's when I ask for the girl..." Nagai ponders holding his chin.

"Yep." I nodded with a smirk before explaining. "From the perspective of the elders...they are making use of a broken doll that nobody wants, and if you offer them some money, they'll feed on your hands, but if that doesn't crack the egg, then have them bring the girl to their state under some pretext without alerting Elena. Meanwhile, hire mercenaries that won't trace back to us to nab the girl from the pet once they come out again which should be easy considering it's a young Dragon, but if that doesn't work then send Shaila's mother, Eleonor to bring the girl out of the Ragefire estate. And since the girl will be delivered to us, pull your men back to have the Ragefires drop their guard. Well, you get the idea..." I describe pointing up with a finger.

"A mother selling her child... will that even work?" Nagai raises an eyebrow inquiring.

"It will." I nodded then reclined back on the sofa. "That woman only cares about dresses and tea cups... Such a useless thing gave birth to a treasure...." I twist my face in disgust at the spoiled woman who stayed low rank.

"...It's very risky, but it is what father wants. I can make it work since there is a volcano that causes Earthquakes, and the old ones next to the volcano should make a good target, but the ones used for the operation will have to be disposed of." Nagai analyzes the best options looking at the maps.

"Good, you do what's necessary." I approved getting up. "Still, a blue dragon... send some high-rank fire magicians just in case and bring the meat after processing the beast," I ordered for precautions and collect the meat from the pet.

"Oh? Does father want to eat the meat despite not being a genuine Water Dragon?" He questions puzzled.

"You haven't tried meat from a thousand year old Dragon... it's like eating stone, and that one might not be a true Water Dragon, but it should taste better than Plain Dragons with its meat tender since it's young." I explain the delicacy before turning around to leave as Nagai is left to ponder on his desk.

What are you thinking Faust, wasting precious Mana crystals on a second rate pet!? I disapproved helping a beast that takes a long time to Rank then left the study.

After walking for a while down the hallway, I stopped and made a silver nugget in my hand.

Well, there is no turning back now, it's Sink or Swim before the household hit rock bottom like the Ragefires, and my older sons already fled. ...I'm tired of making silver to pretend we are still mining and not just digging around, but this fool Nagai wants to stay behind while the rest of us prepare to flee the country. It makes no sense to me how that was always his dream, but he should at least be good to take the blame for us, and I still have many other Low talented children. I shake my head at the stubborn boy who wanted to prove his usefulness since little.

-The first day of Winter. Sundown.

Nefiru's POV-

"Can you hear me? Hurry up and nod because my brain is tiiiiired!" I announced looking at the dragoness walking in front of me who jerked her body in surprise and looked around.

Finally!... I rejoice after spending most of the day shouting in my head. But now comes the second part of the torture which is teaching her Magic manipulation to talk back... I decide to stop collar practices for today and head back before nightfall.

"I'm going to bite your tail now!" I declared before chasing her tail.

Raiga reacted by quickly turning her body around to confront the fiend trying to bite her smooth, scaly tail, and abruptly stopped in front of my snout which has lips raised making a smirk.

"Yes, you can understand me now..." I inform the surprised dragoness who opened her eyes wide.