“Flow in its purest form is not magical but an individual's essence of change.

Every being has a capacity for change and influence on the external, no matter the type.

However, in most people the capacity to actively facilitate that capacity is low.

Another significant discovery had been that even when classed with allocatable points only a minority of people is able to facilitate the growth of their Flow.

For every individual not of this notable group drawing of Flow is only possible through external patterns and with the help of skills possible.”

The introductory paragraphs from “The Duality of Flow Resonance” by Penem Wursam.

—

Stepping through the glass and iron portal felt like stepping into a different world. Leaving the admittedly obscure plant life and reality of the outside world behind and entering a marvelous dim world specked with assortments of lights, various odd furniture, and full of people.

Liana couldn’t decide what the gape at more. The odd display of moving colored lights, the intricate outfits of the party attenders, or the vast hall inside a house. It wasn’t too much to take in but it was a lot.

In the end, her eyes were drawn to the people. Their chatter overlayed onto the pleasant music played in the hall had not been what caught her eyes. That hadn’t been the movements of women and men passing by each other.

It had been the two people who in turn flew up above the crowd.

“Flowbringers,” she heard hushed behind her.

We are so out of our depths here. Maybe we should have just stayed at home. Worriedly but also amazed she gazed at man and woman. A slight smile appeared on her face.

It would be so cool if I were to end up as one of them at some point. They’ve got to live a better life than princesses. Flying like that or moving while sitting down. That would have to just be the best life.

“Get going people, we are blocking the exit,” Evelyn’s pa said.

Grabbing Liana and her father by their arms her mother pulled them both to the side.

“Stop making a scene, Tara. I just saw the Vikariat and we really shouldn’t get their attention,” Nardar began to voice over his wife's actions.

“We should do the exact opposite. Don’t you realize, this is her choice. There are two here. Two! I have seen maybe four Flowbringers in my entire life. Maybe she could apprentice to one of them. A flow score of three means something,” Tara interrupted.

“I know, it is not guaranteed that she can get flow boosting classes later, but she has a chance,” she said, each word stressed, trying to make her husband understand.

He did, Liana could see it on his face. But she also saw her own hesitation reflected on her father’s face.

Right now, wouldn’t be a good time to approach them. They would still be checking out the new arrivals.

She, and from how she interpreted her father's grimace, he too figured them to be security detail. Sadly her mother wasn’t as observant as most when it came to seeing people as more than who they were. Intricacies, which sort of occupation and in which role people appeared were often not important to her. It made her decent at her job and made her a good person to be friends with but was also an issue in situations like the one they were currently in.

“Listen, Tara. That is a great idea! But we haven’t even properly arrived yet, let’s meet the hosts first. Introduce ourselves. Paying attention to someone besides the hosts would be disrespectful from what I have gathered over the years,” Nardar said.

The wind was taken out of her sails. She slumped a bit, though the general cheer in her expression was still visible.

“Alright, that makes sense. Manners are important. Making a good impression even more so. If the capitalist likes us he might end up introducing you to the flowbringers. We can’t forget what we are here for,” she said.

“Yes, celebrating Teira’s and Monika’s unlocking. I am so excited for them to tell me all about it. We should find them.” Liana said, knowing full well that her mother had a different goal in mind. Excited Liana turned around searching out their companions.

Further along in the middle of the partially packed room, she could make out the occasional back of one of her friends or their families. Liana couldn’t see where they were going so she asked her father and followed with her parents in tow.

Clueing her in on them approaching a raised platform with six people on it, was all it took to make her hurry. The composition was fairly self-evident. The two girls would be Teira and Monika, even though she couldn’t see their faces. The adults standing around them would be their father and what seemed to be either guards or servants.

As they tried to catch up to her friends and their families she couldn’t help but keep throwing glances at the two regularly flying people. Both wore different styles of gear, each having a slight glow to them, while also looking both regal and efficient.

She would have given a lot to have been blessed with an appraisal trait just to see what level either of them was. They had to be at least second rank classes potentially higher. While she had received information about some of the most common and even scarce classes she knew of none that allowed for only temporary flight.

Eventually, when she had passed both of them she just glanced at the occasional interestingly dressed person. She had been taught about how different types of attires spoke of different types of social standing, personal strength, and so forth. While interesting nobody else really stood out.

When Liana’s family arrived behind Evelyn’s and Cora’s families they had already started talking to the capitalist and their daughters. The four girls were standing slightly behind Mr. Sanonbourgh already submerged in chipper chatter with each other.

Liana glanced lightly envious towards the girls. Missing out on whatever her friends were talking about was a shame. Even more so because she felt left out.

“We too would like to thank you for your generous invitation, Mr. Sanonborough,” Evelyn’s mother was just saying as they arrived. “We have heard so much of both Teira and Monika from our daughter so it really is a pleasure to see them together.”

“Ah yes, I too would like to arrange for my daughters to spend more time with her peers; there is merely so much more for them to learn to adequately prepare them for their future. But let us no longer delve on that. Tonight we are here to celebrate my daughters' growth. Partake in the aliment, drink, and sweetmeat,” the well-dressed capitalist answered.

Right at the beginning of his response, he drew a slightly poisonous glare from Teira. That was until her eyes landed on Liana, and the quarrel with her father seemed to be forgotten.