The days passed swiftly… Vibrant flowers danced along the banks of the river cutting through the valley below as the simple men and women of Shimmering Heights toiled diligently in their fields and stores. Everyone had something to contribute to the livelihood of the town. And Atell inevitably found himself working relentlessly during the scorching hot days of Summer.

Sivelle was stern, harsh even, during that time as her business reached its peak. But alongside effort came reward, and he was able to relax and enjoy the fruits of his labor during the Harvest Feast, his debt quickly dwindling. The seasons continued to turn as travelers, merchants, and the occasional dignitaries came and went. Eventually... fire returned to the people’s hearths as snow blanketed the numerous peaks of the Severed Spine once more.

In the blink of an eye, nearly a year had come and gone since Atell had arrived at this quiet town in the sprawling mountain range. Sivelle was a very disciplined person, so the impressionable boy was unavoidably swept into her routine.

After breakfast, Atell would join Sivelle in the yard for the peculiar aerobics session. Initially, it was very difficult to get comfortable with the exercises. Many of the moves and stretches required strength and flexibility beyond what the Demon’s growing body possessed. Therefore, Sivelle helped guide him through a modified version that was more attainable for a boy his age. He picked it up quickly and was occasionally offered praise or encouragement. The exercise also helped improve his overall coordination. His own body’s adaptability caused Atell no small amount of surprise.

During the afternoon, Sivelle would busy herself with work in the garden and the greenhouse. Throughout most of the process, Atell was simply an observer due to his lack of Mana and experience, but once his exertion of strength was more under control, he occasionally made a contribution by pulping select ingredients in a simple mortar and pestle. It would still be a while yet until he was capable of being recognized as a fully-fledged apprentice.

Finally, in the evening, Atell would lounge on the porch and watch Helios descend. Occasionally, customers would trudge up to the house during this time, requesting an ointment or medicine for whatever itch or illness plagued them. Rarely were there any serious cases that required Sivelle to make a personal visit. Atell was subsequently tasked with deliveries in order to familiarize himself with the layout and faces in town. If he was lucky, a nice tip would come his way.

Atell was always busy, preventing his thoughts from straying too far down any dark paths. There had also been a few opportunities to get in touch with his grandfather and the tribe which helped keep him focused. Whenever Sivelle went into Kobi to restock on Charge Crystals and other supplies, she would carry a letter, written by her under Atell's direction, that she would pass to a Tracer. Tracers were small, nimble birds that could track someone's Mana signature across a fair distance. Therefore, before leaving Shimmering Heights, Irth had left a small medallion carrying a trace of his Mana in Sivelle's care for such purposes.

Not much was said in the brief exchanges of letters. The tribe was still in search of a new home to settle, and they were too far away for anyone to make a visit to Shimmering Heights, but Atell was just satisfied with knowing that his family was safe.

These passing days were serene and uncomplicated. Bright, and full of sunshine... However, today was a day very unlike the others. A surprise visitor arrived at the home as Shimmering Heights prepared to celebrate the New Year...

“Elaina!” Sivelle called out with a smile as a beautiful young Fae crossed the lawn.

Atell was warming up in the morning sun, just about finished with his set of stretches. He was a bit frustrated to be interrupted at this time, so he didn’t offer a greeting. The aerobics session was something both he and Sivelle placed tremendous value on. It was an activity that brought peace to his mind and soul. The day felt lost without its presence.

Miss Lotti was usually the only villager with enough guts to approach the house at this time of day.

“Hello, Mother.”

‘Well… that explains it.’ Atell grumbled.

“I wasn’t sure if you would be back for the celebration this year. I know work has been keeping you busy.” Sivelle hugged her daughter, but Atell was able to detect a trace of hesitation in her movements.

“The Director was kind enough to offer me some leave. Shimmering Heights is not far from The Nest, after all.” Elaina’s tone was distant, almost cold.

Atell marveled at how similar in appearance the two women were as they exchanged pleasantries. Slim, tall, and full of grace. Elaina’s long hair was still dark and silky, a clear indication of her youth, but Sivelle’s piercing blue eyes still carried the same keen glint as her daughter’s.

“Who is this?” Both women turned to face him in tandem as Elaina spoke.

“Atell, a new assistant. He’s been staying with me while working off some debt,” Sivelle explained.

“Hmm?” A spark of curiosity, but nothing more. Elaina’s gaze shifted back to her mother.

“How long will you be staying, dear?”

“Only three days. Fresh assignments are issued after the New Year, so my presence is required.”

‘Military maybe?’ Atell wondered. Elaina was likely a Concocter as well if Sivelle was even marginally involved in her upbringing.

Unfortunately, all he could make were assumptions. There was still too much knowledge that he lacked, Atell realized. Pestering Sivelle with questions in the evenings yielded little in the way of answers, but she caved and provided him short lectures on topics like history, traditions, and the structure of the government on occasion.

The Hinterlands had no semblance of any organized law or culture outside of the Coven’s dominion. Most of the scattered tribes and clans had their own set of principles and regulations. That so many people could be united under a single governing body in the Dynasty fascinated Atell.

“Atell, I have some things to discuss with my daughter, so we’ll be heading inside. Feel free to join us for breakfast whenever you finish your routine,” Sivelle instructed.

“Alright.”

Atell took a deep breath, gathering strength in his core. Elaina eyed him curiously as she passed by, but he ignored the stare, stepping lightly while maintaining balance. Rays of sunlight seeped into his skin, saturating his body with warm energy. Atell exalted in the feeling as his spirit soared. Soon, the boy lost himself in the movements.

***

Elaina chewed on her lip as she stared at her mother’s back. The little Demon’s presence had come as a tremendous shock, especially considering she couldn’t detect a trace of Mana in his body. For the last 100 years following Sivelle’s retirement, prominent families, and even a few descendants of the Paragons, had traveled to this remote town to beg the Grandmaster to take their child as an apprentice. Talented youths with formidable backgrounds. Yet none of them had received her approval.

But now some meek and scrawny adolescent had suddenly received her mother’s favor... There had to be some tremendous secret held within the boy.

Sure enough, as Elaina looked back she found the Demon surrounded in a radiant light as he smoothly proceeded with the routine she was all too familiar with. The child’s light grey skin was suffused with a golden glow, and the drops of dark sweat glistening on its surface seemed to evaporate almost as soon as they emerged. All of the Origin Energy pervading the mountain ridge gathered eagerly at the boy’s side.

Elaina’s mind shuddered as she froze in place. That wasn’t sweat… those were impurities. Somehow, the raw Origin Energy was being used to temper the boy’s body without first being converted into Mana.

“H-How…?”

“I know.” Sivelle’s gaze was solemn as she yanked Elaina inside.

Elaina was still breathing heavily as the door shut behind them.

“Where did you find this child?” she nearly shouted.

“You’ve heard of the Heartstone source revealed in the Trion Mountains, correct? The one alongside the new Gate.”

“Y-Yes…” Elaina was still struggling to comprehend what she’d just witnessed.

“That boy tried to steal some Heartstone from the Aurelians, and ended up corrupting himself in the process. He fled here with his uncle, apparently having heard of me from when I healed that old Matriarch…”

“And…?”

“Let me finish.” Sivelle held up a hand. “That boy swallowed the energy inside a nearly 12kg Heartstone while traveling here in an attempt to slow the deterioration of his body. Just the sheer volume of Flux Essence contained inside that Heartstone should have killed him instantly, let alone the resulting clash with the Nether Energy. But somehow, the utter destruction of his Channels and organs triggered a Bloodline Awakening, allowing him to survive long enough for me to extract the corruption.”

“That’s… impossible. Even the Karth can only withstand a 7kg Heartstone, maybe 8 at best.”

“Well, that’s not all. After the operation, his body completely recovered within a week, Origin Channels and all. While he was hibernating from the Awakening, I searched his body for any lingering traces of Mana, thinking he may have taken an advanced healing potion that only triggered after the corruption was removed. But... It appears that the process was completely natural.”

“Mother, this… what sort of bloodline does he possess?”

“Mixed-Blood, unlikely a Hybrid. I learned from his uncle that they are members of a native tribe enslaved by the Aurelians, carrying the blood of Mountain Trolls. Although, Atell’s circumstances are a bit more unique. His mother was one of the Gilded Priestesses.”

“That can’t be true. Even a fully Awakened Warlock with a Troll bloodline wouldn’t be able to heal those kinds of injuries so rapidly. The boy’s origins must be elsewhere,” Elaina refuted.

Sivelle shrugged. “Possibly. That’s my best guess as well. However, it still doesn’t explain how he’s able to temper his body with raw Origin Energy.”

“How long has it been going on? And does he understand the implications?” Elaina couldn’t prevent her excitement from creeping into her voice.

“Atell has no idea he’s even doing it, much less the significance. He’s been forging his body for nearly a year, without showing any signs of stopping. The daily effects are negligible, but over this period of time I suspect his tempering has surpassed any of the most potent methods and elixirs.”

“H-Have you tried giving him a tempering elixir as well to see the effects.”

“Of course.” Sivelle scoffed. “I did as soon as I noticed the phenomenon. The results were subpar, and after a few weeks, it produced no effect at all. Of course, I merely told him they were potions to help him acclimate to his Awakening.”

“Why deceive him? Do you plan to delay his Initiate Ceremony until he’s unable to temper himself any further?” Elaina’s eyes gleamed, imagining the possibilities.

“If I told him what those elixirs were, he wouldn't be free of his debt until he was old and grey like me. And I’ll assist him with the ceremony whenever he desires. I suspect he’ll ask me soon enough.” Sivelle replied.

“Mother!” Elaina exclaimed. “His physique is exceptional… How could you?!”

“A robust body makes no difference in Concocting. I see no reason to delay his advancement.”

“What!? You plan to waste his potential in such a way…?”

“Don’t patronize me, girl.” Sivelle’s voice grew cold.

“The boy clearly has a powerful bloodline, he could become an incredible Vanguard.” Elaina refused to back down.

“Vanguard? He’s not even a citizen of the Dynasty,” Sivelle shot back. “His greatest potential lies in his capacity to heal. If his magic holds even a trace of this natural ability… the healing potions he could make could be on par with Phoenix’s Breath. Mass-produced, his work could save thousands of lives, even more, greatly influencing the outcome of the next Incursion.”

Elaina was enraged by her mother’s delusions and obsessions with Concocting. “There’s no telling how expensive such a potion would be to make! Forget about healing injuries, having another dominant Warlock on the frontlines could prevent thousands of injuries, let alone deaths! You can’t bring back the dead with a potion mother…” her voice contained a hint of warning.

“I know that!” Sivelle snapped. “Enough of this! I will help the boy if he asks and from then on he will choose his own path. You will not mention any of this to him.”

“As you wish…” It would be a horrific waste of talent, Elaina knew, but it was true that one person could not influence the tides of war on their own, despite the many who attempted to do so. Plenty of heroes would emerge in the years preceding the Incursion as they always did. And she would be there to guide them.

***

“So… What year is it now, anyway?” Atell asked as Sivelle took her seat at the dining table. Elaina was unperturbed by his request for such common knowledge as she continued to shovel her salad into her mouth. It was a rare occasion when Sivelle served anything other than lightly spiced meat.

“This upcoming year will be the 237th in the Ninth Era,” Sivelle answered succinctly. Atell took a moment to mull over the information.

Following his brief question, silence reigned at the table. To an outsider, the atmosphere might appear tense or awkward, but at least in Atell’s case, he was perfectly comfortable stewing in his own thoughts. Sivelle preferred it this way, so it made sense that Elaina was accustomed to it as well.

Sounds of merriment from the town below were already penetrating the thin walls, only interrupted by the scraping of bowls. Atell allowed most of his thoughts to wander to the upcoming event as he cleared his plate. He was excited for his first festival in Shimmering Heights, rarely were such occasions celebrated in the Hinterlands. Any brief lapses in order were known to invite trouble or even invasion, just as Atell had experienced when contributing to such an event firsthand...

However, he was determined to keep such thoughts out of his mind on this night, focusing only on enjoying the celebration.

After dinner, Sivelle guided him to her room and helped him get dressed in a black doublet and dark trousers she had tailored for him. Atell was immensely thankful for the gift. It was his first set of matching clothes and the snug fit made him feel warm and safe like he imagined a set of armor would. He inspected himself in the large mirror present as Sivelle went to pick out dresses with her daughter.

A dashing young boy returned his gaze through the glass. He thought the outfit nicely complimented his wild golden eyes and dark, neatly combed hair.

Stifled laughter sounded from the doorway as Elaina and Sivelle watched the Demon posing heroically in front of the mirror. Atell’s cheeks flushed red as he scurried out of the room. He found solace on the porch where he waited for the women to finish their preparations.

A few minutes later, the two emerged. Both women wore simple, flowing gowns that accentuated their slim figures. Atell jumped up from the chair and led the way down towards town, descending the ridge in sync with the setting sun.

The celebration already appeared to be in full swing as they approached. Loud music and raucous laughter filled the air. Families and young couples milled about on the paths illuminated by a multitude of colorful lanterns and banners. Atell inhaled the delicious scent of sizzling meat as Sivelle took his hand, guiding them through the crowd toward the town square.

It didn’t take much time or effort to reach their destination as many of the townsfolk outright avoided Sivelle and Elaina. The gazes in their direction contained a mixture of respect and fear. This… surprised Atell a great amount. He thought everyone would be fighting for the opportunity to speak with the woman who protected the area and treated the ill. Sivelle was a hero in his mind and couldn’t understand the townsfolk’s trepidation. Atell was wholly uncomfortable, but the two women on the receiving end didn’t pay it any mind.

When they arrived, a few men had just finished positioning four wooden statues on a large stage in the center of the square. Each of the statues portrayed a divine beast. One resembled a mighty dragon, and another depicted a robust, muscular man with the head of a bull. There was also a vicious looking woman included in the group. She had a charming but cold face, framed by a writhing mass of hair, and the lower body of a serpent. The final statue raised onto the platform depicted a lovely fairy with pointed ears and butterfly wings.

Sivelle helped Atell squeeze through the gathering crowd and brought him closer to the stage to take a better look. The statues were all exquisitely detailed, containing a certain majesty that filled onlookers with awe and reverence.

“Do you like them?”

“Mhm… Who are they?” Atell asked, absentmindedly. Most of his attention was drawn to the snake-woman in the center.

“These are the Athean representations of the Four Guardian Ancestors…” Sivelle raised an arm, pointing to each one as she elaborated. “...There is Orrsydiam, Lord of the Sky (Dragon). Broudis the Unyielding, and Itri of a Thousand Faces. Finally, we have Athlena, Nature’s Keeper (Fairy)...”

Before Sivelle could continue further, a feeble old Fae approached. He wore a peculiar robe adorned with golden tassels that shimmered in the festive light. Unlike many of the other townsfolk, he retained a measure of confidence in his posture as he addressed Sivelle.

“Lady Sivelle, I’m so glad you have decided to attend the festivities this evening…” The wrinkles on the old man’s face deepened as he forced a smile. “...The performance is about to start. Would you and Miss Elaina care to accompany me for the commencement?”

“Of course, Chief Thezo,” Sivelle replied casually.

“Wonderful, right this way.”

“It has been a while since I’ve attended,” Sivelle remarked out loud as she followed behind the man’s stiff gait. “I wanted to show Atell here the celebration. I must say — the new statues are exceptional.”

“Ah, yes…” Chief Thezo grinned proudly. “A renowned sculpture from the Athean Empire decided to temporarily settle in Kobi after completing his pilgrimage to the ancestral temples a while back. Everyone in town pooled together their resources to commission the works about 7 years ago. This is the first New Year’s Festival we’ve had since they were completed. You chose a great time to attend.”

“Oh… Do you recall this sculptor’s name? I’m of the mind to commission a work of Athlena myself,” Sivelle inquired.

“Hmm, I believe he works under the name, Eius…”

Chief Thezo and Sivelle conversed politely as they slowly made their way over to Elaina — who was standing idly by a podium to the right of the platform. Sivelle positioned Atell at her side and stood behind the Chief as they arrived.

The ancient Fae ambled up to the podium and raised his arms into the air. An excited buzz swept through the gathering around the platform as he did so.

“Attention! Everyone…!” The onlooker’s volume fell to a whisper as he spoke. “This is an especially exciting New Year for us all. We have finally been rewarded for all of our hard work and patience. The Ancestor Guardians look magnificent this evening!”

Resounding applause and a few cheers filled the square. Chief Thezo waited patiently for quiet to return before his raspy voice sounded out once more. “This will be a blessed year for us all in Shimmering Heights! Thank you to everyone who has helped make this celebration a special one… The time has come! So, without further ado, let the Bestowment Performance… begin!”

Deep drum beats reverberated through the square as the Chief flourished his arms. Atell felt his heartbeat echo their rhythm, slowly increasing with intensity and speed.

Numerous dark figures wearing faceless, horned masks crept onto the stage. They twisted and contorted their painted bodies in an eerie dance. Various wind instruments soon joined the march of the drums. Goosebumps emerged on Atell’s skin as the haunting song progressed to its climax.

Abruptly, the drums ceased. Four heroic characters leaped out from behind the statues. Each donning a mask representing one of the Ancestor Guardians.

The faceless ghouls shrank away from the Guardians as a gallant tune ensued. However, a dark Fiend emerged and the ghouls regained their confidence.

A fierce battle commenced. The Guardians valiantly held off the ghouls despite their inferior numbers. One by one, the evil creatures were smote down. The nefarious leader bellowed with rage as his subordinates fell. He single-handedly took on the Guardians, and even appeared to have the upper hand.

Ragged and defeated, the Guardians made their final stand... whistling fireworks erupted in the night sky as the Guardians joined hands and finally overcame the Fiend.

The crowd roared their approval as more bright lights burst above.

Calm soon returned, and four small children were led onstage. They stood solemnly before the Guardians.

Each of the triumphant heroes retrieved a small orb from their cloaks. The children knelt down and clasped their hands in prayer as the Guardians appeared in front of them. Ceremoniously, the orbs were passed to the children who accepted them with a gracious bow.

After the bestowment was completed, the Guardians returned to their respective statues and laid down to rest.

A final, brilliant firework arced magnificently through the air as the crowd cheered once more.

The play had come to an end.

The actors withdrew their masks and took a bow. Lively music resumed as the celebration returned to full swing.

“Ha! How’d you like the performance?” Chief Thezo addressed Atell, laughing heartily at the boy’s wide eyes.

“It was great!” Atell responded enthusiastically.

“Yes, the actors all performed brilliantly,” Elaina added.

Sivelle just nodded.

“Wonderful, I’ll be sure to pass on your praise!” Thezo declared. “Would you care to join me and some others for drinks? Lotti’s husband recently returned from the Federation with some new brandy that’s become very popular among the upper circles…”

“Why not?” Sivelle shrugged.

As they turned to head off, Atell tugged on Sivelle’s dress. “Can I go get some snacks?” he asked. He had no interest in joining the adults for drinks and there were a few stalls selling some enticing dishes that they’d passed on their way to the square. And it just so happened that Atell had a bit of pocket change to spend from tips he’d received while delivering medicine.

“Alright, but be quick about it. We’ll wait for you here.”

Atell nodded and scurried off through the crowd. It didn’t take long to find what he was looking for. He handed the Fae running the booth a few small silver coins and received a steamed bun in return.

While nibbling happily on the doughy treat as he retraced his steps, Atell felt a pair of eyes on his back.

“Hey, kid! Hold on!”

As Atell turned towards the unfamiliar voice, a cold hand reached out from the darkness in the alley next to him. A rancid cloth clamped was clamped over his mouth as he dropped the bun in a panic.

His vision faded to black as he was yanked into the shadows.