Kasos gazed the Lines. Information trickled slowly off his students and towards him. However, once the information started flowing it did not stop, howeversuch a paltry puzzle was hardly a struggle for him to pierce however.

Tracking each of his students, he noted that most of them struggled with maintaining intention and focus for any significant amount of time. Not surprising. As they were both kids and new to gazing the Lines it often meant distraction.

Areti caught his attention again as hers flowed more strongly towards one of her classmates rather than the Lines. Kasos sighed internally as he noticed a few others follow her lead.

Teenagers, he cursed internally. Teaching kids was great fun, young people were curious and loved to learn, but once they grew a little older and the classes went from ‘exciting new development’ to ‘daily routine’ and then to ‘boring requirement demanded by my parents, otherwise they will throw me out of the house’ that luster was thoroughly lost. Of course, that wouldn’t last. Most of them were already late in their teens and once they grew a little older many would realize just how useful his skills were.

But not yet.

Kasos gave them half a flare longer to let them sort out for themselves before drawing back. He briefly called a smidge of power from his pool, blinking it a single time. The effort was so blatant only the most unaware and unfocused of braced would miss such an obvious display on the Lines.

He stretched on his seat, remembering a time when he hadn’t needed or even wanted a cushion under him, and waited for his call to travel down to them. Students soon started coming out of their focused exercise, attention returning to Kasos.

Areti was, unfortunately if also unsurprisingly, not paying attention. It took an elbow in her side from one of her friends before the young woman realized what was happening. Blinking her eyes, she looked up only to make direct eye contact with Kasos.

He stared at her intently for a few moments, her cheeks flushing before averting her gaze. Kasos was strongly limited in how he could discipline his students. Mostly because their parents were the ones who paid him, but also because they were some of the most powerful people in the country.

The Panaton weren’t exactly known for the pure ideals and faith in justice and humanity. They were as corrupt as any leader Kasos had ever met—which was quite frankly growing to a startling amount—they were just held in check slightly better than most others.

Cleseira wasn’t perfect but by Nysea’s warm embrace it was a step and a half above what was found across the sea.

One of the students coughed into their hand, bringing Kasos’ attention back to his students. He smiled briefly, meeting each of their eyes before clearing his own throat.

“So can anyone tell me what Ability was used here about three hours ago?” He hadn’t even finished speaking before Ilias’ hand rose. The youngest in the class by almost three years, the kid didn’t seem overly enthusiastic but raised his hand dutifully. He knew he was different from the others, if not just for his own personal skill, then his father’s.

Kasos grunted looking at the other students, he saw a few hesitant faces glancing towards Ilias. Somehow, despite Ilias having the least training and this being a relatively simple exercise no one else was able to answer. Kasos had to really pay attention to see the hidden lines of hesitation or distress on some of the other students’ faces.

“Ilias,” he said nodding to the fourteen year old, “go ahead.”

“It was a water Ability.”

Kasos nodded, “That is correct, well done Ilias,” he didn’t bother directing any admonishing glares at the rest of his class for not seeing the Ability. There was no point. Ilias was here to learn, the others were there to play politics. If Bacenor’s son had an answer then the rest, somehow, didn’t.

They went through a few other questions then an exercise to slow down their spirits after the strain they’d been put in during the training.

“Class is dismissed,” Kasos said, “Ilias would you mind staying behind for a bit?”

As the other students filed out of the Courtyard of the Winds and into the palace heading towards their rooms, Kasos felt the attention of someone else. Though the man kept his senses well enough to not immediately give himself away, he couldn’t hide who he was.

Ilias glanced up beyond the pale gold domes and green marbled spires to the gray and brown mountain that hovered above and behind it, clearly sensing the power as well.

“Maybe it’s better—“

“Please,” Kasos growled waving his hand dismissively, “Stay and listen to what I have to say first.”

The boy glanced briefly at the mountain before nodding, “Okay.”

“Sit,” Kasos bid him pointing to a spot just an arms reach away from where he was sitting. “I want to try for a few more advanced delvings of the Lines. I want to see how good you really are.”

Ilias smiled thinly at him, clearly aware of what the old teacher was trying to do. Still, he followed along. Together, they gazed the Lines searching deeper and deeper for Abilities used in Courtyard of the Winds by various members of the palace staff, stretching all the way back to yesterday morning.

“You’re better than the rest of the children,” Kasos said gently as they surfaced.

Ilias snorted, but didn’t otherwise reply.

Kasos smiled, “Why don’t you ask your dad if we can split the lessons up? I can teach you better alone,” And the others wouldn’t be forced by their parents to stifle themselves, he added mentally.

The sense that had been watching them since the others left grew agitated losing its camouflage before descending on Kasos like the mountain looming above them. Ilias could clearly feel it as well, staring at the old man with wide eyes.

“I don’t—“ he broke off as he watched the old teacher. He could sense the pressure Bacenor was putting on him, he’d seen what it had done to greater warriors than Kasos. He’d seen what it did to the Panaton.

Kasos smiled, “Your father is worried for you,” he rolled his neck under the pressure, but his spirit wasn’t undermined one bit by Bacenor’s brutish attention. “But he grew up in a different time, with… different norms, to my understanding at least. Talk to him about it, at least,” Kasos could see the boy wasn’t convinced, he likely didn’t want to go against his father. “Dismissed.”

Ilias nodded and hurried away. Bacenor’s presence made itself noticed a few moments longer. “You know, you could be stifling your boy’s potential,” Kasos said. The force of the soul-sight increased many fold, forcing Kasos’ head to bow as the earth started cracking and breaking around him. “Nevermind then.”

Eventually, Bacenor’s attention retreated the small remainder moving to somewhere slightly off from the courtyard, likely to where Ilias was hiding waiting to see his father’s response to Kasos ‘impudence.’

Kasos grunted and got to his feet, before letting out a low moan. The mountain man’s outburst had gotten dust all over his stuff. Annoyed, Kasos bashed everything down knocking most of it loose before packing it away.

Leaving the courtyard, he winked at Ilias as he passed the kid’s hiding spot. The teen had probably seen what happened to people that displeased his father and most people wouldn’t have been able to work their powers for days afterwards, let alone walk away. Kasos was willing to bet the kid had never seen someone take his father’s fury and simply walk it off. Honestly, sitting down for the two hours of the lesson had done more hurt to Kasos than Bacenor’s outburst.

Reaching one of the four main roads leading in from the breezeway that surrounded the entire palace, Kasos grinned as he saw a messenger running towards him. She paused looking at him for a moment, “Are you Kasos?”

“Yep, letter from Crotenus?”

She opened her mouth but hesitated. She checked her note an extra time before nodding, “Yes… from Crotenus. A message is waiting for you at the Psykimes… How did you know?”

“Lucky guess,” Kasos replied with a grin, before continuing on his way towards the outpost stationed next to the palace grounds.

Kasos stepped inside relieved at the sudden cool breeze that filled the building. Pausing to inhale the fresh air that circulated the building, Kasos then stepped up to the desk, “Message to Kasos from…” he only really knew one person in Limclea who would use the Psykimes in Crotenus instead of Nysada, “Ione?”

The clerk clicked her tongue against her teeth, “You’re slipping old man,” she lifted a note card, “the best I can do is Amalia from Crotenus.”

“Amalia?” Kasos asked, the name taking him back. He hadn’t seen her in… he blinked, she was still wearing her hair in tails with pretty little bows on them back then. “That would be the one then.”

He briefly used Amanaris as proof of identity and the clerk held out the message stone. Spirit and sound mana coalesced within to deliver Amalia’s quick message. It was a little colder than he’d hoped for. Straight to the point, no kind greetings for an uncle she hadn’t seen in years.

He examined the imprint that had been attached with his soul-sight. Frowning, he delved deeper trying to detect any decay on the imprint but it was fresh and surprisingly clean. Someone managing to make an imprint in such a state was impressive, though clearly lethal.

Hissing in a breath through his teeth, Kasos snapped his fingers. At least I’ll get to see Amalia again. Though, I’ll have to deal with Ione… but if that kid’s somehow still alive… he cleared his throat, “I’d like to send a runner to the palace.”

“Certainly,” the clerk replied, getting out pen and paper. “Who is the recipient?”

“The Panaton,” Kasos replied ignoring the slight hesitance in the clerk’s hand, “’I’m taking my leave of absence for at least six months, perhaps the full year.’”

“Anything else, sir?” The clerk said recovering quickly. Most of their job involved the Panaton, though only rarely as directly as this.

“Do you know when the next boat for Limclea leaves?”