Young Flame

“Elder Cyrus,” I call. “Elder Enya.”

The two turn to watch me dive off the cliff. Instead of crashing into the earth, or spreading wings to slow my descent, I explode into a burst of fire before reforming myself along the surface and jog to my elders. Cyrus pulls his fire from his work and Enya jumps from the wagon where she’d been sitting in her standard form.

“Solvei.” Cyrus smiles as I stop before them. “How are things going with the envoy?”

I give them an exaggerated sigh. “They are taking forever.” I perk up as I continue. “But we’re finally moving. The grand elders are here to pick up some more of their group, so hopefully I’ll be on my way in only a couple days.”

“Is that so?” Elder Enya gives a subtle smile.

She’s hiding something with that odd smirk. Is she disappointed that we won’t see each other in a while? Once I return to the east and begin my search for answers, it is true it might be a long time before I return.

“Knowing the elders, we’ve probably got a good few days left together before I head out. Maybe even a week,” I try to reassure her.

Cyrus raises an eyebrow at Enya, but she just shakes her head slightly, smile never leaving. I narrow my eyes. What are they hiding? As I go to prod them, Elder Enya interrupts.

“If we only have a couple days before you leave, then we better make the best of it,” she says. “Tell me, how’s your spearmanship coming along? You look far more confidant with the weapon than a year ago.” I look to the spear resting by my side. It has become such a constant in my hand that I barely register it anymore. Do I really look that different than right after I found it? “I’m sure Azula would be proud,” she finishes.

Mum would? Elder Enya’s words hit harder than I ever could have expected. It’s been so long since I lost her. So much has happened in the six years since she died that the time I spent with her feels so short. She’s the main reason I’ve pushed to learn the spear despite it often feeling pointless. I don’t regret taking upon the weapon, but would she really be proud of me despite how little I rely on it? I could never come close to her skill with it, I’m sure.

“It’s going well,” I answer her original question, trying not to let it show how the mention of Mum has affected me. “Strange now that I don’t really need to rely on hands, but it allows a lot more freedom.”

We spend the next little while just catching up. I’ve dropped in plenty of times since my confinement to the Alps ended. Even if Yalun hadn’t kept her word of ending my punishment when I helped against the Anatla, none of the grand elders could have expected I return to the Titan Alps after what happened to them. I may have come by often, but it will still be sad not to see them for however long I’m gone.

I’ll need to see what clues I can find, but if there is nowhere to search, I’ll have to actually push into the Alps and break into those massive underground caverns again. I’ve had a look to the north of the Agglomerate, but it truly has become a deathtrap after the fall. The unstable earth probably won’t be the biggest hurdle for me, but that doesn’t mean the place would be any easier to search. I’ve heard that the only creatures that survived the fall are the upper elevation and peak beasts. Creatures not even I should risk facing.

If I was to search the Alps blindly for whatever might have caused the collapse, there’s no guarantee I’ll find something. Even if there is something to find, it’ll take a long time to comb the damage. That’s why I want to talk to the eastern nations, see if they have any idea where to start. Maybe they’ve even made some attempt to discover the cause. This is a threat to everyone, after all. Hopefully, my ancient grand elders are the only ones not treating this with the appropriate urgency.

“Solvei, time to go.”

“What?” I turn to Yalun, who approaches us holding a length of wrapped cloth.

“We’ve gathered what we need and are ready to go,” she says. “You wanted us to hurry, didn’t you?”

Is she kidding? The one time I wanted to wait around for at least a day is the time they want to leave immediately?

“But… I wanted to spend some time with Elder Enya and Cyrus before we left.”

Yalun gives me a confused look. “What are you talking about? They’re coming with.” She motions a hand to Enya, who’s doing her best to hide her chuckle behind a hand. “I needed at least one of the eagles to join me, and I figured why not take your elder?”

“Cyrus wanted to come along, too,” Enya says as she finally lowers her hand, a pleased smile remaining.

I look between my tribe’s elders, slightly annoyed they didn’t tell me. Well, I now know what their silent communication was about. This is great. I won’t have to miss them if they join us. But I’d assumed only the grand elders would be joining the delegation. Was that wrong?

“Oh, about that,” Yalun says and tosses the bundle to Cyrus. “Odqan told me to give this to you.”

Elder Cyrus’ eyes widen as soon as he catches the solid, arm-length bundle of cloth, but they immediately turn downcast. “I cannot take this. I no longer am worthy of it.”

It is only because I know Yalun so well that I notice she very nearly rolls her eyes at him. Instead, she just gives him a displeased glare. “I won’t hear it. With the forge extinguished, Hraun won’t be making any more relics until we dig up the Agglomerate, so make sure to put it to good use.”

“That’s even more of a reason-”

“If you truly believe yourself unworthy, then sure, return it. But we will not accept any in our envoy unless they are useful. The eastern races cannot look down on us,” Yalun says.

Cyrus glances between me and Enya before dropping his eyes to the bundle, which he hesitantly unwraps. The pommel, handle and short guard of his relic sabre are revealed. He frowns in conflict as he inspects the weapon he gave up in penance. Elder Cyrus returns his gaze to Yalun, who stares at him with a hard, expectant stare, which is enough to make him nod reluctantly. He discards the wrapping cloth, and the sabre’s scabbard slides into his belt.

While Elder Cyrus is going through his internal discord, I’m more concerned about the ramification of what Yalun just said. Of course we would take a group of grand elders as a delegation as they are essentially our leaders, but her words make it blatant that we are going as a show of force as well. I’m not sure what I think of that. Sure, I don’t want any of the countries I’m less familiar with to think we might be easy prey, but I also don’t want to have them provoke any hostilities with the nations that just came out of a disastrous war.

“So, shall we get going?” Yalun asks. This time I’m much more willing. It’s great to see them moving quick.

My concerns about the threat we might appear to eastern nations only grow worse when I see who is joining us.

Ildri and Iri alone are bad enough — the two having each having more energy than myself — but Kikotawân stands with Śuri too. Seriously, we’re not preparing for war, are we? Kiko is essentially equivalent to Hraun, or Tore. Even if they don’t notice his strength because of how good he is at hiding it, what are the eastern leaders going to think when our envoy consists of forces comparable to Inner Circle and Beith mercs?

Of the nine of us, more than half can be considered equal to the strongest warriors of the pact nations. Of course, I don’t know the exact strength of all the Inner Circle, but any leader we meet will think it’s an intimidation attempt. Is that wise?

Well, we shouldn’t have any issue in New Vetus. Tore is strong enough that I doubt he’ll be troubled. Not unless we directly threaten the ursu — which I won’t allow — so it will be a good place to start. I believe my rapport with Tore is solid enough the two of us can brush over any minor issues. I really shouldn’t think this way about my own elders, but none have had to deal with any forming friendly relations with anyone but other áed. Not in the many years they’ve lived. My confidence in how they will perform is limited.

But that’s fine. I’ll just have to be the one to watch over them. Oh, those poor, inexperienced, ancient elders.

I turn my head away from the gathered envoy as they prepare to leave, hiding my smirk. They don’t need to know why I’m laughing at them.

Surprisingly, Yalun was right. As soon as everyone is ready, we’re off. I didn’t expect it, but with Cyrus and Enya joining us, I’m happy to get moving quickly. We start at a rather slow pace as Enya transforms. It is impossible to turn my gaze away from my elder as she does so. For so long now, my shifting forms have been rapid. To watch Elder Enya take longer than it has ever taken me to change forms is… well, not shocking, but definitely eye opening.

Elder Enya, the áed my mum respected for the path she took, takes over half an hour to take her eagle form. The obscenely slow transition is so far behind what I can do that I can’t help but cringe… and then immediately regret the thought.

It reminds me just how far ahead I am now. And how insane that growth is. The Void Fog slung me forward, sure, though it isn’t only because of that Anatla’s influence that I am what I am now. Enya is different. She is the same she was six years ago. If her binding has increased, it isn’t enough to be noticeable.

What must she think of me, who in only a portion of her life, has gone from basic binding to far surpassing her? She doesn’t show anything but happiness around me, but I can’t help but worry what she might think about it. I never want to belittle her efforts, but what if my very existence does so?

A hand slaps around my shoulder. I turn to Yalun, who pulls me into a side hug and drags me over to Elder Enya, who relies on Elder Cyrus’ support while she changes. I’m not sure what my teacher is doing, but I don’t struggle against her.

“Say, Enya, what would you say about Solvei’s binding?” Yalun asks, ignoring my incredulous look at her awkward question.

Enya brightens, not even hesitating to answer. “She’s incredible. Reaching beyond the point of any áed in history, she’s an inspiration and makes me want to put more effort into my own growth. I’m so proud.” She beams unabashed, smiling right at me.

I turn away, uncomfortable at the praise, but Yalun gives me a light nudge with the back of her hand. “Don’t worry so much,” she says and walks off.

As I glance back to Elder Enya, I find her returning my gaze with a warm smile.

Maybe there’s nothing to worry about after all.

Wait… am I still that easy to read? I thought I got better at hiding my feelings over the years, but I guess they know me too well.

Soon, Enya’s transformation finishes, and she takes to the air. With her flying, everyone increases their pace. Not wanting to run, I change myself into my falcon form and join my elder.

“Solvei, get down here,” Yalun calls. “You’re running with us.”

Damn it.