Discordant Note: Crescendo | TBATE

Chapter 266: Temptation

Thank you to my beta reader and editor, GlassThreads!

Aurora Asclepius

I watched as my son gently began to draw the youngest of our family into a slow routine of flowing steps. He conversed with them, explaining much of his recent attempt at growth and improvement in his martial abilities.

I smiled, watching as they gravitated about him as if he were a star and they a dozen planets. And gradually, more and more of my family floated down to the training platform, drawn in by the sudden fervor.

We flock together so easily, I thought, feeling a kindling warmth in my heart as they became engrossed in their talks.

"My style focused a lot on parries and counters," Toren said to a few listening phoenixes as he worked through the strikes and deflections. "It's effective and really good. It meshes well with my maneuverability and abilities, but I'm also not as limited as most are in taking damage."

Toren held out a hand, then conjured a small shrouded dagger. A few of those who hadn't seen this before muttered in surprise at the formation of a heartfire vein that the weapon used as support.

After all, if they wish for anything similar, they must spend untold years slowly building it instead of the casual manipulation my son can do.

Toren casually struck the dagger across the inside of his palm, drawing blood. Then, with just as casual an effort, he flared his lifeforce.

The wound sealed over in a wash of dawnlight. Surprised squawks erupted across the increasing crowd as they leaned in to see what exactly he'd done.

Toren smirked as he gestured with his now-healed palm to the intrigued members of our clan. "I can afford to take far more damage than most with my abilities. So while a style based around evasion is good, I have a larger margin for error. So a lot of my movements now–while they still seek to avoid and deflect damage–they take into account this fact."

A few of our family raised their hands, asking questions and inquiring about Toren's abilities with heartfire. He responded best he could, trying to lay out his insight and what had granted him such power.

My eyes drifted to Roa and Lithen as I slowly walked away, noting their clasped hands. It seems in the time since I have lived here, they have finally come together, I noted. Some things do change in my Hearth.

I slowly lifted into the air, hovering away. I surveyed the myriad shades of red and darkening black hair of my family as I drifted about them like a ghost.

Sensing my bittersweet melancholy, Toren stopped suddenly, looking toward my ghost with worried eyes.

"Aurora," he thought. "Are you okay?"

I am well, my bond, I replied back with honesty. I simply wish for some time to myself before my upcoming plea to the clan.

Toren could sense that that was not all there was to my current emotions, but he did not press. He nodded slowly, darkening our bond slightly as he let me go.

There was a time when our connection never darkened. When he was always listening for my heartbeat and steady praise. Where my advice was always quick and earnest in the wake of his needs. But those questions—that need—had fallen away somewhat.

I settled down on a balcony high above, a tunnel opening behind me as I watched like an angel on high. At least forty of our clanmembers milled about, talking with Toren. Learning more of him as he learned of them.

I turned around, pushing those thoughts from my mind for a time. I centered myself, remembering how I'd always focused on my inner fire as I'd been lashed in Taegrin Caelum's vaults. That fire... it had shifted. It wasn't just within me, now, but with my son. Through him, I found the strength for what needed to be done.