"Nicely focused, Aricia."

Astor listened to the short crickets that emitted from the small crystal in her hands.

"That's one type of crystal you mastered. A few more and you'll become adept at this."

Aricia seemed a bit less jovial at the accomplishment. The red gem, now hanging on her neck, swayed gently downwards with her look of disappointment.

"What's the matter?"

"How many different crystals do I have to learn before I can use them as fast as you can?"

Astor took the crystal from her hands and channeled his own mana into a soft hum at a different pitch and melody than hers had been.

"Like the different animals in the world, there are different varieties of ways to activate just a single species of crystal. Each process unique to their own. Sadly, there are no shortcuts. You have to remember how each and every kind of animal crystal reacts to your own mana nature. Not only that, but I have still yet to teach you how you can analyze crystals by yourself and gauge their unique processes. The speed at which you activate solely depends on how fast you can recall the specific sequence of steps needed."

Aricia looked at him wearily.

"You said General crystals before. Are there more?"

Astor coughed uncomfortably.

"Yes, many. General crystals provide menial comforts and simple feats of nature. Like a heat source on a cold day. There are crystals that synchronize well, and some that cancel each other. There are even battle crystals, but they are the rarest and usually are the most vicious to control. Some are considered to be relics since they cannot be duplicated."

"What about this one?" Aricia asked, holding up the red gem.

"Our ancestral stone holds no magical properties. I've already tried to uncover any of its secrets. It's just sentimental."

Aricia took a deep breath before she began to gather more essence.

Spotting an approaching figure, Astor motioned to stop Aricia's efforts.

"That's all for today. You've done great."

They turned to face his approaching mother.

"Hi, grandma!" Aricia exclaimed.

"This is a surprise, mother. Perhaps you would like to hone your own skills. I can't remember the last time I saw you attempting such practices."

His mother gave him a stern look. "Such practices are usually reserved for females. Curious, whom you learnt this from."

Astor just continued smiling slyly.

"Moving on," she continued, "Bertram requests a sparring partner, and most of the guards are too hesitant to give him the humbling defeat he so deserves. If you are not busy."

"Alright. I'm game."

Helen led the way as they made their way to the fenced area behind the kitchen building. Treading onto the large spread of coarse dirt below, Astor walked towards his brother, hailing him.

"Heard you needed a partner."

His brother loosened his arms and smiled. "A mighty challenger approaches. As I've remembered it, you were always too engrossed in your books to learn from grandfather."

Astor grabbed a longsword from a nearby rack and quickly strapped on some light armor.

"I thought it looked too easy to heed any attention. Afterall, it didn't take me long to become quite proficient myself."

Astor began gauging his brother, who was, while much slower and shorter than him, stout and powerful.

"Our spectators will decide that young brother."

Astor hadn't even noticed the dozen or so people watching from afar. As he turned to look, his brother, predictably for him, attempted a swing at his legs.

Astor slowed the attack by partially allowing it to ride up his sword before leisurely stepping back. As their blades passed before his legs, Astor briefly stopped their blades before lightly lifting his sword against Bertram's follow through. He assisted Bertram's swing with a light tap on its passing edge which caused his brother to recover more slowly from his own attack. After the crackle of locked blades, Astor stepped in to prop the midlength of his blade against Bertram's neck, all the while nearly tripping him.

Astor stared into a pair of shocked-filled eyes.

"Who are they? They don't seem like members of the guards."

The whole time, he had been half-focused on the crowd.

Bertram, saying nothing, backed off to reevaluate his approach. Surprisingly, his brother was quite serious with this. Astor knew it was pointless. The time it took for his brother to swing was just as fast as it took for him to take one step, which was more than enough for him to gain the advantage every time. He need only use his footwork and long strides to defeat him. After exchanging many blows, Bertram, not winning a single one of them, lowered his sword.

"You win. I can't connect any of my swings on you," he declared.

"You're pretty good Bertram. Above average in terms of sword skills, but lacking overall."

His brother bent down to relieve his breathing.

"You're much stronger than you look little brother. Tall, lanky thing you are," his brother remarked in-between breaths.

"So. Why this sudden arrangement?"

His brother nodded at a different group of dozen strangers.

"They're from the council. You wished to join them in the riddance of brotherhood right? I thought a demonstration seemed fitting."

"Really. Them?" Astor peered at the crowd. They all seemed quite fit, at least from beneath their clothes. While analyzing their faces, Astor suddenly realized a stunning coincidence. He attempted to hide his face.

"What's the matter?" his brother asked.

Astor silently dreaded as a pair of footsteps trodden up to them.

"That was a spectacular sight to witness. Few possess such capabilities, Sir Astor."

Astor looked at the young man with blonde hair. It was the knight, William, from the battlefield.

"We finally meet again, sir. Your swordplay is as spectacular as ever."

"You've met before?" asked Bertram.

"Once before, when fewer things were said," Astor said, trying to dissuade any previous feelings of enmity.

Bertram gave a puzzled look, but William simply replied.

"Without a doubt. I'm sure the war has made us all quite homesick, and some exchanges between friends could have easily gone unconsidered. In any case, an exciting exchange indeed. Almost as exciting as the last one I saw."

William was clearly irked with their last encounter. Astor had caught that much.

"About the brotherhood..."

"Oh, pardon me. My unit would be glad to receive your assistance with this case. If you would like to JOIN our efforts, then you are welcomed to do so."

"If I may," Astor replied, trying to ignore the sarcasm.

Bertram patted both on the back. "Then it's settled. Our house will play a hand in upturning those dastardly bandits. If you will come inside, Sir. William, my cooks will prepare a meal for you and your company. I can sure use a period of rest."

The trio made their way towards back to the large estate with the group of spectators in tow. After scanning the crowd, Astor brushed his way to his mother. He gently nudged her on the arm.

"So, What'd you think?"

She gave him an inquisitive look before brooding a bit.

"You've grown quite frighteningly. Whether that proves to be useful for us remains unclear. It is reassuring that you did not waste time while away from my supervision."

Astor smiled. "Exciting was it not?"

His mother continued onwards. "I'm much too old to find such events thrilling, but perhaps it was a bit enrapturing."

Interesting. The woman he had known tended not to express her emotions so openly.

The group made their way through the entrance and sat on the sparse number of chairs in the lounge. With no chairs remaining, Astor leaned against the seat his mother had taken.

"If this bunch fails just as the previous had, your job will be to report to me the leaders behind this comradery."

Astor was surprised by her tone. It was clearly loud enough to be within earshot of the company.

"I'll try. Hopefully, you won't need to do anything."

Astor watched as his brother and William exchanged smiles and laughter. Now that he thought about it, William was probably only one or two years younger than himself. Astor was just so used to dealing with older people that he'd often forget his own age.

"What are they here for?" a small voice asked.

The two turned in surprise. Aricia had been with them the entire time. They had forgotten about her while lost in thought.

"Uh, its nothing you need to worry about. We'll handle it."

"Aricia, you should go rest in your room. Such matters are not within your capabilities yet."

The girl frowned, unsatisfied with their responses.

"Aricia," Loretta called out to her. "Let's go. I made a neat dress for you to try out."

Astor watched as Aricia looked demandingly at both of them before walking towards her mother. Suddenly, she deviated from her path and spun a few steps to her right, stopping momentarily in front of her father's line of view.

"Ah! Sir William, meet the rest of my family," Bertram's voice boomed out.

Astor caught a glimpse of Aricia smiling before she bounded off towards Bertram.

Astor and his mother watched as Loretta reluctantly followed behind her daughter.

He heard Bertram as he began introductions right before Aricia's quiet voice caused a momentary silence in the crowd. He watched as Bertram, seemingly and uncomfortably, explained the situation to the young child.

"That idiot." The two spectators whispered as the girl pressed her father for answers.

That girl was quite frightening, Astor thought. At such an age too.