Chương 27: SPEEDY

Ortis's words hung in the air, thick and heavy, the tension in the dining hall palpable. Lady Elara's grip on Elias's hand tightened to a near crushing force, her knuckles white. Aina, for once, had stopped her unsettling stare, her gaze now fixed on her father, an unreadable expression on her face. Elias, however, felt a cold knot forming in his stomach. What could be more concerning than an uncontrollable power or a suspicious uncle? Ortis leaned back, his chair creaking faintly, his eyes still sharp.

"The third thing," he began, his voice devoid of its earlier lightness, "is that Elias… he doesn't have a Trait." The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the frantic drumming of Elias's heart.

"Doesn't have a Trait? What in the world is a Trait? Everyone keeps talking about it like it's a second nose or something! Is it like, an application of Flow? Or is it something deeper, intrinsic? Aina mentioned it yesterday too, how I'm just 'pushing' and not using my 'Trait.' What is this mysterious, elusive 'Trait' that everyone seems so obsessed about?" he wondered, still feeling anxious. Lady Elara gasped, a soft, strangled sound.

"Ortis, what are you saying?" she whispered, her voice trembling. Ortis sighed, a long, drawn-out sound.

"I'm saying it should be quite serious, Elara. A Trait is inherent to each individual's connection to the world. That is an aspect of Flow. They manifest it early in life, often before they even learn to consciously manipulate it. It's a fundamental part of their being, their unique resonance with the world. It's a reflection of their personality, their being made manifest." He paused.

"Being a toddler doesn't excuse him from not having one. Normally, I'd be incredibly worried. Not having a Trait suggests no definitive connection to the world. But then a being unbound by existence couldn't possibly exist. Not at our level at least." Lady Elara's hand gripped Elias's so tightly it almost hurt. Elias looked up at her, sensing her distress, a deep frown creasing his brow.

"No connection to the world? What does that even mean? How far does Deus' manipulation actually go?" The thought sent a shiver down Elias's spine that had nothing to do with cold. Ortis, perhaps noticing his sisters growing panic, sighed again, a different kind of sigh this time – one of resignation, perhaps even slight amusement.

"However," he said, his voice softening just a fraction, "he is Alaric's son after all." Elara's glare intensified, her emerald eyes narrowing dangerously.

"Ortis..." she warned, her voice low and laced with steel. Ortis raised his hands in mock surrender, a small, weary smile playing on his lips.

"Whoa there, sister! It wasn't a jab this time, I swear! Just an observation." He lowered his hands, his expression becoming surprisingly earnest.

"Think about it. Alaric awakened his Flow and his Trait much, much later than others in his family line, didn't he? Many even doubted if he would manifest a Trait at all before he suddenly did, in a rather spectacular fashion, I might add." He glanced at Elias.

"So, it's entirely possible that it runs in Elias's blood. A late bloom, perhaps, a dormant Trait that will emerge with time and maturity." Elara's eyes remained narrowed, scrutinizing him, clearly looking for any hint of insult towards her husband. Ortis held her gaze, genuinely.

"I'm being honest, Elara. I'm not attacking your husband. His uniqueness is well-documented." He paused, then continued, "Consider the facts: Elias's Flow had no color, and he also currently has no Trait. His father also awakened later. It truly suggests there's a strong chance for him to manifest a Trait in the future. After all, the boy is still too young to have an actual personality that will clearly reflect the specific nature of a Trait. He's still three. It's unprecedented but not impossible."

"Oh, so my lack of a Trait is because I don't have enough 'personality'?"Elias thought, an amused scoff rising in his throat. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

"If only you knew." Ortis pushed back his chair, the scraping sound loud in the quiet room.

"Well," he said, stretching languidly, "as fascinating as this discussion has been, I really must take my leave. By now my work at the Order of Thoth has piled up. Another day of slacking off would make it too much of a hassle to sort out." He groaned dramatically.

"Then there's my job at the Academy, preparing the curriculum for the next batch of students. And I still have that meeting with those nobles, managing the household, teatime with Wendy...." He rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger, a weary gesture and let out a long, drawn-out sigh that seemed to echo his profound weariness. Elara rolled her eyes, a rare, playful smirk gracing her lips.

"You wouldn't have such a workload if you weren't slacking off, brother, or chasing unnecessary curiosities." She shot him a pointed look. Ortis chuckled, a dry, raspy sound.

"Perhaps. But without curiosity, where would any of us be, eh? Stagnant, most likely." He moved towards the dining hall exit, motioning for them to follow.

"In any case, my duties call. However, I have made arrangements." He paused, turning to face Aina, a rare, approving glint in his eye.

"My daughter, Aina, will stay here with you for the foreseeable future. She will teach Elias what she knows about Flow." He looked at Elara.

"Despite her youth, she's remarkably knowledgeable in those areas. She is my daughter, after all." There was a clear note of pride in his voice, despite his earlier weariness. Aina, who had been silent throughout the entire exchange, glanced at Elias, a faint smile playing on her lips at her father's praise. She offered a stiff, almost imperceptible nod.

"Great. So now my perpetual tormentor is my live-in tutor." Elias thought." This is going to be… interesting. And probably painful." They followed Ortis to the grand gate of the Dukker estate. The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of dew and distant pine.

"Well, I'm off then," he said. Lady Elara embraced her brother, a genuine warmth in her hug.

"Write to me, Ortis," she murmured.

"I'll find the time, sister. Eventually," he promised, a rare smile gracing his features. He then hesitated, a thoughtful frown on his face.

"And when your husband, Alaric, comes home, you should extend my, uh, tell him…" He struggled, searching for the right words, a slight awkwardness in his posture.

"Tell him I was here." Elara just shook her head, a soft laugh escaping her." I'll tell Alaric you said hi." Ortis seemed to deflate slightly in relief. He gave a nod, then turned, his gaze falling once more on Elias. Elias met his uncle's eyes, a strange, profound connection passing between them. Then, within Elias's very soul, a whisper. Not spoken aloud, but a thought, clear as a bell, echoing directly in his mind, resonant with Ortis's voice:"I expect great things from you, boy."

Elias's eyes widened, truly shocked. He instinctively looked around, searching for the source of the disembodied voice. Was it a trick? A prank? He scanned the empty courtyard, his gaze finally snapping back to his uncle, who now faced away from them, his hands casually tucked into his pockets. Then, with a peculiar bend of his knees, Ortis leaned forward, almost imperceptibly. In the blink of an eye, he simply vanished. Not a fading, not a shimmer, just… gone.

One moment he was there, the next, the space he occupied was empty. A beat of stunned silence, then, as if catching up to the speed, three loud, booming thunderclaps cracked across the sky in rapid succession, echoing from the distance. Elias's jaw dropped.

"Did he teleport? Like, actual, honest-to-god teleportation?" He watched, dumbfounded, as the clouds in the distant sky parted, revealing patches of clear blue above the horizon. No. Not teleportation. A new, astounding conclusion formed in his mind, piecing together the instantaneous disappearance and the lingering thunderclaps.

"He's fast."