Chương 117: Leaps and bounds

"Kite, would you mind joining us at the table for a moment?" Kite froze in the middle of his practice swing, shield raised to block an imaginary foe while stabbing forward with his staff in a one-handed thrust. Will, Dragonfly and Serene were also spread out over the garden outside his childhood home, in the midst of their own training or meditations beneath the early morning sun.

"Of course, auntie," Kite replied, stowing his weapons and walking towards the house. Auntie Crow waited for him at the door before falling into step, with Dove already seated. From the expression of the latter, Kite could see that the topic was something important, his adoptive mother fidgeting with her curly hair as she was bound to do when nervous. Sitting down with his aunties, Kite accepted a cup of tea and waited to see what this was all about.

But as no words were immediately forthcoming, he chose to break the proverbial ice.

"Thank you again for letting us stay on such short notice. While it will only be a day, it still felt important to drop by when we were passing through."

"You are always welcome, little Kite, as are your friends," Crow replied.

"But…" She trailed off while giving her wife a meaningful look, which in turn finally helped Dove find her words.

"Kite, we… We will probably be moving. Not- not far, of course, but at least south of Gilded. You know how things are around here, and with our crafts we will need a steadier stream of better materials than we can get here.

But don't think that this is something we do lightly, I- I mean we, feel that this place matters too much and we don't know exactly when but maybe-" What began as more coherent sentences was unraveling more and more with every moment, ending with Crow eventually leaning over and placing her hand on Dove's, causing the other woman to fall silent.

"I… Auntie, this is surely a good step, no?" Kite asked, feeling thoroughly confused as to her flustered state.

"Surely moving is a big step, and I would dearly miss this place, but I still do not entirely understand. From the feeling I got when entering, I must admit that I thought it to be something more serious."

"That might be because my dear wife here didn't begin the explanation from the right end of things," Crow noted.

"Yet she felt it important to tell you, which I agree with. Do you want me to explain to Kite, dear?"

"N-no. No. I… Kite, we are- we are having another child. A baby." As soon as she had gotten the words out, it was as if a dam had broken, once more giving birth to a torrent of words.

"It is growing with the church of Fertility as we speak and it's a little girl but she is still so tiny barely a speck but before we left they said that she was perfectly healthy even though it is too early to determine her race I think she will be a celestine just like Crow and we are really happy but I was also worried-""Auntie, auntie, please," Kite interrupted, him and Crow using their auras in concert to try and shake Dove from her rant.

"I might be a bronze-ranker now, but I still had trouble keeping up with you. I-" he began, before her words finally started to sink in.

"A- a baby?"

"Yes, dear. We have thought about it for a time, and decided that after the surge would be a good time," Crow said.

"And as Dove is ever so close to ascending to silver now, we thought it best to start the undertaking now rather than wait."

"I… Am I going to be… That- that is amazing! Congratulations!" Kite did his best to give voice to the excitement within first and foremost, but something else; something roiling and uncertain, managed to come out alongside it.

"But… What…" He trailed off, looking at his aunties. Both were giving him their fullest attention, as if waiting, so he continued, taking a breath to find the words.

"What will I be to her, then? What will she call me?" Kite had thought that the small emotional cracks within most orphans and adopted had long since been soothed and faded, but his slight inner turmoil at this moment proved that this was not the case.

"What would you like her to call you, dear?" Auntie Crow asked gently in the silence that followed. Kite did his best to properly collect his thoughts this time, deciding on a way of expression both tried and tested.

"Auntie, I partly feel ashamed. You - both of you - have given me nothing but love and care; a safe home, teachings and comfort. You helped set me up for a life beyond what most could hope for, and support me to this day. All of this should mean that I should already know the answer. So please forgive this foolish little Kite for asking but… Would it be wrong for her to call me brother?"

"Oh, Kite, of cour-" Auntie Dove began, moving as she spoke to embrace him. But that was when Auntie Crow proved that the speed of a silver-ranker was on another level. In his distracted state, Kite could barely follow how dark tendrils of hair deftly moved the low table - teapot and all - out of the way even as a few of them reached out to pull both him and Dove to her. This left them both embraced by the physically smallest person in the room, Dove already crying as she often did when overcome with emotion.

It was both odd and familiar at the same time, throwing Kite back to fond childhood memories.

"While you seem to know the answer, little Kite, I still feel that you deserve to hear it. Of course, Kite. As long as you wish for it, you will be her brother." The following moments were filled with warmth, as the cracks of the adopted were once more slowly and gently soothed after having been roused from their torpor.

Dove seemed to simultaneously want to tell Kite that he was both a fool and one of the most important things in the world to them, most of her words lost to sniveling, while Crow stayed true to form and just held onto her family in dignified silence. When they eventually broke apart, Crow moving the table and teacups back in place, Kite was the first to speak.

"So, is this part of why you are moving? I can understand that materials and such are necessary. Sustaining two silver-rankers long term in the area around Gilded is quite costly, but the higher magic down south should make for better opportunity. But is it for the little one too? My sister?" As he spoke the last, Kite deliberately used the word to 'taste' it.

"In part," Crow agreed.

"But in actuality it is a lot for you."

"Me?"

"Our little Kite is going off on so many adventures of his own now," Dove said sentimentally.

"And while I will ever love Starberry peak, it does not lend itself well for spontaneous visits once you start traveling more. You said it yourself; the south is where the opportunities are. And we already know that you will not follow Walker's example, Kite."

"I-""There is no shame in that, little chick," Crow interrupted his protests.

"Dear Walker has been a boon to this area, and you are even helping him form a legacy. You walking another path does not diminish any respect you have for him." Kite nodded at her words, realization clear in his eyes.

"But if you lived further south, then everyone benefits. You and the little one have better opportunities, and I can see you more often."

"And we can see you too, little Kite. Don't think that we will stop fretting over you, even though you are all grown now," Dove chided him.

"And I'm sorry for getting all emotional earlier, but- but I just didn't want you to misunderstand and think that- that-" As his auntie was on the verge of tears once more, Kite decided to intervene, leaning over to place his hand on hers.

"Thank you, auntie. This little one might still be foolish at times, but the both of you have always made me feel loved. Thank you for your consideration in this as well. This news, it- it made me happy." Turning to Auntie Crow, he asked; "When do you leave then? And what about the village?" Starberry peak had long been a stable and secure place in the rural Autumn lands thanks to the two bronze-rankers living there. Them leaving would have quite the impact.

"There is no rush yet," Crow answered.

"We must first find a suitable place. And as to the village, while we have no formal obligations, we wouldn't just want to leave them without the proper arrangements. In a sense, they are our family as well."

"Oh, but we already have a plan as for the village!" Dove exclaimed, puffing up with pride.

"Believe it or not, your auntie will take on a student soon, who will take over the house and gardens. A young iron-ranker with alchemist ambitions and his wife should arrive here within a few weeks, and I will teach him as much as I can before we finally leave. The guest cottage will be occupied for the foreseeable future." Kite nodded, relieved. Starberry peak was his home as well, and he hoped to see it continue to prosper even through the shifting of generations.

"Besides, your little guild should help as well," Crow said.

"Walker came by two weeks ago, his little train of ducklings in tow. They are touring the lands now in the wake of the surge to familiarize themselves with the region and put those powers to the test."

"Oh, Kite, you should have seen him; all smug wise teacher. It reminds me of when he started teaching you in earnest," Dove cheered.

"And have you seen that girl with the squirrel essence? She must have the cutest transfiguration I have ever seen!" The conversation devolved from there, his aunties passing their 'judgment' on the new members of the budding guild, Crow especially approving of Sweet Stream.

The combination of her tree essence and ink essence had, with a good deal of luck and the right awakening stones, generated a power set where she could grow trees and shape both physical form and patterns to become a perfect foundation for formations and arrays. But eventually, Kite knew that he had to move on. While his friends outside did not want to rush him, he got the sense that they were done with their business and were now waiting.

But before he left, Kite also realized that there were certain plans of his that were worth sharing.

"I believe that it is time for us to depart," he said, nodding to his companions waiting outside.

"But before that I wanted to share some plans of mine, which might be worth some consideration." When he was finished, both his aunties were left with a thoughtful expression.

"While it is a bit beyond our original timeline, it should be manageable," Crow thought aloud.

"Oh, love, wouldn't it be amazing if it worked out? We can surely find work near Bastion whenever, so making ends meet even if we only have temporary lodgings should be no trouble."

"You are probably right, dear," Crow said, nodding tentatively before turning to Kite.

"Thank you, little Kite. If it works out as you hope, it is a splendid idea. A foundation for the future."" Ward!" Even with his shield and barrier guarding his back and flanks and weapons hard at work, the press of wood elementals swarming around Kite was threatening to become too much.

The elementals, being some of the least intelligent monsters around even at bronze rank, were tearing into his defenses as their small but existent primal cunning let them at least realize that their numerical superiority should be put to use.

"Kite, is it time?"

"Soon. I need to push my limits a little more," Kite replied to Serene's conjured voice, his voice half a hiss as he shoved outwards with his shield to create some room to step back and gain a better position atop a small stone. His crystalline blade shattered once more, sending the closest reeling back even as the final parts of the cluster of elementals decided to join the fray. Which made sure that all of the elementals were now within range.

Kite gave it a few more moments, reinforcing the gradually cracking barrier of Heaven-and-Void Warding by channeling mana into it as he spoke.

"I believe it is time." Even over the cracks and rustling of his gathered foes, just over twenty elementals, he knew that Serene would hear him. Sensing a nudge from her aura a moment later, Kite did one last shove outwards with his shield while he struck both his conjured barrier and the glass barrier in quick succession with his staff. Mana left him as both shattered to send rippling waves of resonating force outwards to injure and keep the elementals back as he leapt straight upward.

"Carried by the heavenly wind!"

"Wall!"

"Descend, javelins like raindrops!"

"Kyyyyyyyaaaaaaaah!" Serene's spell was the clarion call for a small local cataclysm. As Kite was launched a few meters upwards, he cast Leyline warding, the force walls appearing to box in the tightly packed elementals in an open-topped enclosure as well as to form a few platforms in the air above them. Said platforms had barely coalesced when Will and Dragonfly made their move, leaping in from where they had been hiding in nearby trees.

Will immediately unleashed a squall of conjured javelins, the glowing projectiles very much emulating the rain from the spell's chant. Dragonfly was less eloquent as she threw her conjured, flaming axe downward before she took control over it, using the weapon to unleash her spinning special attack while she herself remained on her elevated position. Stolen novel; please report.

Landing on a platform of his own, Kite fed Sage with a charge from Potential of Stolen Power to allow the familiar to add to the rain of glowing spears with white motes of destruction which soon lit up the cage below in a rippling cascade of small explosions. All of this led to the group of elementals quickly being a lot less numerous, all three adventurers leaping down to finish off the raging magical manifestations.

Their trap had turned the fight into a foregone conclusion, and cleaning up was more an afterthought. As they finished, Dragonfly gave off a whoop of triumph, looking at her companions and the scattered remains of the berserking elementals.

"That was great! Kite being the bait made it so much easier to group them up than during the surge."

"And you showed great restraint in practicing your animation power rather than jumping straight in, oh ardent Dragonfly," Kite chimed in.

"Force would be proud that you heeded her counsel."

"Well, I can't just ignore the advice my master left for me before leaving, now can I," Dragonfly retorted with indignation.

"And besides, it just makes sense that we have to give extra care to the abilities we feel are the hardest to use."

"I for one feel deeply in tune with all of my abilities," Will remarked flippantly where he stood leaning against his spear.

"But as they all revolve around the most perfect implement, it is only to be expected." As he finished, he deftly shifted the shaft of the supporting spear to avoid a rock Dragonfly had thrown at it in an attempt to trip him up, the elf's increasingly impressive grace and balance on full display.

"How many contracts do we still have left?" Serene asked Kite, ignoring the shenanigans of the two more passionate members of their little group.

"Three more, unless any of the villages have something on their boards which have yet to reach Gilded," he answered.

"But we shouldn't tarry, as the director hinted at there having been more signs of targets for that contract."

"More former sect members who haven't grasped the new reality yet?" Will asked even as he snapped the head of his spear in place to block another projectile.

"I would have believe that the first group we helped take down would dissuade the rest-" The young noble's words were cut off as Dragonfly had feinted a second throw, only to use a lot more of her strength than expected. This meant that even if Will interposed his spear, it was still forcefully shifted enough to make him stumble. But Dragonfly's mirth was short-lived, as a hovering javelin appeared a split second later for him to hold onto, causing her to cease her stream of projectiles with an indignant snort.

"Apparently not," Kite said in reply to the young noble.

"But we will have to remain on our guard, as always. Because pride and a cause may sometimes turn fools into dangerous fools."

"You outcast filth! You and your ilk ruined everything! Do you think yourself high and mighty now that you have brought down your betters?!" Soar of Enlightened Wind roared as he charged Kite again, the swirling winds around him crackling with lightning only for it to disappear when meeting Kite's interposed staff. Soar was forced back by a retaliatory strike, a small gust carrying him a few meters away, a half-seen weapon only managing to leave a tiny nick on one cheek.

"Really? This is still the veneer you paint for yourself to cover up the truth? I thought that the Healer's church removed the affliction from you, but I seem to have been mistaken." Kite countered, letting the former disciple of the Descending Star sect fume where they were squaring off in the forests northwest of Gilded. His aura did not have the instability of their former encounter, but that meant little in the face of the obvious insensate fury of the man.

"Your mind must still be addled. Why would you otherwise turn to something base as banditry? The only reason why this contract does not have to be to kill you on sight is because you have yet to kill anyone yourself."

"You are but sheep, led away from the truth only to gratefully eat the lies from the hands of the Adventure Society and that thug of a city lord," Soar spat back.

"The Descending Star sect lives on through me and my disciples, and we will take what we need from the land that is rightfully ours!"

"They're iron-rankers, and young ones at that," Kite said, looking to the five former initiates making a brave showing of support for their 'master' where they stood lined up to witness the duel, with Kite's companions and Whisper standing opposite them. The older man continued to join the group whenever they received contracts to track down and bring down rogue essence users, his utilitarian skill set a boon to the otherwise combat-oriented group.

"But not too young to know the truth of your treachery," Soar countered.

"And your dishonor here is as clear as day, bringing a group of bronze-rankers to hunt down the younger generations. You'd better keep your end of the bargain and leave us be after I defeat you, you who so openly used the queen's decree to your own ends." To punctuate his words, he made two quick punches which sent rippling, crackling electrified bursts of air shooting towards Kite who deflected them on the barrier or Heaven-and-Void Warding.

"And besides-," he continued,"- even if you bring me down, you will never find us all. There are enough true loyalists left for the sect to live on." Kite nodded along with his words, sending out a few more projected attacks to keep Soar moving.

"You are right in that there are more of you out here than the Adventure Society would like," he agreed, stepping to the side to avoid a forceful haymaker when a flash of movement had Soar appear to his side.

"And it was nice of you to confirm their existence. That means that bringing you in alive will actually be worthwhile. I will admit that my patience with you, Soar of Wind, is running thin," Kite said, deliberately leaving out part of his foe's name.

"Because enlightened you truly are not." As he saw his taunt strike true, feeling something almost crack within the man's aura, Kite fed a charge from Potential of Stolen Power into the twin vortices of Spirit Singularity. Both of the small swirls grew to over double their size, now twin maelstroms with only Soar as target for their suddenly ravenous attention.

"Wall." Soar tried to flash forwards to strike again, only to collide with a wall of force suddenly appearing. He barely had time to recover from the impact when Kite's staff struck the barrier, detonating it straight into the face of his foe.

Soar staggered under the resonating force, and then Kite was upon him; the defensive and retaliatory style gone, replaced by relentless offense as Kite brought his whole arsenal to bear, even punching the edge of his shield into Soar's midriff to force the air from the man's lungs. All the while, Cleave the Spirit and the empowered Spirit Singularity took their toll, and it was not until it was way too late that Soar realized that his mana was almost depleted.

"What? I- how?" he asked in disbelief as his legs wobbled and the headache of mana-deprivation made its presence known in force.

"You- cheating- bast-" Somehow, Soar seemed to barely register the attack which drained the last of his spiritual reserves, the rest of the onlookers equally surprised.

"This peculiar weapon does indeed have its uses," Kite thought with grim satisfaction as he let the sword taken from the priest of Discord vanish back into his void sheath. During the duel, mixing the subtle weapon in between his more forceful attacks had let him land a few more strikes than expected, and the affliction which obfuscated the target's senses of their reserves had also shown its worth.

Soar had fought with his full strength until the very end, holding nothing back, the affliction making him unaware of how he himself was bringing the duel closer and closer to its conclusion. Kite ignored the now prone form of Soar, turning to the line of young iron rankers. They were indeed young, still clad in the robes of their former sect, the cloth's enchantments having kept them intact even in the four months of undoubtedly hard living since the sect fell.

He could feel their auras shudder under his scrutiny, but none made a move to attack.

"In my few encounters with this man you call master, stepping up to challenge me in order to protect you has to be the only remotely honorable thing I have seen or heard him do. I'd like to think that there was something worth nurturing in the man before the affliction got its grip on him, but his actions today have me doubting that," Kite said, not attempting to restrain the flint in his voice. He could sense the differing reactions to his words in the auras of the iron-rankers, ranging from indignation to shame.

"As the leader of your band of bandits - because that is what you have become - he will no doubt pay a heavy prize, one that will be up the the court of the city lord to determine. And while your fates will rest with them as well, your future still holds potential. If you can show them that potential; that you can and will become something even remotely honorable and reliable, then there might still be a future in these lands for you. Remember my words and heed them well.

You will now be collared, and we will return to Gilded." As if to mark his words, Kite produced a bronze-ranked suppression collar, bending down to snap it around the neck of the unconscious Soar. Will and Dragonfly silently stepped forward and began doing the same around the necks of the iron-rankers, one by one. Things looked to be progressing peacefully, until Dragonfly drew close to the final former initiate in the middle of the row.

The young woman had been standing stiffly, and just as Dragonfly reached into her dimensional bag to produce the collar, took the opportunity to act. She suddenly accelerated greatly, turning into a blur as she turned to run. To Kite, things happened in the blink of an eye; the blur moving away one moment only to be thrown back by a sudden detonation in the next as a floating paper talisman had suddenly appeared in her path, the paper charm unveiled when smoky tendrils of ink dispersed.

Whisper only 'tsked' as he took a quick step forward, bending down to collar the stunned iron-ranker.

"That will reflect quite poorly upon you in the report, young lady," he noted without malice, before bending down and yanking her to her feet. The rest of the prisoners could only stare mutely as she rejoined them, before Kite and his group chained them all together. Iron-rankers could be strong, but not strong enough to snap even ordinary manacles with any kind of ease. Soar got a pair of his own, hands and feet restrained by enchanted metal.

As Whisper and Dragonfly were coaxing their prisoners to board one of Whisper's paper constructs, one looking much like a large beetle with the prisoners seated on its shell, Kite took the opportunity to step up next to Will. He gave Serene a glance, and a moment later he could feel the sound-isolating barrier manifest around them.

"What do you think their verdict will be?" Kite asked his friend, looking out over the gloomy procession being seated atop their mount.

"Soar will most likely be questioned thoroughly, getting as much information as possible from him in regards to other remnants of the sect. Father and the director knew that there would be fallout and remnants such as this, and wanted to stamp it out before there is a risk of any more trouble on a greater scale. After they can get all they can from him, I am fairly sure that he will be executed."

"As I expected," Kite replied. He knew the reality for what it was; essence-users were often hard and expensive to contain for any extended time. For repeat troublemakers like Soar, it would not be odd for him to lose his life after all this.

"But the rest of them?"

"That depends."

"On their behavior?"

"That, but probably also on politics. Father seems to have taken the counsel from our little meeting to heart, but stability is a balance between removing problems or trying to turn them into something useful. So I suspect that there will be more variety in their fates." Kite nodded along to the explanation, not envying the city lord for his position in the slightest at that moment.

"At least it will be out of our hands," he said after pausing to gather his thoughts.

"And I will admit that I am a bit relieved to know that Soar will not come back to haunt neither me nor those close to me again. But I also hope that there remains some potential in the rest of them, even our foolish attempted runaway. Some paths can surely be corrected, given time and example." It was hard not to smile when seeing the small carp running circles around the panting iron-ranker, her scales glittering in the afternoon autumn sun.

Welcome Plum Blossom did his best to catch her through her twists and twirls, pushing some of the abilities of his foot essence to their utmost. He still failed every time, but that did not dissuade him or the wide grin of childlike mirth at his face as he continued to chase Glint all across the yard of the guild hall.

"He seems to have grown in leaps and bounds every time I return from contract. They all have," Kite noted to Uncle Walker, who sat next to him on a balcony on the upper floor, a steaming pot of tea beside them.

"Witness the teachings of your most wise uncle at work, little Kite, as well as the feeling of seeing someone grow in your absence. You should show some more sympathy for your poor uncle in the future, as that is how I still feel every time we have been apart," Walker said with a rueful shake of his head.

"But Plum is a good kid. Both him and Stream are working very hard, but I think our young Second Spring have them both beat in drive. I have started sending her out on some contracts on her own now, and she has yet to disappoint. Also, I think she might have taken a shine to your most rakishly handsome uncle," he added, puffing out his chest in faux pride.

"Uncle! She's even younger than me!" Kite chided with some indignation.

"Oh, please Kite, what do you take me for? While gratifying to an old soul, such admiration will never lead to anything else. As you said, she is still so young. But young hearts can sometimes weave dreams of their own, and while I will do nothing to encourage her, it is something she must choose to leave behind on her own."

"Then uncle is indeed wise," Kite said with a smile.

"But I am happy that she chose to join." Walker was about to respond, but paused as his eyes grew distant for a moment.

"Ah, I believe that you might have the opportunity to tell her that yourself, as I can sense her return. From what I can sense of her, she was successful this time as well." True to Walker's words it did not take long for Second Spring to appear. This time, she was dressed for the road, with proper boots and a traveling cloak which hid most of her body, and Kite had to admit that the look suited the petite woman, mostly due to how happy she looked while wearing them.

"Guild master. Senior brother Kite," she greeted, bowing to both of them in turn as she emerged onto the balcony.

"Ah, welcome back junior sister," Kite greeted.

"Please, have a seat and some tea with us. Uncle Walker here told me that you have started taking on your own deliveries and other contracts."

"Senior brother is correct, and I am happy to report that I have just completed another one, along with two contracts to hunt down a few gyrmlings." Even as Spring blushed a bit under the praise which followed, she managed to sit a bit taller in her chair before she eventually continued.

"Please forgive me if I am too presumptuous, but if I am not mistaken, this last contract should have earned me enough guild contribution to exchange it for an awakening stone."

"That it should," Walker cheerfully agreed.

"So, which one did you have in mind?"

"I would like an awakening stone of the leaf, please," Spring said, mustering some more confidence.

"Oho? A most excellent choice!" Walker exclaimed, Kite only smiling at his uncle's enthusiasm.

"Does the guild master truly think so?" Spring asked, looking both relieved and happy.

"Oh, I do. They are always useful in these lands. I should know, as I have had seven of them." Walker chuckled, before remembering himself.

"Oh, but you should not strive to emulate that particular part of me or my teachings. It was what I had to do as a young adventurer without a sponsor; taking what the land offered. While one or three wouldn't hurt, variety is good. Just let me bring out my pen and the right requisition form, and you can go up to claim it from our storage with the Adventure Society," Walker said, reaching down into his spatial satchel before Kite stopped him.

"No need, uncle," he said, reaching into his own bag and producing a round, fist-sized green stone with a leaf suspended in the middle.

"Fortune smiled upon me during my last outing, and it was going into the vault anyway. Best to spare you the trip and trouble," Kite said as he handed the stone to Spring, who reverently accepted it.

"Thank you, senior brother. Then would you mind…" she began, but trailed off as if to backtrack.

"We should absolutely do the ritual right away," Kite interjected reassuringly.

"Your senior brother is probably as curious as you to see what will come of it." The pair left Walker, who opted to remain on the balcony, looking out over Gilded in the afternoon sun. The chill of autumn had intensified lately, but Brave Walker of Paths couldn't help but feel warm inside.

"Time sure flies, little Kite. In leaps and bounds, too. This old man better do his best to capture what moments he can," he quietly mused, taking a sip of tea.