Orion left for Bellhaven before sunrise.
Kael woke to the sound of leather straps being tightened and found his father standing beside the table, checking his pack for what was probably the third time.
Food.
Water.
Knife.
Bow.
Spare string.
Several hides had already been loaded onto Cedric’s cart outside.
The journey wasn’t particularly dangerous.
Bellhaven was a familiar destination, and traders regularly used the road.
That fact did nothing to improve Rowan’s mood.
“I can walk.” Orion glanced at him.
“I know.” “I don’t need to be carried.” “I know.” “I can help.” “Probably.” Rowan’s expression brightened.
“So I can come?” “No.” His face collapsed again.
Kael watched from Elena’s arms.
Apparently negotiations were proceeding poorly.
“But why?” “Because you’re staying here.” “That’s not a reason.” Orion crouched.
For several seconds, he looked very serious.
Then he placed both hands on Rowan’s shoulders.
“Because while I’m gone, you’re the oldest man in the house.” Rowan froze.
Kael stared at Orion.
Elena slowly turned.
“He is five.” Orion ignored her.
“Think you can handle that?” Rowan straightened.
“Yes.” “Good.” Elena crossed her arms.
“Orion.” “Oldest five-year-old man in the house.” “That’s not better.” It was too late.
Rowan had already accepted the position.
Orion kissed Elena, ruffled Rowan’s hair, then touched Kael gently on the forehead.
“Behave.” Kael looked toward Rowan.
That request had clearly been directed at the wrong child.
The cart rolled away several minutes later.
Rowan stood at the gate watching until it disappeared.
Then he turned.
His wooden spear was already in his hand.
“I’ll protect everyone.” Elena sighed.
Kael knew immediately that the next few days would be difficult.
…
Rowan began his duties by inspecting the front door.
Then the windows.
Then the chickens.
One chicken objected strongly.
Rowan retreated with dignity.
“Everything’s safe.” Kael wasn’t convinced.
Half an hour later, Garrick approached.
His shoulder had recovered enough that he no longer wore the sling, though Elena still refused to let him hunt.
Rowan stepped directly into his path.
Wooden spear lowered.
“State your business.” Garrick stopped.
Silence.
He looked toward Rowan.
Then toward the cottage.
Then back.
“I live forty steps away.” “That doesn’t answer the question.” Garrick stared at him.
Elena appeared in the doorway.
“What’s happening?” Garrick pointed toward Rowan.
“Your husband has created a monster.” “I’m guarding the house,” Rowan said.
“From me?” “From everyone.” “I helped build this house.” “That was before Father left.” Garrick rubbed his face.
“Is there food?” Elena nodded.
“Then that’s my business.” Rowan considered it.
Finally, he moved aside.
“Approved.” Garrick walked past.
“Power has corrupted him already.” Kael couldn’t disagree.
…
Three mornings later, the village children gathered beneath the old oak.
The lessons had stopped during preparations for the beast tide and remained suspended throughout the recovery.
Now Elder Tomas had decided it was time to resume them.
Rowan disagreed.
Strongly.
“Why?” “Because you need lessons,” Elena said.
“I know things.” “Name three letters.” Rowan became suspiciously quiet.
Elena smiled.
“Exactly.” Kael, meanwhile, could barely contain his interest.
Finally.
Elena carried him to the square while Rowan followed as though being marched toward execution.
Seven children sat beneath the oak.
Tomas had placed a broad wooden board against the trunk.
“Let’s begin again.” Several children groaned.
Tomas ignored them.
He dipped a piece of chalk into water and drew a symbol.
Kael focused instantly.
A curved line.
A shorter stroke.
Simple.
Tomas pronounced the sound.
Kael repeated it mentally.
The next symbol followed.
Then another.
Rowan lasted approximately four minutes before becoming interested in a beetle.
“Rowan.” His head snapped up.
“Yes?” “What sound is this?” Tomas pointed toward the board.
Rowan stared.
Kael knew.
He knew.
Say the second sound.
Rowan guessed incorrectly.
Tomas sighed.
Kael experienced the peculiar frustration of possessing the answer while being incapable of communicating it.
The lesson continued.
Kael memorized everything he could.
But after the first several symbols, he discovered a problem.
Two looked annoyingly similar.
Another changed its pronunciation depending on the symbol beside it.
A fourth represented a sound that didn’t correspond neatly with anything Kael remembered from Earth.
Interesting.
His previous intelligence wasn’t translating the language automatically.
He still had to learn.
Good.
Kael hadn’t realized how much he missed being challenged by something that wasn’t trying to kill him.
…
Rowan received a practice board.
He hated it immediately.
That afternoon, he sat outside copying symbols.
Kael sat beside him.
“This one is stupid.” Rowan drew it.
Kael memorized the motion.
“And this one looks like a chicken.” It did not.
Rowan drew it anyway.
Kael studied it.
“This one…” Rowan tilted his head.
“…looks like Garrick’s nose.” Garrick’s voice came from somewhere beyond the fence.
“Boy.” Rowan immediately lowered his voice.
“This one is very respectable.” Kael nearly fell sideways laughing.
Despite the questionable comparisons, Rowan was useful.
Every time he drew a symbol, he said its sound.
Every time he made a mistake, Elena corrected him.
Kael learned from both.
Eventually Rowan noticed.
“You like letters?” Kael stared at the board.
Rowan moved closer.
“I’ll teach you.” Kael looked at him.
Excellent.
That was the plan.
Rowan pointed.
“This one is—” He pronounced it incorrectly.
Elena corrected him from inside the cottage.
Rowan sighed.
“This one is what Mother said.” Perhaps the plan required refinement.
…
Kael began practicing secretly.
Writing was impossible.
His fingers didn’t possess the necessary control.
But the ground beside the cottage was soft.
One afternoon, while Rowan practiced nearby, Kael dragged a finger through the dirt.
Curve.
Line.
Wrong.
He erased it.
Again.
Worse.
Kael stared at his hand.
He knew the shape.
His finger simply refused to produce it.
Again.
Again.
Eventually…
Something vaguely recognizable appeared.
Kael stared at it.
His first Elarian letter.
Terrible.
Crooked.
But his.
“What are you doing?” Kael froze.
Elena stood behind him.
Her eyes moved toward the marks.
Then toward Rowan’s board.
Understanding appeared on her face.
“Oh.” Kael waited.
“Trying to be like your brother already?” She sounded delighted.
Kael looked toward Rowan.
His brother was holding his practice board upside down while trying to remember which symbol he had been copying.
Let’s not go that far.
Elena kissed Kael’s hair.
“Keep trying.” Kael intended to.
…
Orion returned on the fourth evening.
Rowan saw the cart first.
“Father!” His practice board hit the ground.
He sprinted toward the gate.
Kael immediately crawled after him.
Far more slowly.
By the time Kael reached the yard, Orion had already been surrounded by half the family.
The cart carried iron tools, sacks of salt, cloth, needles, several jars, and supplies Kael couldn’t identify.
Elena immediately found her package.
“Dried silverleaf?” “Two bundles.” “Both?” “Both.” She looked genuinely pleased.
Rowan searched the cart.
“What did you bring me?” Orion reached into his pack.
“A gift.” Rowan’s eyes lit up.
Then Orion handed him a book.
Silence.
Rowan stared.
“A book?” “Your mother said you needed one.” Rowan slowly looked toward Elena.
Betrayal.
Complete betrayal.
Kael, meanwhile, nearly crawled over Rowan to reach it.
The book was simple.
Thick pages.
Large writing.
Painted pictures.
A children’s primer.
Exactly what Kael needed.
Rowan opened the first page.
Letters.
Kael moved closer.
The next page showed a tree beside a short word.
Another showed a house.
Then a bird.
River.
Fire.
Deer.
Kael’s attention became absolute.
Pictures connected symbols to meaning.
Words had structure.
This wasn’t overheard information.
This was organized.
Rowan noticed him.
“You want it?” Yes.
Rowan held it away.
“It’s mine.” Kael stared.
Rowan stared back.
Then Kael reached.
“Fine.” Rowan placed it between them.
“But I’m teaching.” Of course you are.
…
Dinner that evening lasted much longer than usual because Rowan had questions about Bellhaven.
“How big was it?” “Still big,” Orion replied.
“How many houses?” “I didn’t count.” “Why?” “Because I had things to do.” “Did you see warriors?” “Guards.” “With Aura?” “At least one.” Rowan nearly climbed onto the table.
“Did he glow?” “No.” “Break a rock?” “No.” “Jump over a house?” “No.” Rowan looked disappointed.
“How do you know he had Aura?” Orion tore a piece of bread.
“Equipment.
Insignia.
The way he moved.” “Moved how?” “Like someone properly trained.” Rowan frowned.
“That’s boring.” “Most real things are less exciting than Garrick’s stories.” From outside came: “I HEARD THAT!” Nobody knew why Garrick was outside again.
Nobody asked.
Orion continued.
“Bellhaven has permanent guards, larger markets, blacksmiths with proper workshops, several healers, merchants from farther south—” “Magic healers?” “At least one.” Elena looked interested.
“Still Master Corvin?” “No.
His apprentice runs the shop now.” Kael stored the name despite having no context for it.
Rowan kept asking questions until one answer changed everything.
“When can I learn Aura?” Orion paused.
“When you’re older.” “How old?” “Old enough to be properly tested first.” Kael’s attention sharpened.
“Tested?” Rowan asked exactly what Kael wanted him to.
“For aptitude.” Orion spoke casually.
“In towns like Bellhaven, there are people who can test older children for magical sensitivity and physical aptitude.
Nothing you need to worry about yet.” Rowan immediately disagreed.
“Will I get tested?” “When you’re old enough, we’ll consider it.” “I’ll have both.” Elena smiled.
“Both?” “Magic and Aura.” Garrick had apparently entered through the open door at some point.
“And I’ll grow another arm.” Rowan looked confused.
“You already have two.” Garrick nodded solemnly.
“Exactly.” Rowan frowned.
Kael did not.
Testing.
Older children.
That mattered.
More importantly…
Rowan would reach that age before him.
Kael looked toward his brother.
For the first time, he realized how useful the age difference could become.
Rowan would experience many things first.
Lessons.
Training.
Perhaps aptitude testing.
Kael could watch.
Learn.
Prepare.
He didn’t need to rush.
…
His physical progress continued.
Two days after Orion returned, Kael stood beside the low bench.
He had practiced pulling himself upright dozens of times.
Now he could do it reliably.
Standing without support was different.
Kael held the bench.
Balanced.
Released one hand.
Then the other.
His legs trembled.
He remained upright.
Rowan noticed.
“Kael!” Not this time.
Kael refused to let the shout distract him.
One foot forward.
His balance shifted.
For one glorious moment…
Kael stepped.
Then gravity remembered him.
He fell.
But he didn’t hit the floor.
Two small arms caught him awkwardly.
Rowan nearly fell too.
Somehow, both remained upright.
Rowan grinned.
“I got you.” Kael looked at him.
The words were simple.
Yet memories returned.
A dark storehouse.
Alarm bells.
Rowan holding his hand while animals crashed through the village.
I got you.
Yes.
You did.
Kael reached forward and grabbed his brother’s shirt.
Rowan hugged him.
…
That night, the primer rested beside Rowan’s bed.
Rowan had fallen asleep halfway through practicing letters.
Kael remained awake.
Moonlight entered through the window and touched the book’s cover.
He knew several symbols now.
A handful of words.
Not enough.
But yesterday he had known fewer.
Tomorrow…
He would know more.
Aura existed.
Magic existed.
Aptitude could be tested.
Bellhaven contained people who practiced things his village only spoke about.
And Bellhaven itself was merely one town.
Beyond it stretched roads.
Other towns.
Cities.
Perhaps kingdoms.
An entire world.
Once, Kael might have felt desperate to reach it.
To grow immediately.
Become strong immediately.
Learn everything immediately.
But this life was teaching him something neither Earth nor the Bone Moon ever had.
Patience.
He had years.
Years before anyone expected strength from him.
Years to learn.
Observe.
Prepare.
Perhaps his first true weapon in Elaria wouldn’t be Aura.
Or magic.
Or anything hidden inside his reincarnated existence.
Perhaps it would be something simpler.
Knowledge.
Kael looked toward the primer.
One crooked symbol on its cover was already familiar.
Tomorrow…
He would learn another.
And then another.
Small steps.
For now, that was enough.
End of Chapter 25.