The Flower of Soline

May I check him? ”

Those words brought shivers down Aethers spine. He internally cringed and wanted nothing more than to leave the table, but at last he was stuck.

”Hmm, ” his father hummed, ”well I don think there will be anything different, but if you want then go ahead. ” His father gestured to Aether and Aether cried inside.

”Hand. ” Was all Aria said as she peered at him. Her eyes were just as cold as her voice.

Aether hesitantly gave her hand. He wasn expecting anything to happen. He knew that there was no possibility of him having an ability and even with her unique ability, the outcome would all be the same.

She placed her finger against his wrist and closed her eyes. The room was tense as she worked silently. Her fingers moved every now and ten, like she had found something interesting, then she would pause and move on. Those few minutes felt like death to Aether. Waiting for a verdict from his sister nonetheless brought too many worries for his liking.

”Hmm. ” His sister hummed while she opened her eyes. She let go of his wrist after another second and resumed eating her food.

”Well? ” His father asked.

”There was nothing alarming, nor anything…unchanging. ” her eyes squinted just a bit as she spoke, as if she were debating something serious while talking. Her strange behavior didn go unnoticed by their father.

”I see. We will speak after breakfast. ”

”Understood. ”

The rest of the breakfast passed quietly, until the end. ”Bert, grab my coat. ” His father stood up, Leon following suit shortly after.

”Oh? Are we heading somewhere today? ” His mother piped in.

”Yes, I have a previous engagement with the King today. ” His father said casually as he snapped on his coat with ease and pulled on some gloves.

”Over the agreement? ”

”Yes. ” His fathers smile turned twisted, ”I have won our little agreement, so he will be owing us. ”

”Make sure you get what we are owed. ” His mother smiled just like her husband.

”Of course. Ill ring out as much as I can. To the point where those other nobles won be able to say a damn thing when it comes to our decisions. ”

”Perfect. ”

”Bert, get Aether a coat. ” He looked at Aether up and down before adding, ”a warm one, he will need it. ” His nose scrunched up as he spoke.

Aether gave his father a quizzical look. Please, don tell me Im going as well. He silently laminated as Bert pulled him up and started to button a semi big coat on him.

”Will our youngest also be joining you on this journey? ” His mother was watching his every move as he got dressed.

”Of course. Since he helped in solving the little issue. ” He gave his wife a squeeze on her shoulder, ”his presence will just confirm that the Frenzel household is not one to mess with even if they do not have any abilities. ”

”I see. ”

”Father. ” Aria spoke up, ”Will our talk be happening before you leave. ”

”Of course. Leon, take your brother to the carriage. ”

Leon nodded and grabbed onto Aethers shoulder, escorting him out of the room before he could protest.

—–

Aria sat down her cup and gazed at her father. ”There was something strange with Aethers strings. ” She said calmly.

Both her parents flinched at her words and narrowed their eyes. ”His strings? How so? ” her father asked.

”They used to be pitch black, but now it was almost as if they were a light shade of grey instead. ”

”Grey? ” Her father repeated, a complicated look on his face.

”We can not determine what that means as of now. ” Her mother intervened before her father could get his hopes up, ”We have never dealt with a non-user before him, for all we know the strings turning different colors could be a normal occurrence for them. ”

Her mother had a point, but that was not what concerned her, ”The strings, they were strange. ” was all she said. She couldn explain it and her parents knew that if she did not explain further in detail then she herself could not interpret what she had seen.

”Aria, from now on, whenever you get a chance check his strings. Make sure they aren changing and if they do, bring him home immediately. ” her father said, his tone serious.

”Understood. ” She took another sip of her tea. She only hoped that this feeling of worry was wrong.