Chapter One: Prelude

6th August 850 C.E.

The first word his eyes stopped on was Abandoned.

His brow furrowed. Was he abandoned? Certainly not. Though at that moment he had wished he could be, sincerely.

He looked up from the vocabulary open on his crossed legs, observing in silence the other two occupants of the room. Granny Cornelia and granny Antoinette were still talking… or well, doing whatever they thought would be talking.

Granny Cornelia wasn't the biggest issue to him, but he knew she was the one triggering the whole mess. A former historian, Altana had blessed her with an amazing long-term memory about any and every event recorded in Vana'diel's registries at the cost of an incurable tendency to forget anything related to her privacy… his name in particular. At the age of six he had stopped even trying to make her remember. He had seen however how his father's father - a bold and practical man with no time to think about anything else out of his job as a chocobo breeder, and whose concept of 'feelings' didn't go beyond the heat of a Jennet on her mating season - had faced the issue of his wife with a simple method; he'd just replace the names the poor woman couldn't remember with other words of similar meaning that he was sure she had spent many hours reading books about in her glorious times. That is how Julius, their son, had to her become "successor", and "time to feed chocobos" had instead been renamed "appeasing the herds' hunger".

Granny Antoniette however was his real problem. She was his mother's mother, and had come to live with them when her husband passed away in agony as a worm slowly devoured his organs from the inside. When the medics found out, it was too late for him, and poor Antoniette had grown horribly deaf due to the man's screams throughout the countless nights spent at his beside powerlessly. The deafness has only been growing worse with her age, and the now nearly 76 years old hume's conversation were made of nothing but yells of distorted versions of anything one would try to tell her… let alone Granny Cornelia's ramblings.

His migraine was growing worse every second he'd spend in his room with them sitting at his window, screaming nonsense while trying to crochet sewing something barely resembling two scarves.

- I tell you, it was six tribes! Six! - was insisting his father's mother. - Galleon, Fauchevelle, Bulletoran, Coumlaud, Chatiffe AND San d'Oria! And they all came from the North! This happened 750 years ago!

- …THE OLD VANE FOR THE WORT!? I THINK IT'S STILL OUTSIDE IN THE TURF, CORNIE! WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH IT ANYWAY!?

- I said "North", not "Wort"!

- WHAT'S NOT WORTH!? WHAT DID YOU SAY??

- …. I was talking about the… Did I tell you of how Ramilala became the first Star Sibyl?

He looked away from them with a soft sigh, rubbing his left eye and focusing back on the big heavy book on his lap. He had pulled it out mainly to distract himself from all the noise, but admittedly all those words had a certain charm… All of a sudden, he had found himself wondering if he could find a word for himself, for Granny Cornelia to learn instead of his name.

But he was just a little boy… he had no idea of what word could possibly resemble such a complicated name as his. He figured it'd be somewhere in the A section of the text.

Abashed? Sometimes. He, his father and grandfather were the only males in a family of twelve, and even at his tender age he could tell what real embarrassment felt like. He had seen things and dealt with realities that other males would've never dealt with before adulthood. His mother always told him it was something to be proud of, but the reaction of his father at those words had granted him the benefit of doubt.

But perhaps he had no right to doubt or complain about that strange life, because he was also Aberrant. The excessive response in his central nervous system to the sunlight kept him forced in his room, in the darkness… often alone. The only light he could allow himself was the reverberation of the moon at night, from the window. Some of the kids occasionally coming to their farm would often make fun of him, call him a ghost or even a vampire. If he had been a vampire then maybe his word would've been Abhorrent.

He was also Abiding. One could count on the fingers of one hand the number of times he had contradicted his behavior pattern or changed his mind. However, considering his attitude, that could've also been a problem to most. While on a social side that would've had a certain relevance, he was too young to worry about it.

Sometimes he was even Abject, but his mother had always justified him because of his age; however he was Abnormal for his age… He had an absolute pitch, also caused by the jumps and sudden changes of his nervous system. Some may have called him Abominable.

Maybe he was the result of a mistake, maybe he was Abortive, but he had lowered his head to that state and accepted it, often assuming an Absent behavior in regards to others' attempts to make him feel different than he was… He didn't like that. The fact that people would always be up to help him change was the mere reflection of the truth that they all didn't like how he was in the first place.

Maybe the right word was Abstruse.

Or Absurd? He shook his head. That adjective was better fitting for his grandmothers, no doubt on that.

He had to say…. A was quite a depressing letter.

Then his hazel eyes, adorned with a soft green hue in the outer side of the iris as they always were in the summer, gazed on a new word he had never heard or read before.

Accursed.

His lips slowly moved in a silent support to his reading, as he tasted the word, imagining its sound but not letting it slip out, like a treasure he wanted to keep as a secret. He liked that word. It reminded him the sound of a water drop in a calm pond at the center of an ice cave.

- Aaron…! - a lively, excited female voice erupted from behind the wooden door of the room. It was shaken and slightly fatigued as she was trying to talk and at the same time run up the steep stairs that led up from the living room. - I'm going to make some noise as I come in, so cover your ears!

A rapid calculation based on the voice's level and the sound of the steps - he had learned to recognize each of the seventeen steps of the stairs from their sound, like the keys of a piano - informed Aaron that he had about nine seconds to react. Glancing at the two old women to his left, he let out a quiet sigh and simply snapped the book shut. Whatever was coming couldn't possibly be worse than what was already there, unless his sister was coming with a cannon… and in that case, his pain would've ceased in the matter of a second anyway.

He heard her stop at the threshold, her hand place on the doorknob as she caught breath. She sounded like she had ran through the whole steppe to get there as fast as possible.

- All right, here I come! - she said and then barged in, slamming the door against the wall with enthusiasm and spreading her arms wide open in a cheering motion. - HAPPY 8TH BIRTHDAY, AAR-… HEY!

She stopped and glared at the two bickering grandmothers, that had completely ignored her entrance, as busy as they were in their passionate conversation.

- Excuse me…! - she exclaimed, without abandoning her stance. Her arms were still over her head, so much that her shirt made of cotton was leaving part of her stomach exposed. Her hands seemed to be holding something: a rolled sheet in her left, and a grass cloth bag in the other. - What are you doing here!?

Grandma Cornelia, who was sitting next to the window in the direction facing the door, stopped and tugged her interlocutor to turn around. Antoniette slowly looked over her shoulder and smiled. - Ohh Sephirya dear… when did you get here? Finished your errands already?

The young girl nodded, and her chestnut high ponytail to the left side of her head bounced gently at the movement. She approached the two and placed one hand on Granny Antoniette's shoulder, speaking slowly and staring at her to make sure she'd be following her lips movements.

- Grandma, you know you should not be here. Aaron does not like big noises… - she pronounced every word clearly, without shortening her speech, to help the woman understand.

The black-and-silver-haired woman took a few moments, and then looked at Aaron with a sincere smile, her thin eyebrows arching and framing her expression with a multitude of wrinkles. - Oh, but Aaron is fine. Poor kid, he was all alone in his room… We're just keeping him some company while finishing your scarves for the winter. Do you like them? I made yours green, I know it's your favorite color! Right, Cornie?

The other tilted her head, looking at the scarf in Antoniette's hands. - What?

She rolled her eyes and chuckled at Sephirya. - Poor Cornie is going crazy. She keeps talking about some Matt.

Aaron's sister glanced at him and he just frowned at her. She then sighed, and walked back to the door, closing it behind her for a moment to yell something at the floor below. - Auntie Jayne! Grandma Cornie and Grandma Tonia are in Aaron's room again…!!

Aaron's ear caught the muffled, distant voice of Auntie Jayne in the kitchen. - Sorry honey…! I can't keep an eye on everyone in the house!

- Can you come…!? - Sephirya's voice was growing frustrated.

- One minute…!

Aaron watched his sister walk back inside and huff slightly. She then approached his bed and sat on the edge, tilting her head with a smile. - Sorry.

He shook his head slowly. - It's okay. Thank you for the greeting.

She looked down at the vocabulary. - What's that…?

- Nothing. I was bored…

- You shouldn't read with this darkness… You could've asked Grandma Cornie to read you something. - she placed one hand on his head and even though he knew what was coming, he didn't stop her before his short hair was completely messed up. - So! Aren't you curious about your gifts?

Aaron sighed, pressing his hands on his hair and slowly running them down a couple times to brush himself to at least a comfortable level. - You shouldn't have run all the way back… What if you got lost and found yourself so far away from home you couldn't find the way back?

She pouted. - I don't always get lost…!

He simply stared dully at her, in a criticizing silence that left no doubt. After a few seconds, the two burst into laughter. Aaron's hand immediately went to his left ear, and he winced while still chuckling.

He felt one of her slender hands place on his left shoulder, and opened his eyes to look at her. She was concerned, but trying to look serene. She knew he didn't like to be pitied.

- I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't have run, but I really wanted to be here on time.

He tilted his head. - On time…?

Sephirya grinned, but shook her head and picked up one of the items she had placed next to her on the bed. The rolled sheet. - Here!

She placed it gently in front of him, and Aaron picked it up and unrolled it. The paper was stiff and rough to the touch, yellow with age. The smell coming from it reminded Aaron of the farm's basement, a place long forbidden for him and his younger cousin Samantha. He studied the charcoal drawing in silence for a minute, scanning every detail.

- What is it?

- A Goblin. - Sephirya turned slightly to move on all-four on the bed and reach his side, leaning slightly against him to look at her work. - I've drawn pretty much every landscape around here. I wanted to make sure the one for your birthday would be something new.

He looked up from it and his frown furrowed even more. - A Goblin…!? But that's dangerous! If dad finds out you were in sightseeing range of a go-…!

- Ssst! - The girl pressed her forefinger against her lips. - It's a secret!

- But…

- Don't worry. This will probably be the last drawing I'll have to make for you anyway.

He looked at her and then at the drawings hung to the wall next to his bed. - But I like your drawings, Sis… Why do you say that?

Her smile brightened and she opened her mouth to reply, but the entrance of Auntie Jayne interrupted her. The two turned to look at the door. Their father's sister looked around the room, and gave a wave to her mother. Aaron found her unusually elegant, in a light, long red dress that he had seen her using only in very rare occasions… such as her brother's wedding, and Samantha's baptism three years ago. When her eyes stopped on him and Sephirya, they widened excitedly for a moment.

- Sephirya…! - she said almost in a whisper, tilting her chestnut head to point at the stairs behind her with a movement.

Aaron looked confused, and felt his sister's grip on his forearm tightening for a second. He looked at her: Sephirya's eyes were big, and more excited than he had ever seen them before. That, to Sephirya's standards, was a lot of emotion.

- …! It's time…!?

Auntie Jayne nodded, and then approached her mother and Granny Antoniette, helping the second stand up with a warm smile, before turning her head to them again. - Come on…! - she pressed on, in an excited whisper with clenched teeth. She then slowly led the elders outside, to the living room.

The boy opened his mouth to inquire about all that excitement and apparent secrecy, but before he even got the chance to find the most irritated way to ask for an explanation, he found himself blind, the upper part of his body trapped in stiffing cloth as Sephirya had abruptly grabbed his shirt and pulled it up in an attempt to pull it off him without the collaboration of his arms.

- Sis…!? - he muffled, raising his arms for the sake of his breath. When the cloth slipped off his head, he automatically reached for his hair, pressing them down while scowling at Sephirya. - What's the big idea…!?

In reply, his face was hit by a white silk shirt that Sephirya had pulled out from the wardrobe in front of the bed and thrown in his direction, her head still inside the ash furniture in an attempt to find something else in all that darkness.

- Hurry!! Put that on! - she said, throwing out underwear and socks, followed by Aaron's favorite leather trousers, the black ones their mother had brought from Windurst.

Reluctantly, Aaron complied and started to change, glancing nervously and with a certain degree of irritation as her sister started to walk in and out from his room to hers, each time returning with something on different, asking for opinions and critics. Aaron had barely the time to reply with grunts or sighs before she'd storm out again, hearing suggestions to improve her attire that nobody had spoken. Ultimately, she returned with another shirt made of cotton and a pair of shorts she would usually save for when their mother would bring them to Zanbibi River in the hottest summer nights.

It was one of the few things Aaron liked to do with family. Unfortunately, since when the rumors of a new Manifest appearing in the nearby Giddeus had spread in the Federation a couple years ago, those trips had gotten more and more rare.

His train of thoughts was shutdown by the sudden pressure on his hair put by the brush her sister had started to run wildly over his head. - Ack! Sis! You're hurting me…! - he cried, grabbing her wrist with both his hands and glaring up at her. - Just what is this all about!?

She let out a soft sigh and smiled at him. - Well… Ah! - she stopped, perking her head up as the sound of wooden wheels and chocobo claws marching over the road out of the window reached their ears. Quickly, she ran to the window and looked out, letting out a squee of excitement. - They are here…! Oh Altana they are here! Come on Aaron let's go!!

She stormed outside, leaving a confused and speechless brother behind. With a sad frown, he glanced at the window and gulped, before approaching and grabbing with both his hands the two solid shutter that were keeping it ajar. He took a peek outside, shielding his eyes with one hand, squinting as a sharp pain ran across his temples. The light outside was still strong. Not a single cloud was in the sky to aid him in his attempt to understand the madness that suddenly had seemed to invade the house.

His bravery was rewarded with a small glimpse of a cart stopped in front of the farm. He recognized it: it belonged to the butcher that would come to see them from time to time to sell meat or take away the corpses of dead chocobos. He didn't remember his name.

However, whatever was on the back of that cart that day seemed to be still alive and moving. Aaron recognized three figures before the pain forced him to look away and close the shutters, with a whimper.

- Aaron!! - that was his mother's voice from downstairs.

The boy sighed again. He had no other choice but to go downstairs if he wanted to find out who those people were.

Chapter Two: Gavotte

When Aaron stepped at the bottom of the staircase, the strangers had already entered the house. He stopped next to Sephirya, looking up at her with a questioning frown; his sister however didn't even notice his expression. Her eyes were glued on their guests at the center of the living room.

It was three Hume. A man and two boys, and all three of them had wheat-like blond hair. With a slight sense of territoriality, he first observed the two boys. One of them had a plain armor made of leather, and a low ponytail that he kept resting on his right shoulder as he turned his head around slowly, examining the furnitures of the house. The long blond bangs of his fringe were framing a rather feminine face, with thin eyebrows and a small mouth.

The second wasn't looking around. With short, spiky hair covering most of his forehead with the exception of its middle, he was wearing a mail made with steel rings, and had a wrapped stick tied across his back, probably a sword or a short spear. His eyes, of an horribly vivacious blue shade, were firm, staring into space, completely uninterested at the surroundings. Aaron felt something odd watching him. He had the impression that boy had a much greater pride and self-esteem than the other two. Perhaps it was because of his straight, statuary stance. He felt a sudden grip at the bottom of his stomach when the boy's eyes suddenly moved on him, emotionless.

Aaron could bear the weight of that gaze for a few seconds, before imposing himself to give attention at the rest of the room.

Surprisingly, all his family had interrupted the busy daily routine to gather there and meet the guests. The only two missing were his father and grandfather, who both entered at that very moment from the back door in the open kitchen.

His father slipped his gloves off the hands and tucked them quickly at his belt, before approaching the blond man with a great smile. - Mr. Asgard! Your arrive was earlier than I had expected…! You didn't even give me the time to change to some proper clothing to welcome you.

- Please, just call me Janus. - The man returned the smile and bowed his head slightly, while shaking hands with Aaron's father. His hair were much shorter than those of both the boys, and he had the same eyes of the boy with the ponytail. Aaron dedicated but a quick, careless glance at his linen clothes. - There is no need to be so formal, my friend.

Aaron's father nodded profusely, and then quickly turned around to look at the old farmer who had entered with him. He stepped back, allowing Janus Asgard to step ahead and shake hands with him.

The blond man smiled. - Ah, you must be Mr. Saman Idavoll, the owner of this wonderful place…! Your son Julius wrote me about you in his letters.

Granpa Saman nodded just once, glaring at him and scanning his appearance slowly. - So you're that goldsmith from Bastok everybody's been talking about lately.

- Dad… - muttered Julius, scratching his head embarrassed. - The Asgard family is very popular in Quon! Sir Janus here was also close to become a senator, but declined the offer. Isn't that right?

The Bastoker tilted his head slightly, with an embarrassed chuckle. - Yes, I couldn't afford the time to instruct my sons and also take care of the Republic.. Family's always a first to me.

- Hmph. - Saman glanced at the two boys behind Janus and then walked to his favorite leather couch, sitting and staring sternly at the scene.

Julius turned to look at the goldsmith again. - Please don't mind my father. He isn't used at guests anymore.

- It's all right. I perfectly understand that feeling. - Janus's smile didn't falter. - And I respect it. It's the proof that he is a man truly loyal and devoted to his family and work.

- Indeed. - Aaron's father nodded frantically. - Ah, but where are my manners? Here, let me introduce you my family.

He stepped back to place one hand on the shoulder of the woman in blue dress with a light-chestnut braid resting on her shoulder. - This is my wife Claudia, the love of my life, and the lovely young woman next to her is her sister Claire.

Auntie Claire and Aaron's mother both bowed shyly. Julius then motioned to the two women on the green couch next to Saman. - My wife's mother, Antoniette, and Cornelia, the woman that had the courage to bring me to this world.

- Delighted. - Janus's smile was polite and respectful, he bowed.

- I think you already met with my sister Jayne…? - Julius looked at auntie Jayne with a raised eyebrow.

She and the goldsmith nodded to each other. - Yes. I believe she is who talked to you about me. I had the pleasure to work on her wedding rings. How is your husband doing, by the way?

She tilted her head with a small shrug, adjusting the little baby in her arms. - Moren? Still working hard in Jeuno.

- Ah. Yes, I think I'll go pay him a visit on our way back home. - Janus approached her and the two dark-haired girls in front of Jayne and bending forward to look at them. - And these two splendid princesses are your…?

Jayne chuckled. - Yep! This little one is Samantha, she's only three. And this is Luciana. - She placed her hand on the taller of the two. - She's nineteen. And this other is Rose, twelve.

Rose shook her long curly hair and stepped back blushing, hiding behind her mother as the man reached out with a smile. He chuckled, and then moved instead to take Luciana's hand and kiss it. The girl blushed strongly and moved in a goofy bow. - N-Nice to meet you. Welcome, sir Asgard.

- Enchanted. - He straightened up and looked at Julius with a nod. - I love big families.

Aaron jumped slightly at the feeling of an unexpected hand placing on his shoulder. He and Sephirya looked up at their mother. Claudia had silently walked behind them to frame them with her arms, as if demanding attention. The boy looked back ahead and felt a shake to his spine when he saw his father motioning at them.

- And last but not least, those of my own blood.

- I'm Sephirya! - The girl made one step forward and straightened on attention like a soldier, arms down to her sides, and bowed down to nearly 90 degrees in a military bow. - A pleasure to meet you, sir Asgard! I'm so thankful that you have come here!!

The man blinked in surprise at the bow, and one hand reached slowly to his mouth before he'd start to shake in a muffled laughter. - Okay… You can relax now, soldier.

- Eh? - Sephirya looked up and then around at the embarrassed faces. - Did I say something wrong?

Julius sighed, scratching his head. - Seph, we tried this out several times yesterday…

- No no, she's lovely. - Janus forced himself to suffocate the laughter. - She's even better than my younger son Jason…! - He turned to look at the long-haired boy with a smirk. - Don't you agree, James?

- Absolutely, Father. - he replied, tilting his head slightly with a polite smile to Sephirya, his hands clasped behind his back.

The attention was now on him, and Aaron's father arched his eyebrows. - Oh, so he is the James Asgard I heard about? I knew you would take two of your sons along. So the other one must be Zackrias Asgard, am I corr–

- Julius… - whispered Claudia, and Aaron perceived some irritation in her voice as she dug her nails on his shoulders, demanding that her husband wouldn't forget to introduce the last member of the family. It was a ritual that Aaron would've gladly skipped. The kid just looked away, irritated.

- Hm? - His father turned to look at them, and his eyes widened slightly in surprise. - Oh..! I'm sorry, honey. Where is my head today…? - He gestured to Aaron and looked at Janus. - Forgive me, for a moment I forgot… This is my son. His name is…

He fell quiet when the other son of Janus Asgard, the one with the short spiky hair who hadn't stopped gazing on Aaron from the moment their eyes had met, moved towards the young boy. His steps were cadenced and light, despite the armor, and he didn't hesitate a second.

Stopping in front of Aaron, he leaned forward and reached to his chin, lifting it to look at his eyes. Aaron jumped slightly at the contact, and when he was forced to look again in those so-damn blue soulless eyes, he had to fight against his own instinct to run away from him.

The blond scrutinized him for a few seconds, in silence, just as everybody in the room watched him quietly. He then tilted his head slightly. - Aaron S Idavoll.

Aaron blinked and shook his head free from the older boy's grasp, taking a step back against his mother's legs. How did he know his name?

The boy in armor straightened up and turned to look at Janus Asgard. - I believe he is the one, Father.

- Very well, Mathias. - Janus seemed pleased at the scene. - It's good to see that your touch hasn't died.

- Mathias…? - Julius blinked in confusion, watching the boy walk calmly back to his place. - I thought…

The Bastoker shook his head, raising one hand in a peaceful manner. - There was a change of plans. It's true, Zackrias was supposed to follow me… but see, Mathias is going to return to his family in San d'Oria soon, and we wanted to spend some time together without delaying our visit to you. - He said, looking back at his sons with a smile. - And also, I wanted to see if he had kept up with his studies while living in the kingdom.

The farmer glanced at his sister and then back at him. - Oh, so he's not your…?

- Ah ah, he is my son indeed! - said the Goldsmith, placing one hand on both the boy's shoulders and then looking at Mathias. - But Mathias is special. You see, twenty years ago I happened to be in San d'Oria for work… Misfortune wanted that the mighty dragon Vrtra chose that day for one of its assaults to the city. I almost died as the shop I was in collapsed under the fire attack of the mighty beast, but a knight, Sir Aushtalle, managed to barge in and save my life. My wife got pregnant that year, and to thank that brave Elvaan and the Goddess herself, I decided to let him keep my newborn under his care, so that his bravery and pride may also be passed to the Hume. Mathias was that child.

- A child raised by the Kingdom… I see… - Julius frowned, but didn't comment.

- Is that a problem? - Again, the voice of whom the goldsmith had introduced with the name of Mathias seemed to impose silence in room with brutal force, yet with the neutral and calm sound of a breeze in a tree's leaves. The image Aaron had at that was pretty different: he saw the same hidden power of thunder in it. A corner of his mind wondered if it wouldn't be him the target of the next lightning.

His father lingered on Janus Asgard, before shaking his head with a measured smile. - Of course not! I just thought your story was quite interesting indeed…

- What good could there possibly be in being taught by mudwine drinkers? - Muttered grandpa Saman, pulling out a pipe from a small wooden box on the table nearby.

- Dad…! - Julius looked at his father with shock. Saman returned a burning glare.

- Forgive him… - Murmured Claudia weakly.

- It's no offense. Mr. Idavoll Sr.'s curiosity flatters me. - Said Mathias quietly, staring straight at the elder. - I would excessively talk at length about what I have learned in the Kingdom. However, if I were to choose a topic that may appeal your interest, I recall that it was a very Elvaan the young man who discovered and developed the current chocobo riding methods, thanks to which, as I can see, your table isn't missing food of optimal quality.

- Wellpard, of the Bulletoran clan, 375 C.E. - Followed in Granny Cornelia with a proud smile. He just nodded once, without a fickle of emotion crossing his face.

There was a brief moment of embarrassing silence, after which Janus Asgard burst into a laughter. Aaron's parents exchanged a worried look.

- As you can see, along with faith and discipline, the Elvaan decided to instill a proper amount of arrogance into my son as well! - he said, patting friendly on the boy's shoulder.

- Father, what do these people want? Why are they here? - Aaron wasn't excessively fond to anyone in his family, but to see a stranger, barely a man, shut his grandfather up in front of everyone like that had caused him to feel a strange grip to his stomach, a feeling that he'd eventually learn to call hatred. But right then, all he could do was stand there, clenched fists on his side, lips pursed, and glaring daggers at Janus Asgard, wondering why what he had just witnessed felt so wrong.

Everyone looked at him, and the two men at the center exchanged a look.

- We're here to buy a chocobo. - Said the Bastokan goldsmith, approaching and crouching down to look at him face-to-face. - And for you, Aaron.

Chapter Three: Madrigal

- Very good. Now, try with this one.

Janus Asgard gently took the small green plaque from Aaron's hands, and handed him a different one, of a light blue hue, while James ran a mop on the small blackboard the man had brought with him along with several other strange tools, all kept in a rather large wooden box strapped with leather belts that made it function as a rather sturdy bag.

With a frown, Aaron listened to the noise of the small piece of chalk in the Bastoker's hand as he wrote new characters on the blackboard. When he first saw him doing it, he thought the boy had to have quite a bad issue in his sense of perspective, but apparently, the fact that the letters he had written were noticeable different in size was intended to measure his sight.

As much as Aaron disliked those men, he didn't fight the test too hard. A strong sense of pride and desire to confront himself with other boys was driving him, and he enjoyed the challenge. Showing his abilities with others, especially older males, was something he had hardly gotten a chance to experience, and Aaron could feel a weird sense of excitement bursting in his chest as James stepped aside to let him face his new test. Of course, he made sure to not display any of those emotions outside.

- Read the characters again, Aaron. James used a different order, but I'm sure you have noticed. - Said the older Asgard, giving him a light pat on one shoulder.

Aaron didn't nod, but immediately commenced the test, reading every character on the blackboard in order, with a well-cadenced rhythm, not hesitating on any symbol, as he glanced at his spectators. Most of his family had gone back to work, mostly to not irritate Saman further. While a bit disappointed at the smaller audience, on another side Aaron was relieved to fell less oppression on himself.

His sister was the only one he cared to impress anyway, and she was doing an outstanding job at it. Sitting on the couch next to her grandmothers, with Samantha on her lap, she almost literally jumped in joy at every letter his brother would read, as if that had to be the hardest feat she could think of. When Aaron lowered the piece of smooth crystal, indicating that he had finished reading, she squirmed in delight and turned to look at Cornelia and Antoniette to share with them her enthusiasm.

The only other spectator, as quiet and still as a piece of ice, was the other son of Janus Asgard. He had observed in perfect silence since the tests had begun.

Aaron couldn't help but toss him a challenging glare, before handing the goldsmith the piece of flattened crystal. Janus Asgard nodded, with a pleased smile.

- Your visual acuity seems to not have suffered any damage in these few years. Emerald will probably suffice for you.

The long-haired boy approached the board. - Father, are we testing him with heliodor lenses as well…?

- I don't think that will be necessary. He has a perfect vision, much better than what I had expected for someone in his conditions.

Aaron's sense of triumph had just begun to burst when it was violently suppressed, as Mathias Asgard unfolded his arms and approached his brother, taking the board from his hands. Everyone in the room turned to look at him. It was unnerving to Aaron how easily that young man called for attention. He was indeed magnetic, horribly so.

- Mathias? - His father seemed mildly taken aback from his behavior, but it was mostly curiosity what was affecting his tone.

- Test him with heliodor senses too, Father. - He spoke, looking at Aaron with that disturbing blue gaze, before opening his free palm before his brother. - The chalk.

James immediately complied with a firm, gentle movement, letting the chalk drop in his brother's palm without making any physical contact occur between their hands, and stepped back, cleaning his hand with the mop with a tolerant smile.

Janus gave a small shrug, and turned to his bag to choose another piece of crystal. His expression grew more questioning, perhaps even puzzled, when he saw his son leave the room with the blackboard. - Mathias? What are you doing?

- I will be back.

Sephirya's eyebrows were arched so high on her forehead, they were almost hiding behind her short fringe. She turned to look at Aaron, with a big grin, as she drawn a circle near her temple, moving her lips in a quiet 'What a freak!' to him, and giggling.

Aaron fought to return her a small smile; but inside, he was fuming and grumbling. He knew what the boy was doing, and the glance Mathias had given him before leaving the room had confirmed his suspicion. That son-of-an-Elvaan had seen through his trick. But how? Just… how?

He sat back with his back straight against the chair, huffing and muttering just loud enough for Janus to hear him, standing next to him.

- This is boring. Why must I do it three times…?

The man chuckled, patting him on the head, possibly not noticing Aaron's eyes narrowing into two slits at that contact. - We are just making sure we choose the right ingredients for you. This is no ordinary tool we are making for you, and doing it wrong could even hurt you.

- You said I was perfect with the other two glasses. Could just use one of those. - Aaron glared up at him, but only for a second, as Mathias walked back in the room, positioning the board back on the chair across the room and in front of Aaron.

The spiky-haired youth didn't reply to his relatives' curious glances, and just stepped aside, inviting Aaron to begin with a look that was as emotionless as the look of a statue.

Aaron glared back at him, and snorted, lifting the yellow glass the man had given him. He began to spell every letter, making each word sound as hard and heavy as he could, a mental punch to that arrogant face staring straight at him expecting to see him fail.

- E. F. P. L. P. E. D. P. E. C. F. D. E. D. F. C. Z. P.

The upper part of the board, the one above the line marking the "easy" part of the test, had been smooth and easy to read. There were only two lines between that zone and the "difficult" part at the bottom of the board, the one with the smallest characters. Two lines. Shouldn't be too hard.

- F. E. L. O. F. E. D. …. D… E….

- Sit straight, Aaron.

When had he leaned forward?

- …F..P. O. T. ……..E. C. ….L….

- Are you sure?

No. He wasn't sure. He didn't have a damn clue on what the first letter of the "difficult" part of the test was, nor any of the following. There was no way he could guess at that distance…

Frustrated, Aaron gritted teeth and lowered his hand, almost tossing the piece of crystal, hadn't Janus retrieved in time. The man glanced between him and the board with a curious frown, before looking into the glass.

- Hm, maybe I gave you a piece that wasn't properly cleaned. I've never seen such a huge difference in results between heliodor and the other materials…

- He was not reading.

- Hm? - Janus arched one eyebrow at Mathias. - What do you mean, son?

- I have observed him. When reading the last three lines in the previous tests, he was never looking at that part of the chalkboard. - The boy was staring down at Aaron, as solemn as a judge.

- But he did spell every letter correctly. - Pointed out James, though not betraying any surprise in his voice, more like a compliant remark.

- He used his hearing. He was able to tell which letter you wrote by hearing the sound of the chalk on the board. That is why I moved elsewhere to write down the letters. - Mathias ignored the confused, questioning glances that were now flying between him and Aaron. He simply moved back to stand near the wall, in the same position he had been for most of the time in that room. - He will have to repeat the tests.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-

- Visual acuity 20/10, average refraction, perfect ocular motility, visual field confrontation seems to be even…. - Janus Asgard looked down at the note he had written throughout the test, as Aaron's head was finally free of an heavy, enormous device made with metal and glass, that they had called with a strange name he didn't even bother to try and remember. - The swinging-flashlight test however…

He trailed off, in thought. After staring at him in silence for a while, Sephirya bit her lower lip, standing up from her chair to go put her hands on her brother's shoulders from behind his chair. - Is something wrong with Aaron's eyes, Sir…?

The man glanced up from the paper at her, one hand absently scratching his chin. - His pupils respond too slowly to the light. They begin to contract only three seconds after the average Hume eye.

She glanced at Aaron, and smiled sheepishly. - But… it's just three seconds. That doesn't sound too ba–-

- It is long enough to damage one's mind. - Interrupted her James. - It is very serious. An excessive exposure to the light for a dilated pupil is very likely to cause neurologic damage.

The girl looked at the boy, a scared expression flickering on her face, but immediately beaming with confidence and enthusiasm as her brother glanced up at her with a small frown.

- Welp, that's why you are here, right? You are the best Goldsmiths in the Middle Lands! You can do something to help him, right?

The long-haired boy gave her a small, tolerant smile, before glancing at his father, who smiled back from behind his hand, before standing up and walking towards another room. - Yes. We will do everything we can, be at ease. James, come with me a moment and help me choose the materials.

While the man walked outside followed by his son. Sephirya let out a small exclamation of joy, though immediately suppressed when Mathias's voice came from just over her shoulder.

- He spoke assuming that your brother stopped cheating on the tests.

The girl gasped slightly, half-turning to glare at him. He had quietly approached to a close distance that made Aaron feel all too uncomfortable. - You spooked me…! - She exclaimed.

He ignored her comment, his gaze locked on Aaron just behind Sephirya's arm, still on the chair. - I did not catch him playing tricks again, but I feel obliged to warn you. Such behavior will only harm you. These tests are no different than any doctor's examination, and should not be neglected. To hinder our procedures for your own amusement will only waste both of our time.

He paused, as if expecting an answer that Aaron couldn't provide. He wanted to speak, he wanted maybe to even yell at that bold boy, but for some reason his jaw had gotten so stiff, he couldn't even open his mouth. Behind his lips, pressed in a thin line, his teeth were gritting so hard he was actually experiencing pressure pain.

- My father sins of excessive kindness. - Continued Mathias, his blue eyes almost glowing into Aaron's, though his traits yet betrayed no emotion. - But do rest assured that even him will not come back to help you, should your eyes veil and go blind because of your games. As won't Altana herself…

He was abruptly cut off as Sephirya quickly hit his chest with the side of her left forearm. The boy was hit squarely, but he didn't even wince, only moving half a step back, looking at her with something that resembled surprise only mildly, and more disapproval.

The girl glared at him. - Who do you think you are!? - She then winced, massaging her own arm. - Oww…!

Mathias frowned slightly, tilting his head, as if he couldn't understand the girl's behavior. Aaron temporarily considered standing up from his chair and attempt to lift it over his head to hit him, when he saw his mouth opening again to let out some other obnoxious, arrogant lecture, but the three of them were interrupted as James and Janus Asgard walked back in the room.

- Mathias, what is your opinion for the lenses? Both I and your brother seem to agree the turquoise and emerald lenses gave equally valuable results.

The boy looked up at his father. - Emerald is good at maintaining true colors, but turquoise enhances contrast. It will reveal more useful in situation of high light.

- Excellent. Turquoise powder it is. - The goldsmith nodded, and made a motion to James, who went back in the other room. He then looked down at Aaron. - Your shaded spectacles will be ready tomorrow. You must be excited.

Is that an order…?

Aaron slowly looked up at him, unsure on what to say, before staring back down at his hands.

- Father? - It was James. He walked back in the room, followed by Julius. - Mr. Idavoll offered to let us stay here for the night. I thought you would be interested.

- Y-Yes…! - The farmer removed his hat, almost strangling it in nervousness between his hands. - I mean, Windurst isn't exactly behind the corner. I thought it would save you some time… My wife's would be proud to have people from Quon judge her cooking… I .. I realize our place is somewhat modest, but…

- Your offer is too kind. However, I am not to force anyone to sleep on couches or benches… - Replied Janus, with a humble smile as he glanced around the room.

The man's eyes went wide, as if he was about to panic.- No no no…! Oh, not at all, Mister Asgard. We have extra cots, and you can have your own room for yourselves. You will use Aaron's.

- Dad….! - Aaron scowled at him, with an utterly disagreeable, almost shocked tone.

His father moved one hand in a shushing manner, without looking at him, waving his beret as if chasing a fly away. - He can sleep with his sisters in their room, it'll be fine.

- Um. - Janus Asgard glanced at his sons, a silent conversation going between them for a few seconds, before he turned back to look at him with a smile. - Well, if that's the case… Who am I to deny my sons of the luxury of real homemade food?

Sephirya nodded excitedly at him, moving one hand to swiftly grab Aaron's and pull him up. - Come on…! Let's go get your stuff for the night.

Aaron inwardly sighed, too disappointed to even resist her.

Yes. Perhaps Accursed was the right word.