Spring in the Goldenfields has hit, common rains mixed with warm days caused a humid climate, something Cassia hated and made her stay inside all day.
Red and Rennen were off with a hunting party for the week. Leaving Jane and Amara alone with the kids.
Jane was in the orchard on her knees pulling weeds, she enjoyed the smell of wet fertilizer. Anecus was in view inspecting a wildflower growing from a crack in a stone. "Mama…this flower looks sad."
Jane, distracted by the weeds, smiled. "Maybe it's tired honey." however what Anecus said next gave her pause. "...it said it wanted to go home."
Jane sits up, taking her gloves off, and focuses on Ane. "it said?"
Nodding solemnly…empathetically "Mhm it's not from here. It misses the cold."
Jane stands, brushing her hands off against her thigh. Watching, not alarmed but curious. "Is it speaking now?"
Shaking his head no "But I hear it in my chest."
He gently places his hand over the flower's head. His brows knit in concentration. The petals tremble only slightly and then…
The flower vanishes. Not wilts or folds. Just disappears, like the world blinked around it. Only leaving the wet stone and moss behind.
Jane approaches, slowly "Ane…where did it go?" she's trying to hide her shocked and worried expression.
Anecus tilting his head answered confused. "I let it go back."
Placing a gentle hand on his back "back where sweety?"
Anecus looks up at his mother, still not really sure how to put it into words. "…back to where it remembers."
Jane inspects the area, running her fingers over where the flower used to be, no scorch marks or cold spots. No residual Pillar resonance.
Just… absence, like it had never grown there. No signs of destruction.
Softly jane "did you move it?"
Anecus answers more assuredly than previously "No I just…agreed."
Jane watches him closely as her Soulgaze tingles, but there's nothing. No elemental resonance. No spirit nearby. Just a boy with a steady gaze and a whisper of power she cannot name. 'You haven't even awakened yet.'
It wasn't a Pillar. Not like hers, not like Red's. It wasn't Elemental or Spiritual or even Spatial. It was…agreement. Soul to soul promise, and Jane for the first time wondered 'What are you little light?'
After the initial cool down of what transpired Jane had a gut feeling about her son's future…about everyone's future. 'I'll need to start your lessons.'
looking off into the distance towards the forest "I need to tell Red."
Putting away her tools she picked up Anecus…'he is getting a little heavy for this.' he was fully capable of walking on his own but Jane was having a hard time accepting her children growing up so fast.
Jane was in front of Amara's door "Amara, can I talk to you." only a few seconds later Naia opened the door "HI!! Mama's is in the bathroom."
Anecus eyes widen a little and he attempts to wipe some dirt off his cheek. Jane notices and smirks a little. "Why don't you two go play, I need to speak to aunty Amara."
Naia and Anecus in unison "Okay!"
Jane walked into the kitchen area like it was her own place. She grabs two cups and a kettle, knowing where everything was. By the time she was pouring the tea Amara walked down stairs.
"Jane, I knew I smelled tea." Amara could tell right away she wanted to talk about something. "What is it?"
Sitting down cradling her tea "I am going to start Anecus's lessons early, and also speak to Red about starting his training as well."
Amara taking a seat next to her with a slightly worried expression "Did something happen? Anecus and Cassia aren't do to awaken for a few years."
Jane looked over to Anecus and Naia playing "nothing major, but you know he's shown signs of being different."
Amara nods "yes…did something like the leaf happen again?"
Jane exhales "Yes but a little more…substantial than that."
Amara inhaled. "I see. So why have you brought this to me?"
Jane looks into Amara's soft eyes, "I wanted to teach Naia as well. Figured if he gets an early start they all could."
Taking a sip of tea "I wanted your blessing."
Amara chuckles lightly, "Oh Jane. You are basically a second mother to Naia, as am I to Anecus and Cassia." She looks at Jane with a tenderness you'd expect from a sister. "Of course, I'd actually prefer it."
With the conversation moving to lighter things they turn their attention to Anecus and Naia playing in the living room. Naia holds up a white puffy flower she has been collecting. Sweetly she says "loook, it's soft like a cloud."
Anecus looks at the slightly wilted flower, contemplating. "Flowers can cry."
Naia's smile falters slightly…"do you?"
Anecus pauses and thinks for a little, he looks into her marble black eyes "no, not when you and Cassie are here."
The hearth flickers and the rain starts to fall a little harder. The words were spoken with such earnestness that a feeling of warmth passes between the two.
Amara nudges Jane's arm excitedly but whispers "Jane."
"I see it." Jane says while she activates her Soulgaze.
----
Curled up in a large blanket, Naia rests her head on Anecus's shoulder. He doesn't react not because he's unaware, but because it's natural.
Naia slowly drifts into sleep and says mumbled "when I'm sad, you get quiet." it wasn't a question but a statement.
Anecus answers with another. "Seeing you sad hurts."
With those two declarations they fall into sleep. Not knowing what they just described was something much older, much too complex for words to describe…at least for now.
The shimmer pulses faintly again only visible to Jane. She narrows her eyes, Soulgaze deactivated slowly. She saw it, a gold tether, still light, still soft, forming between them. Not a full Bond, but a beginning of one. Something stronger most never find in a lifetime.
Her expression was like stone, but her breath catches in that small telling way only Amara notices.
Amara gently said, "You saw something didn't you?"
Quietly, eyes still on the children "I saw the future trying to write itself. In ink they don't know how to hold yet."
Amara leans in brow furrowed "that sounds…beautiful, and dangerous"
Jane "Most real things are."
They watch as Naia absent mindedly brushes Anecus's cheek with her hair before settling again. He doesn't react like a typical boy, he closes his eyes like the touch made him lighter.
Amara "I wish we could take a picture, this would be great to tease them with."
Jane "Knowing Anecus he probably wants to keep it." They both laugh softly.
Anecus suddenly turns to them with no sign of hearing their conversation, but his head tilts just like Red's does before he speaks. "Are you talking about us?"
Smiling, Amara says "Always."
Naia stirs awake from the talking and rubs her eyes, looking up at Anecus and then at Jane and Amara. "Are we in trouble?"
Amara holding back a chuckle "No, my dove. You're in something, but not trouble." with a confused look Naia shrugs and resumes her sleeping, as does Anecus.
Jane and Amara lock eyes. There is a knowing between mothers a language older than their magic. Amara "you think they'll stay this close?"
Jane, thinking about the golden thread she witnessed. " I don't think even the Twelve could break what they have."
She pauses to let the sound of popping embers fill her ears. Looking at Amara, "I should warn you… Bonding at this age, It's not common. Not easy."
Smiling faintly and remembering her first moments with Rennen "Neither were we." Playing with her tea cup, "I remember the day Naia was born, she was so beautiful. I couldn't wait for Rennen to hold her, haha when he finally did he nearly passed out. Swore he saw the stars inside her."
Jane grinning "Red didn't hold either of them for the first hour. Just stood there, Vector still at the ready like the world might change its mind."
Amara was curious "did it?"
Jane shook her head with a proud smile. "No. but he did, for the better."