The Flame Courtyard looked calmer today… or maybe Arav felt calmer.
Yesterday's awakening still left faint traces of fire-aether floating in the air like drifting golden dust. The stones beneath his feet were warm—not from sunlight, but from the lingering imprint of his flame awakening.
Aaryan sat cross-legged at the center of the courtyard, a wide stone tablet placed in front of him. Intricate patterns were carved into the slab—circles, branching channels, and a glowing aether core symbol in the middle.
"Sit," Aaryan said.
Arav obeyed, though he still felt slightly overwhelmed by everything inside him.
Sharanya sat quietly nearby, preparing tea.
Isha sat next to the stone tablet, poking the carvings like she was playing a game.
Aaryan cleared his throat.
"Isha, please—"
"I'm helping!" she declared.
"How exactly?"
"I'm checking if the stone works."
"It is a stone, Isha," Aaryan groaned.
Sharanya hid a smile. Arav covered his mouth.
Aaryan inhaled deeply. "Let us begin."
A gentle ember rose from Aaryan's palm and hovered above the stone tablet.
"Arav, yesterday you awakened," he said. "That means you stepped into Tier 1 — the beginning of your aether journey."
Arav nodded.
Aaryan drew a glowing circle on the slab.
"This is your Aether Seed. It does not exist yet, but your awakening has created the foundation."
He pointed at branching pathways.
"These channels inside your body—the Aether Pathways—must open gradually. If you force them, they can tear."
Arav instinctively touched his chest. "Dad… how long does it take to open them?"
"For most people?" Aaryan shrugged. "A few months. A year if they are unlucky."
Sharanya poured tea and added, "For you… it may be much faster."
Isha proudly nodded. "Because bhaiya is shiny!"
Aaryan rubbed his forehead. "Because he has talent, Isha. Talent."
Isha whispered to Arav, "No, shiny."
Aaryan placed a glowing ember onto the center of the stone.
It merged into the carving softly.
"When your pathways stabilize and your aether flows smoothly…"
He tapped the glowing circle.
"…you will form your Aether Seed. This takes you to Tier 2 — the Aether Adept stage."
He paused, watching Arav carefully.
"Aether Seeds differ by stability, purity, and size. Yours will likely be… abnormal."
Arav frowned. "Is that bad?"
"No," Aaryan said quickly.
"It just means your path will be harder to predict."
Sharanya added gently, "And more rewarding."
Arav nodded slowly.
He wanted to be strong.
But now he could feel how much responsibility strength carried.
Aaryan raised his hand.
An ember flickered—
then grew—
then condensed into a perfect flame sphere hovering above his palm.
"This is Tier 4 aura control," he said. "Far beyond where you are, but useful for demonstration."
Arav watched in awe as the flame spun into a thin ring.
Sharanya sipped her tea. "Your father used to burn his eyebrows off practicing that."
Arav choked.
Aaryan's face reddened. "Sharanya—"
"She used to help him glue them back," Isha added proudly.
"Isha!!"
Arav nearly fell over laughing.
"Your turn," Aaryan said.
Arav stiffened. "My turn to do… what?"
Aaryan pointed to his hand. "Make a small spark. Just a spark. Nothing more."
"I'll try."
Arav closed his eyes.
Breathed slowly.
Pulled in aether.
A tiny flame flickered—
Then expanded—
Then boomed softly outward, sending a puff of hot air across the courtyard.
Aaryan's hair blew back.
Sharanya's tea rippled.
Isha fell onto her back dramatically.
"I AM DEFEATED!" she declared.
Arav panicked. "I'm sorry!"
Aaryan steadied his hair. "…Well. That was… something."
Sharanya smiled softly. "He improved from yesterday."
Aaryan stared at the cracked pebble near Arav's feet. "Yes. He… improved."
Isha sat up, clapping. "Bhaiya makes fireworks!"
Arav blushed.
Aaryan knelt beside Arav.
"Listen to me," he said gently. "You don't have to rush. You're four years old. Most children awaken at six."
Arav blinked. "Then… why did I awaken early?"
Aaryan's expression softened. "Because the flame inside you is strong. Stronger than mine. Stronger than anyone in this generation."
Sharanya placed a hand on Arav's back.
"Your path will be different. But you won't walk it alone."
Isha hugged his leg. "I walk with bhaiya!"
Aaryan nodded. "We all will."
A small breeze passed over the courtyard.
Not aether.
Not flame.
Thunder.
Arav's heart skipped.
Sharanya glanced up slightly.
Aaryan frowned.
"…The residual thunder presence from yesterday is still lingering."
Arav stayed quiet.
He didn't understand it fully—
But he sensed it.
A heartbeat far away.
Faint thunder.
A flicker of a rival star rising.
Someone else had awakened like him.
Someone who would matter.
One day.
A sudden warmth pulsed in Arav's chest.
[Aether Heart Rune: Synchronizing pathways…]
[Stability increased by 12%.]
[Minor distortion neutralized.]
Arav inhaled sharply.
Sharanya was instantly beside him. "Arav?"
He nodded slowly.
"It's settling. I think the rune is… helping."
Aaryan's eyes widened.
"A rune that stabilizes pathways… That's something even elders can't obtain easily."
Arav took another breath.
The aether around him no longer trembled.
It flowed.
Smooth as a river.
Sharanya smiled proudly.
"Your journey has begun."
Isha threw her hands in the air.
"Bhaiya is leveling up!"
Aaryan whispered, "…I should never have let her near story scrolls."