The yard besides the attic shimmered in late afternoon light. Golden beams spilled across the grass, painting the griefstone walls in warm hues. The air carried the faint fragrance of herbs from Illan's brewing fire, mingling with the soft steam of tea drifting from inside where Nia and Aldi sat. Birds called faintly in the distance, their notes weaving into the rhythm of the scene.
Orie stood tall in the center, her cloak trailing softly, her braid slipping forward. Her seal pulsed faintly, her eyes calm. She raised her hand, her voice low but firm.
"Ivy," she said gently. "Stand on one leg. Fold your hands in this pose. Focus on the stroll of your heart, on the thread between your brows."
Her fingers moved gracefully, demonstrating the position—palms pressed together, elbows lifted, balance steady.
Ivy stepped forward hesitantly.
Her cloak brushed against the grass, her braid swayed, her seal flickered faintly. She lifted one leg, folded her hands, and closed her eyes. Her breath caught, her body swayed.
She fell.
Her cloak flared, her braid swung, her seal flickered erratically. She landed softly, her lips curved into a pout.
She pushed herself up quickly, her braid slipping forward, her breath uneven.
"I'll try again," she muttered, her voice sharp with determination.
She lifted her leg once more, her hands folded, her eyes squeezed shut. Her breath steadied, her seal flickered faintly. For a moment she held it—then her balance faltered.
She fell again.
Her cloak flared, her braid swung, her lips parted in frustration.
She rose quickly, her cheeks flushed, her seal flickered faintly.
"One more time," she said firmly, her voice trembling.
She lifted her leg, folded her hands, her breath sharp. She swayed, her seal flickered erratically. She clenched her jaw, her eyes narrowed, her breath caught.
Then she fell once more, her cloak trailing, her braid slipping forward.
Her lips trembled, her eyes widened, her seal flickered faintly. She sat back on the grass, her cloak pooling around her, her braid swaying.
"I don't have the talent," she whispered, her voice fragile, her tone edged with despair.
Her eyes lowered, her fingers twisted together, her breath uneven.
Orie's lips curved faintly, her eyes softened, her seal pulsed warmly. She shook her head gently, her braid swayed, her cloak trailing.
"You're wrong," she said softly. "You're threadsbound. That's not talent—it's bond. And bond can be trained."
Ivy's brows furrowed, her lips parted, her seal flickered faintly.
"But you make it look so easy," she said softly, her voice trembling.
Orie smiled faintly, her eyes sparkled, her seal pulsed brightly.
"That's because I've done this for centuries," she said gently. "You're just beginning."
Nia's voice drifted from inside, calm and teasing.
"Don't forget, Ivy," she called softly, her lips curved faintly. "Even Orie fell once—when she was younger."
Orie laughed softly, her braid swayed, her seal pulsed warmly.
"True," she admitted. "But I got up again. And so will you."
Tieran watched from the window, his cloak brushing against the sill, his seal pulsed faintly. His eyes lingered on Ivy, his breath steady, his jaw tightened. Through the bond, he felt her frustration, her determination, her fragile hope. His hand brushed the window frame, his lips curved faintly.
Thimble darted about near the porch, his ears twitching, his cloak flapping. He muttered incoherently, his seal flickered brightly.
"I don't understand what you're doing," he shouted, his voice high. "But I'll help if I can!"
Illan chuckled softly, his hands steady as he stirred herbs. His seal pulsed faintly, his eyes narrowed.
"Focus on your balance first, Thimble," he said gently. "Leave the medicine to me."
The yard exhaled.
The griefstone walls pulsed faintly, the grass shimmered in the golden light, the flowers swayed gently. The air was alive with warmth, laughter, and bond.
Ivy's breath steadied, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed softly. She looked at Orie, her eyes sparkled faintly, her voice trembling but alive.
"Alright," she whispered. "I'll try again."
Ivy closed her eyes.
Her breath caught, her seal flickered faintly. She tried to focus, her mind reaching for the thread, her heart trembling. Her body swayed, her balance faltered.
She fell.
Her cloak flared, her braid swung, her seal flickered erratically. She landed softly on the grass, her lips curved into a pout, her breath uneven.
She pushed herself up quickly, her cloak trailing, her braid slipping forward. Her eyes narrowed, her lips parted, her voice sharp.
"I don't have the talent," she complained, her tone edged with frustration.
Orie's lips curved faintly, her eyes softened, her seal pulsed warmly. She shook her head gently, her braid swayed, her cloak trailing.
"Watch," she said softly.
She stepped into the pose effortlessly.
Her leg lifted, her hands folded, her body locked into balance. Her breath steadied, her eyes closed, her seal pulsed brightly.
Then it happened.
Her body began to glow.
Light spilled from her skin, her aura shimmering, alive. It spread across the yard, golden and radiant, weaving into the air like threads of silk. Her cloak flared softly, her braid shimmered, her seal pulsed brilliantly.
The glow enveloped her, pulsing outward, filling the yard with warmth. The grass shimmered faintly, the flowers swayed, the griefstone walls pulsed with runes.
Ivy froze.
Her eyes widened, her lips parted, her breath caught. Her seal flickered faintly, her braid swayed. She was mesmerized.
Her gaze lingered on Orie, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed softly.
From the window, Tieran watched.
His cloak brushed against the sill, his seal pulsed faintly. His eyes narrowed, his breath caught, his jaw tightened. He leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on Ivy and Orie. His lips curved faintly, his seal glowed softly.
Through the bond, he felt Ivy's awe, her frustration, her determination. His hand brushed the window frame, his breath steady, his eyes softened.
Inside, Aldi and Nia sat together.
Their cloaks pooled around them, their braids swayed gently. Steam rose from their cups, the scent of tea filling the air. Their seals pulsed softly, their eyes sparkled faintly.
Aldi's lips curved faintly, her breath steady, her seal flickered softly. Nia's brows lifted, her lips curved into a small smile, her seal pulsed warmly. They sipped quietly, their eyes lingering on the yard, their voices low.
Thimble darted about near the porch.
His cloak flapped, his ears twitched, his seal pulsed erratically. He carried herbs clumsily, his lips curved faintly, his voice high. He muttered incoherently, his breath sharp, his seal flickered brightly.
Beside him, Illan crouched over a small fire.
His cloak bunched awkwardly, his seal pulsed faintly. His hands moved quickly, mixing herbs, stirring vials, his breath steady. The scent of medicine filled the air, sharp and earthy. His eyes narrowed, his lips curved faintly, his seal glowed softly.
Together, they brewed medicine for Nia and Orie, their movements clumsy but alive, their seals pulsing in rhythm.
The yard exhaled.
The lanterns flickered softly inside, the tea steamed gently, the fire crackled faintly. The griefstone walls pulsed with runes, steady, alive, listening.
Ivy's eyes lingered on Orie, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed softly. Her breath steadied, her fingers relaxed, her braid swayed gently. Determination flickered across her face, fragile but alive.
Orie's aura glowed brightly, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed warmly. Her voice was calm, steady, alive.
"This is what it means," she said softly. "To weave threads. To be bound."
The yard was filled with light. With warmth. With awe. With bond.
The door creaked softly.
Tieran stepped out. His cloak trailed behind him, his seal pulsed faintly, his jaw tightened. His eyes narrowed, his breath steady, his presence calm. He crossed the yard slowly, his boots pressing into the grass, his gaze fixed on Ivy.
"I'll join you," he said softly, his voice low but firm.
Ivy's eyes widened, her lips parted, her seal flickered faintly.
"You?" she whispered, her tone fragile.
Tieran nodded, his cloak trailing, his seal pulsed steadily.
"Yes," he said calmly. "If you fall, I'll steady you."
Orie's lips curved faintly, her eyes softened, her seal pulsed warmly. She stepped back slightly, her cloak trailing, her braid slipping forward.
"Then both of you," she said gently. "Follow me. Stand on one leg. Fold your hands in this pose. Focus on the stroll of your heart, on the thread between your brows."
Her fingers moved gracefully, demonstrating the position—palms pressed together, elbows lifted, balance steady.
Tieran lifted his leg, folded his hands, his breath steady. His body was calm, his balance smooth, his aura steady. His seal pulsed faintly, his eyes closed, his jaw relaxed.
Ivy lifted her leg beside him, her hands folded, her breath sharp. Her body swayed, her seal flickered faintly. Her mind wandered—memories, doubts, fears. She faltered, her balance broke.
But Tieran's calm steadied her.
Through the bond, she felt his determination, his focus. Her breath steadied, her seal pulsed softly. Slowly, her body found balance.
Together, they stood.
Their cloaks trailed softly, their braids swayed gently, their seals pulsed in rhythm. Their breaths steadied, their eyes closed, their bodies locked into balance. The bond wove between them, threads of calm and determination, weaving into concentration.
Orie's lips curved faintly, her eyes softened, her seal pulsed warmly. She stepped back slowly, her cloak trailing, her braid slipping forward.
"They'll manage," she whispered.
She turned quietly, leaving them alone in the yard, and joined Aldi and Nia inside.
The tea room was warm.
Inside the tea room, steam curled lazily from the cups, carrying the earthy fragrance of steeped herbs. The lanterns flickered softly, their golden glow spilling across the griefstone walls. Nia leaned back, her cloak trailing, her braid slipping forward, her brows lifted in sharp curiosity. Orie sat opposite, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed warmly, her eyes sparkling with quiet amusement.
Nia's voice broke the silence, edged with impatience. "Why are you doing this to them? You can just ask her to cast a thread for a start. Why those difficult immortal cultivation nonsense poses, which don't even make sense to anyone besides you?"
Orie smiled faintly, her braid swayed, her seal pulsed warmly. "She needs to be calmed down first," she said gently. "And a bit of teasing won't hurt."
Aldi, who had been sipping her tea slowly, lifted her gaze. Her cloak pooled softly around her, her braid tangled from her half-sleep, her seal pulsed faintly but steady. She set her cup down with deliberate care, her voice low and calm, carrying the weight of quiet observation.
"These poses," Aldi said softly, "aren't just nonsense. They slow the breath, steady the pulse, and align the seals. When the body holds still, the heart learns to listen. It's not about balance alone—it's about delaying the poison's spread. Tieran's aura will hold longer this way, and Ivy's restless mind will quiet enough to feel the threads."
Her eyes lingered on the yard, where Ivy swayed and Tieran stood steady. Her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed softly. "Think of it as weaving calm into the body. Without calm, Mystic Mellow will scatter like dust."
Nia's brows furrowed, her lips parted, her seal flickered faintly. She sighed, her voice softened. "I suppose… when you put it that way, it makes sense."
Orie chuckled softly, her braid swayed, her seal pulsed warmly. "See? Even Aldi agrees."
Aldi smiled faintly, her eyes sparkled softly, her seal pulsed warmly. "Well, both are together now. This pose will delay Tieran's poison for the time being."
Orie nodded gently, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed warmly. "Yes."
Nia's lips curved faintly, her eyes sparkled softly, her seal pulsed warmly. "Hmm. Let them calm down first. It's not easy to master Mystic Mellow. Okay… if she won't, just gather enough power from it to cure Tieran."
Near the porch, the air was thick with the sharp scent of herbs. Illan crouched low over a small fire, his cloak bunched awkwardly, his seal pulsed faintly. His hands moved quickly, stirring vials, grinding leaves, his breath steady. The flames crackled softly, casting shadows across the wooden beams.
Beside him, Thimble darted about, his cloak flapping, his ears twitching wildly. His seal pulsed erratically, his voice high and sharp. He clutched a sprig of Moonroot like it was a weapon, his eyes narrowed, his lips curved faintly.
Their voices rose, sharp and overlapping.
"Add Moonroot at last!" Thimble shouted, his ears twitching furiously, his seal flickering brightly.
Illan's brows furrowed, his lips curved faintly, his seal pulsed faintly. His hands stilled, his gaze sharp.
"Add it first," he countered firmly, his voice edged with irritation.
The argument escalated.
Illan straightened slightly, his cloak trailing, his seal pulsed faintly. His eyes narrowed, his lips curved faintly, his voice sharp.
"Am I a physician, or you?" he demanded, his tone heavy with authority.
Thimble's ears twitched, his lips curved into a sly grin, his seal pulsed erratically. He puffed his chest, his cloak flared, his voice high and indignant.
"I am almost a thousand years old!" he shouted. "I know more!"
Illan's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowed, his seal pulsed faintly. His lips curved faintly, his voice sharp.
"No, you don't," he said flatly.
The porch echoed with their bickering, sharp and comical. The scent of Moonroot filled the air, mingling with the smoke of the fire. Their voices carried across the yard, reaching the tea room where Orie, Nia, and Aldi sat.
Inside, the three women paused mid-sip.
Nia's brows lifted, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed softly. Orie's eyes sparkled, her lips curved faintly, her seal glowed warmly. Aldi's lips curved faintly, her eyes sparkled softly, her seal pulsed warmly.
They laughed softly, their voices overlapping, their seals pulsing warmly.
The yard exhaled.
Ivy and Tieran stood together in balance, their seals pulsed in rhythm. The bond wove between them, threads of calm and determination.
Near the porch, Thimble and Illan's voices rose again, their argument looping endlessly, comic relief against the solemnity of training.
The yard was steeped in twilight. The sun had dipped low, spilling amber light across the grass, painting the griefstone walls in dusky hues. The air was cool now, carrying the faint fragrance of herbs from Illan's brewing fire, mingling with the sharper scent of Moonroot and Whisperleaf. Dust motes shimmered lazily in the fading beams, drifting like threads of memory. A faint breeze stirred the wildflowers at the edge of the yard, their petals trembling as if listening to the rhythm of the seals pulsing nearby.
Tieran stood in the center, his cloak trailing softly, his seal pulsed faintly. His jaw tightened, his eyes narrowed, his breath steady. He lifted his leg, folded his hands, his body locked into balance. His aura was calm, his determination steady, his seal glowing faintly. His movements were precise, deliberate, as though each breath was a thread woven into the fabric of the evening.
Beside him, Ivy swayed. Her cloak brushed against the grass, her braid slipped forward, her seal flickered faintly. She lifted her leg, folded her hands, her breath sharp. For a moment she steadied herself, her body trembling but holding. Her brows furrowed, her lips parted, her eyes squeezed shut.
Then her eyelids fluttered.
Her breath slowed, her seal pulsed faintly. She swayed gently, her lips parted, her body relaxed. She was falling asleep.
Through the bond, Tieran felt it.
Her aura shifted, her power centering. Threads of calm wove into her seal, her energy aligning faintly. His brows lifted, his lips curved faintly, his voice low, muttered under his breath.
"Seriously… she's sleeping while cultivating."
His eyes lingered on her, his breath steady, his seal pulsed faintly. He almost smiled, though his jaw remained tight, his focus unbroken.
Ivy's body swayed more heavily now. Her cloak trailed, her braid slipped forward, her seal flickered faintly. She dozed deeply, her breath slow, her lips parted. Her balance faltered, her body tilted, her foot slipped.
She almost fell to the ground.
Tieran moved instantly.
His cloak flared, his seal pulsed brightly. His arms darted forward, catching her midair. Her body fell softly into his hold, her cloak trailing, her braid swaying. Her breath was steady, her seal pulsed faintly.
He carried her gently, his arms strong, his steps steady. His cloak brushed against the grass, his seal glowed faintly. He crossed the yard slowly, his eyes softened, his breath steady.
He carried her inside, past the porch where the firelight flickered, past the tea room where Orie, Nia, and Aldi sat.
The tea room was warm. Lanterns flickered softly, their golden glow spilling across the wooden floor. Steam rose from the cups, the scent of herbs filling the air. Nia and Aldi looked up as Tieran entered, Ivy resting in his arms. Their brows lifted, their lips curved faintly, their seals pulsed softly.
Orie's eyes softened, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed warmly. She nodded gently, her cloak trailing, her braid slipping forward.
The porch glowed in the firelight, shadows dancing across the beams as the cauldron bubbled faintly. Illan crouched low, sleeves rolled up, his movements precise and deliberate. His seal shimmered faintly with concentration as he ground the herbs into a fine powder. His brows were knit tight, his lips pressed into a thin line, every gesture carrying the weight of discipline.
Thimble, meanwhile, was anything but disciplined. He hopped from one foot to the other, ears flicking like restless banners, cloak dragging dangerously close to the fire. He held the Moonroot sprig aloft as though it were a royal scepter, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Add it at the end, Illan!" Thimble declared, his voice shrill with certainty. He waved the sprig dramatically, nearly knocking over a vial. "Moonroot must crown the brew, not drown in it!"
Illan froze mid-stir, his jaw tightening. He turned slowly, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Crown the brew?" he repeated, his tone clipped. "Do you even know what you're saying? If it goes in last, the potency collapses."
Thimble puffed his chest, ears twitching with indignation. "I've lived nearly a thousand years!" he boasted, stamping his foot for emphasis. "I've seen more herbs than you've read in your dusty physician's manuals."
Illan exhaled sharply through his nose, his seal pulsing with irritation. He straightened, towering over the cauldron, his voice low and firm. "Experience without discipline is chaos. Am I the physician here, or you?"
Thimble grinned slyly, leaning in as if to challenge him. "Physician? Ha! I'm a rabbit fairy, keeper of secrets older than your family line. I know Moonroot."
Illan's lips curved into the faintest smirk, though his eyes remained cold. "You know how to eat it raw, perhaps. Brewing it? No. You don't."
The fire crackled between them, smoke curling upward as their voices clashed. Yet despite the argument, their hands moved in reluctant harmony—Illan steady with the pestle, Thimble darting in to toss leaves and stir. The bubbling mixture thickened, glowing faintly, proof that even bickering could weave a kind of balance
Despite their disagreement, their hands moved in rhythm. Illan stirred steadily, Thimble added herbs clumsily, their seals pulsed faintly. The fire crackled, the vials clinked, the scent of medicine filled the air. Slowly, the mixture thickened, its glow faint but steady.
They had managed to brew the medicine successfully.
Thimble's ears twitched, his lips curved into a grin, his seal flickered brightly. He lifted the vial triumphantly, his voice high and sharp.
"See? We did it!"
Illan sighed, his lips curved faintly, his seal pulsed softly. He wiped his hands on his cloak, his eyes narrowed.
"Yes," he said softly. "Despite you."
Thimble's ears twitched again, his grin widened. "Despite me? Because of me!" he shouted.
Illan shook his head, his lips curved faintly, his seal pulsed softly. "Keep telling yourself that."
The porch exhaled.
Smoke curled lazily, the fire glowed softly, the vials shimmered faintly. Their voices carried across the yard, reaching the tea room where Orie, Nia, and Aldi sat.
Inside, the three women paused mid-sip.
Nia's brows lifted, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed softly. Orie's eyes sparkled, her lips curved faintly, her seal glowed warmly. Aldi's lips curved faintly, her eyes sparkled softly, her seal pulsed warmly.
They laughed softly, their voices overlapping, their seals pulsing warmly.
The yard exhaled.
Tieran carried Ivy gently, her breath steady, her seal pulsed faintly. The bond wove between them, threads of calm and determination.
At the porch, Illan and Thimble's voices rose again, sharp and playful, comic relief against the solemnity of cultivation.
Nia sighed, lips curving faintly, eyes sparkling with amusement. "Listen to them," she said softly. "They sound like children fighting over sweets."
Orie chuckled, her braid swaying, her seal pulsed warmly. "Children maybe, but have you noticed? The medicine thickens faster when they argue. Their energy collides, and somehow it strengthens the brew."
Aldi blinked, then smiled faintly, her voice low and calm. "It's true. Their seals pulse harder when they bicker. The mixture absorbs it. Chaos becomes fuel."
Nia tilted her head, lips curving into a reluctant smile. "So you're saying their nonsense actually makes the medicine stronger?"
Orie nodded, eyes sparkling. "Yes. Balance through discord. It's ridiculous, but it works."
Aldi sipped her tea, her seal pulsed faintly. "Good. Let them quarrel. As long as the medicine comes out right, I don't care if they claw each other."
The three women laughed softly, voices overlapping, seals pulsing warmly. Their laughter mingled with the porch bickering, weaving into the evening air.
The porch exhaled. Smoke curled lazily, the fire glowed softly, the vials shimmered faintly. Illan's brows relaxed, his lips curved faintly, his seal pulsed softly. Thimble's ears twitched, his grin widened, his seal flickered brightly.
"See? Stronger brew," Thimble shouted triumphantly. Illan sighed, shaking his head. "Stronger because I corrected your mistakes," he muttered.
The porch door creaked open, and Thimble came bounding in, ears twitching like banners in the wind. His cloak was askew, his grin wide, and in his hands he carried a steaming pot of medicine. The scent hit the room before he did—sharp, pungent, earthy, with a bitterness that seemed to cling to the air itself.
"Medicine!" he shouted triumphantly, holding the pot aloft as though it were a trophy. "Brewed to perfection, thanks to me!"
Behind him, Illan followed with slower, steadier steps. His cloak was neat, his hands folded behind his back, his expression calm but edged with irritation. His seal pulsed faintly, his eyes narrowed.
"Thanks to me," Illan corrected dryly. "You nearly ruined it three times."
Thimble puffed his chest, ears twitching indignantly. "Ruined? I improved it! Smell that strength!" He inhaled deeply, then coughed, eyes watering. "Alright… maybe it's a little strong."
Inside, the tea room was warm, lanterns flickering softly, their golden glow spilling across the wooden floor. Orie and Nia sat together, cloaks pooled around them, their seals faint from exhaustion. Aldi rose from her seat, her braid swaying, her lips curved faintly. She took the pot from Thimble with calm hands, her seal pulsed softly.
She poured the medicine into two bowls, steam curling upward, carrying the bitter scent. She passed them to Orie and Nia, her voice low but firm, tinged with nostalgia.
"Get yourselves back," Aldi said softly. "Like those days."
Her eyes lingered on them, her lips curved faintly, her seal glowed warmly.
Orie and Nia exchanged a look.
Their brows furrowed, their lips curved faintly, their seals flickered softly. They lifted the bowls reluctantly, their hands trembling slightly. The steam rose, bitter and sharp, curling around their faces.
They drank.
The taste was harsh, biting, earthy. Their lips tightened, their brows furrowed, their seals pulsed faintly. But as the liquid settled, warmth spread through their bodies. Their seals glowed brighter, their breath steadied, their eyes softened.
Orie exhaled slowly, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed warmly. "Well," she said softly. "We'll recover faster now."
Nia's eyes sparkled faintly, her lips curved into a small smile, her seal glowed softly. "Great," she said simply, her voice calm but alive.
Illan stepped forward, his cloak trailing, his seal pulsed faintly. His voice was low, steady, clinical.
"Yes," he said firmly. "Seven more doses to go. Two days apart each."
The room froze.
Orie's brows lifted, her lips parted, her seal flickered faintly. Nia's eyes widened, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed softly. They looked at each other, disbelief flickering across their faces.
"Seven more doses?" Orie repeated, her voice edged with shock.
Nia's lips parted, her brows furrowed, her seal flickered faintly. "Seven?" she echoed softly.
Aldi burst out laughing.
Her braid swayed, her cloak flared, her seal pulsed brightly. Her laughter rang through the tea room, warm and alive, echoing against the griefstone walls. She set her cup down, her eyes sparkling, her lips curved faintly.
"Well," she said between laughs, "at least you'll have plenty of practice!"
The tea room exhaled.
Lanterns flickered softly, their golden glow spilling across the wooden floor. Steam curled upward from the bowls, the bitter scent lingering. Orie and Nia's seals glowed faintly, their power restored to an extent, their internal injuries beginning to heal.
Thimble's ears twitched, his grin widened, his seal flickered brightly. Illan sighed, his lips curved faintly, his seal pulsed softly. Aldi laughed, her voice alive, her seal glowing warmly.
The room was filled with warmth. With laughter. With healing. With bond