Chương 63: Third Seal

"We achieved a lot of progress today—but it's going to make us even busier than before." That was the brief and remarkably vague summary Roy had given Aurelia through the talking stones. Aurelia had considered prying like she would have done. Roy was terrible at withholding information from family when pressed, and Orion was somehow even worse when the information irritated him. But things were different now.

A dark elf slept in the Waystation - one whose entire purpose for being in Drakehaven was to watch them, learn about them, and periodically send everything he considered relevant back to Velkaryn. There was a time and a place for certain conversations. Apparently, their own dinner table was no longer always one of them. She still intended to corner both brothers eventually. For now, however, she had more immediate entertainment.

"Again!" Elias Dorn shot past her. Aurelia stepped aside just before the wooden wheel clipped her ankle.

"Careful!"

"I am being careful!"

"You have been using that thing for less than an hour!"

"Which means I am improving rapidly!" Elias drove both palms against the large wheels beside him, making his new chair lurch forward. It was ugly - there was no polite way to describe it otherwise. Kaelu had apparently interpreted Roy's miniature model as a challenge against both his craftsmanship and his sleep schedule. The result looked as if someone had torn apart a handcart, rebuilt it around a chair, reinforced every joint twice, then decided weight was irrelevant so long as the structure did not collapse.

Two large wooden wheels sat on either side of Elias, with smaller stabilizing wheels extending from the front. A padded seat had been added at Aurelia's insistence, though even that consisted primarily of layered cloth wrapped around stuffing. The entire thing probably weighed more than Elias did, and it was unmistakably temporary. A rough first attempt meant to prove the concept worked before Kaelu refined it.

Elias did not appear to care; he wheeled himself around the open construction site like someone had just gifted him a personal dragon. A stack of parchment rested across his lap, which he held down with one forearm whenever he accelerated. Every so often he stopped beside a marked section of earth, studied one of Roy's schematics, scribbled something, then launched himself toward another part of the site.

"Two feet farther west!" he shouted. Shale lifted his head from the trench. Elias pointed.

"The drainage channel." Shale stared at him.

"West." Shale turned the opposite direction. Elias closed his eyes.

"Other west." Shale turned around.

"There." The Burrowback resumed digging. Aurelia couldn't help but smile as Elias looked tremendously pleased with himself. The thermal-basin project had gone from one of Roy's deranged midnight ideas to an actual construction site remarkably quickly. Shale had already carved out the major excavation, and tidestone deliveries were being scheduled from Bellhaven as supply allowed. Elias had spent most of the previous day studying the plans.

Today, apparently, he intended to study every inch of the ground personally - whether the ground wanted him to or not. A few dozen yards away, Nimbus sprayed a controlled stream of water across the agricultural plots. Kiana walked alongside her with a grin so large Aurelia could see it from across the field.

"More toward the beans!" Nimbus chirped, and Kiana laughed. Nimbus had only returned from the road project temporarily, but Kiana seemed determined to extract every possible benefit before the Cloudbelly Drake left again. Tasks that normally took Aurelia and Kiana hours with buckets and irrigation channels were reduced to minutes when Nimbus was available. Kiana looked energetic and happy. Almost offensively so, considering the state of her husband. Kaelu sat on the ground near Elias's original starting point.

His elbows rested on his knees, and his face rested in his hands. Aurelia approached slowly.

"You look terrible."

"Thank you."

"You stayed awake all night."

"No." Aurelia waited. Kaelu moved one hand away from his face before Aurelia smiled.

"That is exactly what Roy says."

"I dislike your brother."

"No, you don't."

"I disliked him at four this morning."" That I believe." Kaelu looked toward Elias. The stonemason had managed to wedge one front wheel against a small stone and was repeatedly rocking himself backward and forward in an attempt to escape without assistance. Kaelu started to rise. Elias looked over.

"Don't you dare!" Kaelu stopped.

"I can help."

"I know." Elias pushed harder, and the wheel cleared the stone. The chair rolled backward as Elias raised both arms triumphantly. Aurelia laughed as Kaelu sat back down.

"He is going to break it."

"You built it."

"That is why I know he is going to break it."

"Then you'll improve the next one." Kaelu groaned. Aurelia looked over the chair again.

"You did good." His expression softened slightly.

"It is crude."

"It moves."

"For now." Kaelu followed her gaze. Elias could now travel from one point to another without someone physically carrying him. That had obvious benefits, but the largest could be seen on Elias' face. He chose where he went, when he stopped, and what he inspected without having to ask. He still needed assistance over poor terrain, but for the first time in months, Elias was moving around because he wanted to.

"I suppose," Kaelu admitted, "it was worth losing some sleep."

"Some?" Kaelu glared briefly, then his expression immediately vanished as footsteps approached behind them.

"His enthusiasm is admirable." Aurelia turned; Sevrin Dhal walked toward them with his hands clasped loosely behind his back. Talia followed slightly behind him. Aurelia had difficulty deciding whether Talia currently looked like a student, prisoner, or person desperately pretending she was not enjoying herself. Sevrin's dark coat remained immaculate despite Drakehaven's dirt paths. Aurelia had decided that was suspicious in itself. Talia noticed her looking.

"Don't." Aurelia blinked.

"Don't what?"

"Ask."

"I wasn't going to." Sevrin looked between them.

"I believe I am beginning to understand why diplomatic relations involving this family become complicated." Talia smiled.

"See? He's learning."

"I was referring to you."

"Oh." Sevrin watched Elias maneuver around another mound of earth.

"He appears rather pleased…and understandably so." Elias shouted something toward Shale. Shale ignored him, which only prompted Elias to shout louder.

"His situation is unfortunate." Aurelia glanced toward him. There was no pity in his tone, which was perhaps why she did not immediately become defensive. He stated it like a simple fact. Aurelia nodded.

"It is." Sevrin's attention remained on Elias.

"The injury is relatively recent?"

"Several months."

"And permanent?"

"For now." That caused Sevrin to look at her.

"For now?" Aurelia shrugged.

"He has a chair now."

"That is not what you meant."

"No." Talia looked between them as Sevrin studied Elias again.

"The damage could likely be repaired." Aurelia straightened.

"What?" Kaelu looked up as well. Sevrin continued with the same matter-of-fact tone.

"With an appropriate healer." Aurelia glanced toward Elias.

"He was told he wouldn't walk again."

"In Bellhaven?"

"Yes."

"Then I suspect whoever examined him was correct within the capabilities available to them," Sevrin gestured subtly toward her wand.

"Healing does not stop at closing wounds." This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

"I know."

"Conceptually, perhaps." Aurelia's eyes narrowed slightly. Sevrin noticed.

"I do not mean that as an insult."

"Sounded a little like one."

"It was not intended as such," he nodded toward Elias.

"The body remembers its intended structure more thoroughly than most people appreciate. Bone can be reconstructed. Muscle restored. Nerves persuaded to reconnect if one's Class develops appropriately." Talia blinked.

"You can regrow nerves?"" I cannot."

"You know what I mean."

"Yes," Sevrin smiled faintly.

"A sufficiently advanced healer can accomplish things that would seem miraculous here." Aurelia stared at him.

"How advanced?"

"That depends entirely upon the healer."

"Seal?"

"Not enough information," Sevrin considered.

"Class matters. Skills matter. Experience matters. The nature of the injury matters."

"But it can be done."

"Yes." No hesitation. Aurelia looked toward Elias. He had stopped beside another section of the excavation; his hands moved animatedly while he explained something to Shale. He sat ina rough chair with parchment in his lap, while dirt already covered half the wheels. Despite it all, his expression was almost euphoric. Aurelia smiled.

"Then I'll fix it." Sevrin's eyebrow rose.

"You intend to become capable of restoring his mobility."

"Yes."

"You have known him for…"

"A couple days."

"A remarkably strong commitment."

"He's helping us."

"That does not ordinarily make someone's medical future your personal responsibility." Aurelia shrugged.

"It does if I'm the healer." Talia grinned. Sevrin looked at Aurelia for another moment, then he chuckled.

"Perhaps you will." Aurelia folded her arms.

"You don't sound convinced."

"I did not say that."

"Your face did."

"My face is professionally neutral." Talia immediately laughed.

"No, it isn't." Sevrin looked toward her.

"This seems an excellent opportunity to discuss the value of not antagonizing someone while they are providing instruction."

"Is that today's lesson?"

"It is now." Aurelia smiled, while Sevrin returned his attention to Elias.

"In a city with access to sufficiently advanced healers, an injury like his would not necessarily define the remainder of his life." There was no superiority in the statement. If anything, Aurelia heard something almost regretful beneath it. Bellhaven simply did not have that, and neither did Drakehaven - yet.

"You are taking that as a goal, I presume?" he asked Aurelia after another moment.

"Shouldn't I?"

"No reason not to." Talia looked toward Aurelia.

"I think you just made it worse."

"For who?"

"Whoever has to deal with you when you decide something is a goal." Aurelia smiled.

"Probably Roy."

"Usually Roy," Kaelu muttered. Sevrin turned.

"You appear exhausted." Kaelu stared at him.

"I built a chair."

"I can see that."

"All night," Kaelu stood.

"I've lounged long enough, though. I am going back to work." Aurelia glanced at him.

"You should sleep."

"I will."

"When?" Kaelu walked away.

"Eventually." Aurelia watched him go.

"Apparently none of the men here understand sleep." Talia gestured toward Sevrin.

"He sleeps."

"Seven hours when circumstances permit."

"See? Horrifying." Sevrin sighed.

"I regret agreeing to this arrangement."

"No, you don't."

"Increasingly," he motioned for Talia to follow.

"We should continue." Talia gave Aurelia a small wave.

"Save me."

"You were excited about this yesterday."

"That was before he assigned reading." Sevrin continued walking.

"Three pages."

"Three terrible pages." Their voices faded as they moved toward the center of Drakehaven. The whole situation with Sevrin was strange. He remained a potential enemy, yet nothing about his behavior so far matched the kind of enemy Aurelia understood. He taught Talia seriously. He answered questions when he felt they did not compromise his purpose. He had even looked at Elias's injury and spoken about it with genuine sympathy rather than contempt.

That almost made him more difficult to deal with - Aurelia preferred enemies who made themselves obvious.

"Miss Aurelia!" She turned to see Elias rolling toward her. He was moving significantly slower now; probably because one wheel had begun squeaking. He stopped near Kaelu's abandoned sitting spot.

"Where did he go?"

"Healing House." Elias blinked.

"Already?"

"He apparently intends to prove that sleep is optional."

"Excellent."

"That was not approval."

"I wasn't listening." Elias looked down at his chair, then toward where Kaelu had gone. His expression softened.

"He really stayed up all night?"

"Apparently."

"I told him I could wait." Aurelia smiled.

"He didn't."

"No," Elias ran one hand over the crude wheel.

"I'll need to thank him properly."

"You've thanked him about twelve times."

"Thirteen."

"Then you're done."

"I am not." Aurelia laughed. Elias adjusted the parchment across his lap.

"I've made a few revisions."

"Already?"

"Several."

"Roy is going to love you."

"Kaelu said the opposite."

"Roy loves revisions."

"Kaelu said Roy loves making revisions and hates receiving them." Aurelia considered.

"That is probably more accurate." Elias smiled, then looked toward the opposite side of the settlement. Kaelu had already reached the Healing House site where Rowan was already waiting for him. The foundation had been laid, and she knew supplies had been staged. Timber rested in neat stacks, stone footings marked the perimeter, and several structural beams already stood. The covered exterior treatment area intended for drakes existed only as posts and an outline, but Aurelia could see it.

Her treatment room would be there. A place designed around care rather than survival, and an exterior bay large enough to examine Shale or Zephyr without forcing either through human-sized doors. Aurelia had treated injuries at kitchen tables. She had healed Orion while bandits broke into their home, and had kept Nimbus alive while fighting a dragon. She had nearly bled to death in Bellhaven and healed herself before the assassin could finish the job.

For months, healing had meant responding wherever disaster happened. The building ahead of her meant something else. Elias rolled beside her.

"Good foundation." Aurelia glanced down.

"You've inspected it?"

"From a distance."

"That chair may have been a mistake."

"Absolutely not." He rolled toward the basin again, leaving Aurelia to watch the construction unfold. Kaelu lifted one of the framing pieces with Rowan. Rowan braced as Kaelu checked alignment, then the beam settled into position. Before she could admire for long, golden light appeared at the edge of her vision. She blinked as a Status message formed. [Healing House Establishment Imminent] Aurelia stared; another line appeared. [Dedicated Caretaker Facilities Increase Opportunity] Her heart accelerated.

"Oh." [Third Seal Requirements Fulfilled] Aurelia barely had time to breathe. [Third Seal Unlocked] The world erupted. Golden Weave surged upward around her, and not in a gentle spiral. A brilliant ring exploded outward around her before curving toward the sky. Wind tore through her hair, and loose parchment whipped from Elias's lap.

"Hey!" Across the settlement, people shouted. Nimbus snapped her head toward Aurelia, Kiana shielded her face, Kaelu and Rowan stepped away from the framing. Even Aegis appeared almost immediately from somewhere beyond Aurelia's sight, his attention locking onto her. Farther away, Talia stopped mid-step - as did Sevrin. The golden column climbed. Her breath vanished as her Weave Reserve expanded. It was not a gradual increase, either.

Her wand flared, the crystal glowing brightly enough that she reflexively covered it. Then came something stranger. For a brief moment, her senses toward life increased exponentially. Kiana's heart beating quickly from surprise, Kaelu's exhaustion hanging through his muscles, and Rowan's minor soreness from construction work. Even Nimbus registered differently—not as something Aurelia consciously diagnosed, but as a living structure whose condition she could understand more readily than before.

Aurelia inhaled sharply, and the sensation retreated slightly as her mind adjusted. The golden light finally began fading, and silence lingered across the site. After several moments, everything returned to normal. Then Talia came running.

"You unlocked your Third Seal!" Aurelia smiled.

"Yes." Talia stopped in front of her.

"That was incredibly dramatic."

"I noticed." Aegis arrived a moment later. He looked Aurelia over once, then nodded approvingly.

"Better." Aurelia frowned.

"Better?"

"Your reserve," he tilted his head.

"Still small, but larger."

"That sounded less insulting before you added the second part."

"It was intended as encouragement." Sevrin approached last, though noticeably more slowly. His expression had already returned to the same composed neutrality he seemed determined to maintain around them. Almost. His gaze rested on Aurelia for a second longer than usual. Sevrin's eyes had narrowed slightly - not suspiciously, but as if measuring.

"You appear to have made a leap towards your new goal rather quickly." Aurelia smiled.

"We'll see."

"Assuming progression remains linear."

"It doesn't?"

"No." That was mildly disappointing. Sevrin looked toward the half-built Healing House.

"This triggered it?"

"I think so."

"Interesting." Talia folded her arms.

"You say that about everything here."

"I find many things here interesting."

"That's probably bad."

"For whom?" Talia considered.

"Us, usually." Sevrin's gaze returned briefly to Aurelia. For the first time since arriving in Drakehaven, his expression did not look amused by their ignorance; it looked more like recalculation. Aurelia wondered how long it usually took someone to reach Third Seal. She suddenly wished she had asked before doing it directly in front of the man whose job involved assessing how dangerous they might become. Sevrin inclined his head.

"Congratulations."

"Thank you."

"Talia." She groaned.

"We're continuing?"

"We stopped walking for perhaps two minutes."

"I thought advancement celebrations would take longer."

"Your advancement?"

"No."

"Then we continue." Talia looked toward Aurelia.

"You've ruined this for me." Sevrin turned, and Talia begrudgingly followed. This time, Sevrin did not immediately resume whatever lesson they had been discussing. Aurelia suspected he would be writing more than usual tonight. A new message appeared, which she almost missed amid the mayhem. [Third Seal Reward Acquired] [Reward Delivered Within Cottage]"Oh." Aegis looked toward her.

"What?"

"I got something. It says it's in the cottage." Talia's voice carried from the distance.

"WHY DOES EVERYONE KEEP GETTING THINGS?" Sevrin said something Aurelia could not make out as Talia threw both hands into the air. Aurelia laughed, then headed home. ─── 🐲🐲🐲 ─── The cottage felt smaller every week. Every new building around Drakehaven made the cottage feel more like a memory preserved at the settlement's center. Aurelia entered.

"Kindle?" A small head lifted near the hearth. Pale, quiet, and curled comfortably in one of his preferred spots. Aurelia smiled.

"Just checking." Kindle chirped softly and lowered his head again. Nothing else in the room looked unusual. The main table had nothing, and the counters had nothing. It was only after a bit of searching that she noticed something resting atop a small side table near the wall. A coin, though larger than a typical coin. It was made from a pale silver-white metal that caught the light strangely. It was heavy when she picked it up, and one side bore a draconic emblem.

It was not of any specific species she recognized, but a stylized dragon curled into a circle, wings wrapped around itself. The other side held a single recessed mark resembling a Seal. Aurelia turned it between her fingers.

"What are you?" Golden letters appeared. [Draconic Evolution Token] Aurelia's eyes widened as a second line formed. [Use: Evolves one existing drake] She read it twice, and then Aurelia looked slowly toward Kindle. He had not moved from his spot curled beside the hearth. She looked back at the token; every drake immediately carried possibilities Aurelia could not begin to quantify. What did evolution mean? Stronger with new abilities? Something like Aegis?

The token suddenly felt considerably heavier as Aurelia closed her fingers around it. Roy was going to lose his mind, and Orion probably would too. She looked at Kindle one more time, then slipped the token carefully into her pocket. Whatever this was— it was not the kind of decision she intended to make alone.