Lanni deftly whipped up the morning’s breakfast, and the sizzle and pop of the frying pan were a delightful precursor to the day ahead. With a practiced hand, she ar-ranged the myriad components of the morning feast onto the table, her mind already run-ning ahead to prepare the midday meal. As the enticing aroma of breakfast wafted through the house, she couldn’t ignore the persistent tug of curiosity that pulled at her—a question itching to be answered about the mysterious presence of magic in the home. “Shan, can we talk?” she asked, joining him and the rest of the day shift at the breakfast table. Shan looked up amid the clinking of cutlery and the hum of morning conversa-tions. “Is it personal? Can we do it here?” Lanni decided to be direct. “It’s about your magic.” A look of nonchalance washed over Shan’s face. “What about it?” “Someone kept lighting a fire in the sitting room,” Lanni disclosed, eyeing him for a reaction. With a crease of concern marking his brow, Shan questioned, “Was anyone hurt?” “No, thankfully. The fire was appropriately contained within the fireplace. But, were you in the house last night?” Offering a definitive shake of his head, Shan replied, “I was in my room the whole night.” Zannal chimed in to vouch for him, “He was. I would’ve known if he wasn’t—He was snoring loud enough that I could hear him without my charms.” Shan countered with mock indignation, “I was not. I don’t snore.” Zannal corrected himself with a playful smirk. “Well, he wasn’t snoring, but he was there.” “And I’ve never set fire to anything magically,” Shan added. “Never?” Lanni probed, her eyebrows arching in mild suspicion. “Not magically. Those arson cases were never actually proven,” Shan said with an air of nonchalance. “Arson?” Zan interjected, his expression darkening as he fiddled nervously with his earring. Shan quickly clarified, “I was kidding. There was no arson.” Lanni stepped in to soothe Zannal’s evident concern. “There wasn’t,” she con-firmed. Doubt clouded Shan’s eyes as he turned to Lanni. “How do you know?” “Because I’m nosy. I read your file.” Lanni said matter-of-factly. “Mine?” Shan’s surprise was evident. “Everybody’s,” Lanni replied, unrepentant. Shan’s exasperation came through clearly. “You read our files?” Admitting to her deeds without a sliver of remorse, Lanni added, “I was bored.” The conversation took a lighthearted turn as Shan teased, “Jahree’s not keeping you occupied?” Lanni countered with her own quip. “He was asleep.” Zan, always one for details, inquired, “You were on duty?” “I was,” Lanni replied, shrugging off the implied criticism. “Waiting for the casse-role to bake. Besides, I didn’t hear you complain.” With a gesture of camaraderie, Zan offered his charms to her, signing as he spoke, “Need to borrow my charms?” However, Lanni retorted, signing and playfully making to take away Zan’s plate of food. “Hey!” Zan protested, snatching back his portion with a laugh. “Anyway, most of my magical mishaps are more closely associated with moving things,” Shan clarified. Trema raised an eyebrow inquisitively. “Are you sure if this wasn’t just someone leaving it burning?” Lanni nodded with certainty. “We extinguished it numerous times, and then I re-mained vigilant, keeping watch. The flame didn’t ignite in the way one would expect from a conventional fire spell. I once had a friend who was drugged to lose control of his magic. He started fires, and it was similar to that. If you are predisposed to move things, it’s doubtful you’d suddenly switch to starting fires.” “So we’re dealing with someone else,” Trema concluded. The question of identity hung in the air until Zan voiced it, “Who could it be?” Shan speculated, “One of the children, perhaps.” Lanni agreed with a nod, “It seems probable.” “I had a conversation with Loka, and we thought that if Shri’s inherent magic is awakening, she might tag along with me while I undergo my training,” Shan suggested as a possibility. “You suspect Shri?” Lanni asked, her frown deepening. “But she is only three years old.” “That does seem extraordinarily premature,” Trema expressed, with concern etch-ing his features. “But didn’t you say they had immortal blood?” Shan inquired, searching for clari-ty. “Yes,” Lanni confirmed. Shan pursued the thought, “Doesn’t the magic of an immortal tend to manifest at an earlier age?” Lanni considered the implications. “Most races start around puberty, but immor-tals are a little sooner. Mixed races are also usually earlier. They’d be an eighth immortal, the same as my mom. Hers started when she was five. My kid’s magic was between four and seven. Mine was maybe about six. Augmenter magic causes it to be early.” “So, a crossbreed augmenter could potentially experience even earlier magical de-velopment?” Shan reasoned. “It’s within the realm of possibility. All three children need to be tested. I’ll talk with Lady Barta regarding this matter,” Lanni resolved. “No, it is best I speak with Lord Rantar. This situation pertains to legal ramifica-tions as well as safety concerns. Chapado will conduct the evaluations; moreover, she’ll ensure the children receive the necessary guidance to harness and regulate their magic,” Trema asserted with authority. Lanni expressed her accord with a nod, acknowledging the plan. “You keep working closely with Shan and providing assistance to Jahree. Perhaps you could utilize some of the time you spend walking with him to conduct a few addi-tional tests if it won’t be too distracting,” Trema suggested to Lanni. “We’ll do what we can,” Lanni assured her. “I don’t dare let him into my room until we’re done. I have too many charms.” “Captain,” Shan said earnestly, “I’m willing to take on double shifts until he’s been thoroughly tested. Get him in her room.”” The remark triggered a flush of color on Lanni’s cheeks. “I beg your pardon?” she said, taken aback. “Sorry, that came out wrong,” Shan amended. “It’s clear how you two feel about each other. I’m assuming it’s only a matter of time before you two start getting intimate. I’d rather not be able to hear you. I rarely hear things in the house when I’m in the bar-racks.” Lanni couldn’t help but remind him, “But you realize when he’s off duty, you’ll be manning your post. That would have you passing by my room multiple times.” Shan cursed softly under his breath, realizing the dilemma. “Oh, shade blasted cur,” he muttered. To ease the tension, Lanni offered a solution. “No need to fret. I have an array of silence charms. We can activate one if Jahree doesn’t have any adverse effect on them. Believe me, having an audience is the last thing I want.” Shan’s demeanor softened. “That’s a relief. It’s heartening to see Jahr in good company for a change.” Lanni raised an eyebrow. “I thought you didn’t like him.” “He’s under that impression, yes,” Zan explained. “Initially, none of us cared for him much. He spent the first month of training under the healers’ watch after having been attacked for allegedly murdering someone—that’s the story that was circulated. However, once we learned the truth, our perspective shifted, although we remained wary due to his supposed history.” Shan nodded in agreement. “He’s not a half-bad guy. And he helps keep Marn in line.” “He and Tell. They’re teaching him to treat women properly.” Trema agreed. “It’s going slow. Maybe knowing grew up here will help,” Zan speculated. “And, who knows, maybe Areen could help as well,” Lanni added thoughtfully. #fantasy, #magic, #dragons, #hiddenlands