Elydes Chapter 49: Trust

Chapter 49

In the morning Kai discovered the previous day's shenanigans had not gone unnoticed.

*Ding*

New skill added to the Archive! Persuasion (lv1) With the right words and gestures youll sway people to see the best way. Your way.

He had not expected to unlock another social skill. Not because he thought he had not done enough for ithe was pretty sure he got that coveredthe problem was that he already had Acting. The overlap with Persuasion wasnt big, but it was there. Most of his actions would go to level the skill in his status, making it harder to unlock other skills within a similar domain.

It seems Im just that good.

Kai congratulated himself. He had no intention of taking it, but getting so validation for his efforts was nice. Persuasion looked like a very useful skill in so contexts, but it sounded too niche. He was confident his wits could already do the job well enough.

Acting had fewer direct applications, but it offered a much larger field of possibilities. Similar to a Swiss army knife, it might not be the best tool for the job, but it offered sothing in every situation. He just needed to be creative with how he used it.

Getting off his bed, Kai started with his daily training. After ditating he ran out of the house. Today he would see whether efforts would pay off or were all for nothing.

Well, almost nothing. No matter how it goes, I got a new skill out of this.

A couple of hours later, he was walking to Mouis house together with his sister. Kea wasnt impressed by the squalid neighborhood where the house was located and threw him a skeptical look.

He shrugged his shoulders, maintaining a confident facade. "Uncle Moui likes the quiet. Old town is too busy for his taste.

Knocking on the door, the hunter opened it almost imdiately. His gaze lingered on his sister. Before Kai could do anything, Kea turned it into a staring contest that she had no intention of losing. He wanted to shake his head and raise his eyes to the sky but stopped himself. There were already enough people trying to sabotage the situation.

The two squared each other out. It wasnt the first ti they had t, but Kai didnt think they ever exchanged more than so greetings and waves.

Okay, Ill see you later. Have fun. Kai made a strategic retreat.

He always had a hard ti predicting Kea's behavior. Would she be intimidated by Mouis stern deanor, intrigued or annoyed? He had done all he could to make this work, now it was out of his hands.

Hopefully, they would reach so kind of understanding. They could both be quite pig-headed sotis. Most of the ti probably was closer to the truth. Maybe they could bond over that.

He would be back in the afternoon to get his sister and solve any problem Moui ran into with his Mana Manipulation training.

Im sure theyll be fine. What could go wrong?

His mind was imdiately filled with several improbable scenarios, each one more catastrophic than the last. He took a deep breath and pushed them out of his mind.

They. Will. Be. Fine.

It was ti to focus on other things. His seventh-year ceremony was fast approaching. He did not have a lot of ti left in Greenside, barely a week. After that maybe two days to prepare for the journey.

Kai was sure when he got back to the estate things would start moving in full swing. In the month after he reached Orange they had focused on getting him acquainted with his new skills and attributes. With that done, he dared not imagine what Elijah and Dora had planned for him, but he would bet everything he owned they were going to be even more demanding.

It surprised him a little, but he was looking forward to that. He missed the challenge. Having his days planned and filled from dawn to dusk. The exhausting routine away from any distraction that kept his mind focused and away from wandering to dangerous places.

On the other hand, he logically knew that, after a few months, he would long for the freedom he had here at ho and miss his family. In an ideal world, he would be able to choose sothing in the middle. Maybe having a short trip ho every couple of months. Unfortunately, he didnt live in that world. He could only take what he got offered and be grateful for the opportunity.

Walking back ho, he spent the rest of the morning Reading his fathers books and doing so light Alchemy. He had taken a long enough break from his cauldron. He still had a few ingredients lying around from the deal with Reishi or bought from the market. There was no point in keeping them. When he went back Dora would provide anything he needed.

Making an inventory of what was left, he did a little planning to make sure he would utilize everything to the last pseudo-mana herb.

So of the ingredients could be used to brew common concoctions he could sell at the market. More money to leave to his family was never a bad idea. The rest were fair ga to try a few theories and do random experints.

Around noon Ele ca ho for lunch. Without Kea, today it was only the two of them. Kai offered to help her cook and they started talking about their skills and plans for the future.

With all the secrecy around your status and skills, they were both hungering for a chance to speak freely. Tentatively at first and then with more confidence as they discovered how long they had waited for soone to talk about this. They started sharing more and more details up to the exact levels of a few of their skills and how they trained them.

His sister finally broke the unsaid rule, telling him her whole status. Kai hesitated for a few seconds. She had not asked him to say anything, but she had gone first and he would feel scummy to hold back.

You cant expect trust if you dont give any.

His throat was dry, the words stuck in his mouth. Keeping secrets had been half his life. Did he want that to continue or change? Clearing his throat, he started telling her everything. His eyes and mind split between the desire to look away and see her face to read her reaction.

Sharing details within a family was common, but they had never gone into the nitty gritty. Exposing your status was like showing soone the summary of all your successes and failures recorded. You were left naked, at the rcy of their judgnt.

Even with people you trusted, it wasnt an easy thing to do.

Wow, you really are a genius, little brother. Her voice was as light as before. Showing no trace of anything except excitent for him.

Kai smiled awkwardly back.

They both were at similar points in their skills and race, but there was the little fact that he was six years younger than her. He was happy to see Ele didnt appear bothered by the fact and looked genuinely happy about his success.

Im not sure I could do the sa in her position. Truly the nicest person I know. Too bad uncle Moui got the wrong sister.

To Kais eternal gratefulness, she didnt let him stew in his own awkwardness and took the lead in the conversation.

Have I ever told you how it was when I started pearl hunting?

Without further prompt, she started telling him the story as they sat at the table and started eating. Her ntor seed very nice and his sisters eyes lit up as she narrated her first ti finding a pearl.

Mom paid using her services as a tideseer for the apprenticeship. She revealed, stopping her flow of words. I felt so guilty for putting another burden on her, but you know how she is no matter what I said, she would not change her mind. She said a bit unsure. Maybe she was still not over it.

Kai knew he probably looked like a deer in front of a car's headlights. He wanted to say the right words and be supportive but had no idea what those words were. This wasnt his field of expertise.

What should I say?

Do you know when I and mom left to look for a teacher? After the first week at the estate, Virya made an offer

Kai tried not to mumble his words as he told the story. Revealing the deal he had been offered: an apprenticeship or enough money to settle his family anywhere on the archipelago. He had long struggled with the guilt of that decision. Wondering if he had made a mistake and been selfish.

Only after he completed the deal with Reishi, earning him more than two silver coins, did the last remnants of guilt fade away. No matter what happened, even if Virya sent kicked him out, he now knew how to help his family in a tangible way.

You beat even here too, Ele said jokingly. I could have never dealt with the guilt of refusing such a sum. I would have hesitated and gone for the safer choice.

His sister ruffled his hair. You should be proud, little brother, that must not have been easy and you already proved it paid off.

It was not that hard. Kai shrugged his shoulders embarrassed. I wasnt here to help Mom, but you were.

They finished eating in silence, but it wasnt uncomfortable. They needed a mont with their thoughts.

Is this how being brother and sister should feel like?

Kai didnt know, but he hoped so. He liked the feeling.

Today the tide was high, so his sister was free for the ti being. After cleaning up, they sat at the table to keep talking. Trying to make up for a year away in an afternoon. It felt so easy, the words flew out of their mouth with no effort.

Ele told him so more about her apprenticeship. Pearl hunting seed such a fun and exciting job, he could easily see why his sister was so enamored by it. If he had not run into Virya, he might also consider going down the sa path.

Whenever the tide is fair or high, there is not much to do. Mostly studying, skill training, maintaining our equipnt or scouting potential locations. However, as soon as three or more moons align in the right place and create a low tide, things get more frenetic.

We need to be prepared long beforehand. Thats why no pearl hunter would say no to having a personal tideseer. Mom knew it too. She explained with a smile and roll of her eyes.

As the waters recede, most of the ti we have already swam as far as we can safely go, but sotis my ntor wants more ti to explore a hidden cranny or cave. Those tis we sail her boat. We can bring more equipnt and have an easier way out when the sea cos back. The boat isnt big and easily maneuverable, but we need to row to get anywhere. Guessing the right ti is the most important factor. Too soon and we lose ti, too late and we risk getting swept away by the receding waters or damaging the boat.

Then the fun begins. Its a mad dash across the exposed sea floor. A sprint and a marathon at the sa ti

Kai listened to her every word, completely captured by her story. If he failed as a mage he knew what his fall-back plan was. Or maybe it could be the retirent plan.

Who didnt love a treasure hunt? They had to use knowledge and skills to find the right shelled mollusk that contained their livelihood. Diving in hidden grottos while keeping an eye out for hidden dangers.

Eles biggest success had been undoubtedly the green pearl hanging from his wrist. She gave him the full story of how she found it by chance. It showed her ntors character that she let her keep it.

Id like to go with you one day. Kai couldnt help but ask when she was finished.

Ele smiled. Id like that too. After I get a profession Ill show you around the next ti you visit.

Kai nodded. Who knew how much ti it would take, but he would hold her to that promise.

It was his turn to share. After all her adventures the life at the estate seed so boring, even more when he talked about Alchemy and mana exercises. Chopping vegetables, he still rembered how Kea had called it. He wished he was a better storyteller.

Ele seed to find the estate very intriguing and kept asking him questions, but he wasnt sure if she was doing it just to be nice.

I will also have my adventures. Training at the estate is how I get to do that safely.

He kept repeating that to himself. He only wished it didnt sound so far away. Ele reminded him she was six years older, but the thought of waiting for so many years still sucked.

Since she also had Mana Senseaka the best skill everKai gave her a few pieces of advice. Sharing his experience and a few tips and tricks on how to train the skill faster. He was glad she had seen reason, contrary to a certain hunter.

They could have continued talking for hours, but Ele had to go back to help her ntor and he suddenly rembered he had an appointnt too.

Looking outside the sun was lower than it should have been. He ran out of the house at full speed. He was late.

A few people yelled after him on the streets as he used the full power of Running to get to Mouis house in record ti.

Completely out of breath and covered in sweat he stood before the wooden door. Everything looked in order as it had in the morning. So he could put aside his worst scenarios.

Hesitantly knocking, Kai waited with bated breath. Moui had said he would give his sister two weeks, but with how stubborn they both could be, he knew the result of the first day could already decide if this would work out or not.

Co in. The hunter's deep voice called from the inside.

Kai hardly had the ti to open the door that he had to get out of the way as Kea rushed out. His hopes crumbled.

Was it that bad?

Turning towards Moui, the hunter didnt look upset, but it was hard to tell with his stone face.

Dont worry, she will be back tomorrow. He stated, before closing the door in his face.

Hey! What did I do to deserve this? I an, I did arrange the whole thing, but still

I suppose I dont have to help him with Mana Manipulation then.

Kai turned around head back ho. Kea was nowhere in sight, already gone.

Amazing. Im sure it will work out perfectly, they deserve each other.