Cintamani Pavilion
1st of Ash, Year 122 Steel
With her wings spread wide, her room seemed smaller than it ever had before. Kala was no taller than she had been; she merely had wings. She remained herself, only complete. Others to come, perhaps, would be statuesque like her elder brother, but she was content to have as little change as possible. After all, she was much changed. Today, she would reveal her wings and her purpose to the Council. She wasn't sure when the time would be right to reveal the rest. The nimbus that had become a part of her was held close within her, masked anew with her Rune of Semblance.
As her eyes traced the lines of her body in the mirror, she marveled. Dancing with and without blades kept her strong, but nobody would realize how strong she had become. That could be an advantage.
But while she was a woman grown, a woman acknowledged, she could only hope that she would have the strength to do what Mother Naori had required of her. This did not look to her to be a mother of a renewed race. Perhaps she would be, or perhaps women from Atoria would return, or she would master Garel's book and gift her wingless sisters their inheritance. Time would tell. Time had passed, and she hoped she was not moving too slowly, but she hoped to learn from Talon's rushing in.
Though she had gone in search of the Monument in Glade, between the journey to Atoria, time spent there, and the journey home, it had been Searing by the time they returned to Kalzasi under cover of night so her wings could remain a secret for a while. While they waited for the Blue Star, she had Torin to the Pavilion. He could be trusted, and she bade him fashion her a cloak to hide her wings from prying eyes, a glamour veil to help her remain relatively anonymous until the time was right and, perhaps, even afterward when she didn't want to be gawked at. Later, she would show him the indescribably pure dragonshards that she hoped he would fashion into masterworks for her. But for now, small steps.
The Blue Star took her, Kaus, Ceran, and Indric to Starfall under cover of night as well. There was no way to prevent people from knowing before Akshara and Aquilios, but she bade captain and crew keep the news to themselves until the Lady Leukos made some pronouncement. They docked before dawn, and Kala found her mother breaking her fast alone in the humble fortress' dining room. While Akshara knew her children were coming home and knew it would likely be at a strange hour, she did not recognize the Silver Wings; for whatever reason, her eyes went between the boys and her daughter several times before they made any sort of sense of what they were seeing. And by that time, her daughter was kneeling at her feet, arms around her waist.
"Mama..."
"Kala...!?"
But if circumstances had sometimes made her colder, more aloof from her children than any of them would have liked, her hands came down to pet her daughter's platinum hair, soothing even as she was surprised. It had been some time since Kala had wept into her dressing gown.
A servant came in with a blithe smile on his face. He gasped as he did a double-take. Kaus stepped in.
"Breakfast, please, Daasah. For us and for our guests."
"At once, Lord Kaus. Welcome home." He stumbled out in shock, and Kaus indicated Ceran and Indric should take seats at the family table. It was not overly fancy, but it was fine; they carefully took seats. This was, after all, the birth home of Ransera's youngest goddess.
Kaus came forward and gave his mother a kiss, and then quietly gave a summary of their journey into the Warrens, into the Rift Gate, and into Atoria. It was bare bones, enough for her to slowly digest and eventually ask question. Aquilios had come in, his questions forestalled by Kaus' testimony. Breakfast came as well, and Daasah lingered to help and to listen. Eventually, Kala stood, wiped tears away, smiled and took a seat, as did the rest of the Leukos siblings.
Ceran and Indric were given welcome, and then they all broke their fast while questions were asked of all of them and answered. Kala was uncomfortable with the eyes upon her, but she knew they were loving eyes and she would have to get used to it sometime. She was quieter than Kaus, who, for once, took the lead. They shared much, but not all.
Kala had wings. Kala was a Firstborn. Kala had the potential to bear Avialae with any partner, and to gift wings to those Avialae born without. They spoke of the gifts of Atoria. Synnar. Garel. The Firstborn. Mother Naori. The divine call to Unity.
They did not reveal her apotheosis. She was not ready for that. Not yet.
"You got your wish," Aquilios marveled.
"I should have known my daughter would have her way in the end," Akshara said, softly, amused. She reached out and rested her hand on her daughter's. "You already know this will change your life irrevocably. I hope it will be more blessing than curse, but sometimes, you might not be able to tell the difference. But you are my daughter and we will always be here for you. Starfall will always be here for you."
Daasah made a quiet noise of agreement. Kala certainly felt somewhat better being reminded of that.
"If you need alchemical grimoires, ours are available to you, of course. Though a more pressing concern will be how this will make you a political player..." Moreso than ever before, Akshara spoke to her as if they were equals, offering her agency in decisions that would have to be made. Marriage came up, and the intricate dance she would have to play not to promise, not to offend, but not to offer her hand where it oughtn't to go lest there be unwanted consequences. The secrecy of Starfall was their family's obligation, and if Kala married too high, she would become too much a focus for attention. "But perhaps the time approaches were secrecy will not avail us."
"I will be careful, Mama. I'm made of sterner stuff now, but marriage and motherhood will have to wait."
"Of course," she acquiesced. "Mother Naori's will trumps all others." She paused, looked between her children. "I am proud of all of you. When my time comes to follow the Grimlord, I am content that I will leave Starfall in good hands." Aquilios smiled slightly. "And the two of you have grown so much in Kalzasi. Your father would have been proud as well. I know it..." Her gaze shifted to the Silver Wings. "Ceran, Indric, thank you for your loyalty to my children. I have heard promising things about your career, but know that you will always have a home in Starfall."
The boys didn't know how to respond, mumbling their humble thanks.
Akshara touched her napkin to her lips, and set it aside. She rose, stronger than Kala remembered her looking in some time, though her strength came and went like the tides or complex weather patterns. They all rose, as well, and other servants came to help Daasah clear the table, all eyes cutting to Kala and her new look.
"I hope you slept on the flight," she said. "In any case, I must to my office. Aquilios, Kaus, Ceran, Indric, would you please teach my daughter to fly?"
Her brothers were grinning, the Silver Wings bowing, but Kala caught her mother's hand.
"I will master the Necromancer's miracle, Mama. I will make you strong again."
Akshara smiled, her other hand coming up to caress her daughter's face. She kissed her forehead.
"I know you will."
They did teach her to fly, beyond what practice she had gone through in Atoria and en route to Kalzasi. She would not harm herself just flying, though she would have to be much better at flying before she could sky dance or fight on high. But patience in all things.
That was Searing. This was the Season of Ash.
She finished dressing in front of the mirror, and then swung the glamour veil around her shoulders to hide her wings until the appropriate time came. All of her clothes would need tailoring now. No wonder she had been given coin to take back from Atoria with her.
For now, though, the time had come for discourse and debate over the Shokaze's throne. She had spent most of Searing in seclusion, taking as few chances as possible as she came to terms with the outcome of her quest. Atoria hadn't been the end of the journey, only a new beginning.
