The kitchens of Blackwood Keep were alive long before the sun properly rose.
Copper pots simmered. Knives tapped against boards in steady rhythm. Steam curled lazily toward the rafters where the beams had long since darkened from years of cooking fires. The air was thick with warmth and the comforting scent of oats, honey, and crushed herbs.
Miss Gable moved through it all like a soft current in a river, her figure swaying gently as she stirred a heavy pot with practiced care.
Beside her stood Aina.
Straight-backed. Sleeves neatly folded. Movements precise.
She did not belong in a kitchen, and yet she worked as though she had done so all her life.
"Not too much heat dear," Miss Gable murmured kindly. "It will become too thick if it boils too long."
Aina adjusted the flame without a word.
Her emerald eyes flicked toward the ingredients laid out on the counter: crushed moonleaf, dried amberroot, wildflower, soaked barley oats and honey. Everything measured. Everything exact.
This porridge was not a meal.
It was medicine.
Lady Elara's condition had worsened over the past week. When a woman on the Path of Ascension carried a child, the child drew from her Flow like a second heart beating inside her. The higher one's stage, the greater the drain.
On a good day, Elara's presence could be felt across Aerthos like sunlight.
Such was the might of a Praetorian.
Now she struggled to sit upright for long. This was somehow worse than when she was carrying Elias. This was the reason Why Alaric didn't want to leave her alone.
She smiled through it, of course. She always did.
The way the servants walked more quietly.
The keep itself seemed to be holding its breath.
"This will calm her a bit," Miss Gable said softly.
"The honey soothes the spirit. The herbs help her sleep."
Aina nodded. "Good."
And then—
"What's that smell?"
They both turned.
Jamie stood at the doorway, grin wide, hands stuffed into her pockets like she had wandered in by accident instead of stalking the scent like a beast.
"Morning!" she chirped.
Aina did not sigh.
But she very clearly wanted to.
Miss Gable smiled warmly. "Good morning, dear."
Jamie strolled in. "What're we making? Smells amazing."
"Its for Aunt," Aina said flatly.
Jamie leaned over the pot anyway. "Look more than she can eat alone don't you think? Lemme taste."
"No."
Miss Gable tried to intervene gently. "Now now girls—"
But Aina stepped between Jamie and the pot with surgical precision.
"You are not contaminating this."
Jamie blinked. "Contaminating?"
"Yes."
"With what?"
"Your presence."
Jamie squinted. "You wanna fight?"
"Get out of the kitchen."
"And who made you boss?"
"Leave."
Jamie grinned.
And then her eyes shifted.
Aina didn't notice at first.
What Jamie had learned from SK had changed how she saw the world. SK had said that Arrays could only be drawn on tangible objects. But Jamie felt that there was more to it. They were instructions for Flow.
And Flow… was everywhere.
She fed the air around the pot a tiny thread of her Anti-Flow, transcribing a light, harmless Sensory Array into the moving currents of steam.
The steam bent.
Swirled.
Then shoved sideways.
The porridge appeared to tip dangerously.
Miss Gable gasped.
Aina's eyes widened.
She caught the pot at the last second but the Array faded and she burned her hand.
Jamie bit her lip,holding back a smirk.
Aina looked down at her palmand slowly turned her head.
"…What did you just do?"
"Nothing."
Aina narrowed her eyes.
Miss Gable came to check on the food. Nodding , she quickly lifted the pot.
"Oh, its ready. I'll take this to the Lady. You two whave yourselves. Jamie, I'll make you something else when I get back Ok?"
"Yes," Aina said calmly, still staring at Jamie.
"OK." Jamie replied.
Once Miss Gable had left, Aina she stepped toward Jamie.
"We are going to have a talk about your behaviour."
Jamie bolted.
She sprinted out of the kitchen laughing.
Aina followed. Her steps were light, elegant, and terrifyingly fast.
Servants jumped aside as Jamie tore through the corridors.
"YOU CAN'T CATCH ME!"
"Stop running."
Jamie slapped a hand against a pillar and scribbled a Containment Array into the stone with a burst of Anti-Flow.
Invisible force.
Aina ran straight into it.
Thunk.
She blinked.
Jamie howled with laughter.
Aina calmly stepped back, analyzed the distortion in the air, and stepped around it.
Jamie spun and launched a Sensory Array into the corridor.
The hallway twisted. Doors appeared where there were none. The floor felt slanted.
Aina slowed, briefly disoriented.
"How did she get more annoying?"
Jamie stuck out her tongue and ran.
After some more of Jamie's shenanigans, Aina's patience thinned.
She stopped.
Lifted one hand.
Gravity shifted.
Jamie yelped as she instantly slammed into the floor like a dropped sack of grain.
Aina walked over and looked down at her. Jamie struggled to break free.
"This is a crucial stage for Aunt. Your Noise is making her more uncomfortable than she already is," she said quietly.
"Behave."
Jamie's energy dimmed immediately.
"…Fine."
Aina released her.
There was a single corridor they both had to take before Aina could go o Elara and Jamie to...wherever she wanted to go. They walked in awkward silence.
Aina's hands were folded neatly before her.
Jamie walked behind her, hands behind her head, whistling.
After a while, Aina spoke.
"Where did you learn that?"
"Learn what? Oh...
Jamie grinned.
"Wanna know?"
"Yes."
"The greatest artificer in the world taught me."
Aina stopped.
Turned.
And laughed.
Actually laughed.
Jamie froze. "What?"
"Did Sigmund Kilgowe teach you?"
Jamie's jaw dropped.
"How do you know that name?!"
Aina wiped a tear from her eye.
"He pioneered half the modern artificing principles and made several breakthroughs, some of which are resting comfortably in the Mellou storehouse."
'That old fart did a terrible job at ''erasing his name'' if someone as random as Aina still knows about him…'
"Ok ok, If it really was the Grand Maker, were did you meet him?" Aina asked.
Jamie opened her mouth.
Then remembered her agreement with Elias.
She swallowed.
"Uh. I—uh—dream?"
Aina nodded slowly. "I thought so. He's been missing for a decade. Why would he randomly teach you of all people?"
They walked further.
Aina patted Jamie's head.
"Still, that was a unique way t use your Trait. You have a strange sense of humor. If nothing else, you have that."
Jamie stopped. "Huh?! What do you mean strange?!"
Aina kept walking. "Jamie randomly knowing about Arrays... How absurd."
Jamie flailed her arms in a tantrum.
"I'M NOT JOKING!"
Aina waved dismissively and turned the corner.
Jamie stomped off in the opposite direction.
"I'm telling Elias!"