The morning light eased through the shutters of my window, painting everything in soft gold. For a second, I didn't move. The breeze smelled like morning bread, and I felt… warm.
I had an Alteration Flux.
Not red. Not Combat. Not like the rest of the island.
Grinning to myself, I hopped out of bed, stretched, and headed down the stairs, barefoot and light-footed.
Until I caught sight of the kitchen and stopped cold mid-step.
My dad had my mom completely pinned between his arms, one hand resting against the wall beside her head, the other shamelessly on her waist. His face was buried in her neck, kissing her, murmuring something I couldn't hear but made her giggle like a lovestruck teenager.
"Felix Alaric," she whispered, breathless, "the kids—"
"They're asleep," he mumbled, his voice low and amused as he kissed her again, slower this time. "Come on, darling. Just one celebration kiss."
"That was three," she laughed, trying to sound annoyed but melting into him all the same. "And your hands—"
"I'm celebrating," he murmured. "My daughter's a prodigy and you're gorgeous. That's a lot to celebrate."
His hand slid a little lower on her hip, fingers brushing in a way that made her squeak and not pull away.
"I swear, you still look seventeen," she muttered, biting her lip as he leaned in again, lips meeting hers in a kiss far too deep for this early in the morning. She arched slightly into him, her fingers tugging at the hem of his shirt before she caught herself.
"We shouldn't—" she whispered, her breath shaky. "What if—?"
That was enough.
"Morning!"
I called out, loud and flat.
They broke apart like they had been caught committing a war crime. Mom immediately turned away, pretending to be very invested in wiping down a perfectly clean counter. Dad gave me a nod, then started cutting so aggressively I thought he would slice his hand through the bread.
"Hey, sweetheart," Mom said, voice way too chirpy, "you're up early."
I narrowed my eyes at both of them.
"I wonder why."
"We were just—uh—cooking," Dad said. He wasn't even facing the stove.
"Mhm."
"We're very happy for you," Mom added quickly, still trying to compose herself. Her cheeks were bright pink. "Really. Alteration is... incredible."
Dad walked over and gave my shoulder a light squeeze.
"You made us proud, kiddo."
Then he not-so-subtly reached behind me to grab something off the counter, and rested his hand on Mom's lower back a little too long on the way.
Mom glared at him and whispered.
"Alaric..."
I held in a laugh.
Honestly? I wasn't grossed out. Not really. They were still young, ridiculously attractive, and obviously mad about each other. And after everything they'd done to raise me and Leuven at an extremely young age?
Let them flirt.
I just didn't want another sibling showing up out of nowhere because of it. That's where I draw the line.
I grabbed a slice of bread straight from Dad's hands just as he was about to bite it.
"Thanks," I said, biting into the warm, buttery corner before he could protest.
He blinked, halfway through raising it to his mouth.
"Hey—"
"I'm going to Lilith's," I said with a mouth full. "We need to celebrate too."
Mom raised an eyebrow. "So early?"
"Yeah. You two should celebrate too. Together." I gave them a very pointed look. "Alone."
Mom's blush made a second comeback. Dad smiled way too innocently.
"I mean it," I added, heading for the door. "You deserve it. Just… maybe not in the kitchen. For Leuven's sake."
I didn't even wait for a reply. I left fast.
The moment I shut the door behind me, I swore I heard a loud metallic clatter. Pots? A pan? I didn't wanna know.
Gods, were they seriously about to go at it in the kitchen?
Poor Leuven. If he woke up now and walked in, he'd need soul therapy. I could practically sense Mom sprawled across the kitchen table already.
Ugh.
"Why did I start meditating?" I muttered to myself as I speed-walked down the road. "My senses are too good now. This is a curse."
I picked up my pace into a full sprint, fast enough that the early-morning market crowd didn't even get a chance to recognize me. I could hear them starting to stir and gather, and I really didn't want another round of congratulations. My cheeks would fall off.
I ran so fast I kicked up dust and startled chickens. Honestly, if any townsfolk blinked, they would have missed me completely.
Five minutes later, I reached Lilith's place.
It was quiet. Of course, it was. Half the island probably forced her into drinking half the village dry last night.
I let myself in—her door was never locked—and stepped into the controlled chaos that was her house.
Lilith's bedroom door was open and I peeked in.
There she was, laid out on her bed in the most dramatic, dead-to-the-world pose I'd ever seen. Bottles of local alcohol surrounded her like she was a war casualty.
I sighed, stepping over one tipped bottle of berry-wine.
"Of course. The chiefs must've dragged her into celebration shots again."
Her hair was a mess and her staff was hanging halfway off her bedpost like it had lost the will to live.
I wandered back to her tiny kitchen, brushing a few empty cups off the counter and started to clean.
I didn't really need to. But I didn't have school, or chores, or literally anything on the island that required immediate attention. I'm literally a child so what work can I possibly have?
Besides, I'd already done the impossible this week. I got a rare Flux. Everyone would be talking about it for days. It was nice to be somewhere quiet.
I grabbed a rag and began wiping down the dusty kitchen window ledge. Maybe this was how I'd celebrate. Not with parties, or parades, or medallions. Just cleaning up my best friend's mess like the world hadn't completely shifted in my favor.
Yeah. This was nice.
If only Lilith didn't snore in the background like a dying bear...