Rising Kite - A story from the world of HWFWM

As the ritual finished, light gradually fading, Kite was greeted by a sight which brought back memories, as a tear formed in the empty air of the ritual room, more following as if some dimensional calligrapher created its art. But unlike the last time, there were a lot more of the otherworldly strokes, the end result being a rough circle around sixty centimeters across.

“Welcome back, Sage.” Kite said fondly as he felt the same vague feeling of recognition through their bond. “You have grown.”

“Gratitude.”

Kite blinked in surprise as the familiar actually answered. The meaning was not conveyed through spoken words, but rather the floating tears rearranging themselves to form symbols which conveyed the meaning in the same mysterious way as always. As the familiar’s diameter had doubled, there was a lot more to work with.

“You can talk- or rather, convey meaning more clearly now. I’m glad.” Kite smiled. “You’ve heard where we are going. How do you feel about that?”

The familiar seemed to ponder the questions for longer than Kite had expected, before answering.

“Excitement

Cataloging

Vastness”

“So… there is a lot you want to see?” Kite guessed from the disjointed concepts, conveyed one at a time.

“Affirmation.”

“Then come join us. Glint is waiting outside with Serene. She will be happy to see you. I think she worried about you going through this change.”

Absorbing Sage back into his subsumed state, Kite left for the exit. Performing this ritual was some of the last things to do, and he looked forward to letting Sage showcase its new capabilities.

WWJS:

Congratulations!

Your ability [Astral Gatherer] has reached Bronze 0

[Astral Gatherer] has received additional effects.

Astral Gatherer

Ritual (Familiar). Cost: Extreme stamina, Extreme mana Cooldown: None Current rank: Bronze 0

Effect - Iron: Summon an astral gatherer to become your familiar. The astral gatherer is an incorporeal creature without physical substance.

While manifested, the astral gatherer accumulates small remnants of mana each time mana is spent in its vicinity, which is substantially increased if the skill in question drains or destroys mana. Amount of remnants gathered will vary in accordance with the amount of mana spent or drained.

When enough remnants have been gathered, it can unleash the stored power in one of the following ways:

A destructive beam of energy, dealing resonating force damage or disruptive force damage.

A burst of mana recovered for the summoner or a chosen ally within range

When subsumed into the wearer's body, the astral gatherer becomes an incorporeal vortex resting beneath the summoner’s sternum. As long as it remains subsumed, the gatherer exudes a subtle pull on the ambient mana in an extreme radius. This may trigger magical manifestations that were already on the brink of manifesting.

Effect - bronze: Familiar can store additional energy, enough for another unleashing of stored power.

Adds the following options when unleashing stored power:

A potent, short lived boost to health regeneration

Attempts to cleanse all hostile afflictions of the magical, curse, wounding, bleeding and poison categories from a target.

The familiar now brought more options in the shape of support, with a healing effect and a cleansing effect, as well as a greater cap on how much energy the gatherer could store. Kite had felt a lot of relief at seeing these changes, as it meant that as long as Sage remained by his side, two of his previous weaknesses were somewhat ameliorated.

As expected, Glint was very happy to see her fellow familiar again, floating around Sage in happy circles.

“Glimmering

Swimming

Greetings”

The being emoted its intent at the happy carp as Serene, clad in her more robust enchanted robes, turned to Kite.

“Are you ready to go? The others await us at the first peak.” she said, before adding. “If we can get Glint to stop fawning over her companion, that is.”

“We are.” Kite said, catching the joyous carp in cupped hands, looking at her excitedly wiggling mustaches. “We are going on an adventure again, after all.”

Taking a deep breath, Kite sighed a bit in contentment as he took in the forests around him, relishing in the fact that the woods were now only a quiet backdrop rather than potential hiding places for enemies actively out to kill them, monsters notwithstanding.

“It is rather fascinating how context shapes experience. We have spent most of our previous weeks outside in forests such as these, yet these feel relaxing. Not being part of a low-scale war does help, I suppose.” he mused quietly to himself, watching Glint play in a nearby stream while Grim, Will and Serene were all going about their business.

To speed up the first leg of their journey as well as allowing them to leave a bit more incognito, those present had gone ahead via Grim’s portal while Walker and Dew followed by foot. The silver-ranker and expert forest walker could cover the distance in but a few hours while it would have taken two days had they all gone together. As such, there had been time for a nice lunch out in the calm forests while they waited for the rest of their group to catch up to them.

And as they spent the time talking and listening to Serene singing, Kite knew that this contract would be good for them, as they were all in need of rest. The expedition had been unlike anything any of the young iron-rankers had been through before, and none of them had come out of it quite the same as before. Serene felt more confident, some old specters of her past left behind in those bloody forests, while Will felt sharper, his normal flamboyance carried out with a keener eye for his surroundings. And while she was not with them at the moment, he had felt it before she left; Dragonfly had become more tempered and in control even as her inner passion burned even fiercer.

Kite knew that he had changed as well; there was a hardness in him now that had not been as pronounced before, one that he aimed to master in the same way as any other tool and trait in his disposal. He did not want to become a hard person in general, all sharp edges, but wanted to continue nursing the solidity he had leaned against when cornered by the students of the Descending Star sect.

And to help facilitate those nuances, it had felt good to laugh and relax for the last couple of hours, putting away the slightly more jaded parts of himself and focusing on other matters.

“Oho, it does seem like you youngsters have not languished too much while waiting.” Walker’s voice called out to them as he and mistress Dew entered the clearing not far from the road where they were waiting, a huge moss covered boulder as its only distinguishing landmark. It had still been enough for Grim to have this place as a viable portal point. None in the waiting group had sensed their approach, but that was to be expected from the silver-ranker and master forester.

They quickly broke down the temporary camp, and were once more wandering the way towards Starberry peak for Kite’s second trip home. He wondered what his aunties would think when he told them of his rather busy life since his last visit.

“Adventurer Braid, you mean to take this contract?”

“That is correct.” the cloth-wrapped man answered politely to Adelaide, who was currently manning the counter in the jobs hall.

“You. A bronze-ranker who is supposed to be in recovery. Taking a one-star, iron-ranked delivery contract to a small village up north?”

“That is correct. The healers have said that some light exercise ought to help with the final stretch of the path to recovery.” he answered, equally polite.

“Adventurer Braid… Two weeks hiking isn’t normally what most would consider light exercise.”

“Ah, but the wonders of bronze-rank, dear Adelaide. It enhances you beyond what you might consider possible.”

A brief silence followed as Adelaide regarded the man, but as she found his aura stable she couldn’t well deny him a contract which would otherwise probably remain unclaimed for quite a while.

“I… see. Then best of luck. You can pick up the package over at the usual counter.” she finished, the doubt never leaving her tone.

“Thank you, Adelaide. Have a pleasant day.” Braid said cheerfully, going straight to the counter for picking up deliveries.

As he exited out to the plaza on top of the seventh peak, Braid was quite giddy. After hearing from Rupert that Kite, the adopted child of his academic hero, was returning to his home village on a contract, he had been devastated when he learned that they had already left before he could ask to join them. To meet Curious Crow flies Swift. The thought sent a chill of excitement down his spine. There was no risk in forgetting his copy of her book, as he always carried it in one of his dimensional storages hidden in the enchanted cloth of his elaborate clothes.

“Maybe she will even deign to sign it!” he cheerfully thought to himself as he left the adventure society campus, heading for the northern gate. Braid dearly hoped they would forgive his unannounced visit, eager enough to get going that he did not notice the pair of small, glossy eyes following him, whiskers twitching slightly.

“You. Did. WHAT?!” auntie Dove half shouted, rising as her voice climbed in pitch, a literal trickle of smoke escaping her mouth.

“Calm down, dear.” auntie Crow said, sipping her tea.

“Crow, he went into the gate. The gate. The gate which kills most of the people who attempt the challenge.”

“And he apparently thrived, dear. Maybe you would even get to know how if you let Kite finish his story.”

“And you!” Dove turned to Walker, pointing an accusatory finger. “You let him?!”

“Ehm- Dove, please. Kite has shown such promise. I thought it best to support his path, not curtailing it. And as dearest Crow said, he is fine.” Uncle Walker tried his best in assuring the irate alchemist.

Dove looked from Walker, to Crow and to Kite, who did his best to nod reassuringly. He could feel her aura making contact with his, probing it for indication that he was indeed fine. Apparently finding nothing to indicate otherwise, she seemed to calm down a little as she once more sat down beside her, Crow laying a calming hand on hers.

“Alright. Alright. Sorry, mistress Dew, for the outburst.” she said, bowing slightly to the very amused silver-ranker who shared their table. Dew only waved it off with a smile, sipping her tea.

“And as you are sitting here Kite, that must have been quite the adventure. Which you survived. Surely, that must have been the most spectacular thing by far to happen during your year away.” Dove continued, seemingly talking more to herself than to the rest of them.

Kite and Walker exchanged a long look.

“I do believe that sending Glint to her was a wise move.” Crow said as she rejoined the rest of them at the table, having returned from the kitchen where auntie Dove was currently being distracted by the ever helpful shimmering carp. “But I must say, Kite, that your time while iron rank seems to have been more spectacular than what most experience. I am sure that Dove will want to hear more of it, as soon as she calms down a bit.” Crow finished, ever the calm cliff which anchored her wife’s more passionate emotions.

“I have to admit that I had not reflected on the difference in experiences. Honestly, auntie, there hasn’t been that much time for it during the last weeks.” Kite said, feeling a bit guilty at having caused such a fright for auntie Dove.

“Do not fret, little Kite. It is good that she gets some practice in tempering her worries as well. While she has always known that you might start upon the path of an adventurer, it is still a reality that she is grappling with. Both of us are, albeit with different… expressions for said worry.” Crow said. “I, for one, feel that the company you keep speaks of a keen eye of which relationships to nurture.” she finished, turning to the rest of the people present.

When they had arrived just a few hours earlier, his aunties had been slightly overwhelmed by the group at their doorstep, not having expected their request for aid to be heeded so soon nor being visited by a silver-ranker and the son of the city lord. Fortunately, the pair did complement each other well as Dove’s warm and welcoming persona meshed well with Crow’s expediency and order. As such, they had all quickly been settled with sleeping arrangements and exchanging stories around the now quite crowded dinner table. Neither Mistress Dew nor Will demanded much in the way of formality, helping to keep the atmosphere relaxed, even though Grim insisted on assisting with the logistics of feeding the group.

“While I am not a mother, it is easy to imagine the worry of being a parent to an adventurer. Even for those who mostly take on the more straightforward contracts, the danger is always very real.” mistress Dew said. “But speaking as one who has had a part in training young Kite, it is clear that you have prepared him as well as could be demanded from those with your level of resources.”

“We thank you for your acknowledgement, Frost among Morning Dew.” Crow said, inclining her head. “You give us more face than we deserve.”

“While I do appreciate formality at times, I would prefer not to wield it overly much in a setting such as this.” the silver-ranker responded with a slight smile, indicating the cozy house in which they sat. “Mistress Dew will do. You are the parents of my favorite student, after all.”

“Mistress, am I not your only student?” Kite asked his mentor.

“That you are, Kite. But as you are also the only student I have taken, it is not more than right for you to claim the title. I thought that we would only have a short while together as I drilled you in the basics, but fate saw fit to entangle our karma quite a bit more. Now, thanks to you I have both met a diamond-ranked being as well as persevered against an enemy who might just as well have claimed my life. Show some mercy to your poor teacher. How is one supposed to compensate for that?” Dew smiled, even going so far as to show some feigned worry, the level of expression rare in the otherwise frosty cool of her demeanor.

Kite was actually a bit taken aback by the praise, giving rise to a bit of chuckles and giggles around the table as he stared in mute surprise at his mentor.

“I- T-thank you, mistress Dew.” he managed, still a bit flustered at the attention.

“It is merely the truth, student. Do not expect leniency from here on either. There will be a lot of work to do once you hit bronze-rank as we rid you of some of those bad habits you have picked up during your time as a frail being.”

“Mistress Dew will have our eternal thanks for looking after our little Kite. As will you, Walker.” auntie Crow said with a slight bow. “If you will excuse me, I think it is time to retrieve my wife. She will no doubt want to hear the rest of the story now that she has gathered herself a bit.”

Crow left for the adjacent kitchen, from where a steady stream of cooing praise could be heard.

“Now who is a good little fishie? Who is the best little familiar? Yes it is you. It is you. And unlike that no-good Walker, you will keep Kite out of trouble, won’t you? Oh yes you will! Oh yes you will”

Kite took a deep breath to center himself, looking at the thick log propped up horizontally before him. “This instinct will be quite challenging to overcome.”

“Indeed. And therefore, you should work diligently in learning your limits.” Grim replied.

It was the day after they arrived at Starberry peak. Uncle Walker and mistress Dew had left to scout out the reported silver-ranked monster, leaving Grim and his aunties in charge of the training Kite had planned to undertake before he and his companions would go out to hunt their own quarries. They had been allowed to set up a small training space close to one of the logging yards near the base of the cliff on which the village sat, some of the lumberjacks gladly giving up some space for the novelty of watching adventurers train.

“Then may the heavens witness me.” Kite said, and set off at a run toward the thick log. And instead of leaping over it, he went straight through it. As his body came into contact with it, the log cracked before his momentum, the brief contract barely registering to Kite even while splinters flew around him and the two remaining pieces of the log thumped down at either side of him.

WWJS:

Congratulations!

Your ability [Implacable motion] has reached Bronze 0

[Implacable motion] has received additional effects.

Implacable motion

Special ability. Cost: None Cooldown: None Current rank: Bronze 0

Effect - Iron: Increased resistance to effects that hinder or impair movement. Effects that take hold will have significantly decreased duration, depending on the rank of the effect.

Effect - Bronze: Movement may break through inanimate objects up to a certain threshold of durability based on your rank and the rank of this ability. Mana may be paid to temporarily increase the threshold based on mana spent. Intent is needed for this ability to take effect, and it does not increase potency of attacks. This ability may not damage vehicles, equipment or similarly wielded objects.

The sensation had been strange. Kite had not received any additional strength or momentum from the ability. It was instead as if his motion had become undeniable, the lesser material forced into giving way based on entirely different principles.

“Magic truly never ceases to impress.” he said in wonder as he saw what was essentially the trunk of a thick tree split in half by his passage.

“But even it is not without limits.” Grim said while nodding in acknowledgement. “And that is why we need to find those limits.”

What followed was a few hours of testing the limit of Kite’s newly evolved ability, often through nervous dead runs toward solid objects of different hardness and thickness. While there was no pain involved when he succeeded, there were certainly some tests which did not, as the last one where he tried passing through an iron-ranked magical barrier from a simple formation made by auntie Crow. Kite’s head was still ringing a bit, even though his now bronze-ranked recovery attribute was fast at work.

“So, from these trials we can assume that normal-ranked objects are generally within your range of breaking through, but that thickness is the determining factor. And that magical constructs that are actively being maintained may not be affected by the ability, even though further testing would be required as well as with magical materials currently unavailable.”

From their testing, Kite saw that he could generally pass through mundane obstacles, like a tree trunk or a wall, without much cost or resistance. But as soon as he tried stone, the cost in mana quickly increased. He had blown through a few boulders, and might have braved a normal house wall, but something akin to a fortified stone wall remained outside his reach with his current mana pool.

“Dragonfly would probably be quite jealous of this one. It feels like she would have enjoyed the thrill of it.” Will remarked from nearby where he was practicing some of his spear forms.

“I do believe she would.” Kite smiled, sending a thought to his far away friend. “While it shall be interesting to see how best to leverage this, I find myself grateful yet again for the intuitive nature of essence abilities. I wouldn’t want to accidentally start walking through doors or break through walls I lean against.”

His comment made Serene giggle slightly, even though it did not interrupt her song. Over the last months, she had grown ever more proficient in producing two streams of sound at once, effectively able to talk while singing or adding another layer of song for additional harmony.

“But I hope that you will be careful, little Kite.” auntie Dove said, fussing over him like every time he had collided with his intended target instead of passing through. “You better rank up soon, if only to ease your poor auntie’s mind.”

“I will do my utmost, auntie.” Kite said, giving her a quick hug. “After all, the branch director basically sent us here for that purpose.”

She looked like she was about to fuss some more, but was interrupted as Walker and Dew returned, the latter looking contemplative while the former had that almost electric mix of excitement and trepidation.

“I assume that you have located it? And that our initial assessment wasn’t too inaccurate?” auntie Crow asked where she sat in the grass while working on a formation plate.

“We did indeed, good Crow. And from what we’ve gathered, it should be within this old man’s capabilities as long as I stay true to my path.” he said excitedly.

“Walker, calling yourself an ‘old man’ while not even being in the top half of us gathered here doesn’t really emphasize your experiences the way you’d like.” Dove remarked sweetly, laughing at Walker’s almost horrified look. “Me and Crow both have a few years on you, as should both master Grim and Mistress Dew from what I’ve noticed.”

As both the elf and the silver-ranker nodded in confirmation, Walker’s shoulders slumped. “Back to being a junior…” he muttered, before turning to Kite and his friends. “Well then, fellow younglings, would you like to learn what manner of beast that this junior will try to vanquish?”

“Please tell, uncle.” Kite encouraged him once he stopped shaking with poorly repressed laughter.

“Well then, little Kite. In but a day, your dear uncle will be tangling with an autumn knight.”

“Wander, I implore you! Please get off me!” Braid begged from beneath the mound of rats which were currently weighing him down. They had crept up upon him where he camped just a few days into his journey, Braid immediately recognizing the modus operandi of his friend and colleague. And thus, he knew the futility of trying to escape once thoroughly buried beneath her swarm state.

“Braid, it is not very nice to intrude on the family time of others~.” a myriad of squeaking voices told him as one.

“But- but you don’t understand. She is my hero, the reason for my path. Please Wander, I just want to meet her and give her my thanks.”

“Hmm… To me, it still sounds a little creepy~. She is married, you know”

“Wander! It is not like that!

“Mhmmmm…~”

“Wander, once more. Please. I will give you what assurances I can. I-” he paused, realizing that he was even willing to go that far. “I’ll even sew something for you!”

The swarm atop him stopped, twitching noses turning toward him. “You will? Something all of me can wear?”

“I… I will.”

“Promise~.”

“Heavens as my witness.”

“Then I accept your earnest offer to assure your sincere intentions.” she said with mock formality, her usual singsong tone absent as the swarm did their best Rupert-impression. “We shall leave in the morning then~.”

“We?” Braid asked with a sinking feeling.

“I have to come with you and make sure you won’t be up to anything untowards~-” the swarm said cheerfully. “And give you my measurements~!”

“Won’t the deputy director need you elsewhere?”

“Braid, we’re adventurers. It’s not like he can set my schedule unless we have a contract, you silly man~.”

Resigning himself to his fate, Braid could already see the expenses racking up. All that myriad quintessence he had saved up was now basically already spent. But still, Braid felt resolved. When it came to what truly mattered, the patterns of the world expressed through formation and array, everything else was secondary. Even wealth. And convenience.

It was early evening when Crow was interrupted in her work by a slight pulse of aura outside as the visitor announced herself. After a responding pulse, the paneled wooden door was slid aside as Frost among Morning Dew entered Crow’s workshop.

With part of the stipend provided by Kite’s birth parents, Crow had been able to gradually expand the workshop which now occupied a smaller, separate building close to the main house. As with most else in the forested region, it was built of wood and had a clean, unassuming design that Crow favored as it left fewer distractions in her work. The inside of the workshop was similarly clean and minimalistic, with neat stacks of designs and the myriad different materials Crow used in her work.

“Mistress Dew.” Crow greeted, turning from her work while animated strands of hair sorted the schematics she had been working on to their proper place. “How may I assist you?” Crow had found the silver-ranked woman rather pleasant in that she held proper etiquette in just the right amount of regard, as well as her lack of demands or other kind of special treatment during her stay. While silver-rankers were everywhere in some parts of the world, they were rare and respected in rural regions such as the autumn lands.

“I only come to talk and ask a question, mistress Crow.” Dew said, joining the other woman at an offered seat next to her worktable. Sitting down, she noticed a small formation plate, the simple kind used for practice, standing upright in a frame at the edge of her desk. From the scribbles within, barely recognizable as an attempt at a simple alarm formation, Dew thought that it might be the work of a complete novice. Or a child.

Seeing Dew’s gaze lingering, Crow answered the unspoken question. “It was Kite’s first attempt. I believe that he was around six years old at the time. Raising a child does make one sentimental, and I like to keep it around for the memories.”

“So you have taught him your craft?”

“I have, at least to a basic level. But we quickly realized that he had a greater knack for rituals, and even then only as a complementary skill set. As soon as Walker started training him, we knew that the path of a more active adventurer would no doubt be the one he would walk. But I made sure he would at least have basic proficiency in the more static aspects of magic.” Crow finished, a bit of pride in how her boy turned out leaking into her aura. “But I would assume that Kite’s upbringing and my fond memories weren’t the reason for your visit?”

“Indeed not, but thank you for sharing them. You have raised Kite to be a fine young man.” Dew said, before turning to her true subject of inquiry. “But he never told me that one of his parents was part of the Crow clan. Does he not know?”

“No. It was a long time since I left my family. Many do, as not all want to follow their path. Fortunately, they are kind enough to give each of us a choice. To them, I am only Curious, the young woman who left. I have simply been Crow for so long now that I sometimes almost forget that it once was my family name.” the dark-haired celestine answered. Dew did not sense much tension or hostility from her aura, which told her that the subject did not seem to be that sensitive.

“But no, I suppose I have not told him.” Crow continued. “Now that he is closing in on bronze, it could be good to at least give him the knowledge of how to contact them, should he need assistance. The Crow clan does care for their lost eggs and their offspring, and knowing a clan of assassins might be beneficial in the long term.”

“The Tengu and her murder of Crows are rather famous in the heartlands, so I am sure that he would hear of them sooner rather than later should he choose to travel there.” Dew agreed. “There aren’t that many other celestine lineages that have your features.” she said, indicating the other woman’s black hair and eyes.

“No, but it has the perk of being just close enough to the colorations of other species that it can be overlooked.” Crow mused, a silken strand rising of its own accord for her to look at. “But then I must ask you a question of my own, mistress Dew. Why did this feel important enough for someone like you to come calling? Are you looking for my clan’s services?”

“Nothing so drastic, I assure you. It was part curiosity and part in looking out for young Kite should he decide to travel south eventually. I owe him a great debt for his intervention in a battle far above his limits, and I mean to assist him in what ways I can to eventually help our karma regain balance.”

“Thank you, mistress Dew. It eases a parent’s heart that he has one such as you carrying his interests at heart. I will speak to him on the matter later. As for now, I think we should all focus on tomorrow’s tribulation. Do you think Walker can make it?”

“I do. He is in his element and his heart and mind are as one. I have not known Brave Walker of Paths for long, but it seems interacting with the younger ones have helped him regain a bit of his drive.” Dew stated, certainty in her voice.

“Then I shall defer to your judgment. And I must admit that it is a bit infectious. Both me and Dove are pondering if we should follow his example and hasten our path towards silver.”

“Some walk the path while some run, fast enough that their feet barely have the time to touch it. If you have the dedication, you will get there.” Dew said while rising. “Now getting beyond that… That is an entirely different proposal.”

With those words, she bade Crow farewell, returning to the house and preparations for what tomorrow would bring. Hopefully, the birth of another silver-ranker.

Closing the door behind him and leaning his enchanted umbrella near the door to his small apartment, the young man wearily sat down on the floor near his lone small table. Looking out the window, he could see the streets of Bastion through the haze of falling raindrops. Even though it wasn’t visible from his humble little apartment, one could still hear the faintest rumble of the sea near the docks.

Tying up his black hair in a bun, the red streaks barely visible as it was bundled up, Brilliant Bloom sat down and put a small box down at the small table. It had been weeks since he had arrived in the coastal city, and his identity and location should still be quite hard to discern. He wondered idly if his family was even looking for him, or if they had just written him off as a failure to be discarded.

While it had been a hard few weeks, Bloom also had to admit that it had not been as bad as he had imagined it. There was a certain liberty to the experience of traveling and taking contracts as he wished, although the members of the local sects had given him flashbacks to his previous life in how they treated some of the unaffiliated or each other. Swallowing his pride and keeping his head down had been hard, the habit of always projecting force deeply ingrained. But he had persevered, and even been able to do a fair number of contracts in monster hunting, saving up for his next to last awakening stone, finally putting the completion of the set within reach.

“When I joined the sect, I thought it would be done in no time. How clouded were my eyes?” he chastised himself. The rewards under disciple Rise had been few and far between.

But his mind turned back towards the box on the table, and his curiosity overcame his caution. Anything sent through the adventure society was thoroughly checked, after all. And it had been handed to him by that rather cute receptionist who Bloom was pretty sure tended to flirt with him. He wondered how he might go about reciprocating the act.

“Would she be receptive to poetry?” he mused as he untied the string around the small wooden box, opening it to find something more than he would have expected. A lot more.

On a simple linen cloth lay an awakening stone of a pale green color, lines of light seeming to continually grow from within it without ever reaching the surface. Next to it lay a letter.

Brilliant Bloom

Do not forget that your actions of the present are more important than those of the past.

Because while those of the past are absolute and unchanging,

Those of the present are still yours to wield.

May this stone be a symbol for what you have done.

And what you can yet achieve.

Kite flown in on Winds of Fortune

And next to the stone lay a small strip of paper, announcing a simple definition of the gift;

Awakening stone of Growth