A New Bond

As Van Gen stepped through the door of their small home, the familiar warmth and comfort of the place embraced him. The savory smell of dinner filled the air, making his stomach rumble in anticipation. Just as he was about to head to the kitchen, his father, Aric, greeted him with a warm smile.

"You're back," Aric said, his voice filled with a mix of relief and warmth. He seemed to hesitate for a moment before speaking again, his expression turning more serious. "Look, I'm sorry, Van… about earlier."

Van shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "Don't worry, Father. I wasn't alone in the woods today."

Aric's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Who were you with?"

Van hesitated, not wanting to dive into the whole story right then. "Later, Dad. Let's eat dinner first. We don't want Mom getting mad at the two of us."

Aric chuckled, nodding in agreement. "You're right. Let's go eat."

The two of them joined Seraphina at the dinner table, where she had already set out a hearty meal of roasted vegetables, grilled fish, and warm bread. They all sat down, and as they began to eat, Van decided it was the right time to bring up Elara.

"Mom, Dad, what do you know about our new neighbors?" Van asked casually, trying not to sound too curious.

Seraphina smiled as she placed a piece of fish on Van's plate. "Oh, the new family that moved in recently? Their name is Calder. The father, Eamon Calder, is a former soldier who served in the Crimson Plains before settling here in Willowdale. He's known for his strength and discipline. His wife, Lyanna, is a healer, and she's very skilled with herbal remedies. They decided to move here for a quieter life after years of service."

Aric nodded in agreement, adding more detail. "Eamon Calder was actually quite famous in his day. He led several successful campaigns in the Crimson Plains and was highly respected by his men. It's no surprise that their daughter, Elara, is already showing signs of that same strength and determination. They're a good family, Van."

Van listened intently, taking in every word. *No wonder Elara was so good at training,* he thought. It made perfect sense now—she came from a family of warriors and healers, a legacy of strength and skill.

"Is the new neighbor's daughter the one you're trai… I mean, playing with?" Aric asked, catching himself just in time.

Seraphina raised an eyebrow, clearly catching the slip, but she didn't say anything, though there was a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

"Yes, she is," Van replied, trying to keep his voice even.

Seraphina leaned in, her interest piqued. "How are you playing with our new neighbor, Van?"

Van quickly thought of a plausible explanation, not wanting to reveal too much. "We were just running around in the woods, playing some games. She's really fast for her age, so it was fun trying to keep up with her."

His mother smiled, satisfied with the answer, though she couldn't hide a small look of pride that her son was making friends.

As they continued eating, the conversation shifted, but it didn't take long before Aric and Seraphina started teasing Van about Elara.

"So, Van," Aric began with a mischievous grin, "it sounds like you and Elara are getting along quite well. Are you sure you're just playing games out there in the woods?"

Seraphina joined in, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Maybe you should invite her over for dinner sometime, Van. It sounds like you're becoming good friends."

Van's cheeks flushed a deep shade of red, and he quickly looked down at his plate, trying to hide his embarrassment. "We're just… playing," he mumbled, but his parents were having none of it.

"Oh, just playing, are you?" Aric teased, clearly enjoying his son's discomfort. "You're spending an awful lot of time with her for just playing, don't you think?"

Van squirmed in his seat, feeling more and more flustered as his parents continued to tease him. "Dad, it's not like that," he protested, but his voice lacked conviction.

Seraphina giggled softly. "It's okay, Van. We're just teasing. But it's nice to see you making friends. You've been spending so much time alone lately."

Van finally looked up, giving his parents a half-hearted glare, but the corners of his mouth twitched upward in a reluctant smile. "You two are impossible," he muttered, though the warmth in his voice betrayed his amusement.

After dinner, with his parents still chuckling to themselves, Van quickly excused himself and headed to his bedroom. He could still hear their laughter echoing in the hallway as he shut the door behind him, and he couldn't help but smile to himself. Despite the teasing, it felt good to share a light-hearted moment with his parents.

Once inside his room, Van sat down on his bed and closed his eyes, focusing on his inner self. He needed to check on the progress of his Aether Core. Ever since he had started his training, he had been diligently working to cultivate the energy within him, slowly drawing in Aether from the environment and compressing it into his core.

As he delved deeper into his consciousness, Van was surprised to feel a significant change. His Aether Core was no longer just a faint warmth in his chest—it had grown, becoming a small but bright sphere of energy that pulsed with potential. It was still in its early stages, but he could tell that he was getting closer to fully awakening it.

*I'm close,* Van thought, a thrill of excitement running through him. *I'm really close.*

He opened his eyes, a determined expression on his face. He knew he still had a long way to go, but the progress he had made so far was encouraging. With his father's training and his own secret practices, he was confident that he would reach his goal soon.

As he lay down to sleep that night, Van couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in how far he had come. He was growing stronger, both in body and spirit, and he knew that the future held even greater challenges and rewards. With Elara as an unexpected ally and his parents' love and support, Van felt ready to face whatever lay ahead.