Published at 7th of March 2026 9:11 am

Chapter TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY FOUR: To Everything

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Here I am again, thought Alden, wandering the siblinghold without anyone having invited me.

He set his bags down inside the familiar cottage, then stepped out. Zansees flashed in the stream. The night air was heavy and moist. It had been raining right before he arrived, and drops of water still fell from the trees, plapping onto the carpet of leaves.

The chairs where theyd often sat together waited empty.

Stuarts either asleep or in the manuscript library.

Alden would bet on the second one.

How do I do this? What exactly do I say?

Hed been writing the lines of the conversation in his head for days, finding words to describe what was true and what he hoped would become so. But those words had scattered. He felt empty-handed in more ways than one, so he went back inside to pick up the bowl of grapes and a cookie shaped like a klerm that waited in a ribboned cellophane bag.

I want you to show Stuart anything about my life that helps him with his binding. When the time comes. He set the cookie on top of the grapes. If I end up imprisoned in another dimension, or I cant speak to him after thisI dont think its going that way, really, butyou know. You used a scene from his life to help me, so feel free.

[I hear you, Alden.]

Same for Kibby. If its ever necessary.

Here I go. Itll be fine.

On the way up to the main house, he spotted a wizard sitting in an open window on the third floor, enjoying the outdoor air while he chatted with someone in the room behind him. And there was a woman leaving the house and heading into the forest. Alden thought he recognized her as one of the assistants, probably going toward her own cottage. But the siblinghold wasnt bustling at this hour, and he encountered nobody else on his way inside. Nor on the walk to the elevator that led down to the underground levels.

Manuscript library. Just minutes left.

He caught himself humming and forced himself to stop.

The elevator reached his destination a moment later, opening to reveal the seating area. The library was warm but cooler than the upper floors, and there was a faint, almost toasty smell in the air.

Alden knew the table and the armchair Stuart favored because hed seen the Artonan boy working here several times now through his interface. It looked a bit different in real life. The same elegant furniture waited under soft lighting, and the same shelves extended into the darkness. But the area where hed thought he would find Stuart sitting was hidden by a layer of dense white fog that hung in place like it was trapped in an invisible bell jar.

Alden looked toward it, uncertain, wondering if Stuart was in there trying out a spell or if the fog hid someone else. Id better text him after all.

But then he glanced down to the place where the fog met the floor and noticed the edge of a familiar red wing sticking out.

Stuart? Are you here?

In seconds, the fog disappeared. Stuart stood at the table where Alden had thought he would be, reaching over a pile of research materials. A glass polyhedron that looked like it was full of mist was in his hand. It clacked onto the tables surface, becoming opaque black as he let it go, and he turned.

Alden!

The ryeh-bt sleeping behind his chair twitched her tail but didnt wake.

Youve come early. Stuart beamed. Im glad! I had a frustrating day. Asay-tor interrupted my study. I wished I could call and tell you about it. How was your visit with your aunt? Now that youre here, we have so many things to. How did you get here, though? Should I thank Evul?

Hes always happy to see me.

Stuart was wearing an earringnot the gleaming burngem piece Emban had given him, but a familiar clay study spiral. He noticed Aldens eyes settle on it.

Its an old one. He reached up to brush it with a finger. It doesnt have potency, but I sometimes use it for special learning anyway. Come! I want you to see what Ive found for you so far.

Alden headed toward him, taking in the scene.

Books stood in neat stacks. Tablets displayed what sounded like skill names arranged with webs of lines and squiggles between them, as if the skills were members of overcomplicated family trees. Watch out for the corner of that, Stuart said, indicating the floating drawer full of stone and wood shapes that could hold information and memories. I caught my sweater on it earlier.

He lifted his arm to show Alden a pick in the brown fabric of his sleeve, then he spotted his gift. Grapes!

Alden looked for a place on the table to set the bowl down. There wasnt one. Every inch of it was covered in evidence of Stuarts work.

How many hours has he spent here already?

Is this for me, too? Stuart was reaching for the gingerbread. The cellophane crunched, and he withdrew his hand as if it had startled him. He looked at Alden questioningly.

I shouldve told you the truth about myself sooner.

What?

Alden took a deep breath. Right. Merry Christmas. These are the best grapes I could find. The huge green ones taste like candy. And the bag has a traditional holiday sweet in it. A gingerbread cookie. I asked them to make it klerm shaped.

Stuart picked up the bag and peered at the cookie. How swiftly I have I become associated with these animals.

I didnt think eating a patient creature would be right.

Thank you for the food. Now, please sit! I have much to show you. Ive been organizing skills by

Stuart, is this place private? He was almost feeling lightheaded. If I tell you something important, is there any chance someone else will hear us? Is that fog some kind of isolating enchantment?

Rust-colored eyes blinked a couple of times. The fog you saw was an illusion. Its to indicate that I would like privacy if someone comes down here. Are you all right?

I am, Alden said. Ive made a choice. To tell you something. I would like to tell you now, and I wouldnt like to be overheard.

I will listen to you with both ears and my whole attention, Stuart said, steady and earnest. My room and the cottage are private as long as the doors and windows are shut. Are your belongings at the cottage already? We can carry some of this down with us. Let me pick out the most important things.

He grabbed the tablets and started collecting other research materials. Alden helped, but he was only half aware of what he was being handed. Stuart passed him whatever, and he obediently stacked it all up to take with them.

Its time. Im really doing this. What words? How do I explain? What happens to me tomorrow? I cant fall apart at this point. I need to

Alden?

And they were at the cottage just like that. Alden was standing outside watching Stuart through the door, like hed forgotten how to enter.

Coming. He stepped in and set everything down while Stuart slid the door closed behind him.

Were in private now, Stuart said. Unless youre worried about her overhearing.

He nodded toward Other Alden, who had followed them down here. She slammed into the big blue suitcase just once, like it was a chore shed assigned herself, then climbed on top of it and settled in.

Alden stared at her. Stuart, Im a w

No.

This wasnt what I was going to say first. First, I wanted to say the more important thing.

He looked around to see Stuart taking a cushion by the floor table and carefully positioning the grape bowl so that it would be dead center. Hed taken the cookie off it and placed it on the table. Theyre cold, he noted, plucking a green grape.

I just took them out of the refrigerator.

Stuart popped the grape into his mouth and chewed, waiting patiently.

Youre strong enough to be a knight, Sina Stu-ath, if thats what you want to do.

Alden took a deep breath.

Stuart had straightened at the use of his full name. He opened his mouth to thank Alden, or ask him what he was talking about; but Alden had found his way forward, and he couldnt risk stopping.

Affixationbindingits hard. Solitary. You feel so helpless and violated. Altered. It hurts. Yourself hurts. Even the being you could have been hurts as youre destroyed and redefined. Unless that was just me losing my mind for a while.

Theres still life. You resent your binding sometimes. You even fight it. But thats not all there is. You can also appreciate what youve become and enjoy your new abilities. You lose something, but you dont only lose. Theres also gain.

Thats what its like. You can do it, and youll be fine. Even though Im afraid for you, I truly believe that.

Your familyIm sure if they knew the truth about me, theyd all think Im destined to fail or die. But I havent yet. I dont want to. I dont plan to. I wont. And you wont either.

Stuart was staring.

Thats okay. This is it. Keep going.

Alden walked over to kneel beside him, facing him.

You can do it. Thats the first thing I wanted to say. The second is that you can trust my opinion on what its like as much as any hntyons because I have a sense of my own authority, too. I can do magic, too. Not like an Avowed, like a wizard. So I do know what having bound authority is like.

Stuarts gasp had a whistling sound to it.

No, dont speak yet! Alden leaned closer. The third thing I need to say is that Ive made the hardest choice of my choosing season. I dont know whats going to happen to me, but I know what I hope for.

I hope youll stay my friend. I hope youll help me learn how to use my power. Take me with you when you go to Goldbush, as long as I wont be in your way. In the future, whenever you go anywhere dangerous, take me along. Youre so ridiculously intense, wanting to fight chaos and kill demons, but if youre going, I want to be there, too. I would rather stand beside you in a place like that than enjoy the easy river while you suffer.

Haoyus fingers clutching his mothers shirt when shed made it back home.

The power of Arjun, a Brute whod altered Aldens life, and who he could one day surpass.

Everyone falling into snow.

If Im not useful now, that will change. Ill get stronger. I want to guard your backand I hope youll guard mine. If its possible, if the politics of my situation dont get in the way, I want us to be brothers on the same path. I want to be a knight with you, Sina Stu-arth. Or as close to one as I can be.

That was it.

The cottage was so still.

I said it.

You can take your time, Alden said. Im sure you need to think.

Stuart stared and stared.

UmI dont know if Im allowed to be what I am? I hope my life on Earth isnt over. If it is, that wouldbe very hard for me. And if you think your government is going to kill me or imprison me or do experiments on me, I hope youll help me keep all of this a secret. But I know you have to consider your oaths.

Such agonizing silence.

Im sorry I didnt tell you sooner. Youve been so honest with me about yourself, and II know I said you could take your time, and you can. But would you please say one thing to let me know youre there? This tension is a lot.

Stuart finally blinked. Yes.

Alden swallowed. Are you agreeing that the tension is a lot? Or something else?

Yes to everything you are, Stuart said slowly. And yes to everything youve just said you want from me. I. Yes.

Yes.

The word was perfect. It was too good to be true.

Yes? Alden asked.

Yes, Alden. Samuel Alden Thorn. My friend.

Aldens eyes closed. The air was suddenly doing a better job of filling his lungs.

When he looked again, Stuart was shoving a whole handful of grapes into his mouth. The Artonan gulped them down after only a couple of chews. Are youare you sure, though? he murmured.

I am. Wait. About which part?

The second thing you wanted to say. You said it very quickly. And it was something I think you shouldve said less quickly.

Im a wizard, said Alden. Possibly not in a legal sense? Because I havent had training, and Im not Artonan. But Im a wizard.

Stuart shoved another fistful of grapes into his mouth. I know I am not hallucinating. The cookie is too weird, and I

Alden moved in the way he had wanted to many times. Reaching out to the presence beside him, politely and with hope, he pat-patted like they were learning partners.

Stuarts body stilled.

Then, Alden received a light tap of acknowledgement. It was delicate and cautious compared to Kibbys way of saying hello, but with someone much more powerful behind it. He felt a smile breaking across his face. He patted again, trying to match the more delicate approach.

Stuarts brows lowered. His eyes locked on Aldens.

There you are, he said. Youve been so quiet. That must have been lonely.

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