"Mother," I asked carefully, my voice quieter than I intended, "...is everything really fine?"
As Chancellor of the Kingdom of Thane, my mother bore the weight of an entire nation's governance on her shoulders, a burden she carried with the same grace she did everything else. But even she couldn't completely mask the thoughtful look that crossed her sharp features.
"We've established contact with the Solaris Kingdom," mother began, her eyes lingering on Aria for a moment before returning to me. "A newly minted Tier 1 Kingdom, and one that happens to be far too close to our borders for comfort."
I nodded, though the term "Tier 1 Kingdom" still carried a sense of awe. To climb to that level meant wielding power and influence that most nations could only dream of. Our own Kingdom of Thane was formidable among Tier 2 Kingdoms, but the gap between us and a Tier 1 Kingdom was vast.
"Our kingdom is strong," she continued, her voice measured, "and while we can't match the Solaris Kingdom's raw power, they're in no position to threaten us. They're still digesting their recent territorial gains, and consolidation takes time."
Her explanation was logical, soothing in its precision. Yet something in her tone made me press further. "But?"
A faint smile touched her lips. "But their king has shown interest in reports about you, Elara."
"The king?" I blinked, surprised.
"Another Diamond-grade summoner," she explained, watching my reaction carefully. "Though unlike you, he's had years to grow into his power. His first summon was a Beta Eterna beast - formidable, but not close to Aria's level."
Aria tilted her head slightly at this, her dark eyes focused on some distant point beyond the walls. I wondered what thoughts stirred behind that serene expression.
"It's natural he'd be curious," father interjected, his deep voice reassuring. "Diamond-grade summoners are rare enough that they tend to keep track of each other. But his attention is academic at best - he has his own kingdom to manage."
I nodded slowly, processing this. The implications were fascinating rather than frightening - somewhere out there was someone who might understand what it meant to bear this power, this responsibility.
"How strong is he?" I asked, curiosity overtaking my initial unease.
"Near his peak," mother replied. "Which is precisely why you shouldn't worry about him. He's reached the height of what his initial summon allows - a Beta Eterna sets certain limits, after all."
She was right, of course. It was a fundamental truth of summoning: your first summon determined your ceiling. A Beta Eterna was incredibly powerful, but it meant the Solaris King could summon at most four Eterna beasts throughout his life, with the rest being Luminara or lower.
Meanwhile, Aria's presence meant I could potentially summon six to eight Eterna beasts, with some potentially reaching Prime status. The gap in potential was vast.
"The point is," mother continued, her tone becoming lighter, "you should focus on your own growth for now. Speaking of which..." A knowing smile crossed her face. "The academy's excursion is coming up soon."
"Excursion?" I perked up, grateful for the change in subject.
"Three days in Death Valley's outer rim," mother explained. "For most students, it's a chance to form their first additional core. But for you two..." She glanced between me and Aria, "it's an opportunity for both summoner and summon to grow."
Aria's dark eyes showed the first flicker of interest I'd seen all day. "There are strong beasts there?"
"Creatures that slip through the boundaries between worlds," father confirmed. "Most are Astra-grade, with the occasional Luminara. More than enough for you to hunt and strengthen yourself."
"You need cores too," I said to Aria, watching her closely. "Moving from two to three or four cores would make a huge difference."
"Yes," she agreed simply. "I will hunt. I will devour. I will grow stronger." The childlike delivery of such predatory words sent a familiar chill down my spine.
Mother smiled, though her eyes remained sharp. "That's the idea. While other students struggle to form a single core, you two can focus on rapid advancement. Aria's growth in particular could be explosive, given her traits."
"Which path will we take?" I asked, trying to keep the nervousness from my voice.
"The Crimson Trail," mother answered. "It's challenging enough to force growth, but not so dangerous that we risk losing our students." She paused, a glint of amusement in her eyes. "Though with Aria at your side, I doubt you'll face any real danger."
As if in response, the air around Aria seemed to thicken slightly, her presence becoming more pronounced. "I will protect her," she stated, her tone leaving no room for doubt.
"I know you will," mother said softly, and for a moment, I caught a glimpse of genuine warmth in her expression. "But Elara needs to grow stronger on her own as well. A summoner can't rely solely on their summons, no matter how powerful they may be."
I touched Aria's hand gently - it was cold as always, like touching fresh snow. "We'll grow stronger together," I said, and meant it.
"Three days," father reminded me. "You should start preparing. The valley may be controlled, but it's still no place for the unprepared."
I nodded, already mentally listing what I'd need. The future - the Solaris King, the politics, the weight of being a Diamond-grade summoner - could wait. Right now, I had more pressing challenges ahead.
As we left the study, Aria's presence beside me felt more solid, more real. Whatever Death Valley held, we would face it together. That was all that mattered for now.
"Aria?" I asked as we walked down the corridor.
"Yes?"
"What do you think we'll find in Death Valley?"
She was quiet for a moment, her steps making no sound on the polished floor. "Things that want to kill you," she said finally, with that same matter-of-fact tone she used for everything. "But they won't succeed."
I couldn't help but smile. Coming from Aria, that was practically a declaration of undying loyalty.
The excursion lay ahead, and with it, the chance to grow stronger. The Diamond grimoire at my side hummed with quiet energy, a reminder of the power waiting to be unleashed.
Three days in Death Valley.
It was time to see what we were truly capable of.