The gentle hum from the little bird drifted lazily through the sunlit office. Forsythia tilted her head. "That song… it sounds familiar somehow."
Heather's eyes narrowed slightly, the corners of his mouth twitching in thought. "My father used to hum something like that," he murmured. "Said it came from an old story his grandfather told him."
Aldric didn't answer—at least, not in words. The tune had spilled from him unconsciously, born of centuries-old habit. But then, in the middle of a long, drawn-out note, something shifted inside him.
It was faint at first—a slight warmth deep in his chest. His humming faltered. He stiffened, then hopped upright on his two claws, feathers ruffling in alertness.
Closing his eyes, he turned his focus inward. Within his golden core, a thread of foreign power was threading its way in, merging seamlessly with his own energy. It was subtle, but unmistakable.
His eyes snapped open, sharp and searching, and landed directly on Heather.
Heather's gaze met his without flinching, a knowing smile playing at his lips. "Those fruits and dry fruits you just had," he said evenly, "are from our family's private orchards. They're infused with power while still in plant form—so when the tree grows, it bears fruit already imbued with energy to strengthen the golden core."
Aldric's eyes widened, the pieces clicking into place. He gave a slow, deliberate nod. "That explains everything…" Then, the seriousness broke, and a grin—mischievous and boyish despite his beak—spread across his face. "From now on, I'm only eating fruit from your farm."
With a burst of excitement, he took to the air, circling the room in a flutter of wings and cheerful trills. Forsythia laughed softly, while Heather shook his head in mock exasperation.
Heather watched the small bird whirl through the sunlight, each turn of his wings scattering tiny shadows across the polished floor. To Forsythia, it probably looked like nothing more than Aldric being Aldric—proud, dramatic, and just a little ridiculous.
But Heather's thoughts ran deeper. Good… it's working.
He hadn't chosen this moment by accident. The fruits weren't just a gesture of kindness—they were the first step in rebuilding Aldric's golden core to its peak, or perhaps even beyond. And if Aldric's strength returned, so too would the secrets he carried… secrets that could change everything for their family's legacy.
His gaze shifted to Forsythia. And she'll need him at full strength when the time comes.
She still hadn't awakened her powers, but Heather had no doubts—when her time came, she would stand in her rightful place as the next successor. And when that day arrived, Aldric's loyalty and knowledge might mean the difference between victory and ruin.
For now, Heather kept his smile mild, letting the moment remain lighthearted. But behind his calm eyes, determination burned steady. This is only the beginning.
From above, the office looked almost serene—sunlight spilling over the desk, Forsythia's laughter like a soft breeze, Heather's faint smile steady and calm. Aldric glided through the warm air, dipping low enough to feel the rise of heat from the sunlit carpet before climbing again.
On the surface, he was reveling in the sweetness of the fruit, the pleasant weight in his belly, the way the golden core in his chest now pulsed with renewed vigor. But beneath that cheer, a sharper thought flickered.
Those weren't ordinary fruits.
He had lived long enough—far longer than any man or bird should—to know that nothing in this world was ever "just a gift." Heather's explanation about the infused orchards had been truthful… but Aldric could feel it in his core, in the way the new power settled—it was tailored for him, almost as if Heather had known exactly what he needed.
He stole a glance down at the man, catching the faintest glint of calculation in those calm eyes. Heather wasn't showing his full hand.
Hmph, squeak, Aldric thought, banking toward the window, letting the sunlight blaze across his feathers. Two can play that game.
Still, as his wings carried him in another lazy loop, he decided he wouldn't turn the gift away. After all, strength was strength—and he had the gnawing sense that he would need every scrap of it before long.
Heather shifted his gaze from Aldric to Forsythia. "You should go back home," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "I'll have a driver take you. I still have meetings to attend, but I'll see you at home later."
Forsythia hesitated, then glanced toward Aldric. "We can't go home right now," she said softly. "We have to leave to get the power source Aldric sensed earlier. We need it to awaken my powers."
Heather's brows knit together. "I have many power stones and orbs in my treasury—" He stopped, the words faltering as the memory struck him. He had already tried every possible means in the past to awaken her powers with those treasures, and every attempt had failed.
Aldric tilted his small head, his voice steady. "Only that particular power stone can help her. And that's just the first thing in the whole recipe. After we get it, we'll still have to search for the other ingredients."
His wings rustled faintly. "It might take some time. We may not be able to return home for a while."
Heather's frown deepened. "Then I'll send someone to retrieve it—just tell me where it is."
But Aldric shook his head. "Only I can sense it. Only I can track it."
Heather didn't like it. He had only just gotten his daughter back, and now she was preparing to leave again.
Seeing the shadow in his eyes, Forsythia reached out and held his hand. "It's fine, Father. I'll be back soon—and then you'll see me with my newfound powers."
Heather looked at her for a long moment before finally nodding. He gestured toward his secretary, who immediately stepped forward and handed him a sleek black card.
He placed it in Forsythia's palm. "This is for you. I know I've failed in my duties before, but now that you're here… I intend to make it up to you. Use it however you like—there's no limit. And if you need more, just tell me, and I'll send it to you."
Forsythia's eyes turned red again, but she forced back the tears. She had cried too much already today. Instead, she leaned in, hugged him tightly, and whispered her thanks before stepping back to bid him goodbye.