Minx nodded, "I learned how to do magic from the grandfather of a friend. I think if I use the crystals from the beasts we kill to create weapons, you guys should be support with Midas and I on the stronger ones. However, the two smaller beasts I brought with me will need the crystals as well as the meat, so we need to balance this."
Cyrus smiled, even happier to have his children back.
"Do you want us to call you Father or Dad?" Midas asked.
"Either works for me," he replied.
"Dad, do you want to go sit and talk now? Are there rooms for my friends? Can someone show them around?" Minx asked with a large warm smile.
[New Quest: Learn about your system]
[Reward: 5 AP]
Owen smiled as he continued to listen.
Cyrus chuckled, "there are rooms, of course. Yuri here," he gestured, "is my right-hand-man. He helps me make sure things are running alright around here. He can give them a tour then take them to their rooms."
"Also, I noticed not all of your friends ate with us but sat at our table. Are there special dietary considerations?"
"Yes. They only eat meat, mainly raw steaks." Minx saw Yuri write something as soon as the words left her mouth.
Cyrus nodded, "and how was the meal to your liking?"
Minx smirked, "I need access to your garden to grow better quality food, but I think it would be fine once I do that."
Her father nodded once more. The table was being cleared as they stood up. Cyrus motioned for his family to follow him. Their beasts followed as well. It ended up being a long trek. They found themselves in the far back corner on the third floor.
Before opening the door, Cyrus pointed across the hall, "that is your wing. We'll figure out wings for you both when we can. Your mother's lab is the next door down." He pointed then opened the door to his quarters and invited them in.
He gestured to a sitting area and they all got comfortable.
"About 30 years ago, we were visited by a woman with long flowing purple hair. She had a pale complexion. She said she had the ability to see the future. She spent a year teaching your mother magic. She said there were other planets what would soon be threatened and her visions showed your mother having an important role," Cyrus began
"Her name was Phantasma. She had very powerful magic, but her time here was limited. She spent it working closely with your mother. The rest of us barely saw her. There was something. A program that was placed in her locket. It was to be worn by our daughter," he nodded to the locket around Minx' neck.
"The locket was meant to absorb something called an ability from the man you chose as a mate. To copy it then pass it down to your first born as a system. Our kind don't have abilities, nor the energy required to activate them. This system was meant to give humans a fighting chance against the threats the future held. She didn't tell us what these threats were."
Minx gave this some thought. "When Owen was born, I had this strange electricity running through me. Was that the system being given to my son? Also, Midas has the earth ability. If we don't have that kind of energy, how does he have an ability?"
Cyrus chuckled, "earth is one of our skills as a species. He simply activated his own natural talent. As for your first question," he looked at Owen, "have you had any indication of strange words appearing in front of you?"
Owen nodded, "It started after we go to that village. It got a message it was installing. It hurt my head, so I laid down on Adam. I was going to talk to you about it tonight. It said it had to scale things since I was a minor… What does that mean?"
"It means it acknowledges you are still a child," Cyrus said.
"So, it was triggered by returning here rather than meeting an age requirement?" Minx asked.
"Have you been given any quests yet?" Cyrus asked curiously with a bit of excitement. "What can you do?"
Owen explained what he'd learned so far.
His grandfather was quite pleased. "Can you show me this magic?"
Owen smiled and lifted a cup of the table with an extended hand.
Cyrus clapped as if Owen was performing for him. "Such a strong lad! Your father must b a very powerful man!"
Owen frowned and was getting ready to say something when Minx explained, "he's extremely powerful. So much so that he was rarely home. He was off saving people from the dangers our world possessed. He was an absent husband and father because of all his obligations. It doesn't mean he doesn't love us, just that he was spread too thin. With great power comes great responsibility."
Cyrus nodded, "and you two? Did growing up away enable you to grow strong?"
Midas shrugged, "define strong. My sister is stronger than me and always has been. We've been able to take down strong beasts but we also have a peace on our planet with them. We have not fought beasts in ten years."
"The ease with which you took down that beast suggests you are very strong. In our species, Midas, the female is more powerful than the male, so I expect her to be stronger than you. We have few females left because they are hunted, isolated and attacked by overwhelming force. Those we have left are kept in the castle."
"How do you defeat the beasts that come?" Minx asked.
"We don't. We do fight but they take what they want and the rest are grateful to still live…"
Minx scoffed, "so by killing that one today, we tipped them off that power has returned to the castle…"
"Yes." Cyrus said matter-of-factly. "The good part is we have some time. They usually rest for a week and digest alone before returning to the desert."
Minx raised an eyebrow.
'These beasts are way too comfortable,' a voice inside her said.
'They will kill you easily, Max,' she responded.
"So, the first order of business should be to visit the villages around here and give them enough food to get them through this. We need to see if we can reinforce their structures in any way. We also need Serene to have her own lab. She's great at using plants in ways we don't.
[Quest complete: Learn about your system. +5 AP.]
[New Quest: Visit the local villages 1/5]
[Rewards: ???]
"Ummmm Mom. I need to go with you to the villages…" Owen said a little sheepishly. He was still finding it strange that his brain was literally telling him what the do.