"Why don't you come in so we can talk," Kora said, waving in Lukas and her daughter.

Lukas didn't move right away, having immediately felt the power of Kora's aura wash over him. In an instant a veritable river of sweat was running down his back as his situation got infinitely worse, and his chances of escaping if things deteriorated evaporated. There would be no out running the woman in front of him, no slipping through her fingers, and no hiding in the shadows. He'd probably be in her hands before he finished activating his ability.

He didn't know what rank she was, but the quality of her aura was high enough that Lukas was confident she could see straight through his aura mask. It didn't matter—she already knew he was an outworlder—but he didn't like the fact that she could see through him like a window. His only solace was that his emotions were completely suppressed, with nothing to be gleaned through his aura.

"She's a peak silver ranker at minimum," Sera said beside him, "maybe even gold. Hard to get an accurate read with my perception this limited."

Lukas really regretted listening to Sera at this point. He should've just run off into the forest once they'd cleared the city. The elf that had escorted him all the way here likely would've caught him, but if he'd dropped a large cloud of poison first then he could've gotten away. But no, instead he'd listened to his friend and walked behind magically reinforced walls, into a house filled with powerful and well trained people, and delivered himself up to the woman who was probably their leader. How Sera thought any of this was a good idea was beyond him.

There was a lot Lukas still had to learn about this world, mostly its culture and the way magic and the power it provided fit into it, it was one of the reasons why he'd listened to Sera. She knew far more about Adona than he did, and he could only hope that if something went wrong then she'd be able to help somehow.

Heeding her mother's words, Akira strolled into the room and casually took a seat next to her mother. Reluctant, but seeing no other choice at this point, Lukas entered the room but elected not to sit. The moment he crossed the threshold, the door shut behind him with a soft thud, like a lid sliding shut over a sarcophagus.

Standing firm and rigid, Lukas didn't move as Kora drew nearer. She circled him, giving him a thorough once-over both with her eyes and aura senses, as if inspecting a prize animal. "How interesting," she said with mild fascination. "What are you doing with your aura? How are your emotions completely absent from it? I can feel multiple effects at work—your lackluster aura control, your aura ability, and whatever you're using to mask it. None of that should be able to hide your emotions, but you're doing it somehow. It's like looking at a completely still forest—no swaying branches, no birds in flight."

"That's none of your business," Lukas said stiffly, earning a raised eyebrow from Akira and a grin from Kora.

"There's no need to be so tense," she said, returning to her chair, though she remained standing. "Of course, I say that to a Copper ranker standing before a Gold. But you're not affected by that, are you? Normally, people instinctively feel the disparity and react to it, but you're different. Is that a result of your soul strength, or something about where you're from?"

Lukas remained silent, unwilling to give anything up, but he was also curious about the answer himself. He hoped the woman would continue talking, guessing and giving him insight into his situation.

Unfortunately, it seemed as though she had other ideas.

Kora smiled as her aura pressed down on his, crushing it like a grape. Lukas, having experienced Sera's divine aura pouring down on him like a tsunami, didn't react in the slightest. He simply held the woman's gaze.

"Mother!" Akira protested.

A tense moment later, the aura pressing down on Lukas vanished.

"You're quite the oddity," Kora said, not acknowledging her daughter. "Not only are you an outworlder, but you possess a peak Silver rank soul strength while only being low Copper. And there's the fact that you're even Copper rank at all."

"You won't be getting any answers from me," he insisted, knowing full well that someone as powerful as the elf before him probably had all kinds of ways to dig into his secrets if she wanted.

"No, I don't imagine so," she smiled lightly, "At least not yet."

Scowling, Lukas was getting tired of the woman's grinning visage. He couldn't tell if it was smug, congenial, or mocking so he got straight to business, "What do you want with me? Why am I here?"

"You're an outworlder," Kora answered probingly.

Beneath his mask, Lukas' face scrunched up, "I won't be used like some prized bull."

Kora gave him a surprised look. "That much I guessed. I can see it in your aura—the refusal to bend, the will to struggle to the end. What I find interesting is that you know your value, don't you?"

"I do," he nodded.

"He has a benefactor of some kind, one who knows he's an outworlder," Akira added from her lounging position, earning a glare from Lukas. "It's where he got the mask."

"Ah. Would I be correct in guessing this benefactor told you what you are and gave you the ability to use mana?"

"…Yes," Lukas said after a moment's thought.

"And just who is this benefactor of yours?"

"Don't tell her that," Sera advised. "Last thing you want is people knowing your best buddy is a god."

"I figured as much," he replied through the blessing.

"My benefactor made it clear that I'm not to reveal that," Lukas told Kora.

Kora gave him an assessing look. "Strange that your benefactor would let you roam alone, especially if they knew what you are. But that's a topic for later. All that matters is that you know your importance. It's good that you know your value and potential in the larger world."

"Good?" Lukas asked, skeptically. Surely, him knowing would only give them a harder place to negotiate from. "Why is that good?"

"What exactly is his value?" Akira butted in. "Now that we have him here, will you finally tell me? I don't really see what he brings to the table."

Kora looked from her daughter to Lukas. "Why don't you tell her? That way I'll know whether or not you actually understand your importance."

"Oh? And how do I know you haven't been bluffing this whole time, waiting for me to give myself away?"

"So suspicious," Kora tutted, though her expression was approving. "That's good—you'll need that to see through the approaches others will make. Outworlders, Akira, are people drawn from a non-magical world into a magical one."

"A non-magical world?" Akira repeated, turning to Lukas in astonishment. "How is that even possible? What would a world without magic even look like?"

"There are many theories. As for what such a world would be like, you'd have to ask our guest. But what's important is the effect on the individual pulled into a magical world. During an outworlder's transit, something happens—an awakening. Innate abilities are drawn out, though it's not enough to grant mana channeling by itself."

Despite showing no reaction outwardly, Lukas was listening intently. He hadn't known what made him an outworlder or why. Naturally, he asked Sera why she hadn't told him.

"It would've been nice to know that."

Sera shrugged. "It's not as important as you being able to pass down your racial abilities."

"What are these innate abilities?" Akira asked. "Is that why his soul is so strong—and how he's hiding his emotions?"

"No, those are anomalies tied specifically to him I suspect. What I'm referring to are racial abilities—five of them. Unique to him. And unlike normal racial abilities, they can be passed to any and all races."

Akira's eyes widened. She turned to Lukas. "No wonder you're so stiff and hostile. Everyone who finds out is going to want a piece of that. Racial abilities are huge. Wait…" she frowned, looking at her mother. "Is that why you sent me to get him? Because he can give the family racial abilities?"

Kora smiled coyly. "No."

"No?" Lukas echoed, skeptical.

"No," she repeated. "Asking you to pass on your racial abilities is not something I could request in good conscience, especially not in our culture. Forcing or coercing you into such a thing would only corrupt the soul of the Anuk family and tarnish the integrity and respect we've worked so hard to build over generations."

"Told you," Akira said to Lukas, looking more than a little relieved.

"What I want from you is nothing more than a mutually beneficial relationship."

"In what way?" Lukas asked, slightly relieved, but still far from relaxed.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"How long have you been in this world? Not long, I'd guess. But considering you can channel mana and already have two classes, it's hard to say."

"Around two months."

"And you've come this far?" Kora said, sounding genuinely impressed. "I have more questions, of course, but I'll set them aside for now. Suffice it to say you're still fairly new and lack knowledge, resources, and training. These are all things we can and will give you. We'll shield you, protect you. With us at your back, others will approach far more cautiously."

"What do you want in return?" He questioned.

"For you to tie yourself to us. The prestige we'd gain from being associated with you is what I want. Groups and powerful families will come to us to get to you. We'll be a third party, mediators. That will open doors for us. And you're an investment. From what I've seen, a smart one. I believe you'll climb the ranks—and I want you lighting the way for our family."

Lukas frowned behind his mask. "Is she telling the truth?"

"I couldn't even read her rank," Sera snorted. "What do you think the odds are of reading her emotions? But she seems earnest. I'd keep playing along, but stay sharp."

"That's all?" Lukas asked Kora. "I just have to tie my boat to yours?"

"That is all I ask."

"And what happens when someone stronger than you and your family comes for me? Will you just fold and drop me like some hot potato?" Lukas pressed.

While Lukas wasn't familiar with the power structures of his new world and didn't know how things worked, he knew there was always a bigger fish. Calayis was proof enough of that. Lukas didn't know who these people were or how powerful they were, but if it came down to it then his money was on the nymph, and who knew how many people like her were out there.

For the first time Kora seemed to hesitate for a slight second, though that might have just been Lukas' repressed nerves, "It's something we will handle on our side, there's no need to worry."

"Bullshit," Lukas snapped, "It's my freedom and future on the line, not yours. All you have to do to avoid trouble is roll over and give me up, losing nothing while keeping the benefits you've already gained. Meanwhile, I'm stuck being an outworlder—forever."

Sitting up from her relaxed position, Akira scowled at him, "That's not—"

Before she could get any further, Kora held up a hand, stopping her, "He's right, Akira, no matter what deal we make we'll always be able to slip out of it like he said."

Kora turned a much more serious look on him, as if to impress the importance of what she was about to say, "My word is my bond. And you're right, there are more powerful families out there, like the royal families and all the nobles. But, here in Pinewood we stand at the top, besides the Duke that is. While we aren't much in the wider world we aren't nothing, we have many alliances, both official and unofficial, and many favors collected over the years.

"We have strings to pull and a well known reputation of diligence and duty. So, if some royal or aristocratic family came demanding you, we'd fight them to the last man."

"Whew," Sera said, drifting aimlessly, and uselessly, through the air, "She's pretty intense. Seems like sending you here was a good idea."

'For the love of god, please tell me you didn't send me here on a whim."

"Of course not," she said more seriously, "I had super good reasons to send my best friend into danger."

Lukas resisted the urge to turn and stare daggers at the impetuous goddess, and instead stared at Kora skeptically for several seconds, "You'd do all that and risk so much for a complete stranger?"

Kora's gentle smile returned, and once more Lukas couldn't tell if it was genuine, "I have a feeling that if those events should ever come to pass you'll be more than a stranger by then, but yes. As I said, you're an investment, and one I'm willing to protect. That being said, I'll reiterate that if you go making trouble on your own you can't come running and expect to hide behind our skirts."

"Mhmm," Lukas grunted, taking her answer for now, but not taking it at face value, "And your family? They'll find out what I am eventually."

"They will," Kora agreed, happy to move on, "And while I'd love to say it won't change anything, no aristocratic family is without internal politics. Some will approach you, even if I tell them not to. They'll want to gain favor. Just ignore them, and you'll be fine. Now, if you don't mind, I have a few questions."

"What are they?"

"First, why don't we sit now that we've settled the most contentious issue?" she said, gesturing toward the chairs around a small coffee table.

Lukas considered, then nodded and sat. He still wasn't dropping his guard, but there was no need to maintain overt hostility for now.

Kora took her seat as well. "Would you like some tea or water?"

"No," he answered curtly.

"Alright. Then let's begin. Would you mind telling me about your time in this world so far?"

"Around two months ago," Lukas began, "I woke up in the middle of the forest. Naked. Confused. I quickly discovered my racial abilities and tried to figure out what had happened to me. I didn't know where I was, so I went looking for people. I never found any. Just a dead drakon and a battered sword. Then a group of wolves found me. I killed two of them and scared off the third, barely surviving the fight. I almost bled out that night."

He paused briefly, voice flat but steady.

"The next morning, I was healed enough to move. So I did. Still searching, but never finding anything. For the next few weeks, I wandered the forest, killing beasts and exploring. Trying to understand the world. Eventually, I stumbled on a cave—one that belonged to my benefactor. They saw potential in me and gave me what I needed to begin learning alchemy."

"You're an alchemist?" Kora asked, leaning in slightly.

"I am," Lukas nodded. "I spent almost a month in that cave. Teaching myself alchemy. Once my benefactor was satisfied, they sent me out. I spent more weeks traveling the forest before finding a road. That led me to the city."

"It sounds like you glossed over a few things," Kora said.

"I did. And I won't be sharing those details—for multiple reasons."

Kora smiled with amused understanding. "You're going to frustrate a lot of people."

"That's their problem."

"The powerful won't see it that way. They're born with everything and denied nothing. Watching you interact with the aristocracy is going to be entertaining."

"Good to know you'll enjoy the show," Lukas muttered.

"I might enjoy it, but I advise against stirring up trouble on purpose. We'll stand behind you—unless you intentionally poke beasts stronger than you can handle. There's a limit to what we'll tolerate."

"That's fine," Lukas nodded. "I have no plans to draw attention. If I can avoid people entirely, I will. The last thing I want is to end up in someone's crosshairs."

"I assume one of your classes is alchemy-related," Kora said. "What's the other? Knowing will help us tailor your training."

"Don't tell her your class names," Sera warned. "Just the general type. The names alone can give away your entire power set."

"My second class is rogue-based," Lukas said.

Kora nodded thoughtfully. "Given your aura and build, I'd guess your combat style leans on agility, poisons, and mobility?"

"That's correct."

"So that's what the mask is for?" Akira cut in. "Alchemy?"

Lukas turned to her. "It filters the air I breathe—blocks poisons, toxins, and scent-based effects. Like those from an Amor Lily."

"You know what an Amor Lily is?"

"I'm an alchemist."

Sera snickered, "You should tell them how you actually know what an Amor Lily is."

"That's good," Kora said, nodding. "You'll be seeing a lot of those in the future—especially as gifts. Recognizing them is part of noblewoman's training. That flower is used to express passion during courtship."

Akira scoffed. "Yeah, I had enough to fill a carriage by the end of my debutante ball. Too bad you wouldn't let me destroy them in front of the idiots that gave them to me."

Kora gave her daughter an indulgent smile. "Suffice it to say, Akira has no interest in the political or business side of things. And I can tell you don't either."

"I'd rather deal with problems using a blade than words and games," Lukas said, getting a nod of approval from Akira. "That said, I'm not naive. I know what I am means I'll be dragged into politics whether I want to or not. All I ask is that you keep me as far removed as possible."

"I'll do what I can," Kora said. "Now—your racial abilities. I'm assuming you won't be sharing them anytime soon?"

"Correct."

"That's fine. It's only natural you'd want to keep that to yourself, even if we can infer a few based on what we've seen. That said, I'm going to guess one of them is translation. I doubt someone from another world would naturally speak our language."

Lukas neither confirmed nor denied the guess.

"Even a racial ability like that has value," Kora said. "It would make trade, diplomacy, and travel far easier. But I won't push. Trust takes time."

The conversation continued for over an hour, and they ironed out the details of their agreement. There were a few contentious topics, but they managed to get through them, mostly because Lukas didn't want negotiations to break down and have them take him in hand. While they gave in to keep him happy and willing to stay.

Kora and Akira asked more questions, but Lukas gave them nothing sensitive. He didn't mention Lyric or Leanna, just in case they tried to dig into his past. He did manage to ask a few questions of his own—mostly about the Anuk family.

He learned they were plains elves, originally from the southeastern grasslands. Their ancestor had worked at a lumber mill in Pinewood, eventually rising to ownership. Over time, the family expanded—more mills, more land, more trade. Now, they were one of the most powerful families in the city, and among the largest lumber exporters on the continent. Their wood was used globally in construction, healing centers, meditation chambers, even military applications.

Lukas hadn't understood what was so special about the local trees, but it turned out the rejuvenating pines of Pinewood were saturated with recovery-aligned magic. The trees were valuable not just as material, but as a source of passive healing and enhancement.

He'd never noticed any benefit himself, but he chalked that up to always being surrounded by the trees since he'd arrived in this world. If he ever left the region then maybe he'd feel the difference.

Eventually, Kora stood, prompting Lukas and Akira to do the same.

"I believe we've covered everything we need to for now. Your training starts tomorrow. Today, use your time to familiarize yourself with the estate and get settled. That is, if you're amenable to the agreement we've made."

"I am," Lukas said. "As long as you hold up your end, I'll do what's required of me."

Kora smiled warmly. "I'm glad to hear that. Akira will show you to one of our guest houses. It's yours to use as you see fit."

"Do you have one with an alchemy lab?"

"As a matter of fact, we do," she said. "A few of our guest homes include them. We often have important non-family members stay here, some of them alchemists. Akira will make sure you get one."

"Why me?" Akira asked, clearly unhappy. "Why not one of the staff?"

"Because you'll be one of the people training him."

"I'm what!?"

"You're going to be training him. Take him through your routine and show him the ropes. It will be good for you to revisit the basics and shore up those foundations."

Akira stared at her mother in disbelief, Kora meanwhile looked back to Lukas and extended a hand, "It's been a pleasure to meet you, Mr...?"

"Hellstrand. Lukas Hellstrand," he said, shaking her hand.

"Well, Lukas, we'll speak again soon. In the meantime, work hard. Akira—please show Mr. Hellstrand to his new residence."

Grumbling darkly, Akira brushed past Lukas and out the door. Lukas followed at a steady pace, calm and ready for whatever came next.

As the two disappeared down the corridor, Kora smiled softly to herself.

"I'm not going to force anything on the boy," she said under her breath, "but who's to say what might happen between a man and a woman after spending so much time together?"

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