Qualitative shifts in an Awakened's energy, such as the change when they reach level 10, can start being recognized by lower level Awakened when they are nearing the wall. This can help fuel their advancement by giving hints as to what to look for in themselves.

  It can also feel quite overwhelming if the higher level Awakened does not reign in their Energy.

  ~ * ~

  As they drove towards the kids' new Construct, it wasn't a Holding yet even if they thought of it as one, Yshe turned to look at her nephew. Technically he wasn't her nephew but it was easier to call him that than keep track of the exact family connection. They were related in some way, he was her nephew, just like most of the other nieces and nephews she had.

  "What can you tell me about them and their likely needs?"

  "Huh?" Sam glanced over in apparent surprise at the question. "Oh. They have a small Construct, I'm not sure what those stairways would be, maybe a Hub?"

  "Decent guess, although I'm more incline to suspect a Core, if it were a Hub there would be a record of someone installing it. Cores on the other hand are more likely to attach to an unused Basic Construct, no one really keeps track of all the Basics, they barely need an Engineer for installation."

  Sam started to smile at her approval before she went on. "And what about who they are and their likely needs?"

  "She's a Lys, so probably wants more combat capable training dummies or something. Got given a little Construct as a birthday present or inheritance and now she wants to turn it into a short-term Holding until she inherits."

  "Child, did you even bother to look at the EDN while they were there? I know you had plenty of time, I had plenty of time and I had to walk halfway across the compound."

  "No," he answered sullenly.

  "She's been estranged for months, she doesn't get along with the Holding. And looking like she does I have a good guess why. They just had an Arbiter judgment in their favor a few weeks ago, multiple level 6 weregild and she's not even level 4 yet."

  Sam started to swerve then corrected and Yshe simply chuckled.

  "Why would they-"

  "Because she's former Princess Lys. She's an independent Lady now, or did you completely ignore how she named herself when asking for me."

  "I thought she-"

  "That's the problem boy, you didn't think about it, just like you didn't think to look and see what information you could find about her. She was a prospective client asking for someone she shouldn't even know exists. I know you're smart enough to figure this out if you actually bothered."

  She could hear Sam grumbling but said nothing, letting him get through whatever he was thinking.

  "Auntie, why do you insist on calling me child or boy. I'm an Engineer and I'm over 30 years old. I'm not a child anymore."

  "I'll stop calling you child when you stop acting like one. You've got potential but you ain't putting any effort in. You're a Jr Engineer when you should have been able to be Engineer. I'll tell you the same I've told others in the past. I'll stop calling you child when you turn 50, when you reach level 20, or you do well enough to be recognized as an Engineer."

  She saw him scowl but went on.

  "I suspect they're going to want EDN access. They have a Vault but the Construct doesn't seem to be connected or I'd have seen record of it. If I'm right and they have a Core they'll probably want a Portal too. And if you're right they'd be smart to install a transit access, might be worth it even with a Core if they want some passive income."

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  "Shouldn't we suggest it no matter what? It'll make more profit for us," Sam asked.

  "If this were an established Holding, yes. Or even if it were some rich merchant who got themselves access to a Hub but wasn't landed. They're new though. Get them to buy what they need right now and help them plan out a proper Holding with expansion opportunity. Valene saw something in those two and sent them my way. He doesn't do that with just anybody."

  "Who is Valene exactly?"

  "I won't tell you exactly, can't if I'm honest, but he's an OverSeer and the local branch is just a part of his responsibilities. We've known each other since I was not much older than you."

  "So he-" Sam paused and focused on the road, his mumbled apology at the question he almost asked barely audible.

  "Yes. He knew me back then and is still a friend."

  ~ * ~

  After Seb and Anya left Valene spent several long moments considering the pair. He'd been vaguely aware the former Princess did not look like her mother, however until today he had not realized just who she looked like. Thankfully that would be a matter for another day, if it ever became relevant at all.

  Sebastian was nearly as interesting for completely different reasons. Not only did he perceive Energy Patterns, something rare for someone so newly Awakened, but he seemed to be able to do so at a distance. That particular ability usually only manifested somewhere past level 50 if it ever did. Then there was his reaction to Valene's proximity. There was no doubt the reaction was genuine, but that simply raised more questions than answers.

  After sending out a request for his protege to join him he turned back to his work. He doubted he would get very much done before she arrived but any he did manage to do would mean infinitesimally less to do later.

  The knock on his door an hour later announced her arrival. She stepped in without awaiting his response, he'd made it clear early on that she was welcome any time regardless of whether he had visitors. Glancing up at her he let out a sigh at her stiff formality. They had been working together for over a decade at this point and he had yet to see her ever relax in the slightest. Between her sharply pressed blazer, pencil skirt and black hair pulled back in a bun tightly enough to make his bald head ache in sympathy she was the consummate professional. The intensity of her gaze had scared off more than one Awakened looking for advice in the past. Yet at the same time her advancement spoke for itself. Level 25 before the age of 50, most combat oriented Awakened would be jealous, most non-combatants would claim she was helped along.

  "Phelann. Have a seat."

  As she sat the secondary EDN terminal on his desk sprang to life, switching to her control while still showing the information about his most recent visitors.

  "I have a job for you. They," he pointed at her copy of the feed, "went to their local branch earlier requesting EDN access. While there they mentioned that Sebastian, the Seneschal, could see additional 'stairways' going up and down next to their Construct entrance. I was intrigued so had them come meet me."

  "He can see un-leveraged access points. It's not-" she paused as she paid closer attention to the data. "Adult Awakening less than 4 months ago, freshly created Husk, still registers as level 0? That's not typical."

  "Neither is the fact he could tell my doorway was a portal, that he states that he can see Energy Patterns along the walls of Constructs and from Husks without physical contact required."

  She nodded, making notes on her own copy of the data. "I admit that is certainly unusual but it hardly explains why you would need me to visit them."

  "He needs his Awakening Gifts analyzed. I suspect the Lady Lysanya does as well or at least better explained. They almost certainly need instruction on Path Selections and Fragments, along with who knows what else."

  At the look of confusion on her face he nodded at the data again. "You didn't look at which branch they visited."

  She took a moment to skim through the entire dataset before looking up at him. "You're sending me to Earth? And not just to Earth but to one of the feudal regions? Valene, have I not met and exceeded all your expectations?"

  "Phelann, this isn't a punishment. They need someone who is able to answer all their questions, who can accurately assess their Gifts, and most importantly who I can trust to deal with them fairly and in complete confidentiality."

  She sat back, the look on her face switching from shock to suspicion in an instant.

  "You haven't told me everything, have you."

  "One last thing about both of them, well one last thing that you need to know before you meet them."

  "Only one."

  "One each," he admitted. "Her hair makes yours look pale, her eyes are so green they almost glow and she looks like she should break in a strong wind."

  "So she's-"

  "Yes, you know better than to say it, even here. But yes, I suspect her father is, or was."

  "Does she know?"

  "You saw where she's from, what do you think."

  "Fine. And the Seneschal?"

  "He nearly broke his back on the far wall when I went to hand him a piece of paper. His reaction was strong enough she was one heartbeat from taking a swing at me. He could tell I was dangerous."

  "He could-" she frowned. "He's level 0, he shouldn't be able to tell I'm dangerous."

  "No, he shouldn't have noticed anything about either of us. His Lady didn't except through whatever she felt from him."

  After another long moment she finally nodded, getting up and turning towards his door. "I'm guessing you can send me through to the branch?"

  "Already done."

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