To be bound to a Core is to establish a Holding. The larger Families all control at least one core, some of them having dozens when cadet branches and offshoots are considered.

  To be bound to a Seed is to establish a Holding. Not even all the Great Families control a Seed. Some are thought to possibly control several through proxies but no one is certain. Seeds are the basis of Dynasties, of powers that have the potential to reshape aspects of the WidePond as a whole.

  ~ * ~

  At the sound of footsteps in the hallway Anya turned to see Valene striding towards them. Seb was already stepping to the side to give him space, she could feel his anxiety spiking all over again.

  Relax.

  Easy for you to say, he didn't nearly-

  "Sebastian!" Valene called out, a questioning look on his face as he held out a hand. "I apologize for last time, I have a suspicion as to what happened and unless I am badly mistaken you should find me no more dangerous than you do Yshe."

  She could feel Seb tense and stare at the hand as though it was a dangerous animal. "Yshe feels dangerous, although less than you."

  "She does? Well then," Valene paused for a moment then gestured once more for Seb to take his hand. "If that's the case then I'm even more certain that there will not be another repeat. Please, it will make the binding ritual much easier if I am right."

  Anya, I- Seb started.

  I know. I'm right here. And if he's wrong I'll find a way to make him regret it, if not today then someday.

  She felt his thanks at the offer then very cautiously extended one finger towards Valene. She could see him tensing more and more as their hands came closer only to see him relax and grasp Valene's hand confidently.

  "What changed?" he asked.

  "Sadly I can't tell you yet, someday I hope to," Valene answered before calling out past them. "Yshe, treat Seb as though he's level 9."

  Anya heard Yshe grunt in acknowledgment, her hands busy pulling up the floor panel where she had been standing.

  "Seb, tell anyone you feel that danger from that you want to actually interact with the same thing, to treat you as though you're level 9 and you should be fine. Well unless they terrify you the way I did. But for your sake I hope that you never run into any more of us until you're past level 10 and I can explain a little more."

  Anya glanced at Seb then narrowed her eyes at Valene.

  "Does that mean you and Yshe are over level 10?"

  "Indeed we are my lady," Valene answered with a grin. "And with that I've said more than I probably should on the matter."

  "You always were one to run your mouth when there was work to be done," Yshe grumbled, yet there was clear affection in the tone.

  "Right. Emergency Binding Ritual for a Holding. How long do I have to explain before you've got the access ready."

  "Five minutes, ten if this day decides to be worse than it already is."

  Valene nodded then gestured to the training hall. "I have a few things to explain, likely easier in there so Yshe can swear all she wants without interrupting me."

  "Val, if you weren't my oldest friend. Emphasis on oldest." Yshe yelled after them as they stepped into the room.

  "OverSeer Valene, Yshe said you could explain what a Seed is and why this is such an emergency," Anya said the moment the door shut.

  Valene paused mid breath and looked at her before shaking his head with a grin. "Fine. A Seed is an extremely rare form of a Core. Where Cores make up a small percentage of all Constructs, Seeds make up a fraction of a fraction of a percent of all Cores. I could look up the exact numbers but suffice to say there are tens of thousands of Cores for every Seed."

  This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

  "Tens of thousands? I didn't realize there were that many Holdings," Anya answered.

  "There aren't that many on Earth. There are also no Seeds on Earth," he clarified then held his hand up as she started to open her mouth to ask another question. "I'm not going to go into what the WidePond is or anything about non-Earth Holdings. We don't have time for that. Ask Phelann about it once she's arrived and has dealt with your other outstanding questions."

  Non-Earth Holdings? WidePond?

  Seb, I know you could tell I was confused when he mentioned none on Earth. Why would I do that if I already knew, she sent back, glancing at him just long enough to roll her eyes at his asking.

  She could tell Valene saw when he chuckled before continuing.

  "Cores let you set up Portal Network Access for connection between Cores or to extremely well powered Hubs. Seeds can do everything a Core can do, but also are able to expand in disparate areas and connect any and all Constructs that make it up through their own private portals. So you can have one room here, another on the other side of the planet, and walk between them by going through a simple doorway."

  "The other side of the planet?" Seb asked.

  "Exactly."

  "What about-" he tried to keep asking.

  "Questions for later my boy. Or figure it out on your own. We need to get the ritual completed as soon as possible after all."

  "You keep mentioning a ritual. Yshe keeps mentioning Binding the Holding. What exactly are we talking about," Anya asked while mentally telling Seb to stay on topic a little longer as she felt his desire to ask questions bubbling away across the band.

  "A Holding is founded by binding the ruling family to the Core. The binding creates a link between the rulers and the core that is passed down to all descendants as well. It is why you were named Heir to Holding Lys and would be able to be recognized as such officially should it become necessary. Someone not of your ancestor's family line would require a new binding ceremony to be a true Holding."

  "There is an important choice you must make however. If Lady Lysanya alone bind it then the binding will be quite clearly defined. If you both bind it then it will create a link with both of you, strengthening the Core, or Seed in this case, creating a link to both of your respective lines."

  Anya froze, she could feel Seb tense as well. She glanced at Valene who stood looking at them impassively before intentionally turning to face Seb, finding him looking into her eyes the moment she did.

  Anya-

  Seb-

  She let out a sigh and waited until he finally continued.

  Anya, this is your Holding, your freedom. I'm not going to take even part of it from you.

  Seb, you're an idiot. You won't be taking anything from me by binding as well. It gives us both a link, makes us both stronger. And we're in this together. This is Our Holding. I might hold the title because of how it was gifted, but I wouldn't be here without you.

  Seb glanced away, she could feel his emotions roiling as he took in her words and tried to answer.

  I- You-.

  "Not to interrupt a private moment," Valene said while doing exactly that. "But Yshe is probably almost ready for us. And a doubly bound Core has significantly more potential than a singly bound one. I would suggest having him bind as well my Lady, if you trust him."

  Seb looked up opened his mouth only to have Anya answer first.

  "I trust him completely."

  "Then it's decided, you'll both bind?"

  Anya, I- Seb started again before she felt his tension ease and a sense of certainty fill him. "I swore to support her goals. I'll stand by her side as long as she'll have me there."

  Anya felt her eyes threaten to tear up and blinked rapidly to hide her reaction. Did he realize what his words meant to her? Even as she wondered she could feel him across the band, certain in his decision to be there for her.

  "Perfect, a dual binding ritual to connect you both to the Seed and create your new Holding. Now the last decision you have to make before we head back out there is on what to name it."

  "Name it?" Seb asked.

  "Of course, I doubt you're going to call it Holding Lys, that would be much too confusing for the locals. And even the not-so-local would probably question the choice."

  "Not Lys!" Anya answered, her attention snapping back to the present at the name.

  I'm not very original when it comes to naming things. If you leave it up to me it'll be SebAnya or AnSeb or-

  Your choice in names is excellent Seb, she cut him off, surprised at how nervous she felt at his criticism. Although those examples are horrible.

  You don't like AnSeb and SebAnya? I thought they were the most creative names I'd ever come up with, he sent back playfully. Yes, I know they're horrible but that was my point. Let me think.

  Not Lys… Syl? he sent a few moments later.

  "Would Syl be a questionable choice or confusing?" Anya turned to Valene with a slight smile. "My partner here says he isn't very original, but I tend to like his suggestions."

  "Syl…" Valene trailed off in apparent thought before smiling. "I don't believe I've seen records of a Holding Syl. And it gives a slight nod to your heritage, without actually bringing them to mind."

  "Then we shall be Holding Syl. I do not want to be thought of as Holding Lys, and the reverse of the name is quite clearly not the same as the name," Anya stated with a sense of finality. The moment Seb had suggested to reverse the name she had known it would be their choice. Her life had turned around, the name simply let everyone else see that.

  "As you say, a mirror of the name is as clear a distinction as anyone can ask for," Valene agreed almost as sharply before opening the door back into the hallway. "Yshe?"

  "What's taking you so long. I'm betting you're as long-winded and prone to tangents as ever."

  Want to support Confluence Saga?

  Leave a comment to tell me what you think of the story so far.

  is 10 chapters ahead.

  Want to chat about the story? Come to .

  Current Bonus Chapter Goals:

  - 28/50 Followers - Bonus on Oct 18th

  - 7/10 Favorites

  - 6/10 Ratings

  - 0/2 Reviews