A week had passed in a blur of sun, food, and sticky fingers. The rhythmic routine of the farm had done its gentle work, settling the five children into a new, unexpected kind of domestic bliss. The initial shock was gone, replaced by a deep, childlike contentment that resonated through the quiet corners of the house.
The morning's breakfast was one of their newfound favorites. Thick slices of sourdough, soaked in a custard of fresh cream and eggs, fried to a golden crisp, and dusted with a snowstorm of cinnamon and sugar. The dining table was laden with bowls of sliced berries and pitchers of warm milk, a healthy but also unhealthy start to the day.
They were talking animatedly, a shared, joyful noise that had quickly become the background soundtrack of Rowan's life.
Alexia, neatly dressed in her usual somewhat frilly yet simple dress, finished the last bite of her toast. "Father," she began, adjusting the small, silver-rimmed spectacles she'd unearthed from her who knows where. "I've taken a liking to one of your crops."
Rowan, stacking the plates, smiled at his daughter, already knowing what she was referring to. "The ginseng, I presume?"
"Hmm," Alexia affirmed, her ice-blue eyes gleaming with intellectual excitement. "The small grove of Mana-Infused Mountain Ginseng I discovered near the western irrigation channel is truly fascinating. Its mana signature is remarkably stable and localized.
It reminds me of Mother's Mandrakes, lots of potent energy and unique shape, but thankfully, it lacks the shrieking sonic resonance and homicidal tendencies. I believe it will become an important base for a new formula of physical enhancement potions."
She paused, tapping a manicured finger against her chin. "The initial tests require a controlled environment, Father. A proper lab, with distillation apparatus, arcane centrifuges, and perhaps a small, enclosed coo…fridge."
Rowan chuckled, wiping a stray smear of cream from the corner of her mouth. "A lab for my little genius. You got it. We have that empty plot near the back of the barn. As soon as I get a deal for my stuff, I'll start construction and order the best equipment the capital has to offer. Consider it done."
His promise sparked a wave of excitement in the other girls.
Lilly, who had a smear of jam on her cheek, bounced in her seat. "Daddy, Daddy! Can we go see the berry bushes again? Lucia and I found a massive patch of the sweet, purple ones yesterday! And can we see Betsy? I gave her a hug this morning, and she licked my nose!"
Lucia nodded vehemently. "Berry bush! And apples! Big, round apples!" She was completely charmed by the simple, abundant life of the orchards.
Rowan placed the last stack of plates on the counter. "We will, my little ones. But today, the berry bushes and Betsy have to wait. We are going to the town. I need to get supplies and, more importantly, I need to outfit my five little heroes for their next steps."
He knelt down, meeting Lilly's emerald gaze. "Lilly, you have the heart of a lion and the spirit of a true swordswoman. I feel that you have inherited Artemis' and my talent for the sword.
In town, we will find you the finest, lightest practice sword and the dummies you need to train. You'll be able to practice your forms just like your mother taught you."
Lilly's face lit up, a fierce, joyous grin splitting her features. "A real sword? Not a stick?"
Apparently, Artemis was tight on cash these days, as most people who lived like nomads were. It was especially low now as fewer people were hiring adventurers to fight beasts and raid dungeons.
Everyone was saving because of the drought, all their finances focused on food. So Artemis, who hated taking up any jobs but fighting, was at a loss. No wonder she had to give Lilly to him; he was sure she was dirt broke right now, except for her fancy sword and armor, something he had gifted her.
"A real, proper practice sword," Rowan confirmed. He then turned to Lucia, whose ruby eyes were already wide with curiosity.
"And Lucia, my little magical princess. We need to find the right magic crystals for your affinity. I'll get you the best crystal for channeling your innate power. We'll learn about the stars, the earth, and the deepest secrets mana holds."
And I will, discreetly, pass a note to your silent, scary bodyguards. The Bloodsworths have a library of arcane texts that could rival the Royal Academy. It's time they made themselves useful. I need a curated, clan-approved curriculum for my little vampire princess. No more hiding in the barn rafters; they are now my personal, zero cost, delivery service.
The little vampire almost made no reaction except for a quick nod as she continued cutely nomming down her breakfast. She didn't seem to care much for magic, she was more laid back than her mother.
Rowan's gaze moved to Darius. The boy had been the most dutiful helper on the farm, helping him till new land and carry things, but his talent remained stubbornly veiled. Rowan could not sense it at all.
Unlike the rest of the siblings whose talents were obvious or easily sensed with a little magic scan, his refused to surface.
"Darius, your mother always said that a warrior must first know himself," Rowan said gently. "Lilly has the sword. Alexia has the mind and arcane arts. Lucia has the magic. Your path is still hidden, but it's there, waiting to be found.
We will look at training gear, bows, staves, anything, to see what calls to you. We won't rush it. Your potential, son, is something rare, something the world hasn't seen before. It takes time to perceive something truly unique."
The boy sat there, quiet. He wasn't sure about what to say back. Darius had been looking forward to finally learn to fight. All he did in the barracks was fitness drills. He was never allowed to fight.
His mother would always try to change the subject when he asked about his talent. Now he knows why, if even his father couldn't figure it out, how could his mother tell?
All he could do right now was hope and pray that he felt some sort of connection to something.
Rowan was convinced Darius held a rare ability as only then do they hide so deep. It was a commonly known fact that the harder to unearth a talent, the more explosive it would be when uncovered.
Finally, he looked at Alex. The kid was writing down on a parchment furiously.
"And Alex," Rowan said, his voice laced with mock seriousness. "What do you need from town?"
Alex looked up from his ledger-in-motion, a faint flush of pride on his cheeks. "Father, I have spent the last week cataloging the crops. The magically charged wine grapes, the premium medicinal herbs, the apples and oranges. I estimate the current market value of our mature inventory at 4,500 silver coins, conservatively.
What I need, Father, is a fine-tipped pen, a sturdy, large ledger, and maybe a small abacus for faster calculation. And also some proper paper for calculating the premium drought market."
Alex's innate talent was a perfect reflection of his mother's obsession with logic and his own budding magical ability to influence small, mundane objects. He could subtly use mana to make his writing easier, to move stray papers, to keep his calculations immaculate.
While not a weapon in the traditional sense, if trained long enough, that telekinesis magic can become like a rail gun.
Rowan agreed, standing up. "Pen, ledger, abacus, and a proper, large sack to carry all the coin we'll be making from your sales strategy. We'll sell just enough to make Betsy happy and to build Alexia's lab."
He looked around the table, the faces of his five children. The swordswoman, the potion master, the mathematician, the financier, and the little arcane princess, all glowing with anticipation.
"First, clean up. Then, we are going to town. Let's show the world that the Blacksun house is here, and we are open for business."
Rowan knew that leaving the warded safety of the farm was a calculated risk. But he needed supplies, and he needed a way to casually contact the merchant class of the capital to start his own child raising fund.
The town was the perfect staging ground. And if some of those vampire ninjas didn't take his hint to go fetch some books, he might need to beat them up after putting the kids to sleep at night. Today was about providing for his children in every sense of the word.
.....
As the children, energized by the sweet, decadent breakfast and the promise of new gear, cleared the last crumbs from the table, Rowan began his quick, newly invented pre-trip routine
"Alright, Blacksun Brigade, operation 'Scrub Down' is a go!" he announced. "Lilly, you and Lucia handle the berry bowls. Alexia, I need you on plate and cutlery inspection. Darius and Alex, you're on the heavy pots and pans. Twenty minutes, team!"
The children, fueled by a week of farm-fresh food and the novelty of working together, tackled the dishes with efficiency. Lilly and Lucia, the best of sisters now, turned the berry bowl cleaning into a splashing, giggling game.
Alexia inspected every fork for a microscopic smudge of cream. A process that was both meticulous and slightly slower than Rowan would have liked. But he couldn't complain, somehow the stuff she cleaned seemed cleaner than clean.
While the cleaning crew did their tasks, Rowan was already moving. He strode out the back door and spent the next forty-five minutes running all over the farm. He had to water them up to the limit as he wouldn't be back until the afternoon tomorrow if things went well.
When he returned, satisfied with the hydration levels, the kitchen was spotless.
heir
"Excellent work, team," he praised, ruffling Darius's hair. "Now for some new magic."
He took out a small, ornate wooden whistle from his apron pocket, an ancient artifact carved from the heartwood of a hundred-year-old oak. He blew a low, resonant note that was inaudible to human ears but resonated naturally with the arcane wards of the farm.
As the sound faded, a faint, crystalline blue light pulsed across the entire farm's perimeter.
"That, my children, is the 'Auto Waterer' spell," Rowan explained, pointing to the shimmering field. He had named it himself.
"It will pull energy from the water element crystals I buried deep in the soil, and use it to maintain perfect hydration for up to a week. We can go to town and not worry about a single wilted leaf."
Alexia peered through her spectacles, watching the mana flow like faint, blue rivers across the ground. "A sustainable, crystal powered arcane irrigation system. The design is beautiful, Father. Did you design it yourself?"
She knew her father was good at magic but she didn't know he could design formations too. Though the naming sense was very utilitarian, at least it looked splendid to those who could see the flow of mana. It was like the natural formation of rivers from a tributary.
"I did, my little genius," Rowan winked. "Necessity is the mother of all spells. Now, enough talk. The town awaits! But first, we need our transport."
He led the excited children through a rarely used dirt path, down an aisle of short corn stocks not yet in bloom, and to the stable.
This was not a barn; it was a structure of artistry and function. The walls were clad in rich, dark cherry wood, and the high ceiling was vaulted, hung with large, enchanted copper lanterns that gave off a warmth even when off.
The floor was covered with thick, shock-absorbing hay, and the air was rich with the scent of leather, oil, and strong, noble horses.
In the center, dominating the space, was the carriage.
It was massive. The body was sculpted from polished, snow-white wood and reinforced with bands of glowing silver metal. The wheels were enormous, nearly as tall as Rowan, with thick, metallic treads that promised a smooth ride over any terrain.
The entire carriage was a masterpiece of old-world craftsmanship, but what truly caught the eye were the arcane patterns. The white wood of the carriage was inlaid with intricate, flowing runes of silver that pulsed with a faint, barely visible blue light.
The patterns flowed like interwoven knots, protecting against mundane wear and tear, and more importantly, against magical scrying and attacks. Along the panels, a stylized image was carved.
A roaring lion with a sun in its mouth.
Lilly gasped, running a hand over the cool, smooth silver. "It's like a white war cart, Daddy! But… fancy!"
Darius looked at the size. "Father, this carriage could carry a heavy armored five-man squad plus supplies. It must be magical."
Alex immediately started doing calculations in his head. "The material cost of the silver alone, plus the enchanted wood and the runes… this is more than a year's salary for a high-ranking official..."
Honestly, the kid didn't truly understand how much it cost as he'd only seen his mother calculate with limited funds at her job. The cost of this carriage was not calculable with his knowledge as it was mainly made of imported wood from an elven forest and enchanted metals from a foreign wizard tower.
It would take a lot more studying and travelling before Alex could truly tell the value of such items.
Alexia simply studied the arcane patterns. "The anti-scrying sequence is complex, Father." That's all she could say for now, as even her knowledge in arcane arts was entry level.
The only one who didn't show utter shock was Lucia. She looked at the carriage with a small, knowing smile. "My mommy's carriage is black and bigger, Daddy. And it has bats. But this one is pretty."
Rowan chuckled, patting Lucia's head. "Your mommy's carriage is very nice, Lucia. Full of history. But this is the Blacksun carriage. It was built for speed, safety, and comfort."
He then gestured to the two horses who stood patiently in the nearest stalls, already fully harnessed and waiting. They were magnificent.
The male, Capper, was a mountain of black muscle, his coat like polished onyx, his mane a thick, midnight plume. He stood nearly two heads taller than Rowan, his eyes intelligent and deep. The female, Shiori, was his perfect contrast, a vision of pristine white, her muscle tone just as pronounced, her silver mane braided with small, protective charms.
"Children, meet the leaders of our trip," Rowan said, approaching the black horse. "This is Capper, and that is Shiori. They are my friends, and they are incredibly special."
He stroked Capper's velvet nose. "Capper here fought every major battle with me. He carried me across burning plains and through blizzards. He is a retired war horse, and he is stronger and smarter than most knights I know. He doesn't need reins; he only needs a destination."
He moved to the white mare, Shiori. "And Shiori belonged to my best lieutenant, Lieutenant Selene. She was a brilliant woman, a fierce fighter, and the kindest person I knew. She always dreamed of the sea and lost treasures, and one day, she followed that dream. She left Shiori with me, saying this horse was too smart and too good to be left to fight forever."
I hope she finds some crazy aquatic plants. I haven't had the chance to grow kelp or seaweed.
Lilly walked right up to Capper, fearless, and gently patted his massive shoulder. "You're the color of night, but you're strong! I'm Lilly, and I'm going to be a strong swordswoman too!"
Darius looked at the muscular frame of the horses with genuine awe. "They are perfectly conditioned. They look like they could run for a week, Father."
Alexia held out her hand, letting Shiori sniff it carefully before she accepted a gentle pat. "Shiori's intelligence is palpable. The mental connection must be impressive for them to operate without guidance."
Lucia, always drawn to the gentle giants, stood beside Capper, looking up at his black coat. "Soft. Like fur."
"They are the best of the best," Rowan confirmed. "And they are ready to go."
He easily opened the carriage door. The interior was even more luxurious than the outside hinted. The seats were deep, cushioned velvet in a warm, dark green, arranged to face each other, with small, magically cooled compartments for snacks and drinks built into the sides. The space was enormous.
"Alright, Blacksun Brigade. Into our home for the next few hours!" Rowan announced.
Lilly, Darius, and Lucia scrambled in first, immediately testing the bounce of the seats. Alex, with a polite nod to his father, followed, taking a seat near the window, already pulling out his ledger. Alexia took the seat opposite her brother, adjusting her spectacles as if preparing for a long, important lecture.
Rowan climbed up onto the driver's box, though he only needed to hold the decorative silver grips. He leaned back and gave Capper a soft, wordless thought.
Town. The main square.
Capper twitched his ears, a silent acknowledgment, and the two massive horses stepped forward with synchronized power, pulling the huge carriage with effortless grace. The thick wheels rolled silently out of the stable, past the wards, and onto the dirt road.
The ride was incredibly smooth. The magical suspension worked perfectly, isolating the passengers from the bumps of the road.
Inside, Lilly bounced excitedly. "It doesn't shake, Daddy! I could do sword practice in here!"
"It's very comfortable, Father," Alexia called out. "A luxurious ride is an efficient ride."
Alex, looking up from his calculations, sighed contentedly. "The internal lighting is perfect for reading ledgers."
Lucia, curled up against the velvet cushion, was already dozing, lulled by the gentle rhythm of the massive horses' hooves.
Rowan smiled. It was a risk leaving the farm, but it was worth it. His children were safe, comfortable, and experiencing the world. He felt the soft, familiar vibration of Capper's steady gait in front of him and knew that nothing short of an army could stop them.
He let the warmth of the sun and the presence of his children settle over him. Today, Rowan Blacksun was simply a father taking his kids to town.