"Who?" Timothy and Emile asked in unison.

"My foster parents."

After all the destruction had come down. Ermand attended his final exams with the clan studies exam along with his friends. Professor Zaugustus Lewcent informed the Protectors about the cause of the incident in secret. He made sure to leave out the truth about Ermand since Ermand asked him not to, putting forward the conditions they'll have to risk for. The High Professor also made some excuses before the Professors for Ermand to finish his exams in the middle of their summer holidays. Charlie, Edwin and Alfreda were alright and had attended their last exam along with the rest of others. Charlie and Edwin were later told about all that happened after they went unconscious while Alfreda seemed to not mind their business.

The boys were packing their stuff, preparing to go back home and enjoy the Holiday. Their seniors advised them to utilise their first year vacation because they wouldn't receive this luxury later.

"I hope we'll see you around. Your job is all fixed and yes, Jack and Jason also have vacancy there," Timothy told him before they left their room.

"Going to miss you guys," Edwin said, hugging each of them.

"Emile must be worried about the results of our finals," Charlie giggled, noticing Emile's worried face.

"I'm not worried about the results. I'm thinking of Odoeris. He's after you now, Ermand. Be careful," he said before leaving for the bus.

Ermand half nodded and thought to himself.

I still have more questions that only the Chisels could answer.

The boys gossiped about their happiest memories of their first year in the bus, all the way till they reached their respective stops. When Ermand and his brothers stepped out of the bus and walked toward the new Chisels' eyrie, Ermand's mind had been undergoing thoughts that no one had ever thought of.

"My boys are here back from their college, safe and sound!" Mrs. Chisel cheered, hugging each of them. Helmuth Chisel was behind her, smiling at them.

"What is it Ermie, dear?" Mrs. Chisel asked, noticing his distraught posture and look. "You gained your Aslehm, right?"

"I did. In the meantime, I also uncovered more secrets too," he muttered.

"Secrets?" She asked in a worried tone.

"We'll talk about your new drama inside. I'm exhausted mum," Jason rolled his eyes and walked into the house with his luggage.

The boys were busy discussing their experiences in the dorm during supper. After it was over, Ermand stayed near the table.

"What is it, Ermie? Has something been troubling you?" She asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I never asked you this. Right now, I'm asking... who are my birth parents?" He asked in a low voice.

"Did something happen in Agledon Ermand. Except for that streakfall?" She enquired, seating near him.

"A lot," he replied. He explained all of what had happened in the college, from the destruction and the pain till Emile's explanation. Mrs. Chisel gasped in horror.

"So, I'm an Odistte?"

Mrs. Chisel nodded, tears welled up in her eyes. "Your parents are-"

"Ignis and Lumeira," he completed for her and shook his head. "Why am I born for them?"

"Ermie, they're the Protectors-"

"So they could leave their child elsewhere and do their responsibilities? A parent's first responsibility is their child. If they can't take responsibility for me, how would they ever take responsibility for the magical dimension?"

Ermand knew Mrs. Chisel had nothing to do with it, but he was infuriated at himself, at everybody.

Mrs. Chisel remained silent. Mr. Chisel and the two boys walked into the kitchen upon hearing Ermand's unusual tone of voice.

"I couldn't believe it when Odoeris assumed that I'm an Odistte. How did I become a Potestum? You know the answer, don't you?"

"No, Ermie dear. I don't," she quavered, sniffing a tear.

The three men stared at Ermand, bewildered.

"Why didn't any of you tell me about it?"

Helmuth tried to speak something but Jack held his arm and nodded at his father.

"Ermand, gaining an Aslehm is difficult if you know where you're going. You can have immense power that can serve you in every situation, if you already know that, the worth of an Aslehm almost becomes unavailing. That's why we never told you although at times I was about to blurt it out," Jack answered.

"Odoeris is after me," Ermand whispered.

"After you?" The Chisels gasped.

"I'm the Potestum he's after," he almost whispered remembering Odoeris' last words before he disappeared from the room. It was scary, scarier than the dreams he had. It was not him that had terrified Ermand but his words.

I will get my Potestum, even if it means it's you.

The question of how he became a Potestum was unknown to all. He didn't know who would answer his questions. Everybody surmised that Odoeris won't come back since Odoeris had seen Ermand's true potential power. But Ermand believes that Odoeris will be coming up with a new plan to take him. What he will do next to Ermand after he gets him was unknown to him.

That night, the Chisels except Jason encouraged Ermand to hope for the good. They also confessed that they knew he was an Odistte since the time Helmuth brought him home. They kept it a secret so that Ermand would live under the shadows of the clan Chisel or else the Qorders might kill him off before he turns eighteen since an Odistte is rare and the most powerful of all clans that could outlead the Qorders. He would only take his true Odistte's power when he gained his Aslehm and now that he had gained it, he had nothing to fear and no one to threaten except for Odoeris. They also accepted that they would keep it a secret when Ermand told the reason behind his decision.

When the sun set in and the moon shone on the sky, Ermand slipped into his blankets. He caught sight of Jack on his doorway.

"Hey," Ermand called him in, rising from the bed.

"I'm sorry I had to keep things away from you," he apologized, walking toward the window. "I only knew that you were an Odistte when I was eleven."

Ermand nodded, smiling.

"I didn't know how I should react to it. I was happy while I was sad at the same time. Odisttes, if ever found, were killed by the Qorders' before they turned eighteen."

"I don't know how I can be grateful to you about what all you did for me."

"It's the responsibility of an elder brother," he mumbled, gazing at the sky through the tinted glass.

"You did more than an elder brother would do."

"I love you, Ermand. Did you know how glad I was when you were brought home by dad, how I enjoyed watching you sleep and laugh," he chuckled and turned at Ermand. "You've grown up now."

"All of us do. It's a bitter departure from the fruitful phase of life but everything has to move on."

"It has to," he said, nodding and exiting out of the room at a slow pace.

Ermand let out a heavy breath, jumped from his bed and walked toward the tinted glass window. He gazed at the starry sky. Now that he knows he's an Odistte, there's nothing that he could give upon, he wanted to hold all of his valuable things to himself. He was worried if his dreams would come true. After all, his dreams had never failed proving him. Everything had happened the way he had seen.

A lot of things had changed, a lot more had happened and a lot more to happen.

He shut his eyes.

*********

Editing credits ~ sticklady2015