Why do Elites progress so much faster than Holding Guards you ask?

  Guards have other responsibilities. Guards are forced to Dive on the schedule the Holding sets for them. Guards support their Holding and Sovereign, they do not Dive for themselves.

  Elites push at their own pace, they have drive and intention that goes beyond what a Holding will support directly. They might be sponsored by a Holding, they might be Affiliated to the Holding, but they are outside the traditional organization.

  Feudal Sovereigns rarely allow their guards to progress past them, even if they have the chance. It would not do to have a retainer who decides they wish to change policy and have the means to act without considering the consequences.

  ~ * ~

  Seb started to relax as Anya closed the door. The few hours with her mother had been more exhausting than he would have expected, despite her making an effort to be sociable.

  Tomas had been a near silent shadow after his first comment, staying close enough to offer his opinion if offered but content to merely bear witness. Briana had kept busy ensuring everyone had fresh coffee, her smile never fading, especially when she passed near Fay.

  Now they could plan out the changes to their Holding as a family and three Engineers. Sandra had managed, through a mixture of proper behaviour and pleading, to get Lys to allow her to remain behind and start learning. Anya's promise to escort her home, and ensure she did not get up to any further trouble, had quieted her remaining concerns.

  "I remember you now," Sandra said. "You were the one who convulsed in the coffee shop."

  "Sandra," Anya said. "You're here to learn, not to-"

  "It's fine," he said, cutting her off gently. "Yes. I saw you and your mother and Awakened. Then I met your sister and was in the hallway when you said goodbye."

  "And now you're in love with her."

  "Sandra!" Anya said.

  "And you love him too, don't you."

  Was she-

  -always like this? Anya finished for him. Yes. Little brat.

  "Yes, we love each other," Anya said.

  "They're so cute together," Fay added, "especially when they-"

  "Fay!" "Fay! That's my actual little sister."

  Seb shook his head as Fay turned away and buried her face in Briana's shoulder. He loved that she was willing to tease, but she sometimes went a little overboard at the wrong time.

  "If you're all quite done? Your Holding needs work, or at least you made it sound like it did."

  "Sorry Engineer," Anya said with a mock glare at her sister. "We haven't spent time together in a few years."

  "And there's a time and place for that. Which isn't on my time. Especially not when I just agreed to take on another apprentice, who also happens to be a future Holder."

  "Sorry Engineer," Sandra said.

  "Auntie, do you want me to…" Sam began as he came out of the Holding before seeing the look in Yshe's eye. "Sorry Engineer."

  "What are you sorry for boy? You weren't the one standing around clucking," Yshe said before shaking her head. "Don't answer, I don't want to know."

  "Now, You have two things needing done. Expanding your Seed, and whatever work you think you need."

  "We need a proper Seneschal's office along with living quarters." Seb said. "Valene has recommended an Arbiter to us who should be able to take on that role, at least given time."

  "We also want to start turning this into a more traditional Holding." Anya added. "We like our house and bedroom, especially since we're only here from time to time, but if we're going to be expanding we need more space ready."

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  "I like my office," Fay said. "Don't touch it, please."

  "We can do that." Yshe said. "Which of you is taking notes?"

  "Notes?" Sandra asked.

  "I am Engineer," Sam answered.

  "If we don't take proper notes then how can we expect to give the customer what they want?" he continued with a glance at Sandra. "She remembers it all, but she won't tell you what you forgot until you make a mistake."

  "I wouldn't have to point out your mistakes if you took proper notes," Yshe said.

  "Yes Engineer," the pair answered almost in unison.

  Yshe isn't taking her time with the lesson, Seb sent.

  She's not yelling, she's not insulting. Compared to combat drills I suspect Sandra's finding this refreshing.

  "Now your Seed expansion," Yshe said. "You need to find a Construct or somewhere you can place one. This next bit is based on the information I've been able to find so it might not be exactly right."

  "You both have some sort of connection to the Seed? An awareness?"

  "We do," Anya said.

  "Good. Then when you're in your new Construct, and make sure it's yours, you make a mistake and you live with it, focus on that connection and imagine your Seed reaching out. You should be able to tell when it completes, both from how it feels and from there being a new doorway that connects into the Holding."

  "Where will the door show up?" Seb asked.

  "Have I ever done this before?" Yshe answered. "It'll connect to the Holding is all I know. But doors can be moved, same as portals and staging point connections. We can figure it out once you've done your part."

  "So all we need is a Construct."

  "That's all you need. But once you connect to it, you won't be able to move it, same as the base of any Holding. So make sure it's where you want it to be."

  "So not next door," Seb said.

  "No, not next door," Yshe snapped. "What good is having the ability to establish a secure connection between two points that make both part of your Holding, if you put them close enough to connect normally."

  "Engineer Yshe?" Sandra asked hesitantly. "What do you mean a connection?"

  "Seeds are rare versions of Cores. When they expand, which this one is ready to and they didn't think to tell me, they can connect to another construct. That connection acts like a Portal, but only between the parts of the Seed. You can't use those connections as part of the usual network."

  "So, they could connect two Holdings together into a single larger one?"

  "Yes," Yshe answered. "Although that raises other concerns since there would be separate Sovereigns."

  "Deep Earth," Briana said.

  "Briana?" Fay said.

  "There's space on the edges of the town. They keep expanding, keep adding new space for new housing and new businesses. Space enough for a proper Holding."

  "Are they expanding near your shop?" Anya asked.

  "…yes?"

  "Deep Earth wouldn't be a bad choice, no matter the reason," Yshe said. "At least until you make connections elsewhere on Earth or in the WidePond."

  "WidePond?" Sandra asked.

  "Seer," Yshe said. "Would you have a way to provide appropriate reading materials for her? Something that she can make use of without any issues from the Holding Seers?"

  "Maybe?" Fay said. "If she came to visit regularly she could gain access here without those constraints, or perhaps at your shop?"

  "If she's there she should be learning to be an Engineer," Yshe said then sighed. "But yes, we have the lesson books and primers. I'm sure Sam remembers how to access them."

  "Auntie… Yes, I do."

  "That works then. Sam will teach you all the things about the WidePond an Engineer should know in the mornings, in the afternoons we'll deal with Engineer work."

  Sounds like school? Seb sent.

  Just a bit. Good thing we just got the basic information then you went digging.

  Seb chuckled. He wasn't sure how many hours he'd spent digging through the EDN finding answers once he'd finally gotten access. He knew Anya had been relieved at first, he didn't ask her every question, but then he started finding things she wasn't familiar with and had insisted on sharing. The number of 'Seer stuff' questions he'd found answers to on his own early would have likely driven Fay mad.

  "Mornings?" Sandra asked.

  "Yes, I expect you bright and early tomorrow. I'm sure her Highness will insist on an escort back and forth, at least for the first while. So let her know you'll be learning as often as your duties permit. I doubt your sister will want to wait too long for work to begin."

  "What?" Sandra said.

  "Best way to learn is to do the work, you'll be here as often as you'll be in the shop once the plans are approved. But you won't have time to socialize, at least not much."

  She's going to be here all the time, Anya sent.

  During the day, while we're Diving.

  But, she'll still be here, she'll be nosy.

  You did say you missed her.

  I did, didn't I.

  "You stay out of my room. I'll know if you sneak in this time," Anya said.

  "You never knew before," Sandra answered.

  "I did."

  "Nope, otherwise you'd have said something when I-" Sandra cut herself off with a gasp.

  "When you?"

  "Are we done here?" Yshe said.

  "Yes Engineer," Anya said.

  "Thank you for your time," Seb added.

  "First thing tomorrow," Yshe said to Sandra before heading to the door. "Don't be late."

  Seb closed the door behind Yshe and Sam, before turning to watch what had apparently turned into a staring contest between the sisters. Neither was saying anything, neither was moving. If he hadn't felt the threads of joy leaking through the band he might have thought Anya was furious.

  Stepping over to Fay's side he leaned close to let her know in a whisper just how much Anya was enjoying this moment. He saw her nod in understanding.

  Much longer? he sent.

  Only if she insists on continuing.

  "I was thinking we could go out for dinner," he said to Fay, intentionally raising his voice to get everyone's attention. "We're already dressed nicely so could have a good meal and dessert."

  "Dessert?" Sandra said as she turned her head.

  "Great dessert," Anya confirmed. "You lost."

  "That's not fair, he distracted me."

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