Before Willow could reply, Aunt Jieun stormed off towards the fields, clearly heading to her father. They had been outside washing the dishes so it didn’t take long for her to reach him.

  “This is probably not gonna end well.” Change commented. Eos seemed a little shaken at the woman’s negative response, likely having flashbacks when Willow’s father yelled at her for the little flames' existence. Phoebe was a bit confused by the going’s on, but as always was calm and collected.

  Proving her spirit right, her aunt’s rage could be clearly heard from where the girl sat and she rushed over to the source of conflict, chores forgotten.

  “What have you let that child do to herself you foolish man!” Jieun screamed, her normally pretty face twisted in anger. Her father just looked confused and hurt by the vitriol being thrown his way, and her brother was nearby looking wide eyed and concerned.

  “I looked the other way and bit my tongue so hard I spit blood when you let her throw away Lexie’s legacy by letting her bind that fledgling candle spirit.” She continued to rant. “But I will not stand idle while you ruin my sworn sister’s child with your neglect!”

  Rowan’s face switched from confusion and hurt to a rage that matched the woman screaming at him if not exceeded it. “I have not neglected my daughter!” He bellowed. The large man visibly tried to calm himself before he continued. “And her path is stable, if unorthodox.”

  Jieun laughed, scorn clear in the sound. “Stable he says. Her flame spirit will be eaten by the earth along with her fire attuned core, and that’s if her core doesn’t soon shatter from the conflict of yin and yang. That’s perfectly stable to you?!”

  “Yes.” And the surety in his voice made her pause. “Check her core for yourself if you don’t believe me.” He gestured to the young girl standing nearby with a wide eyed look on her face and a gaggle of spirits surrounding her.

  A scowl was etched on her face as she stalked over to the child but her expression softened when Willow flinched back a bit at her approach.

  “I’m not angry or upset with you, Willow. I’m just worried that you’ve done something that will cause you harm. Can you please let me check and see if you’re alright?” The woman held out her hand like she was trying not to startle a skittish animal.

  Eventually the girl nodded and placed her small hand in Jieun’s.

  After a moment the older woman’s brow furrowed and she let go. “The energy in your core isn’t aligned with any of your spirits. However, what are you doing to your core to get those alternating layers?”

  Before Willow could answer her aunt, her father interrupted. “Jieun, it isn't your place to ask the steps in her path. It is her decision to tell us how she achieved her current state when she’s ready, or not at all.”

  “We are her elders.” She shot back. “It is our duty to brave the dangers of unknown paths ahead of those younger than us so we may guide them on potential pitfalls. The fact you have let her do this to herself without knowing how it will end is still a sign of neglect in my eyes.”

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  Finally Willow had enough. “Stop talking bad about my Da, he’s doing his best! Besides, I have my friends helping me.” She gestured to the spirit siblings floating above her.

  Harmony sighed. “Child, you really must do a better job of letting us know when you are going to inform others of our existence. This is twice now you have sprung this on us with no prior warning.”

  The girl fidgeted with her hands and mumbled an apology, and Harmony gave her a pat on the head. “So long as you understand going forward.” She then turned to Jieun who was staring at them with bewilderment. “It is nice to meet you. As Willow introduced earlier, I am Harmony, and my brother is Change. We are the ones guiding her development.”

  The woman composed herself. “I knew the two of you were powerful when I saw you, but I didn’t think you’d be able to speak.” She looked at the two of them closer, Change with his near constant grin and voidlike gaze, Harmony with her expressionless face yet twinkling eyes. “Then again since the two of you look almost human I suppose I shouldn’t be too surprised. When and where’d she find you anyways?”

  “Almost a year ago in the nearby woods.”

  Jieun thought for a moment. “The time she got lost and suffered qi exhaustion. You two caused that?”

  “The qi exhaustion was caused by my brother, yes. However, Willow got lost all on her own.”

  The girls' embarrassed fidgeting intensified, and her Aunt continued to stare at the twin spirits in thought.

  “There are many more things I’ll be asking over time, but for now there’s one pressing question I’d like answered. Have others successfully walked the path the girl is now on?”

  The two spirits were silent, and Willow looked between the two groups.

  After a moment Harmony spoke up once more. “If others have attempted this path then we have no knowledge of it. What we have planned is only possible due to our concepts and the knowledge we were given by our parent. Whether or not Willow reaches the end of the path we lay for her is up to her.” The spirit rests a hand on the girl's head as she finishes speaking.

  “So she’s just a test subject to you two?”

  “She is our friend.” The two say in unison with force and conviction, which puts a smile on the girl's face.

  “One does not preclude the other. You are spirits, you do not naturally know the limits of humans. The fact you pushed her too hard during your initial meeting is proof enough of that.”

  “I was trying to get her home!” Change cried.

  “You failed and instead put her in more danger. What’s to prevent something like that from happening again?”

  “We are being careful with the exercises we give her.” Harmony tried defending their actions.

  “And what if you aren’t being careful enough? What if through your actions the girl becomes crippled for life? Will you just leave and start over on another hapless child, claiming friendship all the while?”

  “We made a promise to her that we would stay and help her for the rest of her natural life. We would not abandon her.” Harmony’s eyes blazed with indignation. “Do not make light of the promises we make.”

  Jieun hummed in approval. “That’s a start at least, but wouldn’t you agree that it would be better if there was someone human to oversee her training and development? Someone to make sure you aren’t pushing her too hard too soon?”

  Willow’s friends started doing the silent talking thing for a minute, likely discussing her aunt’s proposal. The girl was a little uncomfortable at the direction the conversation had gone and was annoyed at how harsh her aunt was being. Even if she understood that it was coming from a place of concern. There was no way that her friends would have accidentally crippled her.

  Eventually her spirits finished their silent discussion and Harmony spoke.

  “We agree to your proposal.”