The Voices that Matter

Reuben had spent the past few days turning over the conversation in his head. How would he bring up the idea of adopting another magical being without making Ryder feel like he wasn’t enough? He didn’t want it to sound like he needed more, or that Ryder wasn’t everything he’d hoped for. But with the decision to hire an apprentice now finalized and that process already underway, it felt like the right time to talk. The only way to do it, he figured, was to rip off the bandage and be honest.

Ryder had just returned from a long afternoon of practicing his magic in the forest, his clothes speckled with bits of leaf and dirt. Reuben and Evan were lounging on the couch, half-watching something on the TV, when the front door opened with a familiar creak.

“Hey, Ryder,” Reuben called out. “Welcome back. Mind if I talk to you for a sec?”

Ryder floated into the room and landed softly in one of the oversized chairs. “Of course. What’s up?”

“How was the forest today?” Reuben asked casually, though his tone gave away that something more was coming.

Ryder chuckled softly. “Fine… but what’s going on?” He glanced between Reuben and Evan, noting the shift in the room’s energy.

Reuben offered a nervous smile. “It’s nothing bad, I promise. I just wanted to ask you something.”

That only made Ryder more alert. “Okay,” he said carefully. “Ask away.”

Reuben looked over at Evan, who gave him a reassuring nod. Taking a breath, he turned back to Ryder.

“How would you feel about… having a magical sibling?” he asked, his voice cracking slightly at the end.

Ryder blinked. “A magical sibling?” His brow furrowed as he tried to make sense of it. “Wait… did you talk to the Lab? Are you getting another Raevan?”

“No, not a Raevan,” Reuben said quickly. “This is… something different.”

He sat forward slightly, hands clasped. “A few months ago, I was approached by a woman named Elora Vyshaan. She offered me the opportunity to become the guardian of a new magical being—a species called the Ydra. She said it’s the first of its kind, created through something called the Lifire, using two bonded Animus. I told her I’d need to speak with my family first before making any decisions.”

Ryder sat quietly, absorbing the information.

“I don’t really know what to think yet,” he admitted. “But if you and Evan want to do this, you should. I won’t stand in the way.”

Reuben’s brows lifted. “You wouldn’t be upset?”

“Absolutely not,” Ryder replied without hesitation. “I mean, I’m independent. I always have been. But the idea of having someone else here—someone magical—it might actually be nice. Calista’s great, but she’s not always around when I need magical advice. Having someone else who gets it could be… good.”

Reuben let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, his shoulders relaxing as a wave of relief washed over him. “That’s really good to hear, Ry. Thank you. I just wanted to make sure you felt heard in all this.”

Ryder smiled. “I appreciate you coming to me with it. I look forward to meeting them. Do they have a name?”

Reuben chuckled. “Not yet. Like a Raevan, they’ll form over time. Elora said this Ydra is created from the Animus of Gold and Cherry Blossoms, brought to life through the Lifire. But it takes time. The smoke from the urn has to build and settle before the Ydra can be born.”

Ryder’s eyes widened in wonder. “That sounds… incredibly special. And important. I’m glad you’re the one who gets to do it. And I’ll help in whatever way I can.”

Evan reached over and rubbed Reuben’s back, offering his quiet, familiar support.

Reuben gave Ryder a grateful nod. “Thanks, Ryder. That means a lot.”

With the conversation settled, the heaviness in the room lifted. The television flickered softly in the background as the three of them turned their attention back to the show. Laughter returned, and the evening unfolded as it always did—simple, warm, and full of love.

Even as the night went on, though, Reuben couldn’t help but feel the air had shifted. Their little family was about to change—again. And for the first time in a long time… he was ready.