The meeting is with an American couple, the husband introducing himself as Stephen Grayward...

And his wife, a seven feet tall woman that is introduced as Sophia Grayward. Both speak fluetly without a hint of accent.

That is a tall woman. This is already interesting. Tintin listens attentively, peering through the vent.

The Mother Superior lays out a tray of cookies for her guests. "-I'm told you're here looking for a relation of yours. It's very honorable of you, many are unwilling to go out of their way for a distant cousin. What is his or her name?"

"You are too kind. I believe her named was Eléonore, she should be thirteen?" He has a package of documentation that he hands her.

The wife accepts a few cookies, though she doesn't immediately eats them.

"Oh, our Léo! Eléonore Saint-Martin, yes? What a lovely girl she is - a bit troublesome at times, and rather a - what do you call it, tomboy? But very clever, and very sweet with her little friends, is our Léo-"

Tintin has had entirely enough of this. 

"That is not my name!" he shouts. It echoes through the vent into the room. Then he pops the grating and leaps down onto the Mother Superior's desk, rattling the plate and her teacup. He glares at her, then turns to the Graywards.

"Félix Saint-Martin," he says, extending one tiny hand. "Call me Tintin, please. I am a boy."

The Mother Superior clenches her teeth and forces a smile. "Mademoiselle Saint-Martin is perhaps a handful sometimes."

Sophia screams.

"Oh, dear." He takes a moment to help his wife clean up the cookie that she reflexively crushed with her hand. "And I see, at least my family energy is well present there."

"So you are my uncle Stephen, then? I'm sorry for frightening you, Auntie, it was just the quickest way down. Will I have to learn English?"

"It's okay," Sophia says surprisingly apologetically. Apparently trying to figure out a way to dispose of the crumbs that doesn't involve speaking again.

"We are distant cousins, but you can call me 'uncle' if you prefer. And if you want to live with us in the United States, learning English would sure help a lot."

"I speak a little," Tintin says in accented English. "But I will... try... practice, much more. I would like to call you uncle! And aunt Sophia! Will I have brothers and sisters?"

"Léo, I'm sure you will learn all this when they take you home," the Mother Superior says. "Would you go back to your room and let us complete the paperwork?"

Tintin switches back to French. "Paperwork is dull. So is my room. And my name is not Léo, it is Tintin. Or Félix if you must."

"Six brothers," Stephen answers. "Hopefully, you were not expecting a childless couple," he directs a smile towards the Mother Superior. "Do you strongly object if I get to know Tintin?"

"Six!" he shouts with delight.

The Mother Superior raises her hands. "Of course not! I simply thought - no, take all the time you need."

"Thank you," Stephen tells the Mother Superior, "Yes, six. Most a bit older than you."

"And they're nice? And - friendly, and they want a new brother?"

"Oh, definitely. I know it must sound a lot of kids, but we have very few relatives left. They were very happy to hear we found another one. And they are moody teenagers, but nice."

"I can work with moody teenagers," Tintin says confidently. "Do you live in a city? Do you have many books? What do you do for a living?"

Chuckle. "We live in a small town, surrounded by woods. I work in commercial distribution. But we have a lot of books, don't we, honey?"

"A couple of thousands or so. I am a bookworm."

"I'm going to start packing," Tintin decides. He hops down onto the floor and runs out the door, back to his room.

He doesn't actually have much to pack; it all fits in one overlarge military surplus backpack, which he drags along the floor as he returns to the Mother Superior's office. 

Luckily, that still leaves enough time for Mother Superior to check that all the relevant documentation is in order.

Which means that Tintin gets to go with his uncle and auntie, right???

Yes, it is. Stephen can help Tintin with his backpack. And then they can walk to their car.

Tintin requires less help than might be expected with his backpack! When he takes his seat in the car, he bounces with delight and hums to himself.

And Stephen starts driving. He smiles to his wife.

Who seems much more relaxed with just two people to interact with. "Wow, you are really strong for your size."

"Always have been. Or - not always but since I was very young. When I overwork myself I get light-headed, though, so the doctors told me not to show off. But I am very strong."

"Light-headed like you have been holding your breath for a long time?"

"Yeah. Like I can't breathe right while I'm doing something really hard. I have an inhaler for it, but I don't really need it, I've never had the dizziness last longer than a moment. I suppose if I had to lift something very heavy for a long time I would be in trouble, but it's never come up."

"I see. And you sleep very little, less than the nuns would like, but you don't really need to sleep as much."

"Did old Georgette tell you that? It's true I don't sleep much, I mostly just take a few cat-naps during the day. But I'm not loud, I just read. And sometimes sneak to the roof to watch the sun rise, but they never caught me at it."

He chuckles. "Don't worry. That is a family thing too. My boys are each a handful."

"They also spend a good chunk of the nighttime reading. Well, half of them."

"Oh, good. I wonder if I would like the books they read! None of the other children liked reading very much."

"What sort of books do you like to read?" She asks naturally.

"Adventure! Books where things happen, big things, important things, and someone does something about them. I want to do things too, but nobody will let me because I'm very small."

Sophia takes a moment to process this. "Well, they are concerned with you... But we have plenty of adventure books. All our boys like them."

"Books are good! I'd like to adventure in the woods as well, woods sound like great fun from what I've read."

"They are, we are always going for hiking. Franklyn, has befriended all creatures there. And Aaron likes to climb the trees."

They are entering the suburbs at this point, going further away from civilization.

"Are we going to the airport?" Tintin asks.

Clever boy. "No, but we are taking you to America to live with our kids. This is just a detour so we can explain you a few things."

"Alright!"

Tintin resumes bouncing and humming.

And after finding a quiet spot. Stephen stops by the side of the road and turns to Tintin.

"Hey, want to see a cool trick?"

He doesn't really wait for an answer before taking a few pebbles out of his pocket... and then making them float above his hand.

!!!!

"How are you doing that!"

"Magic."

"...magic is not supposed to be real. The nuns said so."

"I guess the rocks must not be floating. Nuns are never wrong."

"I could show you something written and you'd be able to read it."

"I didn't say they weren't floating! Only that the nuns said magic didn't exist. I suppose they were wrong, or lying, or you're tricking me somehow - but I don't think you are tricking me. Can I learn magic?"

"I am just pulling your leg. I mean, about the nuns. Magic is real, and yes you can learn it. Our family is magic too."

"Then - are we going to go to America by magic? That is much better than an airplane."

"Yes, by magic. It will be a couple of hours driving."

Tintin considers.

"That's still better than an airplane, I think, because it's less cramped and we don't have to sit with strangers. And I will get to meet all my brothers sooner."

"It has that going for it, yes. Do you want a hug?"

"I would love a hug!"

Tintin unbuckles his seat belt and clambers over the divider between the back and the front of the car, and wraps his arms around his new uncle.

Aww. Hug.

She joins the hug, assuming Tintin is okay with it.

Tintin is very okay with this.

After a few seconds, he wriggles out and back into his seat. "Let's go! I want to meet my brothers!"

"We will. There are some other news, that are not as bright. I would've taken you in just because of you being an orphanage. But the reason we are looking for distant relatives is that we needed to find them."

"...is there a curse on our family?" Tintin asks.

"Not really. A long time ago our ancestors created a place to store magical powers that the...  assigned males of our bloodline could use if they knew how. And it was stable if it were enough users around. But about fifteen years ago most our family died during a magical accident at a family reunion. The vault is now unstable, every so often it creates monsters we have to fight."

Tintin does not seem to know how to feel about this!

"I will fight the monsters," he says eventually. "Can I get the powers? What do you mean by 'assigned'?"

"You won't be able to use the vault, is what I mean with assigned. I am sorry. And you can have powers, your strength is one."

Neither visible reacts on his statement on fighting monsters.

"The vault thinks I am a girl too. Stupid thing."

He raises his arms.

"Yes, magic isn't smart on itself. And the vault is very, very stupid. It was meant to be used by us, but instead we have to keep it under control."

"Well. I can still fight the monsters. I am very strong. May I have a gun to shoot the monsters with, also?"

"We can train you to fight monsters, just like how my boys train to too. Guns hurt the monsters, but the vault - and the monsters - are connected to the woods. If we kill one it will cause an area to die off and that would call too much unwanted attention. And hurt the wilderness."

"Oh. I wouldn't like to hurt the wilderness. I suppose I'll have to fight them with magic instead. ...perhaps a gun for emergencies, like a bear attack. Forests have bears."

"Your enthusiasm is appreciated. But you, young man, will need to train before seeing one of the monsters face to face. Or face to faces in some cases."

"Also, try not to hurt the bears. Franklyn is friends with them and would be sad."

"Of course I will train! And I wouldn't hurt a bear unless it was going to eat me. I'm not mean."

"Okay, it's just this is serious business. It might sound like an adventure, but it is dangerous. You understand?"

"Adventure is often dangerous. That does not make it less important, or any less an adventure. I will train seriously."

"You and Aaron are going to get along too well." Hair ruffle. "I think we should get going, but we can still answer your questions about magic."

Tintin has many questions about magic! It may be easiest to offer him a working summary, rather than allowing him to pull on the loose threads that are visible to him.

Stephen is familiar with the situation of an-overly-eager-about-magic child. He explains sorcery, which relies on "lifeforce" as a fuel. Lifeforce in humans is divided into five aspects: breath, stamina, wakefulness, health and youth. People can manipulate their own lifeforce, which can they use to transfer to others or to grow a gift. Which is a power that is tied to an aspect. Tintin's strength is a breath gift. The other way to use sorcery is through rituals, which involve various actions like chanting, moving, writing symbols, etc. and may have a variety of customized effects. However, it's very important to use rituals carefully and follow them to the letter. They are going to give him a safety lecture on the topic and in more depth later, but it is very important to already let sink in. Rituals and sorcery in general uses your life as a fuel. One can obviously still use it casually, but it's only common sense to be careful about it.

"And so - if I were to develop a youth gift, I would be spending years of my life, instead of running out of breath?" Tintin shivers. "I would not like to do that."

"Exactly, despite the name it wouldn't even cause you to grow up, just grow older. Youth is used for long-lasting things, like magical objects, but always with moderation. It's the only aspect that doesn't regenerate, the only way to replace it is by getting from someone."

"You can get youth from other people, even purchase it, but at the cost of someone else lifespan. Ah, and exchanging lifeforce between species is dangerous as well. Like how putting animal blood in your veins would make you sick."

"I do not think people should be taking other people's youth. It sounds... ugly."

"It's never something that should be taken by force. But youth is useful, some things are downright impossible to do without it. As long the people involved understand and agree with the situation... it wouldn't be doing them a favor by removing the freedom of choice."

Tintin is thirteen years old and does not have access to cogent arguments against capitalism leeching ever-more-vital resources from the poor!

"It still seems ugly," he mutters. "But I am not sure. What kind of gifts can I develop? How are the powers of the vault different from normal gifts?"

"It's not pretty," Stephen reasons. "The vault's unique benefit is that we can swap our powers. Which isn't impossible to do without, but requires very complicated and complex rituals and a long time recovering, because for everyone else it's like transplanting an organ. The gifts there are not different from other gifts, but there is variety to choose from."

And regarding the first question, they can offer examples of what gifts and rituals can do: creating protections, moving objects, producing various kinds of energy, transforming matter, grant new senses, emotion control, dispelling magic, and so on. The different aspects have different strengths: breath is good at effects that don't require active attention; stamina does physical things, often with energy; wakefulness does mental things and senses; health is changing or manipulate the nature of things; youth is the most versatile and powerful, often including things like metamagic or permanent magical effects.

"Hmm. And can I choose what gift I develop, or does it simply happen, like my breath-gift?"

"It simply happens, but people usually find that they like their powers even if they could be better. Are you concerned about getting a power to change shapes?"

"Mm... I would like that power, but I don't know if there's another I would like more. There is a lot of magic, and I think I wouldn't shapeshift very often. I know what I would want to look like. Is there a shapeshifting ritual, that I could do instead? It would be a health ritual, no?"

"Rituals often use more than one aspect. But it would mostly use health, yes. We are looking into that kind of thing because of you. It's the kind of magic with red tape around it."

"That is very nice of you! Why is there red tape?"

"I try to take care of my kids, which you are one now. And the red tape is to stop people from using that sort of thing in bad ways. Pretending to be someone else to commit a crime."

"Ah. Of course. Because people are like that."

"It's not very common, but there is no reason to make it easier for bad people to abuse it."

"And we should figure out how to do it for your entirely legitimate purpose. And we will train you to use magic, the fact that you will already have a gift makes it easier to get more, but it still is a matter of months and years."

Tintin cheers substantially at the reminder that he will be learning magic. "I will study very hard! - but not so hard that I endanger myself. I would not like to worry Auntie."

"Thank you. Oh, my actual name is Sovie. I am not from Earth."

"Oh! I thought that women are not usually so tall, but perhaps in America - I'm being rude. Sorry, Auntie. Where are you from, then?"

"The world is called Elan, it's in another universe... I guess we didn't explain to you that aspect of the existence of magic."

They explain that there is a small pocket universe - relatively small, about the size of a continent - which is the source of sorcery, it every so often comes in contact with other worlds and "anchors" itself to them, spreading its magic. Its name is Elsewhere.

Elan is one of those worlds, it has a less versatile kind of magic of its own: Synth, which lets one do small changes in living things, like making humans taller and stronger.

The other worlds are: Efross, an ice age world with people that can store and release heat; Exile, a world sometimes called "moss ball"; and Epoch, a arid world with low-oxygen that houses magical memory-storing crystals.

Both Exile and Epoch have been part of Elsewhere for tens of thousands of years and no one knows where Elsewhere comes from, but people from Elan managed to learn sorcery through Elsewhere ruins.

"Ruins! I want to visit them, can we?"

"We could, yes."

"You, Sovie and one of the boys could visit one as a vacation trip."

"This is already a very good family, and I haven't even met my brothers."

"Aww, it's great you are enthusiastic about this." They then proceed with their journey through the countryside until they go to a remote but well-kept warehouse.

Inside there is an underground floor with a large portal, through which they pass through. They are inside another warehouse with more portals around them. Several trucks going to and from portals. They go through yet another one. Then drive a short while to another group of portals (this one used for more personal vehicles) and drive through a while longer.

This repeats a few more times, until Stephen announces they are in the states.

Tintin has been looking out the window assiduously. He continues to do so. Does it look different from the Belgian countryside?

It doesn't look very different. Other kind of trees, but similar kind of overall geography. That said, there is a difference in the signs, cars and other structures. According to this sign, the local school mascot is "The Cryptid". And of course there is a Starbucks over there.

They pass through a remote controlled gate and into the Grayward proper, the house reveals itself as a nice two store building standing over a hill. The structure is made out of overlapping straight-angled shapes and has an overall modern look to it.

There are two boys by the front door already waiting for them.

Tintin leaps from the car as soon as it stops moving.

"Mes fréres! Salut!" He runs over to hug them. "Oh, non - hello! Brothers!"

"Wow, that was fast."

"New brother!" One of the boys says, hugging back. Hugging them both and standing up.

The parents reach them once the car is parked. "Franklyn, ask permission before flying with someone."

"Mom, is not flying its just hovering."

Tintin giggles with delight. "I did not even know he was hovering! Can you fly with me?"

"Of course!"

"After we put some protections on you. And also, after you have met the others."

"Maybe starting with introductions...?" Should he ask about his whatever-the-opposite-of-dead-name is.

"Ah, of course! My name is Tintin. - my first name is Félix but that is just because one must have a real name as well as a nickname, but I think the only people who should call me Félix are doctors and people I do not like."

"And people disciplining you by using your full-name. So you know they mean business. As the elder gray boy. I, Aaron, sure qualify."

"Just like I will use 'Orpheus Aaron Grayward' with him."

"He would figure out my shameful secret name at some point."

"I am Franklyn."

Tintin hugs them both tighter. "It is very good to meet you."

"Nice to meet you, Tintin!" Tighter hugging back.

"Let's get inside, and introduce everyone."

"Yes!" Tintin wiggles out of Franklyn's arms and lands on his feet. "I am ready!"

Inside they go! Tintin might or might not notice the slight haze when Aaron touches the doorknob. The door opens to a small hall and a larger living room, through which they can hear the sound of a videogame being played. "Adam, they go here. You have to pause. Oh, they are here." Says another boy, wearing a bow tie and button up shirt.

Adam pauses the game and looks up. "Hi."

"Hello! I'm Tintin. You are Adam and..."

"Christopher Ezra Grayward. But just 'Topher' will do." He walks closer to offer his hand to shake.

Tintin shakes Topher's hand! Then he hugs him.

Hug? Hug. "So, you are related to Franklyn."

Franklyn fly-tackle hugs them.

"I am! I had no relatives at all, and now I have so many!"

"Having this many brothers is overrated."

Topher unhugs and pulls Adam away from the couch he was sitting on. "Hug."

"Ugh. Okay." Adam joins the hug, he is taller than Tintin.

Everyone is always taller than Tintin. There are eight-year-olds taller than Tintin. This is fine. Hugs are great.

Personally, Adam finds the situation awkward, but that seems to be his life under this roof. He un-hugs after a moment.

"Where are Temple and Morgan?"

"Upstairs, Morgan challenged Temple to work out the cost of a ritual that would make you have only boys so strongly that it affected Tintin here."

"That sounds impossible, no wonder Temple fell for it."

"Will we go upstairs to meet them, then?"

"Yes, and take things to your room." They do that. Only Stephen and Franklyn going up with Tintin.

Their first stop is in a two bed bedroom. With a boy standing on a desk writing things in a large whiteboard.

He is being observed by another boy. Said boy is wearing a dark blue hoodie, not black like a depressed emo, but dark blue. They both turn towards the door. "Hey."

Temple jumps off the desk. "Hey! New Gray boy!"

"Yes! I am Tintin! You are - Temple and Morgan, who is who?"

"I am Temple! That is Morgan."

"He will want to hug you both."

Morgan shrugs. Which isn't a 'no'.

It's good to be understood! Tintin hugs them.

Hug. Then un-hug.

"So... have you met the rest of the family so far?"

"Yes! They are all very nice. I want to do something to make Adam more happy, but I don't know him well enough yet to know what I can do. Maybe I will bake cookies."

"Aww. Adam is like that sometimes, but he will like cookies."

"He is disappointed that we don't get a sister, so Franklyn doesn't walk around like the original Adam."

"How do you mean?"

"Pants are overrated. But I don't, like, show off or anything."

"You do not not show off either."

"Oh. I do not think that I would care about that very much, even if I was a girl. Do Americans care so much about seeing their brothers naked? Do you not swim?"

"Americans do."

"We do sometimes swim naked in our pool."

"Good to know. And no one will be surprised that I do not have, um. All of the parts, yet."

"That... fact, might have circulated around the house already. Try not to scandalize Sovie and Adam."

"I do not know what scandalizes Adam yet! But I will only be naked when I sleep and bathe and when I swim, and maybe that will be enough."

"Yeah, that is about right."

"Cover yourself if the door to your room is open or if you are going to open it. Just a towel is fine if you are around the pool, but try to not just be in a towel all the time."

"Don't let Aaron goad you into race naked to your bedroom." Temple pokes Morgan.

Glare.

"I will not race with Aaron. He would win, my legs are tiny."

"He also cheats."

"If you count climbing the side of the house instead of taking the stairs. Anyway, we should take your luggage to your room. And when you are ready we can go stairs again."

Tintin nods, following his uncle to his new bedroom.

The room as it happens, is the one across the hallway, and is about the same size. One bed, and barren of any personal touch. "We will be able to go buy you a few things to liven up the place soon enough."

"That will be good. Maybe some posters."

"Of course, do you want to take a moment to rest or come down now-ish?"

"I am not tired!"

Tintin does place a few items around the room: his comics and flashlight on the bedside table, his clothes in the dresser, a bag of marbles atop the dresser (there really isn't a lot of furniture).

Then it's time to go back downstairs! And socialize more with his brothers!

Everyone upstairs follows him downstairs to the living room, where Sovie set up a tray with cookies, chocolate and something that might be some kind of jello. Plus water and apple juice.

"Okay, I know it's kind of a school thing to do. But how about everyone say their names and a bit about themselves?"

Tintin raises his hand. "May I be first?"

"Of course."

"Hello everyone! I am Tintin and I am a boy and I want to have adventures and I am very excited to be part of this family!"

Topher quietly pokes Adam in the ribs.

Adam yips and then, realzing everyone is looking at him. "I am Adam."

"Adam plays the piano, and likes video games where you can build stuff," Franklyn supplies. "Should we say our names? I am Franklyn. I am Adam's full brother. I like animals and nature and hugs."

"...Adam, did I say something wrong?"

"No..." he says, making an effort to keep his eyes on Tintin.

But he briefly glances towards Aaron? Morgan?

"Adam has no sense of adventure."

"Oh. I will adventure with the others, then - it's not all I want to do, I like to read and bake and things like that too. I think we'll still get along."

Adam blushes over the general situation. Now openly looking at the direction he was looking. "It's okay, you can have adventures, and stuff."

"I did not think you would be able to stop me! But I will not make you adventure with me. Ah, who is next?"

"Me, why not? Aaron, as you know. The eldest, which is very important despite what my twin Ezra says. And I like adventure too. We are fifteen."

"That is the exact thing he said last year, in the Brazilian Jujitsu class. He even rounded the age to fifteen too. As I said, you can call me Ezra. I am a fan of reading about real world history and playing the sims and similar games where you can do match-making. Also, the true gay in the family."

"Ah, c'est trop génial - I'm gay, too, I don't think I'd said it yet."

"Oh, I have been out-queered."

"Anyway, me next? Grayward, Temple Grayward. My biological mom never married our father, and yes you could have asked about it, because it's pretty obvious. I love magic, but I also like adventure, and reading, and playing games and stuff. But magic is the best."

"Temple likes the first five minutes of anything. I am Morgan. Franklyn and Adam's full brother. Sovie is my mom, but we all call her mom anyway."

"It is good to know," Tintin says, nodding. "It seemed rude to ask. I think that I will like magic too. Morgan, you did not say anything about yourself? What do you like?"

"It shouldn't be a hard question, dude."

"I am not a tree hugger, but I like nature and plants," Morgan glares at Aaron. "I guess I like adventure too."

"...I see."

Tintin is going to have to bake many cookies.

"Served?" Stephen says to Tintin and waving at the food on the table. "You boys too." He tells the rest of the kids.

Tintin will help himself to some sweets. He is mildly fascinated by jello.

The jello has a sweet and smooth taste, hard to recognize the actual flavor. It's orange, but nothing like orange.

Aaron takes the seat next to him. "Hey, so the detective told dad you had a gift already." He takes a cookie.

Temple - who was eating an cookie-jello sandwich - speaks with his mouth full. "What does," swallow, "it does?"

"Ah! Yes, it is a breath gift - I can make myself stronger for a little while, much stronger than I should be. You may have noticed that I am small."

"Cool."

"Huh, do you want to arm-wrestling?

"Not while are you eating. And Tintin needs to be warded first."

"When will I be warded?"

"Well, you can get your first intro on ritual safety while we set up the warding rituals. After you finish your snacks. Since it's a special occasion the family can go for a flight."

Tintin sets about his snacks with vigor.

Even Adam like this idea and eats with more enthusiasm.

Stephen tries to promote small talk. Any of the boys' plans for the near future? Ideally, things that they can include Tintin in?

"That depends if Tintin is okay with being asked constantly about being actually your kid."

"...I - think that if I were his child we all would have known about it earlier?"

"The problem here is that you think. It's far more than what we can say about those people."

Temple shoots Morgan a glare.

"No reason to exclude anyone out of things. People are gonna gossip anyway."

"I am just warning him."

"Oh, gossip. I do not care very much what people say about me."

"A healthy attitude to have."

"And I am sure we can include Tintin in things, or he will get to it once he starts school."

"Yes! I will try not to slow anyone down."

"Don't worry too much about it."

Anyway, eventually the snacks are eaten.

It's magic time!!

Magic time!!!

Tintin is extremely inquisitive about the warding process, and has many guesses about what is going on at any given moment.

Temple can explain the basic principles behind wards and rituals.

Rituals belong to schools which are kinda like magical languages, composed of not only speech but also actions. To use a ritual from a school you need to have a certain understanding of that school's components. Not all of it, but some of it. So each component of a ritual does a thing, like a word in a phrase, this circle in the floor is to tell the magic where to target. These symbols around it are about what things the magic is going to affect. The chant that dad is going to perform is how things are going to be affected and how strongly.

Warding people is relatively simple, as magic goes, sorcery has very well-defined units of "living beings" and "healthy" which the ritual can lean on to simplify things. So you tell the magic to do things like not letting collision, heat, cold or other things to not get too strong around this person, fuel with appropriate levels of breath, stamina and health, then you get a warded person.

And a lot of carefulness, because if you accidentally tell magic the wrong thing, it can hurt you.

In the rare moment he can get a word edgewise, Stephen will confirm Temple's words and point out which of Tintin's guesses are correct or not. He also nudges Temple to give the safety lecture.

Yeah, right. The safety lecture is not complicated, but everyone enforces its importance. Magical rituals are not-malicious, but are literal minded, it will do what it tells you to do, not what it wants it to do. You can be partially wrong about what a ritual does, and it won't care. And since the thing is literally using your life as a power source, even a ritual that produces a harmless magical effect, may drain you too much and hurt you.

The main safety principles are diligence and awareness. You can't improvise in the fly. Don't interrupt a ritual. Don't start a ritual that might be interrupted. Some pre-made rituals have guidelines to what to do when they are interrupted, but very often that guideline is run.

That's about right. Now, how about if everyone may sit still to receive the flight ritual?

Tintin can sit moderately still. Completely still is a different proposition.

Luckily, the parts that require stillness can be done in increments.

And  then there is some chanting, a weird feeling over Tintin's skin that dissipates...

"Now, try to think happy thoughts," Temple says floating.

Tintin gets a sense of something, almost something solid, that is centered on his chest, and that it can be "moved" like so to direct him to a place. And can be "held" like so to keep him in place.

Tintin immediately attempts to float into the air.

Floating he does, maybe with a little trouble at stopping, but Aaron catches him before he collides with anything and anyone.

"Yes!!! I am flying!"

He zips around the room, testing his airspeed and maneuverability.

"Yes you are!"

He can get at a decent speed once he builds up momentum in a single direction, but it slows down considerably when he makes turns and stops. But he can turn on a dime and it's easily faster than his running speed without none of the tiredness.

The rest of the boys and Stephen - Sovie decided not to join in - are zipping about. Stephen opens a window. "Outside, before anyone breaks something," he says without heat.

Tintin zips out the window!

He is soon followed. Aaron wants to show off some aerial maneuvers for Tintin to imitate.

Tintin is eager to learn aerial maneuvers! He swoops and soars through the air, clearly enjoying the process immensely.

Flight is pretty great! Aaron shows how to move around the tree bunches with reduced danger of a broken arm.

With no danger of a broken arm.

Yeah, that. The point being that they can play tag or race near the canopy.

"Oh, can we not fix a broken arm?"

But he will absolutely do all of those things, without risking his bones.

"We can, but that spends health, which you could instead spend in things like flying."

"Ah, of course." Swoop, swoop. Tintin tags Adam.

Ah, okay. How about if Adam tries to tag Tintin back? He chases.

Tintin is fast and clever and perhaps less worried about breaking his arms than he should be. He darts around out of Adam's reach, slipping between branches and generally taking advantage of his smallness.

Adam is technically more worried about breaking limbs, but also more informed in how his wards work. He tries his best to intercept Tintin by flanking him through the branches.

Tintin is fast and clever, but not actually very strategic. He is thus tagged back.

"You are good at this, Adam!"

"Heeee!" He flies away, but still to a reach distance.

"Hey, Tintin. Tag me. I promise I won't dodge away." Temple raises his hand almost within reach. His other hand is conspicuously behind his back.

"There are more suspicious ways you could have said that but not many."

Tintin will tag him anyway, though.

Temple does not move a muscle. Or fly away.

"I will save you Temple!" Franklyn says, pushing Temple (and himself out of the way).

"They try that every time!" Adam shouts from a distance.

"It is very cute!"

They can pass a very enjoyable afternoon this way. Eventually it's time to turn in, though.

Tintin adjusts admirably to family life. He's enthusiastic about... well, just about everything, but especially magic.

The family is definitely charmed. It's easy when an adorable child is delightful as Tintin is. They teach him magic, how to fight, English, and a couple of other languages. And many other things. Adam opens up as soon as he gets used to having Tintin around.

Oh good. Tintin seems to like Adam the best out of all his new brothers, being the closest in age. It's a close thing, though; he gets along with each of them on a different level.

Tintin takes remarkably well to fighting! He's ever been in a fight before, and he has good instincts, which is important. It's interesting working around his breath-gift, which seems to be used on a mostly instinctual level.

Aaron does appreciate that, he is the one new brother to actually enjoy sparring for its own sake (Temple being the second closest, and more easily distracted by magic). He is also highly competitive, which means he will take any opportunity to help Tintin put those instincts to a test. But he also gives valid criticism and tips for Tintin to improve on form.

It turns out that Tintin is also very competitive. And does not particularly have the concept that he should go easy on himself because he's half Aaron's size. He will accept critique and tips,  though.

They rarely get really hurt, but any fight with someone half your size getting hurt does not feel as accomplished.

Clearly, the answer to this is to make sure Tintin gets better so being small is not an excuse for losing.

Time passes like this, with people settling in on the routine with the added family member.

The unseen countdown for the next monster comes ever closer.

One day Stephen announces to Tintin that they got permission to take him to get shapeshifted. It's too close of a potential monster manifestation for anyone but Sovie to take him there.

Tintin does not mention that he had hoped to be escorted by a male family member, because this is a boy thing. It would seem impolitic.

It would probably would be, yes. Stephen definitely wanted to go.

Sovie is mildly uncomfortable, but that is a common state from her. They might stay a couple of days away, and might take the opportunity to do some sightseeing.

"That would be fine. ...I know I am not ready to fight monsters yet, you do not have to trick me into staying away."

"It's not a trick. Just awful timing. And we figure you'd want to go through the transformation before it comes up in school." In a smaller voice. "I think if it was a trick Stephen would've booked for us to stay longer, a week at least."

"I understand. It is just - I want to help. I know I cannot, but I want to help."

Sovie smiles at him with a sad kind of fondness. She pats his hand. "It doesn't help now, but you are learning, and it will help later."

"It is nice of you to say."

Eventually, they arrive at their destination: a relatively large and eclectic settlement with portals to two other locales, one of which appears to be a desert if the odd presence of camel-like beings is any indication. After leaving the train station, they take a cab that takes them to a group of buildings made out of elaborate gray brick designs that practically scream that "this is a place of higher learning" even to people that are not familiar with college architecture from another world.

There is an air austerity, which is promptly broken by a random student passing them by in a unicycle.

They are greeted by a person as tall as Sovie but tan skinned and who introduces themselves by the name "Dant". The High Library representative that is going to oversee everything. They are invited inside and Dant wants to talk to Tintin what he wants out of the situation.

"...I want to be a boy. Properly, I mean. I - um - this is embarrassing with you here, Auntie, could you -"

"Of course, I will wait outside." Sovie leaves.

Once she is out Dant explains. "We talk with the guardians both in and outside the room. So that they think their opinion matters, while also listening what the child may say while they are away. Could you elaborate what properly being a boy means to you?"

"...it - I want to have the - important part. But I do not want to lose the parts I have. And I do not want to start - growing breasts, or anything like that, and I want to go through the right puberty, I just - it is difficult to explain, I want to have both the parts? And to be a man everywhere else. Is that an option? I will take being a man fully if I have to, but I would rather not lose the parts I have if you can manage."

Dant is unfazed by this, but is clearly paying attention. "That is an option, yes. We might need to re-do the ritual in a couple of years to make sure it isn't deviating, but that was already to be expected. Are those all of your preferences? Do you want to keep all functionality in both sets?"

"Yes, please. Um, and I would not like to grow too much hair, if that is something that can be adjusted. I know that Earth's way to do this makes you very hairy, and I do not want that if I can avoid it."

Dant smiles encouragingly and writes all that down. "Hair is easy, we will give you a maintenance pack which includes a ritual for controlling hair growth. If your goal is to remain able to get pregnant, that is doable, but it might be easier keeping all relevant organs inactive, but still there, then 'waking them up' later. But that is not the only way."

"If it easier to wake them up later, then that is fine. And maybe safer than leaving them on."

"Then that is doable. Let me outline the steps to you and their effects. You can tell what you think of each one and whatever else you'd prefer. And let me know if you want your mother back."

Dant shows the various steps, the process is a series of rituals one after another, taking over the course of six hours, with the full change taking half a day to set in. The maintenance package will make sure everything is develops and stays as expected. Specially as Tintin grows up. Everything is reversible, in part because our laws demand for it to be so.

Tintin is excited about this. He has some requests but not many, it's a very well-polished process.

Great! Then they can go through it during the course of the day.

The ritual performance takes place in a clean and lit space that looks quite a lot like a surgery room. Despite the ritual itself be remarkably not like a surgery. The casters spend most of their time a couple of feet away from Tintin.

And by the end of it, Tintin can feel his flesh shifting! Or, well, he can tell that his flesh is shifting - it's mostly not directly perceptible, nerve endings not being designed to detect this kind of thing, but he has magic senses and they're telling him that he is becoming more Correct.

He thanks the casters profusely, both for their help and for putting up with his constant questions.

In that case everyone is happy and Sovie may give Tintin a careful hug (he is advised to not move around a lot just yet). And they can eat Tintin's favorite dessert to celebrate.

Gender and cake! This is easily the best day ever. (Tintin did not know that anyone outside of the Francosphere could make good mille-feuille!)

(Happy Tintin is adorable.)

Once Tintin is up for walking again, they can go do out and do some tourism. They can see an "acrobat show" where the performers ricochet around the chamber. Or see the institution's "zoo" of enhanced animals. Sovie is also taking the opportunity to add to her library's collection.

Tintin would love to see the zoo! He likes animals a great deal.

They go to the "zoo" then. Which is the space where the animals worked by the students live in. Which isn't to say that it isn't nice. There is a nice park where they are allowed to roam and are trained. Most are canids of various sorts. But there are a couple of goat-like things over there, apparently being trained to be ridden on by people as tall as Sovie while being careful with obstacles smaller than Tintin.

Sovie already had spoken to the people responsible, and they let Tintin in to play with the trained animals. They flock excitedly near Tintin but are well-trained enough to not actually jump and knock over the small boy.

Tintin is delighted. Particularly by this massive snow-white wolfhound.

"Who is this?" he asks, hands buried in the creature's ruff. "He is very handsome."

Sovie checks the collar, whose names is at the back of the neck instead of by the front. "Snow-1929?"

"Yeah, 'snow' stands for the kind of service. They are made to easily learn new names, owners prefer that and the adaptability is a mark of intelligence," says one of the students very formally.

"But the important thing is that he is a very handsome boy," says another in cooing tones. "Do you want to play with him? Our snows are very good with kids."

"I would like that very much," Tintin says, tolerating the cooing with remarkable grace. "Come, uh... Snowy?"

The hound follows happily.

"Snowy" is a very smart and playful creature. The adults pay attention to them, but appear to be minding the other animals, so they don't get jealous of the extra attention Snowy is getting.

Tintin romps around with the dog as long as they will let him. He's a very energetic creature!

"I don't suppose they'll just let us keep him?" he asks Sovie eventually, sounding a bit sad. 

Aww that was entirely predictable. "I would like to talk to Stephen first. The boys have asked about dogs before, but we have been worried about monsters."

"You... have monsters?" Asks a vet student.

"They are very inconvenient. I think that he could take care of himself, but it makes sense to ask."

"No. I mean, what do you mean you have monsters? You just don't say that to someone that studies magic veterinary."

"My husband's family has a plot of land that creates them time from time. Every couple of months." Sovie explains. 

"Ah, the snow can deal with that kind of situation just fine. It's not meant to fight, but some are trained to go in warzones and the like."

"You are a talented puppy," Tintin says seriously to the hound. 

Aww.

"They won't attack something unfamiliar? We are talking about no two monsters being alike."

"Sounds easy enough to train."

"Actually, that sounds like a sufficient weird edge case that the Professor might want to sell you one just for the data point." Says the other student. "And then you get your boy an early birthday present."

"Oh!!! Can we!"

Sovie fidgets. It's hard to say no, and Tintin is such a good child. "Sure, I will talk about the arrangements." She feels she should say that it counts as a birthday and Christmas' gift but that is usually something Stephen is better at.

Tintin hugs Sovie around the leg. "You are the best auntie EVER," he asserts.

There is a lot of leg to hug and Sovie has to lean down to pat his head. "Do you want to keep playing while I talk to people about things?"

"Yes!"

He runs off to play with Snowy until it is time to go.

The students with them, helps by showing tricks knows.

Soon enough, Sovie returns with a not very convincing smile. "Everything is set to take Snowy. We just need to give you your final check-up before going."

"Something is wrong. The monsters?"

"There was an attack that started a few hours ago. It took a while for the message to get here." Again the attempt-at-reassuring smile. "But we haven't heard any bad news and when we get back it should be over."

"I suppose it will." Tintin pets his dog contemplatively. "Alright, let's go to the check-up."

They do that. Snowy is even allowed inside, despite the place being a medical facility. Sovie pets him and tries to not look like she wants to pick Tintin up and run back to Earth as fast as her legs allow.

The check-up points to everything being fine, and no need for last minute fine-tuning. The three can make their way back.

Tintin wants to go back just as much as Sovie does. He will even consent to be carried if she wants to take advantage of her long legs.

She might do that. Possible for emotional support too. Hug. Tintin is such a good child.

The way back trip takes about as long. Snowy is allowed with them for pretty much all of it, since it's an enhanced animal and know to be well-behaved.

Topher is there when they cross the final portal. "Everyone is alive and being treated from injuries." Is the first thing he says before offering a hug.

"How severe?" Tintin asks solemnly.

"Nothing we can't recover," he prefaces, "Aaron's got hit in the face, his brain is fine, they are figuring out how to fix his sight and nose. Temple got a couple cracked ribs. And everyone else is mostly bruised and already-healed ear damage. The monster was like a bear-porcupine thing but with blunt tips with a power that made deafening impacts."

Sovie is not relaxed, but is not expecting to be tenser. She hates coming back to bad news. "The others? Your dad? ...Morgan?"

"Dad's clones took most direct hits. Morgan is... gaunt, giving health for the others to heal faster. But fine. Adam is helping Franklyn with his animals." Morgan behavior is expected, Adam's is surprising, but welcome. "It was a straighforward fight, just annoying with it being so loud."

"Shall I go help Adam as well? Or what should I do?"

Shrug. Topher looks at Sovie.

"Talk to everyone you want to talk to. Introduce Snowy to everyone."

"Wait... did we get a new dog?"

"Yes!! I must think what to call him, I do not think 'Snowy' is a proper name. Mon demi-loup... Milou? Do you like 'Milou'?

The dog barks excitedly.

"Milou. He is Milou."

Topher pets Milou. "Dad didn't even tell us about it."

"It was a... spur of the moment purchase." Sovie says slightly flinching.

"Ah, I am sure everyone will love Milou here."

"I know they will!"

Tintin runs off towards the house. He will introduce Milou to the first person he sees.

They first come across Adam in the front yard, with an assortment of chickens and ducks. He is holding a trail of food and distributing them around with the care usually reserved to people that are dangling bits of raw meat on top of shark tanks. In his defense the animals are clearly finishing everything off in seconds.

He spots TIntin and Milou coming. "Wolf!" He nearly drops the tray.

"No, no, he is a friend! Do not be afraid - Milou, sit -"

Milou sits dutifully. "You see? He is a friend."

Still, the chicken and duck scatter. The One Goose they have and who fears no god nor man stays where he is, eating peas from the ground.

"Ah, he is pretty." Adam says pretending he just didn't get scared a minute ago. "What is he doing here?"

"Auntie let me adopt him, he is an experiment to make the best and cleverest dog and the scientists wanted information about how he integrates into a family and I have always wanted a dog and so he is ours now! Would you like to pet him - Milou, viens ici -"

"Oh, cool. So it's like... not a wild thing." He cleans his hand on his pants and offers a hand for petting. "I bet Franklyn will be thrilled."

Milou sniffs Adam's hand very thoroughly, and butts his head into it for scritches.

"Don't you think so? He is such a clever boy - aren't you, Milou -"

Tintin pets Milou's back even as he investigates Adam's hand.

Scritch scritch? "Good doggy!" He says more relaxed. Scritch. "Who is a good doggy?"

Milou barks happily.

Tintin helps Adam feed the animals for a while, then heads inside, Milou in tow, to see who else he can find.

Where they can introduce Milou to everyone. Franklyn is delighted and he broadcasts a loud aura of FRIEND!!! that only Milou can perceive, but can be noticed by everyone who has talked to him for more than a minute.

"That is unfair. I lose an eye while fighting a monster, while Tintin gets a dog and a hog?"

Aaron says without any heat, but his voice sounds more than a bit funny, maybe because half of his head including portions of his nose are covered in bandages.

"Wow, that was rude." Morgan says.

Morgan is gaunt with very little fat between skin and bone. Which is a sign of someone who overused their Health.

"I am sorry. You know I would rather have stayed and fought."

"Yeah, we know. Don't worry, we will have loads of fun and excitement ahead of us."

They do indeed. Tintin continues to train, and spar, and learn magic. He becomes proficient with both pistol and sword - he favors a bastard sword, wielding it like a fencing foil with generous application of his breath gift. When monsters attack, Tintin is usually on the front lines, dashing in to make harrying strikes and distract them while his brothers work their magic. He gets knocked around as much as anyone, though less than anyone else would if they acted like he does. He's fast, as well as strong - not because of his gift, he's just naturally quick on his feet.

This time the vault has spat out some kind of fire-bear. He comes in low, rolls out of the way of a bolt of fire, and slashes at the backs of its legs. "Have at thee!" he crows.

The fire-bear loses the function of most of a leg, which doesn't stop him from trying to bash Tintin's head with a glowing-hot paw.

Topher - completely covered in ice-crystals from head to toe - shoots a series of arrows at the raised limb, which doesn't stop it from going down.

What stops the paw from going down is Aaron flying in with a hooked halberd. The arm is pulled away, landing beside Tintin.

"Don't forget to coordinate!" A Stephen clone shouts, while two other clones pelt the fire-bear with rocks.

Both he and Topher are working to avoid the fire from spreading.

"We are!"

Tintin continues in the vein of disabling limbs.

Is that because Tintin wants to get a face full of fire? Because the bear is offering that with a side of biting! And wow, those teeth sure look more like a shark's than a bear.

Tintin bends backwards into a somersault to avoid the fire and the teeth, laughing like a maniac. He lands on his feet and lunges in, slashing the bear's gut.

"Aaron!" he calls.

"Need rescuing?" Aaron says already flying in their direction.

"No! We're on offense, get in here!"

Then, the bear overextends itself trying to maul him, and half on instinct, Tintin steps in past its claws and - with the sound of carving meat - puts his sword through its neck.

"Never mind!" he calls.

Aaron gets the hook around the creature's neck. But it's pretty clear that Tintin already incapacitated it, and now it's just a matter for it to die already.

"Aww, you had all the fun." Aaron says pulling the bear's neck upwards.

Topher only comment to this is pelting the creature with arrows.

Tintin decapitates it with a sweeping blow.

"I had exactly as much fun as was merited," Tintin says primly. "You're just jealous of my amazing battle prowess."

"Those are fighting words! Of course, you got the killing blow. I had to provide air support." He spins in the air clockwise while spinning his hook staff counter-clockwise.

"You both did a good job," says a Stephen clone.

"Yeah, they barely didn't get in the way of my arrows."

"Yes, more seriously, congratulations all 'round. Back to the house? I'm keyed up on adrenaline and I want to channel it into baking."

"Sounds like a good use of excess energy," Stephen ruffles Tintin's hair. "You and Aaron can go ahead and tell the good news to the others. Me and Topher will finish dousing the fires."

"You two and a half be responsible," Aaron tells the two clones of his father and twin. "Tintin, wanna a lift?"

Tintin promptly leaps into Aaron's arms.

Aaron holds him and hums the superman's theme.

It doesn't take long until they land at their door.

Tintin rushes in. "Hey Adam! Let's make a pie!"

"Oh, thank god no one died." Adam says turning around the corner to catch sight of them.

"And from Tintin's enthusiasm we can rule out that anyone else but him got hurt!" Morgan's voice is heard distantly from the ritual casting room.

"Yes! I didn't get hurt either, it's fine!"

"I was unfairly stuck giving aerial support, but it meant I bravely saved Tintin's pretty face from being scarred for a few days."