Eden's POV (1 year later) 

The kids were going wild by playing Tag with Swift Traveling. Each child got grumpy when they nearly caught someone but they traveled.

The older kids, who were around Arine and Marvin's age, were learning to use their items and use their weapons. 

Eden enjoyed seeing them, seeing these kids, who felt like her kids, learning about the ways of Tempus. She loved them for seeing her as comfort, as a safety, as someone she has always tried to be. 

Eden sat down on the ground now, on the long grass and the cool breeze hitting her. Days like these made her think of Arine and Marvin. It gave her painful memories of Arine and Marvin, that they were a part of the Earth and Sky. But it was also a solace to her, that they would always be there, in the world. She liked to imagine that they were here, watching Eden, and seeing how she had established the Tempus Academy. She was one of the mentors, alongside others. 

It was because of them she started it. It was because of them her dreams could come true. It was because of them she could find joy. 

A young girl who was playing Tag Swift Traveled onto Eden's lap unexpectedly. Eden caught her, and the girl laughed in Eden's lap.

"Are you okay dear?" Eden asked.

"Yes I am." she giggled as Eden helped her get up. The girl ran away to play with her peers.

Eden smiled and looked around at the kids. Her eye caught at a boy, around 15 years of age, alone, away from the other children. Curious, Eden rose up and went toward him.

He didn't seem to notice Eden's presence until Eden spoke.

"Is something wrong?" Eden inquired. 

The boy looked up quickly and his eyes widened in surprise. "Oh um, Miss Eden, I-uh-everything is fine. There is nothing you must worry about."

Eden looked at him carefully. "But you are not amongst your peers."

The boy folded his hands tightly, and nodded. 

"Why is that?"

"I feel," he began. "I know it is ridiculous but I feel...I cannot speak with them. That I do not fit in. My item has yet to be found, so I have no powers to train."

Eden sat down on the grass next to him. "It is not ridiculous at all. I understand how you feel sweetheart. Many children find their item late, and that is okay. You will still get proper training. There was a Tempus Praestes, you know the great Arine Thorne?"

The boy nodded.

"Her-her identity as a Tempus was hidden. Therefore her item was yet to be found until she was 17." 

"But she was part of a Greater Family," the boy frowned. "She doesn't need a weapon to be powerful."

Eden winced slightly at his use of was but quickly recovered. "Everyone needs training with their item to have power, even the Greater Families."

"Oh." The boy looked around at the students thoughtfully. 

"What is your name?" Eden asked. 

"Micah. Micah Titus."

"Lovely family." she told him gently. 

"Thank you." Micah whispered. 

"Micah, would you like to search for the item that belongs to you?"

"Yes. Yes please Miss Eden."

Eden and Micah stood up and started walking. Eden remembered the times when Arine and Marvin would search for the Graydown ring. They had went to the kitchen once, and spilled a whole bag of flour. Eden still laughed at the memory of it. 

Micah reminded Eden so much of them. Micah had the same loneliness Marvin once had and the firm determination Arine had. 

She always saw them in the eyes of other children. Of all these children, some almost adults, but still like children to her. She sometimes imagined how Arine and Marvin would take care of them. How they'd laugh at the little ones and patiently teach the older ones.

They were always a shadow to her. Everywhere she went. And she imagined that all these children would one day part from her and be a shadow to her too. 

As she and Micah go over the hill to start their exploration, she imagines Arine and Marvin will lead them to their destination.