Aster thought he was going to die from embarrassment as the humanoid panther practically announced that claim as fact to the whole residence in the loudest voice imaginable. He hurriedly scolded the cat in a forced whisper.
"Corty! Shut up! No, I don't have a mate... I...We... We kissed is all. It was nice... Really nice, actually." Aster let out a breathe of relief, Cortist was the first person he had talked to about that night and these feelings. That felt right to the boy somehow. The cat was eyeing his brother from the side with squinted eyes, the shit eating grin upon his muzzle grew by the second as he began to snicker soon after.
"It's the Aschefell she-wolf, isn't it? The hottie? The one you were shielding back there?"
Aster could only stare at the ground and cover his face as the blood rushed to it, forcing out the reddest blush the mage had ever seen on his little brother. The cat laughed loudly again at the confirmation.
"HAHAHA, SERIOUSLY?!? YOU'VE BEEN OUT IN THE WORLD FOR JUST FIVE WEEKS, AND YOU SCORED WITH A HOT, NOBLE SHE-WOLF ALREADY? ASTER! I'M SO PROUD OF YOU!!!"
Aster was going to die. It was that simple, everyone in the mansion had heard his brother's excited yelling just now, and his heart was going to explode from embarrassment. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and found his brother was finally satisfied with the torture. He spoke in a much quieter tone now, albeit one still laced with the teasing.
"I swear, it's always a canine that sweeps someone off their feet... Is it the 'vajayjay'? That do it for you? I can respect that."
Aster just glared at his brother now, Cortist smiled regardless.
"I, I don't even know what you're talking about Corty... I really don't know what I'm doing. I didn't care about this stuff. Until I did, so now I'm just trying to figure out what to do next. I mean... I know what sex is... But I don't really know what sex is. Or how to, I guess... I just get nervous when I think about it too much... I think I want to try with Stahl though... Eventually... If, if she wants to... I just don't want to mess it up is all."
Aster was actually having quite the self analyzing breakthrough now that he was saying it out loud. Cortist smirked again, letting out an affirmative "Hmmpf."
"I've been waiting several years to have this talk with my little brother, so bet your ass that big brother Cortist is here to help you secure that she-wolf's heart, and her vajayjay!" The cat smiled down naughtily at his little brother. Aster just gulped, still wondering what exactly a vajayjay was. Cortist had his work cut out for him.
The brother's talk in private went undisturbed for most of the afternoon. Eventually, dinner time came, and Cortist joined Aster and the Aschefell estate for a delicious meal with good conversation. When morning came, Aster found his brother waiting for him at breakfast with Stahl.
After they finished, the she-wolf and panther blindfolded the human, leading him to ask plenty questions that they ignored. They guided him quite a ways, but soon Aster could feel the warm morning sun upon him. Aster was stopped and the blindfold was yanked away a short moment later, revealing the surprise at last.
Aster was staring at a set of armor gleaming in the sun beside Stahl's brother Amboss. There was a simple breast plate that was mostly black, with amber tinted trim outlining the torso. There were two pauldrons attached that covered just the tops of his shoulders, and two bracers that ran from his wrist to his elbows with the same coloration and design. There were greaves on each leg that began at his knees and stopped right at his ankle to guard his shins, they secured easily over his boots and pants.
Aster noticed all of the armor had a light layer of leather beneath the metal, giving him a comfortable feeling of security when he wore it. He could freely move in all of it, and it didn't even feel that heavy, snag, or rub anywhere. It really was custom measured to fit him with astonishing accuracy. Aster was handed his finished new staff next.
The black of his armor matched the cool steel handle. There seemed to be a fine powdery metal dust lacquered around the center area, giving it sand paper like grip when needed, or allowing the staff to slide through his palm when it wasn't. The two blades affixed on the ends were thin and slender, but seemed perfect for piercing through thick skin.
The weapon was a bit longer than his previous one, but was proven as well-balanced when Aster twirled his staff, and even rolled it across his shoulder once with perfect movement, getting a feel for his new weapon and his attire. This was undoubtedly the best gift he had ever received, and it all made his heart want to burst from joy. Cortist was the first to speak pointing towards Amboss as he started.
"I've been up all night with Wolfie here enchanting and enhancing everything you now have on. He did incredible work forging this for you, as I'm sure you can see for yourself. Stahl here gave her input based on what she believed would actually help you, and she has also been steadily updating any changes needed for the design to her brother for the last month of your training together.
"The result you are wearing now took a LOT of work from a lot of people that care about you, brother, so wear it proudly. However, you shouldn't rely too heavily on the warding magic, but it can help dampen some blows enough to allow you to possibly scrape by what could be otherwise fatal. The Greaves will help keep you balanced, support your legs when shielding, and even boost your speed and movement a slight amount.
"The bracers pretty well do the same, but for your arms. All of it also has weight reducing magic imbued, so you should still be able to use your agility to move out of the way whenever possible. Overall, we went for the basics to both keep from hindering you too much, and to keep you from hurting yourself with too much power increase, all while giving you some basic protection out there...
"I Hope you don't mind that I took the liberty of choosing your colors. I went with the black as a base, but that golden shield of yours is a big part of you as an individual too, so I felt that amber color should be present as well. That's why the trim is the same color as the gem on it."
Aster could only study his gift as his brother explained the details and effort behind it, making sure he clung on to every word the mage had spoken. This was important to the human, and he was grateful beyond words. Cortist pulled something from his robe pocket then, and cleared his throat before speaking again.
"I know how much you liked father's red cape as a cub, but with that staff as your weapon, there's no way it wouldn't hinder you if we tried adding one... And well, I guess Father knew that too... He sent this for you, brother. Aster slowly accepted the package from his brother's outstretched hand, and found there was something soft wrapped inside of a piece of brown cloth, tied-up tightly with simple twine.
Aster broke the twine, and beneath the brown fabric was a scarlet red strip the same color as his father's cape, the trim on his brother Cortist's robe, and even his oldest 'brother,' Talan's scarf that had once belonged to his late mother. This was a personal symbol and message from his father to all who saw it, that Aster was indeed to be revered as a son of the Venatus family.
Cortist took the strip of fabric from his younger brother's trembling hands, and tied the scarlet band securely over his forehead with a proud smile. Stahl had to agree with the fatherly panther's choice. The scarlet headband looked good on Aster.
When the first teardrop fell, Aster just started rambling in a shaky tone. There were just too many emotions trying to get out at once to give any real voice to.
"I'm so damn tired of crying, I've cried more tears in the last five weeks than in my entire life... But dammit guys... How am I supposed to hold them in when happiness like this exists? I really don't deserve a single one of you... I just... I can't even begin to..." The little human soon felt his brother snatch him up in a tight embrace.
That was more than enough said for all of them. Aster felt Stahl place a hand on his arm, giving him an encouraging squeeze. Amboss just beamed on brightly as he smiled at the crying boy. Aster found himself reminiscing on that day often when he found himself longing for some comfort.
A short time later, a handful of beasts departed the Aschefell estate along with the human, making their way towards the capitol once more, where they were to finally join in the ranks of legends.
***