Wariness of that faint smile is probably the correct reaction, especially from either Septimus' father or son. From Sep, it's less foreboding. However, at his comment his Septimus throws his head back and laughs, bright and genuine and yet a richer sound than ever.

"Aye. We've myths that we came from another place once, a single Legion and her followers, and slowly grew to the Realm that's stood a thousand years. One of my maestros used to insist they were called Romans. Until this place I never believed him. I wish I could apologize. We even still have a text by a Gaius Julius, De Bello Gallico," he adds merrily.

With a huff, he chews a lip. "Metalcrafters, in battle, often spark in color, but usually to that of their family, or the one strongest in them. Perhaps it's also a testament to their character. But our power also feeds the structure, and while some Citizens have up to three and mostly strong, only the greatest families have all six types of furycraft, and when they do, it's to varying levels but generally of great power. Different philosophy than your Lanterns, though some odd similarities."