Months passed.
Evans had recovered enough to have the physique of someone healthy, however, he still could not use his energy and did not wish to seclude himself to reach the third mana circle unless the duke returned.
Sunset. chiaroscuro sky. Garden dome.
"There are only 6 months left until I go to the academy, I think I should prepare Aria to form her first mana circle"
Aria was reading an illustrated book of basic magic that Evans had created exclusively for her.
"What will I do with you? I have been finding out, and the residences that are near the academy are expensive, if I rent one I will have to live a commoner's life in the academy.
Evans hugged Aria and she smiled.
"I will be a nobleman only in title"
At the end of the day Aria left with Lizet and Evans stayed with Ana in the dome. Lately, Evans spent a few hours contemplating the night sky, and then went in to dinner.
Five months passed in the blink of an eye. Evans had just reached 15 years of age, his shiny black hair with a cut that was neither long nor short, his handsome facial features, his height of 1.74 meters, made him a strikingly handsome young man if it were not for the arm he had lost.
He had just finished training, at which point Representative Khan approached.
-Young Lord; a gift from the princess. -Khan indicated, handing Evan a Limgic wooden box.
-I appreciate it, Mr. Khan. I will soon write a letter to Princess Amelia. -Evans answered.
After delivering the box, Mr. Khan left. Evans leaned against the tree he used to lean on, opened the box and inside on a magic cloth were two Superior level elixirs, one was a mana elixir and the other was a physical strengthening elixir, Evans couldn't help but be surprised.
On the continent, elixirs were classified into four levels according to their quality and effectiveness. Those levels were:
Low level: effectiveness, 5 to 10%; quality, 1 to 2, out of 10.
Medium level: effectiveness, 10 to 25%; quality, 3 to 5, out of 10.
High level: effectiveness, 25 to 40%; quality, 6 to 8, out of 10.
Superior Level: efficiency, greater than 40%. Quality 9 to 10, out of 10.
That was one of the reasons why Superior level elixirs were considered miraculous, and their costs were high.
"Princess, I will always be grateful; I do not forget the offenses, much less the favors"
Evans kept the elixirs in his ring and sat down to meditate, while doing so he created three imaginary warriors in the fourth rank and faced them.
The three imaginary warriors attacked; Evans, who now controlled the flow of his mana better, dodged at the right moment, while retreating and trying to hinder the warriors' movements and then attack at the ideal moment.
The warriors brandished their weapons, they were about to deliver their blows.
Two swift magical thrusts with compressed and potentiated magical energy that exploded at the right moment, two warriors fell, but the third warrior's sword descended with precision, but Evans did not retreat, he launched himself into the attack as well.
Two swords imbued with mana reached their target, but although Evans' slash was deadly; The warrior's attack was definitive, as he cut Evans' body in two.
Evan opened his eyes, looked at the sky and with his left hand protected himself from the sunlight.
"I could defeat those warriors easily with my energy; this is like taking several steps back, but I already know the way; when I can use my energy again; I will become stronger"
Several weeks later, Evans left the mansion. As he did not trust anyone to protect Aria, he had to take her with him, since Stan, despite being trustworthy, did not have the same rank as the Duchess's men.
In the blacksmith shop.
Bernand, who seemed cautious, placed a high-quality rectangular wooden box on the counter. Evan opened the box and was surprised, the result was better than expected, the prosthesis created was similar to a human arm with the same skin color as Evans. Evans evaluated the texture of the skin and said:
-Artificial leather of plant origin.
-Exactly, although I made the arm myself, I contacted a friend who had some success in the textile magic industry and I proposed the challenge to her. -Bernard explained excitedly when talking about his work, but stopped when he remembered that he was in front of the duke's son.
-He is a very talented person. How much did it cost? -Evans asked, because he knew that this job carried a higher price.
Bernard looked away and responded with some fear:
-10,000 gold coins. That includes everything.
Evans adjusted the artificial arm to his shoulder and with the magical threads that extended and branched inside the arm, he was able to hold it together and a few seconds later he began to move the arm naturally.
Having tested the usefulness of the arm, Evans handed Bernand a bag containing 12,000 gold coins, removed a white glove from his ring, and placed it on his right hand.
"It's not bad, I was thinking of using it for combat, but now it has a good aesthetic, I won't use it unless necessary"
Evans looked at Bernand, handed him an envelope and indicated:
-It's secret; no one but you must know. It is a request and an order. Take all the time you need.
In a dark and spacious temple, only a few candles dimly illuminated the surroundings, it was a sumptuous place, but as it was night, and as only the candles were lit, the surroundings had an enigmatic air.
A man dressed in a white robe, with golden borders, wearing a golden crown with precious gems was praying with his face between his arms, on his knees, directing his prayers and petitions to the symbol of a sun at the top of the temple. At the back of the praying man appeared another man dressed in a black robe with red borders, wearing a necklace with the symbol of the sun.
-Holy Patriarch; we have selected the saint. She passed the 6 penances, she will not hesitate.
The face of the Holy Patriarch that had remained hidden between his arms, let see a sudden smile, then, without moving from the place where he was he said:
-I hope that the 9 holy lords are satisfied; get rid of the sinners who did not pass the test. And send the Saint to the Academy, we need to know the rumors that are spreading in the empire. Since the darkness wants to return, five years ago we sensed its appearance in the Razven empire, and we could not find its traces.
-As you wish, Holy Patriarch.