Elias Leywin POV
"...and then, just as the Stonehide boar charged me, I leapt over its head, twisted mid-air, and threw my sword right between its tusks!"
Arthur's voice rose with excitement, gesturing with both hands as he mimed the move. His plate sat half-finished in front of him, steam curling from the roasted vegetables and spiced meat that had gone cold in favour of storytelling.
Across the long dining table, all eyes were on him. Even Ellie had stopped poking her peas to listen, her chin propped up in her hands as if her big brother were the hero of a bedtime story. Which, to be fair, he kind of was.
"Did you really jump over it?" Lilia leaned forward, one eyebrow raised. "Aren't they like twice your size?"
Arthur grinned, leaning back in his seat with an ease that came from a confidence only he had, he admits silently as he brushes back a lock of hair. "But yes. Over. And down."
Uncle Vincent chuckled, lifting his wineglass. "Sounds like you've been living the tales most adventurers exaggerate after a drink or three."
"Which means he's not exaggerating," Jasmine added from beside Arthur, her arms folded but her lips twitching into the faintest smile. "He's just being modest."
I poked my potatoes with my fork and tried not to look too obvious as I studied my brother. Even now, after six months away, after everything he'd learned and become, Arthur still looked like... Arthur. Even if A bit taller, his hair longer.
"You going to finish those?" he asked, catching me mid-stare and nodding at my plate.
I blinked. "Huh? Oh. I, uh, yeah. Maybe."
He smirked, and I quickly shoved a forkful of potatoes into my mouth, mostly to hide my face.
He then leaned forward, resting an elbow on the table, and asked, "So, Lias, how's training with Director Goodsky been going?"
Just like that, all eyes shifted.
The air felt heavier. Or maybe that was just my own breath catching in my throat.
I swallowed quickly, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand before Mom could scold me for forgetting the napkin. "It's... good. Hard. But good."
"Oh, come on," Arthur said with a crooked grin. "You can't let me do all the bragging. Tell them what you've been working on."
Before I get the chance to speak up again, my darling sister interjects.
"He passed out last week after he got home," Ellie chirped from beside Mom, utterly betraying me with the innocent smile of a six-year-old. "His nose went boop on the floor like"
"Ellie!" I hissed, mortified.
My father nearly choked on his drink, coughing into a napkin, whilst Uncle Vincent just laughed at me.
"Wait," Lilia leaned in, wide-eyed. "You fainted? From training?"
"I didn't faint," I muttered. "I just... lost consciousness. Briefly."
"Lias," Mama said with that stern voice only a mother has, the one that wrapped you in a blanket and a scolding all at once. "Why didn't you tell me about this?"
I winced. "It wasn't that serious. I just... pushed too hard. Director Goodsky told me to stop for the day, and I rested, like she said."
Mom didn't look convinced.
"Did she at least supervise the whole time?" Dad asked, his brow furrowing as he leaned forward slightly in his seat.
"I mean... yeah. She was right there." I paused, then added quietly, "Most of the time..."
Arthur's eyes narrowed slightly, not with anger, just... a sort of careful interest. "What caused it?"
"I was doing repeat casting, you know, to help my core progress, and to get me used to casting with a wand."
"And what were you doing when it happened?"
"Nothing", I say, winking at him.
I can't exactly tell them, brother, you told me to keep it secret.
Seeming to understand what I was alluding to, he lets out a slight sigh, "I see, just be careful... you're only Six"
"Six and a quarter," Ellie corrected again, half-asleep beside our Mother.
Uncle Vincent laughed, lifting his glass. "Well, I don't know much about mana training, but that sounds impressive to me."
"It is," Arthur said seriously, his tone steady now.
"It's getting easier," I said quickly before adding as I continued my brag. "I can feel the mana around me more clearly now."
After dinner, the warmth of roasted meats and quiet conversation followed us into the sitting room. Ellie climbed into Mama's lap, humming to herself as she clutched a stuffed fox. Uncle Vincent poured himself and my father another drink to celebrate the temporary return of his eldest, and Lilia all but collapsed dramatically onto one of the couches next to her mother.
Arthur and I settled near the hearth, cross-legged on the rug. The fire crackled gently, painting golden light across the floorboards.
"Hey," Arthur said, nudging my elbow. "You want to show me what you've been working on?"
My breath caught.
"I-uh... here?"
"It doesn't have to be anything fancy," he said. "Just something you're comfortable with. I'm curious."
Part of me wanted to say no. But before I could, I was already heading towards my room to get my wand.
The smooth wooden grip settled into my palm like it belonged there. As I returned to the living room, everyone was still nestled in conversation, warm and drowsy from food and firelight.
Arthur looked up the moment I stepped in, and Jasmine, though quiet as always, turned her head slightly, watching, listening.
I hesitated near the edge of the rug, fingers tightening around the wand. "Um... do you think we could go outside?" I asked, looking at Arthur. "It's just I don't want to accidentally knock over a vase or set Ellie's fox on fire."
Ellie gasped, which turned into a glare. "You wouldn't!"
"I wouldn't," I reassured in an almost sarcastic tone as I smirked at my twin.
Arthur raised a brow, clearly amused, then stood and stretched. "Outside it is."
"I'll join you then," Jasmine said softly, already moving toward the door.
The air beyond the manor was cool and tinged with the earthy scent of damp grass. The sun had dipped below the horizon, and the last traces of twilight were giving way to a soft, blue-tinged darkness. Lanterns along the outer walls of the estate glowed faintly with pale magic-light, just bright enough to guide our steps as we crossed the patio and stepped into the lawn beyond.
Crickets chirped. A breeze rolled past, ruffling my hair and tugging gently at the hem of my shirt. I stopped in the middle of the yard, feeling the grass beneath my feet and the quiet, open space around me.
Arthur folded his arms and stood a little ways off to the side, near the shadowed garden path. Jasmine leaned against the stone railing that overlooked the slope behind the estate, half her face caught in the lantern's glow, half hidden by shadow.
I took one last steadying breath, then stepped forward and raised my wand just before my face.
I grip it with both hands, taking a heavy inhale as I begin to gather my mana into the Gem at its tip.
Breathe in.
I feel the pull.
Breathe out.
A faint hum began to build in the wand's core, resonating softly with the mana I channelled into it.
"So what exactly are you doing, Lias?" my brother questions with an air of impatience in his tone.
"Well, I haven't exactly done this before", I say with a slight groan, "but since I'm a conjurer..."
I close my eyes and focus on the flow of mana from my core down, through my veins and into the wand.
The gem pulsed once, then flared.
Light poured out in a slow stream, curling down from the wand like molten glass. I guided it with both hands, letting it stretch and flatten, not rushing it, not tightening too soon, not allowing my construct to collapse upon itself. It vibrated as I poured more mana in, forming a translucent arc just beyond the gem.
A straight blade, nearly half a meter long, its edges flickering with raw tension.
I open my eyes as the blue glow illuminates my face. My arms ached, but I held them steady.
Arthur stepped forward a few paces, his usual confidence quieted, eyes fixed on the shape glowing in the air. Jasmine didn't move at all, but her gaze sharpened like she was measuring every fluctuation in the light.
The blade trembled but held.
It wasn't flawless. The tip pulsed unevenly. The core wavered slightly. But it didn't collapse.
It floated there, humming in tune with my heartbeat, tethered to my intent.
Then the weight hit me sharply. Not in my arms, but in my chest. Like gravity had found its grip again. The blade's glow began to fracture, the lines of mana pulling in opposite directions.
I released the flow before it shattered.
The construct unravelled into threads of harmless light that dissolved into the evening air. The wand dimmed, the gem returning to a dull gleam.
I staggered back a step, catching myself.
Art closes the distance in less than a moment, holding me from behind "That was impressive, Elias, but it was... well, wasteful" he lets me go.
I slide my wand into my pocket "I know I just thought..."
"That doesn't mean that it wasn't or rather couldn't be useful", he says in a slight panic.
"I know, thank you, Arthur", I say, looking at him with a grin, amused at his reactions.
~~~
I climbed down from the carriage with the help of my brother as we began to walk through a set of hedges.
"What exactly are we doing here again?" I ask my brother, confused as to what we are doing.
"We're going to see your Girlfriend and her Father"
"She isn't my Girlfriend", I protest, looking up at my brother as he straightens the collar of his shirt.
"Who isn't?" he asks, glancing down towards me.
"Princess Kat-" I say, realising I fell for his bait.
A smile creases on his face as a familiar butler appears ahead of us.
The man moves his right hand to his right shoulder, "Welcome, Young Master Arthur and Elias Leywin, His Royal Majesty and his Daughter await your presence ahead if you would be so kind to follow."
He turns his heel as we step foot into the Glamorous manor.
The butler led us through a grand foyer, the sound of our footsteps swallowed by the sheer scale of the space. Arthur walked beside me, his face calm, eyes scanning the hallways like he was already mapping escape routes.
When we reached a fork in the hallway, the butler turned to us.
"His Majesty requests your presence in the sun chamber, Young Master Arthur." He turns to me, "Young Master Elias, if you'll follow me, I'll escort you to the Library. Lady Kathyln awaits your presence."
Arthur gave me a quick pat on the shoulder and a reassuring smile. "Don't flirt too much."
"I'm no-!" But he was already walking away, following another servant down a side corridor.
The butler motioned me forward. We walked in silence for a few moments until he pushed open a tall, mahogany door, revealing a sunlit library filled with rows of neatly arranged books. The scent of old parchment and polished wood filled my nose as I stepped inside, wide-eyed at the sheer scale.
Two figures sat near one of the tall windows. The first I recognised instantly was Kathyln, dressed in a pale blue dress embroidered with silver leaves, her Black hair falling straight to her back, adorned with a silver crescent midway down. She had that same quiet, collected expression as always, though her eyes brightened slightly when they met mine.
The other woman, however, I didn't recognise.
She was older, maybe in her early twenties, with sharp, intelligent eyes the colour of frozen steel. Her snow-white hair was tied into a loose ponytail that fell over one shoulder, and she wore an elegant, long-sleeved white robe with high collars and subtle runic embroidery. Despite her calm appearance, something about her presence felt... still. Like standing before a perfectly still lake on a windless day.
"Elias?" My friend questions confused by my presence standing up from her seat.
The woman whom the Princess had been communing with quickly stands up and stands before Kathlyn, holding one arm straight as if she's protecting her from me "Princess, this boy... he's a mage"
"I know Varay", she says, pushing her guardian's hand down, "He's my friend"
Almost out of reflex, the Snow-haired woman adds in a sense of bewilderment, "You have friends?"
I let out a slight snicker at the comment, earning a glare from the Ice Princess.
I let out a slight scoff as I copied the bow given to me and my brother by the butler upon our arrival, "It's nice to meet you, ma'am. My name is Elias Leywin"
Is that fancy enough...
I quickly add "Student of Director Goodsky"
"Ma'am..." She lingers on my words longer than I would've liked as she nods her head and begins her address, "I am Varay Aurae, Lance of Sapin and Guardian to the Royal Family"
"Lance?" I question aloud
"Pay it no heed, if you're Cynthia's student, then I'm sure we'll talk more in time" With those words, she excuses herself as she slips out of the Grand halls of the Library.
Cynthia?
She can address my master by her name?
Who is she exactly?
If she's allowed alone with Kathyln, then she must be important...
And what the hell is a Lance?
Seeing my confusion, the Princess lets out a slight cough "It's good to see you again, Elias, but what are you doing here?" She gestures for me to sit where Varay just had.
I hesitated for a moment before sitting down across from her, my fingers brushing the polished armrest of the velvet-backed chair. The warmth of the sun filtered through the tall windows, catching dust motes in the air like glittering stars.
"Well..." I shifted a little, glancing toward the door Varay had just vanished through. "Technically, we're here because your father had invited Arthur."
Kathyln blinked slowly. "And you came along because...?"
I scratched the back of my neck. "Because Mother didn't trust Arthur not to do something reckless without someone slightly more sensible nearby."
I say, leaving out the fact that she dragged me out of bed or that I had no idea that this was where his carriage was headed.
Her lips twitched, but she didn't quite smile. "So they sent you?"
"I said slightly more sensible."
A moment passed, the quiet of the library settling around us like a heavy blanket. Then she reached for a teacup on the table between us and took a measured sip. "Still, it's good to see you. You've... grown." Her gaze drifted to my face.
"I can't have changed that much, it has only been a few months", I say bashfully.
"Still, you have." She adds calmly as she takes another sip
"Nonetheless, it's good to see you too, Princess"
Her lips press together slightly.
"I would've expected you to have been in Etistin, what brings you to Xyrus?" I ask, trying to prolong our conversation.
"My brother is returning to Xyrus Academy for the upcoming year, so Mother insisted that we or rather I, come along to see him off", she says with an air of frustration in her voice.
"How long has your Brother been a student for?" I say with a smile
We continued our conversation for several more minutes.
The girl before me begins to fiddle with her hands "Hey, Elias, would you, maybe, if you want to come to my-" she asks nervously before being cut off.
The doors of the Library swing open.
The polished wood creaked softly as the tall doors parted, revealing two figures. Arthur stepped in first, his small frame impossibly confident for a nine-year-old. His expression was composed, serious even, but I could see the faintest flicker of annoyance behind his eyes.
Just behind him followed a tall, broad-shouldered man dressed in dark Crimson robes, that oddly matched his hair, with a gold trim lining his robes.
I stood quickly, following Kathyln's lead as she placed her teacup down and rose, bowing slightly at the waist. I mirrored her with a somewhat less graceful dip of my head.
"Your Majesty," I said, my voice steadier than I expected.
"Elias," the King acknowledged with a warm but measured nod before turning his attention to his daughter. "Kathyln."
"Father," she replied, her voice soft.
Arthur, for his part, gave a lazy wave as he made his way to the chair beside mine. "We done with the tea party yet?"
"Art," I hissed under my breath.
He shrugged and leaned back in the chair, arms crossing over his chest. "What? You've had your catch-up. Thought it was time I crashed the party."
King Glayder chuckled faintly, his hands folding behind his back as he stepped closer. "I see you two are getting along well." His tone turned a shade more formal. "Though I imagine you're both wondering why I had you brought here in the first place."
Kathyln tilted her head slightly, her gaze flicking from me to Arthur. "I admit, it has crossed my mind."
"Same," I added, glancing at my brother. "He", I say accusingly, "didn't tell me anything. I was just dragged along."
"I didn't drag you," Arthur said blandly. "You were already dressed when I got out of bed."
"That's because Mother woke me up before she sent you," I muttered.
The King cleared his throat lightly, and both of us sat straighter.
"The reason," he said, "is because Arthur and I have come to an agreement."
Kathyln's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "An agreement?"
Arthur nodded. "I've agreed to help, Princess Kathyln awaken."
My head turned so fast I nearly sprained something. "You're helping her awaken?"
"He is", the King says in the same mono tone way.
"And what does Arthur gain from this arrangement?" Kathyln asked pointedly, the formality back in her tone.
The King smiled, just slightly. "A few incentives."
"And those would be?" I say, staring at my brother, who's far too calm for the current situation.
"Classified", the king says calmly.
Classified my ass.
I look to my brother, who's smugly smirking to himself, "I didn't sell my soul, Lias." He says whilst sporting a shit-eating grin.
Don't be an ass.
My brother unfolds his arms as his entire tone shifts to be far more serious, "When do you want me to begin?" he asks, looking at the king.
"As soon as possible", he says as he calls over a maid.
With the staff's guidance, my brother and the Princess disappear outside the halls of the Library.
Not wasting any time, the king looks down at me with a far more serious aura than he had shown in the previous conversation.
"So Elias", he says, turning his head slowly to face me, "What do you think of my Daughter?" he smiles with his mouth, but his eyes betray him.
Huh?
~~~
"How was she?" I ask my brother as I sit facing opposite him in the carriage, back to the Helstea's Manor.
"If she does the allotted amount of meditation I recommended to her, she should awaken in just over a year", he states like it was nothing whilst staring out the window.
"That's amazing", I murmur out of reflex.
"It is..." he reaches into his pocket and hands me an envelope "he told me to hand this to you just after we finished"
I open the envelope, pulling out a card.
[Please join us as we celebrate Princess Kathyln's Sixth Birthday]
[Sunday the 18th of October, between the Hours of 4 and 8 PM]
[The Royal Palace of Etistin]
I see...
"What is it?" my brother asks, peering over at the card in my hand.
I hand it to him, a wicked smirk growing on his face as his eyes glide over the note.
"I didn't kn-"
Wanting to change the topic after feeling heat rise to my cheeks, I ask my brother something that has been bugging me for nearly two hours, "Art, what's a Lance?"
"A spear"
I look to the future Lance blank-faced. "I know."
"They why did you ask?" he says blank-faced.
WC - 3434
Thanks for reading this chapter. Hope you all enjoyed it. 😊
All Criticism and feedback are welcome. Any suggestions for the story or plot are also more than welcome.
No potential early release this week as I'll be in Mallorca for a Week, both chapters are scheduled to release on their respective days, so don't worry about missing an upload.
If we're all still alive, the next chapter will be released on Sunday.
Rius out.