Elias Leywin POV
While eating, my father suddenly spoke up with a mouth full of eggs. "That reminds me. Kids, if you don't have any plans, do you want to go with us to City Square? There's a big announcement in the Capital City of Etistin, where the King and Queen reside, but a couple of artificers are going to put up a live projection of the broadcast in City Square."
"Honey, please don't talk with your mouth full," my mother gently scolded him before getting back to her conversation with Auntie Tabitha regarding the latest rumours on some mutual acquaintances.
"What sort of announcement?" I asked my father with a tilt of my head.
"Dunno", he replied before stuffing another egg down his gullet.
'Thanks, Dad...'
Noticing the look of annoyance on my face, Uncle Vincet let out a cough. "I'm not too sure, Lias, but I heard through the grapevine that it's pretty big news. Especially if they're going to this much effort."
I nodded, satisfied with the answer I was given by the man who's grown to like an Uncle to me and my twin.
"Sounds good. Elijah and I don't have anything planned today anyway, right?" Art said, turning to his friend.
He was given a simple thumbs up before he returned to his omelette.
"Is it okay if I tag along, Art?" I asked my big brother as he was midway through scoffing down a sausage.
He slammed his chest a few times before coughing out. "Soun-ds g-o-od"
"I wanna go too! Can I, Mom?" Ellie leaned forward on the table towards my mother.
"You have school today, Ellie. You can hang out with your brothers after," she answered, nudging my pouting sister back down into her chair.
~~~
I climbed out of the carriage and made my way towards where my brother, his friend, Father, and Uncle had gathered.
"I have a few things to take care of, so I'll meet you guys back home later tonight. Don't cause too much trouble, you two." My father gently said as his eyes flickered between myself and my older brother. He ruffled my hair before he gripped Art's arm and patted Sylvie's head, who was atop Arthur's.
Vincent beckoned for a public carriage with a wave of his hand after the sight of my father's carriage left our view. Finally, an unpainted, wooden carriage pulled by two horses stopped for us with the driver tipping his hat as a silent introduction.
"Please take us to Gideon's facility," Vincent prompted.
"Sylvie, go with Elias and Elijah, whilst I visit Gideon", Arthur instructed his bond, she nodded her head in agreement with a "Kyu!"
I held both my arms out as the small dragonling jumped up into my arms before she settled on my right shoulder.
My brother followed our uncle and climbed aboard the plain carriage.
"So it's just us, huh? Lias." Elijah said, shooting me a smile.
"Seems so..." I answered, hugging the now fox-shaped Sylvie a little closer against my shoulder. Her tail curled around my neck like a scarf, and she let out a quiet trill, which made Elijah chuckle.
I adjusted Sylvie on my shoulder, ensuring she was balanced before falling into step beside Elijah. The streets of the district were lively, yet I walked with a calm, measured pace, keeping my attention on the crowd and our path. Sylvie's soft weight on my shoulder was reassuring, a small anchor as we moved through the bustle of merchants, shoppers, and street performers.
"Elijah..." I began, my tone steady and controlled, though my curiosity was evident, "Where exactly are we headed?"
He looked down at me, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "Somewhere interesting. You'll see soon enough."
I nodded, keeping my stride consistent, as if this uncertainty was simply part of the walk. "Interesting. That's...helpful." My voice held a small edge of amusement, though I remained composed, careful not to betray impatience. Sylvie let out a soft trill on my shoulder, as if mirroring my curiosity.
"Patience, little man," Elijah said, his grin widening. "You're in no danger. Just follow me and Sylvie, and you'll be fine."
"I understand," I replied, keeping my gaze forward. I shifted slightly to allow Sylvie's tail to settle comfortably around my neck. Her fur was warm against my cheek, a nice contrast to the winter's air.
The streets became busier as we moved south. I kept a careful watch on the path, subtly steering Sylvie away from the occasional passerby.
"Are we...shopping?" I asked, my tone even, masking the flicker of innate fear that only living with four women gives a boy.
"Kinda", he says with a shrug "I always watched to check this place out."
As if by some cosmic coincidence, a tall marble building came into view, a golden sign hung on the middle floor that read [ Xyrus Elixirs ]
"Oh, I've heard of this place, Curtis said This is where most of the students at the Academy get their supplies for School."
I adjusted Sylvie on my shoulder for the Nth time, ensuring she was balanced, before stepping forward with Elijah toward the entrance of Xyrus Elixirs. The bell above the door chimed as we pushed it open, and a wave of warmth and a subtle, sweet herbal scent greeted us. Sylvie lightly leapt from my shoulder, gracefully padding across the polished wooden floor, her claws? Paws? Barely making a sound.
The interior was breathtaking (though not as extravagant as the royal palaces I've been to). Shelves of glass bottles in every imaginable colour filled the space, glowing blues, deep crimsons, vibrant greens, and a few swirling with multiple shades that almost seemed alive.
The soft light from the high windows caught the glass, scattering faint rainbows across the floor. I let my eyes sweep the aisles, noting the care with which the bottles were arranged.
"Elijah..." I said quietly, my tone calm and measured, "This place... is fancy."
Before Elijah could respond, a voice cut through the quiet hum of the shop.
"Excuse me, sirs, but may I assist you?"
A young man in a crisp uniform approached, posture straight and formal, hands clasped lightly in front of him. His eyes flicked from Elijah to me and finally to Sylvie, who went to perch calmly on my shoulder.
Elijah stepped forward smoothly, giving a polite nod. "Yes, thank you. We're here to browse. My companion is interested in observing the selection, and we may require guidance on some of the more... specialised items."
The clerk's gaze lingered on me, a flicker of surprise crossing his face at the sight of Sylvie, but he quickly recovered. "Very well, sirs. If there is anything you wish to inquire about, I will be happy to assist."
"Thanks..." My eyes narrowed on the man's name tag, "Joshua"
The clerk, Joshua, nodded, stepping back slightly to give us room, though he kept a polite watch over our movements. I allowed my eyes to move over the shelves once more, noting the labels, shapes, and even the subtle differences in the liquid's consistency and glow.
"Elijah," I said quietly, gesturing toward a narrow aisle filled with blue-tinted vials, "the Aqua Vitalis series appears to be meticulously refined. The even colouration and faint luminescence suggest a controlled production process."
The clerk, hearing my observation, tilted his head slightly, a small smile forming. "A discerning eye, young sir."
We continued our way through the store, eventually reaching an elevator, and walking inside were met by a young female concierge.
"Excuse me, ma'am?" the older boy to my left asked with an air of hesitation.
"Yes, young man? How can I help you?" She replied with a smile
Elijah cleared his throat and gestured toward the back of the elevator. "Uh... could you take us to the third floor?"
The concierge's smile brightened as she dipped her head. "Of course, young sirs. The third floor holds the higher-tier goods, artefacts, rarer elixirs, and beast cores. Please mind that the displays they are... expensive."
What's that supposed to mean?
Dad gives me an allowance of five copper coins a week.
And the Greysunders owe me ten thousand gold coins.
I nodded to myself as the elevator jolted once before gliding upward in a smooth rise. The polished brass doors slid open with a gentle chime, and suddenly, the atmosphere changed.
Rows upon rows of glass cases gleamed under lanternlight, each containing crystals that pulsed with colour and energy.
I stepped out slowly, my boots clicking against the stone floor. For a moment, I forgot to breathe.
"Elijah..." I whispered, my voice steady though my chest felt tight.
He smirked, clearly pleased by my awe. "Told you it would be worth the trip." He gave Sylvie a light scratch under her chin, and she chirped happily, stretching her neck in approval.
The nearest case caught my attention. Inside, neat rows of smooth, round crystals shimmered in shades of icy blue.
A golden plaque lay before each glass case.
[Water Cobra – B-Class Beast Core]
[ 600 Gold Coins ]
Six. Hundred. Gold.
My stomach flipped, though I kept my face carefully calm. That much for one little stone? Even if it was shiny and glowing. My mind began to race, numbers slotting together the way they often did when I thought too hard.
If a C-class was worth 600... what about the core Father had shown us? The one Arthur had given him after slaying that massive S-class mana beast?
I scrunched my nose and did the math silently. If a B-class was 600, then an A-class would probably be at least double, maybe more. By the time I reached what an S-class might cost, my head was buzzing. It would be more gold than I could imagine piled into one place.
I hugged Sylvie a little closer, her soft fur grounding me. "That means... Father is holding something priceless," I muttered under my breath.
Elijah's ears perked. "What was that, Lias?"
I blinked up at him. "The core Art gave Father... It's probably worth more than this entire shop."
For once, Elijah didn't laugh at my serious tone. His smirk faded into something more thoughtful, his dark eyes narrowing slightly as he glanced at the glowing cases. "Yeah," he admitted softly, "you're probably right. That's the kind of thing nobles and even kingdoms would fight wars over."
~~~
"Hey Art? Is everything okay?" I asked, glancing up at him
He looked upwards almost as if he was in a trance.
"ARTHUR!" I called out louder, drawing him free of his daydream.
"Oh, sorry..." he said, looking at me with a smile "I'm fine, little brother", he reassured, patting my head.
'If he says so...'
"I can't wait for the announcement today!" the glasses-wearing mage exclaimed with a childish excitement that seemed almost unnatural.
"I know what's going to happen, but I don't want to spoil the surprise..." Uncle said, his sentence dragging as something caught his attention just beyond us.
Following the direction that our 'Uncle' was looking, Elijah spoke up, "Is something-" A look of shock and horror overwhelmed the young mage.
He grit his teeth and sprinted towards the commotion. I followed behind.
"Stupid Dwarf!" a ginger boy wearing the Xyrus academy uniform grunted as his fist slammed into the defenceless dwarf's stomach.
"Your filth shouldn't be anywhere near our city, let alone the Academy", he stated with almost a snarl as he continued his assault.
As his foot slammed into the boy, Elijah reached him and pushed him off balance.
"Hey, are you okay?" he asked the teary dwarf as he helped him to his feet. He stared down the older boy, "How dare you do this to-"
Elijah was met by the back of the ginger's hand, sending his glasses flying as he and the young dwarf fell to one knee.
He held Elijah by his hair and pulled his face close. "I should be asking you the same thing. How dare you interrupt my fun?"
Elijah Knight POV
Calm down, Elijah.
If I use magic here, it'll only cause Arthur and Mr Helstea trouble
"Hey Jamiel! Isn't that a symbol from Drav?" one of the boy's accomplices asks.
"Hooo??" the boy named Jamiel snarled as he threw me down next to the dwarven boy. "Did you want to join your half-Pig brot-"
The Noble brat was cut short as a foot thundered against his head.
Huh?
What's happening?
Jamiel was sent flying back into a nearby wall as a boy with a look I had never seen on his face before stared him down.
A faint golden light outlined his body as he spoke up in a way that was unbecoming of his appearance. In a tone far colder than ice, he spoke, "Are you a Xyrus student?"
"YOU FUCKING BRAT!" the nobleman screamed as he climbed out of the hole he now found himself in "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WH-"
"Are you a student of Xyrus Academy?" he repeated.
"I am, what of it?" he answered, almost spitting at Elias, holding this already bruising cheek.
"Elias?" I asked, looking at the boy, no older than six and soon to be seven.
[A/N – 67]
He clenched his fist and instantaneously appeared before the boy.
"Huh?" the boy murmured, face pale as a mix of fear, and Elias' fist slammed squarely into the boy's chin, sending him almost comically into the air.
Elias Leywin POV
I grabbed the coward's leg mid-air and slammed him into the ground just before me, shattering the marbled pavement before me.
I raised a fist over the boy, ready to pummel him, when a hand gripped my arm from behind me.
"Elias, I'm sure Mr Tridant has endured enough of the rightfully given punishment you served him"
I looked over my shoulder to see the familiar face of my first friend at Xyrus, "Curtis, He was bullying a future student."
I shook off the prince's hand as I dropped the boy onto his back, blood pooling around his head.
"At least heal him..." Curtis murmured as he looked at the racist piece of shit behind me.
"He'll live", I shrugged, standing up and walking over to the hunched-over dwarf and shell-shocked Elijah.
"Are you okay?" I asked the crying dwarf as a golden light illuminated from my right palm.
Elijah stumbled to his feet as he helped the dwarf stand.
"Thank you", the dwarven boy said as he lowered his head as they made their way past us.
I turned back to where Jamiel lay sprawled, groaning against the cracked marble. Blood had pooled near his head, the sour stench of it clinging to the air. He was glaring at me like I'd committed some unforgivable sin.
He was the one who hurt someone weaker. So why does he still look like he's trying to be the victim?
Curtis stepped forward then. His presence always carried a strange calmness, even when his voice was quiet. "Jamiel Tridant," he said, folding his arms. "Did you strike that dwarf first?"
Jamiel spat blood, wiping his lip with the back of his sleeve. "No. I didn't touch him! That little brat-" he jabbed a finger toward me, his face twitching with rage- "came out of nowhere and attacked me! This whole thing is his fault!"
Elijah shot him a glare. "That's not true! I saw you hitting him before I even stepped in."
Jamiel's head snapped toward him, sneer twisting across his face. "And who would believe you? You're nothing but a half-breed hanger-on. Your word isn't worth anything."
I felt my fists clench so tight my nails bit into my palms. I wanted to lunge at him again, to shut him up for good before he could keep spitting poison.
"I don't believe you," the Prince of Humanity said simply.
Jamiel's sneer froze as the air almost seemed to stop moving.
"You... you don't believe me?" Jamiel stammered, his voice breaking with shock. "You're siding with them? Those Commoners and Half-breeds Over me?!"
Curtis' eyes narrowed. "What reason would Elias have to lie?"
"W-what?" he murmurs out.
Curtis sighed softly, lowering his voice. "Jamiel, you can keep denying this, but it won't change the truth. And I don't think Elias is the only one who saw what happened." His eyes flicked toward Elijah, then the dwarf, before returning to Jamiel. "Still, I don't want this to spiral out of control. You admit what you did, you apologise, and we put this behind us."
For a moment, I thought Jamiel might cry. His face twisted, his teeth grinding so loud I almost heard them crack. "You'll regret this," he muttered under his breath.
"Uncle Vincent," Arthur said, looking at the Helstea patriarch, "You have a two-way communication scroll on you, right?"
I blinked and turned to my brother.
"I do, but what are you..." He said, confused as my brother took the scroll from the hand of our 'Uncle'.
"Cynthia Goodsky", he said, calling into the scroll.
Why's he calling Grandma?
~ "Vincent? You know I don't appreciate sudden-" ~
"It's Arthur Leywin", my brother said as he held the scroll tort.
~"Ah, Arthur! I'm glad to hear from you! ~
I ran up behind my brother and yanked his arm down "I'm here too, Grandma!" I said, smiling at the woman who'd been teaching me for the better part of three years.
~"How are you, Lias, Sweetie?"~ she cooed, smiling wider
~"I'm always happy to hear from you, but I can't help but be curious as to why you're calling me via Vincent's Communication scroll."~
"I beat up some Bullies", I explained, flashing a peace sign at the old woman.
~"Oh?"~ she said, looking at my brother as if to confirm.
With a sigh, he glanced over his shoulder at the group, which only looked confused at what was happening.
"I need you to expel a boy named Jamiel Tridant and his group of friends, due to race-based bullying as well as lethal use of magic in city bounds." He says calmly.
~"Hold on a minute, did you say Jamiel Tridant?"~ she said, panic filling her ~"I don't think I can do that, his family-"~
"Lias and I will drop out of your academy"
I nod, agreeing with my brother.
That's it, big bro...
Drop out?
DROP OUT?!?!!
"Hey, hey Art, I N-never-" I stammered, shaking his body with as much force as I could muster.
~"Very well, they're expelled,"~ she said with a nonchalant tone I could only aspire to achieve.
~~~
"Hey, Lias", my brother called as he glanced down towards me with his bond on his head. "Maybe don't tell Mom about what happened earlier..." he says, rubbing his neck.
"Why not? I just beat up some bad guys?" I asked, looking up at the boy.
"He was like some sort of Hero of Justice", Elijah stated as he massaged his face from the earlier slap.
"See, Elijah gets it", I said, pointing my thumb at him as golden light shot towards his face.
"Whether that's the case or not, it's best not to worry her", he explained, looking at me with a smile "I also don't want her to learn about my threat to withdraw both of us from Xyrus Academy," he added, almost under his breath.
"Fine... I guess," I sighed out with a groan as the remainder of our group came into view.
With her hands on her hips, my Twin looked at us with growing impatience, "You guys took forever-" she grabbed my arm and began to drag me towards the direction where people had started to gather.
WC – 3287
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.
Swans won 2-0 against Wednesday in a convincing win. I love and trust Montague as if he were my own family, but I'm not the biggest fan of us trying to sign Adam Idah, especially for the price (up to 7M with add-ons) Celtic want for him.
No games for the Swans this week due to the International break. Wales travel to Kazakhstan for their World Cup qualifier on Thursday, which I predict will be a clean 2-0 win if the boys perform.
If there are any questions or ideas, feel free to message my Discord - Navarius13
Special Thanks to LancelotDragonroad for editing this Chapter.
If we're all still alive, the next chapter will be released at 15 Likes or on Wednesday.
Rius out.