Chapter-11

Marvic was leisurely walking through the hallway as it was Griesh’s day to teach Lyon. After writing replies to the marriage proposals received by the Duke, he was free. Even if he had free time, it was already evening. This punishment by the Duke is something he doesn’t enjoy at all. Shaking his head, he knew that it was still better than banishment, demotion or even death for his act which could easily pass as treason.

Every manservant and maid bowed as he passed by them. After some time, he came across an open area. A garden with grass, flowers, a fountain, a swing seat and a shaded sitting place where people can meet and drink tea. An open sky upwards. There is a difference between a mansion and a castle. A mansion is just a big house with rooms while castle is numerous mansions with one main building, several compounds, and residence of the people holding high positions directly under Duke.

As he was passing through, he saw his master’s second Fiancee Lady Lia sitting on the swing with one of her maid pushing the swing and another standing by her side. They were having a very lively conversation by all the laughter coming from them. After noticing Marvic passing through she got up and slightly bowed her head. Her two maids bowed a little lower and so did the other servants tending to the garden.

Lia’s bow was showing courtesy to a higher noble and others were just commoners bowing to a noble of high rank. The members of Duke’s elite squad are given the title of Honorary Earl. A title that isn’t hereditary but still exploits the privilege of an Earl, higher than Lia’s father who is a Viscount.

Marvic nodded and continued on his way and they all returned back to where they left off because of him. Marvic felt a little amused and he chuckled remembering how Lia reacted after the reception. She couldn’t talk or even look the Duke in his eyes for couple of days. But now they are comfortable with each other. Every day his master will dine with her and even accompany her to this garden after breakfast and talk about various things. She has opened up to Duke after it became a regular routine. He was surprised when Lyon gave her permission to ask pointers about magic from Griesh. Griesh is, after all, one of the few GrandMages and the only one of Sovern Empire. It is almost impossible to even meet this figure.

After walking for about twenty more minutes, he finally reached his destination. Grandmagus Residence. He was invited inside by the guard. There was no one in the castle who didn’t know about him. He was then led to the guest room by a maid who requested him to be seated while she prepares some tea.

‘Not bad at all! This maid possesses a fine body’ thought the lecher, the unknown side of Marvic.

“Stop eyeing her with such a indecent gaze, you are already an old man now.” This was the first thing Griesh blurted out as soon as he entered and saw Marvic ogling the maid.

“Hahaha* Don’t be so rude old friend. My blood is still hot.” He replied back cheerfully which made Griesh sigh. Griesh signaled the maid and sat down on the sofa opposite of Marvic.

“I don’t see little Kyra around.” Marvic inquired. Kyra, one of the members of Elite Squad with the title ‘Little Sage’ was Griesh’s daughter.

“I had her stay outside the training barrier for young Lyon. I have instructed him to ask her if he gets confused about something while training.” Griesh fell back farther on his sofa, a relaxing feeling running through his body and mind.

“And what about sister-in-law,” Marvic asked again as he was receiving a teacup from the previous maid. They have known each other for two decades now and hence were close enough to call each other brothers.

“Where would she be? At the parlor, gossiping with other ladies.” Replied the old magus with a humph. Marvic just smiled at that. It may look otherwise from his mocking tone but he knows Griesh loves his wife and daughter a lot.

“So do you have some work for me?” Asked Griesh after a comfortable silence.

“No. Not work but some talk.” Marvic replied sipping on his tea.

“Hmm. Talk? Shoot!” Griesh replied, also sipping tea.

“It’s about Lyon.” Now, this got a reaction from Griesh. A look of interest crossed over his face.

“You know how I train people.” Griesh nodded with an unpleasant face to Marvic’s statement.

“It was no different for him.” Hearing this Griesh just sighed. He couldn’t say anything else. It was training after all. Be lenient and the learner will end up dead. This was the reality here.

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“He already had a good grasp of the sword and did inherit his father’s Duel Wield but…..” (Marvic)

“But…..” (Griesh)

“……the things which surprised me more is his battle instinct and raw strength. I mean, I’m called the kingdom’s strongest you see and it should be easy to beat a kid without effort and it was easy at first….” Marvic looked towards me as he placed an empty cup down.

“was?” Griesh repeated.

“It ‘was’. He began improving as we went on with the mock battle. It looked like he could see my moves, feel my intent as we went on. It is true that I could still beat him but I have to expend some effort and my effort doubled yesterday than it was before it. I think I can confidently say that he can become someone very strong, even stronger than Leviet.”

Griesh stared at him for a while. A silence ensued. The maid standing at the side has started feeling uncomfortable.

“Wait here.” After he said that, Griesh hurriedly stood up and went out. After some moment, he was back but with some papers this time and he passed it to Marvic before he plopped down on the opposite sofa. He also ordered the maid to leave them.

Marvic looked at Griesh for a bit before turning his gaze and skimming through the papers. His eye widened.

“This is…?” He asked Griesh who nodded and sat with a straight back.

“Spells created by young Lyon.” This shocked Marvic.

“He created a spell? Isn’t he just 13.” Asked Marvic in a bewildered voice.

Griesh stared at Marvic eyes and nodded.

“Yes he did and also spells of void type or spells of just mana without any nature conversion.” Marvic remained silent hearing Griesh words and dove back to the papers in hand.

“As you can see, ‘Mana Bullet’, a spell where you condense a little amount of mana in your fingertip and then propel it with a burst of mana from the same fingertip.” Griesh explained. Marvic nodded and went to the second page.

“And, ‘Mana Bomb’, a spell more complex than the first one. You bring out a lot of mana, then control it to condense and concentrate around a point while also making the resulting condensed ball unstable. Then you will envelop the sphere with a thin mana film. Thin enough that it would be destroyed at a touch. Then you throw the sphere, once it touches, an explosion is inevitable. The power depends on how condensed the unstable sphere is.” Marvic nodded again and then he placed the papers on the table in front of him. Griesh also added that the details were given by Lyon himself.

“It was interesting, a spell of a void type/raw mana. He just invented some unique spells. But like you, what surprised me was not this but his mana density.” Griesh word woke Marvic from his deep thoughts.

“Oh, that! I felt that too. I’m not strong enough if I can’t feel that. I just forgot to tell you.” Hearing him Griesh deflated but he still went on.

“Like you might have felt it. His mana is unique. Unlike me, his mana color was purple which I have never seen before and I can assure you that it felt 10 times denser than mine.” 10 times denser than a Grand Magus, these words left Marvic sweating.

They both knew how strong Late Duke Leviet was and how much potential he had but he got outshined by his own son. If they have to describe Leviet as a beast among humans, Lyon would be a monster. They slowly descended into silence again, having their own thoughts to play in their heads.

Somewhere in Divine Empire

“Guarding the gate sounds so easy but you feel so tired doing it.” Complained a guard standing at the side of the huge metallic city gate.

“We just need to guard for another 2 hours and our shift is done. Only thinking about it is making me sleepy.” Replied another guard finishing with a yawn.

It was night time so the metallic gates were closed. Only a small door at the bottom corner of one of the gates can be opened and closed manually at this hour. This is so that any passerby or traveler can identify themselves if they want to stay or for the city folks who couldn’t enter the town within the determined hour. After that determined time, the main big gate is closed and they have to pay fine in coins to get into the city through this door and even then after only gaining the head guards' permission. The two guards were currently guarding this gate.

Suddenly their bored silence was disturbed by a horse's trotting sound until they saw another guard riding towards them.

“Emergency! It’s an emergency! Our Lord has been assassinated and the Countess has given the decree for a lockdown.” The countess was preparing for a massive search for any suspicious person hence she wanted every gate to be locked down with no entry nor outing possible. She was furious right now.

The two guards stared dumbfoundedly for a while. It wasn’t their fault, it was too sudden for them after all. They got scolded by the messenger for this pause when everything was needed to be done urgently. With guards turning blank and another scolding them, they didn’t see a faint ghostly presence that slowly went past them and through the door. Even the guards on the top of the wall couldn’t see this figure moving right below them.

A few miles away from the city

The faint presence finally faded away as a figure in all black appeared at that place.

“urgh!” The figure grunted as he held his right hand.

“These higher nobles sure are cautious. I predicted he would have some magic items but didn’t think it would actually be a Tier-4 defensive magic item. Because of that, my first attack got deflected and he retaliated. And I’m supposed to be the top assassin who just got injured on a mission for not a king, not even a crown prince but a Count.” The self-mocking tone was harsh. The figure slowly looked up and saw a black raven perching on a branch of a nearby tree calmly staring at him.

The figure in black extended his arm and the raven flew down and gently perched on his arm. With his other hand, he started caressing its head gently.

Then he slowly reached out his caressing hands and took out a strap containing a tied slender cylindrical object from the bird’s back. Removing the cork, he took out a rolled piece of paper.

After reading it for a while, he took out a piece of unused paper and a feather pen, and began writing a reply.

After some time, he rolled the paper, put it inside the cylindrical tube and strapped it on the bird's back again. He waved his hands containing the bird a little upward, and off flew the raven.

A slight spark can be seen in the standing figure's eye as he kept staring towards the direction where the bird disappeared.