Footsteps echoed throughout the mansion growing louder as they approached a large room. A boy appeared, obvious excitement spread throughout his face, running towards the large dining table. There his mother waited for him, as he sat down several servants rushed to offer them food and drink. Aldrich and his mother had discussed how his lessons were going and various other topics. It was while they were eating together that the head butler came rushing in with a letter in hand,

“Your Eminence, there is a letter addressed to you.”

Moira grinned,

“I am always grateful for how diligent you are, Benedict but it should wait until after breakfast, don't you think?”

Benedict replied,

“Under normal circumstances, I would not have even dared to disturb you or the young master, Your Eminence, but this letter bears the seal of the Grand Chamberlain of Wylan.”

Moira’s grin straightened and her fork rested on the table as she now urgently read the letter. Her body was now tense and her eyes no longer had the sparkle that Aldrich knew. Moira’s voice echoed through the dining room,

“Make preparations for a departure that befits a summoning to the court of the Archduke. Ensure to inform the members of my privy council so that they can oversee the ruling of Dorian and the proceedings of Parliament.”

Several servants bowed going in different directions to fulfil their tasks involved in the departure. Aldrich had no time to ask what the letter contained as he was whisked off to training. He, as any noble born child, was supposed to learn how to govern, wage war, to perform his diplomatic responsibilities, speak and act. His words and actions would be scrutinised by enemies and allies, any shortcomings could be detrimental to his eventual rule as he was often reminded. He also was taught various skills such as swordsmanship, self-defence, hunting, and survival skills. Aldrich always put his best foot forward in his lessons but by far he was most diligent and captivated in his training of mesmer.

There was an energy that existed that bent many rules that governed the world while it set its own laws that it would follow. It could be found within living beings and inanimate objects as well and it could take many forms. Mesmer could be further divided into two kinds: Astratto and Corporalis. Astratto is what controls Corporalis. Astratto can be likened to a paint brush and Corporalis as the paint. Depending on the amount and the level of mastery over these energies it can dictate the ‘image that could be painted’.  There are four core elements that most individuals tend to be able to use, when these elements are being referred to there are different names used: 1) Fire- Ardent, 2) Water-Loch, 3) Air/Wind- Zephyr and 4) Earth- Terrafirma. The use of mesmer was not limited to this though.

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Aldrich had dinner that night and went to sleep. Aldrich always did love his dreams, they were always so peaceful. This one in particular he found himself in the most beautiful garden he had ever witnessed. The trees were filled with flowers of all kinds of vibrant colours and just a few metres ahead of him a building that had a strange archaic look to it yet it also seemed modern. He reached the door and opened it, he  stepped inside and found himself somewhere else. The scenery was nothing like he had ever seen. The sky looked like a night sky yet the stars were unusually bright. A tower stood not too far from Aldrich and  he went inside to find a grand library with more books than he could ever hope to count. The books were organised into shelves that flouted in the air, moving almost randomly but never bumping into another. 

Aldrich launched himself and found himself flying as if the force of gravity no longer held him captive. He flew aimlessly until a voice echoed throughout the library, singing a song in a language he never heard before. 

Coming to the outro of the song, he found where the sound was coming from. An owl stood before him with a book in its beak. Aldrich took the book, inspecting it he found the book had the title, ‘The Weeping Victor’ . As he opened it he was whisked away from the library and he stood a slight distance from two individuals that stood opposite to each other, although it appeared that they were unaware of his presence. The same song rang in his head but now he understood it. The two enemies both pulled out their swords and traded blows that shook the ground. On the ground lay many slain, corpses were left as far as the eye could see and much of  the landscape was destroyed. Eventually a victor arose, wailing as his strength left him and was left on his knees. The man trudged his way to a particular group of bodies. Aldrich wanted to see the face of the man and try to make his way there but just as quickly he had been brought there he was taken away.

He flouted in an empty space with the night sky seemingly surrounding him. A voice bellowed through the expanse,

“Beware young one, for your future holds great uncertainty. One can only pray that you do not befall the same misfortune as this weeping victor. I shall give you a gift that will protect you, for many will seek to take from you, only time will tell how you will rise from the coals of the furnace of tribulations.”

Before Aldrich could respond he woke up to an almost blinding pain in his eyes. He rushed to the mirror to find that the black of his pupil was slowly spreading like ink throughout his eye, eventually covering and as he closed his eyes he felt a black flow out of his eyes. He opened to find the sclera of his eye resembling the knight sky with glowing particles looking like stars while his iris and pupil were a glowing purple circle that seemed to have tendrils going through his eye. As Aldrich looked around he noticed that he could see almost like an outline of his hand movements. He looked outside and perceived things shifting and moving before they did. Aldrich was fascinated by this and throughout the night he explored the abilities.