Almost forgot to post this today, I think it will be 2/7. Possibly. Maybe. I feel like I should talk more about how magic actually works but that exposition would be poorly placed in this chapter. Anyway thanks again to any who read my novice writing and a good evening to you all.

After settling in my room, which in itself is shocking. It's amazing that one person can have so much space… Or more that I had that much space. Eventually I'm called down for dinner by the maid who Raul had used to keep him company, Ethel.

Along with Zan scurrying about on the floor Ethel leads us to the dining hall where Diedrich and Raul await us. She leads us  into a large room decorated lavishly by banners and paintings on both sides as well as spoils of hunts and other things. Through the centre of the room stands a grand table, although that table is unoccupied. To the side of the room there are a few smaller tables, at which our host and Raul are sitting.

“Why! Come bring them here Ethel, my doldrums are mostly over.” He is far more upbeat than earlier, I've never heard the expression ‘doldrums’ before but it probably means his poor mood.

“Now, now. Young boys, I must apologize for my poor reception of you both. I've not been myself for… well it's ongoing, please ignore any wrong doings on my part.” Diedrich’s newly jovial mood is reflected on his face, he gestures to Ethel and she quickly disappears.

“Now, I've been told little Tyrell wishes to visit you both. He'll arrive in an hour or so. But first we have dinner to attend to.” The archway is filled by half a dozen servants carrying plates of food or other items. “Now I wasn't sure what is suitable for you all so I had a variety made.”

They place the plates and large serving trays on the table, things from soups to a variety of cuts of meat to vegetables and other foodstuffs. Even a rice dish to one side as well as some strange pudding. “Please take what you wish.”

Certainly too much for us to eat… I guess the priest could eat it all as a dragon but the space is a little to small for that.

The time passes uneventfully, between Zan making a mess and somehow all the meat being eaten by the tag-team of Raul and Zan the environment is otherwise tranquil. Compared to the tension of the palace or the boredom of the flight. Diedrich, it seems has been drinking. The smell I recognise from the odd guard or soldier from the village. He remains civil and we are eventually sent back.

Now in my room I await my guest. Zan is lying in my bed contented with his full stomach, likely about to doze off. While Diedrich did say an hour no one really has a concept of accurate time, even with working clocks around the estate and elsewhere.

In the meantime I have been thinking about the coming days, namely the final test of my entry into the academy. Ethel comes in to light a few more candles around the room before wordlessly disappearing.

Mysteries, the final part required to learn magic. Or at least perform it. I have some semblance of how to use the example the book gave me, propagation of heat, it has its own issue however. It's too mundane, the more people understand and know a mystery the less effective it is.

In that dream, Maru said Zan could use magic. Does he know any? Zan is Janet's son, if she taught anyone her own mysteries it would be him. The other avenue would be to try to remember the other me’s life… I'm not sure I want to peer into something so painful.

“Hey Zan.” I call out, he turns himself over and chirps in response. I take out a piece of rough paper from a nearby table and it's inkwell, placing both on the floor. “What mysteries do you know, for magic I mean.” The topic stirs something in his yellow eyes because he jumps off the bed and onto the ground in rare haste. Dipping a claw into the ink he tries to write.

It takes him a couple minutes but he manages to write a few words. ‘Gravity’ ‘breeze’ ‘rain’ ‘storm’ I'm not sure if any of them are connected and actually wasn't Janet a fire magician? Ever burning flame is a fire mystery and that's how magelight works.

This is pointless, even if I figure out which he's talking about he can't give me his knowledge or understanding.

Actually there's another option. I leave the room with Zan on the floor and walk off to Raul’s room. Which I find empty with Ethel cleaning up. “Ethel where did the priest go?” She surprised by my presence wears a startled look before answering. “On the porch, with Diedrich.” Not bothering to say thank you I make my way downstairs and to the back porch.

The estate is already dark, flickering candlelight fills the halls. No one is around bar the odd servant going around tending the waning candles as they burn out. The estate takes on a different, more ominous air.

Although I've never been here before the structure is straight-forward and with ease I make it to the back of the house. The back door is half open, moonlight is shining in. As well as some other unnatural glow, not touching the frame I squeeze through the gap.

An open palm is a foot from my face. “It's only you.” Raul says before lowering his hand, a crack is heard as lightning discharges into the ground. “Why sneak Kadimae, you're a guest here. And why are you not entertaining your own guest?”

“He isn't here. And that glow put me off.” I point to a blue coloured magelight floating beside him. Raul returns to his seat and I see we have company, Diedrich lies asleep in his chair the smell of alcohol is abound. Beside him is Juliet, standing silent and trying to remain stoic.

“Juliet, call for some help to take your father to his quarters.” She bows slightly and leaves without a word. “Now Kadimae, why do you wish to speak.” Raul leans back in his chair awaiting my response.

“I want to learn a mystery for the academy’s test.” I say, he nods understanding why. “Do you need to? You'll get in no matter what with just my word. After all who am I?” His answer gives me pause but I'm sure of my response. “I want to get in by my own efforts.” A smile forms on the Nute’s face.

Raul slowly starts clapping, “Yes, yes! Why they did an excellent job raising you. Your own efforts are important, your own experiences are required. Nothing else will enable you to understand the mysteries of magic.”

“As an example, I shocked myself with holy lightning. Painful but not harmful, it allowed me to understand the mysteries within. Of electricity and current, how it flows and makes paths.” He continues with yet another example.

“Janet told me her son understood his first mystery at age seven. They argued and he run outside during a storm, naked of all things. Not that cold bothers us with dragonblood at all. His voice was silenced by the raging winds, from that he understood that sound travels through air. The storm drowns sound out but his magic cancels it. That magic silences sound.”

Both of these sound inconvenient, possibly dangerous too. Both of Raul's tales left me deep in thought, where in my life had I experienced something like this. Despite the odd bout of hunger however, my life has been rather comfortable. In the summer I would swim in the river, in autumn I'd help in the fields and all other parts of the year were rather normal too.

Raul leaves me to my pondering as I pace around.

What about his life? I think back to the memories of another self. I lived a lifetime in a moment, no, far more than a lifetime. The other me lived thousands of years. He knew of life and death. He knew of the wind and the rain. He knew of love and loss.

Nothing I could recall feels strong enough to become a lasting image, to form a mystery.

Wait… a lifetime in a moment! Time, what about a mystery based on that? A moment stretched into a minute, into a day, then a month and even longer.

I turn to Raul and his eyes meet mine. “Have you done it?” Uncertainty in my voice I answer. “I think so.” The priest smiles, “Good! Now collect yourself, produce some appropriate mana and try to recall it. That feeling and use your understanding to guide it.”

“Remember, mystery is built on one's own experience. Magic is like a great tower we look at, we each peer at different parts of the great structure. At different cracks and crevices, we collect these views at the great structure and enact miracles. Magic.”

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I take his speech to heart, different from what Janet taught me. Different from what the book taught me. But true all the same… is even that understanding part of some mystery?

I sit with my legs crossed on the cold ground, not allowing that to bother me at all. I have the concept, the feeling of a lifetime in a moment and the mystery of time acceleration… no of compressed time. I didn't feel time going faster in that moment, only of it lasting longer. The difference is slight but I know it exists.

Drawing out from my body I pull a stream of clear mana and pool it before me. Separating the grey specks of death mana I create a clear sphere of empty light. Instinctively I reach toward a part of me I never perceived before, the mana before me turn silver and I sit there and feel it, grasp it. Just letting myself become familiar with its ebbs and flows.

The sphere separates again and forms minute silver streams which begin to coat me, infusing itself into my body and skin. In that moment something changed, I look up but my movements feel ever so slightly sluggish. Did I do it? A look of shock covers Raul's face, “Stop it now!” He bellows in anger. The spell naturally ends and time resumes its normal course.

“Time? A bloody mystery of time? Bloody time acceleration no less! How did you come across this?” A realization comes over him. “Maru?” I nod slowly at Raul. “Kadimae tell me exactly what your mystery is and how it works.” I take a couple minutes to explain and go over how I came to know my mystery and how it works.

“Only compression? I've never heard of it, however I've never seen a time mage in action. In all my years. It only works for a discrete time so it's relatively safe, it's acceleration that consumes mana rapidly. Constantly forces mana out of you, yours however takes a cost upfront thus cannot exceed your natural limits. Safer for sure.” His observations are the same as mine, despite him being unable to experience or test them. This magic is far rarer than I thought, I'm unsure if its a blessing or curse.

Raul looks past me and at the door. “Young prince did not announce himself? Do you have no shame?” I turn around to see a rather thin boy standing in the doorway, surely he is Ostell's brother. The same hair and the same face, the eyes were less forgiving. Sunken and black. Isn't he meant to be the younger brother? More carefree and…

I stop that train of thought right there, his family is in chaos and his life in danger. Not just from the other nobles but maybe his own brothers… any son can become king right? I cast such thoughts aside, pondering how someone might die while looking at them feels morbid for someone who did me no wrong.

“I apologize Lord priest, you were instructing your pupil and… I found it too interesting to intrude.” He bows to Raul from the waist, showing great respect for a prince. Raul grimaces for a moment before continuing, “I shall forgive you but please spread no rumours little prince.” The air of a different Raul, not a grandfather figure but the dragon priest pervades his voice. His every syllable a different type of sadistic threat.

The sound of a gulp escaped Tyrell and he bows once more, “Sincerest apologies sir, I meant no wrongdoings.” Only after this does Raul relent, “See to it little prince, now I think Kadimae should guide you to his room. To talk.” The prince nods enthusiastically and grabs my hand pulling me inside.

We pass Juliet who was waiting behind the snooping prince as well as other assorted servants. “That damned man.” Tyrell says exasperated, “Is he always like that?” He releases my hand, “Rarely, you bothered him.” I answer. We walk into a hall before he turns to me and extends his hand.

“I should introduce myself, I am Tyrell Elden. No need to call me your highness, just Tyrell will do.” I shake his hand and reply, “I am Kadimae, Zan is upstairs.” He smiles at my answer, “Nice to meet you, we can continue upstairs.” I agree with the sentiment and we make our way up. The candles still flickering I can't tell how long I sat in contemplation, he didn't seem bored… perhaps he spent the time inspecting my magic.

As we climbed the stairs he says, “Sorry for making you wait so long as well, the guards were being paranoid.” Makes sense, he's a prince after all. I think nothing of it and we continue to the room. The door left open and Ethel is sitting outside, seemingly worried. “Young master!” She shouts looking at me, her voice became quiet at the end when she saw Tyrell.

“Your highness…” She whimpers, scared after having shouted at the prince. “No need dear Ethel, you've served uncle Diedrich so long. Don't worry.” He tries to calm her with real sincerity in his voice, different from how he first looked at me. As if Raul shook him out of a stupor.

She bows repeatedly pleading and asking for forgiveness, “It's alright, it's alright. Can I ask you to get me and Kad some of my bed clothes? I'm going to be staying the night.” She runs off excited and happy she isn't in trouble, wonder what caused her to be like that.

As if on cue Tyrell explains, “Ostell had a mean streak a few years ago, Ethel got the worst of it.” We walk inside to find Zan lazing about on the bed, one yellow pupil fixed on the door. In his daze it takes a moment for him to register our presence before he darts off the bed. He half circles around Tyrell inspecting the prince before making some strange purring sound.

Tyrell kneels and extends his hand, “I'd like to introduce myself, I'm Tyrell.” Zan walks up to Tyrell’s hand and extends his forelimb trying to use his claws to grasp with limited success. He then chirps and retracts his forearm. “Well it was a good try, nice to meet you Zan.” Zan responds with a similar sound before retiring to my bed.

“So Kad, how did you manage it? Time magic I mean.” He must not have heard it all. I think of what to answer before saying, “I don't really know either, the image came to me in a dream. I just tried to make it real.” Tyrell sighs, “I'd hoped for something helpful. Ok that was rude sorry but I've been interested in it.”

Who wouldn't be though? The ultimate form of time magic is stopping time, that or perhaps reversing time. Both are incredibly useful. The other applications I think of appear in my head, from having more time to think during tests to faster reactions.

“What mysteries do you know?” Despite it being a personal question I ask Tyrell. “Air resistance, I can make it harder or easier to move through the air.” He says, quick and concise. “I know a couple others but that's my best.” I'm not sure where his ranks but it sounds good. Slows movement from enemies to his own fall.

“Mine is time compression, I can change how I perceive a period of time.” Tyrell looks enraptured by my description bug it soon turns to disappointment. “Only compression? Did you not learn acceleration too? I've read acceleration is the base of all other time magic.” He continued to extol the virtues of time magic in all its forms, surprising me with the breadth and depth if his knowledge but as he talks more becomes clear.

Powerful, too powerful. All the supposed users of time magic have been seventh or eighth ranked, living legends and masters of magic. The founders of Nations or particularly powerful priests of Lahtain, the god of heavenly time. This makes something very clear, that this branch of magic needs immense mana to work.

How the hell will I ever be able to use this? The other me eventually became some kind of grandmaster but I can't wait that long… The time Maru spoke of will come sooner or later. I want to be ready. For a moment I feel that I'm getting ahead if myself, but it's an entirely valid concern.

“Kadimae?” Tyrell speaks to me with concern, I realize I had lost myself in thought. “It's nothing.”

We spend the evening talking about various things, from magic to animals to ‘family’, a topic Tyrell apologizes profusely mentioning after recalling I'm an orphan. It turns out their situation wasn't always so dire but he quickly moves on. Eventually Tyrell moves to his room to leave me to my sleep.