Paden was dressed, reluctantly, by the two maids.  They had already selected clothes from what Marie had bought him during their stay in Woodhaven.  After he changed, the two led him down to the first floor to a small dining room.  He was the last to arrive as the adults were already sitting around a round table awaiting him.  A single seat was open for him so he moved to sit down between Marie and Weillin’s mother.  He still couldn’t believe she was his mother, she looked so young.

“Paden, was your room to your liking?” Weillin asked his face wearing a wide grin.

“The bed was great.  Better than the inn in Avery,” Paden exclaimed innocently.

“He asks you about the room and you rave about the bed.  To be young,” Marie quipped.

Paden turned scarlet.  His meaning wasn’t what she thought.  However, he felt trying to explain himself, would only succeed in making the grave he’s dug only deeper and instead opted for silence.

“Paden, this is my father Duke Selmitt and mother, Duchess Selmitt,” Weillin introduced while seated.

"It is a pleasure to meet you.  Your aunt has been anxiously waiting to bring you home for some time now,” Duchess Selmitt said with a smile. 

Paden looked at the intimidating Duke Selmitt as the man said nothing and observed Paden coldly.  Paden was scared and wondered if he did anything to offend Duke Selmitt.  Duchess Selmitt saw her husband and lightly slapped him with the back of her left hand.  He snapped out of it and looked at his wife as he smiled wryly as he didn’t mean to frighten the boy.

“Sorry, I was deep in thought.  You can drop the formal titles.  You are family in this house.  Just call me and wife as Grandpa Richard and Gr….whack,” Duchess Selmitt hit her husband again before he finished as she looked at him in displeasure.  “Aunt…Aunt Lilith,” Richard told him while confirming with his wife.

Paden nodded.  He was still feeling slightly intimidated.  He still couldn’t believe he was kin to the Dark Knight much less the people in this room.  He had noble blood but didn’t feel as such.  He still didn’t know who his mother was or why they left him with his mother, Luanne for all those years.

There was an awkward atmosphere.  The boy didn’t speak and the adults didn’t know how to make him any less comfortable.  They could only wait for him to relax in their presence on his own.  Weillin had explained about Paden using his magic against the goblin with no training.  Lilith and Richard were impressed.  Most mages couldn’t manifest their element without instruction. 

They were also curious about his affinity to light but held off discussing it.  Even if it was their house there were several spies they kept around to feed false information to.  An important matter such as this needed to be discussed in private.  They dismissed his water affinity as it was one of the ordinary elements.  It could be used to heal and harm but not to the level of the others without proper direction.

Diner finished, Weillin led their group to the second floor where they entered a large study.  There was a large desk with plenty of neatly stacked papers and various writing utensils bundled in a wooden container.  Paden observed the neat walls covered in various art works and several wooden bookcases as Weillin waved off the servants and had them close the doors. 

Lilith waved her hands and a gentle breeze blew through the room.  She nodded at Weillin.  “It’s done,” she informed him primly as Paden looked at their actions in questioning.

“The doors have been closed and Mother cast a wind spell.  This was done so no one can hear our conversation.  That of course means that what is spoken should not be told outside or such preparations would mean nothing,” Weillin informed him.  Paden nodded in understanding.

“Is it true?” Richard asked.  He was still skeptical. 

His family had records of dual affinities for light and dark.  He also read about what happens to such people.  Upon activating their magic they would always die.  It didn’t matter if the magic was light or dark.  Whatever element they used would always result in death.  At least that was the case until Paden.

Marie took out the testing crystal and handed it to Paden.  He took it and understood what they wanted.  He channeled his magic into the crystal.  It turned the familiar night sky with blue orbs as it had done before.  There was an intake of breath from Weillin and his family.  Weillin listened to his wife but he too was skeptical.  However, Weillin could not deny the truth in front of his eyes.

“Can he use light magic?” Richard asked.

“We avoided teaching him anything to avoid any slips,” Marie informed.  “He is very proficient with his dark magic.  Fastest I have ever seen.”

“Faster than even your brother?” Lilith asked, knowing full well how much Marie worshipped him.

“Faster than even brother.  Not even brother could maintain the meditative state for five hours on his first try.  He probably could have gone longer if I had not prematurely snapped him out of it,” Marie said with pride.

Richard and Lilith were shocked.  Five hours was unheard of even amongst the geniuses of the other high noble houses.  The initial meditative state demonstrated an initiate mage’s potential as a mage.  It was viewed that the longer one meditated the first time, the higher the mage’s potential.  Three hours was standard.  Four hours was genius.  Five hours was monstrous.  Marie said he could go longer?  They were lost for words.

“Try to gather light in your hand like with the dark sphere,” Marie instructed.

Paden nodded.  It was smooth sailing up until the energy gathered in his hand.  However when he tried to manifest a light sphere something went wrong.  Paden could feel it.  Something in him snapped and his body was wracked with indescribable pain.  He kneeled in agony as he coughed blood onto the rug.

Marie and the others saw this and panicked.  This was a backlash.  However, backlash should be impossible for a standard light sphere.  Richard approached Paden as Weillin held Marie.  Paden’s condition was precarious and he could not let her exacerbate it.

Richard frowned as he felt the boy’s energy flux with his fingers.  Something was inside his body.  A seal, he thought.  He channeled his light magic and began to treat Paden.  Paden slowly calmed down and drew shallow breaths before regaining his normal state.

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The five walked over to a seating area off the study.  Marie and Lilith led Paden to a sofa where he lied on Marie’s lap as she stroked his head.  She was worried about what went wrong.  He showed such promise with darkness.  Why did it go so wrong when he used light, she wondered?

“What happened?” croaked Paden weakly.

“It was backlash from a powerful seal cast on you,” Richard said calmly as he looked at the youth.  He had never observed such a powerful seal.  Worse, he didn’t know why it was placed.  He had suspicions but no way to confirm it without risking the boy’s life.

“Can it be removed?” Marie asked with concern as she looked down at Paden.

“It is not advisable.  I do not have confidence to remove it and asking for outside help risks the boy’s safety,” Richard replied gravely as he scratched his chin. “The good thing is that it appears to seals his ability to use light magic but not his dark.  I suspect he can use his water element.” 

“How do we train him?” Weillin asked his father.  He was in unfamiliar grounds.  A seal complicated things.

“We can still hold the light and dark ceremonies.  There should be no problem with him sealing a contract with a light sprite despite his condition,” Richard informed Weillin.

Weillin sighed in relief.  A second sprite would secure his nephews safety.  Should a day come when Paden releases his seal, it could help train him.  Even before then, the sprite will serve as his protector.

“What are sprites?” Paden inquired weakly.

“They are spiritual beings.  Our ancestors discovered and developed techniques upon discovering certain planes millennia ago.  We contract with sprites as it boosts the mage’s own magical powers and aids in their cultivation.  However, there are…risks,” Weillin said seriously.

“What kinds?” – Paden.

“Possession.  A summoner is at risk of possession when the contract is first made.  It is when they are at their most vulnerable.  It is rare for a light sprite to try and possess its host but dark sprites always fight against being subjugated,” Weillin explained.

“So when do we do the…uh…ceremony was it?” Paden asked unsure.

“We will prepare for the ceremony in a week’s time.  It will give us enough time to go shopping for new clothes for you,” Marie said merrily.

Paden spent some time listening to what would occur during the ceremonies.  It didn’t sound like anything too complicated.  Despite what they said about the possibility of possession, such occurrences were relatively small in number.  So long as he was adequately prepped it should prove no problem.

Paden excused himself.  He then went over and saw Axel and the family in the servant wing.  Their room was very large.  Weillin spared no expense to treat Axel and his family well.  Their room wasn’t as large as Paden’s but it was bigger than their home back in the village.

“Paden!” – Carol.

“Paden!” – Cheryl.

Paden was rushed by the twins soon after his arrival.  He smiled lightly as they pulled him.

“We have our own room.” – Carol.

“Come and see!” – Cheryl.

They led him into their room and showed him the bunk beds Weillin provided.  Their room was about double the size he had in their old home.  It seems Weillin had sent word ahead because there were several stuffed animals inside.  Paden chuckled as he thought about Marie dotting on the two like an aunt. 

Paden walked out onto a patio near the rear.  Axel was gathered with Eber and Gerard.  They were speaking with other people Paden assumed were also guards.

“Paden!” called Axel.

“Axel.”

“So how’d you like your new home?” he asked with a grin.

“Too large,” Paden admitted.  He was used to the closeness of their old home.  He felt slightly lonely.

“It’ll feel cramped when you get yourself a girl finally,” joked Eber.

“May not need a girl.  I hear his personal maids are Rachel and Meredith,” said a guard with a teasing tone.

Paden just realized he never got their names.  He felt pretty bad it never occurred to him to ask for their names.  He was also embarrassed that it was already rumor that the two beauties were serving him.

“Is that so?” Eber asked with a smirk. 

Paden was taken aback.  Eber’s smirk was somewhat devilish and scared him.  He didn’t know what the man was thinking and didn’t have a good feeling about it.

Pft.  The men broke out in laughter.  Even the guards who Paden didn’t know were laughing.

“Don’t worry Paden.  We all know you would never lay a hand on those maids.  So how is it with Weillin and Marie?” Axel asked, getting to the point.

“They are good people.  The incident in Axel and Woodhaven were scary but I understand why they needed to end that way,” Paden admitted solemnly.

“Still need to thank you Paden,” Axel said while looking him in the eyes.  “You protected our girls from that toad.”

“I heard about that too.  Captain said you were pretty fast on your feet.  Bit naïve in some regards though,” said the familiar guard.

“You should get some sleep.  You’re gonna need your strength for tomorrow,” Axel told Paden with a slap on his shoulder. 

“Leanna and the girls are going with you tomorrow to shop for your wardrobe.  They were planning things with Marie and Lilith.”

Paden let out a pained moan.  All the men laughed at the young man understanding his pain.  Paden left Axel and kissed Leanna and the girls.  He wished he could sleep with them but he knew he couldn’t do that anymore.  He understood this was to be one of many changes that will occur.

AN:  Author here.  Made matters concerning the spiritual plane as vague as possible.  Will probably update this chapter in the future and if any changes are made to the lore surrounding this I will post a note in the chapter as well as update past chapters.  If you have any suggestions feel free to comment or if you see any holes.

I will also not be posting Paden's one week of shopping hell so don't worry and sorry if you were looking forward to that chapter.