Chapter Fourteen

M A N A : INFO DUMP

“-ease it. I think you’d be a body user.” “So I'd just have a strong body?” “...sort of? It’s basically how you will learn to use mana! So like you can use it to strengthen your core, or bones, muscles, things inside you. It's very similar to aura, but stronger. Mana is ALWAYS stronger-”

“Osiris? Are you okay?” Lambert watched the boy’s eyes start to glaze.

“-eirs eyes, hair, hands, feet, and body. There may be oddities, but like every world has their own oddballs. Anyway ‘Siris awakened his eyes and feet. He was made fun of for it a lot.” “A lot?” “A lot lot.”

He held his head like he was cradling a child. Lambert stepped in to block the child from the crowd.

“-in. They rank everything, potions, divinity, mage ranks, aura knight ranks, the only thing not ranked is mana. Mana is like mother earth, creator of all, but not? She’s more cold and vicious than a mother…or maybe as vicious as your mot-”

“Let’s get you out of here-”

Adam slapped the hand away.

“Stop, I’m fine. Just remembered something.”

The information was falling through his fingers like sand, but he prayed the jist of it would stay.

“If you are sure…”

Lambert rubbered her brow.

Osiris, despite all the looks and glares, went over to the stove and tried to fiddle with it. It was clear he had no clue what he was doing.

“The stoves in each castle are made to run off a chef's mana. It helps make the food healthier, and taste much better. It also allows for a better-”

“So what you’re saying is that, unless I can somehow get mana in it, it wont turn on?”

“These stoves require-”

“Where is most of the-”

“I think the prince needs to leave. We are trying to cook the King’s lunch.”

Lambert looked at the head chef.

Osiris spotted a basket of fruit and grabbed a few before bolting back over to Lambert. A few of the cooks didn’t like that, but said nothing.

“Take me to my room.”

They left.

Osiris was frustrated with the stoves, but he’s sure he can figure out how to make a fire.. somehow. For now fruit will do. He took a bite.

It looked similar to an apple, but tasted like an orange.

Osiris then ate the fruits at a frightening speed, downing the next, and third just as quickly as the first. Lambert could only watch.

Soon they were back in the room and Osiris watched the men work on his door as Lambert set out some food for him on the only furniture left in the room. His desk.

“The King will probably move you to another room.”

“Tell him to make it on the bottom floor.”

“Unfortunately, that’s where the workers stay. First floor has workers, banquet halls, a ball room, library, and I believe there may be a training court at the very center of this building. Second floor is for guests and a few more meeting rooms. And the third floor is for royalty and diplomatic guests.”

Osiris blinked.

“Your castle is severely understaffed, but I believe the King is trying to keep it quiet around here. He stays here as well, on the other side of this floor I believe.”

Osiris made a face.

“He wants me to do daily check ups until you’re healthy enough to-”

“No need.”

“It is not up for debate.”

Osiris said nothing. Lambert cooled her head again.

“I have to do it. It’s a royal order.”

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A man grunted as he dropped the end of a broken bed frame.

“..”

“I’ll visit you in seven days, then three, then two, then daily. It won’t happen all at once, but it will happen.”

Osiris looked out the window.

“After a month or two your Father will begin lessons again. He doesn’t want you to fall too far behind, and I believe some normalcy will help.”

Osiris found that funny. Normalcy. His smile must have shown because Lambert seemed to take it in a positive light.

“I hope you’ll let us help you.”

A bird chirped.

“Can I have another plate?”

“Of course.”

Full. He was almost full. He felt like a bottomless pit, but god did it feel good.

Eventually the nun left, and the guards switched.

His room was clean and the door was replaced.

He was alone again.

Mana.

Mana, the magic juice.

He only knew what Isabella told him, and none of the magic looked as twisted as what he was seeing. Osiris tried not to look around. The dots scurried around like roaches.

From what Adam knew, mana was what made your moves flashy and powerful. They glowed, and occasionally, had a form when there was an attack, but it wasn’t like how he was seeing it.

He wasn’t even sure if what he was seeing was mana, or divinity, he was just..

He needed to know more, again.

Seven quick, trill knocks and a- “Osiris, it’s me, your Father, I’m coming in.” was the only warning Osiris got before he had to see the tired mug of the rabbit man. The coward still looked kicked. He hoped he looked kicked til the day he dies.

“I was told you were still here and not in a spare room, why?”

Osiris looked at the man’s shoes. They were spotless, squeaky clean. His weariness was not from outdoor work, but office work.

“There's a few rooms by m-”

“I’m good.”

“Osiris, there’s no furniture in here.”

Osiris looked around.

“There is still a desk.”

Mikael stood a bit taller.

“You are not sleeping in this room. I haven't had time to cast a barrier-”

“Then do it now.”

Mikael sighed.

“What?”

“Do it now, cast it.”

Mikael was tired.

“What about a bed?”

“I can sleep on the floor.”

Osiris even showed him how he would sleep on said floor. The King caught eye of a bug doll. He caved.

“Stay quiet and sit. It will take me an hour, can you wait that long?”

Osiris sat with his elbow on his leg and head in his hand. He looked rather nonchalant and Mikael took that as the go ahead.

It was quiet.

Mana flared around the King’s hands, casting a bright, green glow. Mikael can remember when Osiris couldn’t wait ten seconds before he needed to ask a question about his mana. Another flare of green. Mikael made sure to flush the inside one more time before letting the spell go.

It seeped into the walls and left not a trace.

Osiris was trying really hard not to react to seeing that green skinned monstrosity seep into his bedroom walls with his father’s mana eye, staring in love with said man, right before his eyes. He really wished this place was civil enough to have internet.

He had taken for granted being able to look something up for no reason other than wanting to know, and he really wanted to know what the fuck that was.

Mikael paused.

Right, he had that.

“It’s not much, but-” Mikael pushed a bit of mana into a ring on his right hand and a little inventory popped up. He pulled a cot. “-I don’t want to move you from here, if this is where you feel safe, so-” Osiris really wondered where these conclusions were made, and how. “-for tonight we can use your old camping cot.”

Mikael placed it where his bed used to be.

“Tomorrow I will have someone replace it.”

“..”

“Can I leave.”

“Leave?” The King scrunched his brows. “Leave where? You’re still healing-”

“Can I leave my room tomorrow.”

Mikael looked at him. His son was serious.

“Of course you can.” Mikael felt hurt. “ The guards will escort you wherever-”

“Alone. I want to walk around this place alone.”

Mikael was about to immediately deny the request, but stopped.

“If you promise not to leave the castle grounds I will give you free reign.”

It sounded like a scam but Osiris just nodded.

The King then kept to himself and after he felt his room was clean enough he left.

The bugs were gone.

Mikael closed the door softly and let his timid face fall. His son was scared to leave his room? Mikael loosened his clasps. He still had quite a bit of mana left and a lot of grounds to cover.

A quick whistle later and a few short words and everyone in the castle was getting replaced. If his son didn’t feel safe, he was going to make it safe.

Three bells chimed.

The castle was cleansed both magically and physically.

Not a speck of dust in sight.

Lambert was right, he had needed to clean deeper.

But the stage was already set.