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Elven Lies II : The Solar Mage
Elven Lies II Chapter 35 : Hera Clandor (2)

Elven Lies II Chapter 35 : Hera Clandor (2)

CHAPTER 35

HERA CLANDOR (2)

Several days have passed since the troublesome event. Hans followed her arrangement for a while until he couldn’t. “That’s it. I come here and sit like a statue and do nothing. This has gone on long enough—”

“It took you three days to lose your patience. A mage must be patient—”

“Yeah, a mage should be patient, not stupid…. Ma’am.” Hans added the last part because he saw a small frown on her face.

“Come here.” She motioned her hand to call him, and like an obedient puppy, he followed, not because he wanted to, but he learned in the past three days. The more he delayed her calls, the more his cheeks would regret it later.

“Ah! Ah!…ugh…sowwyy.” Hans rubbed his stinging cheeks. “Just what do you want with me… ma’am,” he asked politely.

She tilted her head up, her eyes peeking above her glasses. “A minute,” she said, and the paperwork which had been holding her till now just came to an end. “Now, Hans, you have my complete attention. Let’s see how much you know about yourself.” She asked, “For starters, do you know the meaning of your name?”

“A gift from the gods—”

“No, not in human tongue but elvish.”

“Why would my name be in Elvish?” Hans thought hard, but his extensive knowledge had no recall of the meaning. So he just shook his head, and Hera answered, “It’s Inception, a starting point of something grander.”

“Sounds cool.”

“I know, right?” Her expression showed a hint of sadness as if there was something she couldn't share. However, Hans chose not to pry; his cheeks were still stinging from before.

She stood up and Hans involuntarily stepped back, instantly covering his cheeks. But her hand fell on his head and a warm smile etched on her face. She whispered, “I can’t believe you’ve grown this big in a couple of years.”

Hans wasn’t like Delimira who could read any person like a book. Neither did he have his SCAN command active, but he could feel genuine care in Hera’s gaze that he usually saw in his family. Troubled by the sudden reaction of hers, he asked, “Have you seen me before?”

“No, I've only heard a far-fetched, ridiculous story. You were the sacrificial hero in it,” she remarked, pulling his hand away from his cheeks and holding it gently as she guided him outside. Hans sensed that was as much as she wanted to reveal, so he didn't resist and allowed her to lead him out.

The awkward silence between them was broken when Hans silently followed her. “Hmm… I thought you were the curious one. Don’t you want to ask me more?” she finally spoke, breaking the stiff silence.

“A mage must have patience,” Hans remarked, echoing her own words.

She smiled back but didn’t say anything else. Hans looked around and noticed that they had walked for a while, but he couldn’t see a single person in the corridor. Finally, they reached a door and passed through it, entering Nodemaster’s personal space, her training grounds.

She finally let go of his hand. “Listen, kid, I really don’t want to share that particular story, but I will if you manage to hit me once—“

“Not interested,” Hans bluntly denied.

“You’re a tough kid to manipulate, aren’t you?”

“No, I’m quite easy. You’re not just pushing the right buttons.”

“Hmm… kai.” She turned to her aide and said, “Shed some lights here, will you?”

Kai thought for a moment and responded, “Propose to take him beyond barrier—”

Before he could finish, Hans swiftly leaped away from Hera. He positioned his hands in a fighting stance, left hand behind his right, both raised up to his chin, perfectly poised for hand-to-hand combat. This stance covered all his vital points. Cutting off Kai's words, he declared, “Now you're pushing the right buttons. Ready or not, here I come.”

“Wait… I haven’t even confirmed.” Hera stretched her hand, gesturing Hans to stop, but he was shooting like a meteor at her using his wind gem.

“Boom!” An explosion occurred before Hans could even cover half the distance. “I said, wait, you impatient child.” Hera remarked, sighing.

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“Tap! Tap! Tap!” Hans could hear her steps. He had focussed his every sense to see how Hera did her spell, but his eyes still couldn’t pick out what happened in a moment. It was a flash of light, and he broke several of his bones again.

She came near him, her eyes staring down at him with pity. Her hand reached his neck and pulled out the Blessing of Wind, his pendant that he allegedly won from Allynna. “That’s mine…” Hans struggled to stand, but the pendant was already in Hera’s hands.

“What are you talking about?” Hera questioned as she glanced at the wind gem. “This used to be mine… or more accurately, it’s something that is passed down in my family, to the heirs of the Clandor throne…it was a jewel, but now it acts as a mana gem? How?”

“That’s mine.” Hans finally stood up.

ParadiseGarden

He called on his vitality-transferring plants and got visibly healed.

“Give it back.” Hans put his unwavering will to take command of the surrounding mana and used his most powerful attack that he could use.

“ManaStorm.” He had no time to wait for the mana swirling to perfection, so he quickly took a step and sent a shockwave of ravaging mana at Hera in close range. There was no way anyone could dodge that attack within a hand’s distance. But Hera did; she teleported behind Hans.

“You should listen to your elders.” She pulled his left cheek strongly.

“Ugh…ugh..agh.. tat’s mine..”

“Yes, yes, it’s yours. I’ll confiscate it for a while.” Hera tied the pendant around her neck, giving Hans a contorted face. “Don’t look at me with those eyes. You rely on external factors; that is why you still can’t see through my spell.”

“How about this, during the remaining time, if you manage to hit me once, I’ll return it to you.” She offered, waving her hand.

“No,”Hans outright rejected. “Just give it back.”

“Ha… you are really as stubborn— then there is only one way for you to wear this…hang on… why can’t I use it—”

“I told you it’s mine.” Hans insisted, “Only I can use it—”

“Is it because the special way you control mana?” Hera asked, prompting Hans to startle for a moment. There was no one till now who could see how he uses mana but Hera was talking as if it wasn’t a big deal.

“How do you know?” He asked, perplexed.

“Cause that’s how the Ancients use mana. You need to be a ten-circle mage to use surrounding mana as you wish… but in front of me, is a boy not even fourteen who uses the mana the same way as theirs. I’m surprised and this is astonishing in itself.”

This wasn’t new information for Hans. Dietrich had mentioned it before, but Hera’s words were making a bold impression. “How do you know it’s similar to the Ancients?” He asked again.

“Because that is what I want to become. An eternal life with overwhelming power. Isn’t this every mage’s dream? Haven’t you seen my un-aging teacher?”

Hans’s vision darted to the hanging gem. He wasn’t even paying half the attention to what Hera was talking about. He couldn’t afford to lose his Wind gem. He knew under no circumstances he could land an attack on Hera, at least not now. She was rumoured to be the strongest living mage, and even the rare mage of light.

Mostly light element wielders opted for the Knight discipline. Even Clandor royalty, who was born with innate light element, all chose to become knights. It was all because light was easier to control as an aura rather than pure mana, but Hera managed to tame that light and become a warlock. This clearly stated she was beyond Hans’s reach now.

“There is another way you could get this back,” She suddenly offered, “Are you sure you don’t want to know?”.

“Mhm…you might as well speak.”

“Since this is only meant to pass among the family. Want to become my son—”

“What?” He was startled. A jolt came out of these words inside him. He had no idea what she wanted. “No, hard pass.” He rejected firmly.

“Call me mother, try it.” She encouraged as if his previous words fell on deaf ears.

Troubled, Hans asked her, “Did you have a thing for my father—”

“What nonsense.” Hera showed her disgusted expression for the first time, even Kai who was perplexed with the way things were progressing.

The very thought of Hans’ words sent shivers to her. “I like older men, your father was ten years younger than me.” She explained.

“Then what gives? Why are you acting so pushy?” Hans complained.

“Because when I look at you, all I see is a boy burdened by others and none stepping in to help. If you continue like this, your fate will catch up with you. I don't want you to meet the same end as in that story.” Hera’s words were earnest. “I just want to give you peace, a lap to put your head to rest.”

Hans interjected, “I appreciate your kindness, but I'm not just me. My last name is Parv. My words must carry weight, and I must honour them no matter what. You're of Clandorian royalty, and one day, our paths may cross against each other. I hate conflicts in my conscience, it ruins judgment.”

“That's why I'm asking you, child. Your behaviour isn't suitable for a kid your age. You should laugh, cry, and learn, but not carry the burdens of the world. Not this time at least, your father didn’t want that for you.”

Hans saw her earnest plight as if she was taking pity on him. However, he couldn’t find the source of that pity, his life was as wonderful as it was eventful. Whatever she was pitying, it wasn’t him. But the mention of Samson not wanting him that life, sparked something inside him, his eyes moistened, “Then he should’ve been here for me. What do you expect me to do now?” He didn’t know what came over him, he was many things but not this emotional. “There is no one—”

“I’ll,” she caressed his face, wiping those tears. “Be my child and live a carefree life. Experience childhood as it should be, grow up, and when you're ready, I'll let you spread your wings. Even Parv won’t be able to claim you. I’ll be your shield.” Hera offered, “Words have power, just say it once and you won’t ever have to care about things tying you down.” Her voice was so gentle that it almost convinced Hans.

“Thank you.”

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