“Urie, dear, you can go ahead. Mother will follow after a while.”

“Alright, mother,” Urie replied.

Rivelle gave him a hug and a pat on the head as she knelt down, but that was after she had given him a thorough scolding for last night's disappearance.

Apparently, his mother had caused quite the commotion with the city guards while trying to find him. Imagine everyone's surprise finding him having a dip in the fountain. When they saw him unconscious, however, he was immediately rushed to a doctor. He had no problems other than a slight fever, and was declared fit to be brought back home. Only after laying him on his bed did his mother gain peace of mind.

—Ah, I really worried mother.

Leaving Rivelle to her morning preparations, Urie made proceeded to the dining room.

On the way, he felt a slight discomfort in his chest, an unfamiliar wave of heat. Was last night's fever yet to abate? He mused.

—It's probably not a fever. I don't feel weak nor lightheaded.

Urie deemed the feeling harmless and let it go momentarily. As he entered the dining room, he was welcomed by a long, brown ponytail swaying side to side.

“Good morning Patty,” he cheerfully greeted the maid preparing the table for breakfast.

Patty replied, “Good morning young master,” before turning around surprised. She sent him a smile and carefully asked, “Y-Young master, are you alright?”

—Patty must have been anxious as well. Was it because of last night?

The maid appeared weary and lacking of sleep. She had been the one tasked to watch over him when he disappeared. Urie felt that Patty also needed an apology.

“I'm fine, and I apologize for worrying everyone,” Urie answered, before taking a seat at the dining table.

Patty shook her head lightly in response, “We're all just glad that you're safe, young master. Has milady Rivelle woken up?”

“Ah, mother will be down soon. She just woke up."

Patty excused herself, “Alright, then I'll be right back with the food, young master."

After she'd left for the kitchen, Urie's thoughts drifted back to his discomfort. The heat from his chest refused to be ignored. He raised his shirt to check if there was something underneath that was the cause, but saw nothing except for his flushed skin.

—What is it? Is it really a fever? But I feel fine...?

Urie lacked the sensation of drowsiness but he suddenly had the urge to close his eyes. When he did, he snapped them back open only a short few seconds later.

“A-Ah! It wasn't a dream...” the corners of his mouth curled up unwittingly. He couldn't stop himself. On his face bloomed a smile he couldn't control.

Under a newly acquired sensation, Urie closed his eyes again to numerous motes of white light gathering towards his body. Laughter emerged from his lips.

—Mana! Haha! This is mana!

He could also feel it. Thin, red threads spreading throughout his consciousness. Urie's mana roots were finally forming! His attention moved to his mana seed; as its roots sprouted, he felt the speed at which he gathered mana became faster.

—Quickly! Form quickly! I want to use magic!

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“Young Master!” An abrupt shout pulled Urie from his excitement and brought him back to his senses. When he opened his eyes, the other maid, Ersha, was on the other side of the table.

“What's wrong Ersha?” Urie asked. He could see her short, black hair from across the room, but couldn't make out her expression as his vision appeared blurred.

“Aah!!!” Patty cried out from behind her before she could give him an answer.

—What's wrong? Why did they shout?

Urie rubbed his eyes trying to remedy the haze obstructing his sight. Though only after a couple of kneads did he notice that it wasn't his vision that was impaired. Rather, it was the air around him that was visibly swaying. It didn't take long for him to figure out the reason for this phenomenon, as a quick glance at his arms provided him an answer.

Urie closed his eyes again and did a quick self-examination.

His mana seed was fully operating, absorbing mana through his roots. His roots that still hadn't fully formed were pulsating with red light, while the thickness of each strand differed and had yet to settle.

Patty and Ersha had been startled by the red glow that his body was emitting. However, Urie couldn't stop this, even if he wanted to. The only thing he could do was hold it back a little.

“What is going on?” Perplexed by the shouts she'd heard from behind the door, Rivelle arrived and was in for a big surprise.

“Milady! Y-Young master! He—“

Without waiting for Patty to finish her answer, Rivelle snapped towards Urie.

Urie spoke with glee, “Mother—!“ His face grew hot and couldn't help beaming. He faced his mother with glittering eyes and declared,

“—I can use magic!”

- Rivelle -

“...Apparently, he could use magic.”

In a room pungent with the smell of books and ink, Rivelle was staring at a piece of paper placed on top of a wooden desk. She fidgeted about in her seat while twisting a lock of her fair-colored hair.

“What should else should I say?” she mumbled, as she tried to figure out what to write to her husband. She'd gone back early yesterday to write but after this morning's surprise, she had to renew the letter's contents.

Since her son can now use magic, he was eligible to enroll in Daerin's magic academy. Rivelle wasn't opposed to his enrolment but did feel rather against his wish to go to the wall after graduation. She felt conflicted, knowing what it meant for him to be able to use magic.

“—Aghk! He'd want to go to that darned wall!” she clicked her tongue and the pen she held in her hand slightly creaked.

Even if her dear son wasn't able to use magic, he still might've run away to the wall without informing her or her husband. This Rivelle thought in passing, but she was actually correct in thinking.

She knew her son well.

“Hah...” a sigh trailed from her mouth along with resignation. Her husband and two other sons were already at the Erden wall and yet, her youngest who had yet to grow up was in a rush to join them.

“I might as well go with them rather than stay here by myself waiting for whatever news that might come,” she groaned.

Her pen moved with a flurry and words began appearing on the piece of paper. Moments later, she took out a scented envelope and placed the finished letter inside, securing it with the Loeth House's seal.

She left the study and met with Ersha on her way to the garden, “Give this to the courier when he arrives,” Rivelle instructed, and Ersha bowed in response while receiving the letter with both hands.

“How is Urie? Is he still letting out any outbursts? “ Rivelle asked.

“Milady, young master has settled down since this morning. Patty is staying nearby in case of any accidents.”

Rivelle inspected Ersha's appearance. A glisten of sweat was on her pale, flushed skin, and her raven hair stood up in multiple unruly strands. Ersha's untidy appearance wasn't due to any exercise, but was the result of staying near Urie during an irregularly recurring session of mana circulation. A ferocious expansion of Urie's mana roots was taking place.

Rivelle couldn't quite understand how it happened but it seemed a spirit had visited him in a dream. Moreover... Urie said it was a spirit of fire!

“...If his father or any of his brothers were here, we might have been able to do something about this darned heat, “ Rivelle sighed as she arrived at the back garden.

Once filled with white carnations surrounding a huge stone circle, she gave it a pained glance. The beautiful flowers had wilted due to the increase in temperature. While over at another spot... Drooping on a stone bench with a bucket of water on hand was the younger maid, Patty. Her skin was as red as a ripe tomato and she was using a towel to wipe the perspiration from her face.

Rivelle turned to the middle of the large stone circle. Her son, Urie, was seated cross-legged, eyes in repose, and around his small body was an unbridled dance of crimson threads, each flickering with their own rhythm.