The gardens, bathed in the moon's dim light, allowed some movement through the many paths weaved everywhere. In the center stood Lanthim. With eyes closed, many creatures would come out at night, so it was an opportunity to train. With the tiny pitter-patter of mice and other small animals going here and there, Lanthim could sense them deep inside their tunnels. While observing these creatures was interesting, it was not the only training he was working on.
Since his first use of Purified Mana, Lanthim has been interested in how Elemental manipulation works, Especially how to use mana without magical sequences. So he had walked out onto the lake that made up the center of the gardens. Doing so did require active regalia to keep his mana supply constant. He was having his mana flow from his core to his feet. Then, to change aspects of the water itself so he could walk on it not only took a great deal of concentration but almost all of his available mana. One of the four Regalia that Lanthim had in his possession, called frienriha, had been created specifically for this purpose.
He was providing a limited stream of purified mana for his use. So he could learn magic, he desired to try and experiment. He could not just constantly pull mana ceaselessly from his regalia. If he, at some point, used a spell or manipulated mana. In any way, Lanthim would take that mana from his pool. In the process, he could not take in any more purified mana from the Regalia because the seal on his back continued to absorb any extra mana. So, due to the amount of mana he could use that was not taken by the seal—the size and complexity of the magic he could use.
He mainly used Frienriha when he performed mana manipulation without sequences. Doing so allowed him to use a limited amount of his mana while using the regalia to avoid running out of mana. At this time, Lanthim had dedicated almost all of his training. In the field of magic, without incantation or sequence. Having not left the lake's center, Lanthim began to levitate small orbs of water around him.
About four orbs were all he could form and deploy effectively anymore. And he would run out of mana, and Frienriha would be unable to keep up with his usage.
Moving his hands back and forth, manipulating the orbs as he pleased, the orbs obeyed the motions instantly. Lanthim smiled as he continued with his training routines. In his mind, he could sense new arrivals had come to the estate. He could not make out who they were. All he could tell was that they had arrived through the portal gates deep in the estate.
'There have not been many visitors for some time.' {Lanthim}
Said Lanthim to himself as he continued to manipulate the orbs.
Litralia's Study
"I remember when Lanthim went up the mountain for testing; I thought nothing of him, a small child with a seal on his back. That had not been in almost four thousand years. Sending him to the pool of Hynrest was meant to serve as a measure to see how the seal would react. Suppose he was to have an increase in Purified mana. Never expected as dense as the Natural mana is, there would all be purified then used to dismantle most of the seal itself?" [Mynrea]
She reflected openly to everyone present. It had been almost a week since the sparing between Reiflin and the boy she had remained to observe Lanthim as he went about his daily actions. In doing so, she felt strangely uneasy watching Lanthim perform any magic. Even now, she looked out the window down on the gardens, seeing him standing in the lake's center surrounded by little orbs of water.
"He will not stop searching for new magic or means to rid himself of that seal." [Litralia]
Litralia said softly, sitting on one of three large sofas she had placed in this room for such meetings. The group present differed from the one Litralia was used to hosting; rarely did all four of Nedral Frenost's wives meet in one place. Usually, they lived separately from one another, only meeting in the capital, where the clan's leading estates resided. Fienya stood looking out the same window with Mynrea down towards Lanthim. Careful not to show unintended emotion, she watched in amazement.
"He is only six years old, correct?" [Fienya]
She asked, turning towards the rest.
"Never have I seen such ability so young true some talented individual will enter one of the academies and cause a stir for a time, but this." [Fienya]
The excitement in her eyes fed the growing sense of awe in the room.
"I have wondered these last few days." [Mynrea]
Spoke Myrnea, having not taken her eyes from the window since the conversation began
"Why would you choose to have him spar? He revealed his ability to the world, while I am in no doubt that he could defend himself from most assailants. That any clan could send against him does cause an issue for you to find a family willing to marry their daughter to a man more powerful than she is. The idea behind marriage is to raise oneself while not being threatened from within." [Litralia]
Litralia looked at her tea, thinking through the reasons behind the match in truth, were many. Firstly, she desired to know the full extent of Lanthim's abilities. Never seeing them used in combat or training meant she knew almost nothing then. He had become increasingly skilled in evading the many Familiars. She used to watch over him, and she could not fully understand the extent of what he was capable of until Reiflin came. Secondly, the discovery of regalia was something that should have been years down the road for him. It took her almost forty years to construct her first regalia, and it took this boy a year to form four.
"At six years of age, he defeated a dragon, who is of the highest order of being living in our world, in less than three strikes. The final strike, with the aid of his regalia, nearly killed him. Reiflin while destroying the entire southern portion of the estate. If anything, it is more likely that he will catch the interest of some dragon female who will seek to use him somehow.
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Litralia looked up from her tea and turned to the woman next to her who had spoken. Pamreila spoke with a calm voice. The almost ice-white colour of her hair gave the impression of age, which, for those here, it did. Among the four present, Litralia was the youngest, having only lived about two hundred twenty-four years. Pamreila was this year four hundred seventy.
It is common for witches to live for extreme lengths of time, mainly due to the flow of control of the flow of mana in their bodies. Both of these two being human, the distance in age was average. After these two, the age gap starts to expand, and Feinya's age increases due to elvish customs, which are as strange as they were. Only her husband would know her actual age, and only he would. Most, however, would place her around a thousand years old, with Mynrea being the oldest at four thousand and some.
"An interesting idea. I would have thought the same thing. Sadly, our honoured husband's mother always has a bride ready when a boy is born." [Mynrea]
Mynrea turned her attention to the others. Lanthim had left the lake.
"Regardless of what we say here, she already has a prized daughter from some great clan ready for when the time comes." [Mynrea]
East Corridor
A light breeze filled Lanthim's hair as he went to bed for the evening. Nightly training had gone well today, and he felt ready for bed. Looking around as he made his way, he noticed a light in one of the lit rooms. Investigating as he always did, he immediately knew the room of his younger brothers, Melryn and Aldain.
Merlyn, the oldest of the two younger boys, stood atop his bed throwing toys, pillows and anything he could get his hands on and exclaimed in his little three-year-old voice.
"No, I will not go to bed." [Melryn]
On the bed, just adjacent to his. Aldain, the younger brother, with a massive smile, looked almost amused by his older brother's antics. Then, there was their caretaker, Mierrin, who did not look in the slightest way pleased by the situation. As Lanthim entered, she looked in his direction, a look that could destroy a man's soul—giving a smile and walking over to the rampaging toddler, he watched.
"Merlyn, you do need to sleep now. It is very late, and you cannot play as you would." [Lanthim]
Finally, after a few minutes, Lanthim spoke.
"I don't feel tired." [Melryn]
The small boy was still defiant, having stopped throwing the whole room about. Looking at each other, both older and younger brothers slowly came closer, with Melryn eventually sitting on the side of his bed. Standing before him was Lanthim, placing his index finger on his brother's forehead, and the boy instantly fell asleep.
"I will take my leave now, Mierrin. He will likely make a fuse when he wakes. However, it is better than having him sad and tired tomorrow." [Lanthim]
And so Lanthim left, himself tired, having spent much of his day in training. Reaching his room, he felt relieved that he could stop. Touching the door, he suddenly sensed something on the other side, a presence that he had only perceived once before when he was in the heart of the mountain. Opening the door slowly, he prepared a little earth in his hand, a pebble just large enough that it would split a man's skull with enough speed. Slowly, he entered the sensation, which was overwhelming. But how was it possible that only when he came in contact with the door? He was able to feel its presence.
Turning inwards as he advanced through the half-open door, he came upon the culprit. A man levitating just a few inches off the ground, a look of delight was on his face.
"You are Lanthim Frenost, are you not?"
The man spoke suddenly, still keeping with his smile.
"Who is the one that asks that I may know whether I give my name to enemy or friend."
Lanthim asked calmly. Fear was not the best emotion for this situation better to kill with some level of emotional control than just to act. Both looked at each other, the man. Who looked older with a great white beard, slowly caressed it deep in thought. While Lanthim observed the motions, wondering what would happen.
"You seek knowledge of how to remove that seal from your back."
The man's words pierced Lanthim's soul; unease filled him.
'How does this person know of the seal? Few know about it.' {Lanthim}
He thought to himself, his thoughts growing ever more unnerved.
"The things you seek can be yours. However, you will not find them in this safe house with people to protect you. Go to the forest of Legrcstim and seek the witch named Grialren. Tell her you to seek the Library of Denymiel. If you are strong enough? You will find all that you desire, if not more."
Never ceasing to smile through the whole conversation, the man vanished as if he had never been. Lanthim, exhausted, fell asleep on the floor where he stood.