A look of surprise fell upon both Melryn his younger brother Aldain as they sat just completing an hour of meditation.

"Wait, divorced things were only unsettled before we came up the mountain for training." [Aldain]

"It would seem to be something that was handled silently over the time you have been training." [Instructor]

The one that spoke was Nelban Geilnath, an high templar sent to train the two brothers. Over the past months since the limiter that made it so they could not grow into a higher order. Lanthim had sent high templar to train his younger brothers to prepare them to enter the Forest of Legrcstim. For Melryn, the idea of his older brother passing him over to someone else to train was hurtful. Now, with this news about his mother, he would lose the prestige that came with the Strentolos clan's name while losing his fathers as well.

"Our master would like to speak to both of you as soon as you can make ready." [Nelban]

Getting to their feet, both brothers looked astonished at each other. At no time had they ever been invited to the estate for anything other than to get their limiters. It was some far off place they would rarely see.

"If brother wishes, then we should go now." [Melryn]

Anticipating the answer, Nelban waved his right hand a portal to some faraway place and on the other side a large open door. This was not a new occurrence for the brother's several high templar level individuals would come and go from their mother's estate bringing messages or gifts to Litralia. Passing through the portal, Melryn saw his mother waiting for them.

"Mother! What is this we are being told so suddenly." [Melryn]

Not able to contain his emotions, Melryn advanced towards his mother with frightening speed anger in his eyes. Litralia was not phased by the outburst. She stood next to Melfsol, a person Melryn could not match.

"The situation had become irreconcilable, also the schemes of your grandmother and your father's first wife. Had weakened my resolve to remain as part of that family for some time." [Litralia]

"I do not understand everything seemed well when Aldain and myself left for training." [Melryn]

"Of course, everything seemed well I hid my feelings about the arrogant language the condescending attitude. Everything that horrible child did was for this end, so here we are." [Litralia]

Both mother and son angrily stared at one another. Still standing at the portal Aldain, had a stunned look on his face. Not because of the swift movement Melryn had just made but at the argument that the two were having. Never in all his life had such a thing happened between his mother and Melryn. That being said, Litralia was not wrong. The Strentolos clan was not trying to hide their desire for her to leave.

Neither Litralia nor Melryn looked as if they take their eye off each other. Looking still angry, both did not speak again for some time.

"Sigh, I think there has been enough said already. Let us proceed into the mountain our master is waiting." [Melfsol]

Turning away from Litralia and Melryn, the grandmaster made his way into the mountain. Leaving the three of them just standing there. Astonished that he would just abandon them there, the three family members quickly followed.

The natural mana in the meditation room was more abundant now. Then when Litralia had last been with Lanthim a few hours ago.

"Welcome, everyone, please come sit." [Lanthim]

With a strained wheezing voice, Lanthim spoke. No longer were bandages around his neck. All that could be seen from where Litralia was standing was a horrendous scar. Taking a rune stone from Melfsol that made it so she could enter the meditation room, Litralia moved to Lanthim's side.

"What happened! The wound to your neck was much worse this morning." [Litralia]

Placing her hand on his throat, Litralia could feel that while the body was repaired to a point. The Mana tendrils on his right side had not been reconstructed. It was only through these tendrils that mana was purified and then used. When damage, the ability to manipulate mana was greatly diminished.

"It is fine Mother, I have been collecting mana with the spear of Dyhnal and have been able to repair this much." [Lanthim]

With his eyes gone, Lanthim could only feel the world around him through natural mana. Unlike purified mana, natural, did not require being passed through the body. The downside to its use was the sheer immensity of it. Natural mana could almost be thought of as a single consolidated entity that makes up all living things. Therefore to use natural, mana one must control the smallest possible part and not interact too much with the rest or risk going mad.

So while he had no eyes, he could through mana see well. Turning his head to the entrance, he could see both his brother looking at him with frightened looks in their eyes. Raising his left hand, he beckoned them over.

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"Come, sit there is no need to fear I am not dead while I feel like I would prefer to be." [Lanthim]

Taken aback, both brother slowly walked across the cushion-like surface to sit next to their mother.

"Brother, we had not heard that you had been so seriously wounded in the battle. We are both sorry to see you in this condition." [Aldain]

Melryn nodded in agreement with what Aldain had said. They had together thought that something had happened that day when the Renthial had come. Now seeing the damage for themselves, they both felt deeply saddened.

"My condition is not something that the two of you need worry about. Today is a family matter that needs to be seen to." [Lanthim]

A smile formed on Lanthim's face as he looked at his brothers. They were still very young but dependable and growing in power.

"We have just heard of the divorce and that we have been removed from the Frenost family registry brother." [Melryn]

Hanging his head low, Melryn seeing his older brother in such a state. Did not feel worthy in the presence of such a person. After all the feelings of jealousy towards others, he had felt. Feeling abandoned, worked to the bone, these feelings just vanished with a single thought.

'That day, we all could have died.'

The room was silent Aldain softly patted Melryn on the back with a smile on his face and a nod of reassurance.

"Yes, these things are a blessing to us, nevertheless great shall be your trials because of it." [Lanthim]

Hearing this, both Melryn and Aldain nodded. Everything they had built concerning the people around them was founded on their attachment to the Strentolos Clan. Now that those bonds were permanently severed, the possibility that they would retain anything of their place in the social hierarchy was gone forever. Looking at their mother, both boys could see in her face someone content about the action she had undertaken. While also saddened by what the result had become.

"I have spoken with your brother, and he has decided that with things as they stand. He shall undertake to form a new Clan, so we shall all be living here from now on." [Litralia]

Blank stares are all Litralia got from her sons. Looking confused with a touch of concern while adding a creeping smile. As if saying to themselves, "Yeah right, as if that could happen." Turning to their older brother, they saw a massive smile on Lanthim's face. They could tell that he was withholding his desire to laugh as loud as he could. So not to cause himself any pain.

"Brother, is it possible that you have already begun to form this new clan." [Melryn]

Turning his head slightly, Lanthim looked at Melryn with his smile still present.

"It is not a hard thing to transfer all my business holdings into a formalized Clan structure. Be it ore mining, precious metals, Shipping trade lanes, Land routes, Mercantile, Real estate, Fisheries, Cattle Ranching, Anf the list goes on and on. For years I have kept these interests of mine under different aliases. Now, I just have to consolidate it all, and we will have a foundation financially anyway.[Lanthim]

A sudden shock filled the meditation room as the full magnitude of what Lanthim just said settled in their minds. Litralia sat looking at her eldest son, amazed at the fact that she had never imagined she would learn something like this. For the past few months since Lanthim brought his wives here, they would always wonder where all the money came from.

Aldain had fallen over on his back and was muttering something to himself.

'Everything is perfect always brother executes everything he does perfectly.'

Melryn remained sitting but could not think straight there was just too much happening too quickly.

"Brother, will your students be brought into the clan." [Melryn]

Regaining himself, Melryn felt a need to ask this question not because he held anything against those who followed his brother. But he wanted to see to what lengths Lanthim would go through to increase the clan's membership.

"While they do follow me, the relationship between myself and my students is not that of a family. So no, unless some circumstance should arise, things shall remain as they are." [Lanthim]

Having received an answer to his question Melryn nodded then turned to the muttering Aldain, who was still mumbling to himself.

"So the main body of the clan will be quite small for a time?" [Melryn]

With this, Aldain returned to his sitting position.

"That is right, there are the three of us, mother, Syrelia, Leinea and Mynrea." [Aldain]

Hearing this, Litralia felt a little under pressure, being still young enough to continue having children. Sadly her previous marriage had resulted in her be abandoned after Syrelia was born.

"For now, this is not something to worry too much over. Now I would like to speak with Melryn alone for a bit." [Lanthim]

Getting to her feet, Litralia gestured to her youngest son to follow her, leaving Melryn behind. As both left the meditation room, Melryn moved closer to his brother.

"You have been troubled of late little brother explain to me what is wrong."[Lanthim]

Feeling all his past feeling well up inside of him, Melryn spoke.

"I feel that you care little for aldain and me brother, we are taught by your students. Thus we hear no praise for what we accomplish. You take Syrelia and treat her well yet leave us to deal with the Strentolos and all their games. Now we are here, and I see now that you do far more for us than we actually see." [Melryn]

Hanging his head in shame, Melryn waited for what Lanthim would say.

"It is true, Melryn I am not the best older brother I could have been. I allowed the needs of Leinea and Mynrea to take my time from training you both myself. I must say, however, that being married and having two wives does shift my priorities to my family. Meaning that their needs and wants are at the forefront of my mind, and I must do what is best for them. That being the case, you must learn that yes, I do love you my, brother, but you must allow your training to unfold the way I see best." [Lanthim]

Straightening his neck pointing his face was towards the ceiling, lanthim took a deep breath.

"You should not feel that you have in any way disappointed me in this. It is natural to have our feeling hurt from time to time. So we must talk of such things, so they do not fester and lead to anger and hatred." [Lanthim]

Raising his head, Melryn could feel a tear running down his face.

"I am thankful that we could talk like this." [Melryn]

"As am I, you know Melryn, there is an interesting phenomenon you may have experienced tell me if you have." [Lanthim]

Eager to hear what Lanthim had to say, Melryn leaned closer.

"When you have had a meal, and sometimes the food smells so good you could sware that you could already taste it and the food is still in the kitchen." [Lanthim]

"Yes, brother, I have experienced that before many times, in fact."

"Then I hope that you can find the Taste of Success." [Lanthim]