As the morning broke, Melryn sat meditating, facing the massive windows in his new room. The events of the previous day had left him with some confused feelings. Even though everything happened so quickly, he understood why. Sitting in his room, Melryn thought about how his circumstances would change the way people looked at him. To the outside world, his entire family was clanless, which was not a sought-after distinction.
Even if a clan had one remaining female member, there was a provision to sustain her. The human world was founded primarily on absolute matriarchal control. Melryn's condition was different being male, and also the fact that his mother cast herself and her youngest children out of the Strentolos clan. The prestige of his father's clan had given a level of privilege to both himself and Aldain. The only individual of any concern to the main branch of the clan had been Syrelia. Now awake, he had started to meditate and was now able to draw over a thousand times the natural mana than he would have back in his former home. The feeling of loss towards his previous life had begun to lessen.
"Young master Melryn may we enter?" [Maids]
Pulling himself from his meditation Meltyn turned his head towards the closed door to his left.
"Yes, enter." [Melryn]
As the door opened, two maids entered his room.
"Young master, we have brought your breakfast and your academy uniform." [Maids]
Quickly and efficiently, his breakfast and clothes had been in their proper place.
"We shall take our leave, young master." [Maids]
With that, both disappeared behind the closed door.
'Ah, right, I still have to attend the academy.' {Melryn}
He had wished he could have a respite at least until the new clan had come fully into being. So, stopping his meditation while slowly making his way to the table where the food was. Taking a bite, he was moved to tears by the taste. Such food for a mere breakfast meal seemed to be a waste. But not just the food, but everything from the clothes he now wore to the bed he slept. The house they now dwelt in was extravagantly furnished. He did not know how this all came to be. The place his mother resides was the second or middle mountain that made up Lanthim's estate. The estate to Melryn was more like a large city than a man's house. Since the tiers of the estate went from the base up, the largest population in this place was in the bottom three tiers.
Melryn did not, however, know the number of people who lived there. All he recalled was his elder brother telling him, "There were many."
Regardless his mother Litralia had taken for her use five adjacent buildings for her family. In comparison to the size of the area, his mother now enhabited. Their former home was substantially smaller. Compared to the massive sections that both Leinea and Mynrea controlled, this small grouping of buildings was small. That being aside, Litralia was Lanthim's mother, coupled with his unmoveable loyalty to her. Meant neither of his wives complained, at least not anywhere he could hear. Finishing his meal, Melyn could sense someone approaching his room. It was Leinea, his sister-in-law coming in the direction of his room.
'It has been a long time since she has come to scold me for being late.' {Melryn}
Having thought, this his attention turned to his uniform, realizing that it would be at least two hours before he had to get ready to leave. In his chair, a knock came on the door. Waving towards the door opened unveiling Leinea.
"I see you have finished your morning meditation. We need to discuss some things." [Leinea]
Gesturing to the other side of the round table at which he sat.
"Please sit." [Melryn]
Leinea gently smiled, moving from the door to sit with Melryn.
"You look to have settled in fairly well should you need anything. Request for the servants." [Leinea]
Melryn looked at the empty plate on the table while nodding in agreement.
"I feel there is more to your coming here than to fawn over the servants." [Melryn]
Leinea's smile did not fade.
"Your birthday is in three weeks if I remember correctly." [Leinea]
Processing the question, he could not dismiss the fact that he was going to be fifteen.
"That would be correct, but I don't see what that has to do with anything at present." [Melryn]
"It has everything to do with the present you are participating in the tournament with a transfer student that has come from the most powerful clan on the continent. Also, by the end of this week, the formation of the new clan will be complete." [Leinea]
For a moment, both looked at each other. Melryn with a confused, serious look on his face and Leinea still gently smiling.
"So I am to be how the world will see the power of our clan." [Melryn]
Looking at Leinea, he could tell that something was going on in her head.
"Not the entire world this globe we live upon is too large and the nations many that dwell upon it." [Leinea]
What Leinea said was true. While the world was travelable, the continents and nations upon them were many and vast. Rarely would something happen on one side of the world. And the other would only hear of it as a rumour or passing thought. The great oceans were so utterly massive in size that they took years to cross.
"It will be impossible to avoid our clan when discovered that all the males in our clan can Manipulate mana without the need of assisting regalia." [Leinea]
Melryn had been thinking about how such an event would unfold. Now he could see that everything that had happened since lanthim had returned must have been preplanned. That said, it was unlikely that anyone but his elder brother knew of these plans.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"There is also the matter of finding a suitable marriage partner for you. You have indeed had a sizeable entourage of young women following you around because of your success in the academy tournament. Most of these will abandon you because of your being cast out of the Strentolos clan." [Leinea]
For a moment, the gears in Melryn's head stopped turning as his mind began to process what Leinea was talking about with a startled look on his face. As if he had just he had walked into a conversation, he should not have.
"Wait, one minute, what are you talking about." [Melryn]
Finally able to speak, he rose quickly and began to walk away.
"I will remind you that the marriage laws of your country do not apply here. This continent, we inhabit was destroyed generations ago. Long after the fourth breaking. All that remains is this forest and these mountains." [Leinea]
Remembering his last history, lesson Melryn recollected that the destruction of this continent was due to a prolonged war between the Haldrathin and Dragon races six hundred years ago. Unable to think of anything to combat his present situation, his arms drooping in defeat, he sat back down.
"You need not worry yourself with this Melryn Lanthim has not said when it would be best for you to marry. But there would only be an engagement." [Leinea]
Seeing her brother-in-law concerned, Leinea tried to lighten the blow with a ray of hope. Sighing as he stood moving towards his bed.
"I guess, for now, I will have to do the best I can. Being part of an up-and-coming clan is not easy." [Melryn]
Moving parts of his uniform about on his bed, he could see Leinea was already on her way out of his room.
"Remember, your brother does not do these things to spite or use you. He is strong enough to take on the whole world all he wants is for you to become whatever it is you desire to be." [Leinea]
Saying this, she closed the door behind her as she left.
Dragon Lands eldra's Residence
On the other side of the world, Eldra is one of Mynrea's many sons. In his study in his mountain home. Long it had been since his kind had dwelt in caves and maintained their true forms now, most dragons lived in massive mountain homes. In his hands was a letter from his eldest brother.
-My good brother Eldra, long has it been since we have been able to communicate with one another.-
'Yes, when mother married that human. The rest of the clan would have nothing to do with her or those that gave support to her.' {Eldra}
Shifting in his chair, Eldra continued reading.
-The present situation is a concern to my women at present, I come before you seeking forgiveness for any wrong I may have caused you or our mother.-
With eyebrows raised, Eldra pondered over these few lines.
'Interesting, I wonder what has happened for the females of his house to drive him to me.' {Eldra]
-The situation is thus, for the last few years I, have been purchasing goods, clothes and all other kinds of items to please my females, and things have been going well. Until the merchants, I have been doing business with turned out to be consolidated into some new clan that has just popped up out of nowhere.-
Stopping for a moment, Eldra looked at another unopen letter that was on his desk from his mother.
'Hah, I see that Lanthim is up to something.' {Eldra}
Putting his face in his hands, he could not help but laugh. The events unfolding before him just in this single letter were too unusual.
-It has come to my attention that our mother's current husband may have something to do with this rising clan. Currently, I find myself unwilling to patronize these merchants any further and raise some upstart clans. While this is my position, I can not keep to it and keep my women. At the same time, I have been seriously threatened on this matter. If possible, notify me of anything you can find out. Your older brother Intamas.-
Viewing the letter, Eldra could only look with amazement while he could sympathize to a point. For himself, he had decided the happiness of his wives was more important than a minor loss of prestige while supporting an upstart clan.
Looking at the other letter, a second time, he thought that it would fly off his desk and bite him of its own volition. Opening it slowly, he braced for what was within.
-Eldra, my son, I hope you are well as you read this letter. As you are aware, Lanthim continues to heal slowly, which is a great sorrow to leinea and me. I do not write to you today to vent my feelings. The situation is thus Litralia has divorced her husband. Coming to my husband with what remains of her estate. Lanthim is pleased by this thing and has moved to form a new clan.-
Again his hands come to his head, an almost insane laugh emanating from his study.
'What madness is this? Everything is going for an interesting turn.' {Eldra}
He continued to read the letter.
-Everything should be completed before the week is out. Also, the Six Great Academy's Tournament that was supposed to continue has been permanently postponed for this year until and will be next year. While for you this may mean nothing a development has arisen because of it.-
"Dear, what has happened that you laugh like a mad man."
Looking to the door, Eldra saw a door full of women looking in on him as if something had happened.
"There is nothing, just a letter from my mother and brother." [Eldra]
Smiling awkwardly, he just sat there as twelve women entered the door of his study and found a place to sit. It was not that hard since Eldra maintained lots of sitting space in his study. One of his wives remained in from of his desk with her hand extended to him. Life had not been easy on Eldra since his defeat by Lanthim. Many of his wives had left him for better mates and so on.
True, while many had left some, had stayed also more had joined with him. But there was always a cost to defeating all the females that remained became more watchful of his faults, waiting to see if they had made the right choice in staying. Handing the first letter to her, Eldra carried on reading.
-Lanthim has decided to allow the residence to open up to guests. A natural step for an up-and-coming clan. But that is not the main point of my writing. Lanthim will be releasing Syrelia from her first order seal and sending her and his two brothers into the Forest of Legrcstim over the summer months. We should not miss this opportunity we can't miss you must send Fremlinta. I will talk with my husband and have your son enter the forest as well. Hopefully, we can have his seal removed as well.
"Is she serious?"
Jerking to his side, Eldra finally noticed one of his wives had moved behind him, reading along with him.
"Yes, I believe so." [Eldra]
-Everything is moving faster than I can handle Leinea is also struggling. The amount of reach Lanthim has through all his different business ventures is tremendous. There is not a clan I know of that doesn't feel his influence. That said, the world is immense. I have only seen a small part of it.