As the days passed into months, Lanthim would retain a bitter memory of the day when all he had worked for fell into nothing. Every morning, he would rise from sleep and feel only a remnant of what had once been a great sea of mana that dwelt within himself.

The lack of mana had been his primary means of confronting this new world. Meant now, there was nothing but the people around him to keep him safe.

Unlike before, he would not spend unnatural hours awake to meditate, like returning early in the morning. His current situation was like the curtain in a play, raising and lowering to end a scene. So, he had a short but significant part of his life come to a close. Slowly, things became stable again; however, Lanthim still would not let go of his lack of power.

"My lady, I am concerned about the young master's current condition." [Melty]

Lanthim's caretaker, Milty, spoke calmly to her mistress, walking together in the estate's garden.

"He eats and sleeps as any child should since that morning six months ago. His lack of energy and desire to do anything productive is causing both Felyma and me to worry."[Milty]

Litralia listened intently to what Milty had to say—that day had been one of panic and fear for her. Just remembering sent shivers down her spine. It had been Lanhou who found Lanthim unconscious, barely breathing, and the massive seal carved into his back.

Though she was on the other side of the estate, at that moment, Milty and Lanhou could see with the same eyes With a scream that brought every person that could hear it running. Litralia and six other high-level witches took four days to stabilize him when he awoke on the fifth day. He opened his eyes and looked at his mother sitting next to him, waiting for him to wake.

"Mother, I.....I am alive?" [Lanthim]

He could barely speak.

"Yes, Lanthim, you are alive." [Litralia]

Answering, Litralia held his little hand, weeping tears of joy. Slowly, he moved only to stop the pain that was still there and also the seals.

"I feel nothing." [Lanthim]

He said, tears streaming down his face.

"Everything is gone. All that I have worked for is gone." [Lanthim]

It was a painful memory; it was but months since that time, and still, he was not getting past the loss. Still, Litralia was confident that he would recover from this ordeal.

"I worry more about the seals on his back and wrists." [Litralia]

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Still in the garden, as Litralia spoke, both mistress and servant overlooked the lowlands from their position.

"The sequence used to form them is unknown to me. I have asked the Academy in Alistri about them but have heard nothing from them in months." [Litralia]

The complexity of the seals used to restrict Lanthim's access to purified mana. These seals were on such a level she could not understand. They allowed the purification of mana naturally, but once mana got to that state, the seals consumed it, leaving only small amounts that could be used.

From a more detailed observation, It was found that the seals were as time passed. It was slowly intensifying the purity of the mana being drawn into them. Ultimately, Litralia halted her search and left it to others.

"My lady, there must be someone who can explain to us the meaning of these seals." [Milty]

Milty spoke while admiring the view.

"Who exactly do you have in mind, Milty? Few people in this world can use such complex magic." [Litralia]

Litralia turned to look to Milty, who was standing to her left.

"Lady Mynrea, your husband's third wife, will likely have the information you require." [Milty]

Just what she needed, an answer that made sense. But in Litralia's mind, dealing with that woman was infuriating. Nedral Frenost had four wives, Litralia being fourth and Mynrea ahead of her. That, however, was not the issue of the order of marriage or that she happened to be fourth meant nothing to her.

What made dealing with Mynrea so tricky was that she was a dragon and not a half-blood, like most dragons living in the world. They look like humans with some dragon traits. She was pure blood, being over four thousand years old. With her being a second-order being, she would make sure everyone remembered their place below her.

Litralia looked towards the mountain. At its peak was Mynrea's home. She had only been there once to meet her senior and was told very bluntly. If she wished to visit, she would have to ask permission before entering the upper regions of the mountain.

Letters would be sent and refused almost yearly, and Mynrea would never come off the mountain. Nor would she allow any to come up.

"Since we have no other course presently open to us. I will prepare a letter for Mynrea. We will see if this will interest her enough to allow us to see her." [Litralia]

As she spoke, looking now towards the estate, Litralia could see a little person walking in the direction that she and Milty were standing. He looked uneasy, as if he was coming to report something he had done. In his hand, there was a piece of paper. He stopped before both of them and presented the paper to Litralia.

Looking at the paper, she could not believe her eyes or contain her anger.

-Litralia, you are to be here tomorrow without any delay. To think a lower order being, such as yourself, would think to find these answers amongst your people.-

That was all the message read. That is all that was needed. A dragon only spoke or wrote after being completely condescending.

"Mother, what does it mean." [Lanthim]

Lanthim looked confused and a little afraid. His mother's reaction to this note was one of outrage.

"It is nothing, my son, just an old dragon giving orders." [Litralia]

Litralia calmed herself. She remembered that, unlike mana manipulation, walking and talking. Lanthim had yet to show any interest in learning to read the language. It was strange to her that he would forgo such study. But many things he did then were weird and made little sense.

"Milty makes sure that Lanthim is ready to leave first thing. I want to leave before dawn." [Litralia]

Milty answered the order Litralia gave with a nod, so she made her way to the estate. The only persons left were Litralia and Lanthim, looking at the mountain.

"Mother, what will happen tomorrow?" [lanthim]

Asked Lanthim, confused.

"Tomorrow, we will go up the mountain." [Litralia]

This is all that Litralia answered, looking down at him with a calm smile.