Six Months Later

A soft breeze blew through Litralia's study window as she sat alone. All her children were in some training. Lanthim instructed his three siblings to enter the forest when the school year finished. To experience the life necessary for them to reach the library eventually. While this was all good, a slight bump had arisen over the last few months. To be precise, Illtris was pregnant with her second child and Melryn's first. When the announcement was made, everyone was excited about a new family member coming soon.

That said, Lanthim continued to meditate after receiving the gem from Fralgwain. Everyone was forbidden from even entering the mountain. Until today, Litralia helped her daughter-in-law deal with the daily clan issues. Mostly, it was little things between clans that had not had a senior subordinate clan above them for hundreds of years.

While everyone waited for news on Lanthim, the world kept turning. So here she sat on the other side of the world from what she knew. All she had of her unmarried children were Syrelia and Aldain. Both had just celebrated birthdays in the last three months. Aldain, the eldest of the two, had turned fourteen, with Syrelia, the youngest, turning twelve. Life was unfolding in ways Litralia could not even comprehend. Yet there was one thing she could not escape from. A feeling of loneliness that was not going away constantly ate at her. For a while now, she had wished for a better marriage than she had experienced. Now, being divorced, she felt more alone than before.

'Why does he stay in that room, not seeing anyone? There is so much work that needs to be done.' {Litralia}

knock knock

"Enter." [Litralia]

As the door opened, Litralia saw what should have been impossible. Her son Lanthim is standing before her.

"Lanthim?" [Litralia]

"Yes, Mother, I am here." [Lanthim]

Both stared at each other momentarily, Lanthim with his eyes still covered. He walked into the room with little effort, standing beside her.

" You have been busy of late with all the nationally ranked clans barking like mad dogs." [Lanthim]

As he spoke, Litralia could not help but smile, looking her son over, hoping everything was fine.

"Everything has moved smoothly since you began meditating. Seeing as all had paid their wealth tribute before the clan was formed. They have mostly turned to petty bickering, hoping to overwhelm us in complaints." [Litralia]

"Please sit down, Lanthim." [Litralia]

Returning to her desk, Litralia watched as her son effortlessly sat on one of the many chairs in the study.

"You have settled in well. I see; hopefully, you will not struggle too much here." [Lanthim]

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Even though his eye had not fully healed, Lanthim was still able, through natural mana, to see the world around him.

"It was not difficult. You dealt with everything well, and I had little to worry about." [Litralia]

Turning over a page on her desk, Litralia began to read. The report on grain shipments to the Thegoia Continent country or port was not stated. These mass drop missions were in small frontier regions that could rarely get food from big urban centers. Due to the distance they would have to travel. From the reports, the entire continent was enduring a significant famine this year. So, food was being dispersed at discounted prices.

"I am pleased to see the clan running so efficiently. I thank you, Mother, for helping Leinea." [Lanthim]

"It is not only me; Mynrea also puts forth a great deal of effort." [Litralia]

What she spoke was the truth. Since the beginning, Mynrea had stopped at nothing to help her granddaughter succeed. All the while, she was bearing a longing, hopeful eye.

"I am pleased but not here to talk of my wives. There is a matter that concerns me about yourself, Mother."[Lanthim]

Again, both looked at each other. Lanthim's face was unreadable; Litralia, on the other hand, seemed excited by what he would say.

"You are lonely, mother. It is impossible not to see it." [Lanthim]

Looking back to her paper, Litralia felt her feelings were flooding out of her. She did not cry but did feel emotional by the question.

"Maybe when the baby comes, these feelings will subside. After being married for so long, the companionship was better than this, even if for a short time." [Litralia]

Still sitting, Lanthim just nodded silently. As the days passed, he could sense his mother longing for so much love in her now lonely life.

"What are your thoughts on remarrying mother? I am sure you can find someone willing to marry a woman as young as you still are." [Lanthim]

This sudden question made Litralia shift in her chair to the point she nearly fell.

"That is a complicated question for me to just answer out of the blue." [Litralia]

"Yes, and yet it needs to be asked. There are many men in the world, most of whom are not worth the gold in their pouches. We must speak of this matter now." [Lanthim]

At that moment, Litralia could tell her son was serious about this matter. She knew why her son had it stipulated within the clan's practices that when she remarried, and Syrelia married. They would both have matrilineal marriages, bringing their husbands into the Drathalkin clan. This will not reduce the number of women in the clan. This policy would also affect the firstborn daughters of any woman within the clan.

"Am I to be dictated to in this matter?" [Litralia]

"No, not at all. I wish to appraise your feelings on the subject." [Lanthim]

Lanthim was now in an awkward position. He could sense his mother was displeased by this line of questioning. Yet he could do nothing as long as he did not know what she felt.

"If I did wish to remarry, what could be done?"[Litralia]

Looking to the ceiling, Lanthim pondered the question for a moment.

"Whatever you would wish to be done. There is no pressure or need to move swiftly in this matter. Unless you find your current situation unbearable enough to warrant action now." [Lanthim]

This answer pleased Litralia, who desired to end her monotonous lifestyle. After her last three children were born, her former husband Nedral ceased almost all interaction.

'So there are no expectations on his part that I should marry.' {Lanthim}

This was comforting while at the same time daunting. If she wished to remarry, her son would be with her. While at the same time, she felt such a choice would be difficult. She was now part of a new clan, especially one controlling vast territory. Any marriage would need to be found not to clash with clan interests. That said, Lanthim did not seem to care much about such things. Therefore, there was some confusion in her heart about the best course of action.

"I do wish to remarry my son. However, I do not know the best way to proceed. There are too many unknowns." [Litralia]

A feeling of pulsed mana could be felt by her originating from Lanthim as if he was looking for something through the mana. Only a few weeks ago, without the assistance of her son. Her first order seal had been released on its own. It had been a bizarre experience, feeling the world far differently. But she had found what Lanthim used this place for. That is, to destroy the order seals on a given person, be it his wife or mother. Or, as she had realized, his students. The need for excessive mana control after forced braking was minimized by allowing the seals to break down naturally.

This being the case, there was an opportunity to aim higher than she would have before. She had yet to cast off her first Neytriel, but she could feel it coming soon. Therefore, the prospects were not all that great among humans or elves. Regarding a good marriage, the best possible candidates were among the students of Lanthim. There was potential in the dragon race, but their kind was permanently trapped in the second order. An unequal marriage would breed animosity in time.

'But remaining here long enough, the seal would eventually dissolve.' {Litralia}

Thinking this to herself, she was still confused about the right solution.

"There is no right decision to this question, mother. All you need to do is tell me what you desire, and it is enough." [Lanthim]

While she tried to look for the best option, Lanthim cooled her expectations. In simple terms, he would give her whatever she desired.