The morning was silent. No wind blew, nor did any bird sing. Lanthim lay on his bed, looking at the seals on his wrists, feeling so small and weak. As he continued to look, he could hear footsteps approaching his door. Opening the door to her master's room, Milty entered with a bow.

"Young master, it is time to prepare." [Milty]

Milty did not stop after stating this, advancing up to the right side of his bed. Looking down on him in his depressed condition, she did feel pity for what had happened months before. However, he had to be up and ready to leave before dawn.

"Young master, your mother will be very cross if you are not ready to leave in time." [Milty]

These words were able to move him. Slowly, he got out of bed while Milty helped him change into his attire for the day. Following Milty from the east wing of the estate, Lanthim tried to understand what his mother was trying to accomplish. Yes, he understood that going to the mountain's summit. There would be one who could give him some way to rid himself of these confounded seals.

As they entered the estate's center, they stood in a large domed room with four large gates. Looking astonished, Lanthim admired the construction, investigating as closely as possible. Around each gate, a series of magic circles were drawn on the floor that, when mana was applied, created specific kinds of magic. As he continued to investigate further, Litralia entered the room. Dressed as if to meet royalty, her entrance was felt by both who were present here.

"To be expected, Milty, you had him here on time, now just to activate the gate, and we can be on our way." [Litralia]

Litralia spoke praise. However, they did not smile. Could this person they would see be overbearing to cause such a reaction? Lanthim felt that this was going to be an experience worth having. Looking at his mother with her arms crossed, he noticed something on her wrist.

"Mother, what is that bracelet you are wearing?" [Lanthim]

Lanthim asked with a great deal of interest. Litralia just stood in front of one of the four gates, looking through it as if there was something there that was not. Holding out her right arm, she spoke clearly.

"This is called a regalia Lanthim, one of many I possess. I will tell you more when we have time." [Litralia]

She is still looking towards the gate with her arm outstretched.

"Clear the heavens and bring me the blessings therein. Larfina." [Litralia]

With these words, the regalia activated from the bracelet on her wrist. Going up the entire length of the arm, strange-looking tattoo-like symbols began to take shape. From where Lanthim stood, he could sense even with his now meagre mana supply. The amount of natural mana around his mother increased, and he was also drawn to the tattoo on her arm.

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There was a small pedestal that rose just in front of Litralia. Placing her hand upon it, she applied all the mana from her regalia into the magic circles that would activate the gate. The response was immediate, with the gate opening from the estate to Mynrea's home atop the mountain.

"Mother, are we going through that?" [Lanthim]

Lanthim was awed by what he saw. Never before had he seen magic performed in such a way.

"Yes, this is our destination. Now come quickly. The mistress of this great house is not one to wait long." [Litralia]

Grasping Lanthim's hand, Litralia took the first steps through the gate. The gate slowly closed behind them as they both exited to the other side. Looking around, it seemed like he had stepped into a stone building.

"Are we really on the top of Mount Gretalos?" [Lanthim]

Lanthim asked, shocked at the scale of the building. Was it just a room he had no way of knowing?

"Yes, young master, this is, to be exact, inside the roof of the mountain."

A voice he did not know echoed throughout the expanse. Looking behind him, he found the owner. A woman dressed like the servants of their estate stood looking at them both.

"My lady Litralia, I am Delphrin, the head maid of this house. I have been instructed to have your son prepared for testing." [Delphrin]

Her introduction was curt and to the point.

"That will be fine. This is the reason why we are here." [Litralia]

Litralia's response was strained. She did not wish to leave him alone. However, it was not like he was in any danger here. Lanthim, on the other hand, felt strangely calm about his situation. Everything around him was new, and he wished to see as much as possible.

"If the young master will follow me this way."

Gesturing towards the door, another servant appeared. She was younger than the other and seemed like she had only been hired in this place a short while ago. Leaving his mother's side, Lanthim followed this maid to where the testing would occur.

"There is no need for concern, my lady. Dretal is excellent at dealing with children. That is why she was chosen."

Delphrin seemed confident in the choice; however, Lanthim was not an ordinary child.

"I will see you at my lady Mynrea's apartments now. Please stay this way." [Delphrin]

It had been almost two hundred years since Litralia had seen Mynrea. It was unlikely that she would have changed from how she was back then. That said, she had to get answers about the seals that Lanthim was forced to bear.

Making their way through the long halls, she stood before a door. On the other side, a dragon was waiting. The truth would be revealed with all the knowledge she had accumulated. As the door opened, Litralia could see why she did not like coming here. Mynrea had taken her dragon form, towering over everything around her and looking about.

"Ah, Litralia, I thought you would not come for at least four more hours. You, humans, have an issue with keeping time after all." [Mynrea]

As far as Litralia could tell, the dragon's words were meant to provoke her.

"How long will the test take, Mynrea? I wish to know what purpose these seals serve." [Litralia]

Slightly agitated, she asked after her purpose, with no interest in anything else.

"We shall see since he entered this place. I could sense the purity of the mana he does have access to that is not sealed." [Mynrea]

Mynrea lowered her head from her position.

"The purity of that slight amount of mana is such that I have already prepared measures for after the testing."

The seriousness in her voice made the room fall silent.