"Fuck!" As I looked at the sky I cursed out loud. The previous night had been testing the limit of my patience. Though I knew that my behavior was comparable to that of a wild animal the curiosity still stings at me like a swarm of bees set on making my life miserable.

Ha-

'It's not even important for God's sake why am I so fucking persistent?'

Cursing was a bad habit I had developed throughout my childhood. After many years of self-discipline, I managed to stop using them when talking however I just couldn't help myself when I was stressed out.

After my sudden appearance, my and I had a not-so-positive talk about mannerisms. I already knew that he would react like that but that talk was even longer than the scolding he gave me after I accidentally destroyed an old sculpture he had brought from some village. After that, we all went to sleep in the living room to not bother the older guest in his eternal slumber. Well, at least we tried to sleep. I for sure couldn't and I probably cannot until I know what the hell this necklace means.

Sighing deeply I strayed away from my jumbled thoughts and closed my eyes in concentration. What I was trying to do was by no means easy.

The basic foundation of the body's mana layer is connected to the brain via some sort of vein that's used to control the body's mana. Naturally, mages have quite a large amount of mana. The main aspect distinguishing advanced practitioners from average ones is the performance of that vein in traversing the information of a spell or enhancement to the respective limb. At least that's what this guide states.

I basically wanted more control over my mana and by doing some refinements I hoped to achieve better reflexes and speeds. But this bullshit the book is trying to teach me seems like some ancient code to me and coupled with the growing curiosity towards the necklace I honestly started to feel very frustrated.

With my patience running low, I just opened another page in the book just out of pure boredom. However, after I saw what gibberish had been written on those pages as well I just frowned in disgust and closed the book throwing it into my pile of other books I had the same feelings.

"Give me some space man I need to run," I said towards the storm that seemingly reached its peak this morning.

Seemingly answering me it slammed the barrier with some wind making me jump a little.

"Damn chill I get it."

Realizing that my dear friend would RIP me apart the moment I stepped outside the protection of my dear grandfather, I made my way inside.

But just as I was standing in front of the door, my hand already on the handle, I heard someone talking, someone I had never heard before.

With my instincts kicking in, I burst open the door. The source of the voice coming from my room I instantly trembled with fear and excitement.

Taking out both necklaces I dashed inside the room. The moment I stepped in 2 surprised and 1 judgemental face looked at me.

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

However, my gaze was completely focused on the guy sitting on my bed. Heinrich, the older brother of Henry, had pretty sharp features. His gray hair was a mess from sleeping so long and his likewise gray eyes looked like they were foggy making him look a little distant.

"You're Heinrich?" I questioned him for no specific reason.

"Uh yes?" He answered calmly but seemed to be taken aback.

Before I could bombard him with my questions Grandfather stopped me.

"Asrem, we already talked about this." He said referring to the long discussion about manners and stuff like that. But I just ignored him anyway hoping that he would accept my apology later.

"I am Asrem, the one that gave you the medicine to survive your injury." I started.

"I am also the one that got your stuff for you. But there was something that seemed interesting to me."

Raising his necklace I started to get to the important part.

"This necklace, which I've heard belonged to your family, is the same one I have."

His eyes widened as he saw my version of it though he immediately relaxed, his face even emitting a threatening aura.

"Thank you for helping me but I don't know why you have the same necklace as me. Now give it back." He said, his eyes switching between me and the banner. Yet, I didn't feel satisfied.

"There has to be something right? Some clue as to what this meant to your family or a note of some sort."

"No, there is nothing left and now give it back." Starting to notice that this situation escalated a little further than I expected I just threw the necklace at him. Grandfather also seemingly was about to lunge at me, his disappointment written all over his face while Henry just looked at all of us in a tense way that seemed pretty pitiful.

Just as I was about to try to defuse the situation and continue the questioning Henrich started talking again.

"I am also searching for the meaning behind it. I only know that my parents were warriors because they died in battle."

"I see...uhm, sorry," I replied quietly. All of my questions just vaporized like that. It felt inappropriate to ask him more when he felt sad. I never knew my parents so I couldn't relate directly but I guess it would be comparable to losing Grandfather and that was something that I dreaded. As the silence crept up in the room, Grandfather broke it before it became too awkward to bear.

"Anyway boy, you seem tired still. Better get some rest otherwise your wound could reopen and we don't want that hahaha" As he said this he dragged me and led Henry outside.

After the door closed I somehow felt anxious. I knew that I couldn't get an answer out of him even if he had one. The chance of me getting enlightened was practically zero yet why did it still linger? Why did the curiosity still linger that deeply?

'Fuck.' I thought slapping my cheeks in hopes of calming the hurricane in my mind. But my breathing just became faster and faster, my heartbeat pounded in my chest like a hammer and my thoughts pinched at the back of my head.

'Why...' Before I could fall into a frenzy of mumbling a strong hand slapped my back, forcing me to stand up from the position I had been dragged to.

Perplexed by the sudden slap I looked at Grandfather, a look of resignation evident on his face.

"Asrem we need to talk." He signaled for us to go outside. I just nodded still recovering from my thoughts stabbing me. Henry glanced fearfully at me but acted like he was instead just fidgeting with something in his hand.

"Sure, let's go."

Time passed faster than I perceived seemingly as it was already pretty late. The winds were still stabbing and the rain was still flowing making the storm feel endless.

"Asrem." Grandfather said with a soft voice.

"You're like the son I've always wanted but both you and me know that this can't go on." He said, his face turning serious.

"You act like you would accept a life here in this God-forsaken forest but both of us know that that just isn't the case. That's why I've decided to kick you out as soon as the boys leave. You will accompany them to their village and not return."

"Huh?" I honestly never in my life had been more shocked than by the bomb of a statement he had just dropped on me.