(Author: Hello. Last chapter introduced you to how mages and magus differentiated and their respective strengths and weaknesses. Seti now starts his path as a magus and begins absorbing and cultivating fire essence due to his new teacher's instructions. There will be a few chapters that will represent the three years of Seti's instruction under Flint. There will be a school arc as he will be ten years old after the three years. Enjoy.)

---------Chapter 3: Torn Family----------

Seti stared silently at the sun as he meditated. His eyes were wide open as he began searching for the violet fire essence. If it was the regular red fire essence, he could have immediately begun absorbing it from the campfire. Flint wanted Seti to absorb violet essence as it was rarer and purer. Absorbing violet essence increased one's foundations. While it did make it harder to break through to the next rank, he would have more mana at his disposal. He would be able to use more of his power than if he decided to absorb red fire essence.

Slowly, Seti began to see red fire essence from the rays of the sun. He kept searching until the sunset, pausing only to eat and relieve himself in a ditch. He was not a magus yet and still needed to use a chamber pot to do his business. The body of a magus or mage would convert all the excess nutrients from food and liquid into mana while the body only accepted the nutrients it needed. That was why there were no secluded areas in the house of a mage or magus as they did not need to excrete any waste.

Seti spent the next few days repeating his process of fire essence searching until he finally saw the violet fire essence on the fourth day. On the seventh day, Seti was finally able to sense and absorb the violet fire essence in his body. Now he had to keep absorbing fire essence until he created a seed made of fire essence within his mind. His books said that mages and magus had the ability to use magic due to a normally unused part of their brain. If was as if mana was the missing portion of the brain normal people could not use. It made sense as the brain was the organ that housed the bodies memories and thought process.

Normally, the body would undergo physical changes as it would adapt to absorbing foreign energy into the body. Flint was an example of a very strong change as he had vibrant red hair. Seti's body was also changing. His skin was excreting a black fluid from his body while his skin began to shine and covered itself in a red and orange light. Due to absorbing violet fire essence, Seti had some of his black hair turned into a dark violet near the front part of the top of his head above the forehead. His bones began to become richer and his blood his nerves began to be filled with fire essence as it spread through his nervous system, most of it residing in his spinal column and brain.

The tattoo of the phoenix on his back began to shine, a normal sign that a magus was cultivating elemental essence. His body grew three inches and a small red and orange seed began forming within his mind as Seti closed his eyes, no longer needing to stare at the sun as he could sense and absorb it easily now. As the seed was forming, his blood, bones, cartilage, arteries, veins, and organs began to enrich themselves with mana emitting from the seed. Seti didn't dare stop and kept on meditating, cultivating more to form the seed.

Suddenly, a red and orange energy began to flow through his body toward the seed as it followed the violet fire essence. As the red and orange energy went into the seed, the seed no started to grow a weird white and violet pattern as if it was enhancing the violet fire essence and refusing it to become red and orange. It made no sense to Seti but the seed continued to form in his mind. Some of the red and orange energy went into his bones, veins, arteries, and organs. Seti felt as if his body was slowly starting to burn but didn't physically feel as if it was. It was as if the red and orange energy from the meteor was like water that finally burst forth from a dam, pouring rapidly into the seed.

After seven continuous days, the energy finally disappeared. Seti, freed from the involuntary cultivation of the meteor energy, closed his hands into a fist and stretched them as he tilt his head back and roared. A small ember appeared from his mouth before Seti fell back and lost consciousness. A magus could only use violet flames if he created his seed using violet fire essence. As an ordinary flame was red and orange, his was a violet flame. It also limited him as he could only cultivate violet fire essence. As he created the seed, he no longer needed to be outside when the sun was up and could sense the violet fire essence at night as well.

Violet flames were not powerful compared to ordinary flames, but they were easier to manipulate. This was the goal Flint had for Seti. Seti did not have the talent of his siblings, but he was smart and it would be easier for him to understand the laws of fire when he started using his flames. Seti awoke after five hours and realized the night was very late. He could see the lake shimmer under the moon light and wondered why he lost consciousness.

"Was it because I used my magic for the first time?" Seti wondered as he got up. Seti imagined a small ember appearing on his fingertips of his right hand and saw a violet flame form and did not burn him. He spent the next few seconds twisting around his fingers before it disappeared.

"I did it," Seti grinned as he closed his hands in a fist and shook them in triumph at the night sky. "I broke through and became an early stage magus of the first rank! I'M A MAGUS!"

Seti remembered all the times he saw his brothers and sister creating and manipulating their elements before they became busy with their training. After awakening his magic a year after the norm, he had finally become a magus. Tears fell down his eyes as he fell to his knees and remembered his father completely ignoring him after he turned six and did not awaken for three months. He seldom saw his father before, but after those three months, he never saw his father or little sister.

Logan also never paid much attention to him when he and Adam came back on their breaks and vacations. Now he was a magus and could stand tall. He washed off the black liquid and headed back to his room in the palace. The knights smiled as he walked past him, knowing he had finally become a magus as he was taller and saw his dark violet hair. Seti entered his room and laid down on his bed.

Seti stared silently at a lit candle by his bed as a maid placed the usual covered clay cup of water by his bed. He flicked his finger through the candle several times as he imagined and the applications he could use with fire. Seti suddenly stopped his finger on the fire and was about to control it to not burn him when he realized something: his finger didn't burn. Seti immediately pulled his finger away and studied it. As far as he knew, the only fire that could not burn him without using his mana to control it was fire that he, himself, created. He hand not even begun experimenting controlling the ember on the candle and he did not burn.

Seti stared silently at his spatial ring that housed the small boxes of meteorites. The red and orange energy awakened his magic, enhanced his strength and reflexes, enlarged the side of his seed in his mind along with a strange white and violet pattern which should not have appeared, and now he was invulnerable to fire. If he was a warrior, he was definitely blessed. However, he was a mage and he did not need enhanced reflexes or strength because he could simply be overwhelmed with a very powerful wide area attack.

"Why did it do all that?" Seti wondered as he gazed out the window. "Were all meteors like that?"

Seti spent the next day experimenting with his strength and reflexes. He had small cups of water tied on strings to a tree. He hit one of the pots, which hid another. Soon all the pots were swinging as Seti dodged and weaved, seeing them move in slow motion. Seti also began stacking pots and experimenting on how many he could carry. Whatever the meteor did, it gave him gifts he would have received if he had gotten a magical tattoo of a beast that granted enhanced strength and reflexes like how his phoenix tattoo granted him regeneration.

So far, no one knew of his extra abilities and Seti decided to keep those a secret. It would give a rather unpleasant surprise to people who might seek to harm him in the future. He failed to hide his magic and his regeneration was obvious as it was the gift of magical phoenix tattoos.

Seti read in a book on warfare that said, "The more you know about yourself and the less your enemy knows about you, the better off you are. Only a foolish commander would show his hand and a wise one would always keep a trump card in case he under estimated his enemy. Never assume that you'll always win. There will come a day when you will lose and there won't be a way out as the enemy knows what to expect."

Seti decided to head to the royal armory and see if they had any spears he could use. A spear excelled in medium range combat and he could rely on his strength and reflexes to dodge and push back anyone who got close. After his forced attendance in the Royal Academy, Seti wanted to roam the world. The Royal Academy was a minor setback, but he could learn a lot as well as access their library.

As Seti entered the palace and headed to the royal armory, he saw his little sister as he walked before the entrance to the throne room. His eyes widened as his sister was already a peak stage magus of the second rank. She was already a magus with two elements and there was no doubt she would be a fourth rank upon entering the academy. She was accompanied by two boys and another girl. Most likely, they were also being tutored by his father and other powerful mages.

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"Seti," Rebecca said as she saw her elder brother. "Daddy said that you became awakened. I can sense mana in you. You must have created a seed of fire essence in your mind."

"Rebecca," Seti nodded and attempted to walk past her before a son of a noble stood on his path.

"The princess is still speaking to you," the boy said and put his hand on Seti's shoulder.

Seti grit his teeth and grabbed the boy's wrist, crushing it, and said, "Did you forget that being her brother also meant I was a prince? Guards, what is the penalty for threatening a prince?"

"Thirty lashes as well as a heavy fine, my lord," one of the knights guarding the throne room said.

"So be it. Punish this brat and make sure his family know s what he did. If I see him near my little sister again, double the whipping and triple the fine," Seti said and turned to his sister.

"It's not good to make friends with these kinds of people as an aspiring hero. You need to remember the laws of a country you visit as you save the people. You need respectful people who can aid you without using you for their own end. This noble was," Seti warned and saw his little sister stare at him, shocked. "Lots of people think you're spoiled due to father's doting. Don't let them think you've become arrogant and rotten. Assess your friends and decide for yourself if the friendship is real or an illusion."

"You don't know what you're talking about Seti," Rebecca said, glaring at him. "Take back what you said about punishing Gerald. He was just stopping you from leaving. Don't be mean! You just became a magus. You're not special."

"You're right. I'm not.I lack talent compared to Adam, Logan, and you most of all," Seti shrugged. "Dad gave up on me three months after our last birthday a few months ago. I'm not a genius mage like Adam with his magical dragon tattoo. I'm not as talented in the sword and magic like Logan. Furthermore, my accomplishments are next to nothing compared to you, little sister. However, I am your elder brother and prince of this kingdom. You're powerful, I'll give you that, but you are naïve. Father is blind when it comes to you and Logan, but at least Logan is wiser and a better person than you are now and should have been. Right now, you're only getting so much because of being called a hero. You're not a hero yet."

"Shut up!" Rebecca shouted and attempted to slap him with lightning crackling on her hand. Seti sighed and moved out of the way without excess movement. He didn't need to dodge as his reflexes were just too superior to a seven year old. He grabbed her wrist to stop her from losing her balance and falling as she leaned too far forward at the unexpected movement.

"You should be more careful," Seti said as he released her and watched her regain her balance. "You could have fallen. You're only seven years old, physically and mentally. Try to control your rash behavior before you hurt yourself and others."

"Don't lecture me!" Rebecca roared and knocked Seti back with a barrier of light. Seti spat blood on the impact and crashed on the floor.

"A lost cause," Seti muttered as he wiped his mouth and stood up.

"Big brother! I didn't mean it. I-" Rebecca said but Seti ignored her and walked past her as he was humiliated in front of the knights and the nobles.

The damage done was healed instantly and Seti coughed the last of the blood stuck in his throat before he left the hall as if he had never been hurt.

He paused to look back at them and said, "I expect the whipping to be done within the hour. I better receive that fine before sun down or you will spend the rest of your life in the dungeon. As for you, sister, I have already said what needed to be said. Father won't open your eyes and you choose to avert your ears from the harsh truth. Good luck with your studies and congratulations on obtaining another spirit."

Seti had his fists clenched as he left and dismissed what had happened from his mind. He had expected his sister to act that way. She was spoiled because she was a hero. He read from books and matured quickly as he learned. If his sister chose to ignore him, he pitied those she would attempt to save in the future. If the other four heroes were raised as she was, the planet was doomed. He might as well focus on his training and ascend to the Immortal Realm before the world got screwed over because of a few fanatics fawning over some stupid prophecy and blindly dependent on it.

If he was a general, he would be strengthening his forces and establishing connections for supplies and reinforcements from other countries .He would have his scouts inspect the enemy and make formations and assign security detail based on their findings. He wasn't in charge though and his mother was forced to takeover her husband's responsibilities. He knew, in the eyes of other nations, that the Moria Kingdom appeared soft and that many don't respect a female monarch in charge.

"Why hello Prince Seti," the royal blacksmith said as he saw Seti. "You must be on your way to the armory. Finally interested in weapons are you? What do you fancy? A sword? A mace? Perhaps a great sword like His Majesty, perhaps?"

"I'd like a spear," Seti said, surprising the blacksmith.

"That's a soldier's weapon. It's not the weapon of a knight or noble," the blacksmith said as he scratched his head.

"I'll never be a knight as I'm a mage, and I am the third prince and not a hero," Seti shrugged. "A spear is similar to a staff anyway. I don't want to depend on my magic all the time and aim to use it at opportune moments to control the flow of battle. My father will probably make me the baron of our ancestor's former territory anyway. It will be easier getting closer to the soldiers if I use a spear and I think it rather suites me."

"Let me get your measurements and see who you hold the spear as you demonstrate some motions," the blacksmith said as he beckoned the prince to him. "You have a little blood on your sleeve and shirt though. You alright?"

"Just a little spat between me an kid my age who is mentally my age," Seti laughed. "It seems I made an error in judgment. Sir Trey, knight of the royal guard and head blacksmith of the armory and smithy, what do you think I should do?"

"You shouldn't associate with those kinds of kids. They're trouble Prince Seti. A lot of trouble when they're older," the blacksmith sighed. "I saw a lot of potential smiths who got arrogant and wouldn't listen. Who knows where they are now."

"She's a lost cause. I don't expect much from the kid now," Seti said and entered the smithy.

"No offense, young prince, but sometimes, I don't know if you're seven or seven and ten years," Trey laughed.

An hour later, Seti left the royal armory and smithy with a spear just a little heavier than it should be. Trey said that it would help strengthen his muscles to get used to carrying a heavier spear in the future. Seti struggled little with the heavy spear due to his enhanced strength and left to talk with his mother to have one of the generals of the army teach him the spear.

"A spear?" Queen Snow asked as her son entered her office while she dealt with important papers. "Why would you want to learn the spear?"

"I wish to roam the world," Seti said, looking his mother in the eye. "Once I am done learning at the Royal Academy, I'm leaving to roam the world. A spear is similar actually a better weapon than people think. It's just not as fluid and complex as swords are. I won't be a king or a hero."

"Snow stared long and hard at her son before she said, "Very well. I know how much you want to leave this place. Many people wish to be here but you feel as if it is your prison. You can leave the academy only when you become a magus of the fifth rank and obtained a second element after your tattoo's evolution."

"Thank you," Seti bowed and left the room.

"You see what you've done?" Snow snarled as her husband appeared from the shadows. "You've driven out our son! He hates it here and you know very well that it's all your fault. Maybe if you acted more of a father to him, he would have hesitated and not made his declaration so soon."

"Our daughter is destined to be a hero," Marcus began.

"DESTINED!" Snow roared, trying to reason with her king's stubbornness. "She is not a hero yet! If our son truly leaves us when he attains the fifth rank of magus, you can handle the kingdom's affairs yourself!"

Marcus stared at his wife and then at the door his son left through. He knew both his wife and third son were disappointed in him like Adam was. He managed to make amends with Adam, but it was already too late with Seti. He was just so worried for his daughter as heroes faced the deadliest and cruelest of enemies. Perhaps his worry had developed into an obsession.

He walked to his son's door and opened it. He saw Seti look up at him, indifferently, before closing his eyes and turning his back to face the wall as he slept. Seti no doubt knew his father only came after being scolded by his wife.

"What do you want?" Seti asked as he stared at the wall. "I've already made up my mind."

"Is it too late for me to still be a father to you?" Marcus asked softly.

Seti pulled the blankets higher on his body and said, "Yes."

"I see. I'm sorry to hear that," Marcus said as he slowly closed the door. "I'm sorry Seti. I'm so sorry."