Years come and go time moves forward with no regard to people or places. Seven years have passed since the birth of Drestol Pyrgan with little happening that could be considered extraordinary. At least he made it seem that way. Having been reborn with all the knowledge he possessed in his previous life, allowing people to see what they wanted was simple enough.

Knock Knock

"Young master it is time to get dressed." [Maid]

Entering the boy's room, a young woman no more than eighteen carrying a stack of clean clothing.

"Ah, Fraena good morning." [Drestol]

The boy sat cross-legged with his back towards her looking a manikin in the centre of the room. Upon the model was set what looked like a large rucksack, some parts made of metal other parts leather. All over the sack was covered in Humanic Runes and a large crystal encased by the metal could be seen shining brightly out the back.

This ungainly thing was how Drestol was able to use any magic called a Mana Projection pack. The way it functioned was to use runes as a way to draw mana from the person wearing the pack, then passing that energy to a stave or wand to use for spells. The crystal is what kept the runes functioning by being the primary source of mana. Every so often depending on use a new crystal would need to be acquired to replace a depleted one.

{Cumbersome waste of money but who am I to complain, Father, blows more money gambling than on crystals for this damn thing so I will carry on as always.}

Hearing, the Maids footsteps behind him Drestol rose to his feet. The daily routines over the years for Drestol had normalized, over time but the part about not changing himself was bizarre. Regardless he endured for another morning, shirt, pants and all now that he was changed, it was time for breakfast.

The dining room located on the second floor had become the place that Drestrol and the rest of the family ate together. When either his mother was not busy, which was most of the time or if his elder siblings were present.

Entering the room could see that his two older brothers had arrived before. Having been born twins they had an uncanny likeness. The eldest by a half-hour was Guylan the other brother was Baltym. Being four years older than their younger brother and having the same magical disability, they were both frightfully temperamental.

Treading carefully, one could avoid them both going off the rails, but that was a hard tight rope to walk some times.

"Well good to see you are finally awake little brother eat our outing to Mount Sulbran will not be delayed." [Guylan]

{Oh, right the three of us are going to the most boring place in the whole Barony.}

Sitting to eat Drestol could not help but complain to himself. Mount Sulbran was a miserable excuse for a mountain. Or it could be better to call the area the remains of what was once a giant solitary peak to the west of his father's territory.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

As to why the three brothers were going, well the older two had heard while in the capital that there was a stone, that could be found that would improve the effectiveness of their packs. So for the past year and a half, they would come home grab Drestol and run off to what remained of the mountain.

"If we are lucky we can find what we are looking for this time." [Baltym]

Both brothers had a broad smile on there face anticipating a good find.

{I wonder who the malicious bastard was who told them such a lie.}

As he thought to himself, he felt a sudden pull to the back of his shirt that dipped him out of his chair.

"Brother, I have not finished eating yet." [Drestol]

"Too late, we are going." [Baltym]

Before he could protest further, the three brothers were standing on a transport spell, ready and then instantly were at the base of the mountain.

{The two of you can go die in a fire.}

Pushing his older brother way Drestol walk a ways off to get some distance from them. From where they had transported into this place was now a bright blue orb. Used to reactivate the transport spell but for a limited amount of time.

"Since none of use can use complex magic with the packs the family had to devise such a convoluted spell just to move us around." [Drestol]

Being annoyed by the situation, Drestol had not noticed that his brothers had moved on.

"Hey, wait for me." [Drestol]

"Keep up little brother we only have two hours to find the stones we are looking for and then get back before the transport spell expires." [Guylan]

"What kind of stone do you even know what you are looking for?" [Drestol]

Making their way up what remained of the face of the mountain, both the two elder brothers stopped and looked to the top intensely pondering something profound.

"You know what we were never told what exactly to look for." [Baltym]

{WOW talk about disastrous parenting on display here, you would think father would tell them that they are being tricked, by malicious people but the ass seems to enjoy watching these two make fools of themselves.}

For as long as Drestol could remember, he had always felt great hatred towards his father. The man was a gambler, a womanizer and all-around asshole which generally made up his idea of all nobles. All that against him Baron Pyrgan had one thing going for him. He was a damn good administrator, as baron, he oversaw a prosperous territory with a strong economy and military strength. As a person, however, the man was not worth writing home about.

Continuing up the mountainside Drestol felt something strange happening under his feet as if the ground was sliding away.

"BROTHERS SOM........."

Panicked Baltym turned around after hearing his little brother yelled out. Only to find a deep crease had opened where Drestol had once been. Running as fast as they could without falling themselves, both brothers looked into the hole.

"Drestrol can you hear me are you okay?" [Guylan]

Holding his breath as he waited for an answer, Guylan as the eldest would be punished if anything happened to his younger brother.

Cough Cough ...........cough cough. "I'm good." [Drestol]

Having fallen what to his brothers looked like a long way, Drestol found himself uninjured.

"If you are okay then fine can you see a way up from down there?" [Baltym]

Looking around him could see no way to climb to where his brothers were.

"Not by what I can see from here I can see a cave just to my front there might be away from there if not I will come back we may need to get someone from home." [Drestol]

"Right be careful."

"Bal make your way home and get some help." [Guylan]

As his brothers got a plan to get him out moving quickly, Drestol found himself walking into a larger cavern. Sadly though this was not to be his way out the cave was wide and deep with no means of crossing. But what fascinated him the most about the cave was noot its size but the rock that made it.

"How is it possible for a rock to become translucent?" [Drestol]