As Daphnia helped me put the Manium sanaritous in my spatial focus. She said, "Seeing as how your memory is all messy, you probably don't remember if your guardian told you anything about Free city?” Rolling her eyes and huffing, Madison said: "Here she goes again, I swear mom you could talk forever about the most boring stuff.” Sharply turning her head towards Madison, She said, "Listen here, young lady, you may not be interested in learning about Free city. But Kyle wasn't born here, and I think he might like to know the layout of the city.”
The light from her mana faded from my wrist as She said: "Unless you're not interested in hearing about the city?” She’s been so nice to me, I can tell by her glittering eyes that she really wants to lecture. It might even help me make better progress with my memories, and Who am I to say no to a font of knowledge, I thought. “Of course I want to hear about Free city, who knows when I'll need to find my own way around," I said, Smiling at her. “You're such a, such a slug-tooth," Madison said, under her breathe with a huff.
Laughing, Daphnia said “Wonderful, hmm.. let's see where should I start, I've got it, I'll just give you a brief overview of the city. I'd love to get into all the details, but my husband's study isn't far enough away, maybe later if you're interested, we can be more in-depth. The first thing you need to know to find your way around the city is what the locals call the four and three rule. In the west lays stone, the east rests metal, north is grown with birch and south riddled with ruin. The third circle holds the four, the second is a marvel, and the third is the crown.”
“That… it's interesting for sure.” I said, slightly confused. Laughing, She said, "I know it sounds weird, but it's used to teach children about the city. It basically means you can tell what part of the third circle you're in by the quantity of material it's made from. You'll find most if West end is made from stone, while North port its wood, in East hill its metal and the south slum doesn't have a specific material it's… hard to put into words. But for you, it should be easy to tell, because there is little to no mana in South slum.”
Cutting in, Madison said, "What she means to say it's a dump, now I know it can't really be helped, but it's still true.” Looking fed up with her daughter's antics, She said: "There is no reason to be so crass, I blame your father.” Before I could comment, we made one more turn shortly after we reached a dark oak door. Running her finger across the center of the door, runes flashed to life from her mana. Turning to Madison, She said, "Darling, could you go to our rooms and start getting dinner sorted. It looks like your father is going to be a few minutes. I figured Kyle, and I would talk about the city in a little more detail.”
Not even asking any questions, Turing, and starting down the hall we were. Madison said, "Sure, no problem, I'll see you guys in a few.” Shortly after Madison turned the corner. Opening the door and waving at me to follow her in, She said, "Mancin and I have something to talk to you about.”
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Daphnia and I sat down in the chairs that matched Dark oak door, across from Mancin. Taking in his study, books lining the walls and most of the room taken up by his sturdy oak desk, covered in stacks of paper. Sconces of light doting dotted the walls in between bookshelves, it was very Cousy.
Shuffling through the stacks of paper beside him, He said “Hmm, ahh here it is. Before we get started, Kyle, could you please look over this contract.” Taking the contract in hand, I said: "Sure I can, but I'm a little lost, what's this about?” His eyes crinkled as he smiled, trying his best to be reassuring. He said, "If you read the contract, we can get to that, I truly believe it will make your life easier.”
Taking the aged page in hand, Shaking my head in agreement, I noticed the runes covering the page glimmered with mana. I began to read the contract, it read.
Contract
Of
Mana-geas
By signing this contract, both parties agree to enter, under the established set of geasa and may both parties knowingly or unknowingly uphold said geasa. This contract, therefore, binds the following parties to the following terms as stated below.
To the best of the parties abilities, knowledge, and under all circumstances.
Under no act or force magic or otherwise, may either party share secrets shared or learned after signing this contract.
Said party of one Mancin and Daphnia Hayward, guild members of Sundry Chamber agrees to house and care for the upbringing in place of his guardian. One Kyle Greenar, until he reaches the age of maturity.
That the previously stated party will manage and handle, one Kyle Greenar’s. Assets to the best of their abilities with integrity.
As long as Kyle Greenar has not knowingly broken a law of Free city. The previously stated party will offer their honest counsel without reserve or misdirection.
The previously stated party will be paid the full amount for their services, after signing this contract by the Guardian of one Kyle Greenar.
If under a circumstance that this contract might be put into breach, both parties agree that the established set of geasa. May use the parties own mana in violation of the contract to inflict punishment.
This contract will fully activate once in the hands of one Kyle Greenar.
If either party is under any circumstances unable to reach one another. This contract will still hold until the previously stated condition is met.
Attached to the contract was a slip of paper that glowed with a blue-hued light that matched Mancin’s mana. Reading it I was shocked, to say the least, I knew things weren't making sense, but I wasn't sure if it wasn't my spotty memories fault.
Trying not to sound hysterical, I said “This… this can't be right, can it?” Holding my hand, Daphnia said, "I know it's a lot to take in, finding out two hundred years of passed you by without you even knowing. But we wanted to wait till we could get a better read on your mental state. Plus Mancin had to dig up the contract from the archive.”