Originally uploaded Jan 5, 2023

Kaspian Pov

Done escorting the youngest of the Wykes house, I arrived back at my office and slumped into my chair. Weighing my chances of burning the tower of paperwork piled on my desk. Taking a deep breath I pluck a parchment from the top of the pile when a creak of the door caught my attention.

It was that adventurer, Grey. Quietly closing the door behind him as he spoke in a deep baritone.

"Kaspian, you have played your part well."

A sharp chill ran down my back, his seemingly nonchalant words stabbed into me. Ignoring my angst, I hold my stoic facade.

"Of course. Your personal connection to Miss Flamesworth as well as your own future potential has been highly regraded by the Guild."

The masked swordsman, whose identity I could not guess simply nodded his head. He was somehow connected to the Twin Horns but even after a thorough background search I came up empty-handed.

"Good, I plan on taking a long break from adventuring. But I'll keep in touch. Let's just hope the Wykes family knocks some sense into that child." Grey said, making it sound as if Lucas was just a baby with ego issues.

***

Art Pov

I stepped down the stairs leading into the brief underground passageway as one of the guards closed the entrance behind me.

Opening the door on the opposite side, I was greeted by a Sylvie diving into my embraces.

'How did everything go, Papa? Is it over?" Sylvie chirped in my head as she made her way to the top of my head.

Jasmine and Elijah greeted me as well with a faint smile on each of their faces.

"It's all over now. Let's go back home." I announced to them.

"Do you not want to visit the others?" Elijah asked.

"I think it'd better not to interrupt their own personal affairs. I do plan on disappearing from the adventuring scene for now." I replied as Jasmine gave a slight nod as we continued to walk.

We made our way across the border of the Beast Glades towards the nearest teleportation gate. We all stayed silent until the gate came into view.

"Well, I guess this is where we say goodbye." Elijah shifted glances between Jasmine and I while scratching his messy black hair.

"Oh no you're not, you are coming with us." I shouted.

Yes, I needed to keep Elijah close for the reincarnation process. Also keeping a close eye on him seemed like a better idea.

"I thought it would be good for you to stay with us for a bit before we go to school. Seeing as your goal is to make a name for yourself in Sapin. Doesn't hurt to attend Xyrus Academy." I scratched my head.

Elijah looking at me as if I was some ghost.

"I'm sorry, I don't follow. How would I even get accepted into the school? I mean I might be qualified but my background..." He trailed off as if he didn't want to talk about his past.

Putting an arm around his neck I pull him closer.

"Don't worry my bespectacled friend. Big brother over here will take care of the little things."

Big brother? You know that I'm older than you, right? Besides I'm not sure I can adjust to such a sudden culture change." Elijah chortled as he wrapped one of his arms around my neck.

"You know, Lucas is also going to attend Xyrus Academy." I added a bit smugly.

"Alright! If you can somehow get me in, I'll join you. Besides someone is going to have to keep you in check." Elijah relented as I released him from my hold after hearing his reply.

Good. That is one more thing taken care of. I doubt I would have to do much else to Elijah while he is at school. I do intend let the attack on Xyrus academy to still happen, I still needed to throw Agrona a bone for him to not grow to suspicious. Having a reincarnate as well as the vessel in one place where I have authority would be favorable.

***

I was home.

Catching a carriage home, I let the view outside the window pass by.

'What an interesting thing. They built a city upon the ruins of something they have no understanding of. The ancient mages of the djinn originally built them for other purposes but to see it become a bustling city, that does remind me.'

Pulling the Relictomb compass from my dimension rune I study its opaque, almost pearl like surface. I haven't visited the Relictombs in a while, could be a nice exercise for me. As well as the right direction to reawaken Regis.

I could still feel the presence of my wolf companion within my core but it was subtle. And I could tell he was still in a hibernation state. Just didn't think it would take this long.

"We have arrived at Helstea Manor." The driver got off and opened to door for me, tipping his hat as I stepped down. Careful not to awake my sleeping bond as I handed my driver a couple copper coins.

Cradling Sylvie in one arm I made my way up the stairs I had become so familiar with. I hadn't even fully made it up the stair when the large double door swung open with a loud thud. A little girl launched herself off the top of stairs , bludgeoning me in the gut with her head.

"Welcome back, big brother!" Ellie looked up with a excised look in her eyes.

"It's good to be back." I replied displaying a warm smile on my f ace.

"Are you going to leave again?" Ellie asked in a bit of a disappointed tone.

"No, I'm staying for a while this time." I said back with a chuckle.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Releasing me from her tight grasp, she quickly put on a more lively expression. "Come on, let's go inside!"

She scurried up the stairs, dragging me up the cuff of my sleeves. She had grown a lot. While I would have enjoyed spending more time with her growing up, sadly there were things I had to take care of. But I promised myself that it would all be worth it in the end.

"Arthur!" The sound of my mother's voice snapped me out of my monologue. She and my father rushed forward, both with relieved and joyful expressions on their faces.

Father scooped me up with a bright grin.

"My boy! Is that hair of yours the only thing that is growing?" I joked as he patted my head.

"Are you growing a beard to hide your wrinkles old man." I smirked as I wrapped my arm around my dad's neck.

"Hey! That's my husband you're talking about!" My mother chided as my father put me back down.

My mother wrapped her arms around me in a warm embrace.

"I'm back now." I softly said, enjoying this nice family moment.

"it's a parent's job to worry for their children. And don't worry about your sister. She has been waiting by the window ever since your friend, Elijah came in with Jasmine."

My mother replied as she looked back at me with a warm, caring smile.

"I guess that's my cue?" Elijah chimed in from the top of the stairs leading to the second floor. My old friend was waiting for our family reunion to end with Vincent and Tabitha.

"Took you a while? You swooned a couple of ladies with your dashing good looks on your way here?" Elijah joked as he made his way down to us.

"Is that jealousy I sniff?" I retorted back, giving him a snide grin.

"You're only getting a sniff. Seriously, when I learned that the famous masked swordsman had the face of a prince... You know must people wear a mask like yours to hide a ugly face right?" Elijah said with a sigh.

"The prodigical son returns!" Vincent clasped my back, locking his arms around me in a tight hug.

"We're glad you're back and safe, Arthur." Tabitha followed behind him, pulling me into a hug as well.

"Thank you for everything." I dipped my head.

"Bwah, nonsense. As your uncle it's the least I can do." Vincent interrupted with a finger held up

After being herded into the next room over, we began discussing my time as an adventurer and details of Elijah's and mines enrollment.

***

"Brother wake up!!!"

"Oof!" I groaned as the wind was forcefully expelled out of me as my sister landed on top of me.

'I had fallen asleep without terrible visions or nightmares in for the first time in years and this is how I wake up.' I groaned in my head.

"Ellie, you're not little anymore. I still feel pain you know." I gasped out.

"Are you saying that I'm fat?" Ellie feigned a shocked expression.

"Yes." I said flatly, tossing her off of me.

"I swear you slept like a dead log, Art. I couldn't wake you up no matter how hard I tried." Elijah was already clothed standing behind Ellie.

"Was it you who tasked Ellie with my wake up call." I glared at Elijah.

"Perhaps." Elijah retorted shrugging his shoulders.

'I'm regretting bringing you with me.' I groaned in my head as I got out of the bed.

After quickly washing my face and fixing my hair and tying it back into a short tail, the four of use, with Sylvie atop my head, headed downstairs.

"Good morning, you four!" My mother called out to us from the kitchen as the maids were preparing the table.

"Good morning, boys and good morning, my princess." My father who talking to Vincent turned to us, trying to give my struggling sister a bearded kiss.

"Ew, Dad! I'm not a little kid anymore!" She pushed him away.

After morning greetings, i sit in my seat and started eating the ham and vegetable omelette with a light soup.

"Uncle Vincent, I remember you mentioning something about how you were going to visit a famous researcher that has a lab in Xyrus. Do you mine introducing him to me." I said between the bites of food .

"Ah, Gideon? Has he caught your interest? He isn't just a researcher but a famous inventor and artificer as well. I do have some business with him so it wouldn't be a problem taking you. Was there something specific you need from him? He asked with curiosity shinning in his eyes.

"More of something to discuss than need. I though he would find it valuable." My purposefully vague answer just made Vincent more curious.

"Well, he's not the type to meet new people but I'm sure he'll at least meet you when I'm with you." He nodded to himself.

'Good, I have some tech he might be interested in.'

***

"We're here!" the driver announced as he opened the door for us.

Hoping out of the carriage after Vincent, we made our way to a unadorned front door. After a few firm knocks, an old man with a handlebar mustache dressed as a butler appeared.

"Hello, Master Vincent, Master Gideon has been expecting you." he greeted, gesturing us to come in.

Stepping inside I'm met with the smell of foul mixture of metal and herbs.

'Jeez, you crazy scientist. You always live like this.'

"Himes! I told you not to let anyone in- Oh, it's you Vincent. For what reason have you come to bother me this time." the hunched Gideon said from a dimly lit corner.

To most he would look ghastly. With his messy curly hair that reached out up to the heavens matched with his beady eyes with heavy dark bags under them. But compared to what he would look like in the future, the current Gideon looked like a healthy young man.

"Welcoming as ever Gideon. But I do remember letting you know beforehand of my visit." Vincent shook his head, giving his acquaintance a handshake.

'Bah! This past year the Royal Families have been hounding at me day and night. I don't have the time or mental fortitude to remember such menial things." Gideon flailed his arms as he started to pace around the room.

Anyway... who's the little brat you brought? Gideon asked with his eyebrow raised.

Giving Gideon a bow, I introduced myself.

"Arthur Leywin, son of Reynolds Leywin. Greetings Gideon. Uncle Vincent has told me many great things about your work."

"Quite the manners for a little child. How old are you?" he mused as he studied me with his tired eyes.

"I'll be turning 12 in a few months time." I answered simply.

"So, why'd you bring him here, Vincent." Gideon turned back to Vincent.

"Actually, it was Arthur who requested me to bring him here with me." They both turned to me.

Without saying anything I bring out a piece of parchment from my dimension rune, lying it on the ground for all to see. I could feel Gideon's breaths on my back as he peered closely at my drawing on the parchment.

"Th- thi- This is..." His eyes widened as he snatched the paper off the ground.

"The solution is so simply! Why haven't I thought about this!"

"Dicathen society has lived long with magic ingrained into it. From a young age people are exposed to mana, so it makes since why their thought process would be limited to only factor in magic." I said simply.

"Are you really twelve years old?" Gideon eyed me sharply.

"I turn twelve in a couple of months." I corrected as Gideon helplessly sighed.

"This isn't all I have." I added, which instantly caught Gideon's attention.

"Judging by this blueprint you are no ordianary kid. And having not shown me all you have I get that you want something in return." Gideon glared at me as his eyes narrowed.

'He catches on quick. It's convenient conversing with a smart individual it seems. I can save time from explaining everything.'

"That is correct. I believe you have a certain artifact made from a phoenix wyrm?" I said with a causal smile.

"How did you-" Gideon and Vincent both looked at me with shock.

"I have my own sources." I coyly replied.

"Himes, bring me the pendants." he finally agreed in reluctance while rubbing his temples.

"But master, those were made for-"

"I know, just bring it!" Gideon interrupted the baffled Himes.

Eventually, Himes came back holding two small cases with an intricate lock on it.

"These were created for the Royal Family. They've been asking for a life-protecting artifacts. He shrugged.

"For the Glayder family correct? Are you sure giving me these?"

"Not give you brat, it's a trade. For your knowledge." Gideon quickly corrected with an annoyed look.

"Very well, I'll hold up my end of the deal." Willing aether to my rune on my forearm again I withdraw four items. One was the prototype musket that Gideon developed, or will develop in this case. I just needed to accelerate his progress a bit to allow non-mages to actually stand a chance. I'm sure he can reverse engineer it, he did make it himself after all.

The rest of the items were what I needed Gideon to research the most. All the tools needed for Gideon to understand Agrona's rune bestowment. With the last item being a large book, detailing many of the details of runes and their usage. As well as Gideon's notes on them and the rune bestowment process.

Gideon looked at all the items with a curious glee in his eyes. Before turning to me.

"What are you?" he eyed me closely "What other secrets do you hide?" he added as he poked at me.

" That thing." I pointed to the musket and continued "Is a prototype design of a weapon that could allow people without mana to stand a chance against mages." At my words Gideon's eyes widen as he picked up the musket to examine.

"The rest, I found in a old decrypted building in a dungeon." While my excuse wasn't very believable, I didn't need Gideon to believe. He was already too excited study the things I gave him. Seeing as he wasn't paying much attention to me anymore I laughed as I headed out the door, the now silent Vincent, who was still bewildered by the turn of events, just trailed behind me.

"I'll visit again sometime, Gideon." I said without looking back.