After arriving at the mahogany doors of a mansion that towered over the near by trees, and was painted silver with gold accents the two men knocked softly with the solid gold knocker on the front of it. Gabe and Colin we're let into the mansion after just a moment of waiting and a servant woman with no Channeling mark welcomed them inside. She wore a tight fitting maid's uniform and spoke with a light airy voice. "The Master and his Brother are waiting for you in the den. Come and I'll take you to them." She didn't wait for an answer and turned around leading them through a thin Hallway. Gabe and Colin walked behind her trying not to pay attention to the proportions of her slim body which swayed from side to side as she walked. Finally she opened a door to the right and spoke to those inside. "The guests are here master." A deep loud voice answered back. "Then let them inn Kitten." She smiled and turned to the side so Gabe and Colin could walk past her. Inside the den was a warm calm room, with a fire place and several soft cushioned chairs set around a low coffee table. There were six men in the room besides Colin and Gabe. Four big brawny mussel type Channelers at the Ancestor Realm who stood to the walls. And two actually similar looking men in the chairs nearest the fire place. They were playing a board game on the table and stood when Gabe entered. "Well hello there." Matthew said. "I'm glad to see you accepted my invitation. I knew you wouldn’t waste any time after the competition to arrive." The other man laughed. "Matthew here always thinks he's two steps ahead of everyone else. But I think we're all just two steps behind where we should be." He seamed like a merry soul, with laughing lines on his young face and comfortable clothing instead of the extravagant garb those in this neighborhood usually wore. Matthew gestured to his cousin. "Gabriel this is my distant cousin Jeral. Jeral this is the young Channeler who defeated me in the ring." Gabe was a bit surprised at how openly Matthew bragged about his loss. Jeral bowed slightly and Gabe bowed back. "Good to meat you young Warrior, anyone who can defeat Matthew must be a powerful Channeler indeed, or a really intelligent one. From what I hear you could be both and that makes our meeting twice as good." Gabe smiled. "I thank you for your Praise, but if we fought again today then Matthew would have his victory in seconds." Jeral looked at his cousin with pride. "Yes I figured as much, he never lost to the same person twice when we were kids ether." Matthew waved them off. ”More importantly we heard what happened at the test, it’s so much more amazing that you were able to defeat a cheater that was a full realm ahead of you. At your stage even I would have lost such an overwhelming fight." Gabe rubbed his hand through his hair. “He was too weak for his level. If he really did come from the Hellvine family then I can see why they would kick him out. Truly pathetic.” Gabe hopped that bastard would be killed for his crime, he had already dishonored the Hellvine family with his actions and claims. If the Golden-Chaos family didn’t have him killed than the Hellvine family would send one of their own to put a stop to him. Aftere hearaing that Gabe had defeated someone a full realm above him Colin was a little stunned Gabe hadn’t said a thing about it.
“Are you ready Gabriel? I Am done with my other business in the city and was only waiting for you." Gabe nodded. "Me and Colin are very thankful for this opportunity and have been ready for quite some time." Matthew looked at Colin with a suspicious glare. "You did not tell me your servant was a Channeler." Rune bonded Mundane servants were uncommon, especially for those outside of a family. But a rune bonded Channeler servant was infinitely more rare. The rune bond was a very particular slave bond that required a skilled Rune artist and the consent of both parties, along with a powerful beast blood or Fairy dust to draw the rune with. Colin had been facing death, he had agreed readily, and Gabe's father had procured the blood of a Death phoenix, it was his final act as a father to give his young son this chance. "I assume this makes that cheater’s claims much more likely doesn't it." He looked at Gabe, he had watched the Final rounds of the Channeler tests and heard what the man had said about Gabe. Gabe nodded. "I'm afraid it does, because what he said was true. Does this change the invitation?" Matthew shook his head. "No, it only raises my curiosity about you even further." Why would such a powerful Channeler be kicked out of his own family at such a young age. It would take an act of true atrocity to cause that, especially with the Hellvine family that honored power above all. Matthew couldn't help but be intrigued by this man's story. Gabe was too young to be punished so harshly. He was Seventeen now… but from what the cheater had said he had been much younger when it happened. What mistake could have possibly caused a falling out with such a talent. It boggled the mind.
"I'm sorry to see you Go Matthew." Jeral said with a handshake to his esteemed guest from the main family. "Stop by again anytime you can. I won't be busy." Matthew smiled and shook his hand back, he and Jeral actually had quite a history together and that was another reason he’d come out to this city. It also helped with his cover story. "I'll do that my friend." Jeral also said a short goodbye to Gabe then Finally one of the Acolytes in the room pulled out a Teleport scroll. He opened it and said a quick incantation to activate it. Immediately a portal opened up in front of him. The tare in space led to the front of a giant mansion. One that put this one to shame. It stood over six stories high and was long and beautiful, with perfect white coloring and large pillars along the front it was more like a cathedral than a home. Matthew was the first to step in. Then the Acolytes gestured for Gabe to follow behind him. Gabe and Colin weren't prepared properly for the jump, neither of them had used a portal in over ten years. They felt a bit of nausea and dizziness as they appeared in the front of the beautiful mansion suddenly and looked around. All around the giant monster of a house that rivaled the one Gabe had been born in, was dark forest and jungle. Seemingly untouched wilderness. This mansion was the only thing well kept in the sheer wilderness that was all around the the outer fence. And The Chaos energy coming from the land was very pure and plentiful. "Welcome to my family home." Matthew said and grinned. "Directly in the middle of the Third Night jungle Treasure land." it was quite impressive, Only the wealthiest and most distinguished members of any Family house built homes on treasure lands. And only in the lowest Quality ones, as the beasts living in any other higher lands would be too powerful and dangerous to live around. Gabe Could feel the Chaos Spirit energy in Air, most of it was of the Dark element. The Acolytes all stepped through the portal behind him and he felt it snap shut. That was it, he was now even further from Sisfar's Treasure Chamber then when he Began his journey towards it. But he didn't need it anymore so he barely felt any loss whatsoever. “I guess it’s not much to a man from the mighty Hellvine Family. Who keeps the Golden-Chaos family and a thousand other enemies on the run with just their wealth and power. But it’s one of the five biggest mansions in the greenwood territory. And the pride of my great uncle.” Matthew was smiling as he escorted them to the huge manor. Gabe could tell he was extremely proud of this place, and of his family’s glory. “it’s impressive. even for the standards of the Hellvine family this home would stand proud and tall.” Gabe’s words made Matthew’s smile increase in size.
Matthew led them up to the large wooden doors that were already open wide. The weather was actually quite warm here, and the house felt comfortable as they strolled into an impressive Front Hall that could probably host a party or ball of over a thousand people. The floors were shiny Stone wood, and the walls and surroundings were adorned with lush and expensive decor. With gold and brown accents. Over A dozen people were standing just a few yards in from the door in the middle of the open floor. "Matthew!!" A young boy with sandy blonde hair and wide bright eyes shouted, his voice echoing in the huge room. The little Guy broke free from a woman that was holding his shoulder and ran to greet Matthew with a hug. Matthew grinned after the hug and introduced his youngest brother Benji to Gabe. The rest of his family walked peacefully towards them instead of running. And Matthew bowed to them with a greeting as they approached. “I have returned in good health elders and juniors.” They all bowed back and greeted him in return “Welcome home Son of Greenwood.” It was all very formal and delicate. Gabe felt almost awkward watching. Then Matthew introduced him to his family. "This is Gabriel Hellvine." He said with a smile. Gabe saw several eyes widen. A tall dark headed man that looked like Matthew only older stepped ahead of everyone and bowed. "Good Greetings Gabriel. We welcome you into our home as an Honored guest. I am Matthew's Great Great uncle Gelgar. The head of this household." Gabe bowed back and so did Colin. "I am Honored to be here, and greet you well also." Gabe said, remembering some of his old days as a child in his father's house. Gelgar proceeded to introduce everybody standing behind him. From Matthew's great aunt, to his three siblings, and his parents. Along with a few cousins who were the Gelgar’s grandchildren. Gabe assumed their parents were likely just not home today. One of Matthew's cousins was a Girl with flowing deep brown hair. when Gabe first saw her he took in a small quick breath. She was the most beautiful Girl he'd ever seen. Only a few years younger then him, her face was smooth and perfect. With light toned skin and a shapely body. Her eyes were Silver, and her lips were deep red. She wore a Lose green robe with a golden Color, and a ruby encrusted choker was around her neck. He could sense that she was a level two Apprentice realm Channeler, and a very powerful one at that as she had Two Elements, Lightning and Darkness. It was a bit of a shock as those two elements were from both the Chaos Energy and the Geo energies. Though lightning was was well known for having Chaos like energy in its element. She was a rare talant. Immediately his mind calculated everything he needed to do to woo her and he thought it should be possible with his Channeling talent. He wasn't very good with women, but he was a genius now so figuring it out shouldn’t be impossible. He straightened his back and decided to be on his best behavior while he was here. "And this is Seygo, my beautiful granddaughter." Gelgar introduced her and Gabe swore he would never forget that name.
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When the introductions were finished Gelgar smiled politely at him and made a gesture to one of the Acolytes, a big brawny man with brown hair, a strong jaw line and a tattoo on his left cheek of a curled scorpion ready to strike. "Cal here will show you to a place you can stay while your here. Feel free to venture out into the Jungle around the house as you please, anything you find you can keep. Though be careful, and take someone with you if you can. There are dangers out there for young Channelers like you." Offering him whatever he finds in the treasure land was quite the show of good faith and Gabe knew he would be taking him up on the offer. “Many thanks sir.” Gabe bowed in respect and was led by the big man away from the family to let them get reacquainted alone. "Oh! Please do have someone show you to my office in a few days before I leave soon, I'd like to have a talk with you." Gelgar shouted after them as Cal led him and Colin up the stairs. Gabe knew exactly what would happen in that meeting too, but wasn't sure what would happen afterwards. Would he be welcome here even after he turned down an Acolyte contract? Even if the Greenwood family was known for their honor, they were a major Family houses after all and family house’s had a very set way of doing things. They didn’t just let free loaders mooch off of them indefinitely without expecting something in return.
It turned out this house was actually built not too far from a Greenwood family city. Cal informed Gabe after leading him into a large carpeted suite that if he wanted to he could ask one of the Acolyte guards and they were authorized to fly him to the city when he wanted to buy or sell something there. Gabe grinned at this news as it meant he could keep up his Junk business if he wanted to make a little money. The room he and Colin were given had running water and good utilities, and also a Cultivation closet. A small dark room with Runes draw on the wall that increased someones draw on the energy around the Mansion. It didn't help much but every little bit counted. Colin had been offered a room of his own in the servant quarters but Gabe wanted to keep him close so they both would be staying in the same room. The Acolyte left after explaining some of the house workings. It seamed this family liked to bond over a monthly Dinner. Food and water were not needed as often for Channelers as it was for mundane humans. So most just ate whenever they felt like it instead of at fixed times. The Greenwood family would be having a full house Dinner the next week and Gabe was invited, it was more for familial boding than eating but the food was sure to be good. He grinned, it would be the perfect time to get acquainted with Miss Seygo so he would definitely accept.
The first thing Gabe did after getting settled was enter the cultivation Closet and pull out the Dark flame candle. He lit the black wick and immediately went into meditation. The candle burned with a black fire that darkened everything around it. And the pitch black smoke filled the tiny closet with unique energies that revealed the laws of darkness in the world around Gabe. These laws permeated his mind as he meditated and absorbed them into his soul. In his soul room he watched as the dark energy he was drawing in also absorbed some black flickering fire from the candle into it. his dark element soul beasts, like the nexus wasp and the clouded rhino purified this energy and fire and sent it straight to the core of his soul. The stream of dark spirit energy flowed into his soul and he could feel the fire burning inside him, it built itself out of nothing but laws and energy and power overflowed from it’s creation.
It would take six hours to complete the Absorption, and he focused hard on drawing every ounce of the candle he could into his soul, the more he was able to refine of the candle the more powerful this innate fire would be. the only limit was how much fire and darkness the soul of the channeler could hold. Of course once it was fully done forming it would grow in power along side the power of his darkness element, but the natural laws of fire and Darkness it used would never change or grow, so he must work hard to absorb all the laws the candle held within it into himself. this first stage was the crux of all it’s potential. And even a deity Channeler might not do any better at absorbing the laws of the universe than someone weaker it all depended on the soul and it’s attunement to the world around it, as well as it’s strength to hold this unique power. To Gabe’s delight he discovered his soul could hold all of these laws. Like a river poring into the ocean not a single drop of power flowing into him was lost or denied. Everything the candle held was guzzled up by him down to the last wisp of smoke. This was to show just how much talent he had in the darkness element, only a handful of channelers on all of primeway had been able to match such a feet and only with years of forethought and training, using secret techniques passed down to them by the oldest of sages. And only because their souls had the highest affinity with the element of the Candle were they even close to doing so. Gabe wondered what it would be like to use a high grade Dark flame Candle instead of this low grade one, would those more powerful and profound laws be just as easy to guzzle by him? He assured himself he would find out one day.