Chapter: 20

Carolyn circulated the mana through her body, relieving the aches that came from sitting for several hours in nearly the same position.

“Have a good day, Lady Carolyn,” Cousin Emilia said. She was an older woman and she was kind, too kind for Carolyn’s nephew. That nasty man who’d taken out his rages and idiotic losses upon his wife and children till she was able to send them away to schools and academies.

“Thank you for taking care of the Lady.” Everett bowed his head solemnly.

“Just doing what I can.” She smiled and bowed her head back before making her exit.

The door closed behind her and her footsteps carried her away and down the stairs.

Carolyn drew in more mana, she’d felt herself at the limit all day, teasingly close, but Rick had warned her to not make any breakthroughs with anyone but allies around for a dozen meters.

She felt her core take the next step, progressing to a white solid core which started to slowly fill as she pushed in all the mana she’d stored in her channels.

Her channels expanded, a new strength rushing through her body as she stood, feeling younger than she had in decades.

Carolyn’s eyes were solemn as she looked at the door.

“Something the matter, my lady?” Everett asked.

“No, just that we will have to recall the rest of the family once the change happens,” Carolyn said.

“Yes, my lady.”

“Emilia has looked after me all this time, the only one from the main family that does. Her husband gets into his drinks and schemes while she makes sure I move, that I have water and poisoned tea.” Carolyn waved off Everett. “She doesn’t know while she makes the food a pulp so I might eat it. Without any compensation. Her care shall not be forgotten.” Carolyn gripped her fist, how she wanted to have a sword in it, to cut through the filth her family had become.

She stood up from her chair and stretched.

“I’m worried, Lady Carolyn.”

“What of?”

“This new power, these new techniques. They will change everything in the coming days.” There was a strength to his voice, a depth and strength that had been missing these years. He had packed on weight, filling out his armor more, looking like the bear that had stood beside her husband.

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“There is no going back, people have been increasing their levels and their skills since Len and Rick arrived,” Carolyn said, moving to the replenished drinking cart.

“What do you make of Rick?” Carolyn asked making herself a drink, while watching Everett.

“There’s a weight and presence to him of someone much older. He uses jokes and laughter to cover up for it and much more. He hasn’t changed in that manner. He is not the boy that left here for Valoria. There’s a weight of command of age to him. Though also distance,” Everett said.

“Do you think he has the qualities to be a leader?”

“He can be a leader of fighters, like Len. Though for a long time? No he would not be suitable. Interests would carry him away,” Everett said. “I do not think that the wanderlust has left him.”

Carolyn drank. I will have to bind him to Goran firmly.

“Krondel has sent over the books.”

“Very well, let us see what has been going on,” She took a deep gulp of her drink.

Everett moved over to a column holding a planter in the corner. He moved it to the side, pulled away a plank and pulled out several books.

He put everything back and walked over to her desk, putting down the books.

“Light reading.” She sighed and walked to the desk hiding to the side of the room. “Seems like we’re going to have to learn and quickly.”

Carolyn sat down at her desk and flipped open the pages of the books. There was just two days until the finals.

***

Len and Rick stepped off of the train into Goran, the festive spirit was in full swing with the streets filled with people.

The soldiers moved in smaller groups, paying no attention to one another, they’d meet up later. Some were gathering up their crated gear.

The farmers and their families stayed together, heading for the inns that the soldiers had recommended at the edge of town.

“Len you sure that you’ll be okay?” His father asked.

“As well as they can be, this should be all finished on the day of the finals we were promised.”

His father pressed his lips together, displeased, but understanding as he brought Len into a hug. “Send for us when this is all over.”

“And if I don’t and three days have passed?” Len asked.

“Head to Velkaris with the other farmers,” His father confirmed as they broke off the hug.

“We know some of what the future will bring and I’m just planning how to work within that,” Len said.

Edward let out s sigh.

“Fathers are supposed to look out for their sons.”

“And sons are always supposed to know better than their fathers—or at least think they do,” Len winked.

Edward tousled his hair as his mother wrapped him up in a hug. “You come back to us again now you hear.”

“I did it once,” Len said softly.

She gave him a smile, pulling him in tight before releasing him. “Now go help Rick.” She patted him on the back and pushed him towards his friend.

Rick nodded and started moving out of the station and towards the crowds.

Len looked back at his family standing on the station platform. They smiled and raised their hands in goodbye.

He waved back before turning around and hurrying after Rick.

“Screens for all! people’s skills and information listed out for everyone to see! Questions raised about the Connection to system network!” A newspaper boy cried out as people lined up for a copy.

They passed through areas tradesman worked, people were dedicated to their crafts. “Apprentice!” Someone yelled out of a shop as they passed.

“What did you get?”

“How?”

Others in the shop called out and rushed over.

Looks like everyone’s testing out and learning the screens.