Aoife arrived back in the castle just after the sun started to peek over the horizon. Her outfit was ruined of course, having not had chance to change out of it before they all left on the hunt. Karim had come back injured from hunting down the high levelled monsters from a dungeon breach.
She had of course ensured he was okay, her darling son-in-law had been healed only a few moments after her adoptive son had left the hall. Part of her had been hoping that he’d come over and wish them luck, but she supposed it was better in truth that he would listen to his sister’s orders.
The shower in her chambers beckoned and Aoife stepped under the warm torrents of water. It had been a long time since she seriously considered any water to be hot, though she could still appreciate the just below boiling temperature water. Even if it didn’t affect her much it was still warm and rather excellent at removing monster blood.
Which is to say it took ten seconds of scrubbing rather than ten minutes. After a few rounds of soaping, lathering and rubbing all over, Aoife stepped out of the shower and grabbed her stylus quickly scrawling a glyph in the air. The warm press of divine magic wrapped around her and rapidly heated the remaining water on her skin and in her hair drying her in seconds without any fuss.
She walked across the hall and into her bedroom sliding into her bed for a few hours of well deserved sleep. Technically she didn’t need to sleep just yet, but it felt like a good enough time. She was always happier afterwards.
– – – – –
Aoife finished her breakfast and rinsed off the plate, leaving it on the rack to dry. The scent of monster meats cooked in warm spices still called out to her but she resisted the urge. If she did she’d have to cook again later, or she’d feel guilty for making one of the castle chefs do it for her when she was perfectly capable of getting her own food.
Her first port of call was the temple but she finished up her business there quickly. It helped that altars for Kol devotion were pretty much standardised everywhere. She offered a little to each altar before making her way back out. On the way she popped her head into Hadiza’s(the high priestess’) office and gave her a little wave.
Hadiza may have stolen her job a few years ago, but they both got on well. Aoife was not upset by an early retirement, though she did still help out where she could. Jem was next on her list. He had been busy preparing for the ball, and she didn’t want to smother him while he was still getting used to everything, but now it was time for some mother son time. Her nest had been empty for long enough. Even if he was going to go to university soon, there was no reason why he couldn’t move in with her for a little while and have some home cooked meals.
When Aoife got to Jem’s room there was a disgruntled looking Ayo outside. She was so busy giving the door a judgemental stare that she didn’t even hear Aoife’s approach. That or she was attempting to burn a hole through the door with her eyes and she didn’t want to look away while it was im progress.
“Hello Ayo, I hope my children aren’t annoying you again.”
The darkskinned woman brayed a laugh. “They always do, but this time this one might be worth putting up with. He might be working with new legs but he picked up the dances faster than he had any right to, and it wasn’t skill assisted either. Beyond some kind of balance skill anyway.”
Aoife felt her heart warm at that, Ayo was generally tight lipped with praise unless she was truly impressed. Or unless she’s trying to get something out of me.
“So what brings you here?”
“He’s late for training.”
“Sorry Ayo, I have set this time aside for quality time with my son.”
She just snorted. “And you would have it too, but he was supposed to be there three hours ago and I still haven’t heard a peep. The guards said he hasn’t left since he entered last night about half an hour after the ball ended.
Aoife turned to face one of the guards, they were high levelled enough and had the stealth skills to match. Ayo was a frighteningly perceptive woman. Most people wouldn't even realise they were there, and fewer could encourage them to talk.
Jem could just be tired but it surely wouldn't hurt to check in on him. Even if he slept naked or something she was his mother and she’d see everything at some point. Boundaries are there for when there aren't concerns about her children's safety.
Aoife gave a quick gesture to the guards indicating what she was about to do and she pressed her hand to the lock offering a quick incantation.
There won't be any locked doors in this house.
The internal bolts shot open in three rapid clunks and Aoife pushed the door wide. The light was still on and Jem was sat slumped forward wrapped in a blanket. It made her want to run over and squeeze his cheeks. Ayo leaned in beside her.
“I don’t think there will be any training today, he will be unconscious for at least two hours yet,” said Ayo. “When he wakes up tell him that training will be starting early tomorrow, he needs to catch up.”
By the time Aoife had turned to ask her what she’d seen Ayo was already at the other end of the corridor.
On the bed beside Jem a few books were strewn about, but only one was open ‘101 Facts Every WIzard Needs to Know.’ She had a feeling she knew what had happened, but she leaned in and read the page anyway. An incantation for summoning a small light. Kol depletion. Assuming he’d cast it around the time the ball ended he would be out for at least another few hours.
Aoife left the room, and used her stylus to set a spell over the door. It would be locked tight until she returned.
She knew one thing for sure, Jem would be ravenous when he woke up. Maybe she would have to sacrifice her dinner afterall. If she ate with Jem later too it would save the castle staff the trouble.
Aoife returned two hours later with the food she’d set aside in hand having used most of her Kol casting spells. It didn’t take long and would help her grow her capacity. She removed her spell from the door and strode in. Jem was still asleep but she pushed a little Kol from the air into him and he jolted up before groaning and clutching his head.
“Turn off the light.”
Aoife pushed Kol into the runic inscription by the door, dimming the lights. Not wishing for him to suffer any longer she also cast a healing spell on him eliciting a sigh of relief.
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“Hi Aoife.” Jem’s voice was still croaky despite the spell. Likely residual swelling from channelling the incantation with insufficient Kol.
“Ayo sends her regards, she expects you even earlier tomorrow morning.”
Jem slumped backwards and covered his face with a pillow. “I need to get Nessa to fill my shoes with glitter.”
“Come on now, I didn’t bring you this food just so you could lie about and do nothing.”
As if summoned Jem’s stomach rumbled and he sat back up immediately. Aoife wordlessly handed him the plate and Jem hesitated for a moment before reaching for it. Jem had told her of the cutlery they tended to use back on his world, but it seemed quite pointless for the most part.
Aoife understood why they’d use it on a dead world, illness would be a greater risk for them, but with magic… He seemed to be getting over it quickly enough.
“I noticed that you ran away after introductions were done last night.”
Jem swallowed down a chunk of the monster meat and looked up. “I figured I could get away with it. With my skill making everyone think I was younger and everything.”
You know so little. Aoife chuckled. “Jem every single person at that party could see past your skill.”
Jem paused with his hand halfway to his mouth. “Huh?”
“I guarantee all the ones with low level at least had a noble starter class. Those always come with a variant of mental resistance. And any of the higher level ones would see through it. That is the effect of stats and levels.”
“ – oh.”
“No skill is infallible, not even magic is infallible, though it does go both ways to some extent. Or it would, but you’re level 0 so not really. Direct manipulation of Kol, and the effects of bloodlines are more resilient, and are less likely to be seen through by skills though, so even if you are a high level in the future. Don’t assume you can see past everything. Now, tell me what you learned yesterday.”
Jem continued eating while he thought. “That almost all of them were using skills, and tons of them probably altered my mental state. Also I wanted to ask, you all are using them on me aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t that rude?”
Such a different viewpoint. “Typically no. You can’t always tell if one is being used, and it’s often rude to ask. If someone has a skill that makes them more attractive. Would you say that your attraction towards them would be false?”
Aoife paused.
“It shouldn’t. That’s just a really easy way to get yourself tied up in knots.”
“I assume there are skills like the mental resistance one you mentioned before. Ones that I could get without the class?”
“Yes, though of course this is especially true for you. Did you learn anything else?”
“I think the nobles are trying to figure out what my deal is? And they want me to be valuable, one thought you might have adopted me because of the technology from my world?”
“Your conversation with the Blackthorn son?”
“You were listening?”
“Everyone is always listening, if you’re in public most people won’t care to listen, but in a ballroom with nobles?”
Jem flushed. “I. See.”
Aoife picked up the booklet on the Blackthorn lad. The librarians probably shouldn’t have given it to Jem, but she could have words later. It contained class and skill information. Noble starting class as she’d thought. She waved the booklet at Jem. “Are you going to see him?”
“I hadn’t got that far. Why didn’t you tell me about incantations?”
She sat down on the bed. “What was your first experience like?”
“Amazing.” Jem looked to the side. “Painful?”
“It can be both of those things yes. But the reason we didn’t start with incantations are two fold. You haven’t practiced controlling your Kol. Hence your unconsciousness. And also you are from a dead world, and you don’t want to cast incantations unless you feel certain magic works. If you do you can weaken your Kol. A large part of improving your Kol density is increasing your faith in magic.”
She left it unspoken that if he had tried to cast it and then it hadn’t worked he might have made it harder to cast magic in the future.
“I still want to learn incantations though. They are the most magical thing I’ve seen yet.”
“Tell me that when you have to spend an hour working on pronunciations for a spell translated from a different language.”
Jem lit up.. “I think we can both agree I have a slight advantage there.”
At least he’s not dwelling on his legs. “Fine. Practice some incantations, but don’t do it without supervision. And no creating your own just yet. We need to grow your Kol first. And no going behind my back.” She felt her lips tighten at the corners when she thought about what Haywood might encourage him to do. “Mother knows best.”
An indescipherable expression crossed his face. “Hey mum. Can you help me hunt some monsters. I need to level up.”
He’d better not turn out like Karim. Aoife had a feeling that her dream of a nice relaxing day with her son was gone. Her day was going to end like her last had.
“What level monsters did you fight with Haywood.”
“Level 60s and the boss was 140.”
Dad, I swear to the gods. “How did you do it? Did Haywood capture them and let you finish them?”
“He used a high level haste spell and gave me a really strong sword.”
I am so confiscating the family heirlooms. “You can’t use that sword again.”
“You can’t change my mind. I still want to level up.”
“Fine but we’re going to do it properly. If you want to be an adventurer you aren’t going to start with high level gear.”
“Wait, I could be an adventurer?” His eyes seemed to gleam with possibility.
Aoife thwacked Jem on the back of the head with the Blackthorn booklet. “Get that silly idea out of your head right now. You have problems to deal with already, don’t go making more of them.”
Jem looked at her like a kicked puppy. She wasn’t buying it for a second. He was already a wounded bird in her mind.