Ryan listened to the sound of Tyler's water as his servant trained, listened to the way it rushed and bubbled as he twisted and manipulated it. It was enjoyable to listen to and helped to entertain him. At the same time as he listened to his servant practice, he thought about things.

After retesting, it was confirmed that he was a Specialist at Tier Twelve in all affinities, which meant absolutely nothing other than were his situation different, he could potentially become another Gray Mage. His father bound everyone present with a geass again, though that time, it just involved three separate appraisers rather than a large room full of family and servants.

Closing his eyes, Ryan felt the bitter autumn air on his cheeks, the light breeze that brushed him. Without his jacket and the thicker pants he wore, he knew it would bite at the rest of his body as well. What would it be like, to not only be able to feel the wind, but to command it? To become one with it and take control of it?

With any of the elements?

His sheer magical power alone could turn him into a force nigh unstoppable. Ryan wasn't sure what he would use that much force for, just that he would have that much power. There were only two Divine in the world, each only in two affinities, and both were old and had taken decades to reach it from their already-high Tiers.

Instead, the most he could probably do without any real issues was learn telepathy once he awakened and hoped he had a decent affinity for it.

Exhaling slowly, Ryan stopped thinking about that and returned his focus to the sound of Tyler training, which ended only moments later, as his servant finished.

"I wish to go into town," Ryan informed Tyler.

"Okay, sir," Tyler responded. "May I first shower, sir?"

"Yes," Ryan responded.

They returned to their quarters, and Ryan sat on Tyler's bed as his servant took a shower, then dried and dressed. After that, Tyler led Ryan to the garage and they entered the car. Traveling into town was never an issue for them unless they were already aware of Ryan being needed for something.

"Where would you like to go?" Tyler asked as he drove into town.

"How about the mall?" Ryan suggested.

"Your father would have my hide if I took you there," Tyler responded.

If they were separated, it could be quite awhile before Tyler found Ryan. It was an issue that had happened a few times in the past. Not with Tyler, as by the time he was old enough to be trusted with Ryan alone out of the complex, the rule was already in place, but with other servants and guards.

As Ryan naturally could not just wander around in search of Tyler, that meant he had to stop wherever he was, hope he wasn't in the way of things, and wait.

"It's a Tuesday morning," Ryan said. "In the middle of November. There might be some traffic, Tyler, but it won't be too bad. If we get separated and you can't see me, just look over in the toy store. Ah, the kids' one, not the adult one. I'm probably feeling the stuffed animals to see if any have a nice texture."

"I'm still amazed you managed to find that," Tyler snorted.

When they were twelve, they were separated at the mall once, and when Tyler and the other servant found Ryan, he was feeling stuffed animals in a toy store, chatting with an associate about the different textures. Ryan himself wasn't actually sure how he found his way into the toy store, just that he did find himself in there after they were separated.

"I think was I simply drawn there by the textures," Ryan told his servant. "Like a magnet to another magnet. Or a bear to honey. Or our cousin Eric to money. Let's go to the mall. I want to smell their food court and just wander around it. If Father complains, I'll say that I ordered you to."

"And if we get separated?" Tyler asked. "In seriousness, Ryan?"

"I'll locate the nearest bench while asking for someone to get me someone from the mall staff, then tell them that I lost my dog. His name is Tyler, and he has brown fur and blue eyes, and is wearing a cute little vest-"

"I'm not wearing a vest," Tyler snorted.

Ryan reached over and felt his servant, then sighed.

"It's a coat," he said. "Darn. I can't even say jacket to this, it's too heavy for that. I suppose the crinkling noise should have been a sign."

"Not everyone wears two hoodies like you," Tyler said.

"They're comfy," Ryan said. "I'm warm and snug. You should give it a try sometime."

"I'll keep that in mind," Tyler said. "And I still feel uncomfortable going to the mall with you, especially with Christmas coming up soon. The crowds will be thick."

"And I wish to go to the mall."

Tyler sighed, and Ryan knew his servant was about to give in.

"I will inform Father that we went by my choice," Ryan told him. "And ensure you are not punished for it, Tyler. It isn't often I will be around so many sounds."

The last line pushed Tyler's decision, and Ryan could tell before his servant even spoke by the way he shifted and the way his breathing hesitated for a moment.

"Alright," Tyler said. "But stay as close to me as you can."

"But that might chase off any potential ladies who would be interested in you."

"Ryan," Tyler's voice was stern, a tone no other servant ever dared take with him.

"I know, I know," Ryan sighed. "I'll stay next to you."

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A few minutes later, Ryan felt the car come to a stop, then waited for Tyler to exit and walk around to open his door. He exited and grabbed onto Tyler's sleeve, exhaling lightly as Tyler closed the door and locked the car.

"Come on," Tyler told him. "Let's go inside, where it'll be warmer."

"You know," Ryan said. "While I might not be able to do much with my magic, I'd be able to warm or cool the air, wouldn't I?"

"And if your hot cocoa was too warm or cold, you could adjust that, too," Tyler added. "I hadn't thought of that. Your father has likely already begun to look into possible spells for you to learn."

"Probably," Ryan agreed. "Sadly, he's not found a Specialist who can teach me telekinesis."

"You and I both know your father isn't looking for one," Tyler snorted. "And that you're only saying that to get reactions."

"That would be fun, wouldn't it?" Ryan asked as they entered the mall. "Ooh, it's so warm in here. See any pretty ladies?"

"Stop that," Tyler quickly responded, his tone informing Ryan there probably was one nearby. "I'll try to walk around the edges, where there's a little more space in most places."

"Alright," Ryan said. "Let's enter as many shops as possible, especially ones with things for me to feel or smell."

"Yes, sir," Tyler responded, grabbing onto Ryan's sleeve to guide his master.

Tyler led Ryan into the nearest shop, a clothing store, and Ryan felt the various clothes that were in there. From what he could tell, it was a women's clothing store, and Tyler was making sure he didn't touch undergarments. From past experience, Ryan knew they were probably being stared at or given uncomfortable looks, but whatever it was, Tyler didn't comment.

"This is," Ryan spoke loudly as he felt a sweater. "By far the most ugly sweater I have ever seen. Do you think your mother would like it?"

The last line was said in his normal voice, and he felt Tyler shaking next to him as his servant tried not to laugh.

"That is a dark red sweater," Tyler told him. "Without any decorations."

"That explains its ugliness!" Ryan declared. "It's perfect for your mother! She's plain, it's plain, it's a match made by the heavens."

"My mother also hates dark red," Tyler said.

"Who are we to question the heavens?" Ryan moved on to the next sweater over.

They proceeded to move from shop to shop, and Ryan could feel a pair of eyes on them every now and then. Eventually, as they finished in a clothing store for men and teen boys, he decided that Tyler didn't need to be just a guide.

"Tyler," he said. "If you want to try on some clothes, go ahead and do so. I can wait in a chair, nothing will happen."

"I don't feel comfortable with that," Tyler told him. "Especially as we've been followed around the mall so far."

"You noticed them, too?" Ryan asked.

"Yes," Tyler answered. "If something should happen-how did you notice them?"

"I can feel their gazes every now and then," Ryan answered. "What do they look like?"

"I haven't actually seen them," Tyler admitted. "But I know they're there."

"Tell you what," Ryan said. "You pick out some clothes and try them on, and I'll wait to see if they approach me. If they're friendly, I'll see if they have a hot female friend for you to date. If they're hostile, I'll punch them in the boobs or balls and then set them on fire."

"You're not setting anyone on fire," Tyler snorted. "I don't feel comfortable with leaving you alone, Ryan."

"Also," Ryan said. "It's the two ladies who are about twenty feet away."

Tyler was silent for a few moments, his gaze leaving Ryan, and when the man sensed it back on him again, he grinned.

"So are they hot?"

"Your perceptiveness frightens me," Tyler informed his master. "And I recognize them, they were classmates of mine in high school."

Even though Tyler was Ryan's servant, he still attended high school like a normal person, while Ryan had private tutors. When Tyler wasn't at school or doing his homework, he acted as Ryan's servant, and since he had graduated in June, he had become Ryan's servant full-time. While Tyler was busy with school and homework, Ryan himself was busy with his own lessons, and so a servant wasn't as needed.

"You didn't answer the question," Ryan grinned. "Are these former classmates of yours hot?"

"Very," Tyler answered in a hushed voice. "And you know that I won't be dating, Ryan. My duty is to you."

"Pick out some clothes and try them on," Ryan told him. "I'll pay for it. Consider it a late birthday present from me. Or an early Christmas one."

"Ryan-"

"Just do it," Ryan said firmly. "I'll be fine. You know Father likely has some guards hidden around. That's how he's going to find out we were here even before he sees the charges."

A few seconds passed before Tyler sighed, then led Ryan to the seating area outside the fitting rooms.

"Scream if you need me," Tyler told him.

"I'll call if someone hot wants to date you."

Ryan heard Tyler walk off, then began to wait. As he waited for his servant to finish trying on clothes, he heard the pair of girls moving closer, then they sat beside him.

"Hi," one of them said as he smelled her perfume.

It was sweet in scent, but not overused. A lady who knew what an acceptable was amount to use. He thought them to be a rare breed of woman based on how many women he came across who just sprayed a lot of their perfume on. Enough to choke every man, woman, child, and beast around.

"Hello," he responded.

"I don't recognize you from school," she said. "Do you go to college with Tyler?"

"No," he answered, trying not to smile. She probably thought they were dating. "I've known him since we were ten, actually. He lives near me."

"Oh," she said. "We saw you two walking around."

"You've been following us almost since we arrived."

"You noticed?" He detected bits of embarrassment in her voice.

"Yep," he responded. "Tyler thought you were a stalker until I pointed out who it was following us. He told me he knew you from school and that he thought you might have had a thing for him."

Her friend snorted, and Ryan heard her breathing change as she attempted not to laugh.

"I-well, I did," she admitted. "I wasn't aware he was with someone, though."

"With someone?" Ryan asked. "Oh, you mean me? No, him holding onto me is because he's like a little kid. If you don't keep hold of him, he'll just wander off and disappear. So we have a rule that he has to hold onto whoever he's walking with, and if he lets go, he gets a spanking. Not the kind where it's through his pants. He has to bare his ass for it, so that it stings more. It's quite the hairy ass."

"My ass is smooth, thank you," Tyler said, and Ryan heard the two ladies jump. "Stop spreading stories like that, Ryan. And I'm not like a little kid."

"Fine," Ryan said. "He was holding onto me like a little kid because he gets scared that someone's going to kidnap me. He's such a caring, loving boyfriend, who-"

"Stop that!" Tyler exclaimed quietly. "And Ryan, turn your head a little, your eyes are aimed right at some lady's rear."

"She wasn't there when I sat down," Ryan said. "So she put her ass in the path of my eyes. Any perceived perversion is her own doing. By the way, you look stunning in that outfit, but that shirt doesn't go with those pants, which says something about how you can work anything."

"Ryan," Tyler sighed. "This is the outfit I came here in."

"Was it?" Ryan asked. "My bad. Did you get it here?"

"Wait," the girl beside him asked. "Are you-sorry if it seems insensitive, but are you blind?"

"Very," Ryan nodded. "Tyler here is my seeing-eye dog. He hasn't been neutered yet, by the way, and is looking for a mate to hump."

"Okay," Tyler said. "Ryan, please be appropriate. I'm sorry, he doesn't get to interact with a lot of people that often, and so tends to do stuff like this."

"He's cute," she said. "So are you, Tyler."

"Want him?" Ryan asked. "I'd be willing to sell him to you."

"I'm not for sale," Tyler said. "And you know I'm not looking for a girlfriend."

"Correct," Ryan said. "You're looking for a wife, and I'm hungry. Did you find an outfit you want to buy?"

"I'm not looking for a wife, we can go to the food court, and yes, I found an outfit I would like."

"Excellent!" Ryan clapped his hands. "Let's go buy it, then eat. Ladies, would you like to join us? Tyler's looking for two wives."