According to Katlyn, who was a year ahead of him, the entrance exam to the Academy consisted of two tests, one which evaluated the persons mind and knowledge and the other which evaluated their overall combat abilities, but since the exam changed every year, even having different organizers, she couldn't tell for sure what he should be prepared for, for the past few weeks not only Katlyn but some of the maids who had studied taught the boy about the history of runes and Pallaccia itself, Allera's giant library, wixh was kept in pristine conditions thanks to Kastro, was also of great help, with books ranging from mathematics, to history, to the basics of runic allowed to the general public by the Academy, every morning, afternoon and night Leif would make sure he'd spend atleast an hour reading all kinds of different books, he had learned how to read with commander Geralt but the reading sessions everyday took him away from the basics, Katlyn even gave him a little notebook and pencil to write down the words he didnt know to ask her their meanings.
Not only was he focused on his studies but also on training, sword, body and runic, he'd spend atleast 2 hours everyday on the garden reciting the basic trainings Laymen had taught him, he'd train with Allera's soldiers on the training grounds, lifting weights made of stone and wood for atleast an hour a day and by the end of the afternoon Allera herself awaited the boy in the training grounds for a duel, atleast 6 hours of the boys days where prepared for tuning his body and mind, every single day without fault, after a week Katlyn begun to worry about the boys well being.
Katlyn: [I know the entrance exam is important, but if you overdo it, you're just gonna end up exhausting yourself!]
She said, standing over him as he sat on the lush green grass of the garden.
Leif: [Dont worry about this, i've donde worse to my body.]
Katlyn: [Nope! You're coming with me today, where having a day off all this work!]
Leif knew that when she had already made up her mind there was no fighting it, he just made sure to pick up his cloak on the way out, for some reason, despite it being a sunny morning, New Pallac's summe seemed to be colder then most of Cithroam Leif had experienced, but in terms of coldness nothing beats the northern parts of Hasgart.
Katlyn: [Come on!]
She said boarding the carriage, one thing Leif never thought of seeing where carriages with no horses, apparently these where crafted by specialists in runic engraving, artifacts the were costly but also much faster and spared horses to work, only needing a person to direct it on the road, the two teens jumped in and Katlyn pulled to the side the sliding wood panel that closed the window to the driver of the carriage.
Katlyn: [Please take us to the market.]
???: [Of course, Lady Katlyn.]
She thanked the man and closed the slides the window close once more, turning back to sit down, when her knees touched Leif's who was sitting across from her her cheeks seemed to grow a little pink, she silently pulled herself up on the seat and pushed her lower back as far a she could to make some space, the two teens seemed to be strangely aware of eachothers present for the past few weeks since the two danced on the ball, specially Katlyn, Leif noticed she was much jumpy and nervous around him, her glances where quicker and she seemed to seem even more stressed then usual.
Leif: [Uh.. hey...]
Her eyes jumped to him.
Katlyn: [Y-yeah..?]
He felt like something was stuck on his throat, something on the tip of tongue, but he just couldnt get what it was.
Leif: [No... nothing...]
The two sat across each other in silence for a few minutes, throwing occasional glances and peeks at one another, eventually the carriage stopped, the window slid open and the driver looked in.
???: [We have arrived, my lady.]
The two stepped out of the carriage to the middle of a busy street, all different kinds of people walking everywhere, women and men, from children to the elderly, the main market street was a almost endlessly long street, wide enough for six carriages to pass side by side, with tents, booths and stalls that covered it, selling all kinds of things, from food and utensils to jewelery, clothes and accessories, Katlyn thanked the carriage driver and told him to wait for them.
Katlyn: [I always like coming here!]
They both stepped among the crowd, Leif noticed she always made sure to wear the least expensive clothes she could, with the most common cloths and no jewelry or accessories when they went out for any reason, wixh proved to be effective since despite her face being well-known by the public she usually was only recognized by three or four people, as if she ware to come out wearing her usual attire the entire street would stop to greet her, Leif would only manage to grasp the girls importance for New Pallac when he learned that her mother, Karol was the Kirthian head of relationships and occupied one of the chairs of the Pallaccian Council, to most her well being and confort in New Pallac meant a good relationship with Kirthia, she even had the nickname of "Kirthian Princess".
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Katlyn: [Hey what do you think of this?]
She asked, holding out a necklace made out of silver strands twisted around with light brown threads.
Leif: [Um... Its fine...]
Katlyn didn't respond, just pouted a little and went on to look at other accessories, Leif looked at the table where the necklaces, rings and earrings where being presented.
Leif: [I think this one fits you better...]
She looked back at him, on his right hand was a necklace, the band qade from thin black leather twisted around itself, holding on both sides of a rounded and polished blue quartz stone with white streaks running across the surface, she stared for a second a little surprised.
Katlyn: [Eh... why?]
Leif looked away for a second.
Leif: [It's... uh... the colors of your eyes...]
The two seemed to stop there for a second, Katlyn's eyes went wide and her cheeks reddened, a drop of sweat dripped down the boy's nape, thinking he had said too much.
Katlyn: [Oh.... I... I see...]
She said, slowly picking the necklace from his hand, she put it sound her neck and looked at him.
Katlyn: [Does... it look good...?]
Leif: glanced away, scratching his head.
Leif: [Y-yeah...]
???: [Ahhh... the youth...]
They both look at the old lady who sat on the stool across from them with surprised wide eyes.
Katlyn: [Ah! I apologize lady... I'm going to pay, of course...]
The girls said putting the necklace down and reach into her bag, the old lady reach over and pushed the necklace onto her hands.
???: [Theres no need, little princess, you can take it...]
Katlyn: [Wha... N-no! I insist!]
???: [You can insist all you want!]
The old lady exclaimed, giggling at the girls attempts of reaching her bag.
Leif: [Cmon then, shes giving us free things, be thankful.]
He said, not understanding why she was trying to waste money.
???: [Yes, yes! Be thankful!]
The two teens waved the old lady goodbye as the stepped away, Katlyn fiddled with the necklace around her neck hapilly, the two of them enjoyed the day, walking around and buying random strange food they found, she had slowly grown fond of showing off different food to Leif and forcing him to eat it, they returned to the same place when afternoon fell, the slid the carriages windows open to watch the sun turn the sky orange as it fell over the horizon, Leif would occasionally glance at her like always, but now most of the time he'd find her with a happy look on her face, fingers around the polished rock.
???: [We have arrived, my lady.]
The driver said, his eyes peeking inside the carriage, the carriage had stopped just before the stairway that led to the main entrance to the mansion, but when Leif stepped down Katlyn didn't follow him.
Katlyn: [My parents sent me a messenger to ask if wanted to sleep at my house today, see you tomorrow Leif.]
Leif: [See you tomorrow then.]
The carriage turned and begun to move over to the gate of Sunfort.
Katlyn: [Thanks for today!]
She said, waving out of the carriages window, Leif waved back and stepped up the stairs, this time instead of Kastro the door was opened by one of the maids, he walked in, by that time Allera would be waiting for him on the training grounds for a duel, but she had left for another ball, so for today he had to train alone.
???: [Youre the Warlock boy mother has been taking care of?]
He looked at the figure standing on the top of the stairs, a tall and slender young woman, she looked exactly like Allera but younger and more sophisticated, almost as if unlike Allera she had picked up books and pieces instead of axes and swords, she had dark brown skin, smooth and unblemished, that glistened a soft orange to the inside lantern's light, she had a full head of thick and kinky black hair, full lips and high-set cheekbones, she had on necklaces, bracelets and rings, some of silver, most of gold, some even where encrusted with precious stones and gems, she looked down at the boy with sharp eyes.
Leif: [Who are you?]
???: [Can't you tell?]
He could, she looked too much like Allera.
Leif: [Her daughter?]
Adelise: [Indeed, the name is Adelise, but you can call me me Lis.]
Leif slowly made his way up the stairs, under her watchful gaze.
Adelise: [Youre much younger then I thought you'd be.]
Leif: [And how old did you think I'd be?]
He asked, uninterested, exchanging sharp stares.
Adelise: [Well, when heard of a young Warlock i thought youd be at least 17.]
Leif: [Well, sorry to disappoint.]
Adelise: [Oh please, you didn't disappoint at all, in fact, it's even more impressive to see such a talented young man.]
For some reason, despite her compliments being seemingly genuine, she had this tone wich seemed to be permanently stuck in a mix of sarcasm and mockery, she stepped closer, being half a head taller then the boy and having a equally tall presence, he looked up at her, she looked down on him, and smiled.
Adelise: [Would you like to have dinner with me?]
Leif: [Huh..]
The boy was taken by surprise, she then called for Kastro, ordering him to prepare one of the dinner tables for the both of them.
Adelise: [Is there any dish you enjoy?]
Leif: [Uh... lamb...]
She sent Kastro off.
Adelise: [Leif, isn't it?]
Leif: [Yes.]
Adelise: [Tell me, are you planning on taking the PARS entrance exam?]
Leif: [To the Academy? Yeah.]
Adelise: [Delightful, I myself am on my third year along, a year above my mother protégé.]
Leif: [Katlyn?]
Addelise: [Indeed, the Kirthian Princess herself.]
They both chuckled at the flashy nickname give to her by the masses.
Adelise: [I heard you served as a soldiers for Geralt Persworth, is that true?]
Leif: [The old man?]
Adelise: [I traded with his plattoon many times but never got close to meeting him myself.]
Leif: [You traded? You're a trader?]
Adelise: [Mother didn't tell you, well, to be honest i've never trully been the apple of her eye, unlike my other brothers im no warrior, a merchant to be specific.]
Leif: [Aren't you way too young to be a merchant..?]
Adelise: [You could say that, but i've always been good at using what my mother built to propel my career.]
Kastro: [Master Addelise, Mr.Crows, dinner is ready and sat on the table.]
Said the butler, the two followed him all the way to one of Alleras private dinner rooms, the table, smaller then the ones present at the ball but still quite long, was set with two plates, one of slow-cooked lamb and the other roasted, accompanied by potatoes, garlic, cooked vegetables and two wine bottles, the two sat on both ends, Kastro bowed and begun to serve their cups with wine and their plates with pieces of lamb and potatoes, Leif was starting to get used to eating so much for the past few days, for most of the time he ate at the most two meals he managed to scrape together, now he could easily eat three full meals a day, he ate so much everyday he felt as if he had grown not only vertically but horizontally aswell, thankfully the 6 hours of training everyday had been keeping his body on check.
Adelise: [How has mother been treating you?]
The woman asked, elegantly sipping on her wine cup, Leif simply grabbed the base and chugged down a cup.
Leif: [Great...]
Lis chuckled, she knew very well how her mother behaved, Allera had stopped being a nurturing mother figure when she was 8, on her mithers eyes if she was capable of speaking, walking and doing most things functionally then she had to take care of herself, because no one else would.
Leif: [So... your mother told me you have your own house, why did you come here today?]
The boy asked while chewing on the lamb and washing it down with wine, she looked at him with the same distrustful sharp gaze as before, tracing her finger over her cup.
Adelise: [Let's say i wanted to observe the boy who had both my mother's and the Academy's interest...]
She took another sip.