PERMISSION (1)

PERMISSION

WHIZZ~.

A silvery light shone brightly atop a big floating tower called Avalon. The scenery around it began to distort as the magic power continued to accumulate. 

Viviane, who is standing in front of a big crystal inside the tower, recites some magical incantation. Her hand is raised up high, holding a staff and a book in both hands. She closed her eyes, focusing on delivering each word with utmost precision. The tower shakes as she recites another verse of incantation. Along with that, the distorted scenery began to become clearer.

There is no visible change from the floating Tower of Avalon. It just looks the same as usual. Only after someone can feel the presence of mana, can they feel the subtle difference. Although it wasn't visible with naked eyes, the mana had become denser.

Viviane had successfully tampered with time magic. Now, time flows slower inside Avalon.

"Fiuhh~."

Viviane breathed a sigh of relief, pleased with the outcome of her work.

"Now, we just have to wait for the magic to stabilize."

Wiping sweat from her forehead, Viviane takes a moment to cool down.

'The assimilation process should reach its final stage now.'

Viviane didn't know that Satria already fully assimilated with his new body. She couldn't check the progress as she was busy.

"Now, what should I do?" Viviane pondered.

She couldn't send the white bird to check on Satria at the moment, and she needed to wait for the mana to stabilize first.

"Ah right! Hehehe." Viviane smirked.

She remembered something. Something she had to do for her cheeky apprentice sake.

"You are so done now Satria, no, Alaric."

Viviane said as she rubs her hands together. She needs to teach Satria a lesson. A lesson harsh enough that Satria could change his attitude towards her.

"HEHEHE." She laughed.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA."

Raising her arms up high, she laughed like something was wrong with her head.

**

"Father."

"Yes, what is it my son?"

"I want to learn some magic books."

Ceasing his meal, Aldric paused for a moment. He turned his attention towards his son, Alaric. His son, with wide-eyed determination, gazed back at him.

The duchess who was still munching on her roasted chicken, can only look at her son in disbelief. No words coming out from her mouth; she was silent. She is confused whether there's something wrong with her hearing or if her child is talking nonsense right now.

"Alaric."

"Yes, Father."

"Magic is a powerful force, not to be taken lightly. It requires discipline and responsibility. I can't just let you learn, not with a casual interest. Especially without understanding the consequences."

"It's true Alaric." The duchess adds.

"Magic is too dangerous. I didn't even start learning it until I was six years old."

The Duchess grabs Alaric's right wrist with a face full of worries as she says that.

"Why do you want to learn magic, Alaric?"

Serana, who was holding a baby girl in her arms asked.

"No sis. Please don't encourage Alaric."

"He will need to learn it anyway; he is the heir after all."

"He is too young. It's still not too late to learn after he turns six years old."

Elysienne showing her discontent at Serana's words.

"A three year old boy is still too young to learn magic. I don't want Alaric to get hurt." She adds.

"Shouldn't we at least find out why Alaric is interested in learning it in the first place, sis?"

"I still disagree."

The duchess raised her voice. She is upset because it seems like the lady is supporting Alaric nonsense.

"Calm down my dear. No need to be angry."

"I'm not angry!"

The duchess pouted and crossed her arms. Aldric let out a sigh. He knew that his wife was always pouting and crossed her arms whenever she was angry. Instead of persuading his wife, he shifted his attention to his child.

"Alaric."

"Yes, Father."

"Why do you want to learn magic?"

Alaric took his time. He looked at his father seriously. The Duke who wants to resolve this peacefully, gazes back into the eyes of his child. He tries to read Alaric's thoughts.

'Because I need to deal with Decay, Father.' Alaric thought.

He couldn't give him the real reasons why he wants to learn it. For him, it was a secret. There will be chaos if people find out the real reason.

'It's not the right time to say it.'

So, instead of telling his family about the real reason, Alaric chose to give an untruthful but still trustworthy answer. Naturally, he needed to align it with the way a toddler of three years old might respond.

"I want to defeat the monsters in my nightmares, Father."

"Hmm."

The Duchess flinched. Dumbfounded, she didn't expect that her child would give that kind of answer.

"Do you still have nightmares, my son?"

"No mother."

"Then why?"

"I want to throw an Ice Spear at them if I have nightmares again, Mother."

Elysienne startled at his son's words, but she still believes that it's too dangerous.

"It is still too dangerous, my son. I don't want you to get hurt."

"It's true that it's dangerous for a three year old to learn how to wield magic. You might accidentally hurt yourself, Alaric." The duke adds.

"Can't I just learn it without hurting myself?"

"Ah." Serana exclaimed as she understood something.

"Did you mean that you just want to learn it? Not actually performing it?"

"Yes, Stepmother."

"I told you to call me mom or aunt."

"Yes, Mom. I just want to read some magic books."

"Hehe, good. In that case, there isn't anything dangerous about it, right?"

Serana shifts her gaze to Elysienne. With sparkling eyes, she gives the duchess a signal that it was not that dangerous.

"So, you just want to read some magic books?"

"Yes, Mother."

"Come on sis. Let him learn. It's not like we don't have any interest in magic when we are his age."

"It's true but." The duchess hesitated. 

She was afraid that curiosity of a child would end up hurting Alaric.

'Just say yes mother. Why are you so stubborn?' Alaric thought.

Alaric, who was frustrated at his mother, took a glance at his father who despite all this, grabbed a chicken leg. Without saying a word, Alaric put on an innocent expression. He wants his father to talk some sense into his wife.

The Duke, who had put a chicken leg in his mouth, was aware of his son's gaze. He shifted his attention from the delicious looking chicken leg to Alaric.

'Please father, pleasee~.' Alaric blinks a few times, giving a signal to his father.

"Ehem." The duke let out a cough.

Surrendering to his child's innocent face, he put down his chicken leg without even taking a bite.

"My dear, why don't you just let him learn? We could ask my father to teach him. He would also be pleased."

"We could do that sis." the lady adds.

"Father-in-law surely knows how to teach Alaric. We also don't have to worry about him getting hurt; Alaric is his grandson afterall."

"Would the King agree with it? Father-in-law is his trusted advisor."

Elysienne now brings the king into conversations. She is trying to provide any reasons to prevent her child from learning magic.

"We can't just ask Father-in-law to return home and teach Alaric."

"It won't be long until father returns—just a few months maybe. Perhaps, during that time, we can ask him about this?"

"Ah, Is it that time of the year already?" Serana asked.

"Yes."

"But still."

'For god's sake. Just let me learn some magic, mother.'

Alaric didn't imagine getting permission to learn magic was this difficult. Although he can understand why his mother didn't want him to learn, it's still frustrating.

Although he understands the principle of magic from his master book, Alaric still needs to show to others that he indeed could materialize mana after putting in the effort. Being young and suddenly able to perform magic will put unnecessary attention towards him. 

So, Alaric thought that at least he had permission to learn magic along with a teacher to guide him. Especially if it's related to Argentvale family magic, he surely would need a teacher. 

"Mother."

"Yes, Alaric."

"Please."

Alaric grabs his mother's hand. With the same innocent face he shows to his father, Alaric stares into his mother's eyes.

"!?"

Startled, Elysienne didn't expect that her child would attack her like that. She can't hide her perplexed face as Alaric keeps staring right at her. With his innocent face, Alaric deals a great amount of damage to his mother.

'I don't really want to do this, but I have no other choice.'

Alaric opened his eyes wide trying to act cute. His eyes sparkled. With a soft and gentle voice, he said.

"Please, Mother. For my sake."

"Ugh."

All of a sudden, Duchess Elysienne felt pain in her chest. It was a decisive final blow from her son. She could no longer refuse him if he said it like that.

"Fine. I'll give you my permission."

"YAY!" Alaric shouted.

Alaric, who was happy with his mother's answer, raised his hands in the air. A joyful smile can be seen from his face. Of course it was all just an act. He is a child after all, so he should act like one, he thought.

"Thank you, Mother. I love you, hehe."

"Yes yes, but promise me that you will be careful."

"I promise, Mother."

Giving up, she tries to accept her child learning magic. The Duke, who was satisfied with the outcome, turns his attention to the Grand Chamberlain.

"Grand Chamberlain."

"Yes, Your Grace."

"Please open the library to Alaric, also ask the Grand Butler to provide some of the best teachers to teach Alaric how to read and write."

"As you wish, Your Grace."

The Grand Chamberlain gives a light bow. Certainly the Grand Butler can provide young master Alaric with suitable teachers.

"It's good for you Alaric. Are you happy?"

"Hehe, yes Mom. I'm happy."

"Hah."

Duchess Elysienne let out a sigh. She rubs her forehead as she is still afraid his son might get hurt. She was wondering whether it's a good idea or not. Alas, she already gave Alaric permission.

*

"Camilla."

"Yes, Young Master."

"I'm running out of ink again."

"I understand, Young Master. I will bring another bottle."

The maid, Camilla, gives a light bow and walks towards the desk in the corner. She opened one of the drawers and took out a black bottle. Alaric watched her with anticipation, he is excited to learn how to read and write again. He is now learning a language from another world, the language of humans who lived in Contraria.

Camilla, who is now standing right beside Alaric, took the empty ink bottle and switched it with the brand new one. She didn't forget to open the cap first, as she didn't want Alaric's clothes to be stained.

"Thank you, Camilla."

"It was a pleasure, Young Master."

Camilla took a step back and waited for her young master to finish his study. She patiently waits as Alaric does his homework. To enhance his reading and writing abilities, his teacher assigned some homework for Alaric. The Grand Butler ensures Alaric got the best teacher someone can find in Sothastirith.

Alaric, who is eager to learn, put all his focus into finishing his homework. He wants to quickly master how to read and write, as he has a lot of things to do ahead of him. One of them is, of course, learning the magic of his family.

Time flies.

It's almost dinner time. The young Alaric, still focusing on finishing his homework. Camilla, who patiently waited for him all this time in silence, finally spoke.

"Young Master."

"Yes, Camilla. What is it?"

"It's almost dinner time. Perhaps we can call it a day, or else the Duchess will be worried. "

"Ah. I didn't notice."

Alaric put down his quill pen. He has finished half of his homework. It's surprisingly hard. Learning to read and write in another language is hard. The non latin-alphabetical nature of the language added an extra layer of complexity. The language spoken by humans in Contraria is akin to Korean or Japanese when written –with each letter block does not necessarily represent a single syllable.

Satria, who is now Alaric, found it hard to grasp the nuances of the language as he wasn't familiar with Korean or Japanese. His first language was a latin-alphabetical one, so learning this new language is quite hard for him.

He stared at the parchment where his ugly and unreadable writing sprawled like chaotic vines across the page. 

'I guess it is still a long way before I can read and write fluently.' He thought.

'At least being a kid makes learning a bit easier.'

Luckily, thanks to his child body, it's easier to learn something. 

Children's brains are still developing, and the neural connections in their brains are more malleable. This allows them to form new connections and learn quickly. Thanks to this fact, Alaric is not disheartened and remains optimistic. He just needs to put in effort for a few months to learn the language.

After that, he probably could manage to read any books in the ducal library without much difficulty, just like he wanted.

Alaric put both his hands on the table and stood up.

"Let's go Camilla."

"Yes, Young Master."

"Please, lead the way."

"As you wish, Young Master."

Camila gives Alaric a light bow and proceeds to lead him to the dining hall, where all other members of his family may already present. 

The library is on a different section from the dining hall. The huge ducal palace is divided by sections, to make it easier for residents and guests to navigate its vast and opulent halls. Each section boasts its own unique charm and purpose, weaving a tapestry of history and tradition within the grand walls of the palace.

As such, Alaric who is still not accustomed to this needs someone to guide him. He can't imagine how many times he would be lost, navigating through this huge maze-like palace, he thought. 

Luckily, he was born in a rich and powerful family where he, as the firstborn son, had a personal maid. Well, a small and poor family couldn't even be able to build a two story house, let alone a palace.

By the time the clock rang, exactly a few minutes before dinner time, Alaric already stood in front of the dining hall. His maid, Camilla, who was leading him, now stood beside the door with a warm smile. 

"You may enter, Young Master."

"Yes, thank you Camilla. You may leave."

"As you wish, Young Master."

Alaric, places his hand on the door handle and opens it.

There he saw his family, waiting for him, with a warm and joyful smile.

"Have you finished your homework, my son?" his father asked.

"Not yet, Father."

"Hm."

His father, Aldric, slightly frowned at his son's answer.