2 Chapter 2: The Fated Seal

It's been two weeks since I was born. My parents decided to name me Grey. My mom's name is Alice and my dad's name is Ranulf. This household consists of three people other than me, my mom, dad, and the lady that helped with the delivery.

I thought she was an old lady of the village that helps with the delivery, but that isn't the case and she certainly doesn't look like my mom or dad, so she can't be my grandmother. My mom and dad call her Ms. Lozen.

she has this type of majestic aura around that can put anyone in awe. Apparently, she can use magic, no I think everyone can use magic in this world. I first sensed weird energy flowing through me when I was placed in Ms. Lozen's hands.

As a 2 weeks old baby, I can't move much. But, whenever dad took me to the garden of the house, I was able to get a proper look at the house. It's quite a big house, with a huge lawn at the back of the house.

Some youngsters do visit this house from time to time, maybe Ms. Lozen is a teacher. There is also a library in this house, I want to read some books to get a better understanding of this world.

This is a loving family. They all play with me, but it gets kind of awkward cause I don't know how to react. But, I try to go along with it.

Thanks to a lot of people trying to speak with me, I am capable of understanding the words of this world. I still don't understand most of the things they say. But I do understand some words like " Mom", "dad" and "grandma".

Yes, the old lady tries to make me say "grandma" from time to time. It is sweet when she tries to make me say, Grandma. She sometimes read books while keeping me in her lap, I don't understand anything written in it though.

Currently, I am with my dad, it's my dad's turn to take care of me. He is quite young maybe near 25 years I guess. He is taking me somewhere currently, maybe garden. No, it's not the usual time that he takes me to the garden.

"Today ill take you to show something interesting." He said. I didn't understand what he said though.

"Hello Ms. Lozen, Good morning. Good morning kids." Dad said something to Lozen's grandma and her students which looked greeting of a sort. They were in an area that had various targets, a circular ring, and various other things. Maybe, it's a training area for students.

Students greeted back too.

"Good morning, Ranulf. Oh good morning Little grey, Grandma was just missing you." Lozen grandma took me from dad's hand. It's comfortable in grandma Lozen's hand, it feels kind of refreshing.

"Okay, let's start with the classes. King has decided to give special classes to the special bunch from various age groups to train for the future of the kingdom. You guys are assigned to me and there are also other students assigned to other professors. I hope you guys learn various things and become a great warrior, that will fight side by side with the summoned warrior." said Grandma Lozen

One of the students raised her hand " Professor, what is the requirement to become a warrior to fight side by side of hero?"

"That's a good question, there are sometimes chosen ones are granted seal by gods, seal mostly appears in the form of marking in the body. Types of marking totally depend on person to person or bloodline they inherit, for some its sword, polearm, lion, and other things. It varies from person to person.

People who possess seal marking are qualified to be in the hero's team. All of the people with seal marking that I know of are monsters, they have a class of themselves, they are a real powerhouse.

Of course, it's not important for you to join the hero's team, there are also various different professions." Said Grandma Lozen. I guess she said something serious, all students have a serious expression on their faces, some even look motivated.

One of the students raised his hand " Do you have any seal marking on your body? Professor?."

"I do" Grandma Lozen raised her hand, and a marking shaped as owl appeared on her hand. Was it always there? No, I don't think so. "This is the first marking I got, it's quite a common seal. The marking of the owl represents knowledge. For me, it provides with the power of illusion. Knowledge can be an illusion and the illusion created by knowledge are the most terrifying one."

I stretched out of my hand to show grandma that I want to touch that marking, "Do you want to touch this seal little grey?" She showed me her hand "Grey look at this owl seal, it means freedom and your grandma wants you to live a happy life, that is free of others.".

This owl marking is amazing, I tried touching the marking in her hand.

Ouch, my head hurts.

The one with a never-ending appetite for knowledge shall be granted with the seal of Minerva.

An endless well of knowledge.

A never-ending peak of Wisdom.

With proper knowledge, it can take shape of anything. Such is the power of Minerva.

(Ms. Lozen's Pov)

This owl seal of mine is the first seal, I got in my life. I didn't have any dream to become a hero's party member or walking the path of becoming powerful. I was just an ordinary daughter of a noble family, who's life was already determined right after her birth. Come to think of it, I got seal marking at a very young age and it was an opportunity for me to live my life freely. I thought walking the path of becoming powerful, becoming a hero's party member, and serving my kingdom will get me freedom. I did get freedom, but I committed various sins along the way. This seal of the owl represents the beginning of my freedom and a life of sin.

I don't want my grey to live the same life as me. I will teach him the responsibilities that come with freedom. I will teach the grey the true meaning of freedom.

As I was showing my owl seal marking to my students, little grey looked like he wanted to look at my marking."Do you want to this seal, Little grey?"

I gave my hand in his little hands. He looked happy, That melts my heart.

"Grey look at this owl seal, it means freedom and your grandma wants you to live a happy life, that is free of others."

He stretched his hand out to touch the seal.

Something is wrong. My hand, the seal-

"Ms. Lozen- Ms. Lozen.... Ms. Lozen" It was ranulf's voice.

"Ms. Lozen, what happened? Grey is crying."

Huh, did I zoned off? What happened right now? Oh, Grey is crying.

It felt like a seal was resonating with mine.

Wait…..it can't be. I have to check.

I took a Grey's hand in my hand.

There was an owl marking. It was different than any other owl marking I have ever seen in my life, no, a marking I have only seen once. A seal marking same as that man, I wished I would never see this seal marking again. Why does my grandson have this seal marking? I have to hide this from church and royalty.

"Ranulf, take grey inside. I have something to talk about during lunch"

"Okay, Ms. Lozen"