9 Chapter Nine

A year has passed since Claude had visited the city for the first time. Now he was a four year old child. Last year was all spent on learning magic, even though he wasn't taught how to cast magic. Some of his time was also dedicated to increase fluency of his languages.

His magic training only included sensing of mana till yet. He had learnt the languages but he wasn't taught to cast. He had mastered four out of five senses, to sense mana, taste being the exception. He could now hear the subtle sounds created, when mana moved in the environment. He could smell them too. He couldn't just taste it but according to Leslie those who could taste mana, could do it when they were born so there's no need to worry. But Claude didn't like that feeling, he didn't like that someone was superior to him was out there.

Leslie saw this and didn't know how to defuse this, she just bent down and said to him " There's always going to be someone better, someone faster, someone stronger you cannot change that but what you could change is yourself. Work hard and you will find that no one can compare to you. "

This advice really hit hard to Claude. He decided to make other things his forte, if he couldn't make his senses one.

One day when he was studying at his home's library, Leslie called for him. He had been studying about Callisto's history and geography. According to the books, Callisto has 3 Grade four empires : Byzantine Empire, Chola Empire and Dryth Federation.

There are 5 kingdoms of Grade five also present : Frey Kingdom, Andalucian Federation, Pandvas Country, White Hart Kingdom and Dacia Country.

Frey and Andulacian were vassals to Byzantine, Pandvas to Cholas and White Hart and Dacia to Dryth. There were two landmasses in Callisto, one was shared by six powers : Frey, Andulacian, Pandvas, WHK, Dacia and Byzantine. Second one was shared by Dryth Federation and Cholas Empire. All the landmasses were surrounded by oceans. There was also another water body present which was surrounded by Pandvas, Andulacian and Frey. It was equally shared by the three powers die to the FAP alliance. The sea was called Aegon sea, named after one of the three archmages to come out of the Callisto world. The bridge was also situated near Aegon sea.

Frey currently were in alliance with Andulacian and Pandvas to secure the bridge.

Frey Kingdom has always been a target for Dryth Federation but since they couldn't act directly, they would provide support for WHK and Dacia country.

Frey could be said a landlocked kingdom, they always has been facing the brunt of the invasion. Frey Kingdom is present at the heart of continent, with Pandvas on the northwest side, Andalucian on the southwest direction. On the east were it's enemies with Dacia country in the northeast and WHK to the east. If one moved further east, Byzantine Empire would be there and to the south were Cholas and Dryth Federation. Frey were in a complicated situation, they couldn't gain access to Byzantine Empire through land because Dacia and WHK wouldn't allow them.

And through the sea route, they needed help of the Cholas, because route would pass through Dryth's sea territory and with only Cholas' protection Dryth wouldn't dare to attack. This was a safe method albeit costly about 30 percent of revenue from sea trade was given to Cholas for protection. Since the discovery of Bridge some reliance on the sea trade has reduced which paved way for development.

Closing the book, Claude stood up and went to the main hall where his mother and father were sitting. Apparently, he had to call them mom and dad at home but master when away from home. According to them, it was arranged so, because they didn't want him to forget that he had an another relationship with them.

Entering the hall, " You called, mother. "

Leslie looked at him and said " Yes, sit down first. "

He took a seat next to her, she continued " This year onward we are going to teach you two new discipline, spells and science. "

Claude was elated but didn't express his joy, he knew she had much more to speak, so he sat tight.

When Leslie saw this ( He is getting more and more smart. He can now hide his expressions very well.)

Actually, this was all taught by Leslie, she herself being a nobility from elven realm, she knew how one had to act in a situation. So she taught noble etiquettes to him, so that he could cope with any situation he faces.

" Now you have learnt elven and human language but you don't know how to cast a spell. Actually, it's very simple, it's a three fold process. First is verbalization in which one would incanate a spell. Second is visualization, in which one would imagine what he wants to do with the spell. Third would be execution in which spell is actually used. Simple, right? "

Claude nodded but he was in doubt. ( If magic was this simple, why is that mage are so less compared to the population.)

At this instant, Milo who was engrossed in a book looked up and roared " What's with this explanation? He is not an elf, you lot are all talented doesn't mean every one is so. Teach with some humility."

Leslie just snorted but didn't argue back as she knew this was true, every elf was a talentend mage, everyone had high magical affinity. They had highest mages to population ratio among all the races except dragons, they were an exception.

Milo looked at Claude and spoke " See Claude, your mother side of family are really talented by birth. They don't put much effort into this but still manage to surpass others. So you don't have to worry, if you can't understand her description because her talent is even top notch in her realm. So I'm going to break it down for you, how to cast spell skillfully. "

" First step verbalization, it is not just simply reciting what you read in the spell book but understand the underlying meaning. To know what this spell actually signify. This isn't something we can teach you, everyone has it's own perception. No two person will deduce the same meaning from a spell. So you have to walk this path on your own. After you get the meaning, you recite the spell. "

" Second step visualization, it's the most easiest step according to me. So what you have to do is to visualize what you want your spell to do. You make a image in your head an try to replicate that with your spell. Do you get it till now? "

" Yes, but why we have to follow this setup, why can't we follow what suits one best? " Claude

" Very good question Claude but you have to know that creating a path is a whole new level. Despite so many prodigies being born every year nobody could even create a additional step let alone a new path. Thus, everyone follows the same path created by ancestors. " Milo

" Can i create a new path, dad?" Claude

" You can, son. But you have to work hard for it. " Milo.

Leslie was amused by Claude's thinking. She was stunned by his thinking, he wanted to do something that no one has ever done. But she knew the truth that how hard was it to be a mage, let alone a top tier one, so she regarded it as a child's wild thinking. But in tje future she would laugh at her ignorance when she would remember about the past.

" Now the third step, Execution. In this step all you have to do is to play with mana. Measure it, control it, direct it, whatever you need to do to complete your spell. Once you grasp it, you can do magic. " Milo

" Now i shall tell you about the class in which mages are divided : Amateur, Apprentice, Journeyman, Adept, Maester, Oracle and Archmage." Milo

" I shall give you a brief introduction about the first two classes, rest i will describe it to you when the need arises. "

" Each class is into five sub classes, they are numbered 1 to 5. For example your mom is Oracle mage 4 means she is at 4th rank of Oracle. " Milo

" Woah, mom is quite powerful. I want to be like mom when i grow up. " Claude

Leslie was full of smiles when he said that.

Afterwards he followed up with a question, " What's your rank, dad?"

Milo awkwardly smiled and said in a voice which no one could hear " Maester 4"

" I couldn't hear that, say louder. " Claude

" It's Maester 4" Milo said in even a more low voice.

" It's Maester 4, Claude " said Leslie from the side.

" Oh, isn't he weaker than you mom. " said Claude after a moment of realization.

" Yes, that he is. " Leslie was all smiles while she kissed Claude's cheek, whereas Milo looked as if tears could fall from his eyes at anytime.