Chapter 2: The Era

The lances of sunlight shot through the stratus clouds as they paved way to an alluring daybreak. The sun rose from the hidden peaks of the mountains that kissed the horizon, as the Kingdoms burst into life.

The green plains now carved with passages as carts and carriages made way to the gates.

Another path diverged towards the forest as groups of armed people entered in hearty laughter.

"Young master, your not ready to go against Starred beasts, just focus on the Starless and slowly grow your strength, why does your generation want to rush everything?!" A butler questioned in a deep frown as he held the hand of a young man who was if not younger than 18.

"Aahh life is too short to do things slowly Marcus why would I bide my time like an old geezer?!" the young man retorted as he tried to shake of the butler's grip but to no avail 'Tch...when will I outgrow this geezer' the young man sighed in defeat

"All you geezer's should just drop dead and leave the world to the youth, maybe then aging might decrease," he clicked in annoyance making causing a vein to bulge on the Butler's forehead

"Why do I have to train such a price!" he thought out loud while rubbing his temples "if only you where half as obedient as your sister I wouldn't be moving around so much despite my age," he sighed helplessy only warning a sbeer from the young man.

"As if your old bones are about to be buried, you older than my grandfather and still complain about your age."

"Just because I watched a few brats grow doesn't mean I can watch them all...I'll complain. to that fool of a grandfather of your I can't keep running around so early in the morning...and you we are going back to the mansion wheather you like it or not!" he demanded as the joking old man vanished replaced by a stern mentor.

To this the young man could only swallow his grievances as he followed Marcus.

***

Within the Mansion wall, behind it laid a pond of crystal clear water filled with liquefied mana, a young lady with fiery red hair sat in a lotus position as mana rushed towards her in waves.

She had a well toned body, with a slim and slender physique that made her appear petite despite above average goods on both front and backside backed with a healthy tanned skin made her quite a looker.

Despite her awing appearance non of the guards dared to look her way as everyone of them seemed to ignore her existence.

"That should be enough Lady Kamila anymore and you'll risk an overflow of mana to the meridians in your mana circuit flowing to your newly formed core," the voice of an aged woman seemed to make mana docile as she walked forward unherriedly.

"Her greyed out hair made her appear far older despite her sagely aged skin filled with wrinkles that could ruin even the finest of cloth, yet she still retained an alluring disposition.

Mana settled as Kamila exhaled deeply before opening her eyes with a gentle smile "yes granny," she replied as she sprung up and dove into a bear hug.

Her honey brown eyes sparkled as she nugged deeper into her embrace "Aaah Kamila I've already told you I dislike hugging," the aged woman complained as she patted her back with a smile, 'such a sweet child.'

"Hmm I can only hug granny, big bro's a numbskull who ever wants to fight, Marcus is kinda scary, Grandad's always in his room trying to find 'enlightment' whatever that is and dad...I don't even know, so ..." she squeezed tighter "I'll moñopolize my granny!" she exclaimed in a cheerful giggle.

"Fine fine...just don't break my old bones in the process," granny replied with a defeated sigh.

"How's your Cultivation coming along?" she asked after parting with her koala like Grandaughter " Ohh that I'm almost breaking through the black core realm and into the red core realm, I still have two minor realms to cross though," she replied as she devoured a platter of cupcakes served by the maids.

"Hmm not bad, you are probably equal to or just slightly inferior to those high nobles, good good,* she smiled with pride.

"I'll be leaving for the academy in a few days granny," Kamila reported as she chocked on a cupcake.

"I know, once your their lay low and strengthen yourself, the last thing you need is the political bullshit that happens when the Ministry of Education allows the Existence of Factions," she clicked in disdain.

Kamila laughed lightly at her granny's words before saying "when will I even be seen to be dragged into such a struggle, you should probably warn that musclebrain of a brother I have," Kamila sighed as she devoured more cupcakes.

"Lady Getrude the Mana Vein has been detected, but there seems to be a protective elemental force protecting it, Our men can't enter a precaurious position this have decided to call for help,". A soldier relayed his knee to the ground as he remained unmoving..

"I wanna come!" Kamila raised her hand as she continues devouring her cupcakes, her cheeks puffing like a hamster. Getrude looked at her Grandaughter and sighed, 'my son's too engrossed in politics, my grandson's a battle junkie and my granddaughter a glutton,' she sighed again "where did the honor of my family genes go, could it be that my actual son was swapped with another?!" she questioned in daze.

"That might be the case lady Getrude, your current descendants are rather peculiar to the Varia Household," Marcus walked in with the Young master in his hand holding him by the collar like a cat.

"You might be on to something Marcus, I will have my people investigate all the midwives," Getrude nodded in daze before turning her head to the Butler.

She then notices the bruises on her grandson's face and smiled bitterly "he did it again huh?!"

"Well he pretended to comply with me...and then tried to loose me in the crowd of people," Marcus explained, "I guess he's finally starting to think for himself," he sighed.

Kamila broke into a chocked laughter as she swallowed the last of her treats "ahh big bro your intellect is less than Little Daisy, she could loose Marcus without a crowd," she laughed heartily.

"Release me Marcus! She's damaging my honor! Let me at her!" he shouted only to have a head chop on his skull.

"Damaging, you've already killed your honor and it's incarcerations," Marcus sighed before taking a more professional demeanor.

"I've heard about the mines, it sounds like there might be a beast guarding it, will my help be required?" he asked unhurriedly.

"It might actually, given the fact that these two will tag along," Getrude replied as she looked at the bickering twins.

"Understood, I'll prepare the Men," he replied before walking away. Getrude rubbed palms together as she stared at the distance, "I wonder what this feeling of foreboding is, I hope it's nothing serious," she sighed before turning her gaze to her grandkids and smiled 'Ohh well we'll cross that bridge when we get there."