Chapter 6 Part 3

With resting and stretching concluded. Christopher takes some initiative and starts the eight-mile run that Haider and Heather just did.

Halfway through the run, Heddwyn catches up with him and says, "Why did you run off on your own? I never told you what you'll be doing in your workout."

"that doesn't matter," Christopher said, "I want to do the same stuff that Haider and Heather are doing," he continued.

"that's fine, but you should have told me first," Heddwyn said.

"next time I will, I promise," Christopher replied.

Heddwyn made his way back to the twins but before that he said, "ok, make sure you do,"

Christopher continues his run and makes it back in 1 hour and 9 minutes. He takes ten to rest, drink and stretch while noticing that the twins have moved onto other workouts. He starts the fifty sit-ups he saw the twins doing before he left for the run. It's takes him some time, he's rushing to catch up.

"slow down Christopher, you'll catch up don't worry," Heddwyn reassured, "after you finish the remaining five minutes of the plank take a break," he continued to the twins.

Heddwyn walks over to Christopher and says, "ok after your fifty sit-ups, you need to do fifty push-ups and then a ten-minute plank, ok?"

"right," Christopher said, finishing sit-up number thirty-six.

After Christopher finished catching up on workouts, he joined up with the rest of the group and sat down in the makeshift circle they formed with a scroll and a substantial amount of glass bottled water.

"now that everyone is here, let's get food here," Heddwyn said.

Heddwyn grabs the scroll and takes out his mana quill to write. It seems he is using the EFS again to make the food. Instead of just writing down the food for them to eat, he asks each person what they wanted. Heather wants a toasted cheese sandwich; Haider wants the same as his sister, and Christopher wants a bowl of stew and a bread roll.

"ok I will write all of that down here as well as a cooked chicken for me," Heddwyn said.

Once again, we see the beautiful spectacle that is mana writing. The swirling galaxy of Heddwyn's deep inner magic nature will always be a sight to behold. Yes, each mage has their own unique ink when using their mana to write with. There are no limits to what you could see within your own mana when you write with it. For example, Hilda's is a fluctuating wave of yellows, oranges and reds.

With Heddwyn finishing with mana writing, the kids are excited to see the magic that is the EFS. Like before, the scroll floating into the air. Spinning and folding itself back into its original state. One by one, each food item was made by the scroll, placing each item in the circle before them. The scroll stops and plummets for Heddwyn to catch it.

"that never gets old," Heddwyn said. "alrighty then, everyone grab what you ordered from the scroll and dig in," he continued.

The four sit down for their meal and it was quite pleasant, there isn't over feeding this time, so it looks peaceful and fun. The chatting, laughing, talking. It's the little things. you know?

Concluding the lunch, more workouts ensue, including more running, some arm exercising and leg training and many more. We need a change OK? that's why I'm being generic.

"I think that will be it for today. We have done allot for today. I think you deserve to settle into your new environment," Heddwyn said. "let's take our leave for now guys," he continued.

The four leave the training hall through the only entrance and exit and make their way down to the first floor. And left towards the common living space, there is a lit stone fireplace, several couches, a single designer chair. Expensive looking potted plants, a cupboard with a collection of different designed plates and cups. The back wall located around the fireplace was all books, a few paintings of various wild animals, and more.

"it's... very chaotic, yet cosy in here," Christopher said.

"yeah I guess it is. I probably felt like I wouldn't leave the room empty, so I filled it with décor," Heddwyn replied. "let's open these drapes," Heddwyn said.

Light flooded the room, showing all the dark grey of the Iron-wood plank furniture and aesthetics, as well as the imported orange-brown furniture.

"it's very... mixed in here? I'm sorry why the grey and... whatever is that terracotta colour? it works with the room, but the colour is terrible," Christopher said.

"it's the colours of my homeland in Mercter, at least that's the case nowadays, the map of Epusdma only shows what it used to look like, about four-hundred and sixty years ago, now its mostly greys and oranges," Heddwyn said, opening the remaining drapes.

"oh, I'm sorry I said that." Christopher apologised.

"no need. It's all about taste too, not only about culture. I don't like it either, but I like the dark-grey, so that's why the grey, I guess," Heddwyn explained.

Heddwyn heads into the kitchen while the kids sit on one of the various grey lounges surrounding the fire. Heddwyn comes back in a minute later, carrying a metal tray and had a portable folding chair attached to his hip. He places the tray on one chair and unfolds the table in front of the children, then the tray on the table. He then unveils what was inside by opening the lid. It revealed the entire tray containing delicate cakes and sandwiches.

"enjoy. It's the first time that anyone has ever entered my home, never mind living in it. So I guess I wanted it to be special. Also, it's a well done on training today. I wasn't expecting any of you to do what I asked," Heddwyn said.

"you're spoiling us dad," Christopher said.

Christopher calling Heddwyn 'dad' caused him to become quite flustered. He thought it would take a lot longer for them to warm up to him, but he was clearly wrong. "I'm so happy, you're really ready to call me dad?" He asked.

*BBZZZZZ*

(narrator) it seems something urgent has come up at the Dungannon church. We must leave here and go there right now, *blip*. Scene change bitches.

We have teleported to the outside of the church and there seems to be some serious distress within. Hilda is in her bed and coughing up a storm with not only phlegm and spit but also blood clots. She also seems to be extremely breathless and is running a high fever.

Engilram is at her side, ready to deal with changing the wet rag on her forehead to hope that she settles. In between rag changes, Engilram prays to The Mother to bless them with the required treatments for Hilda. He prays to the Father to ease her suffering and to ask the other gods he serves to save her strength.

A few hours later, Hilda still continuously coughing. Heddwyn comes running in, the three children not long after. "what happened! We were gone for less than a day. How did she get this bad? Tell me!" Heddwyn impatiently shouted.

"why are you guys here?" Engilram asked.

"I told you, we are going to be coming here every day for dinner, so you still get to see the cubs," Heddwyn answered. "now how did it get this bad?" he continued.

"I don't know, not long after you left she just started coughing allot lot more and in next to no time she got like this," Engilram said.

Heddwyn said something that no person present refused. "I have an idea. There is a spell that allows a mage to transfer life energy between the people they are touching. It's not a fix. But it will give her some extra valuable time. It a risky spell, it's called Radiance. This may even waste on our efforts,"

"ok, seeing as we are all agreed. Everyone touch my shoulder's," Heddwyn instructed.

Heddwyn puts on a pair of gloves and touches Hilda's thigh and forearm. As Heddwyn started to cast the spell, a bright white casting circle encompasses the entire church, shrouding it in a blinding light seen for miles. The single circle had close to five-hundred runes etched carefully into it. "the activation was successful, however we have roughly 10 seconds before I can hold on any longer," Heddwyn frantically said. Around every person involved in the spell got enveloped in green that flowed from everywhere around them, into Heddwyn's shoulders and then into Hilda. Sure enough, the spell broke nine seconds later, causing a minor shock-wave to occur.

"well, did it work?" Christopher asked.

"yeah, but with so little time, I only managed to give her about a month's worth of extra time, and it's all thanks to Heather. Her massive pool of mana was perfect for me to utilise. From what I took from you, young lady. I'd say you gave her two weeks more than I would have without," Heddwyn replied. "it's a shame I couldn't hold the spell for long. We could have given more." He continued.

"when can we do it again." Haider sternly asked.

"unfortunately, I won't be able to use that spell in time. It takes eight months to use again," Heddwyn said.

"can you explain? That makes no sense. It's practically a one-use thing at that point," Engilram asks.

"yeah, so let us start with when you use a spell. it not only takes from your mana to convert but also the environment." Heddwyn takes a pause before continuing.

"when some spells are created. The spell is overwhelming. This Is way too powerful to use on a regular basis. When that much power is used, it creates such a deficit of active environmental mana that if the spell were to be attempted to be used again, it will only take from the caster, causing severe backlash, illness and, in some cases. death,"

"yep. That will definitely do it," Engilram said, cringing at that thought.

"but can you still use smaller, simpler spells in the same area," Haider asked Heddwyn.

"I would think so. Smaller spells need little, sometimes no, environmental mana to use. so, they are quite safe,"

"what else can we do?" Heather sobbed.

"unfortunately, the only thing that can save Hilda now is a holy grade cure potion. Which, as I explained before, is not possible to obtain," Heddwyn said, looking down at Heather.