Power of Warding

Resting lazily on the patio in a rocking chair, enjoying the chilling air, a warm, comforting tea slithered its way down Kest Welche's mighty throat, warming him whole. He smiled, tasting notes of honeydew. He turned to his wife, the Countess Flaye Welche.

She sat near him, resting her steaming cup of tea down. "See anything you like?" She asked, glancing with touched eyes towards Kest, enjoying the newfound youth that Zariel had granted her. Appearing in her late teens, as did Kest, she giggled.

"But of course. I have the finest woman in the kingdom." Kest bragged. He could not get enough of the jealous stares of various men and women of the kingdom to this day.

Even Queen marigold had found herself at his estate on that day, inquiring over their newfound youth.

Blushing slightly, Flaye lowered her head when a gentle cough interrupted the loving couple.

"Forgive my rudeness, my Lord and Lady. It will seem the young Mistress has returned." Harisson, the head butler of the Welch manner, announced.

Rising to attention, Kest laughed and clapped his hands together, "My granddaughter has finally returned. By Azalea's Star. Come Flaye."

Shock by the news, Flaye also beamed, rising together. They proceeded in haste towards the foyer. Unable to hide their joy, Kest rushed through the doors and locked eyes with a young girl, who was now half his height.

"How you have grown!" Flaye shouted with teary eyes.

"Your mother and father will be so proud when they return." Kest expressed unable to hide the pride in his heart. He wrapped his arms over his granddaughter. "Welcome home, Ella."

Shedding tears, Ella broke down in a cry while Aurelia and Sionn watched with a bit of envy.

Having lost or had never known such love in a family, a bit of distance grew within their hearts gazing at the warm sight.

"It's good to see Grandpa and Grandma again. Although it's a bit weird seeing you like this." Ella said. "You look like those old pictures papa showed me."

Unable to smile even more, Kest nodded, "Thank your master for that."

"Yeah, Yeah." Zariel announced, "Enough of this. It's time to train. Let's go."

"You haven't changed a bit," Earl Kest replied, shaking his head.

"I got taller." Said Zariel measuring his height with his hand. He stared a little puzzled.

"Dumb-Dumb really is Dumb-Dumb," Aurelia muttered beneath her breath.

"Follow me, Master. We can use the training ground. Is there anyone using it, Grandpa?"

"They are, but we can just clear them out," Kest said, "Let me help my little granddaughter and see how much she has grown."

Lighting the fire in her eyes, Ella rushed ahead, "Follow!" She screamed, not stopping for anything.

Seeing Ella leave them behind in the dust, Aurelia and Sionn raced after her. Not wishing to waste more energy than necessary, Zariel walked, unable to understand the excitement.

"Chin up, Duke Blackwater," Flaye said. Patting his shoulder, but such action only further confused the Young Lord.

'Why is she touching me? Old people are weird.' Thought the young duke picking up pace.

Witnessing the young duke flee, Flaye turned to Kest, who smiled and shook his head. "Maybe he is sensitive to a woman's touch. He is getting to that age."

"Poor fella, shall we give him the talk?"

"I would rather not embarrass a duke. He will figure it out, like the animals in the animal kingdom." Kest replied jokingly, jogging after the kids, while Flaye followed behind.

Entering a large area filled with a blanket of snow, Ella gazed upon the few disciples the family was raising. It was not an odd occurrence for those of the aristocracy to train the youth from both within and out of the family.

Clearing out the area with her commanding tone, Ella held a challenging grin.

A little deterred by the intensity radiating from her, Zariel cleared his throat. "Anyway, Warding is from the school of enchanting. A field in sorcery that consists of drawing runes."

"We will be using Elder Futhark, one of the most commonly used Runes throughout the Bed of Chaos or your case, Alos. It's easy to remember and one of the most powerful runes. Aside from Infernal, Enochian or abyssal runes."

Listening with heavy focus, Zariel nodded, "Now, all of you, I want you all to attack me with your strongest spell. Sionn you can sit out for this Since you cannot use magic. "

Showering the skies with a powerful arcana at his command, a towering pillar connected with the heavens, Aurelia and Ella drew their weapons and pointed them towards Zariel.

"Frigid Ray,"

"Demonic Lance,"

Casting each spell almost simultaneously, a hellish wave of death and ice shot towards Zariel. Who mode no effort to dodge or block. He stood in place, allowing each spell to strike his body.

Standing off watching with a solemn expression Kest clenched his fist, witnessing each spell melt as it touched his body, turning into nothing more than gas.

"This Ward is used to stop the most common type of magic from harming me. Sure it has a limit, only being able to absorb tier two spells, but such a Warding is life-saving."

Lowering their weapon, Ella gazed in awe at the arcana she had just used, floating back into the ether. "Is there a tier system to Wards?"

"Same with spells. Tier one, two, three, and so on. What you saw was a tier two ward. But you can draw it as a tier one." Zariel pressed, lifting his finger high.

Everyone gazed in amazement as his fingers danced in the air. Creating a work of art, a single circle appeared while a rune that Ella and Aurelia had never seen before materialized.

"Is that two runes fused together?" Sionn asked. Having seen Aurelia studying them for a bit, he had come to have a very basic understanding of runes.

Nodding with approval, Zariel continued, "Warding is all about mixing runes together, so is hexing and many other types of enchantments. It really comes down to understanding if a rune that means fire and another means to protect and How does one fuse them?"

Wide eye, Kest stared at the Warding in the air, in amazement, "If you add that to every piece of armor, could it defend against a tier-three spell? If written as a tier two?"

"If it's a set armor, and the Warding are connected, then yes. One simply needs to be skilled enough in drawing the enchantment." Duke Blackwater explained calmly, startling everyone once more.