Chapter Six

~

After their little talk. Alistair and his father have been training together every morning when his father leave for work, he was head of security for the Helstea family's auction.

Four whole months later, Arthur had contacted them:

"Hi Mom, hi Dad. Hi Alistair. It's me, Arthur. You're probably really surprised that you're hearing my voice inside your head, huh? Well there's a reason for that. Before that though, I want you to know that I'm alive and safe. Again, I'm alive and well Mom, Dad. I managed to survive the fall off the cliff and I'm currently living in the Kingdom of Elenoir with the elves. Please don't tell anyone else this. I don't have much time so I'll only say the things most crucial. A friend of mine is a deviant like you mom, except she's a diviner so I was able to see how you guys are doing just now as well. She is also the one that is allowing you guys to be able to hear my voice. I want to go back to you guys as soon as possible but I can't right now. No, I'm safe and alive right now but I have a sort of er… illness inside my body that I need to get rid of before I am able to go back. Don't worry, as long as I stay here and have the elves treat me, I'm 100% okay. So please, don't worry. I don't know when I'll be able to talk to you guys like this again, but what's important is that I'm alive and I know you guys are as well. Remember; don't tell anyone where I am right now. Better yet, just keep it as if I was still dead to make things simpler. It may take months or even years for me to be able to go back but just be sure that I WILL be going back home. I love you guys *sniff* so much and I miss you. Stay safe, and Dad, make sure to keep Mom, Alistair and my baby sibling safe. Mom *sniff*, please make sure dad and Alistair doesn't get into trouble. Alai, get ready to get your butt kicked when I get back. Your son, your brother, Art."

Alistair vowed to tease them about the heart warming message but he was happy that he was alive and training - something happened besides the incident - but also sad that he won't be returning immediately, and also jealous of Arthur receiving training from elves. He knew from previous experience, who elves can be resourceful, even if he was enemies with them.

Also he was not going to tell people Arthur was dead! Missing, maybe but not dead.

Today was a important day at the Leywin, the Helstea family were joining them for dinner. It was long overdue. Alistair was going to finally meet, the people who helped his family through a rough patch. They haven't been properly able to meet, due to their schedule, and Alistair spent most of his days training or going to the town library, with his mother of course.

*Ding*

The door bell rang. Alistair being the nearest to the door, opt to go and greet their guests.

He opened the door. A thin proper man, standing tall. He has brown parted hair, with a small, brown beard on his chin and reddish brown eyes, with glasses over. This man is Lord Vincent Helstea.

Next to him was a beautiful young woman with black hair that is tied into a bun where she has three black hairpins on it with long hair strands hanging on either side of her face and light blue eyes. This must be Lady Tabitha Helstea.

In front of them, nervous and shy was a girl with short, brown hair that goes to her shoulders, with kitten-like hazel eyes and she appears to be the same age as Alistair Leywin. This has to be the Young Lilia Helstea.

"Greetings. My name is Alistair Leywin. Thank you for accepting our invitation, and please do enter." Alistair said with a small bow, the Helstea were confused but like the nobles they are, mainly Lady Tabitha, they composed themselves and entered the house.

"Mom is in the kitchen and Dad is in the dining room, but please let me show you in."

"It's absolutely lovely to finally meet you, Alistair" Lady Tabitha said,

"Please call me Alai, after you have done for my family, formalities are not needed."

"Then please call me Aunt or Tabi."

Alistair smiled, "With please Aunt Tabi" he said dramatically bowing making her laugh.

Vincent Helstea has never felt out of place, ever before until today. The boy no older than his daughter, was casually talking with his wife and making jokes. The boy was just four years old.

Lilia looked at the boy. The boy was different. The boy stood tall and proud. He boy didn't stutter and spoke with confidence. The boy was her age. The boy was different. The boy was special.

They entered the sitting room and there was his father fixing up the place, "Alistair, why didn't you tell us our guests have arrived!" he father said before shouting, "Honey! Vince, Tabitha and Lilia are here!"

Then there was a cluster in the kitchen, followed by a loud bang. "Oh my, let me go and rescue her" Lady Helstea says, walking towards the kitchen.

"Vin! I see you've meet my son." Reynolds said patting Alec's head.

"Yes and I must say, Alice has raised him well. He was an absolute charmer." Lord Helstea says, looking at Alistair with an uneasy look.

"I raised him too!" Reynolds cried, "Alice is always worried that he might turn into me, or a even bigger trouble maker, but I feel like it's too late"

Alistair tired of the small talk about him cleared his throat and turn to the Young Helstea.

"Do you like reading and if so would you like to go see it?" he asked in the most gentlest tone he could conjure up.

She squeaked at the sudden attention to her and hid behind her father. The two fathers of the room wanted to laugh at the situation but they were the adults, or so says their wives.

"I'm sorry Alistair, she tends to be shy around new people."

'New people also known as strangers. No need to sugarcoat it.'

Alistair couldn't help but give her a pity smile, "Here" he said, offering his hand to her.

She was very hesitant, but her mother and father were friends with his parents so he was proba- definitely friendly. She moved away from her father and took Alistair's hand.

"Thank you" Alistair said, carefully leading her away to the house library.

Alistair didn't spend much time there, in the small room. Most of the books that were there, were philosophy book, romance books, and surprisingly mystery book. There were very few books related to mages.

The two of them found themselves separate books and sat across one another, minding there business. Alistair chose a book he hadn't seen in ages {Beginner's Guide for the Privileged Mage}.

The two most common methods of utilizing mana are: enhancement of the body with mana (augmenter), and emission of mana to the outside world (conjurer)…

… augmenters are most commonly seen amongst warriors who utilize mana, channeling it through their body to strengthen themselves and their attacks.

While augmenters can possess incredible strength, defense and agility, their weakness lies in their limited range.

An augmenter's prowess or talent is measured by the strength of the mana channels in their body, which measures the speed and efficiency in relocating their mana from their mana core into various parts of their bodies...

Mages (Mana Manipulators) are typically categorized into one of these two divisions since attempting to be proficient in both from an early stage is incredibly time consuming and inefficient. Most are born with a skewed difference in their mana channels and mana veins.

Augmenters do not need very strong mana veins because they mostly utilize the mana from their cores, while conjurers do not need very powerful mana channels because they do not release their mana into their own bodies.

Then before Alistair could read farther, he felt a pair of eyes stare at him. He sighed, was he too focused on the book. He's read the thing around and Arthur had explained the book way too many times for him to forget.

He lifted his head from the book and looked at the girl in front of him, "I'm sorry, I'm being rude. Do you want anything to drink?"

"N..no..no" She stutter, her eyes kept flickering at the book. "Do- Ar- uhn"

Confused Alistair looked at her, and where her eyes went. "Have you awakened?" he asks, but highly doubts that possibility, unless she is like him.

The girl looked down, her face instant started to look like a crying face. He panicked, 'Mother will have my head!'

He jumped to her side, "I'm sorry? Did I say something wrong? Please don't cry!" he said rubbing her back.

"I..i am not crwaying!" she was sobbing, he kept rubbing her back. He would have offered her some water, anything but nothing.

They sat there for a while, with her quietly crying and him consoling her. Eventually she stopped and there was this awkward situation.

"Did I say something to upset you" he asked, honestly.

"I can't awaken. My parents aren't mages so I can't become a mage." She whispered,

'Oh! Really?'

"I'm sorry, I didn't know."

'This world is so weird. Genetics have nothing to do with forging a core, or mana heart. If that were the case, a lot of people would not be mages.'

'Although forging a core here is similar to maintaining a good mana foundation in my world'

"What if you can?" Alistair asks,

Lilia looked upset, "You can't. It is im..po..ssi..ble, I have checked, my parents have check, trained masters have checked."

"I have have not checked" Alistair said grinning, "Think about it and just to be safe keep it between us."

"It is not possible."

"Try, even if it's impossible. You won't know until you have tried it on your own" Alistair said,

"I'll think about it but don't tell my parents yet" she said stick her hand out. Alistair took her hand and they shook on it.

Then the door swang wide open, revealing all for adults with a suspicious look on their faces. This was going to be hard to explain...

'I wish I could wipe that smug look off my father's face!'