Back on Track

By night, the family was back home, everyone went to their rooms to change, and after they were done, they gathered in the lobby.

Blaze asked

"How was it everyone? What do you think of Felix and Arleen?"

"Sir Felix is so cool, and Madam Arleen is nice" Merlin said

"Madam Arleen is so pretty! Just like Mom" Amethyst said

"The food was nice" Leus said

Blaze and Viorica looked at Leus with furrowed brows

"Is there something you didn't like?" Blaze asked

Leus shook his head

"Not really, I think it was a good lunch. Etiquette was troublesome though"

Viorica said

"I know you don't have time to care about such things, I don't think anyone had problems with you improvising."

"Is that so? Then that's cool, what do you think of them, Mom?"

Viorica put her finger on her lower lip

"I think Arleen is really classy, she's a good lady, and she's also a Mage."

Blaze added

"I think they are good people, we'll invite them too soon, I'll try to do it before I go back to the military."

Leus quickly replied

"Really? Actually, I think I'll be really busy for a while, I don't think I'll be available. Good luck to you though"

'I don't have the energy to spend another night like this .. not only it's boring, but It's also difficult'

Blaze laughed

"Oh really? It's fine, it'll probably be here at home so it'll be much easier"

"I'll think about it"

Leus quickly changed the topic

"I'll be going back to the library tomorrow, I might take longer than usual this time"

Blaze nodded

"We are already aware"

Viorica added

"I'll really miss you Leus"

She opened her hands and continued

"Come, give me a hug"

Leus gladly got up and hugged Viorica

'Mom's hugs are the best'

It always makes him feel like his entire being is being washed by a wave of warmth

"Thank you, Mom"

"Aww, the pleasure is all mine"

Leus hugged her for a bit then let go, she let go after him

Leus continued

"I don't know exactly how things will go, but after I'm done with what I've to do, I'll just do as Master Arno says"

Blaze nodded

"Good luck Leus .. don't push yourself too hard"

They spoke for a bit more time, and after that, Leus spent some time with Amethyst and Merlin then said goodbye to his family and went to sleep

'At dawn, I'm going to go back to the Library'

Leus' mind was at ease

'I finished everything I have to do, now I can solely focus on the best thing in the world, getting stronger'

He quickly drained his mana pool and slept

After Leus got up, he checked on his things

'Sword, pouch ... that's all'

But he noticed that he was wearing the shirt Amethyst made for him

'Ahh, yeah, I wore that after I came back yesterday, that's not gonna work'

Leus knew that the shirt would probably end up torn and tattered after he entered the barrier, so he put the shirt in his pouch

'I'll wear it after I'm done training'

And wore something else

'Now I'm ready.'

It was dawn, and the streets were mostly empty, yet, very quickly Leus realized that something felt off

'What's wrong?'

The back of Leus' neck was tingling.

'That's not normal'

Leus narrowed his eyes, he knew this sensation very well.

'I feel like someone is directing hostility toward me, it's so subtle yet so acute'

Leus didn't know how to describe what he was feeling, but he just felt as if waves of pure hatred were being directed at him.

He activated Advanced Mana Vision and looked around him, but as soon as he did that, the feeling completely disappeared.

'Nothing?'

He couldn't see anyone at all

'Was it perhaps someone just walking by? I'm sure I wasn't imagining'

He looked around him for a bit more time, but he couldn't find or see anyone.

'Maybe I wasn't the target? Not sure, but standing here will lead to nothing.'

He decided that he would act quicker the next time and made his way to the library.

As always, two armored guards were standing in front of its door, Leus greeted them and walked inside to Arno's desk.

Arno wordlessly got up and walked towards the training room, and Leus just followed him

They quickly entered and went to the desk, that's when Leus began talking

"What will I start with? Fire or Water?"

"It doesn't really make any difference now"

Arno used his Skill and brought a book with a blue cover to the desk, then personally got up and brought another book

'Huh?'

Leus was surprised by that move

'He brings every book with the Water Wave, why would he get up to bring this book?'

Arno gently placed the book on the desk and said

"Be careful with this book, it's an Original"

Leus tilted his head

"Original?"

Arno nodded

"Yes, it's written by hand, check it yourself"

Leus put his hand on the book cover and it was rough

'It feels old'

Unlike the other smooth books, this book was old, and the writing style was different. All the books were written with black ink, but this one was written with red ink.

Leus looked at Arno and asked

"Is it ... written by him?"

Arno nodded

"Yes, an Original by Ignatius himself, to become a Duke you have to give something to the Kingdom, it's a way of proving your loyalty, that you'll go out of the way to help the Kingdom thrive."

"So all these books are written by Dukes?"

Arno shook his head

"No, all these books are written by Royal Mages.

When they wrote those books, they weren't Dukes yet, and also, not everyone who wrote a book became a Duke, some have died and the books are their legacy.

But generally, most of those who wrote the books are now Dukes or higher."

That answer made Leus ask something else

"Elite Mages can't write these books?"

"Elite Mages can write, but I never heard of an Elite Mage discovering an Abstract. This isn't just about writing a book, you're supposed to discover a new Abstract that no one in the kingdom discovered before you, which gets harder and harder as time passes because all the previous Royal Mages have discovered the easy ones already."

Leus wanted to ask

'Even you can't do it?'

But he didn't want to word it that way

'It'd be rude'

So he asked it in a different way

"Even strong Elite Mages can't discover Abstracts?"

Arno shrugged

"In theory, it shouldn't be impossible, but it never happened.

Royal Mages have World Resonance, which allows them to perceive the Mana of some of the uncommon elements and unlocks mind abilities, such as Telepathy and memory sharing, along with other abilities. So obviously it's easier for them."

Leus' interest was piqued

"What's World Resonance?"

"It's something Royals have to unlock to evolve, just like how Elites unlock Skills, Royals unlock World Resonance.

It attunes them with the world itself, granting them the ability to distinguish truth from lies if the speaker is weaker than them, and other mind techniques.

Speaking of that, when you meet Ignatius don't lie to him, because he'll find out immediately"

"Really? That's interesting ..."

Arno waved his hand

"Well, that's something to worry about later, Leus, Water or Fire?"