CH. 12

"Let's see… Close your eyes and look inwards. Mana is like a muscle of your body that you have never flexed before. Imagine this muscle as a liquid requiring to be pushed. Like blood that traverses throughout the body through the passageways that veins provide, mana is somewhat similar."

"O-okay… Close my eyes… Search for the mana…"

Toes, check. Legs, check. Fingers and arms check. Rest of my body, check. Hell, with no idea what I was even searching for, this was pretty damn hard.

Short of being struck by lightning with an instantaneous moment of realization and achievement, there was nothing that presented itself to me.

Desperately I clung to the hope that continuously ebbed away with the seconds that passed by. As that faded, what replaced it was disappointment and desperation growing in its place.

Having never been closer to having an opportunity to obtain something that was literally, the stuff of dreams.

Fantasy world, check. Monsters, check. Magic, check.

So close but yet so far.

"I-I can't feel anything…"

"Hmm a shame. Even I had slightly risen hopes for your success…"

"You and me both…"

"Don't be so disheartened child. Let's try my staff then. As a conducive instrument, it enhances the power of the spells I cast through it, whilst reducing my mana output. As such, it may enable you to draw your magic out easier with its assistance. If you possess magic of course. Here." She held her staff out to me.

"Absolutely not. Don't shame yourself by having that cretin put his mangy paws upon such a splendid artifact! Mother would be furious if she knew about this! That staff is far too valuable to risk a mere human to touch. Trying to teach him how to use magic? Allowing the use of such a treasure? You go too far sister!"

I thought Sret had been furious before, but now he was absolutely livid. Storming between her and I, he filled the space with a presence that could only be described as dangerous.

"Well, mother isn't here is she? You really are mummy's little boy aren't you Sret… Mummy this, mummy that, it's almost laughable! I say almost because I would laugh if it wasn't so pathetic! Wahaha!" She threw her head back and actually laughed.

"Laugh all you want… You need to remember your place dearest sister…"

"My place is it…?"

Whumpf!

"Shit!"

With a heavy crash, Sret was sent flying across the town square to come falling hard to the ground in a crumpled mess. Loriell stood, staff outstretched and a dangerous look in her eyes that left no doubt that her jovial, carefree demeanor of earlier had disappeared.

"Remember your place! Dearest brother… Remember who is ranked highest here amongst our brethren. It's because you're my brother I tolerate you so. But that does not give you leeway to hold sway over me… Don't forget that."

"…"

Climbing to his feet he glared at her but didn't say another word. Though the look he threw me was absolutely terrifying. It was painfully clear he blamed me for the humiliation he had just suffered at her hands.

No doubt about it, if he could exact his revenge on me, it would be a horrific ordeal. The thought of what he might do to me sent a fresh wave of fear surging through me.

"Whoops! Seems I got a little excited and went overboard a bit… I do apologize. We seem to be causing nothing but problems for you Baronet..."

"T-think nothing of it, please."

"Now, back to where we were before being rudely interupt-"

"Sir!"

Stoldt, with the two other guards he had left with earlier, had returned. Loaded up with bags of what I assumed were the items the elves as requested, they dropped them at the feet of the elven soldiers, who wrinkled their noses up.

"Here are the supplies. All accounted for as requested."

"Ah Stoldt, your timing is impeccable."

I could see Keiran visibly sighing in relief. The enormous amount of pressure he must have been feeling from the highs and lows of the elven presence was surely going to send him to an early grave if he wasn't careful.

"Looks like our precious time together has come to its conclusion then. Such a shame… But all good things must come to an end eventually."

With a wink thrown towards me and a wave, Loriell returned to the elven soldiers and her brother. Tossing the bags to his subordinates, he strode off, without so much as a glance over his shoulder or a goodbye.

Not that I'm complaining, the sooner he was gone the more comfortable I would be.

"As promised Baronet, we will be leaving now. If I could compensate you for the supplies and trouble we've caused you…"

"No compensation is necessary. I appreciate the kindness you have shown towards my son, however, please just please leave immediately and do not return anytime soon. If ever."

"Ouch… Still so cold! Thank you for your hospitality nonetheless. I've found the meeting of our two peoples to be quite… Interesting."

With a final glance at me, she followed the soldiers out of the square, trailing behind them humming to herself.

The collective breath that the very town itself seemed to be holding was exhaled. The people filtered slowly out of their homes and businesses, resuming their day to day activities as if nothing had happened in the first place.

"Thank the gods they have finally left." Keiran slumped in his chair.

"Sir, I'm concerned about this. The fact that they're out in these parts and requiring supplies is strange."

"What do you mean Stoldt?"

Stoldt placed a hand on my shoulder and grabbed a drink from the table. Finishing it in one gulp he slammed it back down and faced me.

"Elves needing to be resupplied? Don't make me laugh. Those bastards are perfectionists. They would never leave their cherished empire without having exactly what they needed to return in one piece."

"I agree Stoldt. It is unusual. I will send word to the capital immediately advising the crown of the circumstance. Let us just be glad that nothing happened and that the town, inclusive of its people, are unscathed."

"Absolutely sir."

"And that Loriell… At least with her brother Sret and the others, their open hostility was plain to read. Her? I am not sure how to take it. Even with her courteous and polite demeanor, I do believe she may have been the more dangerous of them…"

"Never liked mages during my military service and as an Adventurer I tolerated them. Useful at times, but otherwise I kept clear when their services were unnecessary. Never met one that I could completely trust."

While those two were busy discussing the days event. I was lost in thought about what had just transpired.

I wasn't sure I agreed with Keiran and Stoldt about Loriell. She had seemed quite approachable and forthcoming during our interaction together. Sure, her personality was a bit too over the top for my taste, but it didn't necessarily make her a bad person.

She surely had done her best to avoid conflict and had even reprimanded her other brother when she viewed him as stepping out of line.

If I saw her again, I doubt it would be a bad thing. To be honest, I would like to see her again, as easy on the eyes as she was. Just without the other elves of course.

Still, there were two things that really stood out to me from the meeting.

One. That there were elves in this world. And Two. That I had confirmed magic truly did exist in this world. It was just shattering that I had been unable to display any magical aptitude.