Secret

Valerian was laying on the couch, while the two ladies were talking to each other, Azula said, "I had no idea that this boy will be so quick to pick up the skills of a Mage. However, as talented as he may be, if his skills are not kept in check, there are a lot of people who will not mind ruining him."

Priscilla nodded and said, "I can understand what you are trying to say your highness, however, it is not easy for him to stop himself from using all the elements at his disposal. Magic is an instinct."

Azula raised her eyebrow and said, "I never expected you to quote this to me but, as much as I do not wish to agree, I have to admit that it is the truth. Instincts are the most unpredictable thing. Given that Valerian can converse with beasts, I guess his instincts are stronger than normal humans. If only the child was a warrior."

Priscilla smiled and said, "If he was a battle mage, things would have been even messier."

Azula said, "Do not jinx it."

Suddenly the two of them sensed something and turned to look in the direction of the couch. At this moment, Valerian's body was twitching and the boy was sweating profusely.

Azula stood up and came to his side to check but when she was about to touch his forehead when she was pushed back by a strong force radiating from his body.

She was surprised and exclaimed, "Priscilla, go find Quies. Hurry!"

The maid cast a magic spell and vanished from the spot. Azula gazed at the boy and mumbled, "What is happening to you, Valerian?"

At this moment, Valerian was inside a dream, he was trapped in a constricted place and he could hear vague noises. However, he could tell that these voices were not very happy and cheerful.

As time passed, the boy became restless. He was trying to fight the constraints around him. Just when he was about to give up the struggle, a serene voice sounded in his mind.

'Hello Val, long time no see.'

Valerian froze, he could never forget this voice. It was the same voice that he heard the night he awakened as a mage. He asked, 'Who are you?'

'All in good time, just trust me. Okay, time for your second gift. After this when we meet it will be face to face. However, the gift is not so easy to obtain this time. Do you want it?', asked the voice.

Valerian asked, 'Will it make me stronger?'

The ethereal voice let out a chuckle, it said, 'No gifts make you strong, it is your own ability and hunger to prevail that makes you strong, a gift is just a tool and you are the wielder. A tool is as strong as you are.'

Valerian fell silent. He nodded and said, 'I want this gift. Tell me what I need to do?'

The voice said, 'Good, I like how decisive you have become. Break yourself.'

Valerian was confused he asked, 'What do you mean by break myself?'

'Work so hard that every night when you go to bed, the very shred of your being cries and wails. And the day you find yourself unable to get up, that is the day when your gift will unlock.', said the voice.

Valerian did not understand what he was supposed to do. However, after the brief silence, he could tell that the voice has gone back to silence.

…

Quies arrived in the room and as soon as his gaze fell on the boy he said, "Your highness, Gladius has blessed him."

Priscilla was shocked, while Azula only let out a sigh, as she said, "He was radiating a very strong pressure just now and I could tell that it was not mana. Thus, I called you over. You said that he has become a warrior, but why is there no change in his body?"

Quies nodded and said, "Usually when a warrior awakens, his or her physique will go under overwhelming changes, however, he is a battle mage. His physique cannot change until he puts in some real hard work."

Azula nodded and smiled. She was happy to have a battle mage in her camp. She said, "Quies, you will train him. However, the news must not leave the palace grounds. I will hold you accountable if something happened to him."

Quies bowed his head and said, "I will not fail you, Your Highness."

Azula nodded, she gazed at Valerian, the boy was calmly sleeping at this moment. She gazed at Quies and the man nodded tactfully. He picked up the child and walked out of the room.

Azula sat down in her chair with a huff and said, "Priscilla, do you think we have a crow's mouth?"

Priscilla shook her head and said, "I have no idea, Your Highness."

The room entered silence, none of them made a noise, and they did not know what to say. After a few minutes, the door was knocked at.

Azula was busy gazing at the ceiling in a daze, Priscilla went to open the door and found that it was Rectus. She asked, "What do you want?"

Rectus clicked his tongue and said, "Five minutes of Her Highness's time."

Priscilla was pissed at him from the moment he used that spell against Valerian. She turned around and asked, "Your Highness, Mage Rectus seeks an audience with you."

Azula waved her hand and Priscilla nodded, she turned to Rectus and opened the door wider. Then she walked back inside the room with the Mage behind her. Rectus said, "Your Highness, I would like to take Valerian for a trip."

The princess was not surprised, there were times when this guy would usually make such odd requests. Azula shook her head and said, "I cannot allow that."

Rectus asked calmly, "Why?"

"The boy is a battle mage, he will train with Quies, that's why.", said the lady with blue hair.

Rectus nodded and took a step away from the chair, he wanted to go back but suddenly he froze, he asked in a trembling voice, "What did you say?"

Priscilla said, "Valerian is a Battle Mage."

Rectus could not help but take a deep breath when Priscilla confirmed the news, he asked agitatedly, "Let me teach him magic."

Azula shook her head and said, "You know that normal Mages like ourselves cannot teach a Battlemage? You have no idea of combat and if you are allowed to train him, that will hamper his growth. So, for the time being, Quies will be training him and then I will personally take him to the imperial academy."

While Priscilla nodded with a smile, Rectus had a bitter expression on his face. He sighed and said, "What do you think will be his future?"

Azula looked at the guy and said, "I was thinking about just that when you disturbed me, Sir Rectus. Now if you would care to leave me alone."

Rectus left the room, and Priscilla was also given the rest of the time off.

…

Valerian woke up after a day, he sat up on the bed and held his head in his hands. A deep voice sounded, "Does it feel heavy?"

The boy groaned as he nodded. He was aware that it was Quies, the latter nodded and said, "Now you should get ready, we have things to do. Also, you are forbidden from using magic spells."

The last part of the sentence shocked the boy. He raised his hands and quickly asked, 'Why can I not use magic?'

Quies said, "Valerian, you are a battle mage. A lot of battle mages learn skills from the people around them carelessly, thinking that since they can use both magic and physical power, they can be strong, however, they do not understand that being a battle mage is a double-edged sword.

A battle mage can never forget what he has learned and he can not alter his ways either. Their skills become an instinct. This instinct leads them to develop a pattern in their actions and this predictability leads them to fall.

This is why, her highness thinks that it is better that you awaken your physique completely and then you will go to the imperial academy, and learn from the best of the best in the lumen empire. This is why I forbid you from using magic. However, as a consolation, you are free to meditate and try to exercise with me."

Valerian could not register all this in his brain all of a sudden. He asked, 'I do not recall ever reading anything this absurd in the books about Battle Mages.'

Quies smiled and said, "Not everything is supposed to be recorded in the books Valerian. Do you know the secret of Battle Mages?"

Valerian shook his head and the man said, "Would you like to hear about it?"

The curiosity of the child was piqued and he nodded his head in a hurry. Quies smiled and said, "First you need to clean up."