88 Return to the Virility Household

Doevm opened his eyes and sat up coughing. Wade and Frey were crouched next to him, ready to help at a moment's notice. "I'm fine," Doevm answered their unasked question as he slowly got to his feet, their hands ready to catch. The three mana signatures were gone. He breathed a sigh of relief. "Let's just keep walking towards the mansion." He walked, making sure to have each step steady. His vision, along with the world turned. Wade and Frey hovered close at his heels, as if he could fall at any moment. After a few minutes, when he regained clarity, they gave him space again.

'Those three large signatures,' Doevm thought. 'I recognized one, Maker. She probably came down with her children. Does this mean they came after me after I discovered Draken's inheritance? Does she know that I found it?' He shook his head. 'That's not it. Judging by her reactions now, if she knew I had found Draken's legacy, she would have killed me the minute I escaped the Ghoul nest.' He rubbed his chin, trying to think of alternative solutions on his walk back to Petal Town.

As they walked past newly constructed housing, the usually quiet town bustled with noise and foot traffic. The city had grown and the crowds of farmers had nearly doubled. The gravel trails had been widened, allowing the increased populace to squeeze their way through the shallow shacks. Every now and again, guards wearing the familiar engraved rose pattern ran past. Doevm and Wade had to put Frey in front since he towered over the crowd. They hit the field of roses quickly, as it had been expanded, nearly reaching the river. Farmers navigated around it, carefully harvesting the deadly poisons.

Getting past the rose fields and down a dusty gravel road, they found the Virility mansion. Two guards stood at the sides of its gates. Doevm got out his squad leader form by force of habit only for the two gates to spread open for them. While the town had expanded, the mansion and everything in it remained robust to the passage of time. The three gathered at the mansion's wooden door, tired from travel.

Wade knocked and a few seconds later, an old maid showed up, her once grey hair having turned a snow white. She remained calm at the sight of the long-awaited arrival. "Follow me." She bowed and led them through the house, up the stairs, and opened the doors of the library for them. As the two doors swung open, they saw Reginald hovered over a map with Thomas hovering over his shoulder.

"And this is where our main trade route-" Reginald stopped and looked at the three. "Thomas, can you get Jameson?" Thomas nodded and hurried past the three out of the library, a wide smile etched on his face. "Welcome back." Reginald smiled.

The three bowed and Wade stepped forward: "Sir, do you wish for a report?"

"Thank you, sir," Doevm said as he downed the water in one gulp. "Have you been well in this past year?" He dusted off his old fake-servant's smile and wore it proudly.

"Better than well," Reginald held up the map of Petal Town for all to see. "And worse." The map of Petal Town had holes in it and dotted lines. "While war times have placed a lot of demand on our product and the capital, Draken, has taken a lot of interest in our product, raiders have become a problem. I've tried to recruit men, but they are all off in the war until now." The three guards looked at each other, deciding who would tell the man. It seems they didn't have to, as Reginald held his head low. "You're the only ones?" His posture drooped a little. "What happened?"

"Ashtehar betrayed us." Frey growled. "Hopi and the rest of the guards were annihilated by mages. We're all that's left."

Jameson hurried into the room, bowed to Reginald, and stood in front of Doevm, the edges of his frown twitching into a smile. "I'm glad you're back." Just barely, Doevm thought he heard a sigh. He stood up and hugged him.

"I missed you father." Jameson looked back to Reginald. Upon receiving a nod, he hugged back.

"I missed you too." He let go and compared their heights. "You've gotten taller." He frowned and walked next to Reginald's desk.

Thomas hurried in from behind, breathing hard: "Jameson, can't you slow down next time? You even used your life essence!" He walked next to Reginald as Jameson's face reddened. Reginald filled them in.

Jameson frowned: "And did you two at least succeed?" Doevm handed over the two black tablets that the general had given him. Jameson smiled. "At least this wasn't all for nothing. Thank you for your service. I'm sure it was hard." He glanced at Doevm's and Frey's rings. "Where did…" His voice trailed off. "I'm not even going to ask anymore."

"So," Reginald coughed twice. "Now that you are back, I would like to give you breaks after your hard work, but we only have a few weeks before the tournament for the knight academy. Doevm." Doevm stood up in a practiced salute. "Oh," Reginald hesitated and Doevm dropped his hand.

"Sorry sir…my lord. Force of habit." Doevm bowed.

Reginald waved his hands: "It's fine. I understand there is some adaptation. I can't just expect you to return to being guards." He took a breath. "I need you to get stronger, much stronger. Jameson will teach you advanced techniques in the next few weeks. It'll be intense, but I know you're more than ready for it."

"Thank you my lor-"

"But father," Thomas interrupted. "How can he learn the techniques in a few weeks? It took me months to learn them. His time will be wasted if he doesn't complete the training." Doevm looked to Reginald as well, unsure who's side to take.

"Thomas." Reginald folded his hands together. "We can't teach him anything else, nor divert the elixirs to him. This is the only thing we can do for him. I thought you looked up to him. Have more faith. Jameson, Doevm, start your training immediately." Jameson and Doevm bowed before leaving.

"And me, my lord," Frey sat up. "What should I do? Training? I would like to practice a new shield and spear technique and learn from Jameson." Reginald handed Frey a book. "You need to learn how to read. I'll assign a literate servant to instruct you."

Frey nodded as he accepted the book. "Do I have permission to leave?" Reginald nodded and Frey left, the book was dwarfed by his massive hands. He opened it and looked at the squiggles that people formed words from. 'He gets training and I get lessons.' He closed it, squeezing the book as if it would turn to dust. He walked out of the mansion and towards his old house. 'At least I can say I didn't break my promise.'

…

Hector opened the black book and rubbed his chin. "Soul magic?"

"That's right," Draken hovered in front of him, squinting. "But you…don't seem interested in it? There's something with you, something different."

Hector put the black book in his pocket and forced his mouth into a smile: "I know. It looks like you don't have a choice but to teach me, is that correct?" Draken didn't respond and handed over a necklace.