“Thanks again for your help Aria. I really appreciate you finding instructors for Alaric and teaching me how to create my own spells.”
“It was no problem, Irene. You have done more than enough for Borealia that this is the least I can do for you. Still, I am surprised that you were able to learn the intricacies of crafting new spells within just a month.”
“You were just that good of a teacher. Plus, I already had a good amount of experience crafting formations for forging weapons.” Marcus replied.
Aria then turned her gaze to Alaric who was standing next to Marcus and smiled at him.
“I also heard from Akalis and Oxea that you are quite exceptional Alaric. They said that you were very talented and hardworking, and that we should extend you a personal invitation to become a member the Guldur Spire when you graduate from the Royal academy.”
“Yes, my teachers did tell me that they wish to continue instructing me in the future and suggested that I join upon my graduation. But for now, I want to focus on Lady Irene’s training and my studies at the royal academy before deciding on what to do afterwards.” Alaric said, the stiffness he had when they first arrived long gone now.
From the progress reports Marcus had received and the observations he had made he knew that Alaric had done a lot of growing under his two teachers. Not only in magic and staff wielding, but in how to carry himself better.
“I suppose this is goodbye for now, but when you have time again, please let me know and I will invite you for tea. I very much did enjoy discussing magical theory with you.” Aria said as she saw Marcus and Alaric off at the exit of the Guldur Spire.
Marcus and Alaric then said their own goodbyes and left the grounds of the Guldur Spire which they had spent the majority of the last month at.
“So, what is next Lady Irene?” Alaric asked once they were in a carriage bound for Marcus’ estate.
“Now we finally get to hardest part of your training. I believe that you are ready to enter a dungeon, so tomorrow we will be making our way to Lethallan.”
Hearing this Alaric smiled, since he knew that this was the last part of his training to follow in Lilia’s footsteps and catch up to her.
He could still remember when Marcus took her out of school for training and she came back with a different air to her and was much stronger.
“But don’t I have to reach the silver rank at the adventurers guild to enter the dungeon in Lethallan? During my training this last month I only managed to rank up to iron when going out to test the new magic and skills I learned.”
“Yes, you will need to reach silver rank first. And you could certainly do that here in the royal capital, but it would be a waste of time. While you are doing the necessary missions to rank up, I will collect information in Lethallan. It has been quite some time since I was there last, and I am sure that things have changed a bit. It is always best to gather information before simply jumping into something.” Marcus said giving Alaric another piece of wisdom.
Soon enough they returned to Marcus’s estate and had a celebratory diner for Alaric’s achievements in learning two attack skills as well as getting all of his magic skills up to level three.
,c-o-m Along with that he had reached level twenty-four from his training and the missions he completed for the guild and was working on obtaining skills like chant shortening and mana regeneration.
“Lady Irene, are your certain that it is necessary to leave again tomorrow? It might be best if you take some time to rest before setting off on the long journey to Lethallan.” Clara said when she found out Marcus’ plan.
He had from her perspective been working himself ragged and was rarely home. Only showing up once every now and then for a day or two before setting off on some other crazy adventurer or working for weeks straight in the forge.
It seemed like an impossible amount of activity for anyone to keep up with.
However, Marcus had practically no need to rest other than from mental exhaustion or the rare instances when he drains all his mana or spiritual energy during a difficult fight.
“Clara, it will eb find. I understand that you are worried, but I could honestly get away with working myself much harder. And right now, I am on a bit of a time crunch to get Alaric stronger. As he is now, he is far from ready to match Lilia.”
Sighing Clara could tell she would eb unable to change Marcus’ mind and tried insisting that he at least take her and three other maids on this trip.
“Again, I will have to refuse that request Clara. We will not be traveling by carriage and there would not be enough room for anyone else to come along.” Marcus said shutting down Clara once more.
At this point she was pretty frustrated and tried to tell Marcus that it was improper for her as a noble to go on such a trip unaccompanied by personnel. Especially when in the company of a young boy that was not family.
“Very well Clara. I will bring you, and only you along for this. Is that acceptable?” Marcus asked, hoping she would stop making such a big deal out of things.
Huffing in displeasure Clara nonetheless agreed, knowing that Marcus would not accept any other personnel coming with him.
“Now Lady Irene you mentioned that we would not be going by carriage. Just how exactly did you plan to get to Lethallan? It is quite the journey and I do not imagine it would be pleasant to travel that many days on horseback.”
Smiling, Marcus held up his right hand and extend his index finger upwards before answering Clara.
“We are going through the sky. Blitz can run through the air just as easily as on the ground, and with his speed we can reach even Lethallan in a day.”
Mouth agape, Clara could not even imagine the kind of travel that Marcus was envisioning.
Of course, she was a fairly normal person, and unlike Marcus, had never flown through the sky before.
“Oh, but if that is a problem for you, Clara, you are free to stay here?”
“No, I shall accompany you, Lady Irene. You allowed me to work for you when my reputation was in tatters, and it is my job to go with you and take care of your needs.” Clara said with a stalwart expression.
With that it was decided that Clara would be joining Alaric and Marcus on their journey to Lethallan.
Though the next day when it came time to leave and she was mounted on Blitz in front of Alaric, her confident expression from yesterday was long gone.
“Now that we have left the confines of the royal capital we can finally take to the air. Blitz will have a hard time carrying all three of us so I will use magic to fly myself.” Marcus said as he grew six large iron wings.
A moment later he shot up into the sky and Blitz ran after him, each of his hooves able to gain footing on the air just as easily as on the ground.