[Also doctor, please calm down and take a look at the water in the tub.]
'Hmm? What about the wa...Wait what?'
I looked down at the water and noticed the water, which was still being flushed away into the drain, had a different quality to it. Bits and pieces of white glitter shone within the water.
'Wait... The water created with the water element should be a pure form of water with 0 impurities. What are those? Wait... I can sense light element...!?'
[Your deductions are correct. Those sparkles are made from the light element. It seems that the 'absorbed' mana takes an additional step, or time, to turn into the Aether. Although the majority of the mana in the atmosphere is pure, elementless mana, the surrounding areas may impact the mana which in result will impact your spells.]
I looked at my surroundings and noticed the dimmed lights, some of which had gone out, and thought.
'Hmm... Would certain elements be empowered if I absorbed mana from an area that was rich with that element?'
[Maybe, this requires more research. Though it is likely that you will be able use more of that specific spell only.]
'...We can do that more later. We have an important meeting tomorrow. I need to rest for now.'
-----
I stood by the palace entrance, faced by two guards.
"Please state your reason for this visit Magus, otherwise leave this place at once. This is the imperial palace and no outsiders are allowed without a viable proof of identity and reason for visiting." One of the guards spoke out.
I took out a badge from my inner pocket and lifted the necklace above my clothes as I explained. "I am a disciple of Lady Silvia Pendragon from the Central Magus Tower, Deus. I am here to reques-"
"WHICH DRAGONKIN DARES TREAD INTO THE PALACE WITHOUT NOTICE!!!" I booming voice echoed out from deep within the palace as a roaring shockwave shook the entire surroundings, causing me to fall back onto my bottoms.
Boom! A man seemed to have dropped straight out from the skies before me as he pointed a speartip against my neck.
"You aren't dragonkin, or are you a halfling?" An old but muscular man, wearing a set of golden armor in similar style to those you could see in ancient greece, asked with a menacing glare.
"I-I..." I started to stutter, unable to response from the shock I had recieved.
"Captain, he is the disciple of Lady Silvia Pendragon." One of the guards, seeming used to this 'captain', explained.
"Oho? A disciple of that granny lizard? Boy! What's your name?" The man took back his spear as he spoke to me.
"D-Deus." I stumbled to stand up, just realizing how short I was as my head barely reached his chests. "Hello... I am here to see the Emperor and hand him a letter by the orders of Lady Silvia"
"Hmph, I guess your mental fortitude is not bad. Being able to stay awake from that shockwave requires a certain amount of training haha." The man chuckled as he started to walk up into the palace. "Follow me."
"A certain amount he says."
"More like months of being thrashed around and falling conscious haha!"
The two guards chuckled behind our backs as we continued to walk into the palace.
"Ignore them, they tend to ease off whenever I come around. Only the veterans of war who have served the nation, oh and have the skills, can become an imperial guard." The captain spoke as he continued to walk up.
"So uh... Captain. How can I meet the emperor?"
"Oh I forgot to introduce myself." The captain turned to look at me in the eyes.
An impossibly grand aura started to burst out from the captain.
"I". He started. "Am the captain of the imperial guards as well as the current commander in chief of the entire army of The Empire, Hei."
!!!
"Hello, I am Deus. Second disciple of Lady Silvia Pendragon. Ma-May I ask you if you're related to Hui? The previous commander in chief."
"Huh!? You know Hui?" Hei, in visible shock, grabbed me by the shoulders. "Where is he!? Is he still alive!?"
"Y-Yes. He's in Cinders village, or was, and is still doing fine... I haven't seen him in a few months though so I cannot be sure..." I responded in haste.
"Cinders village..." Captain Hei pondered for a moment and then took out a small token, in the shape of an eagle, and handed it to me. "Take that and go up to the guards by the entrance up there. I have somewhere I need to be."
He then jumped off the spot where he had been standing at and seemed to disappear, soon followed by another massive shockwave.
'Ah, that's how he appeared before me back then.'
[That's man muscular structure has exceeded the limit of normal humans by at least 1400% and possibly more.]
'Hei...Hui...?'
[Analyzing from their facial structures, it is highly likely they are related. A DNA test is required to fully verify this information.]
'Related... Brothers maybe.'
I pondered as I continued to walk up the palace stairs.
-----
A pair of eyes stared into the pack of Deus from a distance that was impossible to see with a normal pair of human eyes.
A womanly figure, cladded in dark cloth from head to toe, stood by a small tree on the side of a mountain outside the capital as she looked into the city whilst writing a small note.
- Target has entered the vicinity of the Imperial Palace, will temporarily hold off the operations until he leaves. -
She then attached letter to a small bird, which had been perching on her shoulders, before sending it away.
"Deus... Maybe he'll meet He-!!!"
Whooosh!
A sudden burst of wind hit her in the face as a powerful aura shot past her like a bullet.
'Hei!'
Her head snapped towards the location the aura had disappeared towards.
'He's heading towards Cinders! Deus! Deus met Hei and told him about Hui!'
Her figure disappeared from the spot as she chased after Hei but unlike the muscular man, no shock waves were made as only a small rustle of the tree was left behind.