Time seemed to slow down as the kick closed in on my torso. Every second seemed to last for so long, making me feel a distorted perception of time.
This was because of my somewhat quantum thinking, causing me to mistakenly infuse a sliver of aether into my muscles as I dodged, falling backward to knee level instantaneously, as I sent a kick to her right arm, but before it could connect I was stopped.
"Clovis you used aether again!" Whishmae who had long since developed intelligence scolded in a mature feminine voice.
I dejectedly sighed as this was not the first time this happened.
"You know you should listen to your companion Xidorn, she's already as smart as me!"
Mother Luana said with a hint of pride as she said the "me" part, laughing it off ever so casually. The one receiving the praise was now over 90 meters tall with a wingspan of 130 meters, capable of blanketing the sky.
She came closer to me and shrunk herself to the size of a hawk, landing on my shoulders and repeatedly nudging my cheeks, I was personally always amazed as I watched her shrink from that colossal size down to a size just above 1 foot.
The nudging got harder as I woke up from my stupor, petting her head as I said...
"hahaha... Ok, ok she's right you're amazing, now please stop nudging okay?!" I said as she held her beak up in pride.
"Clovis, go clean up." Mother Luana said gesturing me to take my leave.
"Yes, mother!"
***3rd person POV***
"A new low-level ruin just emerged, and I want to send Clovis into it to have a taste of life outside the barrier... while we, of course, will prepare for "that"!"
Luana was the one who said this, and she had a serious look but also somewhat solemn and sad.
"A ruin huh..." Danellius said contemplating.
Following which Aria made her entrance and said...
"A low-level ruin is not a task for Clovis, or do you think otherwise Danellius!"
"It is not that I think otherwise... hell, he could go to a high-level ruin and I would not be bothered in the slightest but... the problem is the humans and fae that will be present, will be more of a threat than any monsters Clovis will encounter! hmmm... let him go, it will be a good experience!"
Danellius said with confidence and certainty as he declared.
"I am glad you agree. I will send "Naet" with him, she should be able to spook off those who are weaker upon him arriving there, reducing those who would oppose him gaining entrance into the surfaced ruin."
Said Luana. As for who Naet was, she was a snow-white reindeer with golden armor and also Luana's previous battle companion and mount, a prime example of a peak rank 8 beast!
"Why not just leave it to Whishmae?!" Danelius asked as Whishmae herself would do the job better just based on appearances.
"When he leaves here for good he'll have a fresh slate, that's why I am sending him with Naet as his mount and temporary ward, for those who are seeking trouble! As for Whishmae, she can go with him this time if she pleases but her actual form must stay hidden!"
She paused for a while before resuming
"Whishmae will act as a trump card and a fail-safe, safeguarding his life if need be!"
Danellius and Aria seemed to have gotten the gist of it as they stared, dazed in contemplation.
"When will he leave?" Aria asked.
"Tomorrow at dawn!"
***3rd person POV end***
After I finished washing up, I went to the workshop as I received a message from mother Aria, summoning me to give me something.
"Mother, you called!"
"Ah yes... sit down dear. I made some clothes for you and enchanted them, feel free to add to them if need be!"
She handed them over to me, as I stored them inside a separate space after looking at some of them for a little while. Though even to this day, I had yet to figure out that some people would pay hundreds of millions of Kor, and will not get the quality of enchantments almost all my clothes had.
I looked back up only to see Aria staring at me in somewhat of a daze.
"Thank you mother... are you alright?!" I asked seeing her stare at me silently.
"Ah, pardon me, my dear... I was just thinking how amazingly quickly you grew up. You're sure going to steal several women's hearts huh?!"
She said all this emotionally, but the end was a little bit weirdly sinister... or so I felt it was.
Our mother and son time quickly came to an end, as father Danelius and the others came into the room somewhat hastily.
"Glad that everyone's here." Said Danelius calmly.
"Is there a problem father?" This situation was a first-timer to my eyes, so I had to ask what exactly was going on.
"No there is no problem. In fact, this is more so something you would enjoy... We're are letting you outside the barrier for the first time!"
Danelius had said with an ever so sly grin on his face.
I instantly got excited and flared up my aether as my soul, mind, and body screamed in joy.
Understand I had never once been outside the barrier, nor had I ever wondered close to the edge of the barrier, so being told I was going to be let outside the barrier made me get overly excited.
"Clovis please control yourself... but make no mistake, we are just as excited for you, as you for yourself."
"I apologize father."
"You are forgiven."
"If I may ask, why the change in rules?!"
Of course, after the joy, then the why's, how's, as well as the where's had to be asked, keeping in mind that this entire occurrence was the first in 15 years.
But my question was briefly answered by Father Rol.
"You've been behind this barrier for long enough, we believe it's about time you experience what it means to live your own life..."
He paused for a brief moment, before continuing.
"And fortunately, or coincidentally, a low-rank ruin has appeared at a place slightly distant from here but also relatively close."