The morning was silent, no wind blew nor did any bird sing. Lanthim lay on his bed, looking at the seals on his wrists feeling so small and weak. As he continued to look, there could be heard footsteps approaching his door. Opening the door to her master's room, Milty entered with a bow.
"Young master it is time to prepare." [Milty]
Milty did not stop after stating this, advancing all the way to the right side of his bed. Looking down on him in his depressed condition, she did feel pity for what had happened months before. However, he had to be up and ready to leave before dawn had come.
"Young master your mother will be very cross if you are not ready to leave in time." [Milty]
These words were able to move him. Slowly but he got himself out of bed, while Milty helped him change into his attire for the day. Following Milty from the east wing of the estate, Lanthim tried to understand, what it was that his mother was trying to accomplish. Yes, he understood that going to the mountain's summit. There would be one who could give him some way, to rid himself of these confounded seals.
As they made their way into the center of the estate, they found themselves standing in a large domed room with four large gates. Looking with astonishment, lanthim admired the construction investigating as close as he could. Around each gate was drawn on the floor a series of magic circles that when mana was applied created specific kinds of magic. As he continued to investigate further Litralia entered the room. Dressed as if to meet royalty, her entrance was felt by both who were present here.
"To be expected Milty you had him here on time, now just to activate the gate and we can be on our way." [Litralia]
Litralia spoke praise, however, did not smile. Could this person they were going to see be overbearing to cause such a reaction. Lanthim felt that this was going to be an experience worth having. Looking to his mother with her arms crossed he noticed something on her wrist.
"Mother, what is that bracelet you are wearing?" [Lanthim]
Lanthim asked with a great deal of interest. Litralia just stood in front of one of the four gates, looking through it as if there was something there that was not. Holding out her right arm she spoke clearly.
"This is called a regalia Lanthim, one of many I have in my possession. I will tell you more when we have time." [Litralia]
Still looking towards the gate arm outstretched.
"Clear the heaven's and bring me the blessings therein. Larfina." [Litralia]
With these words spoken the regalia activated, from the bracelet on her wrist. Going up the entire length of the arm, strange tattoo-like symbols quickly began to take shape. From where Lanthim was standing, he could sense even with his now meager supply of mana. That the amount of natural mana, was not only increasing around his mother but was, in fact, being drawn to the tattoo on her arm.
There was a small pedestal that rose just in front on Litralia. Placing her hand upon it, applied all the mana from her regalia. Into the magic circles that would activate the gate. The response was immediate, the gate was opened ftrom the estate to Mynrea's home atop the mountain.
"Mother are we going through that?" [Lanthim]
Lanthim was truly awed by what he saw, never before had he seen magic performed in such a way.
"Yes this is our destination, now come quickly the mistress of this great house is not one to wait long." [Litralia]
Grasping Lanthim's hand Litralia took the first steps through the gate, as they both exited to the other side, slowly it closed behind them. Looking around it seemed like he had stepped into a building built entirely of stone.
"Are we really on the top of Mount Gretalos?" [Lanthim]
Lanthim asked still shocked at the scale of the building, or was it just a room he had no way of knowing.
"Yes, young master this is to be exact inside the roof of the mountain."
A voice he did not know echoed throughout out the expanse. Looking behind him he found the owner. A woman dressed like the servants of their estate stood looking towards them both.
"My lady Litralia I am Delphrin the head maid of this house. I have been instructed to have your son prepared for testing." [Delphrin]
Her introduction was curt and to the point.
"That will be fine this is the reason why we are here." [Litralia]
Litralia response was a strained one, she did not wish to leave him alone. However, it was not like he, was in any danger here. Lanthim, on the other hand, felt strangely calm about his situation. Everything around him was new, and he wished to see as much as he could.
"If the young master will follow me this way."
Gesturing towards the door another servant had appeared. She was younger the other, and seemed like she had only gotten hired on in this place a short while ago. Leaving his mother's side, lanthim followed this maid to where the testing would take place.
"There is no need for concern my lady. Dretal is excellent at dealing with children, that is why she was chosen."
Delphrin seemed confident in the choice however, Lanthim was not an ordinary child.
"I will see you to my lady, Mynrea's apartments now please this way." [Delphrin]
It had been almost two hundred years since Litralia had seen Mynrea. It was very unlikely that she would have changed, from the way she was back then. That being said, she had to get answers, for herself about the seals that Lanthim was forced to bare.
Making their way thru the long halls, she stood before a door. On the other side a dragon was waiting, with all her knowledge the truth would come out. As the door opened Litralia could see why she did not like coming here. Mynrea had taken her true dragon form, towering over everything around her she looked about.
"Ah, Litralia I thought you would not come for at least four more hours. You humans do have an issue with keeping time after all." [Mynrea]
As far as Litralia could tell the dragons words were meant to provoke her.
"How long will the test take Mynrea? I wish to know what purpose these seals serve." [Litralia]
Slightly agitated she asked after her purpose, with no interest in anything else.
"We shall see, since he entered this place. I could sense the purity of the mana, he does have access to that is not sealed." [Mynrea]
Mynrea lowered her head from her towering position.
"The purity of that slight amount of mana, is such that I have already prepared measures for after the testing is complete."
The seriousness in her voice made the room fall silent.