After showing my grandfather my progress, I returned to the service wing for a quick meal before returning to my nursery to relax and meditate.
Though, with my recent birthday, it wasn't entirely viewed as a nursery anymore, rather than my residential wing. The bathroom and bed remained for my own needs while I was promised the rest of the wide room would be filled with whatever I desired. Though, there wasn't much on the list of things I wanted at the moment. So it was only filled with a table and a few chairs at the center.
My playroom was much the same as before. Excepting the fact that half the floor had been replaced with wood panels while I was training one day and my desk had grown to fit my size.
The only other addition was a walk-in closet filled with two more sets of my familial clothes and empty chest and cabinets meant to hold bracelets and necklaces and other pieces of jewelry I'd never wear.
As I did every night, I entered my room and closed the door behind me. And before long I heard Jonet's footsteps approach and stop next to the door, where she'd wait for a few hours before walking off to retire for the night. Only to wake up and report straight to my door.
She'd never directly spoken to me. Though I had never spoken to her either. So I was unsure what her job as a caretaker truly was. I imagined it was to follow behind me and pick up any messes I happened to make, though I was never a messy person who didn't clean up behind myself.
So in short, she had nothing to do.
Shrugging the thoughts aside for a later time, I climbed on top of the bed and assumed the lotus position to begin meditating. I first cleared my mind, then regulated my breathing into a slow, steady cycle. And after reaching a certain state of calmness, I then turned my attention to the mana around me. Not to interact with it. Only feel it out to observe as it moved around the ambient environment towards me and the dozens of enchanted items strewn about the room to be absorbed and somehow replaced with fresh energy in a never-ending cycle.
Which brought me to hypothesize that either the saturation of ambient mana was simply absurdly high and seemed to be instantly replaced. Or the energy was truly infinite, and new mana was being replaced or created the moment a unit of mana was absorbed or transformed.
With Telin being a self-proclaimed god of science, I had doubts he'd design an infinite source of energy. Though I was aware that could simply be my biases speaking. If it were true, it meant that if I live long enough, I'd have to prepare for the possibility of magic ceasing to exist in this universe. As slim as the odds were that it'd actually happen; I'd be a fool not to at least consider it and form a contingency. After all, it's better to have and not need, than to need and not have.
Before I began pondering further, my mother waltzed into my door to find me sitting at my desk. Chin rested on my clasped hands as I stared through the window.
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Though she saw right through it.
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<> Mother gently said.
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<< Elves have senses far greater than humans, my son. With a nose like a canine, ears like a bat, eyes like a raptor. More so than these animals also.>> She added. <
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Mother's grin widened before she continued. Somewhat widening my own smile. << As elves, we're unable to be charmed by other creatures and can use the aid of mana to give higher accuracy to our spells and arrow fire. As denizens to the underground realms, we Drow have a slight connection with metallic ores and ferrous metals, much like dwarves; but to a lesser degree, we can sense ore deposits hidden underground. Unlike dwarves, however, we're significantly lacking in excavation and refinement techniques.
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<> I nodded. Then turned towards the sound of a shuffle near the other side of the door. <
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In truth, my assumed bodyguard only motivated me to prove myself to my grandfather so that I can have some actual privacy. Though, my mother's words sparked within me a new obsession to fawn over. And so I couldn't help but ask.
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<> Mother explained. <
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She closed the door with a smile while I saw her off. Finally leaving me to my own devices.
I decided that I'd actually try and get some sleep. As I've been training for days and began to feel mentally exhausted.
I awoke a few hours before midnight and immediately rolled out of bed and got dressed before jumping into the shadow realm. And after a short 'swim' I was in the service wing, bothering Gerolt for while he cooked my meal and listened to him talk about his latest venture through the forest while I ate.
"I want to come with you next time you go hunting," I said through bites of steak and eggs.
"Really?" Gerolt's brow raised in tune with his increasing grin. "I think I can arrange that for His Grace."
"Something more than just a single rabbit," I added with a point of my fork. "I want to build a nice foundation for my stock of provisions."
"I'll see what I can do." Gerolt smiled. "You have my word."
I nodded my affirmations, then gathered and washed my dishes before heading for the nearest shadow. "I'll hold you to it."
As always, I could see Jonet's ghostly figure following me through the material plane towards the training court and decided now was as good a time as any to talk to her. And so I approached her as soon as she passed through the threshold.
"My mother tells me you're a healer," I say in response to her bow.
"I'm only trained in recovery magic, Your Grace." She apologetically shook her head.
"And what can you tell me of recovery magic."
"It accelerates the natural healing of the patient." She calmly explained. "In exchange for fatigue, minor wounds can be healed. Life-threatening wounds require the life of another living being to take on the inflicted wounds in place of the patient. Else, the patient's life span will be shortened significantly."
"Jesus," I commented aloud.
She shook her head in confusion but otherwise said nothing. She only looked at me expectantly as if she were waiting for something. And so I asked her what she knew of proper healing magic.
"As far as I'm aware, healing magic refers to the spells developed by someone with an affinity with healing potential. The most common are those with affinities for fire or water."
"I see." I nodded, scratching my chin to register the data in my actual mind before turning back to her. "And what affinity do you have?"
"I'm an Ice Witch, Your Grace." She formally bowed.
'That explains the eyes, I guess.' I commented to myself before saying. "You may have been ordered to be my caretaker, but I need you to be my first vassal. My first friend."
She blushed up a little and began visibly fighting the urge to look around in an attempt to hide her smile.
"As my vassal." I continued after the short pause, bringing her embarrassment under control again. "The most important things are that you're able to protect yourself and that you're well educated. I don't need a protector, and I don't wish to protect. The first step in turning those wishes into reality is for you to grow as strong as possible. So, make sure to train with your ice magic and elemental manipulation instead of just staring at me as I exhaust myself."
I tried to give her a reassuring smile before jumping off in the shadows to meet up with Grandpa.
In reality, after I awakened the rest of my cores, I had no intention of ever relying on another for protection. I'd long since been theorizing how to best use the abilities Telin gifted me, and had worked out multiple forms of passive defenses that'd make it difficult for me to be harmed, if not touched.
In short, my main goal was to become unfuckwithable.
This meant that if I were to have followers in this life, they needed to be as capable as possible in all facets of life so that they could operate independently while I pursued more important matters.
Whatever those matters may end up being.
Thus the first objective on my list was to spend the next few years working to become as magically proficient as possible before I was a bit older and could begin training up my body without risk of stunting my growth.
I was hardly over five years old, after all.
And I assumed it'd be best to wait a bit longer for my vassals to arrive so I could train them myself.
After descending into the Shadowfell and taking a look around, I saw Grandpa's towering figure waiting for me above the decrepit platform of pale stone.
"I'm sure you've noticed them, Amun." He grunted after making eye contact with me. Wasting no time to get to his lectures. "The growth attached to your mana well and the words appearing in your vision?"
'How could I not.' I snorted internally. 'A big abyssal leech attached to my Well. Even a blind man could see it.' Nodding as stood in place before him. I spoke slowly, hearing my voice echo through the throbbing silence of the Shadowfell. "I have."
"That is your Affinity Core. With that, the mana within your Well will automatically have its attribute changed to that of the void or any of its derivatives. All you have to do is guide it through. Try it now. Bring out your shadow magic by having your mana skim through a thin layer of your Affinity Core."
"Okay." I nodded. Then closed my eyes to focus on what felt like my ethereal second body. The 'heart' at its center; my mana well, had grown in tune with my developing body but was still the same size it'd been before- slightly larger than my heart. And below it was the black growth that was my affinity core.
As directed, I began withdrawing the mana from my well, where it drew it towards the core on its own accord and funneled into the abyssal organ. And once there, something seemed to click in my mind.
It felt almost like growing a new limb. A magical limb that I've had since birth, but had been unaware of its existence until now. Like an amorphous hand that was the affinity core itself. The attributed mana leaking out of it like its digits. Writhing with energy on that bean-shaped palm of abyssal energy.
Studying it closer, I realized the core was in actuality, composed of three distinct layers or individual cores that were neatly divided into three parts; deep darkness that was closest to the well. Death, with an aura like the shadows, infused with a wicked smokey aura in the middle. And the head-numbing emptiness of the void at the top.
After pulling the mana out of the shadow core, I saw a black foggy cloud spread throughout my second body while a vacant cold simultaneously spread from my diaphragm outward.
Opening my eyes, I bore witness to the same, smokey trails of pure darkness pooling off of my body and rolling across the floor into an ever-widening shadow.
It was, for lack of a better word, fascinating.
Like a dense, ethereal fog of darkness that felt like my body itself. Spreading around me or pooling into my hand into what felt like a type of exotic matter in its triple point. Gaseous like the energy seeping from my body and amorphous like an inky, viscous liquid. Yet still solid and malleable enough to grasp and mold into any form like a dough.
"The power of darkness and shadows precedes death." Grandfather explained, forcing me back to the present. "Or, to use an old quote- 'If death magic is from the underworld; shadow magic stems from its gates.' The effect it has on living creatures isn't particularly useful for direct combat, but its the perfect affinity for a rogue." He grinned. "Its most obvious use is stealth and espionage. So long as we're in darkness, we can remain unseen and unheard without even stepping into the Shadowfell. And when compromised in the light, the true power of darkness can be used.
"The power of fear." He declared after a dramatic pause. "To nearly all, an unnatural cold will envelop all who contact our darkness. Followed by uneasiness, intense dread, or panic. Or, they can become lethargic. Even fatigued. Fear and uncertainty are the power of the shadows, Amun. Use it wisely."
"Yes, Sir." I bowed.
He grinned wide at my response as if he'd suddenly won the lottery. Then continued with newfound vigor. "The second item of today's lesson revolves around the visions I mentioned earlier- your Grimoire. While you're most likely familiar with the wallet function, its main use is to catalog the spells you'll develop over time. It's an invaluable tool that'll record the intricate processes of rituals or elaborate spells as you learn them. It will allow you to relearn spells if in the event you ever forget them. It'll make it easier to cast documented spells. And most importantly, it'll give your most proficient spells the chance to evolve over time."
While he was talking, I went ahead and pulled out my grimoire. And judging from his missing reaction, I gathered that it was something that only I could see. As it nearly put me in shock.
Unlike my wallet, which was simply a banner that appeared at the top of my vision with the slightest thought. My grimoire was a blank and abyssal spot on reality like the void within me. Yet, I was mind-bendingly able to see white ridged edges and the ruffled trims and finely stenciled lines of an actual book floating before me. Turning its vacant pages to the cover page where my name and wealth were neatly written in the common language.
"Your grimoire will automatically order itself according to your spells and affinities." My grandfather explained. "To add spells to your grimoire, you must first develop or learn a spell, then grow proficient at casting it before you finally name it."
"So, my time will be spent developing my own spells." I nodded in comprehension.
"Not quite." Grandpa grinned. "Before that, I will teach you each of the basic spells before we move on to giving you a grasp on death and void magic.
"For the first spell." He continued, stepping off the platform. "I want you to gather shadow mana within you before evenly distributing it around us as far as you can. What's called, a Domain Spell."
Hiding my excitement, I quickly begin pulling mana through the shadow core and gathering the soupy ethereal mass between my hands. With the passing of several seconds, the ethereal energy began to drip and pool at my feet, making me feel I had a little more than enough. So I imagined spreading out the darkness to the largest radius possible before releasing the energy between my hands.
***
Protect him. Monitor his progress. Cater to his needs, and report only to Ebbet and myself.
Those were the four orders, Her Majesty, Eved, gave to me before His Grace, Amun began taking instruction from High King Cole.
Despite the honor such a task would bring to my family, I was hesitant, at first.
Initially due to the potential arrogance of a royal child. But then from overhearing His Majesty talk of the void and remembering my first experiences with magic made me more than apprehensive to get close to him.
But His Grace, Amun was different.
For starters, he asked of nothing from me; not even passively. I couldn't recall a single time that I've had to make his bed, clean up after his meals or pursue some odd request. My job consisted of only following him and watching as he ate, trained, and returned to his room to sleep. Day after day after day with not much else in between.
At first, it was a blessing: A caretaker with a responsible host. But that quickly grew to boredom. And then frustration as His Grace took to frequenting the shadows more often as if he enjoyed having me search for him.
Then he began to learn elemental manipulation.
Though I'd never say it aloud, Amun had a lousy teacher. Thus his progress was as slow as mine had been, despite him being a royal.
But then something seemed to click. And to this day, I don't know if I was awestruck or terrified when I laid my eyes on that infernal cyclone. Twisting and churning up towards the ceiling while its wielder smiled in wicked satisfaction.
After witnessing such a thing, I had no idea what to expect on the night Amun began to learn shadow magic. So I stood idly as far back as I could; next to the entrance of the training court, where I had to strain my eyes to focus on his small figure far ahead. Holding a cloud of pure darkness in his hands before inadvertently spilling some on the ground, causing the shadow cast by his body to unnaturally swell around him as the drips continued.
Watching His Grace work on his own affinity made me think about his words regarding mine. I'd have been lying if I claimed I had no impressions other than overconfidence and naivety after hearing his earlier words. But I couldn't help but feel in my heart; then and now, that his words were no mere boast.
And so I found myself refocused. Fully attuned to the progress of His Grace, Amun of Odis.
After receiving a bit of instruction from His Majesty, His Grace refocused on his hands. And soon after, the dense pocket of darkness surrounding his hands began to swell.
Then exploded outwards.
I didn't know what happened in those moments. I was only aware of the fact that the light; all light, had disappeared. There was no sensation that came into my mind. Only an overbearing darkness and a cold that made my ice magic feel like a blazing fire. It was as if everything had simply disappeared from existence in an instant. Or like I'd lost all of my senses in the blink of an eye. I couldn't taste or hear nor smell anything, I could only feel the blood within my face rushing and racing at an ever-increasing pace until it became a persistent throbbing in my head that grew louder and louder until my mind could no longer take it.
And I screamed.
…
With the passing of an indiscernible length of time, the grass under my knees, the air, the courtyard; light itself, had returned.
Coming to my senses, I realized I was down on my knees as if I'd fainted and quickly rose to my feet and began looking around the courtyard for His Grace.
"My apologies." His voice came from behind me. And I turned to see him bowing slightly at the waist with hints of amusement written over his semi-apologetic mask. "That was an accident."