*Pitter*

*Patter*

The sound of rain landing on the carriage roof drowned out the sound of the many people walking about the covered way. I can hear the sound of rain and a soft slow drumming beat that I can't help but be drawn into. The rhythmic beat, enchanting and bewitching, must be magic but why is there magic all the way out here after all this is a 'dead' zone after all.

"HALT!" I cry out to the coachman.

The coach jerks then stops. I get up from my seat and as I'm about to leave the carriage a servant opens the door, blocking my way, he asks "Why have we halted young sir?"

One of my brothers servants I presume.

"I feel like taking a walk before having to deal with my brothers, their endless pestering and prancing, annoys me to no end. Now get out of my way before I turn you into a toad" I replied to him with more than a bit of pent up anger towards the end.

My insult directed at my brothers brings a flash of anger to his face but before it could properly manifest, the fear of being turned into a toad chills his blood and then with a pale face he steps aside. I can't actually turn him into a toad with my pitiful magic power but he doesn't need to know that.

I pull up the hood of my robe, carefully pinpoint the rough direction of where to go, I take three steps forward under the covered way turn to my left and continue walking straight. I hear the drumming beat ever so slightly getting louder. I turn right at the towns eastern gate and continue to maneuver through the various alleyways for the next 2 hours until I arrive in front of a stall in the slums market.

The proprietor of the stall stands up and said to me "How my I be of assistance to you today?"

I look into his eyes and cast a weak rank 0 spell 'fear'. He starts trembling then he averts his eyes from my own. I look at the various items particularly the books as I feel the magic emanating from amongst the books. I sift through the various books all pilled up in a corner.

My hand gently brushes against a book, with a midnight black cover, receiving a small jolt of energy passing through my hand up my right arm and back through to the book through the left hand. The eyes of skull on the front of the book light up briefly, unbeknownst to the merchant and other peasantry, this book is a grimoire and an old one at that. Not to give away my interest in the book I continue to sift through the pile of books then turn my attention to the various jewelry pieces picking, umming and ahhing over the jewelry until the servant, out of breath, arrives.

"Young sir...we have...been...looking...for you" he spoke with breathes in between.

"I was looking for a gift for my sisters and mother" I replied, paused then continued by saying "give this man 10 gold for the 3 necklaces, 2 rings and the entire pile of books."

"Thank you for the offer young sir but the total is 25 gold for the jewelry and 15 gold for the books" said the greedy merchant while rubbing his hands together.

I turn to him and gaze into his eyes and he averts them having learnt his lesson about looking into my eyes. I cast 'fear' again to hammer it into him whilst also directing another 'fear' spell at the servant. I am grateful to that asshole mentor of mine for at least teaching me how to cast 'fear' with a mere thought.

"You will take 10 gold and I won't inform Baron Hoffman that you are selling stolen items."

The fear on his face dramatically increased after I said what I had to say. The fear spell is doing it's work I see.

"My things?"

"Y-yes s-sir" he stuttered a reply.

He quickly packed my new things into a box an handed it to my servant after he paid the gold. I left the slums in a hurried step, not wanting to spend another second in this filthy shithole, I had gotten sick the last time I was here and that was not fun in the slightest.

After a dozen or two alleyways I arrived at the main road and there my carriage awaits.

.....

*KNOCK*

*KNOCK*

Two loud but short knocks had awoken me from reading the grimoire I had acquired. This tome is no normal grimoire, it must be at least 400-500 years old, it contains dark rituals and research notes that I will have to translate later after this 'welcoming' home dinner party. I close the grimoire and stuff it in my satchel before leaving the carriage and entering the main hall.

""Welcome home young sir.""

A dozen maids line each side of the red carpet leading to the dinning hall. They bow and spoke at the same time as if one person. I walk forward not even greeting the maids as they 'welcomed' me home. Two guards bow then open the double doors allowing access to the hall.

Seated at the head of the table is my 45 year old father Baron Markus Hoffman, first of his name, on his left sat my mother Elizabeth, to her left sat his mistress Dianne, on her left sat my older twin sisters Sasha and Tasha. To his right sat my older brother Edil he is my fathers eldest son and first bastard son, on Edil's right sat my second brother Max, also a bastard, both Edil and Max are Dianne's sons.

""""Alex!"""" shouted out my mother, Aunt Dianne, Sasha and Tasha at the same time.

God I love my family.

""Alex"" spoke my older 'brothers'.

God I hate some of my family.

"Alex" said my father.

We shall see about that one.

After the lengthy 'Alex' greeting I walked behind my two sisters and kissing each one on the cheek.

"For my beautiful darling sisters I present a necklace each with a sapphire at the center with a pure silver chain. I was at a loss of what to get the two of you as nothing can compare the beauty of you sisters so I got these necklaces that remind me of your blue eyes."

"Thank you Alex" said Sasha.

"Keep those complements coming" said Tasha.

"Moving on I got this ring with a ruby in it as it reminded me of your ruby red hair Aunt Dianne and it to add a cherry on top it increases magic regeneration for Disaster class mages by 2 and adds 0.5 for each rank lower than Disaster class" I said with a large toothy grin.

"Why thank you Alex, you shouldn't have" she said though she clearly likes the gift by her dazzling smile.

"Last but not least for my favorite lady of the house I present a necklace just like my sisters for you and a ring with a amethyst gem. It helps reduce both physical and mental fatigue."

Nothing need be said between a mother and her son so she stood up and gave me a great big bear hug. I may get bruises from this hug but for her anything is worth it. I continuing along after 2 minutes of hugging.

"For you father I have a bracelet of aura replenishment. It replenishes a Grand Swordsman's energy by 3 times. Perfect for a Grand Swordsman like your self father."

"I will treasure it my son" he said looking as if he to wanted to give me hug but knows from past experience's how lethal a gesture of love can be with my frail and sickly physique.

"You need not treasure it but use it to keep yourself safe in the coming months and years."

I turn to my two disgruntled half brothers and said "For the two of you I have a manual for basic swordsmanship and a book on the kingdoms laws. I even bookmarked how to wield a sword and what one can and can't do in public spaces."

Edil is fuming red with rage at the reminder of his failure to impress Count Martin's daughter, Elia Martin, at her 18th birthday tournament. as for Max he was red because he was caught having sexual relations with his boss, in the ministry of finance , in a public theater. I have no issue with his choice of sexual partners it's just he ruined the family reputation by doing so in a public space, now that is unforgivable seeing as he has done nothing to repair or replace the families reputation.

Taking a seat opposite to my father at the other end of the oak wood table I snap my fingers bring everyone out of the thoughts as well as summon the maids to begin the dinner.

#######

To any potential readers I would like to say hello to you all.

If you have any suggestions for my novel please do post them here as a paragraph comment.

Ek hoop jy het 'n wonderlike dag. (I hope you have a wonderful day.)