* Huff huff
A Common sight for nearly 9 years. I was an early morning, the sun yet to raise, a silver haired boy was jogging around the borders of the estate.
He gradually lowed his speed, coming to a stop. Taking a deep breath, he wiped the sweet of his forehead, while gazing at the sun rising into the horizon.
'It's still stunning no matter how many times I look at it'.
Wake up, Exercise, breakfast, study, spar, lunch, more study, dinner, sleep. That has been Luke schedule for the ever since he was 8, an uncommon routine if you compare to other nobles of similar age even more so if they were aspiring mages.
At the end of his morning workout, he would take some time to gaze the sun rising. There was no underlying motive for this, just enjoying this simple but beautiful act.
And today was the last day he would perform his routine, since today his father was going to assign his task and tomorrow, he would depart to execute it. If it wasn't for the princess birthday and the following incident, he would have already left for his journey.
Once the sun had fully risen, he went inside the mansion, where his maid, Elise was already waiting for him with a fresh towel and some refreshments.
After taking a quick bath and changing to a more appropriate attire, he went to have breakfast with his mother.
He arrived at the garden where his mother was waiting for him.
- Good morning mother!
-Good morning, Luke, I trust your training went well as always!
She greeted him with soft smile. They didn't have much interaction during their stay at the capital. Aside from staying in separate rooms, she was busy with meeting alongside her husband and other nobles, due to the terrorist attack.
Luke also occupied himself with training once he got back, but he gradually made effort to spent time with her, as the day of departure came closer.
Luke sat down with smile on his face. A variety of light snacks were paid out in the circular table. IT looked more like an afternoon lunch then a breakfast.
'She really went all out. Well, I guess it's normal considering we won't see each other for a while.'
They spent the rest of the morning enjoy all the dishes, while talking about various things.
It was a longer breakfast than usual.
Finally, Amanda put down her cup, she decided to talk about the matter she was avoiding.
- Its tomorrow, right?
A somber expression formed on her face, she already knew what kind of task his father would assign him, she tried to argue with him to give him something else put it fell on deaf years.
Amanda knew what her son was capable of, especially after he defeated a powerful knight along with the 4th princess.
Still the worry of a mother could not be eased.
- Son, you don't need to accept it if you don't want to. I can make a deal with your fathe…
-Mom
He took a glance at her face, desperately holding back tears. She did not want her son to go through an ordeal that originate from something he couldn't control.
Once she started talking, Luke knew she would try to convince him to reject the task, even if it meant relinquishing all the privileges of the Argenti name, as in her mind, such environment wasn't something she would want for her children.
She couldn't stop her first two children as they were forced to walk that path due to their potential.
Luke took a deep breath, he stared at his mother sad face with a reassuring smile.
- Trust you son, after all we trained of this moment. So don't worry, I promise I will safely return.
- All right…
She wiped some drops of tear that escaped. Hearing her son's confident answer, her worries went down a little.
- Since you have made your decision…
*snap
Snapping her fingers, a maid who was standing nearby, came over and put a tiny box on the table.
Amanda pushed the box in Luke's direction.
- This should help you in your journey. Open it.
he lifted the lid of the box; a small silver ring was carefully placed between two white cushions. Luke took the ring out and carefully examined.
At glance I looked like an ordinary with three small blue gems, but aside from a small magic circle carved underneath, he sensed a small amount of mana oozing from the gems. He realized it was a magic item.
- It seems like you've noticed.
- I was going to give you one for mana recovery, but since you already have that artifact, I opted for a defensive item.
She made a small gesture with her hand, mana was released from her palms, forming the silhouette of a person in front of what looked like a wall.
- the magic circle beneath it is the formula for the 5th rank magic, glacier wall. Just inject mana into the ring and it will activate it, using the mana from the stones to cast the spell. You can only use it three times so be careful.
- I will, thank you mother!
He happily responded, putting the ring in his right index finger.
**
After finishing the breakfast, the rest of the day went as usual until lunch time.
- Luke come to my office after you finish.
James left the table after speaking.
'It's finally time'.
Amanda looked slightly worried upon hearing it, but Luke smile at her to give some reassurance.
Once he finished his food, he went straight to the office.
He lightly knocked on the door.
- Enter.
He opened the door at his father's permission.
'It hasn't changed a bit.'
Luke waked towards the desk. His father was focused on some documents, so he waited until he acknowledged his presence.
After 10 minutes, he put the quill down, he looked up at Luke with the same expressionless face.
-um…
He lifted his eyebrow as if he saw something unexpected.
- So, you have reached the 2nd rank. Good.
His face returned to normal as he opened the drawer and pulled out two document folders.
- here are your tasks. You have 2 years.