"I asked you a question," the voice said while foot steps could be heard approaching him from behind. Winsor froze and his mind began racing on what to do or say. The voice said it was the Earl's son so it was unlikely to be a lie since doing so would be suicide. Like who would lie about being the lords son in his very own manor.
He also remembered that it was this very same person that caused the massive accident that killed his vessel's family and many others. That made him feel a bit of anger towards the voice and made him cautious at the same time.
"I'm just a guest here," Winsor replied trying to diffuse the situation while calming himself down. He didn't want to do something stupid and get himself killed again. Dying once was enough so he wasn't looking forward to doing so twice in one day.
"I'm sorr-" Winsor said as he was turning around only to be stunned by what he saw. "What?" the sight he saw shocked him. It was a boy around his height and was wearing a helmet which muffled his voice and made it sound more menacing that it actually was.
"Guest? Oh your one of the people whose houses where destroyed by older brother," the Earl's said. Now that Winsor thought about it, it made sense that the Earl had more than one child. The boy in front of him was about his height and had short auburn hair and blue eyes. He was wearing clothes that looked comfortable to run in and he even had some sweat showing that he was quite busy before this.
"Nice to meet you, what's your name? Mine is Lukart." he said while extending an arm towards Winsor. Winsor was surprised by how free Lukart was and it put him in a more relaxed mood.
"Winsor, my name is Keith Winsor. Nice to meet you ... uh Master Lukart," Winsor said as he brought his hand towards Lukart's and shook it. He wasn't sure on how to address him so he just used something servants in video games often called their bosses.
"I think you're going to stay here for a while. Wait aren't you supposed to meet father in a few minutes?" Lukart asked as he took back his hand and removed his helmet. His face came into full view as his sweaty but pristine face turned into a questioning frown.
'He looks just like his dad, ... maybe apart from the eyes,' Winsor thought as he looked at his face which was no longer covered by a helmet. It took a short moment for him to register Lukart's question and realise that he had forgotten to get back to his room in time.
"Ah, I might have forgot, hehe," Winsor answered as he nervously scratched the back of his head, "Could you help me to where I'm supposed to be?" He asked while inwardly panicking.
"Don't worry, I was supposed to meet you there according to the head butler but here we are." Lukart said with a a smile. "Lets go," he added while signaling to Winsor as he turned and started walking.
Along the way, the two started a conversation about the city and the surrounding areas. Lukart was surprised by Winsor's apparent ignorance when it came to basic knowledge but was more than glad to fill him in. Inwardly he felt smart for knowing so much about the area and was glad there was someone he could actually talk to.
Earl Grant only had two sons and Lukart's older brother wasn't one to spend time with his younger brother. Other nobles at times brought their children but they were often stuck up and super proud. He couldn't even talk with the servants children either since they were overly polite and scared of his status.
Now that he had made a new friend, he was happy that his father was going to keep him around since he wouldn't be so lonely. He was ten years old still had two years before he had to go to school.
It didn't take the two long before they reached a stair case that went upwards into the manor. Winsor noticed another one that went downwards into the basement along the way but it was different from the one he found earlier. It didn't have anyone guarding it or anything of that kind. It looked more like a storage area of some sorts.
As they went up the stairs they found the head butler waiting for them at the very top. It was Ruford, the same butler who had led Winsor to the carriage earlier in the day.
"Master Lukart, thank goodness your early. You brought Winsor with you too." Ruford said as soon as he saw the boys. He took them through the hallway to a large room that looked as though it had been recently emptied.
As they walked further into the room, Winsor noticed a strange looking pattern had been drawn into the floor where there was the most space and was starting to wonder what it was for.
He was sure that this place didn't belong to some demon cult since it would have had more security so he happy knowing he probably was safe from being a sacrifice. The strange circular pattern had weird looking letters, some of which he was actually able to recognise. Well he didn't recognise them, it was his vessel that did. A memory of the vessel's mother teaching it the meaning of that pattern surfaced and let Winsor know what it was.
"A rune?" Winsor said a little too loud while looking at floor.
"Yes, they are for your awakening, you too young master." Ruford said as he brought out a shiny stone from one of the tables at the side of the room. Looking closer one could see that it was a nice crystalline blue green color and was about the size on Ruford's palm. He pulled out from his pocket another, but less impressive and smaller orange stone.
"Really!? Finally! I'm gonna be able to sense mana! Do you know how awesome it is?" Lukart excitedly said while turning to Winsor. It seemed that Lukart already considered him a good friend and Winsor somehow felt okay with that.
"Yes, does that also mean we'll be able to use magic too?"Lukart reminded him of a friend he used to have so he was also quite happy. The added fact that he would actually be able to use magic soon made it even more exciting.
"Yes but we need to do something first," booming voice came from behind the trio. Earl Grant walked in followed by two servants that were carrying a vase each. The vases were nothing really special as they both looked similar, though one of them was bigger than the other.
"Your both going to absorb what's in these vases, but you'll only be allowed to do so if Winsor here can do it, Lukart." Earl Grant said before telling the two servants to leave.
"Ah so this is what you wanted him for," Ruford said in a quiet yet disgusted tone that no one could hear. He looked at Winsor who didn't have any prior knowledge of this with pity. 'After all he's gone through, sigh' he said internally.
"Lets begin," Earl Grant said with a determined smile on his face. "come forward Winsor."