The courtyard was alive with the sound of clashing swords as Cedric trained rigorously, sweat flying off his body with each powerful swing. Despite his impressive display of skills, he couldn't shake the lingering feeling that something had been missing lately. As he paused for a moment to catch his breath, a realization struck him like a bolt of lightning, "I haven't seen Lyla in three days..."
Worry gnawed at Cedric's mind, and he immediately set off to find his attendant. His search led him to Lyla's room, where he found Sarah, his mother's attendant, caring for a sick Lyla.
"Sarah, what happened? Why is she so sick?" Cedric asked with concern evident in his voice.
Sarah let out a heavy sigh while shaking her head. "She seems to be burnt mana reserve is almost depleted."
Cedric tilts his head confused. "Depleted?"
Oliver walks by and overhears the conversation. Sarah nods "Yes it may be hard for you to understand my lord, since you have so much mana. However when a normal person's mana is depleted it's as if their life force is drained."
Cedric's eyes widen. "And that can make you sick?"
Sarah looks at Lyla worriedly. "Yes, my lord. Every living thing has magic from the mighty dragons to the grass beneath our feet. There is no living thing without magic."
Sweat falls from Oliver's cheek as he thought to himself. "If that's the case then Cedric....."
Cedric worriedly looks down at his feet. "How did she deplete her mana though."
Sarah shakes her head. "I have no clue. She is a combat-trained attendant; she should have perfect control of her mana. Using up her mana like that makes little sense."
Megna speaks to Cedric from within him. "Ummmm Merlin, that's probably your fault."
Cedric, with shock on his face, thought to himself. "That was my fault....."
Remembering his petty revenge, he realized that he had pushed her too hard. Sarah placed a wet rag on Lyla's forehead. "If only we had Night Shallow..."
"Night Shallow?" Cedric asked with genuine care.
Sarah sat up from the foot of Lyla's bed and walked over to a bookcase at the edge of the room. After scanning the selection of books, she grabbed a large green book, opening it up and scanning through the pages. "Here, Night Shallow, a powerful herb that replenishes mana."
Cedric spoke up, feeling intense guilt. "Where can we find some?"
Sarah let's out a concerned sigh. "They are usually found in night salamanders' nests. We usually have them in our local herbist stores. However, due to skirmishes with the Union of Nations and the Fest Empire, the supply has been directed to the war efforts."
Cedric looks down, trying to find a solution. When suddenly Lily appeared. "I think the answer is simple then."
Cedric, surprised, asked. "What do you mean?"
Lily shrugged her shoulders while shaking her head disappointed. "For the hailed strongest, you are way more dense than what I imagined."
Cedric simply spoke, confused. "Strongest?"
Ignoring Cedric, Lily continued. "The answer is simple; we go find a Night Salamander nest and grab some Night Shallow."
Sarah gasped in surprise. "You can't be serious!"
Lily nodded confidently. "Dead serious..."
Cedric looked back and forth between the shocked Sarah and the confident Lily. "What was that about the strongest?"
Ignoring Cedric, Sarah explained. "If you mean to grab the Night Shallow herb, you know what that entails, don't you, young lady?"
Lily nods, a fire in her eye. "It means we are going to have to hunt the Night Salamander."
"The Night Salamander is an A-rank beast. It would take a team of A-rank Wanderers to hunt it. Even then, there would be massive casualties!" Sarah protested.
Lily put her hands on her hips confidently. "You forget who you serve. You saw him at the debut, and besides, he will have me by his side. Two members of the Golden families could surely handle an A-rank beast. Or is it that you have no confidence in the bloodline of this nation's prized families? The families in which you serve?"
Sarah shook her head, disheveled. "It's because I serve faithfully that I protest, my lady. Just the two of you is still worrisome."
"Then how about three of us?" Oliver said, walking out of the corner of the hall. "I will also go with them."
Cedric, dropping what he couldn't understand, looked at Lyla. Her heavy breathing and the sweat dripping from her forehead caused him great pain. He walked over to her side, holding her hand, thinking to himself, "Lyla has been with me for as long as I can remember, even longer than Megna. According to the traditions of the families, there is a clear separation between the parents and children. Lyla has been like a big sister to me. Always loyal and protective over me. If I wasn't so petty, I would've just forgave her. What's wrong with me?"
Lyla struggles to open her eyes, catching a glimpse of Cedric's dismayed face. "M-my lord, don't you w-worry yourself with me. I'll be back at your side soon...."
Cedric's eyes widen with determination. "Yes, you will, Lyla." He kissed her pale hand, holding back tears. He then sat up and began to walk out of the room. "Sarah."
Sarah looked at her young master. "My lord?"
Cedric turned his head back. "Please prepare some supplies for the journey."
Sarah marveled at Cedric's back, and for a small instant, he looked like a familiar figure from her youth who had Cedric's features with long black hair. Snapping out of it, she responded. "Y-yes, my lord!" Bowing respectfully.
Cedric continued to walk out of the room. "Let's go." He proclaimed to Lily and Oliver.
Lily nodded confidently. "Looks like we get to make a name for ourselves..."
Oliver looked at Cedric with a soft smile as he followed him, as he thought to himself, "Dang Cedric, you get more interesting and exciting by the minute. You may be magicless, but if this keeps up, I might even swear loyalty to you someday...."
Sarah looked up from her bow, watching the three young mages walk off with determination. She couldn't help but think of Cedric's grandfather, Lord Cidmire Montclair, The last Archmage. "Lord Cidmire, if you could see your grandchild. He is becoming more like you every day."
Cedric tightened his fist with determination. "It's time to go hunting!"