Azra let out a slight cough as he shifted uncomfortably between Callum and Quentin. They were now sitting at a table overflowing with sugary sweets, fruit juices and teas. Layla let opened her jaw in a lazy yawn before resting her head on Azra's lap.
He pet her in hopes of it calming his nerves, but there was little to no effect in the tension filled room, though it was mostly one-sided.
Cal continued to glare at Quentin as if he was the reason for every bad ending in his favorite books. Quentin seemed completely unbothered by it, taking leisurely sips of his tea enhanced by milk and sugar to appease his taste.
Azra gave Anna who was standing in the corner of the room big eyes screaming for help but she simply smiled at him and nodded towards the table.
Taking a big breath to gather his confidence Azra decided to address the problem between them. (Callum's problem.)
"So how did you two meet?"
Callum messily crunched on a cookie as he answered the question.
"Mom is always inviting her friends over for afternoon tea, a lot of them bring their kids too and one day Lady Angelica brought that..."
He pointed the bitten cookie at Quentin, dropping crumbs everywhere as he aimed it like a weapon at his target.
The boy in question gently placed his cup back onto its matching coaster and dabbed at the corner of his lips with a folded napkin. Thoroughly taking his time before addressing the conversation.
Callum's eye twitched.
"If I remember correctly I don't think there is anything that I did to you. Rather, you must still be upset because you embarrassed yourself."
Callum's face flushed red as he began to speak so fast Azra had to calm him in fear of him passing out.
He felt like it was his responsibility to make sure the two of them got along.
Dad said that they would become my people some day, so I have to make sure we all work together. Right?
"I'm sure it's not that bad right?"
"We were playing a game about magic knowledge. Callum was in the lead and was set to win. I just thought he had a big head so I went up against him. He fumbled over one of his answers and got a simple question wrong. Everyone laughed at it but I would have though you had forgotten about it by now."
Azra blinked, this was the longest he'd heard Quentin speak since meeting him. When he first introduced himself Azra thought he might be shy but perhaps he just didn't like talking?
"My dad told me to never forget a loss! I won't rest until I get a rematch. Fight me!"
"We can't fight, my father refuses to let me touch a sword until I am older."
"You aren't really thinking of fighting him are you?"
Azra glanced at the huffing Callum before turning his gaze to the black eyed boy.
"I will never turn down a duel."
"B-but you can't fight! We could all grow to be really important people so isn't it better if we just get along?"
"Azra... do you not think I can win?"
Callum's sad puppy eyes had Azra panicking slightly. He was struggling with a response when Quentin came to his aid smoothly.
"For now I agree with Azra, why not call a truce? At least until we get to Yelrine."
"Hmm, fine. You better not go back on your word."
"And shame my family name? Never."
Azra quickly forgot his thought as what Quentin said repeated in his mind.
"Yelrine? What is that?"
"A school that specializes in the research and education of magic. It's really hard to get into but dad told me I won't have any problems since I'm smart."
Callum puffed out his chest, seeming to forget all about his spat with Quentin.
"I've been practicing my fire. I can hold the flames for almost a minute."
"I'm not very good at using light but it doesn't bother me, I plan on adding any magic I learn into sword arts anyway. What about you Azra, what's your magic?"
Two pairs of eyes trained onto him and Azra ducked to avoid their gaze. Perhaps it was just his imagination but it felt as if Quentin's stare was probing. Instead of looking he turned his purple eyes to the untouched cup in front of him.
"I-I don't know."
"What do you mean-"
"Well either way it matters not. Magic comes eventually, we should also work on other skills. Although I'm not sure exactly what my father does he's busy most of the time. Someday I'll have to do that. I'm sure it's the same for you two as well?"
Callum blinked and scratched at his head in thought.
"Um Quentin, how old are you?"
"I turn eight this winter."
"Ehh!"
The child blinked at Azra's surprised face in confusion.
"You just sounded older is all and you look pretty tall. I thought you might be ten or maybe even eleven."
Callum burst out laughing.
"He's saying you sound like an old man!"
"No, Quentin that's not what I meant!"
"It's fine, I'd rather be an old man than a baby."
"Baby? You take that back!"
"From what I hear you are the youngest in your family, am I incorrect?"
Unable to help himself Azra simply watched the two go back and forth. A small giggle bubbled up from his throat.
Although he was still speaking to Callum, Quentin heard it and barely noticed the miniscule smile forming on his own face.
- - -
Wanderer's Edge was where Alfonsi territory ended. The Amaris forest itself was a free zone that separated Alfonsi from its polar opposite, Amaryllis named after the forest.
Although the two were geologically located next to each other they could not have been more different.
While Alfonsi was known for it's warmer skies and rich clean mana that allowed residence to develop magic similar to the elements of nature, Amaryllis thrived on the Amaris Forest. The dark mana it produced spread into Amaryllis land, leading the inhabitants to evolve into dark mages.
Most Amaryllis mages and mana users are beast tamers, curse users, poison witches, alchemists and hex masters. They utilize these talents to trade goods and services with Alfonsi, supplying them with potions and even played a large role in creating the hexes in teleportation rooms.
They are a self-sufficient group that live off the forest, regularly traveling there to harvest ingredients and hunt dark beasts.
Despite their differences the two are heavily influenced by each other. The biggest similarity being religion.
Just like Alfonsi, Amaryllis has taken to the faith surrounding the All Father. Though for them, there was just one minor detail that differed.
The reconnaissance team was back on home soil.
It had been a long tiresome journey to Alfonsi and back and all they wanted was rest. But not yet, they carried on toward the sky scraping twin stone towers in the distance despite the ache in their feet.
Excitement was the only thing that kept them going as they moved from black dirt to neat roads lined with residential houses made from neatly cut grayish stone. They whispered quietly amongst themselves as they finally made it to the base of the dark buildings that only seemed dimmer in the overcast sky.
Upon entering the main lobby they quickly removed their dirt caked shoes and unwashed cloaks. Looking unpresentable in such an esteemed place was disrespectful.
After having an extensive talk with one of the guards stationed there they moved to a large flat rock. They stayed as close to the center as possible as the platform rose past floor after floor at an alarming speed.
The platform came to a stop in a wide open space, the floors covered in the softest blood-red velvet carpets caressed their feet even through the socks.
Mana stones glowed a soft blue light and illuminated their path to a platform where a woman sat languidly on a stone throne that would have been uncomfortable if not for the amount of pillows that softened the surface.
Curly black hair tumbled over her shoulder as she turned to address them. Dark eyes seemed to bore into their souls as she smiled. The long strapless black dress with a slit dangerously high on her hip display copious amounts of her mahogany brown skin.
"My children, you have returned. I take it you have learned something quite entertaining to be here instead of resting at home with your loved ones?"
The leader of the reconnaissance team stepped forward before dropping to one knee.
"Queen Irine, we came across information that is truly astonishing. A man of the Asteri palace has said he has seen the prince manipulate raw mana with his own two eyes."
The Queen's smile grew astonishingly wider.
"Hoh? And you believe he is the one spoken of in the ancient scriptures?"
"Yes my Queen. The priests have long spoken of the second coming of the All Father. How he will be reincarnated as flesh and blood, gifting his children the power to create-"
"-Paradise on Llyria. I know the writings well."
One of the more cynical members of the team stepped forward with his head bowed.
"My Queen, might I add that this is simply spoken word. It may just be a baseless lie."
She leaned back and flipped her hair off her shoulder. Irine had been bored today, as she was most days. Perhaps something interesting was finally going to happen.
"I see, but as the saying goes. Where there is smoke, there is fire."
She crossed her leg, showing off its smooth expanse that most women of the Alfonsi nation would have found scandalous and untoward.
"Well, perhaps it's time I pay my dear Matty a visit."