Morning light filtered through the tall windows of the great hall, highlighting the breakfast fit for nobility—roasted pheasant, honey-glazed bread, stewed fruits, and fresh cream.
At one end of the long, polished table, Aelric sat. Across from him, at the far end, Selene reclined, her posture confident and easy. Between them stretched a feast that would have brought tears to a starving man's eyes.
To Aelric's left, Joss, Lysa, Mira, and Kane ate with a desperate enthusiasm that bordered on savagery. They'd lived off tough Howlfang meat for two months; now they gorged on tender cuts of lamb, and ripe peaches that dripped juices down their chins.
Table manners had died in the harsh land. Aelric watched them from the corner of his eye. He did not chide them; but he resolved to definitely include etiquette lessons in their training.
He maintained his own royal composure. He was, after all, their king, and should appear as one. He sliced his meat with practiced grace, chewing slowly to savor the flavors he had missed for so long.
Behind him, the seven Howlfangs tore into their meal—raw, bloody cuts of venison and boar—filling the hall with the sounds of crunching bone and wet snarls. Servants hovered nervously at the edge, clearly unsettled by the monstrous guests, but dared not speak out.
Selene tapped a nail against her goblet, observing the scene with curious amusement.
Eventually, she cleared her throat. "Aelric," she said, voice measured, "your human followers are now Lesser Rank, correct? That means you can begin teaching them mana strengthening techniques. I'll see to your Howlfangs."
Aelric inclined his head. He trusted Selene's judgment—if anyone could keep those beasts in line, it was her. Still, a prickle of concern made him ask, "Before that, can we talk about what's happening here—the siege, the city's situation?"
Selene held his gaze for a heartbeat, then shook her head. "Later," she said, gently but firmly. "This afternoon, we'll discuss everything. For now, focus on your followers. Strengthen them. They'll need every advantage we can give."
With that, Selene rose and beckoned the Howlfangs to follow. The hulking creatures obeyed her without protest, padding out of the hall.
Aelric watched them leave, marveling at how quickly their obedience had transferred from him to his sister's authority. Then he turned to Joss, Lysa, Mira, and Kane, who were licking crumbs from their fingers and looking slightly sheepish now that their hunger was sated.
"Come with me," he said, standing and gesturing for them to follow.
They complied, a bit more relaxed than before. The opulent corridors of the castle were a comfort after weeks of dirt and blood. Mira was the first to break the silence as they walked. "This place… it's huge. Where are we exactly?"
Aelric slowed his pace. He could feel their curiosity and confusion. "You're in Caelvaris, the heart of what was once a sprawling empire. It's the capital—well, what's left of it. We only have this one city now. The walls are strong, built in an age of glory, and they've kept us safe despite the siege outside."
But his mind couldn't shake a creeping unease. The castle stood firm, but something felt... wrong. The soldiers they passed, though polite and dutiful, seemed worn.
The battlements on the wall were steady and unbroken, but the patrols atop them moved with sluggishness. These weren't the sharp, disciplined formations he'd grown up seeing. Instead, they carried the weary weight of soldiers stretched too thin for too long.
Aelric frowned. The siege hasn't broken, but the soldiers seem to be. What happened while I was gone?
The question ate at him, the cracks in his homeland's strength clearer than ever.
Lysa interrupted his thoughts, letting out a low whistle. "Smart to follow you, I guess. Life with a princeling beats the wilds any day."
Aelric couldn't help a small twitch at the corner of his eye. "I'm not a prince," he corrected, voice quiet but firm. "I'm the king."
Joss blinked, surprised. "The king, not Selene?" It was a familiar response, one Aelric had encountered time and again. He said nothing more, just turned on his heel and guided them onward.
That old resentment stirred, if only faintly. He had proven himself again and again, yet still their first thought was that Selene held the throne. Let it go, he told himself. There were more pressing matters.
They arrived at a training hall lined with racks of wooden swords and spears. Dust motes danced in shafts of sunlight, and the floor had scars from countless drills.
Aelric cleared his throat. "You've felt changes, haven't you?" he began. "After swearing loyalty to me, your mana cores formed, granting you the Lesser Rank. That's the first step on the path of ascension."
He paused, letting the words sink in. They listened intently, Kane nodding
Aelric continued, "There are six ranks in total. Lesser, Minor, Proven, Adept, Dominant, and Ascendant. For the first three ranks, you grow by absorbing mana and expanding your single mana core. For the last three, you must form a second core and cultivate both. That's a long way off, though. Right now, what matters is using the mana you have."
Mira raised a hand uncertainly. "But how?"
He smiled. "Through mana strengthening. You circulate mana through your body to enhance your physical abilities. Let me show you." He stepped back and gestured for them to approach. "All of you—attack me."
Mira looked around uncertainly. "One after another?"
Aleric chuckled. "No. Together."
Lysa snorted. "Seriously? Look, we know your Firebolt trick would blast us to ash. Hand-to-hand is pointless. Four against one isn't a fair test."
Aelric chuckled. "No spells. No weapons. Just a little sparring. We'll see what happens."
They hesitated, exchanging unsure looks. Joss, with a shrug, lunged first, trying to catch Aelric off-guard. The others followed, spreading out, attempting to encircle him.
Aelric closed his eyes briefly, focusing inward. He drew mana from his core and let it flow through his limbs, warming his muscles, sharpening his reflexes. He could feel the subtle tingle beneath his skin—he was still new to this, but it would be enough.
Joss punch met empty air as Aelric sidestepped gracefully. Mira tried to catch him from the side, but he ducked, hooking a foot behind her ankle and sending her stumbling. Kane rushed him from behind, arms outstretched to grapple, but Aelric spun, slipping through Kane's grasp with practiced ease.
Lysa cursed, driving forward with a determined sneer. She swung a fist, but Aelric caught her wrist and deflected the blow smoothly. He danced between them, each move precise, not wasting any motion.
The four attackers tried again and again. But Aelric was too quick, too agile. Every time they lunged, he wasn't there. Every attempt to pin him ended with them sprawled on the floor or tripping over each other. He wasn't merely relying on his mana boost, though it helped. He had been taught swordsmanship, footwork, and combat strategy since childhood. Mana just gave him the speed and strength to elevate his skills further.
After several exhausting attempts, the four slumped, breathing hard. Aelric stood in the center of the training hall, barely winded, a smile on his lips.
"How…?" Lysa managed, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
Aelric approached calmly, folding his arms. "By circulating mana through my body, I enhanced my speed and strength. I'm still a novice at this—I only formed my mana core a few days ago, and I'm still adapting. If you ever see Selene fight, you'll understand what true mana strengthening looks like. She's a master."
Mira's eyes were wide. "So we can do that, too?"
Aelric nodded. "With practice. You have mana cores now. The first step is learning to feel them, then circulate mana through your limbs. It'll take time and patience."
Joss grinned despite his bruised pride. "Seems we picked the right man to follow."
Kane, who had felt Aelric's mental guidance before, looked thoughtful, as if already trying to sense his mana core.
Lysa's earlier skepticism had melted into grudging admiration. "All right, your Majesty," she teased, putting extra emphasis on the title. "Show us how to do this mana strengthening."
Aelric hesitated for a moment, then said, "You must be careful. Mana strengthening is dangerous. If you force too much energy through your body—or worse, if your mana rebounds—your core could break."
Kane paled. "And what happens if it breaks?"
Aelric's gaze darkened. "You would transform into a Hollow—a creature of pure mana instability. It's a fate worse than death, because... you wouldn't really be alive anymore. And if that happens, I'll ensure you are dead."
*****
A/N:
Now you've got a bit of a systematic understanding of magic! I hope it's starting to make more sense. In the next chapter, we'll delve a little deeper into it, exploring more of its intricacies and how it shapes the world.
Let me know your thoughts so far—your feedback is always appreciated. Stay tuned for more magic and discovery ahead!