After a sumptuous lunch in the afternoon, Aiden, Ayleen, and Fiona moved to the sprawling garden of the Venti mansion. The air was crisp, and the sun bathed the well-manicured bushes and vibrant flowerbeds in a warm golden hue. As they sipped on the aromatic tea served in delicate porcelain cups, their conversation flowed casually. Aiden, full of curiosity, eagerly shared his love for books and the stories he had read.
Fiona listened intently, her eyes lighting up as Aiden animatedly spoke. Sensing his enthusiasm, she turned to her butler and said, "Prepare the library for Aiden. Show him around and ensure he has access to whatever he needs."
Aiden's face brightened at the mention of the library, and his excitement was evident as he exclaimed, "Thank you, Aunt Fiona!" His youthful energy brought a warm smile to Fiona's face. "You're welcome, sweetheart," she replied, gently patting his head.
As Aiden hurried off with the butler, Fiona's demeanor shifted. She waited until the boy was out of earshot before leaning toward Ayleen. Her playful expression turned serious as she asked softly, "He doesn't know, does he?"
Ayleen sighed and shook her head. "Orin thinks he's not ready yet. We've agreed to let him focus on his studies for now. There's still time for him to learn the truth."
Fiona nodded thoughtfully. "That's probably for the best. He's still young, but Ayleen, you'll have to prepare him eventually."
Changing the subject, Ayleen asked, "What about you, Fiona? How have you been? And how did you end up becoming the head of House Venti?"
Fiona leaned back in her chair, her lips curling into a reminiscent smile. "Oh, that's a long story. After the war ten years ago, my father passed away, and the responsibility of leading the house fell on me. It wasn't easy. Many questioned my ability to rule, but I proved them wrong. I strengthened our trade routes, expanded our influence, and ensured that the Venti family thrived. I even managed to find some semblance of happiness amidst the chaos."
Ayleen raised an eyebrow. "Happiness? You mean you are married now!?"
Fiona chuckled. "Yes, he's been a great support. He's in the capital now, overseeing the education of our twins, Clara and Chloe. They're almost seven years old and already preparing for the Academy. They take after him in terms of discipline but, thankfully, have inherited my charm." She winked playfully.
Ayleen smiled warmly.
Meanwhile, in the library, Aiden was in awe. The massive room was lined with towering shelves that reached the ceiling, each packed with books of various sizes and bindings. The faint scent of parchment and aged leather filled the air, adding to the mystique of the place.
He wandered the aisles, running his fingers over the spines of the books, until one title caught his eye: "The Elements and Beyond." Intrigued, he pulled the book off the shelf and settled into a cozy chair near a window.
As he read, he learned about the primary elements—fire, water, earth, and air—and their various combinations and offshoots, like ice, lightning, and magma. Further into the book, he came across a section discussing esoteric forces that could be considered elements: light, darkness, time, space, creation, and destruction. The book also hinted at the existence of unknown elements, yet to be discovered, that could hold unimaginable power.
The deeper Aiden delved into the book, the more his understanding of mana expanded. As he read, he felt a strange sensation within him, as if the words were resonating with his very being. Without realizing it, he slipped into a trance-like state.
The mana in the library began to stir, converging around Aiden. Unconscious of his surroundings, his body absorbed the mana, and the shard embedded in his chest began to glow faintly. The glow spread across his body in intricate patterns, pulsating softly.
When Aiden finally woke up, he found himself lying on the library floor. The book lay open beside him, and the warm light of the setting sun streamed through the windows. He sat up, rubbing his head, trying to piece together what had happened.
Before he could dwell on it, the sound of footsteps caught his attention. A moment later, Ayleen and Fiona entered the library, deep in conversation.
Fiona noticed him first and smiled. "Enjoying the library, Aiden?"
Aiden quickly picked up the book and smiled awkwardly. "Yes, Aunt Fiona. It's amazing. Thank you for letting me explore it."
Fiona chuckled. "You're welcome, dear. You're welcome to stay here and read to your heart's content."
Aiden hesitated for a moment before asking, "Mom, can I stay here tonight? There's still so much to read."
Ayleen laughed softly. "You really do love books, don't you? Fine, you can stay."
Fiona beamed. "Let him stay until you're ready to leave for Brishelm. He can keep me company."
Ayleen nodded, smiling. "Thank Aunt Fiona, Aiden."
"Thank you, Aunt Fiona!" Aiden said enthusiastically.
"You're most welcome," Fiona said with a laugh. "You can stay as long as you like. My children are away in the capital, and I could use the company."
As they talked, Aiden learned about Fiona's twins and their training in the capital. After dinner, Aiden asked if he could return to the library. Fiona agreed, assigning a young maid named Greta to assist him.
In the library, Aiden sat alone, reflecting on the strange experience he had earlier. He tried to communicate with the shard in his consciousness, asking it to show his power level.
After a moment, the shard responded:
Power Level: 346
Aiden's eyes widened in shock. Just a day ago, his power level had been below 300. The sudden increase was baffling. As he probed further, he realized his mana core was nearly two-thirds full—an unusual feat for someone at his rank.
"This doesn't make sense," he murmured. "I'm still an Initiate, but my strength rivals that of an Advanced Adept."
Back at the inn, Ayleen returned to find Orin waiting for her outside. He greeted her with a smile that quickly turned into a frown.
"Aiden?" he asked.
"He's fine," Ayleen assured him. "He's staying with my friend for now. You'll never guess who I ran into today…"
As they returned to their room, Ayleen recounted her reunion with Fiona. Orin listened intently, his eyes lighting up with surprise and intrigue.
Noticing the bag in Ayleen's hand, he asked, "Why are you carrying that? You have a storage ring."
Ayleen hesitated before explaining the incident at Angelin's Alchemy. Orin's curiosity was piqued, and he examined the mysterious black rock.
"There's… nothing," he said after a moment. "No trace of mana. Nothing at all."
Ayleen nodded. "I felt the same. It's odd."
Later that night, as Ayleen and Orin slept peacefully, the moonlight streamed through their window, casting a soft glow on the mysterious stone. Slowly, the patterns on the rock began to shimmer, pulsating faintly, as if responding to an unseen force.