Aldrich watched his father ride away from their household, a thoughtful expression on his face. A storm of emotions churned within him—an aching sadness at the sight of his father leaving, mingled with a bubbling excitement for the newfound freedom it offered.
The sense of loss was sharp, but it was tempered by an eager anticipation. 'Finally, some breathing room to explore the library and unravel some secrets,' he thought, his heart caught between longing and curiosity.
His mind buzzed with mixed feelings of curiosity and excitement. 'With Big Brothers away and only Mom, Marion, and me here, it's the perfect chance to uncover the truths hidden in those dusty tomes. There are mysteries about Jan'ahrem's divine origins and ancient history that have always fascinated me, and perhaps even clues about achieving the unimaginable—like ascending to Tier 9.'
While Aldrich contemplated his plans, the trio retreated to their rooms. Eleanor quietly shut herself in her chambers. Aldrich and Marion observed this in silence.
Marion knelt to meet Aldrich's gaze. "We have to behave now, Aldrich. Big Brother William and Magnus are at the Academy and won't return until summer. I hope Father ends the war soon; I don't want to spend winter with Mother being sad."
Aldrich blinked at Marion and then saluted her. "I pwomise to protect you and Mama until Big Brothers come home." Marion smiled and hugged him.
Marion called for Bea and asked her to care for Aldrich.
"Come, Young Master Aldrich, it's time for breakfast," Bea said gently. "Your sister needs to study." Aldrich nodded, grasping Bea's hand as they walked to the dining area.
After breakfast, Aldrich made his way to his mother's chamber. He slowly opened the door and heard soft sniffles from the bed. He approached quietly, then peeked over the edge of the bed and tried to climb up.
"Mother, it's fine. Papa will come back soon," Aldrich said, hugging Eleanor's head to comfort her.
Eleanor's tear-filled eyes met Aldrich's, a swirl of emotions flickering across her face. She took a deep breath, attempting to steady herself. The weight of her husband's absence pressed heavily on her chest, the uncertainty of his return casting a long shadow over her heart. Yet, in Aldrich's innocent gaze, she found a glimmer of solace, a fragile reminder of the strength she needed to uphold for her children.
"Oh, my sweet boy." She hugged Aldrich tightly and sneezed on his shirt.
Aldrich froze, horrified. 'Oh my God, this was a tactical blunder of epic proportions,' he thought, but maintained a clueless expression.
Eleanor realized what she had done. "I'm sorry, Aldrich. Let's get you cleaned up." She carried him and remarked, "You're getting heavier."
She took Aldrich to his room and changed him into clean clothes. In his new outfit, Aldrich dragged his mother toward the library.
"Can you teach me how to read?" Aldrich asked, his eyes filled with determination.
Eleanor was surprised but inquired, "Why do you want to read?"
"I want to be helpful to Papa!" Aldrich declared, pumping his fist.
This saddened Eleanor as she thought of her husband. Shaking off the unhappy thoughts, she said, "Well, we can start with the alphabet. Will that be all right with you?"
"Sure, Mama!" Aldrich replied cheerfully.
"Before learning to read and write, you should know a little history about our language and our God, the All-Mother, Jan'ahrem," Eleanor said thoughtfully.
The mother-son duo walked to a section of the library. Eleanor reached for a book with strange alphabets on the cover and read the title aloud, "The History of Tellus."
Aldrich knew some history about the different races of Tellus but was unaware of Jan'ahrem's connection to their language.
Eleanor blew dust off the cover. "Jan'ahrem, the All-Mother, is believed to have shaped the very fabric of the world with her divine hands. She molded the earth from formless chaos, sculpting mountains and valleys with unmatched precision. The oceans, vast and untamed, were said to flow from her tears of joy as she breathed life into her creation. She plucked the sun and moon from the heavens, placing them in the sky to ensure a balance of light and darkness. The stars, sparkling like diamonds, were her final touch—a reminder of her eternal watch over all she had brought into existence. But let me tell you something the commoners don't know," Eleanor said, looking at Aldrich mysteriously.
"She was once a human, just like us," she casually mentioned.
Aldrich's mind reeled, but he maintained a childlike facade. 'It's not that strange for a human to become a God here, considering the powers people wield. I mean, Dad can throw a boulder like it's a pebble. But seriously, what's the upgrade path for Godhood? Is there a manual or something?' he wondered.
Eleanor as if reading his thoughts, continued, "To become a God, one must achieve Tier 8 in any class, be it a warrior or a mage. Reaching Tier 8 is like having one foot in Godhood, but the final step is known only to those who have already ascended."
"The previous King, Uther Proudmoore, was a Tier 8 Eternal Warrior, essentially a Demi-God in our time. He serves as the Kingdom's Guardian but rarely appears unless challenged by other races."
"Jan'ahrem created our language, said to be reincarnated from another world. She invented the language from scratch and often muttered strange phrases like..." Eleanor scrutinized the book.
"GGEZ Noobs, whatever that might mean," she said seriously, frowning.
Aldrich struggled to contain his laughter. 'Oh my God! Jan'ahrem is a transmigrator like me!' he thought, finding it hilarious that people regarded her phrases as divine wisdom.
"That's the summary. Let's start learning the language, called Englush," Eleanor said with a smile that soon faded as she noticed Aldrich's flushed face.
Aldrich's face was bright red, and he was almost holding his breath. He covered his mouth and took a deep breath to calm himself.
"I am ready, Mother," he said, trying hard not to smile.
Eleanor placed her palm on Aldrich's forehead. "Are you feverish, dear?"
Aldrich shook his head. "Just a little excited from the story."
Eleanor nodded and proceeded to teach Aldrich Englush.
While the mother-son duo was in the library, Arthas arrived at Viscount Edward's estate.
Arthas nodded at the Viscount, who greeted him warmly and approached his horse.
Edward looked at the horse. "It seems your old steed is still going strong. Can he still carry you into battle?"
Arthas smiled. "He's as strong as when we left the battlefield. Of course, he can."
A shout from the gathering warriors interrupted them. It was Baron Locke, a towering figure compared to Arthas and Edward.
Locke, though younger than Aldrich, was a bit dull in strategy and management. His youth contrasted with his physical dominance, creating an unusual dynamic where his raw strength often overshadowed his inexperience. This disparity sometimes left others unsure whether to underestimate or fear him, adding an intriguing tension to his interactions with the more seasoned characters. However, his physical prowess as a Tier 6 Battle Master compensated for his shortcomings. Even ten Arthases couldn't defeat him; only Viscount Edward might match his strength.
Viscount Edward called Locke over. "Arthas, meet Baron Locke Ivy, a newly ascended noble and a formidable force on the battlefield."
Locke, with a singular focus on combat, extended a hand. "How do you do, Arthas?"
Arthas shook his hand, his face turning purple as Locke gripped tightly. Locke laughed, and Arthas glared at the childish man.