"Ow!" Ryan exclaimed. "Stupid thing. Where did this come from?"

"Sorry, milord!" A servant rushed over and moved the object out of the way. "Several packages were just delivered, and we were still moving them. Are you injured?"

"No," Ryan answered. "Though this is what I get for walking around without Tyler."

His servant was feeling ill enough that he could barely get out of bed, and his family's healer wasn't nearby at the time. Rather than allowing another servant to assist him, Ryan had decided to walk about on his own.

Normally, navigation by itself wasn't an issue, as the setup of the rooms rarely changed. But then there were times where something was unexpectedly and temporarily in a spot it normally wasn't, such as the boxes in the foyer.

Ryan eventually made his way into the gardens, where he spent most of the day. The family healer arrived shortly before dinner and eased Tyler's illness, so the servant returned to his master's side in time for the meal.

At dinner, Ryan noticed as he sat down the presence of several people he didn't recognize. The only reason he could tell they were there was because they were speaking. There were three, if his estimates were correct. Two males and a female, the latter of whom was seated between the two males. The males were speaking, one sounding older, maybe forty or so, while the other was around his age.

"Ryan," his father said. "We have a few guests tonight. Richard Veloas and his children, Dylan and Kayla."

"Welcome," Ryan greeted them, his gaze fixed firmly forward. They no doubt already knew he wouldn't make any form of intentional eye contact with them. "I hope you enjoy the meal."

"Thank you," Richard responded. "It's a pleasure to meet you at last, and I do apologize for not being able to attend your birthday a couple of weeks ago. I was invited, but alas, some issues arose that prevented me from coming."

"I received your gift," Ryan told him. "And you should always prioritize issues over celebrations when issues can cause problems if delayed."

Food was served shortly after that, and conversation turned to business. Ryan listened intently, curious why Veloas was present. He had never met the man before, nor most of the other family heads. Usually, his father met with them in private, or traveled to visit them. Rare was the time guests actually ate dinner with Ryan himself, to avoid any unpleasantness or awkwardness that might occur.

As he listened, he came to an understanding. Richard was looking to create an alliance and merger of the Veloas family and the Novar family. It was a power move that Ryan knew would completely alter the political balance of the world. The Veloas family was second to the Novar family in power and influence among the Families, and had been the top family before Samuel came along.

The world was largely split between three 'governments' that ruled alongside each other while occupying the same space. It all came as a result of the Great Collapse, when the governments fell apart during the influx of magic that filled the world a century and a half before.

The Families, of which there were presently seventeen, were akin to the mafia. They played by their own rules, and had no issues with fighting others for territory or power. Most of the time, their quarrels were only with others of the Families, though they did sometimes conflict with the Guilds and the Orders. The Families ruled the underworld of the world.

The Guilds were corporations that worked together to keep peace and develop magical technology in addition to regular technology. Their influence and power came through money and tech rather than through power, like the Families.

Finally, the Orders, which held some resemblance to governments of old, with elected officials as their rulers. They operated through checks and balances rather than alliances, money, technology, and power.

The three groups ran the world, and existed in a stable balance alongside each other even on the same street. There were alliances between groups within each form of government, but none were so powerful as to sway the balance of power towards any one branch or group too strongly. Even the Novar family had limits that could be kept in check by the others.

But if the two most powerful Families merged into a single Family, it would tilt the balance of the Families towards their family completely, and the balance of the governments towards the Families. As things stood, the Novar's allies made up five Families, while the Veloas's allies made up seven, two of which overlapped with the Novar's. If they merged, that would create a single Family with ten allies out of the other fifteen remaining Families.

While some Families might cut off their alliances with the mergers, it was doubtful that it would be more than one or two. The alliances were through honor, shared blood, and genuine friendship. Violating that simply because their ally turned to someone they disliked would earn that family's ire, and then they would find themselves with a powerful enemy at their backs.

As for the groups, it would pose a problem if half of the world was suddenly under the influence of a single person. The Guilds and the Orders would no doubt to do everything they could to prevent that. Fabricated reasons to attack Family bases, warehouses, and branches. Assassins to take out key members. Leaking secret information they had acquired to rival Families to cause problems and conflicts within the Families.

Shady things to ensure that the Families didn't acquire too much power and influence without leading to themselves, and then the Novar and Veloas Families would take action in response to the provocations. Which would guarantee a war. Again.

They were in the Third Age of Magic, and to Ryan, it had been obvious the Fourth Age of Magic was about to begin, even if he didn't know about the plans to merge the two families. The first half-century of magic was the First Age of Magic, the second half-century was the Second Age, and the third so far was the Third Age of Magic.

There was a pattern there, and it said that the Ages of Magic would only last for half a century, each. With the merger, it became evident the pattern would hold. Ryan knew that was a guarantee, because no one would want such a powerful influence on the world.

As he listened, Ryan learned that the possible marriages were Kayla to one of his male cousins and Dylan to one of his female cousins. First-cousins of his, nothing further. It saddened Ryan to know he was missing out, but he understood the reasoning behind it. No one would accept him as the head, and no one would accept a child of his as the head. The move by his father was likely to secure a secondary inheritance line, one born of the joining of the two families.

Which was all the more reason to awaken his magic and acquire telepathy. It would allow him to hear the thoughts of those around him and know who was plotting what without being aware that he was aware of the plotting. If he could learn empathy magics as well, he could also manipulate people into eliminating themselves and their own influence.

And as people realized that Ryan was doing that, they would fear him more than they feared his father. A Divine telepath was a fearsome being, and one which had been unheard of. While that might paint a bigger target on his back, it would also make people more hesitant to kill him.

Who would want to attempt an assassination when the target might not only know it's happening, but be able to stop it with a mere thought? Especially if the assassin might end up spilling the beans on who their employer was before killing themselves?

Not many.

Which was why telepathy and empathy were both things Ryan wanted to learn. Those, and compulsion. Manipulating emotions to cause a desired effect was one thing, but being able to compel someone to his desires was something else entirely.

And illegal, but the Families could ignore that law as they wished, when the head of the family okay'd it. As Ryan would be the head, he would be able to ignore it at will, though he would use it subtly as first. Build up his influence first before revealing he could command anyone he wanted.

But that would have to wait for his awakening. Since he was Tier Twelve in everything, he knew he'd know as soon as he awakened, or within hours or days. His magic would act up on its own as a sign.

For the time being, he would wait until his awakening, but also play his own hands. Even after his awakening, it would take time. From what he knew, mind magics weren't just illegal, but extraordinarily difficult to learn. Even his own father could only use the geass magics so easily because it was his own Calling. Samuel Novar was powerful, but mind magics were still a little beyond his reach outside of his Calling.

"Father," Ryan spoke up, as while dessert was yet to be served, dinner had begun late and the time was growing late. "I am feeling exhausted. May I be excused?"

"You may," his father responded.

"Thank you," Ryan stood. "Would it be alright if Kayla accompanied me back to my quarters? I would invite Dylan to walk with us, but he seems like he is interested in the conversation, with how much feedback he has given. I am sure she could do with the brief break before dessert."

There was a pause, and Ryan knew his father was looking at Richard in that time to see the other man's response.

"That is acceptable," Richard told him. "It can be hard to find quality people your own age to talk with, so I am sure she will enjoy the discussion."

"It is," Ryan smiled. "Thank you."

Ryan waited until Tyler signaled that Kayla had joined them, then they left the dining hall.

"How are you today, Kayla?" Ryan asked.

"I am well," she answered. "How are you?"

"I am doing just fine," Ryan answered. "Would you mind answering me honestly how you feel about possibly marrying Jonathan? Have you met him?"

"I have," she answered. "He seems like a respectable man, though I also know that he has an issue with guests."

Ryan chuckled. His nineteen-year-old cousin did have an issue with having concubines in his room unexpectedly, and his uncle was constantly making sure there were no consequences from that. From what Ryan knew, Jonathan had resorted to using two new servants who had moved into their complex. He suspected that his cousin knew they had moved in just for him to sleep with rather than paying for the sex.

"How old are you?" Ryan asked.

"I am eighteen and a half," she answered. "A little less than five months older than you."

"Do you prefer older boys or younger?" He asked.

"You're quite handsome," she answered, and he felt his face heat up.

"My question was obvious, wasn't it?" He asked.

"It was," he could hear the smile in her voice. "Nothing wrong with that, though. You want to know how you compare to Jonathan."

"From someone who has seen him and is into guys our age," Ryan confirmed.

"While the eyes staring off into nothing might bother some people," she told him. "I am sure I could adapt to that. Otherwise, you are quite handsome, Ryan, and I would put you a little above your cousin. His form isn't as solid as yours."

"I perform some light exercises most mornings," Ryan informed her. "I do not care about how 'hot' my body is, but I do wish to at least keep it in shape, as a healthy body lives longer quite often."

"I agree," she responded. "Your cousin is a little on the scrawny side, and with a little exercising, I am sure he could become even more handsome."

"As handsome as me?" Ryan asked.

"Not quite," he heard her smile again.

"Who is the most handsome person you have ever met?" Ryan asked.

She was silent for several moments, and he knew she was thinking over her answer. With most, that would be a loaded question, and she did not know him well enough to know if he wanted the actual answer or the sweet lie.

"You can be honest with me," Ryan said. "I am the one who asked the question, after all. I'm not the sort to ask a question like that and get mad if the answer isn't me. As I said, I don't care much about my appearance, I was simply curious."

"Okay," she said. "Honestly? I think Ethan, a member of one of my branch families, is the most handsome person I have met, when he is dressed up. Without the suit or formal clothes, he goes from handsome to hot. He has quite a nice personality, too. I wouldn't mind marrying him, though I know that won't happen. His father already had someone arranged for him, and my marriage into the Novar family is important."

"Are you averse to the marriage?" Ryan asked.

"No," she answered, and he stopped walking. "You don't believe me?"

"We're at my room," he told her.

"Oh!" She laughed. "Okay. I am not averse to your family. I've met Jonathan a few times over the last few months, though he's unaware of the possible marriage between us. He would be a nice husband."

"Tell me," Ryan said. "In honesty. If I were available, would you marry me? Despite my condition? Even if just for your own gains?"

"Yes," she answered. "Being married into the main line would be preferable to a branch, even if that branch is still technically a part of the main. Having a handsome husband would only sweeten the deal."

"So you like power," he stated.

"I do," she confirmed. "Power and influence are vital, especially with the change that will come with my family merging into yours."

He noted an off tone in her words, and decided to pry into it further shortly. At the moment, however, he had other plans.

"Indeed," Ryan said. "Would you care to help me change into my night clothes?"

"Milord," Tyler spoke up. "As your trusted servant, I must remind you that such an event would be quite inappropriate, and others may think of something untoward happening between the two of you. If a scandal is caused, it could result in the failure of the merger, which would result in both your father and hers being displeased with the two of you. I would advise that you rethink this offer."

"Nonsense," Ryan said. "Five minutes, at most, would not be enough time for anything unpleasant to happen, and I would much rather take advantage of the one time a beautiful woman might be willing to help me change."

"You can't see if I'm beautiful or not," Ryan heard the amusement in Kayla's voice.

"Maybe not," he smiled. "But you do have a nice voice. Would you be willing to? I need to relieve my bladder first, but after that?"

"I would not mind," she told him. "You are my future family head, after all."