"Some say Ignorance is bliss. I say Ignorance is dumb. It is an excuse, one which should be done away with at the first opportunity"—a scientific philosopher

Alex sits down, and again silence hangs in the room. The first to break it, Walter, sighs and slumps back in his chair, "Well, I guess we'll start with your constitution. I'm sure that you've experienced your inability to perform magic like Ivona or your tutor," Alex nods. Walter continues, "When you were born, we had Ivona check you for any underlying conditions, and she found one…" Walter looks at his child and sighs, "within the academies, it's known as sine magicae for its ability to ignore the magic in its surroundings, in the rogue magician circles it is known as the augmentum constitution, and to the general population it's known as the demon's curse."

It took Alex a few moments to process before he asked, "But why are they called that"

Walter looks directly into Alex's eyes, "the academies are strictly classifying it, the magicians are referring to its use. This is also where the danger comes in, you see as a no-magic being a body with sine magicae can be processed to be a magic gatherer, augmenter, and amplifier." Walter rises from his chair, and Alex tries to follow. But, Walter gestures for him to sit, "This is a rare condition, and the causes are unknown, it's found in creatures other than humans, but in animals, it sometimes appears. Those animals that have it become the titan magic beasts that the wandering cities are based on. The effect becomes diluted by their size, making materials harvested on them not only expensive but low in effect, making you my son, 'something' that some immoral people would do quite a bit to get their hands on. This leads to the third name that that constitution is sometimes known as the demon's curse…" Alex sees his father's expression droop and his posture slouch, "When those damn magicians come for people in a similar situation as you, they wreak havoc..." Walter's hands clench, "because the only ones the magicians cannot get their dirty hands on are those in the care of powerful people. Either rulers like myself or magicians when they come to 'extract' those with the constitution from their homes and process them they tend to destroy everything in their path" Walter looks at him.

"This, my son, makes the people hate anyone with the condition as a sign of foreboding, and the destruction those magicians wreck."

"I didn't want to have to tell you this until you were older, even now, since it is a burden, it's also the reason you haven't been allowed to leave the estate till now," Walter pauses, sighs and then frowns, "But if you now desire to do so, then you may, though I will not be able to guarantee your safety out there…"

Alex holds his hand up, "Father though I am eager to see the world, I've have been taught these last few cycles in the art of governance, which is something that requires me to stay at least partially sessile within the territory, and I've been able to learn about the world from my tutors, I would rather stay here with you, and the servants…"

Walter smiles, "It definitely would be safer that way, and I am glad that I haven't stifled you too much," Walter walks over to his son and hugs him, "All I'm saying is that you are welcome to leave if you want to, but you are also welcome to stay, in fact, I'd prefer if you did. I love you, son."

"I love you too fa-"

BAM