Irwyn swaggered through the newly built camp. It was honestly almost impressive how capable the servants were: Only few minutes had passed since they stopped, but the maids had already built all of the tents and parked the carriages into a single large rectangle. The camp was even well organised so it did not take long for Irwyn to find what he was looking for.

"Lord Irwyn," Nessa bowed when she noticed her young lord approaching the carriage she was guarding. Despite that deep bow she was still carefully keeping an eye on what was inside, staying true to Irwyn's orders from earlier in the day.

"Bring her outside," Irwyn commanded without further bravado. Pleasantries would not earn him anything with someone as professional as Nessa.

"Of course," Nessa nodded and with a quick step her silhouette vanished into the carriage. It only took few seconds before her form was once again revealed under the moonlight, and together with her appeared the raven haired child; her eyes were half closed, and it was apparent she must've just woken up from slumber.

"Sorry to wake you up," Irwyn smiled at her before turning back to Nessa "make absolutely sure that those who saw her keeps their mouth shut. I don't want anyone who didn't see her by now to know she even exists."

"Does that include your siblings, my lord," Nessa asked for qualification. It also went without saying that this information embargo wouldn't affect Avys and Ezax who would undoubtedly both get reports about her existence from multiple sources.

"Especially my siblings," Irwyn ascertained. He was mostly worried about Alira's twin brother who might attempt to seek revenge during his absence. It was an unnecessary and preventable risk.

"You are dismissed for now, Nessa. You please come with me," Irwyn commanded the two of them in the softest voice he could muster but still get his point across. Fortunately Elizabeth was not intent on resisting and wordlessly followed Irwyn to his own tent.

"Please get yourself comfortable. We will talk for a while," Irwyn beckoned the girl as soon as they arrived in the tent. The Interior and exterior differed significantly from the others in both size and luxury. Albeit still smaller than the one in which Avys resided the thing was large enough to fit a small table, two stools and even two mattresses each with a small hill of colourful blankets.

"Yes, thank you," the girl whispered and bowed very slightly before awkwardly seating herself on one of the stools. It did not escape Irwyn that she eyed the blankets. That was not surprising: Her plain white dress was obviously not meant for traveling in the ever freezing North; the tent's enchantment to ward off cold was just not enough to completely eliminate the unpleasant chill that she was likely experiencing.

"Are you cold?" Irwyn smiled as he picked up a blanket from beside him. The girl only nodded, but muttered a silent 'thank you' when Irwyn covered her with the piece of thick cloth.

"Why don't we begin with introductions? I am Irwyn von Blackburg, the youngest son of duke Ezax Von Blackburg. What is your name?" Irwyn kept a constant smile on his face while trying to sound as amiable as possible.

"I am Elizabeth… Brine," the girl eventually confessed. She did not seem to even pause when she heard Irwyn's identity which implied she was very likely oblivious about Northern politics. Irwyn also didn't miss the moment of hesitation before saying her last name out loud.

"Why are you called Elizabeth?" Irwyn surprised her with a seemingly irrelevant question.

"Because it is the name my mother gave me before she... passed away," she didn’t have to think about the answer, but as the words sound a tear manifested in the corner of her eye.

"And why is your last name Brine?" Irwyn followed up.

"Because I am a servant of lord Brinewood," she spoke after a short pause. This time tears began to run down her cheeks and she lowered her head while sobbing. A natural reaction to recent terrible memories. When Irwyn stood up and strolled around the table she cringed back, expecting to be hit. Instead he petted her raven black smooth hair gently.

"You are right. The last name Brine means a servant of the house Brinewood. For that reason you are no longer Elizabeth's Brine, instead from today onward your name is Elizabeth Black," Irwyn claimed firmly as if those words were the undeniable absolute truth.

The girl looked up at Irwyn when she heard those words. Eyes still red, but no longer crying, she nodded and the her stare became noticeably brighter.

"If you ever need to cry about anything come to me. I will never persecute you for your honest feelings and pain," Irwyn comforted the girl once again before he went over to his own stool and changed the topic while sitting down "have you ever heard of magic?"

"I did," the girl seemed less awkward after the previous exchange and replied much quicker this time around "I have seen some older people… use it."

"What do you think about it?" Irwyn’s visage still held a kind comforting smile that encouraged Elizabeth to speak further.

"I think it's amazing," her eyes slightly shone "I once saw a petite servant beat up a huge man with magic. If only I could use it too, I wouldn't…" she just cut off there, unwilling to speak further and that light once again dimmed.

"Yes. Are you aware that magic is born through combination of three things? Those are talent, mana and knowledge. Do you know which you lack the most?"

"I don't know anything about magic, but I don't think I have any talent or that 'mana'," she clearly showed that her self confidence was on the rock bottom.

"You are completely wrong in many ways. Firstly nearly everyone has mana, it is an innate power almost all people are born with, even the simplest farmer or cook does have a bit of mana. It is the most raw form of power which mages develop and nurture from the day they cast their first spell until the day they breathe their last. You also naturally possess mana," Irwyn patiently explained. After all, he currently had basically all the time in the world.

"When it comes to talent, well, you should see for yourself. From the depth of your heart wish for deeper understanding about yourself and it will appear in front of you," Irwyn gave Elizabeth simple instructions. She attempted to follow them while staring intently at the table for around a minute before her eyes suddenly widened.

"What you are seeing right now is called a status screen. It shows you basic information about yourself, some parts like the name or worship only reflect what you believe to be the truth, others like the titles, attributes and skills show your current power or potential. For now remember your titles," Irwyn instructed and the girl honestly nodded.

"You say you don't think you would have any talent. Who is the most powerful mage you have ever heard of, even if in legends or stories," it didn’t really matter what she would answer, but Irwyn needed her to say a name.

"I think… I have heard a story about the archmage Artonidas who could make fire rain like water and face entire kingdoms by himself," Elizabeth managed to recall a name and few specifics.

"Yes, those who claim the title of archmage have the power to shape mountains and break nations. And do you know what affinity for flame Artonidas had?" Irwyn didn’t know whether the man even ever existed, much less his affinity, but that currently wasn’t the point.

"No," she admitted, with a small chirp, but her eyes revealed she was very curious.

"His status screen would have shown born of immortal flame. That is the 5th out of the possible degrees of affinity, still 2 below the highest affinity which can be represented by number 7. Then do you know what affinities there are?" Irwyn almost teasingly asked her. The only response he got was a hurried shake of her head.

"From the weakest they are: Common, uncommon, rare, epic, immortal, seeker and herald. The gap between each grows larger among the stronger affinities, becoming an unsurpassable casm," he said those words and Elizabeth's expression visible changed as she very clearly remembered the words in her status screen. He eyes were wide as disbelief, doubt and desire shifted in them. She was a child with no self confidence that was just told by a relative stranger that she had talent that outmatched an archmage so that reaction was only natural.

"A single affinity of immortal grade can reform a nation. A single seeker may reforge an entire continent. And a herald will reshape the entire world,” Irwyn was no longer as pleasant or playful, instead he infused a minute amount of mana into his words to give them sharp impact “they told you that you are worthless, meaningless. That you would not achieve anything in your entire life. They were wrong, each and every one of them,” Irwyn offered Elizabeth his hand over the table “and now offer the knowledge you need to make gods tremble in terror when they hear your name. I offer you the path to immortality and so much more. In return I demand no contract or binding, just a promise: I desire nothing more than your promise of undying loyalty. So, will you take my hand?”

“Are you… some sort of devil?” Elizabeth was slightly hesitant as the gears in her head spun rapidly. The words he said naturally reminded her of those dangerous beings from stories.

“Devils are just servants of those pathetic creates who cling to the title of sinister gods. Oh, I am something so much worse,” Irwyn smiled sheepishly. The girl hesitated for a moment longer, but then her uncertain expression changed. The fear was replaced by determination and defiance while the hesitation was taken over by desire and hunger.

“Then I will be yours,” she firmly said as she took his hand “from now until the end of time.”

For a moment Irwyn felt the intricacies of reality shift before another message appeared.

[Personal Quest: Meeting of fate progressed (stage 1/X(Overseer: 500)]

[Effect: Gain 5% more essence from all sources]

“Since that is done we can immediately begin your training in magic,” Irwyn spoke to the slightly stunned Elizabeth, once again in a casual tone “the night is still young.”