Chapter 000

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‘ ‘ for thoughts.

“ “ for speech.

* * for actions.

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Ealric Mah Wayne was frowning. He was pacing outside the bath chambers rich with elemental energy of one of his clan mansion. He was an expert (Rank 5) magus of fire, approaching a century in age. He could be considered to be talented in his country Albaria, a magus who had broken through from the Journeyman (Rank 4) stage to the Expert (Rank 5) stage at the age of 80! In the Wayne clan though, Ealric was just average in the Mah branch of the Wayne clan, and wasn’t awarded any additional privileges.

However, Ealric looked like a handsome man in his early thirties. He stood around 6 feet tall. He had light olive skin and a chiseled face with dimples. He had short crimson hair and hardly any stubble on his face. Ealric was dressed in the characteristic flowing robes of a magus, with its many pockets and was annoyed at his own anxiousness.

As an Expert (Rank 5) magus, he was disciplined enough to have a calm mind even in most life-threatening situations. It was a necessity of course, to retain enough mental discipline to cast the destructive formulaic spells fire magi specialized in, even when magical beasts and warriors were rushing to reduce him to mincemeat.

But fatherhood had a way of changing that. He recalled when he was reluctant to consent to an arranged marriage almost two decades ago. While he was concerned with breaking through the Journeyman (Rank 4) bottleneck of mortals, he was made to marry an unknown bride and shoulder filial responsibilities. It was inevitable of course, with the clan elders ‘requested’ him to produce heirs.

It was known that the more skilled the magi were, the lower were their fertility in general. On the flipside, the more talented the magi were, the higher the chances of conceiving a talented heir… if they succeeded. There were exceptions to this rule, of course. His clan branch was dominated by magi.

It was a practice, in his clan branch, to arrange a marriage whenever a member reached the peak of the Journeyman (Rank 4) stage in the path of the magus. The wise ancestor of the Wayne clan deemed it a good balance between fertility and talent. The result was that his branch of the Wayne clan produced numerous talented magi in the Human Kingdom of Albaria.

Population wise, the magi focused Mah branch of the Wayne clan was far lower to the warrior focused Vainy branch. However, the Mah and Vainy branch had almost an equal number of elders in the Wayne Clan Council. This made them have an equal voice in the affairs of the Wayne Clan simply because talented magi were rare enough, to make even a Master (Rank 6) Rank magus an asset, not to mention the multiple grandmasters (Rank 7) the Mah of the Wayne Clan had produced over the millennia.

His clan had arranged his marriage to the Intermediate (Rank 3) Rank Earth Magus Goldyna of the Turner Clan almost two decades ago. At the time of the marriage, she was almost three decades his junior, but looked like a woman in her early twenties. He recalled the time when he first met his fiancé in a ball after the marriage arrangements were finalized by the clans.

He would have been lying to himself if he wasn’t pleased with the match at first glance. The dimpled beauty with shoulder-length dust-brown hair was almost as tall as him. After the announcement, which finalized their match, was made; they had shared the opening dance of the ball as was the custom. Goldyna was serene and the tranquility of her deep brown eyes soothed him greatly.

The ball was an annoying affair with pompous nobles, arrogant mages and brash warriors to entertain. However, his future wife shouldered much of the burden and appeared unfazed. In the months following their engagement ball and preceding their wedding, he had come to know and appreciate her. She, like him, wanted to advance as a magus. But duty to her clan required to get married to forge and reinforce blood pacts.

However, as far as political marriages go, Ealric had been quite lucky. Instead of a cold wife who would try to undermine him at every opportunity, he instead had a partner who shared her enthusiasm for the art of the magi. Married life seemed to agree with him, and after a few short months he made his breakthrough to the Expert (Rank 5) Stage.

As the years progressed he had developed genuine love and affection for his wife, and cherished the time they spent together in training and their numerous enthusiastic attempts to create a heir. A few years ago, his wife Goldyna had advanced to become a Journeyman (Rank 4) Rank Earth magus.

While they were enjoying their married life and training, there was mounting pressure from their clans to produce a heir.as neither of them were considered exceptionally talented and there was need for the clan to cultivate the next generation. As without a talented younger generation, the clan would slowly descend into decline. With every increase in their magical prowess, the chances of successful conception were decreasing.

After almost two decades of marriage and clan pressure, they had finally conceived and in moments his wife was about to deliver. Even though there was a trusted Wayne clan water magi specializing in healing acting as midwife for the delivery, childbirth had many scopes of complication for both the mother and child.

As anxiety was threatening to crack his tranquil focus, the door to the bath opened. A short girl barely reaching his shoulders with somewhat curly aqua-blue hair approached him. She had a smile on her face, but there was no denying the fatigue visible on her. Ealric hurried to her and inquired.

Ealric: “How is my wife and child, Aldrea?”

Aldrea: “Both are well. Congratulations on being a father to a healthy son, Cousin Ealric.”

Ealric: “Can I see them now?”

Aldrea: “Cousin Goldyna is tired now, but well enough for a visit from you. Follow me Cousin Ealric.”

Ealric followed his cousin into the bath. He saw a large rectangular bath with steps descending into the water on all four sides. Despite the chill outside, the temperature in the bath chambers seemed just perfect. The walls of the bath chamber had magical formations etched into it, powered by magicite crystals.

He wasn’t sure what they did exactly, but the result was definitely favorable. There was higher than average ambient elemental energy in the air, and the bath itself had rejuvenating properties. Usually it was a privilege to be allowed to practice and meditate here. But for the sake of the future generations, most of the childbirths of the clan were performed there.

He swept his gaze and noticed his wife near one of the stairs. She was lying on what appeared to be a divan made of water. She was submerged into the water of the bath waist-down. Her expression betrayed her fatigue, but pure joy radiated from her face. She was holding a naked baby boy, his son!

Ealric was filled with joy at the sight of his beloved wife and healthy bawling son. They glanced at each other in silence. Words couldn’t be enough to convey their feelings as they were listening to their child cry. Goldyna was gently rocking their son, as Ealric approached them. He gently squeezed her shoulders, as he gently held his son.

Ealric carefully rocked his son back and forth. He gently placed his thumb on the infant’s hand. To his delight, his newborn son grabbed his thumb and held it tightly. He chuckled as he observed his son. His son had brown hair like his mother, but had got his golden-yellow eyes.

He hummed a tune and gently rocked till his son fell asleep and let go of his thumb. He then placed his son in his wife’s embrace. He then brushed her hair, and gently kissed her forehead. He was feeling a sense of contentment and bliss at fatherhood, he had not thought possible.

Ealric: “What should we name him, beloved wife? Among the names we disc---”

Goldyna: “Leofric.”

Ealric: “Are you sure beloved? You haven’t even heard ---“

Goldyna: *stern look* “He will be named Leofric Mah Wayne, dear husband.”

Ealric: *resigned chuckle* “As you say beloved. I could never win an argument with you.”

Ealric lost track of time with his sleeping newborn son and wife, until his cousin and acting midwife Aldrea shooed him away. He left the bath chamber and went to his isolation chamber at the top of one of the towers of the mansion. He witnessed the sunset and watched the town of Dawndenn.

He had high hopes for his newborn son. His son was conceived when he was an Expert (Rank 5) Magus, while his wife was a Journeyman (Rank 4) Magus. His son had a high chance of having good potential as a Magus. Although, they probably wouldn’t be able to conceive another child any time soon. At the very least, the elders should be satisfied.

Dawndenn was a town near to the eastern frontier of the nation of Albaria. His clan managed the town on behalf of the King. His clan mansion was the largest building in the town, perhaps too large. However, it reminded the residents of the influence and power of the Wayne clan.

It was a small out of the way town without much influence, which many from his clan preferred to avoid. However, it was also a quiet place, without many administrative burdens. They had chosen it as the place of their residence in order to stay away from the vicious politics and maneuvering prevalent at the capital.

After the sun set, Ealric sighed and lit the fireplace with a gesture. He kept the curtains open, and sat on a solid blocky chair carved out of marble, near the fireplace. He closed his eyes and felt the heat and warmth of the fire. He started meditating and slowly absorbed the ambient fire elemental energy, refining it and storing it as mageforce in the greater meridian near his heart.