Mages of Salona

Much better. Ellyn woke up after a great sleep, head not hurting at all. It was so good that she didn`t even want to leave bed and go to school today. Let`s take a look. A breakthrough! There could be no mistake. Mana reserves. They were filled to the brim, which… wasn`t a lot. What had not happened in 18 years, finally did. Is this enough to cast her first spell?

The first Mana Pulse spells never reached more than a single metre, probably. Her room should do, right? There`s no way she`d blast the wall and hurt someone… most likely. Better aim at the outer one, just in case. Ellyn started getting nervous. What if she casts it? The other possibility… Yes, with zero good reasons to wait anymore, the next course of action was clear.

[Ellyn Arte casts Mana Pulse level 1]

"Yes! Battling battle, YES!" Ellyn started shouting like a crazy person, at around 6.

The spell reached… maybe 0,3 metres, but she was certain. Her first ever Mana Pulse. Unstoppable torrent of feelings began their rampage and Ellyn had to find a clean handkerchief, fast. Shaking like crazy, tears, snots on her face, the girl could not contain her powerful emotions, making sounds that would wake up a dead person half a kingdom away.

"Ellyn Arte! Is this any way to say "good morning" to your family?!" Her mom asked in tone suggesting trouble after knocking on the door shortly and opening.

Ellyn did probably wake them up by swearing loudly…

"I did it, mom. I did it!" Ellyn exclaimed, smile on her face, handkerchief still in hand.

"I cast my first spell!"

No additional words were necessary. There was a split-second hesitation, likely wondering, whether the girl possibly didn`t just wake up from a nice dream, but Meron, Giliam and then also Marys begun group-hugging Ellyn. Her sister needed some time to get dressed before leaving the "room of different rules" though, starting after hearing the first commotion.

"You still shouldn`t swear, sweetheart. We weren`t sleeping anymore, but it still scared us. Your dad almost ran here with a sword in hand."

"I`m sorry. I just couldn`t wait after realising that something`s different today."

"We understand, Ellyn."

What Meron said about sword was no joke. Giliam never felt right without it being in reach. Having an armour would have been better, but putting that thing on takes time. Not something one might realistically expect at around 6 to 7, when people wear nightwear. The aura user had to protect his family. Hearing Ellyn shout could make him a very dangerous opponent.

She got promised a special dinner today with some delicious food. Aunt Savine will almost definitely come to congratulate her after hearing from Meron. Ellyn`s been trying daily for 8 years, never getting any closer. This breakthrough was the most significant achievement of her life. The breakfast couldn`t be changed much, considering ingredients they currently had.

0,3 metres wasn`t that much. Ellyn didn`t start having unrealistically high expectations. 0,1 more a week… 97 weeks to reach level 2. This is a very rough estimate. She had around 10 until the test on May 31st. These could be retaken once every half a year. The girl still couldn`t stop smiling brightly. However slow the progress, she`s no longer stuck at the starting line.

Marys and Meron were eating breakfast with her, when they heard knocking. Giliam moved to open the door and figure out who could it be so soon in the morning. Ellyn didn`t hear much, but understood that the person was a messenger. Their dad signed where required, then he returned. The look on his face was… not even confused. This went beyond confusion.

"Meron… this one`s for you…" he said, his letter already opened, an utter shock on his face.

"Who`s it from?" Ellyn`s mom asked and looked.

"What?! I… Why?"

"Who`s the sender? What`s inside?" Marys started asking and the reactions did not leave Ellyn calm either.

"Princess Lunor Aspion."

Ellyn`s sister flew to their mom`s side and started reading with her, eyes widening.

"There`s my name!" Marys exclaimed.

What was happening? She couldn`t make a sense of it. Why would the divine princess be sending them letters, mentioning Marys? Ellyn looked at the letter left on the table by Giliam. The sender… Prince Ulweld Aspion. An invitation to a hunt. Monday, March 19th. Her eyes almost popped out. Now, all had the same look on their faces. A tea party and a hunt.

"Ellyn, did you mention any of us to Lady Miral?" Meron asked after thinking for a while.

"Hmm… No. I didn`t really say anything. Idreyn was the one talking."

"What were they talking about?"

"I… I`m sorry, I wasn`t paying attention. I can ask."

"Please, do that."

"What do we wear?" Marys asked, getting over her initial shock already.

Ellyn hugged and kissed her dear family members one by one, said she loves them, like always, then wished all the good luck before taking her bag prepared for this "day at school" into hand. Walking outside the house in deep thought, the girl noticed her neighbour Selea. To a big surprise, her best friend has been thinking about something heavily, barely reacting.

"Ellyn, my mom got invited to the royal palace," Selea started, almost absentmindedly.

"Tomorrow? Is she invited to a tea party taking place tomorrow?"

"What? No. The day after that. Why would it be tomorrow?"

"My mom and Marys are going there tomorrow."

Her best friend looked at her in surprise.

"I need to talk with them shortly."

They`ve returned to Arte family house and Selea asked about the invitations, then explained the invitation her mom got in the morning. Cathe did not mention anything of the sort yesterday. It all seemed like a polite visit of an old, high noble friend a day ago. Not anymore. Sharing the information with Frowe family before finally leaving for school, was the next step.

"I like your hair ribbon, Ellyn," Selea said during an otherwise silent walk.

"Thank you."

"Ah, I almost forgot! I`ve made a breakthrough!"

Selea stopped in her tracks, blinked a couple of times and looked at her, as if asking "could you elaborate, please?"

"I cast my first Mana Pulse in the morning."

Her best friend stopped caring about how childish it will look in public and started hugging, then dancing with Ellyn right there on the street. They`ve been trying hard daily for the past 8 years. A few minutes of acting like kids was only natural. Selea hugged her powerfully afterwards, followed by being interested to hear some details about the breakthrough.

"…What do you mean by "I lost consciousness and must have hit my head or something"?! Ellyn! I`m never leaving you like that again."

"Ah, come on… a little collapse every now and then is good."

"No. No, it isn`t. Don`t you leave my sight today."

This day`s walk to school wasn`t less exciting than yesterday`s. Ellyn didn`t drop her bag and even got a public hug. Most of the way, however, the two were silently thinking about those letters from the royal palace. Princess Lunor`s tea parties, where investments of 1000 gold crowns and more are discussed and Prince Ulweld`s hunts for matters of military importance.

How much money was 1000 gold crowns? A single gold crowns was worth 10 silver crowns or 1000 crowns. A meal could be bought at one of City of Aspion`s inns for around 7 crowns. Million crowns and more was a lot. Giliam has been earning 5 silver crowns a week, taxed. He is a former level 3 aura user, a skilled mentor teaching the next generations of soldiers.

They`ve reached the school before it started. 8 was still not sounded, though barely. Many students were usually spending the remaining time with classmates either at the school`s shop, or a nearby dessert place. Those two businesses were not direct competitors, selling something quite different. Strictly licenced and regulated. A little expensive for Ellyn`s taste.

The duo needed to talk with their star classmate about the high noble Cathe and what`s been happening today. It might take place at her rented house. Lady Miral was not directly raised together with their friend, but Mirals were keeping Idreyn as a hostage from 3 until 10-year-old and sent her to City of Aspion after, likely telling their children there to get along with her.

"Have you heard from your sister-in-law? How did the tea party go yesterday?" one of the classmates asked another.

"All I know is that Rainry herself returned in a great mood and was singing praises about the divine princess. Things must have gone really well."

"Did she say anything about how many people there were? What did they drink, eat? How were they dressed? Was it inside? Outside?"

"She`s mentioned Isia Laur and Cathe Miral being present. That is all I know."

"Isia Laur? The leader of Laur Group? Of course... Of course! Lady Miral has always been a smart one, yes. It makes sense," another replied, satisfied that she got that information.

All Ellyn`s heard was that the invitations were almost certainly Cathe`s work. Laur Group has been among the wealthiest and most influential merchant groups in the world, known for having strong ties to Salona Kingdom. Whoever wanted to trade, had to be on good terms with Aspions and Argelans to a degree of getting recommended, then maintain their relations.

The tea party wasn`t the sole topic before the first lecture started. A rumour was being spread that a delegation of Eastern Empire is on their way to City of Aspion. Ellyn didn`t care much about this yet, though consequences of a diplomatic visit may be important. Still too soon. Such a journey could take weeks. More relevant rumours will only start appearing later, if true.

Their mentors with assistants were not forcing students to pay attention in any way. Unnecessary, taking precious time and disrupting. Whether it was theory of mana channelling, geography, literature, math or physical education, all would be useful to them. As long as they understood this, no one had to push them into anything. Ellyn enjoyed school greatly.

Students of school for mages were not studying foreign languages. Soldiers generally had no use for them. They fight for Salona Kingdom, getting commands in their own language. Forcing most to pay attention would have been very ineffective, even if some might find it interesting, maybe outright important. Anyone can study more on her or his personal time and expenses.

Idreyn needed foreign languages and Selea biology and they studied those in that manner. Ellyn sometimes wondered, whether simply studying what she had to, but much more- going into depth, wasn`t the best choice. Widening the range may certainly be an option. No… If anything, choosing additional physical training seemed like a way to go after the breakthrough.

It was a known fact that channelling mana or aura increased regeneration speed. In comparison with her classmates, Ellyn has always been disadvantaged at physical education with how long the recovery took. Now, however, she could step up. Not for unrealistically thinking of being a soldier starting June, but because such a thing was finally possible.

"Great job today, Miss Arte. Keep at it and you`ll be a great soldier one day," her physical education`s mentor praised her.

Ellyn`s been already clean and smelling nicely, wearing the blue ribbon, Selea by her side. Their destination was clear, the girls hungry. A little better regeneration speed didn`t do anything to decrease the rapid rise of the need for food. Soldiers had to be fed well. A simple fact. Those two were leaving in a hurry. The today`s offer at the inn was almost making the duo drool.

"… I had no idea Cathe could or would do something like that… It is not a bad change," Idreyn reacted to the two, but then laid down her spoon.

"But if your families have been invited, … do you think that mine might have been as well?"

"I can`t see them being left out," Selea replied and took another bite of the meat.

"I need to send a message to Cathe. These things have to be communicated. I can`t leave my parents uninformed about her role, if they`ll really be invited and can`t mention it to them, if they won`t be. Visiting Countess Miral to thank her personally is the least they`ll have to do."

"This is a huge thing. My mom can`t ride a horse, but if she needed to, she`d still take the fastest one to make it to the royal palace in time. That`s how big it is. A royal favour… That is a dream of every noble," she said while preparing quill, ink and a paper.

"Idreyn, I almost forgot again. I`ve made a breakthrough today. My first spell," Ellyn told.

"That`s wonderful!" Idreyn exclaimed, already squeezing a soul out of her in a big hug.

"You`ll get there, Ellyn. I know that you will. The three of us, we must be in a squad one day," she said and started hugging them in turns, then a group hug.

Their star friend loved spending time with Ellyn and Selea. She could be herself, when in private with the two. That always helped her relax. A sweet, but scared girl put under a lot of pressure from enormous expectations placed on her by everyone around, but them. Idreyn could never abandon her role as a lower noble, but she might not handle the weight of it forever.

Unfortunately, the trio couldn`t train together at the public training grounds without some people making their lives more difficult. Idreyn dreamed of being a part of the same squad in one battalion, where they`d train in a group. Ellyn and Selea needed to cast daily spells in two. It won`t take long with how small her mana reserves still were. Maybe 2 or 3 attempts today.

"I`m sorry to interrupt. Are you Selea Frowe and Ellyn Arte?" a messenger asked.

"These two identical messages are for you," he said after they showed him their papers.

He did not wait, which meant that a response was not expected. Sometimes it is not only expected, but also paid for in advance. These personal messengers` services were not cheap, because they needed to find the recipient with little information and, as such, could take a lot of time. The duo read the messages a few times, looking at one another afterwards.

"Do we go there?" Ellyn asked.

"It is the royal palace… the worst that can happen is that they won`t let us in."

The messages` text was simple. "Meet me at the south-eastern gate of the royal palace, near Lamse Street, Cathe". It hasn`t been long since Idreyn went to send her own. Is it possible that she`s been found by the messenger prior to Ellyn and Selea? How did he know where to look for them? Should they even trust some random message? Not being let in… could be.

The two chose the option of going there. The messengers weren`t cheap and though they couldn`t be sure about Cathe`s handwriting, it was signed by her name. Ellyn has mostly been hoping to see Alyl again, but the duo may also have an opportunity to mention the invitations. Getting more information to tell their families during dinner would help a lot too.

"Idreyn, you`re also going there?" Selea asked after meeting their friend on their way, not far from the goal.

"Cathe wanted to meet and I`d like to know…"

That calmed their worries. She really was the sender. The fact did not explain what the meeting`s purpose might be. They still felt better going there with someone who knew Cathe well enough. As long as Ellyn with Selea didn`t stick to Idreyn too much, not even chancing upon one of the bootlickers would have made things difficult. They were classmates.

"Papers, please," one of the guards at the gate said after approaching them, somehow knowing who they were.

"Follow me in."

"Aren`t you going to search for hidden weapons?" Ellyn asked.

"Do you enjoy that procedure, Miss Arte?" the guard asked, not expecting an answer.

Ellyn did not reply, her face red. True… Their identities were no secret to the army. The trio was known, had families, they did not expect being called and most likely got background checked in advance, possibly even spied on throughout the day. They weren`t licenced soldiers yet, the possible threat level must have been minimal even if the girls were suicidal.

"Idreyn, girls, welcome, welcome… This place is one of our private training grounds. Get comfortable. You`ll be training here from now on until you are assigned to a battalion," Cathe welcomed them.

"I… I`m sorry… what do you mean? Why would we be training here?" Idreyn asked.

Ellyn`s mana was acting weird ever since she saw Alyl next to the armoured high noble aura user. It shouldn`t be doing this… As if… it became a stormy sea instead of a calm lake, attacking her mind and body in waves … As if… it was whispering "touch her… touch her… get close enough, let her look into your eyes, touch you…". Its intensity was only growing.

"Hi, Alyl," Ellyl said in a weird voice, a stupid smile on her face.

She got a "Hi, Ellyn" back in that ridiculously pleasant voice with a smile and almost achieved a victory on the spot. That would have been the first.

"We want you to. Is that enough of an answer, Idreyn, my friend?"

"Who is the "we"?"

"I think that you already know. We don`t have time to play games. You won`t be showing your progress to anyone in the public anymore. None of the three of you. Don`t you dare to cast a spell outside of this place, unless in an emergency. It is very important."

"… Is Princess Lunor inviting my mom to a tea party?"

"She is. The date is March 21st. Baroness Isloe and Countess Archen. The offer was planned by the leadership. Be sure to mention it in the letter."

"Planned…" Idreyn said her thought aloud, then went silent, knowing what it meant.

"Yes. It will be a major project."

"And what about our families? Why did Princess Lunor invite them?" Selea asked.

"If you`re asking whether it is connected to you, then yes. Yes, it is. They`ll hear the offer in detail tomorrow and the day after, respectively."

"The three of you will be joining the same squad in June. We have a lot of work to do."

"But… Ellyn has only cast her first spell today," Selea pointed out something that seemed like a flaw in the plan.

"And why do you think you`re not to be seen training outside of here? She`ll be a soldier in June. Follow me."

"But that`s… more than 0,1 metre a day…" Selea said for herself.

The mana sensations became a little weaker when Alyl followed Cathe and Ellyn could only see the back and Oh… ehm, ehm. Damn. Still there, but the risk of embarrassing herself even more has been lowering. This wasn`t like her. Who almost achieves a victory after seeing a face and hearing a voice? Staring at the lady-in-waiting`s dressed backside, she followed, enthralled.

"Would you like me to help you?" Alyl asked Ellyn as they`ve arrived to two measures.

"Mhmm," Ellyn made a noise and started nodding her head heavily.

The private training grounds had its own washing booths, and equipment to train strength. It wasn`t as large, but the royal palace was offering a lot of privacy in exchange, the place being reserved beforehand and guarded. For running… the nobles probably used a different one, much larger, possibly with many more people at all the times. They can run at school instead.

Cathe welcomed her aura user mentor… wait… Dad?!

"Mr. Arte?" Selea reacted first.

"Girls, what are you doing here? Shouldn`t you be at the public training grounds? Ellyn, what…"

He noticed his daughter using the created opportunity to sneak closer to Alyl. Close enough to sniff her hair. The scene surprised him a lot. Had it been the other way around and a boy doing that to Ellyn, the former soldier would be moving in, screaming murder and swinging sword. Giliam thought for a short while, then nodded approvingly and chose to respond to Selea.

"Lady Miral asked to be trained by me. This is our first lecture. Private lessons pay well and it is an honour for me to train her."

What choice did he have after being directly contacted by someone so high up? You don`t turn down such opportunities. Alyl`s hair smelled wonderfully. She wondered, whether it`s been the mana sensations playing tricks on her mind or a reality. Maybe both. The lady-in-waiting turned to face the sniffing girl, which almost made the surprised Ellyn fall on her bottom.

"Mr. Arte. I want you to mentor me until the end of May. I wish to be spending my time here with the girls, while keeping it private. I`m afraid that your other aura user adepts might have to be mentored by a colleague of yours. Drop them. You won`t have the time after becoming a royal inspector."

Ellyn wasn`t the only one who almost shouted "What?!". Luckily for the girl, she wouldn`t be able to do that in her current condition, being debilitated by mana sensations. It was an extremely pleasant feeling now, though. She loved having them. The downside … well, she could barely function. Getting the hang of these sensations might take some time.

"A royal inspector?" he asked.

"Yes. That is a position you will be offered tomorrow. Accept it and become a royal inspector, effective immediately. Your working time will be spent by training me here and learning from a royal inspector for County of Aspion. Your wage is set to be 3 gold crowns a week, no tax paid, all expenses reimbursed. Location- County of Archen."

"My family needs me here, my lady."

"Your wife Meron will be starting a branch of a family business in County of Archen after an investment, your daughter Marys will be an assistant to Ruelm Argela, an envoy of Salona Kingdom, traveling with him to foreign lands and your daughter Ellyn will be assigned together with Idreyn and Selea to the 5th Aspion battalion stationed in County of Archen. Mr. Arte, your situation may be very different starting tomorrow from what you had expected in the morning."

"Ruelm Argela is a man… No. No…" he said, shaking his head, hand on the hilt of his sword.

"A man interested in blue-eyed, white-haired, big chested women with a preference in a certain body part in a shape I`d rather not specify. Marys does not fit into any of it, as far as I know. The shamelessness called Ruelm Argela will not think of as much as touching your daughter without her permission. If he gets a permission, he will take responsibility. You have Princess Lunor`s word."

Did Cathe just say that Ellyn, Idreyn and Selea will be assigned to 5th Aspion battalion? Who decided that? Where does the confidence about her passing the test on May 31st come from? Alyl`s face is beautiful. Those green eyes and chestnut hair... The lady-in-waiting looks so good wearing formalwear. Smells nice, mmm. Would touching a hand now be too creepy?

"Enough talk. We should start training and think about the rest later," Cathe said.

Selea was training spell casting with Idreyn. Alyl has been helping to measure Ellyn`s Mana Pulse not far from them. The 2nd attempt of the day only came minutes later, when she managed to concentrate. To her surprise, it was 0,4 metres. Whether the morning one was really 0,3… hard to tell. The 3rd and the 4th were the same, leaving her without mana reserves.

"You`re doing well, Ellyn," Alyl told her.

"Thank you."

"Do you… do you like women?"

What was Ellyn thinking?! Why must she be so creepy and ruin everything, when it`s been going this well? The creepiest question to ask someone after being complimented, surely. If Alyl refuses her now, … why can`t she use head a little? Why?! Oh no! The lady-in-waiting coming up with an answer fast. The beauty will respond. A terrible idea. The worst one ever.

"Do you have someone in mind?"

"Hm? No. Nooo… I just…"

"Because there is a woman that is on my mind a lot lately."

Ellyn gulped aloud.

"I really am thinking about her a lot," Alyl said in that unbelievably calm and pleasant manner, smiling and looking at Ellyn.

"I`m also thinking about someone a lot. Ever since yesterday," Ellyn said and her heart was about to jump out of her body. She may have gone too far!

"Hmm? Did you meet an interesting man yesterday?"

"Man? No. A woman. The most beautiful and wonderful woman I`ve ever met."

"Does she make your heart beat fast?"

"You have no idea…"

"What if I do?" Alyl replied with a calm smile and kept looking into her eyes.

"No way. Let me show you," Ellyn said without thinking, grabbed Alyl`s hand and placed it on her own chest.

Noooo, you fool! What the battle did you just do?!

"That is really fast!" Alyl said in a lively manner and laughed friendly, leaving her hand rest there.

The state of Ellyn`s absent-mindedness was quicky being replaced by a state of battle-readiness, slowly realising. It was only then that the lady-in-waiting chose to move her hand away. She would be tempted to ask about how fast Alyl`s heart was beating, but Selea and Idreyn were looking their way, which made her want to crawl under some rock and stay there.

"I`ll show you how much I can lift," Ellyn said with false enthusiasm, trying to change the situation.

The entirety of the training barely took longer than an hour. Only Cathe needed to wash herself by then, since the others did not train physically enough to start sweating and Giliam`s physical condition was too good for him to sweat a lot while sparring with the high noble during the lecture. Her lady-in-waiting helped the female aura user with the washing, as expected.

Being with her lady was an important part of the position. Undressing the armour and helping Cathe get the hard-to-reach places on her back when washing, then drying, dressing, making sure the high noble looks well enough to not embarrass herself afterwards. Ellyn could use her own Alyl. She`d be unable to find the young woman a good husband or lover, though.

Ladies-in-waiting got rewarded with an opportunity to enter the nobility, alternately rich merchant families, by marriage or being taken in as official lovers. A matter of prestige for their respective lady. They did not lack anything and, if lucky, gathered many great connections during the service. Cathe was not only a Miral, but also considered a divine princess` person.

Since Alyl has been Cathe`s favourite, she`ll find someone especially good. Anything less is unacceptable for the high noble. The female noblewoman may even end in an official relationship with her own lady-in-waiting. Cathe`s future husband and the two would need to consent, sure, but that is a given. Seriously, Ellyn wouldn`t think twice if she was Alyl`s lady.

"Thank you, Giliam. It was a very good training session. We`ll be meeting like this daily. One more thing. The position of royal inspector comes with guards for you and your close family. We can`t have someone bullying our inspectors, can we?" Cathe said.

"See you tomorrow, girls."

Alyl smiled pleasantly and waved goodbye before following her lady towards the inner gate and then the royal palace. That left Ellyn, Selea, Idreyn and Giliam to find the way out. There was no turning down an offer of the leadership. They wouldn`t dare. His biggest problem with it now… it even had a name- Ruelm Argela. The nickname "shamelessness" wasn`t a joke.

"Why did she call him that way?" Ellyn wondered aloud as they left the place.

"He hates wearing clothes," Idreyn replied.

The star student was the only one of the 4 who had no idea about Marys deserving the same nickname. How the battle did the leadership know? This was not a coincidence. They wanted those two together. But… her sister started undressing when she was 6 and their parents made her stop after being called to the school. That was 10 years ago. It must have ended in her file.

Ellyn knew what it meant. The leadership is interested in the two of them becoming… "friends in nudity", at the very least. If she realised, her dad must have as well. Cathe had said that the reason they are unlikely to become a couple were Ruelm`s preferences in foreign women. Blue eyes, white hair, large chest and the 4th preference, which will, hopefully, remain a mystery.

"The rumours of him being chased by guards in the royal palace while naked appear yearly. They seem to be exaggerated, though."

"Is he that good at running? How many guards do they need?" Ellyn asked, getting the other 3 look at her, making her feel like she did not realise something. Whatever…

"Ellyn, I`ll go to buy ingredients for dinner. Girls, stay safe," Giliam said and separated from the group after a few minutes.

"Come to my place with desserts. I`ll only send a letter to my family as fast as possible and join you," Idreyn said when near one of the many message offices.

Ellyn with Selea did exactly as asked to by Idreyn and were now at her place, going over what happened. County of Archen… A border county in the north-east of Salona Kingdom. It bordered Benwen Kingdon to the north and Saris Kingdom to the east. Students could write their preferences into application, but… Cathe was clear. They`ll be assigned there.

"It is only a day away," Selea said something that almost sounded positive.

They really couldn`t find any good reason to want to be assigned to the 5th Aspion battalion. Then again, the 2 did not know much about the formation or the county. Led by Master Firel, once in a while, the formation came to mock battle the 1st Aspion battalion of Master Wisem, stationed directly inside City of Aspion, but Ellyn and Selea have never seen them.

"I`m here. Did you buy the desserts?"

"We`ve been talking about the plan to assign us to the 5th," Selea said, prompting Idreyn to join the conversation.

"I don`t know much about it. I had always thought I`d end up in the 1st, 2nd or 8th. Master Fyrel is only around 80, has a wife and 4 kids. Their level 5s… none them are likely to become a master mage in the next 5 years, but they are not recently advanced either."

That was an important information. Level 5 soldiers are the 2nd most powerful inside the battalion, usually a huge step away from becoming masters. There tend to be at least 9 of them, those 9 being in Master mage`s squad, acting as managers, while also leading 110 soldiers each. Specialised squads can have level 5s as well. Some prefer action over managing.

"But more importantly, Ellyn, you are going to be guarded all the time…" Idreyn said and took a bite.

"What are we even talking about? I don`t think I`ve ever seen a close family member of a royal inspector."

Royal inspectors were, as the name of the position suggests, inspecting for the crown. Military inspectors, mostly overseeing supplies, armour, shields, weapons of the army in a county. Giliam was, actually, a decent and reliable choice. He cared a lot about that stuff, always teaching future aura user soldiers to take a good care of their equipment, leading by example.

"I think that you won`t be able to walk the street without at least 2 guards."

"That sounds… annoying."

"They might even be permitted to guard you at school. I`ve heard about such cases," Idreyn said.

"Whaat?! No way! That will be so weird…"

"Those poor soldiers," Selea poked, a smirk on her face.

The two laughed shortly at Ellyn`s expense, then found something even funnier, mentioning her actions during their training, which made the girl want to find a rock to crawl under again. Red as a beetroot, covering her face, her friends stopped poking and changed the topic to a realisation that Selea hasn`t asked whether her parents will be moving to City of Archen too.

Half an hour later, Ellyn and Selea left Idreyn`s place and headed to their respective homes. The two were mostly silent, but the atmosphere wasn`t awkward. She felt good when thinking about being with Alyl again tomorrow and the days after. The memories of the time they`ve spent together today, will be on her mind until meeting once more. That was certain.

"Mom, dad, I`m home!"

To Ellyn`s surprise, she got welcomed by Meron, aunt Savine and Marys. The guest wasn`t unexpected, but meeting her sister like this, when the nudity loving girl could spend time naked in her room… that was rare. The soon to be 16-year-old must have been waiting to get to hear more information concerning the tomorrow`s tea party with Princess Lunor.

"Ellyn, Savine got invited as well," Meron told her.

"That makes sense. Dad hasn`t arrived, yet?"

"No, he must be on his way now."

"We`ve been with Cathe again. I have something to tell you…"

Ellyn talked for minutes. It lasted until Giliam returned. About Meron`s and Savine`s business, her dad`s new position, an offer for Marys to become Ruelm Argela`s assistant and travel to distant lands with him being the kingdom`s envoy and also about the plan to assign her to County of Archen. Her aunt was glad for them, but saddened for having to be day away.

Marys was jubilant. She even danced her silly dance of joy. It`s been some time since Ellyn has seen that happen. After Giliam arrived and realised how happy his daughter was, he couldn`t talk about his worries at all. The girl knew her father well enough to know, naturally. They`ve remembered Ellyn`s breakthrough and started preparations for a celebration dinner.

"It is very optimistic to believe that I`ll be a licenced mage in June," Ellyn tried to suggest a more realistic approach.

"You have to believe in yourself and do your best," Meron replied.

"Mom, I had thought that November is optimistic for me… May seems…"

"I`m at 0,4 metres with my spell and need to reach 10. None of my classmates got there in 2 to 3 months, is all I`m saying."

"Maybe you`ll be allowed in on an exception, if you prove fast progress. You really should try hard and hope for the best," aunt Savine suggested.

Ellyn has never heard about such a thing. Something similar wasn`t utterly impossible. She just didn`t see it happening. No matter how talented she might be, an exception would feel wrong. The impression she got was that Cathe really expected her to reach level 2 Mana Pulse in 2,5 months. Master Niriel is a superb mage, but she`s been casting spells since 4. This takes time.

Lying on her bed, Ellyn`s been thinking about Alyl, mostly. A simple thought was enough to start mana sensations. Not as powerful as before. No mage really ever spent all mana reserves. A part of it could never leave the body. That was used for channelling the rest. What little she had left, was influencing her mind and body now. The feeling was so pleasant…