About a week after Sam left the Gracehart duchy.

“Your Majesty. Samantha Wardwall has returned.” The chamberlain announced to King Emanuel Stormbolt.

“Ah, Mage Samantha, welcome back. I trust your assignment was easy?” The king asked me as I knelt down. I gave him look an incredulous look before responding. “Permission to speak freely, your majesty?” I asked as I looked up to him.

“Of course, I want a full report about my nephew and his affinities. Come on, out with it!” He excitedly asked like a child whose birthday it was.

Well, he asked for it. “Your majesty, his affinities are Metal, at D-rank. Ice, at C-rank...” His majesty looked at me like I was joking. “Samantha, we both know that is not possible. Affinities in humans are not that scattered. Tell me what his actual affinities are. Now.”

“Your majesty, I was not finished, and I am not lying. His other affinities are Air, at B-rank. Fire at A-rank, Lightning at S-rank...”

“S-RANK! That’s incredible. I might need to send Mage-Lieutenant Franko...” His majesty exclaimed with excitement before he looked at me and noticed that my expression was one of burden. “What is it Samantha, I know you and him do not get along, but you do not need to make that face.”

I gulped. “Your majesty, that is not all. His last affinity... It is Darkness, also at S-rank.” I spoke as calmly as I could. The shock in his majesty's eyes made me worried for that boy. His uncle was going to spare no expense in his training.

“S... S-ranked... In Darkness? Are you absolutely sure, Samantha? There hasn’t been a S-rank Darkness Mage in almost five hundred years.” His Majesty asked again, and I nodded. “I am absolutely sure. I had him use the device twice. Just to be sure.” My response was absolute. Final even. As he looked at me and leaned back in his throne, he shook his head took a breath before looking at his chamberlain. “Marcus, please send a letter to both the Mage-General and the Archmage. I want them here by the end of the day. This is urgent.”

***

A month went by after Samantha’s visit, and I was trying to read a book by myself when I heard a carriage pull into the front of the mansion from the window. I looked down and saw a woman step out of the carriage wearing an exquisite robe. She had greying hair and spectacles on. I turned back to my book and continued reading. The current book I was working on finishing was a history book about the founding of the Stormbolt Kingdom.

I had learned that our nation was founded by the Archmage Windrow Stormbolt of the Rikha Empire after its collapse almost five-hundred years ago. The province of Cloudbreach was the southern tip of the Rikha Empire and was far enough away from the politics of the empire to survive when a plague broke out and decimated the majority of the population in the imperial province. After three years of famine and plague outbreaks the mages of the council declared war on each other. The Archmage Windrow Stormbolt managed to escape the conflicts and flee to Cloudbreach, and build a wall three hundred feet to close off the border to the empire...

It was at this point Ellen came into the library to get me. My research into this world’s history will have to wait. Ellen came and picked me up, taking me down to the parlor again. I sighed as I asked. “Who came to see me today?”

Ellen refused to say anything until we were downstairs. By that point it seemed redundant. The woman was sitting with my parents in the parlor. I was brought over by Ellen and sat between my parents again. I looked up at the woman and smiled politely. She had spectacles and her grey hair was in a bun. I looked into her eyes and thought I saw a muddy brown color that seemed to shift with the light. I looked to my father and asked. “Father, who is this?

“Alex, this is Archmage Thalia Kelthos. She is here to ask you a few questions. And to get the basic idea of your power.” My father’s answer alarmed me a bit, but I disregarded it. That must have made the archmage wonder about me as most people would be off put by meeting one of such a high regard, and my reaction was too mature for her liking.

“So, this is Alex, the hexa-elemental mage. You seem rather composed considering your age.” Thalia stated to me before looking me over. “I have come with a message from your uncle. He wants you to be taught by my husband, Mage-General James Kelthos. And a few other A-ranked mages we have in the military. But he also can’t take James away from the capitol for too long. So, he wants you to come and live in the castle for a few years.” The look I gave the archmage must have made here realize I am still only a year and a half old.

“I am to reassure you also. He wants his nephew to go up with his family, but also to know his power, and why we must train you. I am to, and I quote. ‘Give him some time to think the idea over and talk with my sister and brother-in-law.’ He was very adamant about this, to the point I am to stay here for a week and train you a little, while giving you time to decide with your family.” Thalia looked at my parents and bowed her head. “I am sorry to impose upon you, your graces, but I believe you know what I am up against from his majesty.”

My mother started to laugh as she looked at Thalia and nodded. “Yes, I know. His majesty was always a handful when he really wanted something. Thankfully it had only happened twice when we were growing up.” My mother looked at my father, then down to me before finally looking at Thalia and speaking. “I think we need time to discuss this as a family. If you don’t mind, I will have Ellen here take you up to the guest room.”

“That will be much appreciated.” Thalia thanked my parents and followed Ellen out of the room. After a few minutes of silence, I couldn’t take it anymore and moved to ask my parents a question and saw my mother tearing up. “Mother, am I going to have to live Uncle Emanuel?” I asked as I stood up on the couch and gave her a hug.

“Yes, I think it will be hard on me to be away from my only child for so long. But you have powers that neither your father nor I can really help you understand. Right George?” She looked to my father, I followed shortly after and stared at him for a few seconds before he responded. “Yes, I think you need to learn to control your magic. And I do believe you have to know how to live apart from us sooner or later. But we will take you to Emanuel yourselves. Normally I would not speak ill of a friend and family, but he really has me mad now.”

My mother must have believed him because the look on her face was one of pure worry. “Mother, father? Why can’t we just move there and live together until my training is over? I don’t want to be away from you both.” My mother gave me a hug as my father came up behind me and hugged us both. “I will ask his majesty if we can. Normally things around here are busy enough when I have to go to the capitol normally. A trip back and forth every few months wouldn’t be as bad as having you sent away for a while. Yes, I think that might work.” My father said as he had a revelation.

“Jim?” My father called out to the head butler, whom showed up out of practically nowhere. “Ah, there you are. Yes, can I ask you to prepare everything for a trip to the capitol by the end of the week? I think we will be gone significantly longer than last time.”

“How long do you think your grace? A month or two? And would you like me to make sure Mawry and Jethro are travel ready as well?” Jim asked, already likely making plans in his head for the endeavor.

“Longer than that, I think. I think we will be there for at least a season or two. I will draw up a plan for the upcoming planting season and prepare a message to the capitol immediately.” My father replied with a slightly keen look in his eyes. It kind of scared me a bit, like a wolf that was about to hunt.