Origin (Land of the Elementals Book 3), page 3
While Origin magic wanted nothing but to escape and run wild, the Perception magic fought to remain within, empowering him and no one else. That was why he had to retract his Perception Field. Walking around with steam pouring off his skin would be a dead giveaway that he was doing something.
As it was, Arbor could feel his mind and body straining to keep things going. It wasn’t that he was running out of magic; as far as he knew, it was pretty much an endless source of power, but it was limiting in two ways. Firstly, at a certain point, the body could no longer handle the strain. When that happened, one had to stop using it, or they would suffer serious consequences as a result.
Secondly, the Origin itself placed limiters on how much power could be accessed at once to try and mitigate damage. These limiters were called Tiers, and as the body grew more accustomed to the usage of magic, more Tiers would be unlocked as a result. Even at the 7th Tier, Arbor was struggling to keep a cloud of his Perception magic hanging around him.
He suspected that if he had been a couple of Tiers lower, this would have been quite damaging, both to his body and mind. Now, though, it merely caused strain, which, in reality, did more to help train and toughen his body. Still, like a tough workout, the pain was ever-present and constantly trying to force him to stop.
It wasn’t until he nearly made it to the center of the large camp, that Arbor finally got his first hit. As he was passing one of the dozens of smaller fires, he felt a flash of something from a smallish male gremlin with uncommonly pale skin for one of his kind.
Arbor stopped at the group under the pretense of asking how they were, and used the opportunity to examine the gremlin closer. Sure enough, when he focused on the pale gremlin, Arbor could feel it. There was a small, still sphere of pale yellow in his left knee. He had no idea what type of magic it could be, but he noted the gremlin down in his mind before moving on.
“The pale one has magic,” Arbor said in an undertone as they headed toward the next camp.
Grak made a note on her pad, marking the insignia and rank number down from the gremlin’s uniform. The plan was for her to submit this list to Grab, who would then covertly send those few gremlins to Arbor once they reached his manor.
“I’m surprised that he’s only the first we’ve found,” Grak commented as they moved on to the next group.
“Mages are very rare,” Arbor said. “I’m surprised we even found a single one.”
“I know,” Grak replied. “But I’d assumed the number of suppressed or sleeping Origins would be much higher.”
Truthfully, Arbor had as well. For some reason, he’d thought that the number of unknown Mages would be staggering in comparison to the awakened ones, but it seemed he’d been mistaken.
“There’s nothing to worry about,” Arbor said. “Remember, we’ve still got a huge number of gremlins and humans to check on once they arrive. Not to mention all the people living within Ryevine.”
“There’s that,” Grak said, trying to force a smile.
It was clear she was troubled, and Arbor couldn’t blame her. They needed Mages, and desperately so. Powerful as he was, he could only be in one place at a time, and just by becoming part of the nobility, he’d already made some enemies. Having a few extra Mages around would never be a bad thing.
By the end of their walkthrough, Arbor and Grak had not located a single other Mage, which was a bit disheartening. Even so, an extra Mage was an extra Mage.
“I’ll get this report over to Grab,” Grak said as Arbor headed for his coach.
“You’re not going to eat with me?” Arbor asked, disappointed.
Hord was busy working, and so was Frunk, which left only Grak available. Arbor found eating alone to be a little depressing, so he was disappointed that everyone he usually dined with was busy.
“Sorry,” Grak said with an apologetic look. “I have some things to take care of first, but I can be there to tuck you in and read you a goodnight story if you want.”
“Oh, ha ha,” Arbor said, rolling his eyes.
“See you in the morning, my lord,” Grak said with a mischievous wink, before heading off toward the main tent.
Arbor let out a sigh and turned back to his coach. It would be a depressingly lonely dinner, but he’d had them before. The main problems he’d face would be in keeping his mind off Karria or worrying about Ramona. The latter woman was being transported on another wagon, guarded night and day by gremlins who’d been warned of her illusions. In fact, two of them were chained to her at all times as a precaution just in case she woke up.
Worrying was something that Arbor did a lot of now. He’d never wanted to be a noble. He had never wanted to be a leader. He never wanted anything other than a quiet life with the woman he loved. Despite all those wishes, here he was now, a Viscount on his way to lead a massive parcel of land, four other Barons, and well over fifty-thousand people. Arbor let out another long sigh as he swung open the door of the empty coach. He briefly debated grabbing his glaive and going off to do some practice, but after a few minutes of contemplation, he decided he just wasn’t in the mood.
A lackluster dinner of chicken and stringy vegetables further soured his mood, and by the time a servant came in to set up the bed, Arbor was well and truly ready for the day to be over.
“There it is. The Ryevine estate,” Frunk said as Arbor looked out at the absolutely monstrous castle sprawling before them.
They had actually been inside Arbor’s new lands for several hours by now, but they had purposely taken a route that avoided any settlements, towns, or farms.
“So, what do you think?” Grak asked as Arbor all but gawked at the massive manor.
“Can I live somewhere else, like maybe a small cabin in the forest?” Arbor asked as more of the massive house was revealed to him.
It wasn’t just the castle that was huge, but the estate grounds as well. An intricate wrought iron fence spanned the entire length of the grounds, marking the personal territory of the Viscount in charge. A cobbled path led up to the front gates, which were, as of now, unmanned, and a sprawling garden lay beyond. It was clearly in need of some tending, but it was beautiful, nonetheless. Arbor counted at least two fountains, several brooks, and over half a dozen gazebos — and this was just the front of the property.
The manor itself really stood out clearly. Shining a brilliant white and made entirely of marble, Arbor had to wonder how no one more important hadn’t wanted to lay claim to this place. Unlike the older palaces in Fivora and the other cities, the Ryevine manor had only been completed some six or seven years ago. The Ryevine family had wanted a remodel and had supposedly spent about twenty years gathering the materials needed. It was a shame that they’d upset the king to the point where they had been wiped out to a man, because all that time now seemed to have been wasted.
The house, because it looked more like a huge house than a castle, sprawled for thousands of feet, standing some forty feet tall. Instead of spires and towers, it contained triangular edges, raising into many peaked roofs and giving it a feeling of symmetry, each displaying glass panes, open to the rooms beyond. Gargoyles carved of black marble dotted the corners, standing out amidst all the white.
Tall, arching windows lined the bottom floors, allowing light to spill into the corridors, and a massive cherry-colored set of doors stood open beyond the gates. All in all, Arbor was completely appalled that he’d have to live here, which was why his first reaction had been to ask about a small cabin in the woods.
“You can sure as shit try, lad,” Hord said with a chuckle. “But somehow, I don’t think that butler of yours would allow it.”
“And neither,” Grak said, shooting him a dirty look, “would you or I.”
“Of course.” Hord immediately agreed, though it was clear he was only complying because of the threat of his wife being called in.
“I’m sure it will not be as bad as it appears, sir,” Frunk said, looking up from a blueprint of the manor. “From what I can see, the living area is well and truly sectioned off from the rest of the manor, so you should have at least some privacy.”
“Just tell me what I’m in for,” Arbor said as they stopped, allowing Sebastian to ride out in front, along with a contingent of servants to open the gates and allow them in.
“The manor, as I see it, has four main floors,” Frunk said, looking up from the blueprint. “There’s the main entrance, which is on the first floor, obviously. This includes the entryway, main corridor, main ballroom, and dining hall. The second half is sectioned off for the kitchens, servants, and merchants that will be coming in and out of the manor. A place like this requires constant maintenance, and as such, a large portion of the first floor is dedicated to the servants.”
“All that is just on the first floor?” Grak asked, letting out a small whistle.
“That is what I just said,” Frunk said, hiding his annoyance at being interrupted. “Now, as I was saying. There are two main staircases leading up to the second floor. These will be open to guests. On this floor, there is the general lounge and entertainment area, several pools for swimming, an indoor bath, and several stalls set into the walls where guests might ask for refreshments or snacks. The second half of the floor is dedicated to a tearoom, an art room, armor display, and smoke room for those who partake.
“The third floor is all living space for guests or permanent residents of the manor. It contains thirty-six bedrooms and eight suites. The floor also contains three general lounge areas and dining rooms, as well as a main ballroom for the more exclusive guests staying here. And finally, we have the fourth floor.
“This will only be accessible with the correct key, and there are two separate entrances as the floor will be split in half. One half of the floor will contain two Royal Suites, as necessitated by the king. These two rooms are reserved for the king or his family, should they wish to come for a visit.
“No one under the rank of Duke or Duchess will be allowed up there, so the rooms will remain vacant for most of the time. The second half is your living space and is completely sealed off from the public. There is one entrance from the third floor, and another from the outside that goes directly up. Your living space contains twelve bedrooms, including the master and two suites. There is also a lounge area, a water pool, baths, and an area we can clear for personal training, should you wish to do it inside, as well as a fully staffed kitchen.
“There are also half a dozen balconies, two of which are covered and provide ample room for entertaining, should you wish to invite company over.”
“Oh…Is that all?” Arbor said in a weak attempt at a joke as Frunk finished reading out all of the features of his new home.
“Of course not,” Frunk said. “There are over a dozen separate buildings for various merchants, smiths, winemakers, and the keepers of foreign foods such as fruits, vegetables, and plants. Several doctors are always on hand, and there is as a guardhouse within the grounds. There’s also the cellar, which contains several cells, a wine room, and a master vault in which to keep your belongings.”
“I’m sorry I asked,” Arbor muttered as the coach swung around and stopped before the front entrance to his new home.
The doors swung open several seconds later, and Sebastian stood there, bowing slightly at the waist. His clothes were immaculate, his suit was perfectly pressed, and a pair of pristine white gloves reflected the sunlight almost as badly as the white marble of the manor before them.
“Welcome, Viscount Emerald, to Ryevine Estate. My apologies for the mess. I will have things well in order in just a few hours.”
“Um…thanks,” Arbor said, stepping out of the coach and watching two servants, dressed similarly to Sebastian, pushing the massive doors wide.
He had a feeling he’d have stood there idly forever, if not for a sharp kick in the rear from Hord to get him moving.
I guess this is my home now, Arbor thought, eyeing the monstrosity dubiously and feeling an odd wave of sadness washing over him. If only his mother, father, and Florren could see him now.
He let out a long sigh as the others, led by Hord, began trundling in, talking amongst themselves in excitement.
This was his life now, so he may as well get used to it.
3
Karria’s head craned upward as she tried to see the top of the city walls. From this close, it was a bit challenging, and had Kya not been standing behind her, she suspected she’d have lost her balance and toppled backward. As it was, Karria’s sudden fall nearly took the elf girl to the ground as well.
“Careful!” Kya said, stumbling back as she caught her friend.
“Sorry,” Karria said sheepishly as Kya pushed her back to her feet. “I’ve just never really been in a big human city before. I didn’t realize they built the walls so high.”
“They didn’t always,” Akkard said, eyeing Kya’s head covering carefully. “And pull that band down a bit more, Kya.”
The elf’s eyes widened for just an instant when she realized that her long sweeping ears had become partially uncovered. She was quick to rectify that by pulling down on the side of the floral head-covering they’d picked up in a small out-of-the-way village on their way here. Though everyone knew of the elves’ existence, none were ever seen outside of the Goldenleaf forest, and, when they were, they became prime targets for slavers, due to the high price demands of such a rare find.
“How do I look?” Kya asked, turning to Karria and biting her bottom lip nervously.
“You look fine,” Karria said, rolling her eyes.
If she’d thought that something as simple as a floral cloth that covered the top of the elf’s head and concealed her ears would diminish Kya’s beauty, she’d have been dead wrong. Not that she had made that assumption. By this point, Karria suspected that her friend could don rags, smear her face with mud, and still look prettier than just about anyone in all of Laedrin.
“Thank goodness,” Kya said, flashing her a warm smile. “For a moment there, I was afraid someone had seen.”
“Oh, people are definitely seeing,” Karria muttered.
She would have had to be blind to not notice all the looks Kya was attracting. Not because of her elven heritage, but because of the aforementioned looks. It wasn’t just her extremely attractive and curvy figure that grabbed the eye, but her large hazel eyes, full pink lips and the way her honey-colored hair always seemed to perfectly frame her heart-shaped face.
It also didn’t help that they’d had to buy some clothes that were designed for a ‘one size fits most,’ and unfortunately for Kya, she was not in the ‘most’ category when it came to the chest department. Which, in turn, led to a very obvious straining by her bust, which would immediately draw the eye. It wasn’t like the elf girl was dressed immodestly, as much like Kya, her neckline only came down a little past her collarbone, but it was the tightness of the dress that made people stare.
“Stop being so petty,” Kya said, playfully swatting her arm. “You might not have noticed it, but you’re getting plenty of looks as well. If you’d like, I can start pointing them out to you. I’ve even gotten a few bits and pieces from several…”
“No! I’m fine!” Karria said quickly, dropping the subject entirely and purging the emotions from her mind.
Kya had Connection magic. It was a type of magic that allowed her to sense and influence the emotions of others, and, on occasion, read minds. Kya could also control minds if she really concentrated, but that was an entirely different aspect of her magic to what was being talked about at the moment.
“No, really,” Kya said, continuing on, her voice practically dripping with faux concern. “That old man standing near the gate is practically oozing with des…”
Karria cut her friend off mid-sentence by clamping her hand over Kya’s mouth.
“I don’t need to hear about every old creep who ogles me. I’m happier not knowing.”
Kya’s eyes danced with mirth, and when she removed her hand, the elf had to suppress a laugh.
Karria didn’t understand what was so funny and let out a huff, folding her arms beneath her chest and staring back to the open gates once more. In Kya’s defense, she had to admit that while not on the elf’s otherworldly levels of beauty, Karria wasn’t bad looking herself. Her body was slowly filling out, the dress clinging much tighter to her hips and chest than it would have a few months ago, and her arms and legs were looking more toned by the day, due to all the exercise and training she put herself through.
She had bright green eyes, a small nose, and pert lips. Her skin was tanned lightly, and a splash of darker freckles ran across the bridge of her nose, highlighting her cheekbones, which were becoming more defined every day as she grew from a girl into a woman. Her long brown hair, which she still refused to cut, fell in long waves, tumbling halfway down her back. Karria was only fifteen, but in half a year, she’d be old enough to be considered an adult. Kya, who was four months older than her, was just two short months away, though she was sure that marriage was the last thing on either of their minds.
The Goldenleaf Forest, Kya’s homeland and the place where she had found refuge, had been overthrown by her own uncle, Zir. The two of them had barely escaped with their lives, and it was only thanks to Silver that they had managed to stay alive. After taking them far from the city and into another realm called Nexus, the salamander had given them both some much-needed training.
Unfortunately, a couple of the Transcended — otherworldly beings who looked like angels from the old lore about the Almighty — caught wind of them and attacked. The last Karria had seen of Silver, he’d been about to clash with the two who’d come after them. She was fairly confident he was still alive, but there was still the small nagging feeling of doubt that he hadn’t made it.
