Alexander stood patiently for his father to dismiss him. However it seemed he had more to say. He quickly writes a note and stamps his seal down. Then hands it to Verila.
"Go visit Drak Tomer. He will get you what you need. Verila will be with you for these next three weeks. I expect some value to come from this son. You are dismissed."
Alexander begins to walk away with Duke but his father stops him from leaving. Duke looks over and mouths sorry. The conversation didn't go as he wanted it to but it would have to be good enough. How am I going to hide what I'm working on? Although I don't like it I need to gain her trust somehow. Enough for her not to tell my Father anything.
Before he leaves the room he can feel a shift in the wind and energy around him. Verila smoothly moves to his shadow. She melds into the ground and engulfs it causing it to drop a few shades in darkness. He wasn't expecting that, hoping he could still converse with her.
"I don't trust you, but I'd like to. The things I am working on are serious and I would like your full support no matter the cost." Alexander was clear with his directions. He wished he could use his mother because at least then he could hide things from her. Alexander knew that wouldn't be possible for a mage that had reached at least true mage, fourth circle and beyond caused the color changes in your eyes, and he couldn't tell what her level might be.
The corridor was filled with silence. Great the silent type. Alexander thought to himself. He would have to wait until later to talk to her it seems.
Drak Tomer was their dedicated smith. He was of dwarven lineage, not many pure dwarves would find themselves with the empire but the Vi Terande line always had odd allegiances. Alexander had grown up going to his smithy just outside of their mansion; passed the iron fence and forest. He was a nice old man until Alexander began asking for a million and one orders.
It had been awhile since he had gone himself but it was never more than a fifteen minute walk. Although this time he had the constant feeling that a dagger was pressing up from his shadow. Something about Verila sitting within the darkness listening and watching him move slowly terrified him. Nothing like a deadly mage he doesn't know how old or dangerous she is. The fifteen minutes quickly felt like an hour but he made it unscathed.
Just passed a set of trees was a brick workshop mostly open besides a side building with a wooden door. To the right outside of the workshop was a large fire well. A fire well contained several red crystals that produced fire of extreme heat. It allowed for the smelting of complex alloys. Drak has rarely used it all because of Alexander.
Alexander could see the billow of smoke from their mansion. So he was suprised when he didn't immediately see him hammering away at one of his projects. He had heard rumors he was working on a new blade for Duke and him before they journeyed to the academy
"Hey Drak, you here. I've got an order." Alexander looked around not seeing him in his workshop. His smoke is going he can't be far.
"Drak!! you awake?" Alexander moves to knock on the wooden door.
He whispers to Verila, "You know where he could be", and get's more silence.
He sighs and knocks again. "Draaak!!"
"What! What!? I'm coming give me a second." Drak comes tumbling out of the door half dressed. He has his pants barely on and a chest and face full of grey hair a complete mess. His bald head is the only thing clean on him. Almost everything on him is covered in a layer of dust and soot. He looks up about a foot before he sees Alexander's smiling face. He sighs. "Great. It's the young master. In person this time. Glad you aren't too busy to still see this old man."
"Well yeah.. The Baron sent me this time," Alex begins reaching around his sides and into his pockets for the sheet he was supposed to give him, until it dawns on him that Verila has it, "Shit I wonder where I put it?" As he smiles trying to buy time he whispers to her.
"A little help please." He softly says to the ground.
"Did you come here just to waste my time?" As Drak chastizes him Verila reaches from the shadow and up Alexander's leg. Her finger's dancing up his leg and into his pant's right pocket. He couldn't help but begin to blush through his olive skin. "Look how red you are! You are wasting my time aren't you?"
Alexander chokes a little, "No-No! Here it's right here. I don't know how I missed it." Alexander passes the white piece of paper with his father's stamp.
Drak groans looking over it and smiles. "Well you are in luck and you don't have to waste my time. I made these months ago cause I knew you'd come begging again. Give me a second." Alexander waited while Drak went to the back of his chamber. Alexander takes some deep breathes and thinks over why she had to pass the note in that way. Every cell in his body stung from her deliberate touching up his leg. He steels himself and before he can question Verila, Drak returns with a large sack.
"Here you go.. young master. I'll see you in a month, now get lost." Drak drops the bag and slams the door on his face. Then goes back to sleep.
Alexander hauls the bag over his shoulder and starts walking back home.
"That was not funny. Could you not have handed the note to me in a better way?" He began to question Verila beyond his shadow. She remained silence and only responds by snatching the bag into the shadow with her.
"If that's your way of apologizing I guess I'll take it." Alexander takes his time to walk back home, enjoying the outside air he hasn't been able to enjoy recently. He had spent so many years working hard for himself and for his house. Using his genius intellect and forcing himself indoors. For a while all he's known is training and fighting for him to use magic. Constant sparring, reading and research. To the point he skipped nobility schools.
Just three more weeks he thought to himself.
"Then finally I can take my first step." Alexander didn't mean to speak out loud. Verila was still in his shadow but something about the clouds in the sky and the morning lights gave him some peace.
Alexander passed Duke on his way to his room and told him to make sure the maids know he can't have any distrubances for the next three weeks. Including from Mother and Ana. When he entered he set up his table and the list of rune variations he was going to begin etching into.
"Verila can you please come out? We need to talk." Alexander sits down at his desk and turns forward to his shadow.
She appears in front of her covered in shadows. She was taller than his mother, about 5 foot and 9 inches. Just a few inches shorter than him. He didn't realize that would put her ample chest right in front of his face. He couldn't help but to think how they would spill out from his hands. Everything about her body was impossible not to drool over and he almost looked away in embarrasment from his thoughts. However he carefully looked up her body and into her eyes.
"I need something from you, but first," He looked into her beautiful piercing black eyes and reached out his hand, "It's nice to officially meet you. I am Alexander Vi Terande and I am going to be the greatest mage in history."
She looks at his hands for a moment and the absolute arrogance coming from someone who hadn't even created his first circle. Except she also knew how smart he was. She had watched him from birth, Just like she had watched every Vi Terande, but he has the only one to bring hope for generations. The only one that reminded her of his ancestor.
She shook his hand and he grabbed it tightly.
"I need you to promise.. you won't breathe a word to anyone about what I'm going to show you over this month." Alexander looked into her night eyes and begged that she would nod or say something. Anything to prove that he could trust her.
"Please."
She squeezes his hand back tightly and nods slowly. He thanks her and turns around into her desk and begins going over his work. He couldn't see how she looked at him as he began etching each copper plate, slowly making his way through the combinations, isolating rune after rune. However her black eyes deeper than the darkest shadow looked into him and was amazed.
This child is interesting. Very interesting.