Veric was looking around the dining hall enjoying the architecture. The castle had some gothic characteristics such as large stained glass windows, pointed arches and ribbed vaults composed of a framework of crossed or diagonal arched ribs in the ceiling. The dining hall contained all of those giving it a church-like atmosphere. Veric liked it, as a child on earth, he would visit the church every Sunday with his grandparents and the dining hall made him feel nostalgic about those days.

Nadine was sitting opposite of him tired, almost falling asleep while the other three girls were talking amongst themselves, Veric tried listening but their conversations were oddly similar to girl talk from Earth which wasn’t that interesting to him. They were seated at one of eight large mahogany tables waiting for their food. The dining hall was grand yet sparsely decorated. It wasn’t what Veric expected.

The staff of a castle could be divided into two main groups, the men and women at arms and the domestic servants. The first group could be subdivided into nobility and soldiers. The nobility included knights and squires. The nobility lived in the castle and currently, Veric was surrounded by them. There were around thirty knights were working under the baron and each knight was training at least one squire.

While Veric was looking around he realised something. ‘Most of the squires are children of knights, thus trained in order to become knights. But why would the baron send his son to be trained with the commoners, does he simply hate me? I know that I am the fourth son but as the son of the baron I should still have slightly better treatment, right? If I threw a tantrum would he allow me to become a squire and later a knight or is it a premeditated action with a particular goal in mind? Or is the world less divided because of the system and being trained with the commoners not considered out of the ordinary? Well whatever, I don’t really care either way.’

“Veric, your sister told me that you have acquired a magic-related class. Which one is it?” Abby the ginger squire asked. She was fourteen two years older than Veric.

“It’s called the [Nessari Archanist].”

“That doesn’t sound very magical to me. Can you cast any spells yet?”

“I can but they are nothing impressive, So far I can push small items with mana.”

“Can you show me?”

After a moment of thought, Veric replied. “I don’t know, it’s really not that impressive.”

“Please, I have never seen any magic before, the only thing that could be considered as magic would be the miracles the priests perform.”

“What miracles have you seen?” Veric asked intrigued.

“Some healing spells and one priest perform a blessing of restriction on me after I became a squire,” Abby replied.

“What is the blessing of restriction?” Veric asked.

“Oh you know, the blessing that the priest of Akshan the blind eye can grant you in order to make you stronger a lot more quickly. I chose the restriction of scent but I regret it now, most of the things I eat don’t taste like anything now. I should have gone for two restrictions, the restriction of scent and taste, that way instead of a 5% passive XP gain I would get 10%.”

‘So if miracles exist does that mean that gods are real too? Veric red books about them before but I assumed that they were as real as they were on earth.’ Veric thought with a raised eyebrow.

“Can’t you get another blessing then?”

“No, you can only get one blessing of restriction per tier, If I chose 2 at the time then I would have been ahead of others by now. I have to wait till I reach the next tier. I am more than halfway there so it’s not too bad.”

“Why didn’t you ask your parents or your sister what to do?” Veric asked.

“I told her to wait but she snuck off to do it her way. The blessing of restriction grants a buff for only one year while you are in tier 0 but the restriction disappears only after you reach level 51. She should have waited to reach level 40 and then got the blessing, that way she would have maximised the XP gained during that year. But as per usual, she didn’t listen to me.” Alessandra replied with a scornful look causing Abby to become smaller.

“Alessandra, Did you also have a restriction on you?” Veric asked.

“No, I am waiting to reach a second tier. The blessing of restriction cannot be repeated, so if you chose the restriction of scent in tier 0 you can’t receive the same blessing in any subsequent tier. Once I reach the second tier I am planning on using at least 3 restrictions. Restriction of scent, taste, and weight, the last one should make me feel like I am carrying an additional 50kg on each of my limbs. In total it will net me an 18% passive XP bonus.” Alessandra explained.

“18? I thought that each restriction grants 5%?”

“Blessings of restriction are divided into 2 categories. The lesser and greater blessings. The lesser ones grant a 2% increase and the greater ones grant 5% The restriction of weight is the lesser one but it can be stacked.” Alessandra replied.

Before Veric could ask more questions Abby interjected impatiently. “Can you finally show me magic? Talking about the blessings is boring.”

“I can try.”

‘What would I even do? Pushing a napkin seems a bit underwhelming?’ Veric thought and grabbed a silver spoon. He closed his eyes and started to inject mana into it. ‘Wow, this is so much easier than with water.’ He thought and started to slowly pour even more mana into it. After a few breaths of time he stopped. The spoon felt warmer to the touch than before. Veric opened his eyes and saw Abby looking at him with expectant eyes. He let go of the spoon slowly which continued to float in the air in front of him. Followed by a barrage of notifications.

Congratulations! [Minor Mana Manipulation] Has Reached Level 3

+ 2XP

Congratulations! You have learned a new Tier 0 spell: [Lesser Telekinesis]

+ 1XP

Spell Description:

By imbuing an object with mana you can grasp a control over that object through your mana.

Mana cost: 100 MPkg^-1s^-1.

Casting time: Object dependent.

Range 75 cm.

Congratulations! [Nessari Arcanist] Has Reached Level 3

You have been awarded 3 Attribute Points.

Name

Veric Martel

Vitality

9(18)

Class

[Nessari Arcanist]

Constitution

9(18)

Race

Nessari

Strength

2(5)

Level

3

Agility

3(6)

Experience

2/11

Dexterity

3(6)

Health

59/59

Intelligence

410

Stamina

42/59

Wisdom

407

Mana

8586/8586

Willpower

36

Aether

55/180

Titles(5)

Special traits(1)

Attribute points

6

Skills(7)

Spells(4)

‘Nice I have levelled up again.’ Veric thought while the silver spoon continued to float in front of his face.

“How are you doing this?” Abby asked. Her and everyone else's eyes focused on the spoon.

“It’s a new spell I have learned. Called [Lesser telekinesis]. Veric replied.

“When did you learn it?” Elora asked surprised.

“Just now. I simply poured mana into this spoon. I am controlling the mana inside of the spoon and the spoon itself.” He said. His hand was slowly moving from left to right and the spoon followed his hand.

“I wish I could do that,” Abby said.

“Learning swordsmanship is so much harder than magic,” Abby said resulting in both Elora and Alesandra laughing.

“Do you think that there are so few mages around because being a mage is too easy and people like a challenge?” Alessandra asked.

“But he just came up with a spell,” Abby replied.

“Yes, but there are countless spells out there. Some spells require years of research. [Lesser telekinesis] is a well-known spell that almost all mages know.” Alessandra explained.

“How do you know so much about mages,” Abby asked.

“I don’t live with my head in the clouds like you Abby. Maybe you should read a book or two for once.” Alessandra replied upset with her sister's lack of general knowledge. Alessandra wanted to continue scolding her sister but the servants carrying food have managed to save Abby’s ears.

They were served creamy scrambled eggs, venison sausages and rye bread. Nadine was first to react. Before she looked completely uninterested in either the magic or the conversations but the second the food arrived her vision became sharp and her stomach realised an audible rumble. She wolfed down the first sausage before the rest of the table had time to grab hold of their cutlery. But Veric couldn’t blame her.

’These sausages smell amazing.’ Veric thought and grabbed a silver fork. He cast [Lesser telekinesis] onto it and tried to scoop up some eggs with the spoon but had trouble balancing the eggs. The additional weight of the eggs was almost too much to lift. Veric strengthened the mana connection to the spoon and poured more mana into it to account for the weight of the eggs.

“You shouldn’t play with your food.” Elora said.

“I am not. I am practising.” He replied and the spoon full of creamy scrambled eggs floated into his mouth. ‘I think that these are the best eggs I ever had in my life. Is there a [Chef] class and a [Cooking] skill? If so then this chef is definitely one of the tier 3 people Elora mentioned before.

“Ok, but try not to make any mess,” Elora replied, somewhat proud and happy for her brother. She has never seen him smile as honestly as now. He was clearly enjoying magic almost as much as the eggs.

Veric nodded back in reply.

‘Controlling the movement of the spoon while keeping the fork afloat is challenging but manageable. I think I can manage a knife too.’ Veric thought and grabbed the silver knife.

He used the floating fork to puncture the brown skin of the juicy sausage and the knife to cut a bite-sized piece off. He made sure to add extra mana to the fork whenever he wanted to lift the sausage.

“I wish I could do that.” Abby said with envy.

Veric’s magical performance has garnered some attention from the servants and knights eating at other tables but after a while, they ignored the spectacle.

Veric was the last one to finish eating due to his unconventional food delivery method. Nadine was first even after receiving seconds.

“So now that everyone is done eating what is the plan for the rest of the day?” Abby asked.

Elora and Alessandra look deeply into each other's eyes and simultaneously uttered the same word with enthusiasm. “Duel”

“Is it that time of the month again?” Abby asked with a smile.

*

Veric, Nadine and Abby were sitting on a bench watching Elora and Alessandra circle each other inside of the arena not letting their opponent enter the blind spot of their stances. They were currently in a duelling hall under the castle. The three kids were not the only ones watching as Elora and Alessandra were gauging each other. There was a small crowd of squires watching them.

The air was thick with anticipation. It was a well-known fact in the castle that Elora and Alessandra would spar once a month to determine their dominance, their duels would always attract a small crowd.

Both of them were using blunt steel swords and were wearing basic gambeson armour, Elora was using a two-handed long sword. Alessandra on the other hand was using two shorter blades. Alessandra was first to attack. She swung the sword downwards diagonally with her right hand while keeping the left blade ready to react. Her swing was fast and explosive, Veric was barely able to follow the point of the blade.

Elora lifted the crossguard of the sword blocking the sing while simultaneously she used the larger reach of her sword by dropping the point of her sword forcing Alessandra to retreat backwards. The angle at which Elora’s sword fell onto Alessandra’s head made it impossible for her to block or deflect with the other blade.

“Reckless as always,” Elora said with a mocking smile.

Alessandra’s eyes narrowed and her face became tight as she clenched her jaws. Elora’s long sword flashed in a fluid motion towards Alessandra’s neck.

Alessandra took a step forward and duck under the flat of the long sword, she used her forward momentum to stab Elora in the stomach with the right blade.

Elora used her overwhelming strength to stop the momentum of her swing. She twisted her wrists downwards and struck Alessandra's wrist hard with the pommel of her sword forcing Alessandra to drop one of her blades however, it was already too late.

Alessandra used her left blade to perform a lightning-fast horizontal slash aiming for her opponent’s exposed stomach. Elora was struck into her side with the point of the blade which bounced off of her hard muscles wrapped in thick gambeson dealing minimal damage.

Elora lost that exchange. It wasn’t a clean win but a win none the less.

The crowd released a cheer for Alessandra.

“You talk too much.” Alessandra said displaying her own mocking smile.

Elora didn’t reply. Alessandra picked up her blade and stood up straight. Once both of them were ready they turned away from each other took five steps in opposite directions and turned back to face each other once again.

This time they didn’t circle each other. Elora sprinted towards her opponent and closed the distance between them under a second, she used that momentum to release a heavy low cutting swing aiming at Alessandra’s right hip preventing her from dodging in the same fashion as last time or deflecting with her weakened hand.

She jumped backwards instinctively with her blades raised defensively expecting a follow-up attack from the left instead, Elora used the rotational momentum in her hips to perform an unexpected high kick aimed at Alessandra’s head. She tried moving her head backwards to dodge but it only caused the boot to connect with her chin, her head twisted awkwardly backwards at high velocity causing her brain to slam into the back of her skull.

The clang of steel hitting the stone floor resounded through the arena. Both of them dropped their swords, only one of them consciously.

“Fuck!” Elora swore and caught Alessandra’s limp body before it could slam into the ground. This time there were no cheers everyone was dead silent even Abby that was shocked by what happened to her sister. Elora laid her down on the stone floor.

Veric appeared next to them out of nowhere and said. “Hold her neck still. I will check if she has a concussion.” He opened Alessandra’s left eye and hovered his hand over it to see the response of the pupil to light.

“What are you doing?” Elora asked somewhat panicked by the situation.

“Hold her head still. I am checking whether she has a concussion. You scrambled her brain quite badly but her pupils are responding quickly to the changes in light so she most likely won't suffer from increased intracranial pressure. Hold her neck still and she should wake up soon.”

Elora didn’t know how her brother knew that but she followed his instructions without question. A few seconds later Alessandra opened her eyes slowly.

“Try to stay still. Do you feel any pain in your neck?” Veric asked.

“No, I am fine… what happened? Did I win?” She asked with confusion in her voice. Which made everyone release a sigh of relief.

“No way. I dropped you like a sack of potatoes and then you were out cold for good 20 seconds.” Elora replied with glistening eyes.

Alessandra sat up and replied with newfound vigour. “That’s only because you cheated.”

Their bickering loosened up the atmosphere in the hall and the slightly shaken crowd of squires started to disperse.