Aelia crushed into a concrete rail, she'd lost balance once more. Her feet that looked like they had merged with the shadows appeared as she took heavy breaths.

Thunder roared in the distance. It was a gloomy day and the dark clouds threatened rain.

Sat on the steps nearby, Emil giggled.

"It's quite hard." Aelia explained herself.

Now that your mages, you need to learn how to fight properly with your abilities.

Their father had said.

At the moment, she envied Emil. Her mind path didn't seem to focus on combat as much as hers, their father thought that, at least.

Different paths have different methods.

He had explained.

Emil did still train in combat, but for the most part, since their paths were new and being studied, her training focused on things that stimulated her mind.

Pushing a strand of white hair off of her face, Aelia got off of her hands and knees on the ground, standing straight.

Really, the problem was the disorientation of perceiving through her own shadow as well.

She didn't have to use the ability, but even she understood it would do her no good not to.

She was dressed in her training gear, leather from top to bottom. Apart from boots. Her feet could not merge to the shadows through the boots.

"Lady Emil, lady Aelia, your Lord father calls for you."

They both turned their heads to see one of their manor maids gesturing with her left arm to the path she'd come from, while her right arm was bent by the elbow across her stomach.

The Captain guard, who'd been sparring with Aelia, nodded at her in understanding.

"It's about time anyway." Standing up, Emil said as she wiped a rain droplet off of the back of her hand.

They were led to the Viscount's hall, passing through walls with beautiful artistry and murals.

The tall doors opened for them. Actually, they'd been in here less times than the fingers on their hands.

Walking hand in hand with Aelia, Emil's pupils shrunk.

Their father and mother weren't alone.

A thin man with a pale, handsome face sat while their parents stood.

Even without her abilities, Emil would have understood what that meant. As they got closer, the strange man's smile stretched thinner.

"Forgiveness, we didn't know there would be a guest." Emil said with a curtsey. Aelia was a second late, and without a dress, she found it weird to grab the leather pants she still wore.

"It's okay." The man stood up from their father's seat and crossed his arms behind his back. "I tend to simply appear in places, most of the time places that I'm not wanted."

Emil noted the three tiny silver star sigils on the man's dark leather, on his right chest. The top star was the largest, the second one bottom right to it was two sizes smaller and the third one to the bottom left of the top star, and lower to the second, was the smallest.

As a well educated daughter of a noble, she knew what that was. She noted the stress in her father's jaws and could sense the emotions emanating from everyone.

Some paths are different. They might not seem as strong at first, but the universe is fair, and as you rise in rank, everything will be balanced.

Her mother had said to her when she saw how Emil would look at Aelia using her abilities. It still didn't stop her from being disappointed in her boring abilities.

"I don't really need to be here, but I was passing by and had to see for myself." The strange man said.

Actually, he hadn't paused when speaking, but Emil's thoughts sped up; it was like time in the physical world had slowed down for her mind.

"You truly did become mages, and one of those new paths too. Exciting!"

The man turned to their parents.

"Now that I am here, I might as well participate in the ritual. As an observer, of course."

"Yes. Of course." Emil's father said with a stiffness to him she'd seldom seen.

My father is rank five, and my mother four. To make them react like this. How powerful is this man?

And what is this "ritual" he spoke of?

…

Hadrian watched through Baruch's eyes as the man stared at himself in the long mirror.

It's been nearly ten minutes of adoring himself. Well, maybe I can't really blame him.

In Baruch's memories, and that of his men, Hadrian saw Baruch had not always looked as good as he did now.

His skin had gone through early stages of sun damage, due to the heat of Gritjor, and his hair was always dry.

After becoming a rank one flesh path mage, his tan was now even over his perfect skin.

With a mental sigh, Hadrian pulled his consciousness away from Baruch.

Even if he'd wanted to move Baruch, at that moment, he couldn't.

Baruch was currently outside his hundred and forty metre range of vessel control. However, he could still perceive the world through him.

He could also still use Baruch's flesh path abilities.

Actually, he'd learnt he didn't specifically need Baruch's essence to manifest the flesh path abilities.

Because of the seamless merger, when he willed it, he could use the essence of another core to manifest the flesh path abilities.

The ground In front of three of the men he'd turned to vessels in that poor family's house moved, seemingly on its own, creating a deep and wide hole.

I'm glad Truston already had the earth element "unlocked"

One by one, the three vessels fell into the hole. After the last one, the ground shifted once more, and the hole wasn't there anymore.

Nearby, the Alia vessel let out a sigh.

If Hadrian had given himself enough time, he would not have needed to do this.

However, he'd underestimated the potential effects.

Obtaining multiple vessels like these, all at once, was affecting his sense of self. He needed acclimating time for each, especially adult vessels like these.

Their desires, memories and personalities were constantly clashing in Hadrian's consciousness.

So, he cut them loose for now, and remained with three. Including Baruch.

If they were rats he could have substituted them for "food." But they weren't, and he didn't have the stomach to do that to humans, vile or not. It was more about him than them, really.

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