Wearing a red-black suit, that matched his eyes and hair respectively, tailored specifically for him, Alden was pacing back and forth in his room. His heart was thumping in anxiety. Then he finally slumped on his bed.
'Why did father send me away? He had even smiled at me' He thought to himself. 'Why was Ms. Serena's expression like that after she saw that blinding ligth? What does it mean? Did... did I disappoint father after all...'
Several minutes passed as Alden lay on bed, with his negative thoughts.
Just then he heard a knock on his door, "Young Master, may I enter?". It was a voice he was very familiar with, Sera, the maid that usually tended to him. "Yes", he replied.
Sera didn't stay on ceremony and pushed open the door, which wasn't locked from inside. "The Master wishes to see you in his study", she said. In Ashfeild estate, all the servants referred to the patriarch of The Ashfeild family, Duke Saint Gunther Ashfeild as The Master, both his wives as Milady and their children as Young Master and Young Lady.
'Finally!' His heart started racing as he got up from the bed and walked to the patriarch's study, Sera following behind him. Before he even knocked on the door, his father's voice resounded from within the room, telling him to enter. So he pushed the door open and walked in, Sera remained outside.
In the study room, in front of the window that faced the door, a table and a highback recliner chair were placed. There were many books, papers, some objects, and multiple inc bottles, a quill in each, lay systematically. Other than the wall with window and door, the other walls had book shelf fixed on them. The book shelves were filled to brim with different kinds of books- map books, logistics, history, economics and whatnot.
On the highback chair was seated Gunther, wearing his grey suit. Behind him, like sculpture, stood a tall burly man wearing a black chestplate, that had a symbol of 2 swords crossed infront of a rising sun embedded on it, black haired and black eyed, Herald Stones. One of the most skilled and powerful knights in whole of Grandell Empire, commander of Ashfeild Knights, right hand man of Gunther Ashfeild, Herald Stones.
"Alden", Gunther coldly said, "Do you know the grading system that we follow?"
With his whole body tense, Alden recalled what Mr. Harry Lane had taught him over the past year, since he first met Alden, and replied "Yes", he continued "Our grading system begins at Beginner grade, followed by Novice, Intermediate, Advance, Expert, Master, Saint and Lord grade being at the top. Besides us Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Vampires, Dragons and Demi-Humans follow the same system"
Gunther nodded in acknowledgement and asked further, "What about other species?"
"Uhh" Alden racked his brain, trying to remember what his teacher had taught him "It starts from Grade-7, which is equivalent to Beginner Grade and ends at Grade-0, which is equivalent to Lord grade"
Gunther nodded again, but this time Herald spoke, "Did instructor Serena or Harry tell you about the relation between power grading and Affinity grading?"
Alden shook his head in denial, "No", not hiding his lack of knowledge.
"I see" Herald spoke "I shall do so then". Alden listened, interestingly. "A person's mana affinity depicts how much potential they possess in a specific affinity, wheather they have the talent to reach this potential is a different matter altogether."
Herald paused, then continued speaking, "If someone has quarter affinity, it means they have the potential to reach Intermediate Grade. If someone has Half Affinity, there peak potential is at Expert Grade. For Quarter and Half Affinity, it's Saint Grade. And for those with Complete Affinity, it's... Lord Grade"
Alden nodded slowly, taking in the new knowledge. He looked at his father and asked in anticipation, "Father, what about my mana affinity evaluation?" He gulped the lump of saliva in his mouth, as he waited to hear the answer.
Gunther didn't answer, instead asked a question, "How powerful do you think a Lord Grade existence is?"
Alden was taken aback for moment. He didn't have any reference to say how powerful a Lord Grade being was, "Umm... very much?" He said innocently. Suddenly, he felt that it was getting difficult to breath, his knees buckled, he felt cold, he felt great pressure weighing down on him. He unconsciously averted his gaze away from his father, to the floor beneath. But next moment, the pressure disappeared. He released the breath he didn't realize he was holding. He looked up again at his father, confusion evident on his face.
Before Alden could ask anything, Gunther spoke, "I am at Saint Grade, just one step beneath a Lord Grade. Our Emperor is a Lord, and how you felt just now, is how The Emperor, the sole Lord grade existence in Grandell Empire, makes me feel. That is how Powerful a Lord is"
'T-that strong? His Majesty is that powerful?!' Alden was shocked! 'But what has this got to do with my evaluation?' Although he was amazed at how powerful a Lord Grade existence is, how powerful Emperor Ivan IV is, he couldn't seem to make a connection as to how this was related with his evaluation, being a 8 years old child that he was.
As he was about to voice out his question, he heard his father speak, "Your evaluation shows that you have Complete Affinity for multiple attributes. Meaning, you have the potential to become a Lord Grade existence", Gunther stated.
"I do?!" Alden couldn't help but blurt out. He couldn't believe his ears, 'I can become even more powerful than father?!'.
A rare smile appeared on Gunther's face, his eyes and brows relaxed, he replied in a gentle tone "Yes"
He asked again, enthusiastically and endearingly, "Really?!" The boy couldn't help but seek confirmation and validation again. Gunther chuckled and said with a smile, "Yes, really."
Alden couldn't believe this was real, he that felt he was dreaming, but the heart that thumped loudly, due to excitement and happiness, in his chest told him otherwise. Gunther's eyes turned stern as he spoke, "You have Complete Affinity for 7 attributes--Gravity, Lightning, Ice, Holy, Wind, Illusion, and Distortion"
'So... so many!' Alden was pleasantly surprised once again, "Fath-". The Saint interrupted, "But, due to reasons you can't and won't yet understand, you are not to speak of this to anyone. Not your mother, nor your siblings." Alden was taken aback, but he decided to speak "But father", he looked at Herald before speaking again, "Why is it not fine for mother and others to know of it but Sir Herald can know it?"
"Like I said, for reasons you can't yet understand" Duke replied sternly. Alden didn't argue further, not because he didn't want to, but because he was too afraid of his father to do so. Gunther spoke further, "And for same reasons, your affinities will be officially recorded as Quarter and Half Grade, for the time being at least." Alden, disappointed and dissatisfied, nodded.
"Furthermore, only 3 of your affinities will be recorded as Quarter and Half Grade, other 4 as Half Affinities, so have I decided". "But-" Gunther cut off his son once again, "Choose 3". Although wanting to, Alden dared not speak against his authoritative father.
"Ok..." After thinking for a couple minutes, he voiced out his thoughts "Lightning, Ice and Holy attributes". Gunther nodded in approval "Very well", after a moment he spoke, "I will decide over your schedule for training later. Tommorow I'll introduce you to your new instructors and mentors. And the day after that, you'll start your training. Until then, you are free to do whatever you want. That's it, you can leave"
"Alrigth..." Alden said in understanding. Full of emotions, anticipation and excitement for future, disappointment for having to keep secrets and a newfound motivation to do his best and prove to his father that he isn't just a kid so that he won't have to hear 'You can't yet understand', he turned around and started walking towards the door.
"Son," Alden half turned his body and looked at his father. Gunther's stern voice turning a bit fatherly gentle, "Can you promise me to not tell of this to anyone? It is for your own good"
Noticing the difference in tone, Alden naturally smiled and replied "Yes!", although he didn't understand how it was for his own good. Then he turned around and walked out of the study and closed the door behind him.
After Alden left, Gunther sighed and ordered Herald, "Have a 'Blood Owl' keep an eye on him... for now atleast". 'Blood Owl' is a secret group of highly skilled investigators and assassins under the direct command of Herald Stones.
"Understood". He deliberated for moment, whether to speak or not, but decided to do so "My Lord"
"What?"
Herald asked hesitantly "Do you think Young lord might be able to become like 'Him' and reach 'His' level? After all, other than Young lord, 'He' is the only one to ever have Complete Affinity for Distortion attribute"
Duke Gunther was slightly taken back, "'Him'? You mean 'The Unshackled Pariah'?" He asked.
"Yes, since Young lord has almost as many Complete Affinities as 'Him'" Herald admitted
Intrigued, The Saint spoke "Nothing can be said for certain, after all 'The Unshackled Pariah' is an exception. 'He' is the only exception."
Herald nodded in thought and disappeared from the study, as if he was never there to begin with.
Gunther got up from his highback recliner chair and walked out of the study. He walked through the corridor, any servant that came across him, immediately bowed, displaying respect. He soon came to a halt in front of a door. It was the door to the room where Alden's mana affinities were evaluated.
He entered the hall and instantly frowned, the translucent greyish evaluation stone slab that should have been laying in the table was absent! 'Did Serena take the evaluation stone slab with her, so as to provide the proof when she claims that Alden has Complete Affinities to Ivan?'
Gunther mused, 'No matter, she will be dying before she reaches Hesta anyway' with that, he turned around and left the hall, oblivious that the evaluation stone slab had actually crumbled to fine dust and flown out of the window.