"Why does this place keep shocking me?" Leonardo muttered under his breath, his wide eyes scanning the lavish surroundings with a mix of awe and trepidation. The air was cleaner here, devoid of the pervasive smell of decay that clung to the streets of Volnia.
Even the rats, common pests back home, seemed to avoid this place, leaving only the occasional bird flitting among the perfectly manicured trees below.
Elara's voice broke his reverie. "Again, Go to Marquis's house—that will blow your mind," she said, a subtle note of pride coloring her words. She gestured towards the edge of the balcony where they now stood.
Below them lay the training grounds—a vast, meticulously maintained expanse designed to challenge even the most skilled user of Rasvian energy.
The terrain varied, from smooth stretches perfect for sparring to rugged areas meant for more grueling exercises, with intricate pathways weaving between them.
Each segment of the grounds was a testament to the importance of discipline and precision, every blade of grass trimmed to perfection, every stone strategically placed.
Leonardo tore his gaze from the scene below, focusing instead on the mansion's upper floors.
The architecture was opulent, with tall, arched windows framed by rich, dark wood and heavy drapes that hinted at the wealth within.
His attention was drawn to a particular window where he glimpsed a figure—definitely not their father, but distinctly feminine, her presence almost ghostly in the dim light.
"You." The word formed silently on the woman's lips, her eyes locking onto Leonardo's with an intensity that sent a chill down his spine.
Leonardo turned to speak, his voice faltering. "Anna, who is—"
Before he could finish, Anna moved with lightning speed, shoving him to the ground. "Elara!" she screamed, urgency clear in her tone.
Without hesitation, Elara raised her hands, Rasvian energy coalescing around her as she conjured a barrier. It wasn't large—just enough to shield Leonardo's face—but it shimmered with a faint green light,
"I've made a lot of barriers today. I'm getting tired..." Elara muttered, strain evident in her voice as she maintained the shield.
A sharp blast echoed through the air, originating from the woman's position.
The attack was precise, almost surgical—a focused burst of energy that struck the mansion's fa?ade, dislodging a chunk of the ornate stonework.
The damage was minor, but the intent was clear: the blast was aimed directly at Leonardo's head.
"Mother! It's our guide!" Anna shouted, her voice a blend of panic and exasperation.
The woman's voice floated down to them, laced with amusement and a hint of embarrassment. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't expect you to pick such a small man." With that, she vanished from the window, leaving only the smoldering hole in the wall as evidence of her presence.
Leonardo, still sprawled on the ground, managed a weak chuckle. "This is the third time now. I can vouch that this is how you all greet people here."
Anna extended a hand to help him up, her face a mixture of apology and concern. "Mom's a Transmuter; that's why it's hot. Transmuter and Navigator," she explained, her words tinged with both pride and frustration.
Leonardo dusted himself off, his mind still reeling from the close call. "I did want to learn about Rasvian Energy, but not after nearly getting hit with a blast like that." His eyes drifted to the hole in the floor where the attack had pierced through, the stone still glowing faintly from the energy that had seared it.
"How rare is it to find two-category users?" Leonardo asked, rubbing his head, the shock still evident in his voice.
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Anna paused, considering her answer. "It's easier to get a double category compared to a single category, but overall, it varies. Some people are just... different."
Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by a loud bang from outside.
The trio rushed to the balcony railing, peering down at the courtyard below. Astraea and Kaelan were locked in what appeared to be an intense combat, their movements a blur as they engaged with an unseen force.
The air around them crackled with energy, Rasvian light flaring and fading in a chaotic dance of power.
"that guy.." Anna mutters
The mansion, with its opulent rooms and hidden dangers, seemed to mirror the very nature of Rasvian Energy itself—beautiful, powerful, and fraught with peril for the uninitiated.
Anna took a step forward, gesturing toward the doorway at the far end of the balcony. "Enter the door," she instructed, her voice steady despite the tension in the air.
Leonardo hesitated but followed as Anna led the way, pushing open the heavy wooden door.
It creaked on its hinges, revealing a dark, winding staircase beyond. The stairs spiraled downward, disappearing into the shadowy depths of the mansion.
The walls were lined with flickering lanterns, casting eerie shadows that danced with every step they took. The spiral seemed to go on forever, each turn revealing more of the mansion's ancient, labyrinthine design.
"So why'd your mom do that?" Leonardo asked, his voice echoing slightly in the confined space as he tried to catch his breath.
"She's paranoid... she's..." Anna's voice trailed off, her footsteps slowing as she searched for the right words.
"A bit unright in the head," she finally admitted, her tone laced with a mix of resignation and sadness.
The staircase continued to wind down, the air growing cooler as they descended. The walls were covered in intricate carvings,
"why'd you tell me she was doing 'mom stuff' then?" Leonardo pressed, curiosity piqued despite the tension.
"She was reading stories to plushie versions of us! That's definitely still mom stuff," Elara chimed in cheerily, her voice a stark contrast to the oppressive atmosphere.
Meanwhile, back on the third floor of the mansion, the woman who had attacked Leonardo was alone in her room, lost in her own world.
The room was grand, befitting someone of noble blood—large and lavishly furnished, with tall windows draped in heavy, velvet curtains that allowed only slivers of light to enter.
The walls were adorned with tapestries depicting scenes of royalty and grandeur, though they were faded with age, their colors dulled to a muted palette.
In the center of the room stood a massive four-poster bed, its canopy embroidered with golden threads that glimmered faintly in the dim light.
The bed was strewn with plushie dolls, each carefully dressed in miniature gowns that mirrored the woman's own attire.
The dolls were eerily lifelike, their tiny features painstakingly detailed, with eyes that seemed to follow the woman as she moved about the room.
The woman herself was a striking figure, her red hair spilling across the floor like a river of fire. She wore a gown reminiscent of a noblewoman's dress, rich fabrics in deep reds and purples that flowed around her like water.
The gown was intricately embroidered with patterns of flowers and vines, the needlework so fine that it seemed almost alive.
Her movements were graceful yet erratic, her mind drifting from one thought to another with the attention span of a child.
As she lay by the side of the bed, her fingers traced lazy circles in the air, a small sphere of Rasvian energy swirling around them. Her expression was one of deep concentration, though her thoughts were far from focused.
"If only I could create large blasts... then, that would be a one-way ticket to a higher tier in that pyramid..." she murmured to herself, her voice trailing off as a new idea took hold. "Pyramid... I'll make pyramids now..." she decided, her gaze unfocused as she stared at the wall, her mind already moving on to the next fleeting thought.
Her mental state was fragile, her thoughts disjointed and erratic. She was lost in a world of her own making, where reality and imagination blurred together.
The plushie versions of Anna and Elara sat in the middle of the bed, their tiny faces a perfect reflection of the real girls, though their features were softened, made more doll-like.
Their gowns were identical to the woman's, though in miniature, and their hair, while styled differently, was clearly modeled after their real-life counterparts.
Nearby, a sword lay in a casket, its hilt decorated with jewels that sparkled in the faint light. The blade was long and slender, a weapon of deadly precision, though it lay untouched, a mere ornament in the woman's world of fantasies. The room itself was a stark contrast to the woman's mental state—perfectly organized, every object in its place, yet there was an underlying sense of chaos, as if the order was only a fragile veneer over a deeply unsettled mind.
Back outside, Anna, Elara, and Leonardo finally reached the end of the spiral staircase. The door at the bottom opened to reveal the training grounds once more, though from a different vantage point. The vast space was enclosed by towering brick walls, their surfaces covered in thick vines,
Kaelan and Astraea were still engaged in their sparring match, their movements a blur of speed and precision.
Kaelan's shield, animated by his Rasvian energy, shimmered with the same blue light as before, a protective barrier that moved with him as he fought.
Without missing a beat, he tried to hold the shield but it launched towards Astraea, who responded with a blast of her own energy, the two forces colliding with a bright flash.
"Holrog!" Kaelan shouted in frustration, his voice echoing off the walls of the training ground.
"See, he's saying it too," Anna pointed out, gesturing towards Kaelan's figure as he removed his helmet, revealing a mop of curly brown hair that gleamed in the light.
"Not the time," Elara replied, her focus still on the ongoing fight.
The entire training ground was a testament to the intensity of their training regime. Every corner was filled with equipment—targets for precision training, dummies for combat practice, and various obstacles designed to test agility and strength.
It was clear that this was a place meant for honing skills to their absolute peak, each piece of equipment carefully chosen to push practitioners to their limits.
"There's a lot of equipment here," Leonardo observed, his eyes taking in the array of tools and devices.
"This... I'm sure Marquis doesn't have," Elara said with a smirk, clearly proud of the superior resources at their disposal.
Leonardo couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the sheer scale of everything. From the sprawling mansion to the endless training grounds, The intricate web of Rasvian Energy, the complex relationships, and the ever-present danger.
As he stood there, watching Kaelan and Astraea's battle unfold, him cursing at every strike,
"a sword, i need a sword" Leonardo muttered, removing his sheath.
