Chapter 61: Visiting a Friend.
The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon as Zeke began his morning routine. As had be a habit, he was wearing his ''Resistance suit''. That''s what he had officially named the knight''s armor turned exercise equipment. The tool was supposed to help him improve his strength and constitution. In theory, the act of putting strain on the body through intense physical activity should aplish that. He had set up an obstacle course in the nearby woods, and as he ran through it, he focused on each task at hand, pushing through the pain and exertion.
As he approached the pull-up bar in the middle of the course, his mind wandered back to the previous day''s events. The cksmithingpetition had been intense, and he had really enjoyed getting to see the masters at work.
Zeke finished his set of pull-ups and moved on to the next obstacle, a series of bnce beams. As he concentrated on keeping his footing, his mind couldn''t help but drift to Markus. He knew that Markus'' birthday wasing up soon, and he had been racking his brain for the perfect present. But as soon as he heard about the cksmithingpetition, he knew exactly what he was going to gift his friend.
He was making preparations to give Markus a spell book for [Metal Maniption]. This was the most crucial spell for any Metal Mage who was trying to work as a cksmith. Zeke had been able to learn the secrets of the spell by observing Jonathan''s work the previous day. He had used his [Perfect Sensory Recall] spell to record the man''s every move. He had learned exactly how to move the Mana through the body and core to perform any part of the smithing process.
Zeke realized that he would have been able to transcribe many secret dwarven spells as well. Jonathan had talked at length about the marvels of the dwarven metal working spells. Zeke, however, knew it wouldn''t be a good idea to pass them along to Markus. Such knowledge could get Markus into trouble, and he did not want that for his friend. The dwarven magic seals in Jonathan''s body were the only thing that protected the artisan from the greedy hands of the empire. Markus, on the other hand, didn''t have such ayer of protection and would be at the mercy of the nobles. He wanted to give Markus the tools to seed and improve, but not at the cost of his safety.
He knew that Markus would be thrilled with the spell book, and he couldn''t wait to give it to him. He was excited to see his friend''s reaction and see him put the spell to use in his cksmithing.
Finally, as Zeke reached the end of the course, he copsed on the ground, panting and sweating. Despite the pain his body was in, he was bathing in a wave of satisfaction. The always present feeling of contentment that he felt after he had pushed himself to be the best he could be. His heart was still beating uncontrobly as he made his way into the changing room. He tried to distract himself from his tired body and racing pulse by letting his mind wander.
Zeke wanted to gift Markus everything he needed to be a sessful cksmith. What he needed to avoid, however, was to overwhelm him with too much magic all at once. He had decided to start out by providing Markus with just one additional spell. [Sharpen Metal] was the spell he had picked, along with an exnation of how to use it in the crafting process. He knew that with time and practice, Markus would be able to master the spell and many more toe.
Ezekiel had already managed to write around half the booklet he intended to give to Markus. He had worked on it for the entire rest of the day aftering home from thepetition, while the knowledge was still fresh. He was determined to finish the rest of it today. But before he could hide away in his room again to work on the present, he had nned to visit Vi. She had promised to introduce him to a wind mage from her family who also knew space magic. Zeke was hoping to coax the mage into showing him a short-range teleportation spell. The spell would make for a great addition to his arsenal.
As Ezekiel entered the house, the stench of his own sweat and grime hit him. His long crimson hair was drenched, and the ''Resistance Suit'' he was wearing was in dire need of cleaning as well. He made a mental note to himself to wash it, before using it again. He ced the gear on the specially-made armor stand before making his way into the shower.
Zeke''s gaze turned upwards, past the curtain of water as he stood under the luxurious showerhead. There on the ceiling, he saw the artwork he had gotten so familiar with over the past few days. The carving was made to resemble the shape of the sun, its rays covering the entire ceiling above the spacious cabin. He studied the intricate details of each part of the artwork, which was carved out of monster bone. His eyes traced the tendrils extending out from the center of the sun. He was focusing on every single detail he could make out,mitting it to memory.
This routine had be a ritual for him, a way to calm his wildly beating heart after every round of exercise. He had tried to control the phenomenon with his [Perfect Body Control] but had been shocked to realize that he had no control over it. Zeke put his hands on the amulet that Maximilian had gotten for him, feeling for his pulse. He could feel the heart beating underneath the metal as if it was not there.
At first, he had been worried and anxious about the phenomenon. After a couple of days with nothing happening, his fears had subsided considerably. Now he dealt with the problem in a practiced manner. He had learned that finding that focusing on a task very meticulously helped him to calm down. As he stood under the shower, the warm water cascaded over his body. He took a deep breath and let the tension in his muscles ease away. As part of his shower ritual, Zeke checked out the results of his [Analyze] spell.
<strong>[Results of Analyze]</strong> <strong>First name:</strong> Ezekiel. <strong>Mage name:</strong> None. <strong>Last name:</strong> von Hohenheim. <strong>Age:</strong> 15. <strong>Gender:</strong> Male. <strong>Height:</strong> 1.72m. <strong>Strength:</strong> 19 <strong>Constitution:</strong> 23 <strong>Agility:</strong> 17 <strong>Intelligence:</strong> 20
<strong></strong>
<strong>Blood magic</strong> (Perfect affinity), Rank: Mage, Engraved spell: [Perfect Body control].
<strong>Space magic</strong> (Greater affinity), Rank: Mage, Engraved spell: [Perfect Spatial Awareness].
<strong>Mind magic</strong> (Greater affinity), Rank: Mage, Engraved spell: [Perfect Sensory Recall].
Eager to get going, he left the shower and bound his hair back into a messy bun. Zeke dressed infortable clothing, which was typically not suited for the chilly weather. He knew he wouldn''t feel the cold thanks to his improved physique and [Perfect Body Control] spell. He informed his mentor, Maximilian, of his ns and then set out to visit Vi''s home. She was one of the few nobles from the four great families who lived on school grounds.
Ezekiel walked through the woods, making his way to Vi''s home. It was customary for members of the four great families to live in their mansions in the capital. Vi, however, as the granddaughter of the current headmaster, lived not too far away from his home. He couldn''t help but wonder how it came to be that Maximilian owned a mansion on the school grounds. Despite the fact that the old man was neither a teacher nor associated with the academy in any other way.
As he walked, the trees rustled in the breeze and the sun shone through the leaves, casting dappled light on the forest floor. The sound of birds chirping filled the air, and he couldn''t help but feel a sense of peace as he walked. After only a couple of minutes, he reached the clearing where Vi''s home was located. This was the first time Zeke had visited the house of the headmaster, Victor Windtnzer.
A grand mansion appeared before him, with a rustic yet elegant design. The walls were made mostly of wood and stone, but it was done in such a tasteful and stylish way that it looked as though it had been sculpted by an artist. The wooden beams that held up the structure were intricately carved with designs, mostly featuring wind and clouds. The stone walls were smooth and polished to a high shine. The roof was made of thick, wooden shingles that had been treated to withstand the elements.
Zeke immediately noticed that the materials must have been improved with magic. He had spent his youth in a vige close to a forest and was therefore aware that a house surrounded by trees wasn''t supposed to look like this. From the walls to the roof, every part of the mansion was spotless. Even in the middle of the capital, he had never seen a building this pristine. And this was not the only thing that made Zeke believe that magic was involved.
The mansion was nestled in the heart of the woods, and the forest seemed to embrace it. The trees around the mansion were tall and lush, their branches reaching out to touch the walls of the house as if in a warm embrace. The gardens surrounding the house were well-maintained. Zeke spotted a variety of nts and flowers that bloomed in different seasons. The mansion was enveloped by a wooden deck, that seemed to be a perfect spot to rx and enjoy nature.
As Ezekiel approached the structure, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of awe at the beauty of it all. It was as though the house was a part of the forest, and the forest was a part of the house. It was clear that Victor Windtnzer had a great sense of aesthetics, and that he had put a lot of thought and effort into the design of his home.
The leaves on the trees were still a vibrant green and the flowers were in full bloom, despite it being the middle of winter. Zeke couldn''t help but wonder how this was possible. He surmised that someone of Victor''s prestige and wealth would have the means to hire a small army of Nature Mages to maintain the flora around his home.
As Zeke approached the mansion, he could sense that he was being watched. He had a keen sense of when he was being observed, and he soon realized that the guards protecting the estate were experts. Despite his efforts, he couldn''t spot a single one of them. He was certain they were there, but they were too well hidden. Zeke couldn''t help but feel a sense of admiration for their skill as he made his way toward the mansion.
Zeke had just arrived at the entrance of Vi''s mansion in the woods when he heard someone calling his name. He turned around to see Vi falling from the sky andnding on top of him. He was initially surprised by the unexpected assault, but quickly regained hisposure. He hugged Vi back briefly, before pushing her off in a hurry. He didn''t want her grandfather to misunderstand their rtionship, as this could get him into trouble. It was well-known that the old Arch Mage doted on Vi more than any of his other descendants.
Vi frowned slightly as Zeke pushed her away, but didn''t say anything else. She led Zeke into the mansion, where she intended to introduce him to the Wind Mage she had mentioned. Zeke was eager to meet the man. He had ns to casually persuade the mage to show him the short-range teleportation spell. He would need to be careful not toe across as too eager.
"This is Emanuel Windtnzer!" Vi stated, introducing the tall man with an athletic build and silvery hair. "He is one of my grandfather''s guards."
Emanuel stepped forward and took Zeke''s outstretched hand with his own. The man had an amiable expression on his face, and Zeke was confident that he could convince the man to help him. As they shook hands, however, Zeke''s eyes narrowed as he felt the strength behind Emanuel''s grasp. Without a change in expression, the man''s vice-like grip tightened with every second. It was clear that the man was not a True Mage anymore, and his physical strength was impressive.
"Emanuel, this is Ezekiel von Hohenheim, one of my best friends." Vi dered, stressing thest part a little longer than necessary. Zeke couldn''t help but wonder why she did that as he took in the man''s sharp features. As the man''s eyes met Zeke''s, the congenial expression seemed to turn into a smirk for a moment before returning to normal. Zeke was still wondering if he had just imagined it, but then he felt the hold on his hand tighten further.
Through his Mind Magic, he could feel a sense of hostility emanating from the man. Something inside of Zeke, the more primal part of his mind, was incensed by the way the man seemed to be looking down on him. Zeke was not going to be humiliated by this jester in front of him. A vein almost popped on Zeke''s forehead as he tried to return the force of Emanuel''s handshake with all his might.
Despite the pain that was now shooting through his hand, Zeke refused to show any sign of weakness. He made sure not to give away any signs of difort on his face as he stared right back into Emanuel''s eyes.
Zeke held on to Emanuel''s hand for as long as he could. He was still locking eyes with the man, unwilling to concede, even while enduring hellish misery. After what felt like an eternity to Zeke, he started to hear strange noisesing from the bones in his hand. And just as Zeke thought his hand would splinter any moment now, a wind de appeared out of nowhere. The sharp edge of the spell came to a stop merely a hairsbreadth from Emanuel''s throat.
"What the fuck do you think you are doing! Let go of his hand right this instance!" With an enraged roar, Vi put an end to Zeke''s predicament, as she violently shoved Emanuel back a step. Her eyes were aze with anger as she stood between the two. She was ring at the other man as if she felt personally betrayed by his actions.
Emanuel''s smirk disappeared as he took a step back, the wind de also dissipating into thin air. Zeke rubbed his sore hand, trying to regain feeling in his fingers. He couldn''t believe the level of hostility that had just urred between him and aplete stranger. Before anything more could happen, the three of them were interrupted by an unexpected voice.
"What is the meaning of this?" came a deep voice from a doorway upstairs. There stood none other than Victor Windtnzer, headmaster of the prestigious Elementium and one of the most powerful Arch Mages in thend.
"Emanuel was just testing Zeke''s strength," Vi said, her voice calm and collected now. Apparently, she didn''t want to create any more trouble for Emanuel by telling the truth. Zeke understood her intentions, but still felt a little hurt by how she protected his tormentor.
Victor''s eyes narrowed as he looked at Emanuel, who had the good sense to look ashamed. It was clear that the old man didn''t believe Vi''s excuse for a second. "I expect better from one of my men," Victor said menacingly as he gave Emanuel a short, prating stare before turning on his heel and leaving the room.
Zeke was at a loss on how to handle the situation. It was clear that asking Emanuel for any kind of favor was out of the question now. The man looked at him with even more hostility than before, as if he were on the verge of attacking him. Zeke opened his mouth to speak, but Emanuel beat him to it.
"Excuse me, Lady Vi," he said, his tone curt and cold. "Now that I have met with your friend as I have promised, I have other duties to attend to." With that, he turned away from her. He didn''t turn towards the exit however, but stared at Zeke with clear contempt in his eyes.
"Good luck with finding somebody else to teach you space magic, boy! I am sure there will be tons of people willing to help out a blood mage." Emanuel''s cold tone had turned sarcastic and mocking when talking to Zeke. Undoubtedly, Emanuel felt nothing but contempt for him. He held the boy''s gaze for a moment before teleporting away, leaving Zeke and Vi alone in the foyer of the grand mansion.
Vi looked at Zeke with a pained expression on her face. "I am so sorry, Zeke," she said, visibly struggling to hold back her tears. "I invite you to my house and not only can I not help you with your request, but one of my own people attacks you. I don''t know how to make it up to you."
Zeke quickly stepped closer to Vi and embraced her tightly. The slight feeling of betrayal he had felt from her previous actions was already forgotten. Contrary to her thoughts, Zeke was actually pleased with how this meeting had turned out. The mix of hostility and impetus to tease Zeke had made Emanuel reveal the very spell Zeke hade to see. This had allowed Zeke to record the process with his [Perfect Sensory Recall]. Though he couldn''t tell Vi that he had already gained what he needed, he also didn''t want her to me herself for wasting his time.
"It''s alright, Vi," Zeke reassured her. "I understand that these things happen. Let''s not dwell on it any longer. At least I finally got to visit your home. I wanted to see this ce for a long time now. It is absolutely stunning!"
Vi simply nodded, clearly having caught on to Zeke''s attempt of changing the subject. Still, her tears subsided as she leaned into Zeke''s embrace. The two stood there for a moment, lost in their own thoughts, before Vi spoke up again. "Let''s go get some tea, I think we both could use it."
And with that, the two made their way to the lounge, but the brief altercation with Emanuel was still on Zeke''s mind. He couldn''t help but ask, "Do you know why that guy seemed to have a problem with me?" He had been unable to find any reason for Emanuel''s hostile actions. Vi ordered a servant to serve them both a cup of her favorite tea before she replied.
"It''s probably because of the war," she began. "Emanuel was deployed to the front three times. He didn''t seem bothered when I told him to meet with you, but the moment you entered the house, his entire demeanor changed. I think he could feel the Mana from your perfect blood core. It must have triggered some unpleasant memories."
Vi''s exnation was delivered with a hint of sadness in her voice, and Zeke could understand why. The war had demanded a steep price from many people, and it seemed Emanuel was no exception. He couldn''t help but feel a twinge of guilt for inadvertently causing the man distress.
Vi''s expression grew increasingly forlorn as she delved deeper into her exnation. "Emanuel was like an older brother to me when I was still a child," she said, her voice tinged with sadness. "But every time he returned from the war after a year''s service, he had changed a little more. He used to be really caring and kind, you know? Honestly, sometimes I can''t even recognize the person he used to be anymore. He''s grown so cold and hard after hisst time at the front."
Zeke didn''t know much about how the war was going for the empire. But he couldn''t remember hearing of any great victories since he was born, so the expansion ns of the empire probably weren''t going well. He felt a pang of sympathy for Vi and her friend, who had been so deeply affected by the ongoing conflict. It was clear that the war had taken a great toll on those who had been sent to fight it.
He didn''t want to cause Vi any more distress, so he quickly changed the subject. In order to distract her, Zeke spoke of how he and Markus had visited the cksmithpetition the day before. And how they had been able to speak with Jonathan Goldhammer, the legendary smith. He recounted how Goldhammer had been willing to show them the techniques he used to forge his weapons.
Vi was soon absorbed by the vivid storytelling as Zeke acted out scenes of the smithing process. She listened with wide-eyed wonder as Zeke recounted his experiences. The lighthearted topic and energetic disy lightened the mood considerably. The two of them managed to spend the rest of the morning in pleasant conversation.
Eventually, Zeke said his goodbyes and left the mansion. He couldn''t wait to experiment with the new spell he had acquired. He was eager to see what he could do with it.