The very next day, after many teary goodbyes and hugs, Yole and his belongings were loaded into a horse drawn carriage and driven far away from the castle he called home. Lucellia drove them away from the base of the mountain and into the deep woods that Yole had seen every night from his bedroom windows, filled to the brink with creatures unknown to him. Though he couldn’t see many of them in the daylight, he could certainly hear them. In a clearing they passed he saw a small herd of what looked like oversized reindeer, but there antlers were so tall and wide, it nearly doubled the sizes of their bodies save for the fawn that had yet to grow them in yet. The antlers themselves, in addition to being large, were sharp as spears on the tips.


    “Those are hunting deer,” Lucellia explained when she noticed Yole’s enamored staring.


    “Hunting deer?” he asked. Anyone who tried to hunt those beasts would be impaled for sure.


    “Deer that are bred for hunting. They are far quieter and more efficient for the sport than horses are and they are not so easily startled. Their sharp horns also make it easier to scoop up and gore their prey. Such dangerous carnivores if they haven’t been tamed properly. Surely you’ve seen them before in the stables? The king is quite fond of hunting and breeds his own herd for domestication.”


    “Father’s promised to take me hunting with him when I move back home, he mentioned something about deer, but I thought that’s what we’d be going for. I’ve gone down to the stables a couple of times, but horses never really interested me. That and Mother forbid me from going inside for fear of me being kicked by one of them.”


    Lucellia chuckled and turned back to him.


    “Forgive me if I am speaking out of turn your highness,” she said, “but I think the queen has a tendency to be a little over protective of you.”


    “Don’t bother apologizing when it’s true,” Yole shrugged, thankful to have someone who understood his plight. Overprotective was putting it mildly, his mother still treated him as if he were a delicate baby all of the time. He was surprised she was even allowing him to leave like this. Lucellia was an experienced tutor, so relating to her students must have come easily to her. “I know she worries about me and I understand why, but it can be smothering at times.”


    “You understand why she worries about you?”


    “I mean, I guess I do. Mothers are supposed to worry about their children, whether or not they’re growing up well or if they’re happy. Right?”


    “Yes, that is true of most mothers. Though I think most children your age would call that annoying. I remember your brother protesting all the time that he was just fine on his own, that he didn’t need her bothering him.”


    Yeah, that definitely sounded like Beor.


    “Well, I’m happy to say that I’m not much like my brother.”


    “I can tell and I’m glad,” Lucellia said bluntly. “I appreciate variety in my students, and let’s just say your brother was…. a challenge.”This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    “He’s something alright,” Yole grumbled. “He challenges my patience everyday.”


    “You seem a lot more mature for your age, I’m grateful for that. Are you looking forward to starting your lessons? The king tells me you’ve always been keen to get your powers.”


    “I am! It’s what I’ve been looking forward to my whole life, I want to be as powerful as possible.”


    “Now that’s the enthusiasm I like to see! We’ll be getting started right away with forge magic, then once you’ve gotten the hang of that, I’ll see about teaching you a few other spells.”


    “I can learn more than just forge magic? I thought people of the Iron Kingdom could only use that. Potions too.”


    “People are usually limited to the powers of the kingdom they were born into. That’s how the gods have blessed them. However it isn’t uncommon for people to master an other spell or two on the side. Your father knows some shield spells as well as strength and stamina increasers, and the Queen also learned how to manipulate light when she was very young. She’s originally from the Ice Kingdom of the Northern Mountains, so she could even control ice at a time. Though I don’t think she’s used those powers since she married into the royal family. Mana is a mysterious thing that can grow and change just as everything else about us can.”


    “But you can use all sorts of magic.”


    “Yes, I’ve been very blessed to have adaptive mana. It’s a rare gift that only the most powerful mages can wield. I’ve sworn to use my magic for the betterment of the kingdom and one of the ways I do that is by tutoring the royals and nobility to use their magic for the betterment of the kingdom as well. Your magic is already so powerful, I bet I can fit a few more spells in there.”


    Being able to control more than fire and heat would be a great blessing indeed. Forge magic was the trademark of the Iron Kingdom, Yole couldn’t wait to see what other spells he’d learn. Shield spells like his fathers would be good for battle, but he was more interested in increasing his strength. He’d seen enough battle for a lifetime, but there was always a part of him that was itching for a scrap. Now that he stood on equal footing with Beor, perhaps sparring with him would be much more worthwhile. His parents never told him much about magic to begin with, always telling him “you’ll learn more when you’re older”, so his knowledge of mana and its potential was very limited.


    Next they came to a roaring river that spanned over 10 meters wide. Lucellia turned the horses right and continued to a wide stone bridge that crossed it.


    “Lucellia?” Yole asked as he looked over the wagon and into the clear blue water at a school of fish swimming by against the current.


    “Yes, your highness?”


    “You’re my teacher Lucellia, please call me Yole.”


    “Very well then, Yole. Did you have a question for me? About the river perhaps?”


    “Yeah, are you a mind reader too?”


    “Just a good guesser. What’s your question?”


    “Is there such a thing as merpeople?” he asked. His mother had read stories to him about merfolk, but it was hard to distinguish between fantasy and reality in this world. Apparently dragons were even a thing at one point before they went extinct during the great wars five decades ago. Dragons were such an important part of the Iron Kingdoms history that it was a part of the royal coat of arms.


    “Of course they exist, silly boy,” Lucellia laughed as if it were the most obvious fact in the world. “Not in these waters though. Merfolk are only able to sustain life in salt water. I know a few from the southern seas, such interesting creatures.”


    The rest of the ride was filled with small talk and stories of Lucellia’s travels across the many kingdoms of this world. Yole was curious as to how old she really was given that she’d seen and done so much, but she still barely looked like she was just out of her twenties. All was peaceful as they made their way into a small meadow where a humble, cozy looking cottage, covered in ivy and yellow flowers stood by a pond. Off to the side was a short barn where a short wooden fence kept in two goats, two sheep and a chicken coop. Next to that was a thriving vegetable garden, rich with greens.


    “This is my home and where you’ll be staying,” Lucellia explained. “I know it’s not much, but I think you’ll find it quite comfortable.”


    Yole had no doubt it would be. The whole clearing looked like something straight out of a fairytale! All that was missing was the princess and the seven dwarves. Lucellia helped him carry in his trunk and escorted him inside to his bedroom. The inside of the cottage was just as floral as the outside, with plants and flowers lining the wall, even the throw pillows on the sofa had flower patterns on them. Down the hallway was the guest room, warmly decorated in reds and browns. Against the wall was a queen sized bed, plenty big for Yole, with a soft quilt on top.


    “Why don’t you get some rest in here while I go get dinner started,” Lucellia told him and set his trunk down by the foot of the bed. “We’ll start your first lessons after we eat.”


    Yole didn’t have to be asked twice, they’d started their journey here at the crack of dawn and the overcast sky was making his eyes droop. Lucellia left the room, closing the door behind her and Yole crawled into bed, burrowing down underneath the covers as he fell into a deep sleep