White Strings

Episode 17 - Manus

The study hall was dark and peaceful over at the castle. Elem looked at his tracker's findings that were scattered around the large table. At first he felt bothered by the fact he had to find out about this newcomer familiar, he was already incredibly pressed with all sorts of urgent matters. After a short while, however, he found that something was indeed off about this whole story.

The Manus Master Falant, the most ambitious man Elem had ever known, sent a trainee to aid Kaon in his studies towards the adult trial. Was the Manus family that desperate? Was there not even one skilled fighter they could send, even if it was fodder? Elem sent someone to check the town to gather some actual information, and the findings were even more vague than before.

It was nothing new that Falant was basically dying, slowly being eaten away by the curse he brought upon himself. However, it has been reported that the town had been governed by different rules and was run by the local family guard. Falant agreeing to change his own rules? There was something off.

This Kaon, the young man who they couldn't kill because it would cause even more imbalance. Elem felt it all led to him, he was the only functioning thing when it came to Manus. The sharp rise in mutations, the odd connection Skyr had felt towards the Gown descent, the well behaved Manus heir, the silent Master Falant. They were all connected.

The doors of the hall opened, and Elem was ready to scold whoever dared entering the room without the announcer's call. He paused, however, when he saw his son. He looked agitated, standing in front of the dumbfounded announcer whose face showed great worry.

"It's fine, enter," Elem sighed.

Skyr stepped forward as the large doors closed behind him. Without waiting for his father's permission to speak, he blurted, "I think Kaon has passed the adult trial."

Elem raised his chin to look at his worked up son. He then lowered his gaze to scan the pieces of information he managed to gather until now. He had already heard that no one failed the Quaternity Test, but he didn't know any details yet.

"That is a bold statement," he finally said.

"I'm sure of it." Skyr started walking back and forth in distraught. "I always told you Kaon was too quiet. You never believed me when I told you that Kaon used to be the most troubled kid in the temple. Next thing you know, he passed the adult trial!"

"Calm down."

Skyr bit his lips to the sound of his father's impatient tone. He then took a few deep breaths and focused on releasing the stress from his body. He exhaled slowly, closing his eyes, repeating his father's words in his mind.

"Now explain, why do you think the Manus heir passed a trial without taking a distance oath?"

"There can't be another explanation. You told me many times, how much deeper you felt after you finished yours. How much more confident you became." Skyr tried his best to word out his worries clearly. "Kaon acts the same. He is strong and he knows it, and he was successful at hiding it until now."

Elem listened to his agitated son speak, looking at the table where his little investigation waited patiently. A man this young passing the adult trial was possible. Even without the official preparations temples usually offered, a person could go through natural occurrences that provided the needed conditions for the person to go through a trial. It was a possibility, and it might be another tail Elem could let his trackers chase.

"Interesting. And the girl?"

Skyr felt glad that his father did not dismiss his words like he usually did. "Silk?"