Strange Secrets

Henry guided the young prince back to the party without saying a word. Mirr found that they walked in awkward silence. It would be easier if the stocky man would express his annoyance or anger, but he continued to walk in dead silence without even an annoyed-side glance. Mirr opened his mouth to say something, but the man spoke up before he could get anything out. "Here were are."

Mirr did not realize they had walked back to the courtyard. Mirr bowed respectfully, "Sorry for the trouble."

Henry waved the boy off. "Don't worry about it." The man turned on his heel and walked back into the house's shadow. Mirr stood in the doorway and watched as the man disappeared into the depths of the manor.

"Where have you been?" Mirr turned to find Lakeland behind him.

"Nowhere special." Mirr shrugged, and he did not want to explain everything that just happened a second time.

"I am not even going to question you, but there are several people who want to "meet" you. Their daughters, at least. Who knows, you might meet your wife?" Lakeland snickered at Mirr. Mirr just rolled his eyes before walking past his brother into the crowd of people. He tried to focus, but his mind wandered back to the blue-eyed fairy.

*******************

Henry hurried through the hall. He walked briskly, navigating the labyrinth of hallways with easy moving like a shadow. He could not figure out what had just transpired.

Henry's sound element allowed him to pick up on the heartbeat of people. He was confident that A person hid behind an illusion spell in the corner. It was rather alarming as he did not know anyone on staff with the illusion element. When he erased the illusion from his mind, Henry was shocked by a puzzling sight.

The smoke veil hid a particular red-headed troublemaker in the corner. Asher had his awakening just this morning, yet he couldn't have already learned a spell so quickly. A genius would remember their first spell within a month, but it was impossible in less than a day.

His first instinct was that maybe Asher had gotten his hands on a magic device that created the illusion, but he would have known if there was such a device on the premises. He finally arrived at his destination. With a rapt on the door, Henry opened the door to an empty office. He walked over to the large box and examined the lock, and the lock was snapped in half by force.

When he opened the box, he found the crate full of the books he ordered at the master's request. After examining the titles, he found that several books were missing and hed he had personally checked the invoice when the books arrived for the young masters. Henry felt his body break out into a cold sweat when he realized that all the missing books were elements that belonged to Asher, including the text on the illusion element.

Asher was horrifying. If Asher learned a spell in a single day, Henry began to be thankful he was only hexamage. If Asher was an omnimage like Jude, there was no limit to what Asher would do. He could only guess how powerful Asher would have been to be able to learn a spell so quickly. Henry began to feel that Asher's embarrassing lack of power was a blessing in disguise. Asher was already considered a menace among the staff.

He found the books on enhancement and taming still in the box. Henry knew Asher well enough that he would not leave these behind if he could have helped it. Asher would always use the hidden passage to sneak into the office for his father's books was strange how much he was interested in these books. He collected the two books and slid them into his black coat before closing the box back.

He had to get to the bottom of this mystery, and the only one who could tell him the whole truth was Asher himself. He left the room and immediately moved towards Asher's Chambers on the third floor in the east wing. He used to have his bedroom on the first floor, but Master Richt moved it to the third floor due to the number of times he had late-night excursions.

When Henry knocked on the door, he waited patiently outside the door. "Young Master." After a moment of empty silence, he poked his head in the door and called out to Asher. He found the boy unceremoniously splade out on the bed. He scoffed and shook his head because somehow, this was fitting for Asher. He picked up the boy's limp body, softly placed him on the bed, and threw the blankets on top of the sleeping form. He tucked him in the bed before placing the two books on the nightstand.

He knew that Asher would have a difficult life in the future, and he needed as much support as possible. If that meant giving him the books for his personal use, it was worth it. He couldn't even claim himself as the Duke's son since he was supposed to have mana sickness. He steps out into the hallway before softly closing the door behind him. As he turned to leave, he was met face to face with the lord of the manor, Garth Richt, holding a food tray.

"Sir," Henry bowed respectfully, "If you wanted me to bring food to the young master, I could have done so."

Garth let out a sigh. "I wanted to check up on my boy personally and make sure he was okay." He looked at the ground with a sad expression. "Is he awake?" Henry found it enduring that such a colossal mountain of a man would look like that when he was worried about his children. Lord Garth was many things, but no one could say he was an uncaring father.

"No, Sir," replied Henry, "The young master has retired for the evening." This face still does not show any hint of emotion.

The Duke looked at the ground as he let out a large sigh. "I don't know what to do." He mumbled under his breath. "Can I ask you something, Henry?"

"I live to serve the Duke, you, Sir. If you wish for my opinion, all you have to do is ask Sir." Henry bowed slightly with respect.

"In all these years, you have not changed at all. You are still so proper and rigid. How long have you worked in this manner?"

"About 40 years now, Sir. I think it was a year after you were born, Sir."

"Yeah, you have been here for as long as I can remember. In your memory, Has there ever been a non- omnimage in the nobility?"

"There are a few specialized clans in the lower nobility. But there were none in the upper nobility ranks; I cannot say there have been many cases of a non-omnimage, and I do not know of any."

"So, what do you think we should do about Asher?" Questioned Garth.

"Sir, might I be blunt?" Henry paused until Garth nodded. He then continued. "Asher is frighteningly resourceful for someone his age. I understand your concern, but I find it wholly unnecessary. There is no written rule that a noble has to be an omnimage. Naturally, he would have to deal with those individuals who might object to his right to rule, but he is resilient and will handle everything as it comes. He needs a little more time."

"I know, but that does not mean I will not worry. People will start questioning his lineage when they find out, and they may even try to revoke his title or worse. Without the power to support the dukedom, his road would be long and hard. I wish I could go back to those days when he would sleep all day in his mother's arms."

Henry remained motionless to the point that he could be mistaken for a statue while Garth spoke. The Duke's eyes filled with sadness at the mention of his late wife, and his heart still longed for her even though it had been almost five years since her passing. Henry put his hand on Garth's shoulder to comfort him. "Everyone deeply misses her. But I know what she would say in this situation. She would say, 'you have to trust that they will be able to handle it.'"

Garth relaxed when he heard his late wife's words. "And I would tell her that, as their father, I have a right to worry." Tears fell from his eyes as he remembered the past. He let out a laugh that was soft and full of fond memories. He was the overprotective father to a fault, and his beloved Katherine was the kind rock, beautiful and wise.

As Garth wiped his tears from his cheeks, Henry spoke up. "Sir, I recommend that we return to the party before our presence is missed. We can deal with what to do about this situation tomorrow."

When Garth nodded, he turned and headed back to the courtyard with his guest. Henry walked the appropriate five paces behind the master. As they walked, Henry glanced back at the door. He could not shake the feeling that there were many strange secrets and mysteries behind that door. Much more than just a simple boy with a talent for magic.