The Ritual (3)

"who is this little kid walking around the hallway like a thief?" A matured voice dripping with arrogance and disdain said out in a low tone.

'goddamit, just how many red hairs are in this household, I really need to find out.' Charles thought as he turned to look at the young adult who was wearing a wicked grin on his face.

"I'm not a thief." Charles said I'm a low and venomous tone as he looked at the Red hair directly in the eyes.

Jiley was startled. He didn't expect the child to be able to talk, he didn't know what to do as he had never been disrespected by a kid that young before. He couldn't decide whether to burn the kid to ashes or to just move on.

"Wait. I heard father went around and slept with a whore who birthed a child with black hair." Jiley motioned slowly as he got closer to Charles.

"Judging by your red eyes that's as thick as a Flameworth's and your black hair. You must be the child." He leaned down to look at Charles's eyes better.

"Another competition." An evil grin climbed his face, going ear to ear.

"But the thought of beefing with a kid..." He stood up, stretching his waist as he groaned softly. "Doesn't seem right to me."

He turned to walk away.

"Be careful around here, you might die if you get acknowledged as a competitor." Jiley turned back and started pacing, walking to the direction he came from.

'He reeked like booze, must be a drunkard.' Charles thought to himself, ignoring the threat Jiley just made. He didn't plan on staying in the crazy house anyway.

'But I still something from him.'

"Hey, I have something to ask you." His voice was loud as he called Jiley.

Jiley turned, getting annoyed, his annoyance was visible on his face, he hated anything tedious.

"What is it kid?" His voice was laced with indifference, showing that he wasn't planning on even to answer Charles, he didn't even know the kid's name, he just wanted to go drink and sleep around with some girls in a pub.

"Can you please tell me where the Patriarchs room is? I'm lost." Charles said with a serious expression on his face, he was desperate to get on with the ritual as fast as possible as the word ritual didn't bode well with him.

Jiley was confused and lost. His mouth was wide open as he turned back to look at Charles confidently asking him that question. He wasn't surprised pf the question, he was surprised about Charles asking him. He thought that he'd be frozen in fear like any normal one year old kid would after encountering him.

"Please?" Charles broke the silence as he pleaded again, urging for Jiley to tell him quickly.

"It's, it's just at.." Jiley told him quickly, he didn't know why he told him while he could have just walked out on him without feeling bad about it. He became intrigued about Charles.

"Thank you." Charles said as he turned to walk directly to the place that Jiley mentioned.

As Charles continued walking on his way, Jiley stood there, in awe of the little gutsy kid that had just conversed with him, although it wasn't really a conversation.

'That kid... Was I ever that smart when I was one and took the ritual? He shows no sign of fear at all and doesn't seem to view the world in the lenses of a child. His eyes carry the look of that of a veteran who has seen the cruelty of life, a person who has seen most things and is not easily fazed. The me of his age is like a fool compared to him. That Kid.. might be a genius.' Jiley Flameworth thought to himself.

"Well that doesn't stop me from getting my booze." He walked from the hallway.

'Thank goodness, I am finally here.' Charles thought as he looked at the door that he was about to knock on and found it decorated with gold. It was fitting for a head.

~Knock knock

He knocked on the door, his knocks echoed in the silence of the hallway, adding to the already heightened tension that Charles felt.

"Come in." His voice was low but it's commanding pressure echoed in the silence of the hallway.

Charles opened the door, taking deep gulps of air, knowing the pressure that Alex gives off and walked into the room.

It was dark. He couldn't see anything, he could only see the ominous and baleful red glow of Alex's eyes.

"This is a tradition. No Male child of mine who hasn't gained any achievements can see my bedroom." Alex spoke in a serious tone, His was excited to see the outcome of the ritual. Will he die? Or will he inherit the mantle of the Flameworth?

"I will explain the history of the Flameworth and the Empire to you. Following normal process, this was supposed to be done at your third birthday before you start training, but I'd explain it now because you are a child gifted with extraordinary wisdom."

'wisdom? I wish this man could know that I'm just an adult in a child's body, nothing special about me.' Charles kept quiet, standing in the dark room without any sense of direction, looking at the figure he believed to be Alex, where he heard his voice coming from and waiting to hear his explanation.

"I'm sure you have already found out by now but, the Flameworth is a family made up of wielders of flame mana..." Alex said in a calm tone.

"Can I ask a question?" Charles asked, he wanted to clear ask the question that had been bugging him.

"Ask."

"What is Mana?" Charles asked. The room was dark, but he felt as if Alex could see into his very soul.

Alex Chuckled, he was amused at the question that Charles asked.

'i forgot he was just a hatchling.'

"Mana is..."

END OF CHAPTER