.^^ The Lavender Field ^^

— James —

The Axe upped its game, apparently, responding to my increased power. The pain that ripped through me made my earlier experiences entirely pointless.

It was mental, I realized, after an hour or so, when it spread beyond my nerve endings, and into areas that didn't have pain receptors. It was sentiently seeking to make me give up.

I growled and clamped down on it, shoving it deeper into my mind, and reversed the tables. The metal screamed and groaned as I shook every one of its atoms, heating it internally to temperatures that would have vaporized most humans. One of us would break, eventually, and it wouldn't be me.

This continued for several hours, the time marked when Siobhan came over to me, and set a bowl of broth next to me.

I grinned at her, chugging the heated soup, and the bread that she'd placed with it. "I appreciate it. Tasted nice." I murmured, and went back to fighting the axe.

The little break I'd given it, while I ate, proved enough to break it, when I started again at full power.

It immediately stopped trying to rip my arm off, and shrank to a useable size, about my height, at 6 feet tall. I picked it up, and grinned slowly as it's power flowed through me.

Meek, at first, but after receiving no resistance, it began pouring a new type of magic into my body, this one not like my own, Wild Magic, but just as untamable, I think, without the proper control, which thankfully I had.

She blinked, shielding her eyes, and I realized I was glowing. I immediately latched down on the escaping magic, and found that it was spilling out of the axe, and covering me in a damaging corona, instead of coming from my body. The magic receded, and then the axe silenced itself, both the mystical humming and shining.

I grinned, and used the magic from the axe to replace what was in my Bind-Runes, then filtered it into my blood, mixing it slowly but surely. I wasn't arrogant enough that I thought making my body produce Godly magic would make me a Demigod, but it would definitely make me more powerful.

When it reaches the crystal in my heart that connected me to the Ancestors, some of it was sucked in, making the crystal heat up slowly. It remain a bit warmer than usual, once it settled down, and I could feel the ancestors curiously poking at the new magic, along with who I recognized as Rafaela, Gabriel, and Emmanuel.

I waved to them mentally, laughing, and continued, working the new magic into every nook and cranny of my body, and even into my weapon, my Bone Dagger. The magic eventually mixed with my own, forming a bastardized version that I recognized from the one other Demigod I'd met.

I did all this, because I remembered Qin Long saying something about how people became dependent on these Relic-Type weapons, and then they became weak, without them. In this way, even when it isn't in my hands, I could use the energy it gave off for magic.

Siobhan, who had been sitting nearby the whole time, sighed softly. "If only you hadn't removed the training Rune..."

"Yeah, well, too bad." I said dryly. "Now! I am off to get some sleep, and then be here bright and early in the morning for more training!" I grinned, and opened a portal carefully. The magic showed on my forearm, as a set of complex Runes, in the Language I'd selected. "Interesting..." I hummed, and stepped through the portal.

Athenos looked around the corner of the garden, into the library, and hummed. "You Alright, kiddo?"

"Better than ever, Pops, I conquered the Axe of Thor!" I grinned, showing him the axe, as fire raced along the blade.

He blinked. "Impressive! And the... other stuff?" He gestured at my skin.

While I was using the axe, apparently all of the little diamonds on my skin lit up with the same Rune, one I didn't know, but obviously had something to do with the axe. This meant every inch of my skin was covered with the tattoos.

I nodded. "Yeah, it's just protection and concealment Runes, for the most part. More on my bones, like Warren suggested. And you felt the Ancestral magic, right?"

He grinned. "Oooh Boy did I... that is some very dangerous juice you just gave Gabriel. She passed out pretty quick, tried to use too much. Poor tyke." He pointed at the couch next to his lab, where she was sleeping cuddled up in Rafaela's lap.

I waved, and Rafaela smiled. "You might want to put the flames away before Axiom has a heart attack." She hummed, and I grinned, sheathing it on a hook that appeared on the back of my jacket.

The axe hung comfortably, not moving when I jumped up and down, and I nodded. "Perfect. When's the next proficiency Exam?" I smirked evilly.

Athenos laughed theatrically. "Yes, my child! Go forth! Crush them! Mwahahahahaha!!! It's in two days, though, on Monday, so you have two days to get a handle on that power, before you have to use it in public." He reminded me, sobering instantly.

"Done Deal, I'll get to work after I take a nice long nap... I haven't slept in a week." I sighed, rubbing my face.

He frowned. "You said you were sleeping at your mom's house?"

"I also told her the same about your house. In truth, I was training to be a Skald, with a new part of our Clan, in Belfast, for the past month." I grinned tiredly.

He blinked slowly. "How? I mean, we'll get to you lying in a minute, but how did you get Skalds to teach you?"

"By showing natural aptitude... turns out that a lot of my So-called 'original' ideas have already been thought of, and by Skalds, no less. So the leader of the clan allowed her clan of six to join Aunty Durham in the Peterson Clan, because they're already on super-good terms, they apparently play cards together on Sunday's."

"Lady Durham plays Cards?" He murmured.

"See, that's what I said!" I chuckled.

"Alright... and anything else you want to share?" He asked.

"Yeah, I arranged a marriage between the Clans, with Warren and one of the Daughters Of the Skald's. They're already pretty happy with the match. And I hope to one day be a prospect for their eldest daughter, Eliza..." I grinned, thinking of the beautiful girl. She was only 16, which meant she was two years older than me. In four years, I'd be almost fully-grown, and she'd still look the way she does now.

He raised an eyebrow. "I suppose an Elf Girl is best for you, seeing as you've got the life-span of a Fae, but don't get your hopes too high up, Elf Girls tend to have wandering eyes."

I shrugged. "As do Elf Boys; and I don't really care. Now I'm going to get some sleep. Wake me up at dawn, please?" I traveled up the stairs, and collapsed onto my bed.

Riley laid on top of me, sniffing me gently, and seemed happy with what she found, because she licked my ears, then curled up on top of my legs. Perceval did a more thorough inspection, and then hummed. "You've grown rather swiftly, master. I am in awe of your magnificent-"

"I'll see if I can upgrade you in the morning, Perceval, don't worry, just remind me." I groaned.

"Quite right, Master, it can wait until morning." He nodded, relieved, and then shifted into a cat, laying across my shoulders. He began purring softly, and the gentle massage swiftly guided me into a blissful sleep.

—

The Qualification Exams were a lot like the entrance exam to get into the Academy. You had your standard knowledge test, for each level of knowledge, each more in-depth and involved than the last, then you had the practical magic and magical problem solving sections.

As I walked in, I spotted Zetre, standing next to his father. He went to every exam, and every time did a little better on everything except the Practical magic, which he still only passed by the skin of his teeth.

I waved, and he grinned, walking over. "How's your summer been, James?" He asked in his native tongue of Portuguese.

"Pretty awesome, actually! I'm a certified Skald, now, been training since the beginning of summer!" I grinned and struck a pose.

He snorted softly. "Of course you are, ya Mutt. Anything else you wanna throw in the mix?"

"Oh, yeah, actually, I'm also now able to make God-Magic in my blood, like a real demigod son of Borr." I smirked.

He sighed. "You know, don't tell my father that, or he'll be pushing me to learn it, too."

"It's okay, they're only teaching me because the clans are merging. My uncle is marrying one of their daughters, so when I showed the aptitude, they volunteered to teach me, as a sign of good faith with the Peterson Clan, but I had to swear a Geas not to teach anyone who wasn't a blood-relative." I shrugged.

He nodded. "I'll make sure he knows that last part first. Anyway, you're doing the Qualification, Yeah? Let's go!" We raced off as the announcement came through the speakers overhead. The Qualifications were held in a refurbished Club owned by the Sanctuary, so it wasn't that big, in the top area, where the parents had to stay.

To my surprise, Athenos came with us. He grinned when I looked at him. "It's been a long time since I tested, but I think I can get to Merlin-Rank, today, if I try hard enough."

I sighed. "Well, get in a different testing group! Shoo! Cool kids don't bring their dads to tests, that's just weird!"

He chuckled and sauntered over to the next group, and I sighed when I saw Zetre's father join him casually.

"They're so stupidly competitive." I grumbled.

Zetre nodded. "They are."

A few minutes later, our group was called for the written portion of the exam, and we filed down the stairs into a huge Atrium, about the size of an American football-stadium. One end of it was all glass, having touched the cliff-face that was on the south-western edge of the city.

The written portion was set in Seven Stages, with an optional Eighth, if you were insane enough to try it. The first four were easy, and stuff I'd learned and memorized already. I passed all of them with 90% or higher.

The fifth was the first challenge, as it was the rank just below Master, the Journeyman. I finished it, and passed with a 86%, which I wasn't pleased with, but oh well. The Master Test floored me, and I scraped by with a score of 72%, that just barely qualified me for the High-Master exam.

That exam didn't even make much sense to me. Questions about mathematical and magical theories I'd never heard of, and sacred geometry, which I had a good understanding of, mixed and intermixed, leaving me feeling like I was drowning in the ridiculously complicated questions.

I spent about two hours on that test, of only 50 'basic' questions, and then finally finished, an hour and a half after everyone else that had attempted it. When my score came back a 60%, I cheered, laughing exuberantly, not caring if anyone gave me sideways looks.

Athenos, up in the waiting section, couldn't see my scores, but he saw me dancing victoriously with Zetre, (who had scored an 84% on the same exam, but hadn't mentioned it, out of modesty,) and laughed, waving at me excitedly.

I waved back, and then followed the attendee to the next portion of the exam.

—

'Magical Knowledge, 80%,
Magical Power, X%,
Mathematical Ingenuity, 90%,
Physical Acuity, X%,
Problem Solving Skills, 85%.'

I read my scores, and grinned at the final line. "Final Evaluation: Lugh-Class, Merlin-Mana; Title: Master Mage of the Order Of Merlin!" I laughed, and shoved the paper into Athenos's chest, twirling Zetre around by the hips above my head.

He laughed, and then smacked my hands swiftly. "Stop grabbing there! You're tickling me, Imbecíle!"

I set him down, and grinned. "What did you get? Come on, don't be shy!"

He blushed, and held out his own sheet.

I read it, and blinked in shock. "You're a Master? They made you a Scholar-Class Master Mage of the Order of Merlin?"

Athenos blinked. "That's younger than I was, when I got my Master... aren't you 14?" He asked.

Zetre blushed even brighter. "No, I'm 15, I'm just small for my age."

He nodded. "Huh... still, impressive. You are to be congratulated, young man. If you'd gotten the next rank, and you would have beaten my record!" He winked teasingly.

I grinned and hugged him tightly, shaking him around. "Why so shy?!? You're a few steps away from the Rank of Merlin! We're both Master Mages, now! Isn't it exciting!?!?!" I laughed.

He grimaced. "It is, Yes, but please stop shaking me around, you're going to make me vomit."

I set him down immediately, and steadied him. "Sorry."

"It's alright... anyway, what did you get, Father?" He asked the older man, who had hung back a bit while we talked to one another.

"Same as always, my child. High-Mastery of Knowledge, and Journeyman-Mana. I'm still a Scholar, it seems." The man hummed.

I looked at Athenos. "And you?"

He grinned. "I finally got my wish. M-Mana, M-Knowledge, and therefore I am finally Merlin-Class, and the Rank of Merlin... the rank which only a select group of Grand Mages have ever achieved!!! Also, I'm the proud father of a Master Mage at only 14!" He laughed, hugging me tightly, then releasing me into Mum's arms.

Rafaela hugged both of us, and I smiled, pulling Zetre into the feminine sandwich. He blushed wildly, and covered his face, which only made Rafaela giggle, hugging us tighter for a moment, before setting us all down.

"I'm proud of you, James, indeed I am." She said, and kissed my forehead, then gave me to Mum.

She smiled and smoothed my hair back into its braid meticulously. "Indeed... a Mastery at your age, it's something to celebrate, that's for sure! Come on, Lunch is at Lady Durham's House!" She casually dragged Zetre and his father along with us, and I opened a portal casually, going to warn Aunty Durham that she would have guests.

I found her in the living room behind the parlor, and turned right around, walking back out. "Sorry!"

"Oh dear child, you should really stop apologizing. You've done nothing wrong." She followed, a dress appearing on her frame, and dragging Peter behind her by the collar on his throat.

"I came to warn you of guests, I got my Mastery today, so mum wanted to celebrate, but we'll hold it in Athens. If you want to attend, you can." I said quickly, as people started coming through the portal. I redirected them all to the compound in Athens, swiftly.

She hummed. "Yes, I think we'll dress more appropriately, and then follow you over, if you'll leave us a portal?" She leaned to kiss my cheek, and I cringed. "Ah, right, I'll go wash my mouth first. Cooties are dangerous, after all." She said dryly, and flicked my ear.

"It's more where Peter's been, really." I shrugged at him apologetically.

She removed his collar, and he shrugged, kissing her sweetly. "Only-"

"No, no details, no thank you." I interrupted. "Now go get dressed, if you want to join us."

They giggled and went off to get dressed, then returned swiftly, and stepped through my portal.

As I went to follow, I felt a rift open, and my portal dissolved forcefully.

Instead of stepping into Athens, I was suddenly in an endless field of lavender. Stretching for as far as I could see, and with only one or two trees, it was clearly either a Lavender Farm, or simply unnatural.

"You know, when I go places, I like to be invited, not kidnapped. Makes me all irritable, see?" I said to the air, smelling a few people over the lavender. I couldn't hear or see them, but they were hiding their scents in the lavender, and I wasn't amused.

A soft voice carried along on the magical breeze. "Do you go many places?"

"I go everywhere, recently, either hunting or just visiting. Even other realms. And you'll be explaining where I am now, or I'll be killing the people hiding in the lavender over there." I projected my voice sternly.

"... you may try."

I drew my sword, and simply stabbed the ground, commanding the lavender bushes to strangle the people using them for hiding.

The bushes shivered, but did not obey, instead turning on me. I growled and let loose the icy flames of my weapon, decimating the crop in a giant circle around me.

The ice no longer had any scent, so I walked directly over towards the scents, stepping around the bushes carefully, as I planned to resurrect them, soon.

Two elves were sitting in the rows, teeth-chattering with the frost that covered their skin.

"So? We fighting, or are you surrendering? Simple, yeah?" I asked, pointing my sword at one of them.

The scenery twisted, and suddenly I was in the same field, but the scent of lavender wasn't as overpowering. Now, my hearing was assaulted by harsh winds, whistling ghastly noises.

I growled and listened through it, endangering my hearing, until I found the two elves again, and I threw rocks at them both.

Now the lavender was tall, all around me, and I could sense the ground quaking subtly, but enough to confuse my usual knowledge of where people where when they moved.

My eyes caught the elves whipping through the tall stalks, and I threw the rocks at them again, managing to brain one of them.

Now the lavender was replaced with saw-grass, from the Everglades, and only was just as tall as corn.

I walked through it, unconcerned when it scraped my skin, unable to pierce it. I caught the two elves by their collars, and snarled in their faces. "ENOUGH, OR I RIP OFF YOUR LITTLE EARS!!! I WANT ANSWERS, AND NOW, BEFORE I START TO GET EXTREMELY PISSED!!!"

They stuttered a few babbled and confusing excuses, and the scenery changed again.