The three teens arrived at the Helstea Manor and were escorted to the dinning room by one of the servants. Their timing was perfect, as everyone else was just taking their seats. The two families happily welcomed their children home, and the Leywins also made sure to welcome Tess as they felt she would one day be family, and they all sat down for dinner.

"So how has school been? Are you all ready for your final exams?" Tabitha Helstea asked the teens.

"Umm Schools been good, and exams should be easy," Lilia replied to her mother, a hint of nervousness could heard in her voice.

"And what about you son, are you ready to give your class an exam," Rey asked with some pride that his son was so skilled that he was asked to teach a class.

"Yeah, I just decided to have them all spar to show what they've learned," Arthur replied, sounding a lot less nervous than Lilia. Meanwhile Sylvie stealth-fully tried to sneak the meat off of Arthur's plate. However without even looking Arthur slammed his fork into the meat, stopping Sylvie's thievery in its its tracks. Arthur then cut the meat in half with a single swipe, allowing Sylvie to have half.

Tess meanwhile sat quietly eating her food, unsure as to why Arthur and Lilia were both nervous about bringing up the summer plan to their parents. She wasn't nervous at all when she had asked for permission, but she only had to speak with her grandfather since her parents were usually busy with the council. She figured that must have been the issue, as she found speaking about such things with her grandfather much easier.

"I bet you kids are excited and ready for your summer break," Vincent commented casually.

"Actually about summer break," Lilia started.

"What is it Lilia?" Tabitha asked.

"Umm, I think it would be best if Arthur explained," Lilia replied.

"And this is why we should have discussed this on the ride here," Arthur thought to himself, a little annoyed that Lilia didn't at least start the conversation.

Arthur then took a sip of water and dabbed his face with his napkin. "Well, the student council and the disciplinary committee came up with the idea of spending the summer together and becoming adventurers," Arthur stated. As the words left him mouth he looked at the parents to see a concerned expression on both of Lilia's parents as well as his mothers.

"Mom, dad, I really want to go. I think it would be a really great experience for me, especially since I am a battle mage," Lilia pleaded.

"Arthur, you're just getting off for the summer after being away most of the year. And before that you spent three years away as an adventurer. I was really looking forward to having you around for a while," Alice said sadly. Rey remained silent, even though he did want some more time with his son, he understood the desire to be out in the beast glades, the call of an adventurer.

"NO!" Ellie cried and ran around the table to Arthur and hugged him. "I don't want you to be gone again." This scene tugged at everybody's heart strings, and part of Alice hoped that it would tug on Arthur's enough to make him want to stay.

"Don't worry Ellie, its only for the summer, and it's not even for the whole summer," Arthur replied in a sympathetic tone.

"Really?" Ellie asked as she wiped some tears from her eyes.

"Really," Tess said as she leaned forward to see Ellie. "We'll only be gone for two months, leaving one month to spend at home with our families. One week at the beginning of summer break, and three weeks at the end."

Ellie's eyes shifted from Tess back to Arthur. "Do you promise we'll be able to spend lots of time together?" Ellie asked her brother.

Arthur smiled. "I promise." Arthur did want to promise to bring Ellie back a present, but not knowing what he could find out there, he didn't want to risk disappointing her. But that didn't mean he couldn't surprise her with something when he returned if he did come across something.

"Ok. But you better be careful and not worry Mommy," Ellie replied with a stern gaze.

Arthur smiled and looked back up to his parents. "So what do you say, can I go?"

"I don't know," Alice replied sounding uncertain. "This won't be like last time. You'll be responsible for your friends and making sure they come home. Jasmine won't be there to make sure you stay safe."

"Don't worry Mrs. Leywin, I'll make sure Arthur doesn't do anything too reckless," Tess honestly teased.

"Thank you Tess, and again please call me Alice."

"I don't mean to put any additional pressure on you, but Vincent and I would feel a whole lot better about allowing Lilia to go if Arthur was there," Tabitha stated.

"Honestly Arthur is kind of the key factor for this happening. Apparently Arthur made a big name for himself before he started school, even my grandfather said I could only go if Arthur did. So we kind of are leaning on him being there to get all the other parents to agree. Without Arthur this plan probably won't happen," Tess explained.

"Alice, you're always worried about Arthur having friends. Well here he is essentially going on a summer trip with the friends he's made. I know you're worried, but Arthur has already proven that he's far stronger than I could ever hope to be, and he's just as smart as you. He'll be fine, we both know it," Reynolds said in a calm soothing tone.

Alice covered her face with her hands, leaning forward as she leaned her elbows on the table as she she thought. She hated that everything was weighing on her. If she refused, Arthur would be safe and she could spend time with him, but she would also essentially be preventing the others from going as well. But if she did let him go she would miss him for most of the summer. Alice sighed as she removed her hands and placed them on the table, as her eyes locked into Arthur's with and intense gaze. "If I allow this you have to wear the ring, and I want to know all the dungeons you're going to before you even leave the city."

"If you agree I'll make you a map of our route from when we exit the teleportation gate in the beast glades, to each dungeon, and all the way back," Arthur added hoping it would make her even more comfortable.

Arthur and Alice's eyes remained locked as they both remained silent, her expression was unreadable as Arthur's appeared more pleading. Everyone else continued to watch in anticipation as to what Alice would say next.

It had felt like an eternity had passed when Alice finally sighed as she closed her eyes. "When you get back I expect you to spend plenty of time with your family."

"So does that mean I can go?" Arthur asked to confirm how it sounded.

"Yes you can go," Alice said with a smile.

"Thank you mom," Arthur replied excitedly.

"Just be careful, and make sure everyone else is safe too. It seems you're always cheating death when you go out to the beast glades and they're going to be looking to you because of your experience," Alice warned.

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Meanwhile Curtis and Kathyln were sitting patiently in the dinning room of their home Xyrus Castle, waiting for their parents to arrive. Neither them nor their parents were ever there anymore due to them being at school and their parents always being away as part of the council. After a few more minutes the doors opened and their parents Blaine and Priscilla Glayder walked in.

"We're sorry we're late children, we were held up by some council business," Blaine said tiredly as he approached the table.

"It's alright father, we understand your work is important," Curtis replied in an excited tone as he sat up a little taller in his seat.

"True, but nothing is more important than our children. We were so surprised to get your message about wanting to have dinner together, but I'm so happy as well. It's been far too long since we've had a family meal," Priscilla replied as she came up behind her children and kiss each of their heads.

The Glayder family sat around the table enjoying a delicious finely prepared meal as Curtis and Kathyln told there parents about everything that had happened since last they spoke, although Curtis did most of the talking.

"So what is it exactly that you wanted to speak with your mother and I about?" Blaine asked his children as they finished desert. "Not that we don't enjoy hearing about everything that's been happening and having a meal with our children. It's just unlike you two to call out to your mother and I to just have a meal with us."

The two siblings looked to one another before Curtis spoke. "It's about summer break."

Blaine and Priscilla sighed. "Your father and I are sorry, but we won't be able to take a trip to the coast this year," Priscilla apologized.

"There is a lot happening that requires the council's attention, and we can't simply just walk away for more than an evening let alone a couple of weeks," Blaine explained. Both he and his wife wore pained expressions as they felt they were letting their children down.

"Actually that's ok. We were actually wanting to do something different this summer," Curtis replied sounding positive to help his parents feel better.

"Oh? What did you have in mind?" Priscilla asked curiously.

"We want to become adventurers for the summer," Kathyln said in a slightly more upbeat tone than normal for her.

"What!?" Blaine replied in shock as he sat up straight in his seat.

"It's going to be the student council and the disciplinary committee going together. We're going to become adventurers, and dive into a few dungeons, maybe take on some missions too," Curtis explained.

"Curtis, Kathyln, it's far too dangerous for you two to go into the beast glades without protection, and it's not nearly as easy as it used to be to just assign some guards to escort the two of you," Priscilla stated with a concerned tone.

"But we won't be alone, we'll be traveling with our classmates," Curtis said matter of factly.

"And two A ranked adventurers," Kathyln finished.

"Oh really, anyone we may have heard of?" Blaine replied with a mixture of curiosity and excitement as he leaned forward, his behavior seeming more like that of a small child eager to hear a new story from his parents.

"Both were from the party that made it out of the Dire Tombs before school started. First is Elijah Knight, who is actually the newest member of the disciplinary committee," Curtis stated.

"Yes I think I remember hearing about him. Isn't he a human that hails from Darv?" Blaine asked as he tried to remember the report he heard about the incident.

"That's right, he's also the student that opened up the enemy barrier during the attack on the academy," Kathyln added, the right corner of her mouth twitching slightly as if she wanted to smile.

"Well that's making me feel better about this plan. Anyone that powerful would definitely make for a good bodyguard. What about the other one?" Blaine mused before refocusing.

"Note," Curtis said casually with a smirk, knowing this would seal the deal and his father would agree to allow him and his sister to go. He knew this was technically a lie as Arthur said he still needed to get permission from his parents, however he couldn't understand why he even needed permission seeing as he was already an adventurer, so why would they stop him now.

Blaines eyes widened as much as possible as his jaw practically dropped to the table before a smile started to form. "So he's still alive," Blaine thought out loud. "There's been no news of him since he was banned from Xyrus by the adventurers guild, but I guess with the death of the Wykes boy there's no point in keeping him banned. There had been no word of him in so long I had considered the Wykes family had gotten ahold of him."

"Nope, he's still alive, and we even know his identity," Curtis bragged.

"Well considering the fact you're bragging he must be someone we've heard of, so don't keep your father in suspense here, please tell me."

"Arthur Leywin," Curtis said.

Blaines face changed from one of eager excitement to one of complete and utter shock. His eyes were wide with his left eye twitching as his mouth hung agape.

"Father?" "Blaine?" His family called out in concern.

Blaine shook his head and smiled. "I'm fine, just a little shocked. Despite everything that boy has done, I never would have suspected he was also Note," Blaine said dismissively.

"So can we go?" Kathyln asked.

Blaine look to his wife to see a small smile on her face as she nodded. "Ok, you can go," Blaine replied.

"Thank you father, thank you mother," both Curtis and Kathyln replied, Curtis sounding extremely excited, while a very small but clear smile could be seen on Kathyln's face.

"Your welcome, but you will be required to give us a copy of your route and you both most carry a communication scroll with you at all times," Priscilla replied, to which they agreed.

"You should also probably talk to the palace quartermaster about things you will need. They may be soldiers, but there is little that a soldier would need that an adventurer wouldn't. I'll tell him to expect you both in the morning," Blaine added.

"Actually can we go talk to him now? We're both pretty excited," Curtis asked, Kathyln nodded in agreement.

"Of course. We'll see you both in the morning at breakfast before we return to the council," Priscilla replied.

The children then thanked their parents and said goodnight before they left the room. As they walked out Blaine gave a signal to one of the servants, who then nodded and brought a glass bottle of a brown liquid and glass. He placed the glass in front him and poured a drink before being dismissed.

"Blaine, whats wrong?" Priscilla asked as her husband drank the contents of the glass in one gulp.

"Arthur Leywin," was all he said as he poured himself another glass. Anger and annoyance clear in his voice.

"Ahh, I see," Priscilla acknowledged with a sigh.

"All that power at such a young age, but not a single drop of noble blood in his veins. It's almost as if god is doing this to spite me," Blaine stated as he drank his drink a little slower than the last one.

"Yes I know, but perhaps it's for the best. Too many of the noble are arrogant and egotistical when it comes to their mana progress. They need to be knocked down a bit by someone from the outside," Priscilla replied.

"No, that power needs to be in the nobles or the royal family. That's why we all have our positions," Blaine stated sounding annoyed. He then leaned his head back and sighed. "What I could do with that power."

"The same as you are now. Remember, before as a king you could never charge into battle, and now as part of the council that's even more so true," Priscilla answered.

"True. But it would still be better suited for Curtis. He could really put that power to good use better than I could. I just don't want his progress to be like mine."

Blaine Glayder struggled all through life to make progress in the development of his mana core, relying heavily on elixirs and other aids. Now while I'm his late thirties he was stuck at the dark Orange stage, the same stage Curtis had just reach a month ago. With this development he had held hope that Curtis wouldn't suffer the same struggles as he did, however Kathyln changed things. Despite only awakening two years ago Kathyln had already reached the light red stage, and was told by trainers that she could easily reach the dark orange stage before her second year at the academy. Blaine had long known Arthur was going to play a major role in the future, ever since he learned he was a mage when they first met at the auction house. But after he learned how truly powerful he was, he envied Arthur and wanted that power for his own.

Despite not being able to take Arthur's power as his own, in his drunken stupor he come up with an idea to at least control his power.

"Hey, what if we arranged for Arthur to marry Kathyln?" Blaine suggested, thinking this was a brilliant idea.

"No!" Priscilla quickly and aggressively shot down. "If you feel that kind of power needs to be in the hands of the nobility so bad then just make the Leywins a noble family. We both know Arthur's actions would warrant that much already. But you promised we would not arrange our children's future spouses, and I will hold you to that."

"Why does it matter? I remember seeing a look in Kathyln's eyes when she spoke of Arthur, so I'm confident that she likes him, love can come later," Blaine said dismissively as he continued to drink alcohol.

"You do remember the auction house don't you? That boy will not just roll over and accept whatever you say, he'll fight back. Besides, you know just as well as I do he most likely has no interest in our daughter," Priscilla reminded him.

"Don't remind me," Blaine grumbled. "I'm tired of hearing that old elf saying every time Arthur is brought up that that boy is going to be his grandson one day. Then he tells Alduin and his wife about how Arthur's been spending so much time with their daughter. Damn boys a traitor to his own race."

"Blaine!" Priscilla shouted sternly.

"I know, it's not his fault. It's that damned Virion. He no doubt saw they boys potential and just dropped his granddaughter right in front of him. They become friends and spend plenty of time together, eventually fall in love, then next thing you know the elves have the most powerful mage on the continent in their pocket," Blaine drunkenly theorized as he poured himself yet another glass of liquor.

Priscilla looked as though she was about to yell at her husband, but stifled a laugh. "What's so funny?" Blaine asked.

"Us. Don't you realize, with exception of your paranoid rant, we are essentially gossiping about the love lives of a few teenagers?" Priscilla said as she couldn't contain her laughter.

Blaine just looked at her for a moment as he processed what she had said, taking a little longer than it normally would due to his drunken state. "Hahaha, your right. We sound like a couple of teens sharing the latest gossip," Blaine laughed.

"It doesn't matter who Arthur marries or if he's a noble. This is a united continent now, so all that matters is his loyalty to the continent not the a particular race," Priscilla stated.

"Your right. I guess I was becoming a bit paranoid," Blaine admires as he poured himself yet another drink.

"Yes you were," Priscilla said as she stood up. "I'm heading to bed. But if your sober enough I may stay up a little longer and we can work on seeing if we could have a third child who could be that powerful." Priscilla then left the dinning room with a sway in her hips, that Blaine was watching ever so closely.

He then faced forward and looked at the once full bottle that was now over half gone. He then replaced the stopper to the bottle and stood up. He turned to leave the table and took one step, tripping over his own feet and crashing face first to the ground.