Your class, [Runic Mage], has leveled up – Lvl 11 Lvl 12!

[Arcane Awareness] has leveled up! – Lvl 14 Lvl 15!

[Mana Control] has leveled up! – Lvl 20 Lvl 21!

[Cloning] has leveled up! – Lvl 11 Lvl 12!

[Parallel Processing] has leveled up! – Lvl 4 Lvl 5!

With [Parallel Processing] having leveled up to 5, Theodore had enough bandwidth for a second clone. He'd been running a single clone so far back in Holden, but a second clone would be beneficial as well. He created that clone the night and made sure it was... a lesser clone, in a way. It wasn't a parallel existence like his main clone, but rather, a clone that could do whatever he ordered it to do. He relegated it to train his skills and play around with runes. Theodore wanted to recreate many of the modern conveniences, and the clone would be the one in charge of doing all.

Regardless, he'd been happy with his gains, even though they had been rather slow given he'd been traveling, and more so hadn't had the time to hunt or fight in the slightest. After the revelation yesterday, Theodore had spent some time sitting with Freya; they hadn't talked, but he appreciated her presence and the comfort she had provided.

Freya had suggested he get some rest, and Theodore agreed. He was tired. Not physically, but mentally. Emotionally. He'd returned to his room, laid down in his bed, and fallen into a deep sleep, where no dreams came to haunt him. Now he had awoken to the morning sun, and he felt rested. He felt better. The revelation that he had been Theodore all along, and not just some alien consciousness that had possessed Theodore's body, was not an easy one to swallow.

Logically, he understood. Everything made sense.

Emotionally, it was... different.

He felt conflicted. He felt angry. He felt sad. He felt guilty. And he didn't know why. Or maybe he did. Maybe that was the problem. Maybe he was feeling all of this because he knew the truth now, and it hurt, so he just shut it all off, locked it away, and tried to forget.

Theodore shook his head to clear his thoughts. He needed to focus on the day ahead. He would go and meet with his grandfather again later. Right now, he wanted to... Mm. What did he want to do? There was nothing to do. The tournament was far away, one of his clones was busy grinding skills, the other was busy with creating the sewage as well as kickstarting better housing infrastructure. Though, granted, Hayden was handling a lot of that, but Theodore had been the one who had to provide the initial plans and designs, later also helped along the way, though now that everything was going smoothly, Theodore had some time to consider if he wanted to stir the pot, so to speak, and create even more projects, though he suspected that might not be that good of an idea.

Hmm. Actually. He could visit the Enchanters' Guild in the capital. Master Aldric had visited Holden, observed his "enchantment" work done on the refrigerator and bathhouse as well. He'd asked questions and confirmed validity, and when he was satisfied, the man had left. Though he had given him a formal invitation to the Enchanters' Guild, or Tower, to be more specific. He'd wanted Theodore to talk with the leadership there, and had told him that they were interested in any projects he might have in mind involving enchanting.

Theodore could use their help, massproducing products which then could be distributed and sold.

Hm. Yeah, that really wasn't a bad idea.

Smiling lightly, Theodore got up, showered, got himself in new clothes, and made his way to eat with his family, which was where he was going to drop the news that he was going to be visiting the Enchanters' Guild today. When he sat down, he was a bit bummed out. Leona wasn't there. Mother and father were, but Maximillian had already headed out for some work that needed some overseeing.

"Where's Leona, mom?" he asked, and his mother sighed.

"She's with your grandfather right now."

"Hm." Theodore sighed. "I should apologize to her. My behavior was unacceptable. My time away and especially Awakening has given me new insights into myself and I find my old behavior unacceptable and repulsive."

"I don't think that's a good idea." His mother said sadly.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, hm, let's see. I do believe you're willing to change, and in fact you have shown how much you've changed, and Juliana has also talked to me about it. But Leona. She's going to need some time, Theodore. She does not know how to react or process this. While you were punished and admonished for your behavior regarding her in the past, the few times you did things, it traumatized her, Theodore. She's scared of you. I think it would be best to give her some space, and maybe, when she's ready, she will come to you."

He had hoped to apologize to her directly and hopefully start mending bridges. However, he didn't want to force the girl into an uncomfortable situation.

"Hm." He hummed in acknowledgment and then said, "I understand. I'll be heading over to the Enchanters' Guild today. I've been invited by Master Aldric, and he said that the guild leadership wants to meet me and discuss a few things, as well as talk about potential future collaboration.

"I had some patents registered at the Inventors' Guild a while back, and as you know, one of them caused quite a bit of uproar among enchanters. As the Enchanters' Guild takes this stuff very seriously, Master Aldric himself came to Holden to verify the validity himself. He's taken a look at the refrigerator and the bathhouse, and found it very interesting."

"Yes yes, we know. Although, a refrigerator?" His father asked. "That's the thing that can keep food cold, correct? That's revolutionary for the mundane folk, and much of nobility. You built a bathhouse as well, yeah, tell me about it."

"Instead of using fire wood it has water heating enchantments and the water is delivered throughout the whole building with pipes, even overhead. Every water outlet has a mechanism that lets you control the temperature, and the water is recycled through the use of a water purifier. It's all pretty neat. While nothing revolutionary, it piqued Master Aldric's interest when he was in Holden."

Both of his parents looked impressed, but it was his mother that spoke next. "This... it's a big deal, Theodore. Aldric is a nice man, and so is Seras. I'm sure the Enchanters' Guild is going to try and rope you into their fold. I'm glad you're going to be meeting them in the capital, it'll be a good opportunity. But I want you to make sure you don't fall for anything, and if something feels wrong, trust your instincts and don't agree to it. You're still a child, and as such, you're a very valuable commodity for them. Don't let yourself be manipulated into agreeing to something you might not want."

"I've got this." Theodore reassured her. He had no intentions of getting roped into anything, but if he could use their expertise to help with his plans, he'd be a fool not to.

***

The food was pretty light. He didn't really need to eat much anymore, but he loved the taste of it, so he ate anyway. When they were done, Theodore bid his parents farewell, exited the house, and then made his way toward the Enchanters' Tower.

The capital, well, it was a sight to behold. It wasn't a "modern" city by any stretch of the imagination, but it was still impressive. Large roads were paved with stone, and the city itself was divided into districts, with each district having its own distinct look and feel. The city was huge, and it was bustling with activity. People were everywhere, going about their business, buying and selling, talking and laughing. It was a far cry from Holden, and it was definitely a different experience from traveling to a small town or village.

The architecture itself was quite different from Earth. While medieval-esque in feel, it didn't fall behind in aesthetics. The buildings were all built from stone, and the streets were all paved, too. There were no cars, of course, but there were carriages, luxurious ones, and people rode horses and other animals, too. There were even a few flying creatures that people used to get around, and there were magical means of transportation, too. It was a lively city, full of energy.

The carriage he took dropped him off at the Enchanters' Tower. The tower itself was a tall, imposing building that rose up into the sky. It was a massive structure, and built from white stone. It was a work of art. It was a place of learning, a place of research, a place of creation.

Even from such a distance, he marveled at it. Surrounded by a sprawling plaza of stone and grass, the building was a sight to behold. When he entered, there were several checks and verifications that he needed to undergo. The first check was a simple one, a quick examination of his identity. The second check was a more thorough one, where he was asked to show his invitation, and the guards verified the authenticity of it. After that, he was led inside, then let free.

Even as a prince, he was not exempt from these checks, which was something that the Enchanters' Guild was known for. They cared about one thing and one thing only: enchanting. That was what mattered to them.

He stepped through the doorway, and walked through the garden pathways until he made it near the main building. All in all, it was quite barren, surprisingly, though that might have more to do with the fact that it was morning, and also the weekend. Though he did spot three people nearby. Huh. Were two of them sparring. Curious. Theodore was surprised at their Ranks.

They were all women. The two sparring were easily Rank 4, and the woman standing by watching expressionlessly was a Rank he couldn't quite place. She hid it well, surprisingly enough.

Interested, Theodore walked over. He had time to spare, he wouldn't mind watching or maybe even sparring a bit himself. As he neared them, however, the woman standing by looked at him, frowned, and her hand landed on her sword as she sized him up.

***

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