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Chapter 19: The first flame

The situation with Nuvoloso grew more and more grim every day, and that gloom fell on the city like a cloud of toxic fog, poisoning people\'s thoughts.

Cael didn\'t pay attention to rumors—he still devoted himself to training, though with Father growing too busy to oversee it, Cael had to study on his own. This was the best he could do for now. Though he kept taking daily walks through the city, he spotted no more suspicious people, and those served only for relaxation.

But Cael\'s mother kept a hand on the pulse of Sanremo di Mare. She invited wealthiest and most influential citizens to tea parties and visited others\' houses, and then retold what she heard about at breakfasts in the tower.

It was not from her, though, Cael found out the really important news, but from his brother.

That noon, Vittorio barged into Cael\'s room, not even knocking. Cael, who was busy writing down System\'s seemingly endless spell and talent trees, alongside with a wealth of information about the Starspawn, hurriedly slammed the journal closed.

Vittorio didn\'t pay that secrecy any mind. He marched towards Cael, flailing his hands in agitation. "Brother! Come, you have to help me. I will plead with Father, and you will plead against me, so he\'d agree out of pure spite!"

"Vit, have you got sick with brain rot? Didn\'t Father lecture us about the dangers of cheap whores?" Cael asked, putting away his quill.

"Ugh." Vittorio cringed. "Unlike you, brother, I spent my years on more worthwhile pursuits. Although… Not that you had much choice, huh?" He raised his eyebrows.

Cael unconsciously lifted his hand to touch the Mage\'s Mark that hung from a leather cord on his neck. Silver medallion, a small ruby, and Cael\'s pride. He scowled at Vittorio.

"If you came to insult me, then close the door from the other side."

"Ah, sorry!" Vittorio shook his head and even sounded genuine in his apology. "Listen, I\'ve just heard from soldiers that got the messenger bird from our borders… Nuvoloso had finally attacked!"

Cael jumped to his feet. "What?! When, where, how… Who won?"

Vittorio pressed his lips together and rolled his shoulder in an undefined half-shrug. "No one. I think so, at least. They just rushed in at night, without a warning, killed as many of our soldiers as they could, and ran away as quickly as they came. Cowards… But forget this! You know what it means, Cael? We must convince Father to send me to fight! I\'m one of the strongest mages he has at his disposal. The rest are just first-ranked knights!"

"Alright, let\'s go. But… I bet he\'ll send me to the border instead of you. You? You are still the heir. And I\'m your spare."

Vittorio huffed. "If this is what it takes, I will ask him to make you the heir. Come on! We can\'t just let those brigands attack us unpunished! And hurry. Father already gathers forces!"

***

"No."

"But—"

"I said, *no*. Vittorio, you aren\'t going anywhere. I need you here, in this city, in this tower. You are the only one I can leave my lands to, the only one prepared to take care of them while I will be gone. Mother will help you, as well as my steward."

Vittorio swallowed his answer and threw a pleading look at his brother. Cael shrugged.

"I told you," he whispered. "But, hey… You will basically be the lord of the land while Father is gone."

"At least you are stuck here with me, too," Vittorio grumbled.

Cael flashed him a smirk and turned towards his father. Gianni didn\'t appear to be at all amused by their antics.

"What about me, Father? Can I go with you?"

Gianni frowned. "This isn\'t a game, Cael, and your recklessness… It might easily kill you. You\'ll have to follow my every order. Every command. Down to the letter. I\'m unsure you are able to."

"I am, I swear, Father!" Cael slapped his chest with a palm.

His father eyed him skeptically for several seconds, then let out a tired breath.

"It\'s better than if you run off on your own. At least with Vittorio, I can expect obedience, even if it would be peppered with whining. You, Cael, just keep getting into trouble recently."

"I don\'t *whine*. And why does the stronger of us sit in the tower, while the weaker one goes to fight?.. This is just ridiculous."

"Father, what trouble do you speak about? It was one time! One time."

Gianni threw Cael a sharp look. "Don\'t think I forgot your \'miraculous\' recovery. You disappeared for a day—did you think I wouldn\'t notice?"

Cael recoiled, taken aback. "But… You didn\'t even mention it!"

"If you would lie to your mother, I wouldn\'t expect a better answer. Or did you think Emilia is blind and deaf?" Gianni scowled. "There will be no place for these secrets on the battlefield. You know something—you tell me."

Cael swallowed, feeling overwhelmed for a moment. Did his father trust him enough to not press on with the secret of his Blood Mage System?

Suddenly, the secret attained heavy weight, which settled on Cael\'s heart.

*Maybe then… I should tell them?* He glanced at his father, then at Vittorio. *No… Not yet. I have to become stronger first!*

"I imagine we understood each other, Cael. Go gather your things for a journey—we will leave the first thing tomorrow morning. Vittorio, you stay. I will explain what you are to do while we are gone…"