The Guardians' Throne - The First Magic Swordsman

                  Although Zaos's money was running out, he quickly spent all the rest he had buying new ones. Before he could get his hands on the ancient language and with symbols he didn't know yet or weren't available, he had to get used and understand the ones that were. It will take a while before he could make any real progress, but Zaos was confident that once he gets used to the process, things will proceed favorably. Everything regarding magic worked that way until now.

                  In the end, Zaos returned to his home with fifteen more intermediary magic books. His focus amulet was about to be absorbed by his body, but that was the least of his worries at the moment. For the next few days, Zaos focused all his free time on writing down the symbols and then getting used to their shapes. Although there were many more out there, Zaos was satisfied knowing that he already had access to all symbols regarding support magic. Zaos was even using the time he spent with Drannor and Ameria on studying the symbols, but one day he had to stop.

"Hey, Zaos look at this," Ameria showed Zaos an arrow that she was holding, and the tip was filled with wind magic.

"I guess you are doing all right," Zaos said. "The energy is a bit dispersed, but eventually you will master it."

"Right?" Ameria said. "Feeling pretty proud about herself."

"Now try to use the spell while you nock an arrow and aim," Zaos said.

                  Ameria froze when she heard… She had been trying hard to reach that level because the fun things were about to start, but the difficulty just increased. Casting the spell alone was easy. Casting while holding a weapon and a projectile wasn't that simple. Not to mention, Ameria would need to keep her focus on both tasks because the spell might fail or she could miss the target.

"Is there any trick to do this more easily?" Ameria asked.

"Yes, practice it for as long as you can every day and then eventually you will succeed," Zaos replied.

"That isn't a trick," Ameria protested.

"Well, if you know one better, I am all ears," Zaos said.

                  Zaos couldn't help but wonder what Ameria will think once he tells her that an arrow enchanted by the wind wasn't even the most interesting, she could do. While it was one of the things that would interest archers, it was only because they lacked imagination. Zaos wasn't that eager to teach his discoveries to others for free, but he taught Tyra because she helped him a lot, and her potion saved his life. As for Ameria, she lacked the requirements to earn that kind of knowledge, at least for the time being.

"Hey, Ameria," Drannor suddenly said. "Do you know someone called Alessia Xyrra?"

"I think I heard the name before… why do you ask?" Ameria asked.

                  Zaos sighed… Here he was using his precious free time trying to teach something with those two blockheads, and now they decided to stop and talk in the middle of the lesson. That was one of the reasons why Zaos didn't like kids… they tend to waste time whenever possible with nonsensical things.

"I just received an invitation for a party, someone called Alessia Xyrra is going to have a birthday," Drannor said.

"Ah, I remember now," Alissa said. "She is the eldest daughter of a noble family. She is about to turn fifteen. I also received an invitation. I guess we were going together, thank goodness. Those parties are so boring…"

                  Zaos let out a long sigh, and then those two returned to their tasks. They could waste time about nonsense whenever they feel like it, but not now. Zaos was a good teacher, but not the most patient one. While Zaos wasn't interested in parties, he couldn't help but realize that he wasn't hip with the other kids since he didn't receive an invitation. However, much to his surprise…

"Zaos, you received an invitation for a party," Lyra said. "Do you know someone called Alessia?"

"No, mom," Zaos said and then moved to his room, but his mother stopped him again.

"I guess it is a party that all noble kids around her age are invited to," Lyra said. "Do you want help with your clothes? It is going to be in seven days. We have time to buy something fresh if you want."

"Sorry, mom, but I am not going," Zaos said. "I am kind of busy these days."

"I am sure you can stop reading in your room for a single night, dear," Lyra said. "These parties are important, you know. It is rude to ignore them; it is almost an insult for the families."

                  Zaos didn't think of that… but now that he heard about it. Ameria complained, but she didn't say that she didn't go to those, nor did she plan to skip even if Drannor weren't going.

"Well, I guess I will come up with a cold this week and I will be unable to attend the party," Zaos shrugged.

"You are going to lie?" Lyra raised her voice.

"Not exactly…" Zaos said a bit nervously. "It is just the perfect excuse to make use of my time. I mean, come on. Even if I go there, I won't stay even for an hour and I will spend most of the time reading or something."

"Well then, we will have to make sure you won't bring any books with you," Lyra said.

                  Zaos was having a hard time coming up with a way out of that situation. Usually, his mother doesn't force him to do anything, but Zaos couldn't reason with her when she does. He was quick to give up on situations like that because he didn't want to cause trouble to her.

"Ah, come on, it will be fun," Lyra said. "Aside from Drannor and Ameria, you don't know anyone around your age."

"I know Nyana as well and dealing with three kids with the time I have is more than enough," Zaos said.

Don't try to act so mature, Zaos," Lyra said. "I am sure you will have a lot of fun dancing with the girls there.