Author Note: I apologize for the late update. I keep forgetting to come over to Wattpad and post. But that will now change. Yay! Just found out you can schedule chapter releases. Finally! This means updates will be consistent (should be every Saturday). Anyways, enjoy the chapter. ^^



Quinn

The Templeton children drew mass attention at lunch when they trooped into the dining hall sporting glasses, some of them fake with bright frames. Mark did a double take upon seeing his wife Frances and son Leo both donning a pair each, while Miles looked stunned at his sons Nick and Michael appearing before him wearing thick ones.

Jonah scrambled off his chair and ran up to his father the moment Aldric came in. As I popped a forkful of creamy, heavenly mashed potato into my mouth, I saw the boy pull out his status card, showing it off to Aldric, who, as usual, looked impassive at he ran his gaze across it. Suddenly, I noted a slight frown.

Giving Jonah the card back, he ruffled the boy's hair, and Jonah flushed crimson on the cheeks, looking mighty pleased as his father said something, probably praising him. The two then came up to the table, and the moment I sensed Aldric beside me, I turned to him.

I was about to give him a smile and lean in for a kiss when I stopped myself short, this morning's scenario flashing into my mind's eye.

That was right, Aldric did not want to kiss me. He did not desire me. He did not love me.

Feeling my heart aching, I returned my attention to my food, which was roast beef served with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables and continued eating. I was just about to pop another forkful of mashed potato into my mouth when I felt Aldric's powerful arm around me, gently pulling me close to him, and I widened my eyes in pleasant surprise. Tense, I turned to look at him, only to be greeted with his gorgeous face descending toward me and his warm lips planting on my forehead.

"Oh..." I expressed, dumbfounded.

When he moved back, he said, "You've worked hard."

I guessed he meant me examining the children and dealing with their antics.

Feeling heat creeping up my cheeks, I said, "Uh, so do you."

"Would you explain to me what Jonah's status means later?"

I nodded. "Of course. I'll add that topic to the list at the meeting tonight. And you have your health check with me this afternoon."

"Mm-hmm." And he turned to eat his meal.

Vincent and Theo were already present and waiting, or rather, Vincent was teasing Maria and Theo was flirting with Elizabeth, when Aldric and I walked into the reception area of the health clinic. Mark, Miles, Caine, Allan, and Uncle Colt were there, too, sitting along the waiting bay. They were probably eager to find out what their status was, having heard about it from the children at lunch.

"I'll take Aldric in and examine him first," I said to Elizabeth, and she nodded.

As I went into the consultation room, Aldric followed me in and closed the door behind him.

"Please sit down, husband," I said.

Aldric sat, and because I knew he was keen to find out about his status, like the others outside, I wasted no time and got started. I first checked his blood, which was all completely normal, and then had his eyes examined as well as the tablet taking a photo of his handsome face.

I wondered if I could ask Vicky to save a copy for me. Better yet, why didn't I just create a camera and take photos of us together?

But wait! Hold your horses, Quinn, I thought. You must sort out clearly what Aldric's feelings are toward you before jumping ahead.

Shifting my mind back to the work at hand, I said, "You have perfect vision."

"The children?" he asked.

Smiling, I said, "Theirs is perfect. Now, how about that aptitude test, eh?"

He nodded, and I picked up the Aptitude Tablet.

"Please place your hand in the middle of the circle," I said.

Aldric put his large, rough hand on the tablet, and the circle started glowing and moving. Within moments, a screen popped up, and I leaned forward to read. I noted that Aldric was doing so as well.

It stated:

Name: Aldric Templeton, Warrior of the North, Earl of Norsewood, Husband of Lady Quinn Fairchild.

Gender: male

Age: 32

Strength: 999

Health: 999

Mana: 999

Blessings: Goddess Isaris (Strength and War), Goddess Arena (Health), God Ridall (Education and Learning), God Zuesis (Chaos), God Anir (Fortune), Goddess Ela (Prosperity).

Affinities: fire magic, ice magic, wind magic, lightning magic.

I widened my eyes at the numbers besides the strength, health, and mana. What the heck did that mean? Aldric's was sitting at nine hundred and ninety-nine? I thought the cap was at one hundred. Of course, unless it had something to do with the blessing by the Goddess Isaris. As for the name Zuesis, that really caught my eye. God of Chaos, eh? So, did that mean wherever Aldric goes, he'd cause chaos, or did chaos draw him in instead?

I raised my gaze to see Aldric looking at me. He asked, "What does it mean, Quinn?"

I said, "Well, it appears you are one mighty man, Aldric. The maximum that I know of, according to Vicky, where health, strength, and mana are concerned is one hundred. Yours, however, is sitting at nine-hundred and ninety-nine. I'm assuming this is because of your blessing from the Goddess Isaris. Also, you have affinity with fire, ice, wind, and lightning magic, so I'm assuming you can use those."

"I can use fire, ice, wind, and lightning magic?" he asked, sounding astounded. "But that's impossible. I'm not blessed with those."

On the tablet, Vicky materialized. My lord, she stated as she curtsied.

Aldric nodded. "Vicky, would you be able to explain?"

Vicky nodded. Indeed, I can, my lord. As my lady Quinn stated, your health, strength, and mana are high compared to the normal man because you are blessed by the Goddess Isaris. Your current state is nine-hundred and ninety-nine. That is not the cap, meaning your level can rise the more you train.

Aldric said, "It can go higher?"

Indeed, my lord. Those blessed by Isaris can have their levels goes to as high as those belonging to a hero, or in some cases, even higher. After all, all heroes summoned to this world are blessed by Isaris, as well as a few others.

"How high can Aldric go, Vicky?" I asked.

As high as Lord Aldric desires. It is up to him and his training.

"Of course," I said.

"What about my affinity with magic?" Aldric asked. "I'm not blessed with that, so how..."

As I've mentioned to Lady Quinn earlier, every individual born, except for monsters, has an affinity with magic even if they are not blessed with it.

"Every individual is blessed and has an affinity with magic," he said softly. He chuckled as he shook his head, as if in disbelief. To Vicky, he asked, "Then how does one use the magic?"

It is simple, my lord. All that needs to be done is awaken the mana's vein within your body that connects to the magic.

I said, "And how does one do that?"

Vicky stated, I will incorporate a mana awakening magic into the Aptitude Tablet if you agree, my lady.

I said, "Does that means when an aptitude test is done, an individual will automatically have their mana awakened?"

No. A mana wakening can only be implemented on an individual age fifteen or older and with a mana level of at least fifty. Then it is also up to the individual to give consent.

"I see," I said. "Then please add in the mana awakening magic circle."

Understood.

Vicky's form disappeared and another magic circle materialized on the tablet. Vicky appeared again and she asked, Lord Aldric, do you wish to awaken your mana?

Without hesitation, Aldric nodded as he said, "Yes."

Understood. Please place your hand on the magic circle.

Aldric put his palm on the circle, and the magic started glowing and the signs, symbols, and scripts began turning. I saw a spark zapping on Aldric's hand, but the man did not budge. I wondered if it was painful.

Vicky's said, When mana is awakened, there is a slight pain due to the veins opening. The pain is equivalent to the level of mana.

Did that mean the higher the mana, the stronger the pain? Then this explained my crippling pain that first day I was awakened with magic.

All done, Vicky stated. If you require aid in learning how to use your magic, simply ask me as you usually do at the military gym.

"I will," Aldric said.

Vicky disappeared, and Aldric's status card materialized. I picked it up and handed it to him. I said, "It looks like you'll be adding magic into your training, too."

He nodded.

I said, "Well then, husband. Congratulations on receiving your status card, and now, I must shoo you away because I have more patients waiting impatiently outside, wanting to know their status."

I saw him crack a small smile, and I felt delight bursting through me. He stood, and I did, too. I was about to lead him out when he caught my wrist and gently drew me close.

"Aldric?" I said, my eyes on him.

"Thank you." He hesitantly, carefully planted his lips on my forehead. "Thank you," he said again, and then quickly, as if the feel of my skin against his burned him, he released me and walked out the door.

Stunned, I sat back down.

So, which was it? Did he love me or did he not? Did he want to kiss me or did he not? Did he like kissing me or did he not? Oh, goodness, why was it so damn confusing?

I spent the afternoon doing a secondary health check for the rest of the adult Templetons and relatives as well as some of the important members of Norsewood such as Theo and Allan Wakefield, Jacob Morton, Vincent, and Connor and Elio Carter, and by the time I was finished, it was dinner.

In the dining hall, it was crowded and noisy, as usual, with some of the young women coming up to me and gleefully giving me updates on their progress in learning how to read and write the common and divine language as well as the vocational educations that had started this morning, which were all taught by Vicky via screens.

There was culinary, which was connected to the kitchen as part of the course; fashion and design, which was connected to the textile department; cosmetology, a last-minute add since Rosie and some of the young women seemed to be so interested in that area; travel and tourism, because I planned to make Norsewood a vacation destination; education and health, naturally; and of course, business, which was connected to the Norsewood commerce and administration department.

Indeed, I was glad most enjoyed the training, and I hoped that once they've completed the course, it'd be useful in terms of their future careers. Of course, introducing those courses wasn't just for the people's future, but also for Norsewood's, too.

Trained individuals would have the option of opening their own little shops and making a new life for themselves, or they could work for us once we opened our businesses, and by that I meant big stores selling rice and other grains as well as fruits and vegetables and other essential products I'd be creating, restaurants with an array of cuisines, and luxury hotels and resorts, especially where those hot springs were located around Norsewood.

Of course, when I say we, I meant me and Vicky because I had yet to propose all this to either Aldric or the important members of Norsewood. That came after we revived the town, after all.

Once the young women scattered away to get their meals, I started mine. I was just eating my delicious grilled salmon and asparagus served with steamed rice when the Templeton men came filing in. Sitting close to me, Eden gasped in surprise while Nick and Michael jumped in glee at seeing Miles sporting a pair of eyeglasses.

"Papa! You're wearing eyeglasses, too," Michael said.

"Indeed, I am," Miles said, chuckling as he picked up his son. "And I can see clearly now. No more straining my eyes trying to make things out, thanks to your aunty Quinn." In which case he turned to me, gave me a dashing smile, and winked. "Thank you, Quinn."

I gave him a bright smile and replied, "My pleasure."

Suddenly, I felt a pair of powerful arms around me, drawing me back against what felt like a hard, chiseled body, followed by a solid kiss of lips on my forehead.

Surprised, I turned my attention to see Aldric. When did he get here? I didn't even hear his footsteps. Then again, it was so damn noisy in here, so of course, I wouldn't hear his footsteps.

I frowned, wondering why Aldric was glaring at Miles, because that was what it was—glaring. I had been certain the two men were getting along fine, so why the sudden look of hostility?

Eden said, "Aldric, stop it, you're scaring Miles."

"He's not scared," Aldric said. "He's... amused."

Indeed, Miles was amused because he burst out laughing. When he managed to stop, he said, "Aldric, you're damn overprotective."

I nudged my elbow at Aldric's side and asked, "What is this about?"

He shifted his gaze to me and said, "It's nothing."

Must be a man thing, I thought, and returned my attention to my meal.