Quinn

Once Vincent took his seat again, I continued with the meeting. I said, "As everyone knows, the secondary health check was today. Besides doing the normal blood examination to check vitamin and mineral levels, eyesight and aptitude tests have been added."

"Does that explain why some of the children are wearing what is called the eyeglasses, my lady?" Gladys asked.

I nodded. "Being able to see is one of the five important senses, and no one should be at a disadvantage because they are born with poor eyesight, or as they get older."

"That's right," Uncle Colt said, nudging his glasses up the bridge of his nose. I admit he looked rather paradoxical yet kind of adorable, a mighty big man that he was donning a pair of delicate, round spectacles, which reminded me of Santa. He even had the long white beard, too.

Wait! Santa? I shifted my gaze to the window, noticing the snow falling against the backdrop of the darkness outside.

"My lady?" Gladys called out softly.

I turned to her. "Uh?"

"Are you all right?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes, I'm fine." Clearing my throat, I said, "Where were we?"

"Eyesight and eyeglasses, my lady," Nellie said.

"Ah, yes, that's right," I said, chuckling awkwardly.

I couldn't believe my mind went wandering during an important meeting. But it just felt so Christmassy with the snow and Uncle Colt.

"Right, I better stop thinking about something else."

"Were you thinking about something else?" Frances asked.

"Yes, sorry. I saw Uncle Colt with his glasses and white beard, and it reminds me of a certain someone who always brings joy to everyone, especially the children. The snow outside adds to that."

Uncle Colt raised a brow. "I see I look like this special someone back in your homeland, lassie?"

I nodded. "His name is Santa Claus, and he's not a real person or anything. He's just this figure that brings joy and happiness to everyone during a certain time of the year, and in my homeland it's always during the winter season and snow."

"Is that so?" Mark asked.

"Mm-hmm." I nodded. "It's a celebration of sorts when families come together. It's called Christmas, a holiday, and families and friends would have a grand dinner together and give each other presents. We'd have a tree decorated and the presents would be under the tree."

"Sounds like a lovely festivity," Eden said. "If we have that here, the children would love it."

The women nodded at that.

Aldric said, "Why don't we follow your homeland festivity and bring Christmas into Norsewood?"

Mark said, "We can mark it as a day of our new beginning and make it Norsewood's holiday as well."

Caine said, "That's a good idea. Norsewood needs important days to celebrate. We've been through so much disaster and hardship. It'll bring vigor to our region, especially when it's during winter."

Aldric said, "Then we'll have a Christmas day in Norsewood as a winter festival."

"Really? We can have Christmas day as a celebration here?" I asked, my eyes on Aldric.

He nodded. "Mm-hmm."

I clasped my hands together. "Then we'll mark December twenty-fifth as Christmas Day."

Apparently in this world of Eseron, the winter season in the northern lands where Athol, Blackfield, Tasal, and many more nations resided started at the beginning of November instead of December as back on Earth and lasted until the end of January.

"That's in the middle of winter, and it's only three weeks away," Gladys said. "Is there any special preparation, my lady?"

I shook my head. "No. Although because it's a festivity, the kitchen will be busy as there will need to be a lot of food."

"I and my staff are looking forward to preparing them, my lady," Gladys said. "I presume there are certain dishes?"

I chuckled. "Yes, there are certain dishes that are served specifically during Christmas. We'll discuss that later."

"Of course, my lady," Gladys said.

"Now then," I said. "Back to the important topic at hand." At everyone nodding, I continued. "Apart from the blood examination and eyesight, there is also an aptitude test during the secondary health check of the citizens."

"What's an aptitude test, my lady?" Kent asked. "Is that the test that gives out those status cards? I saw little Jonah and Leo showing them to us this afternoon."

Darell said, "They look very interesting."

I said, "That's right. The aptitude test uses my appraisal magic circle to measure an individual's mana, and from that, Vicky can ascertain not only a person's blessings but also his affinity with magic, too."

There were a series of astounded noises at hearing this.

Robert said, "I thought only those of noble blood are blessed."

I said, "Not so, apparently. Vicky is certain every individual born in this world, except for the monsters, are blessed by at least one deity."

More murmuring followed this as everyone looked at each other, confused and confounded at hearing the information.

Mabel said, "Then why was it passed down that only those of noble blood are blessed, and some with the ability to use magic, too?"

I said, "That, I don't know, but I'm certain it must have something to do with influence and power and keeping the populace in line? It appears in this country, only those with blessings can go far, earn the influence and respect, and get to work in powerful positions for the kingdom."

Uncle Colt said, "For generations past, we were told only nobles are blessed, and with only one deity. Lies, all of it. Us Templeton are blessed by five deities, according to the aptitude test."

"Five?" Derek asked.

An even louder surprise and confusion noises rang across the table, and I said, "Theo is not of noble bloodline, and nor is Connor, yet they can use fire magic."

Both Theo and Connor nodded.

I continued. "And their brothers cannot use any magic at all."

Both Allan and Elio nodded.

"We've always though Sir Theo and Captain Connor were from noble bloodline from their mothers' side of the families since the women were not from Norsewood."

Theo shook his head. "Us Wakefields are not related to any noble bloodline. When I came to know fire magic, it was by accident. Since a teenage boy, I've always questioned the validity of what was passed down regarding deities and blessings."

Allan nodded. "Now we know what is passed down isn't true. Every one of us is blessed by at least one deity. I'm blessed with three—Vezra, Goddess of Commerce; Anir, God of Fortune; and Ridall, God of Education and Learning. It explains why I'm always interested in business and finance."

Mark said, "The same for me, despite that I'm a Templeton and should be training hard like Aldric as a warrior. I am still one, but my interest has always been with Norsewood's business and finance and the management of the people, and it appears it is because of my blessings."

"Then if everyone of us is blessed," Grayson said. "That would mean us commoner are not as lowly and useless as the kingdom led us to believe. We are all loved by the deities."

Everyone around the table nodded.

"As Lady Quinn stated," Chris said. "It's to keep the populace in line, a form of suppression so to speak."

Robert said, "For the populace to live in fear and be grateful for keeping them safe from the monsters and invaders."

Connor said, his tone dark, "If we know every one of us are blessed and those with the affinities with combative magic have trained, then Norsewood wouldn't have lost so many lives during the dungeon break or the raids or other battles and wars we participated in. What if the kingdom has known this for generations? Is it their plan to keep the populace in the dark?" He sighed, shaking his head. "Our loved ones, they were gone just because..." He looked devastated.

Around the table, I could see anger and contempt toward the kingdom start brewing, and I didn't blame them.

Aldric said, "Being blessed means being loved by the deities, and that means they did not wish for us to live in fear. We are meant to be able to fight back and protect our land and people."

Everyone around the table nodded.

Uncle Colt said, "We can no longer trust the kingdom and the royal family, and King Henry especially."

"I concur," Allan said.

Jacob and Robert nodded in agreement.

Spencer asked, "What about this affinity, my lady?"

I said, "Apparently, everyone has a sort of affinity to a certain type of magic even if they are not blessed with it. Personally, I'd look at blessing as something that is innate, what you are drawn to and learning such things comes easy for you, like Allan and Mark with the blessing of commerce from the Goddess Vezra, or fire magic by the God Tigen with Theo and Connor, and strength and war by the Goddess Isaris with the Templetons. Affinity, on the other, is something that is hidden, a dormant ability within an individual so to speak. One needs to harness it to be able to use it."

"And every one of us has this affinity with magic, my lady?" Darell asked.

I nodded. "Yes. Every individual has an affinity with at least one type of magic, be it combative, light or nurturing, or dark. The combative I know are fire, earth, metal, water, wood, wind, ice, and lightning. The nurturing, or light magic, are healing, blessings, charms, and incantation. As for dark, I don't know much about it."

Aldric said, "Which means the majority of individuals should be able to protect themselves from monster attacks."

Allan said, "I believe the elves are especially knowledgeable about the light and dark magic."

Vincent said, "If we think about it carefully, destructive magic is combative magic, and it is to protect oneself. Like light magic, combative magic is for growth, too. Those with an affinity with earth can restructure the soil; those with wood can reshape and grow plants; those with metal can reshape the minerals into weapons used for combats and tools for farming and such. Everyone get my drift here?" There were a series of heads nodding around the table.

Caine said, "We were meant to be self-sufficient with our blessings and affinities. We are not meant to live in fear of the monsters and rely solely on the king and his armies of blessed knights as has been passed down."

"Does that mean those blessed or has affinity with the combative magic should become Norsewood's warriors?" Kent asked.

I turned to Aldric who shook his head. He said, "Joining should be by choice, although those with affinity with the combative magic should at least train and harness their skills so when the time comes, they could protect themselves and their loved ones."

"I concur," Uncle Colt said.

"Me, too," Mark said.

"Is there a certain age limit?" Elizabeth asked. "I don't think young ones should be introduced to such dangerous abilities until they are old, brave, and responsible enough."

I said, "As of now, Vicky won't activate any individual's mana unless they are at least age fifteen with a mana level of at least fifty, and with the individual's consent."

"Is there a cutoff for mana level, my lady?" Robert asked.