The Prince Of Magic

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So deep was she in her disbelief, Penerelle did not even bother to chastise the foul-mouthed retainer for cursing in her presence.

"In all my life, this… this is truly the first time I have encountered something as this." The amber eyed witch admitted, looking at the bemused-looking Hadrian with a stumped expression.

"Make that two, ma chère (my dear)." Nicolas smiled wryly, laying a gentle hand on his wife's shoulder while the other rubbed his bearded chin as he looked at their young charge with speculating expression, continuing on a thoughtful tone. "Describe what happened earlier, chère, perhaps we may all provide our own opinions to this strange occurrence."

"The spell…" Perenelle began, taking a moment to stabilize herself with a deep breath before pushing on. "As I'm sure you've all witnessed, but it felt as if the diagnosis spell was being erased before it could even make physical contact on his skin. I realized how it sounds, but that's truly the best I can explain it without sounding too foolish." Penerelle added with a short hysterical laugh.

"Hmm… non, ma chère, it's alright. This might be the first time I've also witnessed something like this. Based on your explanation just now, the closest example of this scenario is similar to a dragon's natural magic defenses. Their hides exude great magic resistance to a great many spells. They are the wizarding folks' nightmare in a one-on-one battle. It's why weapons imbued with enchantments and whatnot are more preferable to use against magical beasts than a wand sometimes, especially against dragons." Nicolas stated with a wistful smile.

'True, most would prefer that option, but there were exceptions…' Hadrian thought, recalling certain individuals who had defeated magical beasts through other methods besides using magical weapons.

He snapped out of his musing when Penerelle turned to Nicolas with a small frown.

"And that's the issue here, husband, Hadrian is not a dragon but a wizard – or in his case, a mage." Penerelle corrected herself, gesturing with a delicate hand to the bemused-looking Hadrian, who merely looked on to the couple's discussion in calm silence. "Furthermore, what he has does not seem to be resistance to magic akin to a dragon's, but something else instead."

"True, because, if it were that, then the spell would have bounced off. Hmm, now that I thought of it, I do recall Zel having done the same, albeit it took a bit of effort on his part." Nicolas said in afterthought.

The ancient couple appeared as if they were about to delve more on the subject, but Hadrian, who drew his own conjecture on his recent 'ability', had decided that it was time to put their discussion to a halt.

"As much as I'd like to listen to your theories, I think I'll pass on it for now. I still have other things to take care of." Hadrian stated calmly, moving to the edge of the bed.

With a look to Charles, the cheeky retainer swiftly moved to the couch where his discarded jacket was folded neatly, grabbing the jacket in question and rummaging through its pockets as he walked towards his young master, who was sitting at the edge of the bed while still conversing with the ageless witch.

"But I still have yet to check on your status, child. Are you sure you're alright to walk about now?" Penerelle asked, thin brows furrowed in concern.

"Yes, I'm fine. You don't need to worry about my headaches. In fact, they've been a common occurrence since several months ago. Thus, it's nothing new. Also, opa had already given me the medicine to make the headaches less frequent." Hadrian smiled reassuringly, shaking the small bottle of pills that Charles had kindly laid unto his waiting hand.

"If you say so then…" Penerelle said unsurely, watching as her young charge swallowed two pills with a glass of water before grabbing the spectacles that Charles was holding onto patiently before giving it to him upon seeing the silent signal from Hadrian.

Staring at the young mage with a curious expression, Nicolas asked aloud.

"By the look on your face, perhaps you already have an idea as to why the spell is not working on you, lass?"

Huffing in amus.e.m.e.nt, Hadrian gave the Flamel couple a mysterious smile that merely piqued their interest.

"Possibly. But, just like you, it's a hypothesis based on what I know. I'll have to confirm it with opa first." The young mage said apologetically.

"By all means, do so, lass. Perhaps this is something that only the likes of Zel can discover. My and wife are no slackers when it comes to magic, but our knowledge and experience are limited only to this world. Even I have to defer to Zel when it comes to unique situations such as this, considering his own plethora of skills and experience outclasses my own." Nicolas admitted with a lighthearted chuckle.

"Agreed…" Penerelle said with a wry smile.

"I will inform you two in detail after I speak to opa later." Hadrian promised, causing the Flamel to smile.

"We'll hold you to that." Penerelle smiled.

Beside her, Nicolas nodded with a smile of his own.

The young mage was in the middle of adorning his jacket when he suddenly recalled something in mind.

"By the way, what was it that you wanted to show me?" Hadrian asked as he looked to Nicolas, who blinked in surprise before understanding what he meant.

"Ah yes, two things, actually. But the second will have to wait. This one can't." Nicolas said as he lifted a small white enveloped in between his finger and thumb.

With a raised brow, Hadrian glanced at the envelope then back to Nicolas.

"A letter?" He asked, causing the ancient alchemist to smile.

"An owl belonging from one of the noble families here in France had dropped by earlier in my office. I think this occurred when your guard over there –" Nicolas nudged his chin to the smiling Charles, who acknowledged him with a slight nod, before turning back to Hadrian. "– had brought you in here. I didn't read the letter, but the emblem that the owl wore around its neck was familiar to me. So, I know the last name of the family member that the owner of this letter belongs to." Nicolas said after seeing the questioning gaze from Hadrian.

The ancient alchemist extended his hand with the letter towards Hadrian, who looked at it for a few moments in silence before taking it from him.

Without much prompt, the automaton silently confirmed it for him that the belonged to the young silver-haired Veela, Fleur Delacour.

His empathy sensed various emotions exuding from the letter, belonging from the owner of the letter itself, all of which were invisible to all but him.

There was excitement, an average amount of it, but it was nearly overwhelmed by feelings nervousness and curiosity.

Sensing these emotions alone, Hadrian knew that Fleur Delacour was no different from any young teenagers at her age, who was merely looking for a friend who would be honest and genuine to her, despite their rather awkward first meeting.

Shaking himself out of his reverie, Hadrian glanced up from the envelope to meet the Flamel couple's smiling façades.

"I see. I trust you have no issues with the family this person is a part of?" He asked calmly, waiting for their reaction.

Fortunately, their response was positive and genuine, which caused Hadrian a bit of relief as the couple laughed.

"Oh, not at all. In fact, we're pleased that you're already making acquaintances with good people like the Delacours." Penerelle smiled as she laid one delicate hand on her cheek.

"Even in the past, members of their family often produced good people. It helps that their current standing in the present is viewed in the good light. The Delacour is an old family that had amassed both great wealth and status over the years in France. Not as great as ours, mind you, but more than the average noble families these days." Nicolas jested with a grin, earning a light slap on the c.h.e.s.t from his wife.

"Ego, husband, curtail it, please." Penerelle admonished gently, though the twitch of her lips implied that she was amused.

"Just saying." Nicolas grinned, then turned to Hadrian with a sly smile. "Anyways, it'll be quite fortuitous to our grand scheme of plans if you make friends with them, especially since we have yet to make any allies at this point. Merlin knows that we need them some now."

At the mention of a certain name, Fou's ears twitch as she seemed to frown in disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e, which went unnoticed by most but her young master, who merely raised an eyebrow at her reaction from the corner of his eyes before turning his attention back to the ancient alchemist.

"I'll do my best. Now, if that's all, I have to get back outside and check on the bounded field. I feel as if it's inadequate and needs more improvement on my part." Hadrian said with a sigh as he pocketed the letter inside his jacket, mindful not to move his body too much as he felt his familiars moved into their favorite spots.

"Oh, of course, just remember to visit me in my office later on." Nicolas reminded.

After giving the ancient couple a nod, Hadrian watched as the Flamel exited the room.

Then, he sat down on his bed with a loud sigh as Yuuri and Yuuki closed the doors behind them to guard the entrance from outside.

"You sure you're alright, master?" Astolfo asked with a concerned frown, hands clasped behind his back.

"I'm fine, I just need to speak to opa now." Hadrian reassured as he fished out the PT out of his pocket and opened its interface.

"Are you really going to tell them of what you're going find from gramps?" Kieran asked, making himself comfortable on a nearby couch.

"Depends on the information he'll tell me. Don't want them to worry about me needlessly. They might treat me like a delicate glass if they knew how much I went through in the past." Hadrian reasoned in a calm tone as he fiddled with the mystic code.

"Figures. Typical mage of you, boss." Kieran commented, giving the young mage a mocking salute.

"Be respectful for once, cochon!"

*SL.A.P*

The resounding slap, courtesy of Astolfo, that landed on the side of the amber eyed retainer began a new round of argument from the two servants as their master fiddled with his mystic code to contact his grandfather whilst the rest of the retainers watched the peanut gallery provided by the two troublesome members in their group.

Standing at his master's side, Charles sighed as he stared at the wild scene before him.

"Ahh, ahh, you guys just don't change, no matter where we are..."

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