The 1.000 year Great Sage ---> COMPLETED STORY

The others agreed and before Seya could open a Gateway, Arys was already going through one that she opened.

- You are getting too slow, cousin! Let's go, that guy is sleeping on his feet!

While they crossed, Seya was admiring Arys' Gateway. It looked like one of his, but the frame was different, more intricate. It even had some images of her and Duncan in poses. He crossed the Gateway and on the other side, the Light Frame was also decorated with different images. Arys saw Seya admiring her work and she approached him.

- What? Yours is too simple, I started to think on a Gateway that I liked!

Seya was touching the Light Frame while smiling.

- Well, it does looks beautiful, it's more girly. You are really something, aren't you? Learning how to make one of my most advanced and difficult Magic's on your own and even giving it your personal touch. Well done, Arys, this is truly amazing!

Arys was smiling a lot and becoming redder by the minute. She never had someone near her while growing up that was proud of what she did. Hearing him congratulating her, made her feel like she was about to explode.

- Thanks, cousin…

Seya kept on looking while Arys dispersed the Gateway. Even that was different from his. While Seya's Gateway disappears like if it was made of smoke and the wind was dispersing it, Arys Gateway trembled like if it was made of water, trembling by being hit by a rock that was thrown into a lake and gently fading while trembling.

- So cool… even the way it disperses it's beautiful…

Arys was all smiles, she was so pleased by seeing her cousin admiring her Magic that she was almost crying. She quickly turned away and went to hid behind Duncan, disguising how she was feeling. They all went to the pool building, while Seya went to the Inn to talk to the owner. As usual, it was full of people coming and going from Gateways. The servants were running up and down the stairs, the maids were running after them to clean the rooms while the Innkeeper was at the counter, receiving new costumers or bidding farewell to the leaving ones. At the Dining Room, there were a lot of people having tea or playing with some games that Seya recognized. While Seya was waiting for the Innkeeper to have some free time to talk, he went to a table to watch a Hnefatafl game. The Innkeeper saw him and excusing himself to his costumers, went to meet Seya.

- Milord, it's an honor receiving you! As you can see, we are packed as always! I'm sorry for not greeting you sooner, but there are too many people in here!

- Don't worry, I'm glad it's like this, really. And it seems that these games are a success.

- Of course, Milord! They are very entertaining. Every end of the week, we organize a tournament in here with this game. The prize is one free night of stay. It was an idea of my daughter, actually. It's indeed a good way of attracting customers. Not that we need, but everyone appreciates the idea of playing for some hours and having the chance to win a free night so that they can bring the spouses for a two days holiday.

- Really? Well, it's a very good idea!

The Innkeeper winked one eye.

- I know that in the Coliseum of our Capital, there's one major tournament going on. People that come here, most of the times, use this opportunity to train.

- That's great! I thought that the Coliseum could be used for games like this, actually. I was too busy these last few days, I didn't know about that sort of tournament. Is there a prize, for the winner?

- Of course! Prizes for the first, second and third. A full wagon of supplies, a complete set of one-shoulder bag and a belt purse, and a complete set of Home Appliances. There's also some side-events with some unusual and very peculiar prizes.

Seya was puzzled by the way the Innkeeper was smiling.

- Unusual prizes? What are those?

- Some that the wives or the husbands of the participants, don't like those, very much. An hour in the Geisha house, two hours in the Maid of Company house or a Personal Maid for an entire day. That one, I won last week. I had a Maid of Company working as my Personal Maid, following me everywhere! She was so good that at the end of the day, I offered her a job here. There she is, serving tea and biscuits to that table!

Seya looked and he saw a DogKind with a very simple Maid uniform, similar to the other Maids working there. She was extremely beautiful and the way that she smiled and the way her tail was waving while she was working, was a sure sign that she liked being there.

- I know her… She lives in my mountain. Or used to… I see BeastKind leaving and new ones arriving almost every day, actually. I'm not sure if she still lives there or not!

The Innkeeper smiled and pointed with his head to a DogKind male customer seated at the table that she was serving. When their eyes met, they tried to disguise that they knew each other.

- She still lives in Gaya, but the way those two get along since she started to work here, I'm almost sure that she will leave Gaya one of these days to her new home with that male DogKind… He used to come here from time to time, but since she started, he's here almost every day. He always waits for her to finish work and they often go outside for a walk. When they leave, she has the most beautiful smile on her face, she's almost glowing. And him too.

Seya nodded.

- Yeah… It's nice seeing a former slave getting a new and happy life… But the male, I never saw him in Gaya…

The Innkeeper shook his head.

- No, he was never a slave. He's a Merchant from the BeastKind Kingdom. I know him for years. He used to come to our Capital to sell supplies to my father. In fact, he started to come with his father, when he was very young and we eventually became friends. Despite the fact that I only saw him once or twice a month, we were always together when he was on these lands. I'm happy for him, I was afraid that he never found a woman that he liked because he was always travelling. But with the Gateway, he can do business in just two days, earn a lot of money and stay here for the rest of the week. I always have a free room for him, he's almost family.

- The Gateway… One of my best ideas. At first, it was only a way for me to escape my mother and to travel all alone. I had a lot of work, to figure out a way for everyone to use that Magic.

The Innkeeper pointed to the counter, where a Gateway was granting passage to more costumers.

- And now it's used like that. We have much to thank Milord for that, the easiness that it grants for one to travel to great distances as easy as crossing a door is truly amazing.

- Well, that's why I never gave up for all these years. I knew everyone would benefit from that Magic. Now, it's better if I let you work. I just come here to greet you, my friends are at the pool and it's better if I go near them, I must make sure that they don't start a mess in there!

- Ahahahah! Yes, Princess Heiji is often in there, scaring everyone with her underwater training! Sometimes, she teaches some children how to swim or how to fight like her! My daughter is becoming very good with Fire Magic, thanks to her!

- Ahahah! Yeah, she always liked to make a mess everywhere! But it's good that she's also teaching some kids, it might help her to be more responsible!

Seya left while the Innkeeper was smiling and bowing to him. When he went through the door that exited to the pool, he saw his friends at the tables, talking with some people or playing some games from the box of 'Heiji's Favorite Games'. While he was approaching, Heiji shouted to everyone that was in the pool building at that moment.

- Here he comes, our prize for the winner of this week's side-event!

Seya was puzzled. He looked behind him but there was no one else besides him, coming from the Inn. So, he was the prize? Of what? While he was looking around, puzzled by what he heard, there were a lot of girls screaming and clapping. Ryn and Lionelia were looking at a group of BeastKind girls that were screaming louder than anyone else. Seya approached Heiji, wondering what was all that about.

- I bet you had a weird idea…

- Not weird, an amazing one! You are the prize for a very special side-event in the next tournament! Whoever wins the Hnefatafl side-event at the end of the week in the Coliseum, wins you! You will be a Personal Servant for an entire day! But you can never tell what you did during that day, it will be a secret between you and the winner! And you must obey everything, during that day!

- Say what?

Heiji was poking Seya's chest.

- Don't you 'what' me now! We need to have fun, before the most important battle of the last Millennia! You owe us that, for dragging us to that crazy plan of yours!

- But I don't drag anyone, you can…

- Shut up, the Princess is talking! The prize doesn't speak unless being told to! I already sent a message to my father, to spread the news and to collect the money for the entry! The money will be used to buy supplies for the new houses that you are making in your lands, to the Healing House, and to the Church of your Capital!

Seya was looking to Ryn and Lionelia, asking for help, only to see them shrugging their shoulders. Lionelia was the only one that answered his plea of help.

- What do you want? I think it's a good idea! I know I'm going to win, so, I'm not worried!

Arys was rubbing her hands with a nasty smile on her face.

- You are no match for me, you innocent LionKind Princess… Seya will be mine… I will make him work for me like a horse… Heheheheh!

While everyone was making plans of what to do with him when they win, Seya was resting his head on his arms over one table. He was feeling exhausted. He wanted to run away, but Heiji already prepared everything and his friends too. He would look bad, running when everyone was counting on him. He lifted his head and he saw the group of BeastKind girls on the nearby table, looking at him with dreamy eyes. He turned to Princess Heiji to complain.

- Why do you like so much of putting me in this kind of situations?

- Shut up! Consider this as payment for all the scary training that you put me through, over these last years!

Seya slowly shook his head and he went to the cabins in the corner, to change. He exited moments later and went straight to the pool. The BeastKind girls went to the pool to be near him and they took that moment to talk and flirt with him for a while. Seya was being polite and he talked with them, but he saw from the corner of his eye Lionelia and Ryn looking at him very seriously. He stayed in the pool for a while, answering some personal questions. Only a few people knew anything about him, so it was normal that they were curious. He found out that there were even some strange stories and rumours about things that he did. He tried his best to explain some misunderstandings but when he noticed the amount of Magic that was around Ryn and Lionelia, he said his farewells, to save them from his girlfriends' wrath. When he went near his friends again, Ryn and Lionelia were piercing him with their gaze. He just approached them and whispered.

- If you are this angry just because I was talking with a group of girls, I wonder what you two will do, when some random girl wins me because of that crazy side-event at the Tournament…

Lionelia answered in a low voice.

- I'm not going to lose… You will be my personal slave for an entire day…

Seya raised one eyebrow.

- I thought the prize was me as a Personal Servant. No one said anything about becoming a slave!

- Personal Servant, slave… I will use you as I see fit, for an entire day…

Seya shook his head, Lionelia was strangely serious. He felt sorry for anyone that faced her. Zak called him to a table, to play with him.

While he was playing a Checkers game with Zak, and getting another defeat, the others were playing in the pool. After Seya's tenth defeat, he threw the Checkers board back into its box, rather annoyed.

- I hate this game… I hate you… It's better if we go back to Gaya, it's almost dinner time. I don't want to play against you, ever again… you are too annoying…

Zak was all smiles.

- Yeah, likewise, you crazy and disgusting Half-Breed Great Sage! Heheheh!

…

After dinner, Seya was back into his Laboratory while his friends were in the Entertainment Room, watching a show. Ryn wanted for him to come, but he escaped by saying that he wanted to test some things with Xenya, while everyone was distracted and he could work in peace, without pretty girls around him.

He opened his Compressed Dimension and took from there the wrapped package that Milady Margaret gave to him and took from inside of it, the Body Suit made of Snake Skin.

When he was lifting the Suit and testing the stretching, a knock on the door pulled him from his dreams. When he opened the door, Xenya was there, smiling at him.

- Mother told me that you wanted to see me. She said you need help with testing a weird thing!

- So, what do you need me for? You want that I beat up someone or what?

Seya lifted the Body Suit for her to see.

- No, I just want that you put this on. I need to test this and I also want to adjust a complete armour to your body.

- Oh, you are making a new armour for me? Cool…

- No, not for you. For a very special female Magical Knight. You still have around your neck that string that I gave you?

Xenya pulled the string from under her short blouse.

- This one? Of course, you said to never take it off. It has a protective Magic, right?

- Yes, because I need to heat up the armour to adjust it to your body and I don't want to hurt you. So, get change and put on this Body Suit.

Xenya wrapped herself in light, entered the Suit and she slowly grew to her Elfian size, adjusting the Body Suit while growing. She stretched her arms and legs, trying to be more comfortable.

- All done. Now what?

Seya threw at her front a small dark dot that enlarged. When it dispersed, on the floor was a complete armour, with body plate, arms and legs protection, gloves, boots and a helmet.

- Now, put this on. I think it's more or less your size. It even has boobs protections, I think it was from a female Knight of the Empire. Maybe from a Noble's daughter, I think.

Xenya skilfully put the armour, with Seya helping her. When she finished, she did some jumps and threw some punches, to test it.

- Yeah, it doesn't feel right. It's not moving correctly. I think that girl had fewer muscles than me. And her boobs were smaller, this body plate is squashing me! At least the boots and the gloves are ok.

- So, now I'm going to heat up the armour, try to move slowly so that the metal adjust to your body perfectly.

- Sure, heat me up, then!

Seya slowly and very carefully started to heat up the armour with Fire and Wind Magic, avoiding the gloves and the boots. When the metal was more malleable, he made a signal for Xenya to move one arm at a time. When she warned him that it was better, he cooled down that part and continued with the others. When the armour was fitting Xenya perfectly and she wasn't complaining anymore, Seya cooled down the entire armour with gushes of Wind Magic.

- Well, it does look better. Now, take off the helmet because I'm going to make you hover above the ground. When I signal you, shrink to your Fairy size and get out from the neck hole of the armour.

- Ok… I still don't understand why you want to do this…

When Seya said so, Xenya got out from the armour and after growing again, seated on a chair while looking at the armour that was still hovering at five centimetres from the ground.

- So, now what?

Seya smiled and he opened a Compressed Dimension above the armour. From there, a bunch of small Light Crystals fell off, going inside the armour through the hole of the neck. When the Body Suit inside the armour was full, he grabbed the helmet.

- Do you mind on putting this in its place? I want to put more Crystals inside the helmet.

Xenya was puzzled but she did as he said. She even opened the visor and put inside the Crystals that Seya handed to her. When the helmet was half-full, she closed the visor.

She went to the chair again, wondering what was that for. Seya approached the armour and placed one hand over it. He infused a long Magical Program, together with some command words, going from time to time to his notebook on a table, to confirm the Program. When he finished, he let the armour land softly.

- 'Magical Knight, attention!'

The new Magical Knight stood up straight, with his arms against his body. Seya smiled, it really looked like a real soldier.

- Gaya, can you connect your Magic Flow to this Knight?

- …||… Sure, Father. But this Knight looks just like aunt Xenya! It's so cool! …||…

Seya waited for a while, sensing the Flow coming from the ground and wrapping the Knight. When the Flow between Gaya and the Knight was like if it was one, he placed one hand over the Knight again, infusing one more Magical Program.

- I think it will work… Gaya, lift the right arm of the Knight.

The Knight raised the left arm.

- The other right arm, Gaya… That's the left one.

- …||… Oops! Hihihi! Sorry, my bad! …||…

The Knight quickly lowered the left arm and raised the right.

- That's it. Now, kick to the front with the left leg… Perfect… Try to make it walk around here.

The Knight started to walk, wobbling a little as if it was getting used to his legs.

- …||… This is more difficult than I thought! Ok, give me some time and I will get the hang of this. …||…

The Knight continued to walk, moved one arm up, the other arm down, turned its head to one side and then to the other, made a few low jumps and it even threw a punch with each fist.

- …||… Well, I need more time, but it will get better. What's this for, Father? …||…

- This is your Avatar, Gaya. It's your physical body, aside from the Mountain that you have. With this one, you can walk around among us, and interact more with everyone. It can also be your Guard, if you need or use it to do some tasks, like moving some furniture, cleaning or fixing a hallway… You can make some copies of it if you want and have a complete squadron of Knights at your disposal. Or in this case, at Myko's, because he is the Chief of Security. I think that you can even use it to talk to anyone, as soon as you get used to it. Later on, if it's not too far from you, you can use this Avatar to travel with us, as long as you can connect your Magic flow to it. With time, you will learn how to use the Flow of the World to connect to this Avatar, for long distances.

The Magic Knight started to make low jumps and clapping his metal gloves. It looked like a happy small girl but it almost fell.

- …||… I need to get used to these legs! This is so cool! I can walk around with this, instead of only sensing everyone inside me! I can go to the land beneath me and meet new people! Or ride a horse! Or train with a sword! Oh… I noticed one thing… I can use it to sense you in front of it… amazing. …||…

The Magical Knight approached Seya and caressed his right cheek. It then hugged Seya. When it turned to go to Xenya, it stopped.

- …||… Father, aunt Xenya doesn't look so good… She seems weird! …||…

When Seya looked at Xenya, she was staring the Magical Knight, completely pale and with dead eyes. Seya approached her and waved one hand in front of her eyes.

- Hello! Are you there! I think she blew up something, Gaya… Maybe I should have warned her about what I was going to try…

…