The long journey to power

Jarlan stood at one of the shelves that housed his father's personal collection of dark books, looking for something that would spark his interest. He had read many of them already and was hoping to find something new. His back was turned to the door of the study as he picked up one book and opened it, studying its table of contents.

"Jarlan." Dagereth called out slightly, his voice was always dark. Always calm. Always threatening. "How are you're lessons going?" He asked his only son as he slowly stepped forward.

He hadn't expected to find his son in the study, but it wasn't as if his son wasn't allowed there.

"Father," Jarlan said as he turned around, bowing his head in greeting. "The lessons are becoming mundane towards the end of the year. I was hoping to find something more interesting here," he said as he slid the book back onto the shelf. His voice was low with a hint of respect in it. It was how he usually addressed his father. He had inherited the dark and calm persona from the man.

"As they usually do." Dagereth replied lowly. He took a seat in his large chair, conveniently placed behind his desk.

"You havent found anything to occupy your time at school?" He asked regarding his son with some amount of amusement.

Dagereth was a bit worried about his son. Proud, but worried. He didn't like that his son wasn't interested in finding young girls too fool around with at school, but he was proud that Jarlan had made it a point to excel rather than toy with girls.

Still his son was intelligent enough to do both. And Dagereth was a bit worried that he wasn't.

"Uncle Aleron doesn't leave much time for his students to think about much else rather then the studies usually," Jarlan almost drawled. It wasn't surprising that most of the students in the school he went to did much less socialisng then others their age. He himself never actually bothered to speak more then two words to his classmates.

"As he rightly shouldn't." Dagereth replied, reclining back. "Did you find a book that interested you? Do you wish to do something more intertaining?"

"Do something more interesting?" Jarlan raised his eyebrow slightly. "I haven't thought of that at the moment. I just wanted to focus on my studies of dark magic." he sat swim opposite his father. "You didn't get any more books recently, Father?"

"I did. Your sister came in here this morning and stole about five of them." Dagereth replied effortlessly.

Dagereth eyed his son slightly, as he reached out and tried infiltrating his sons mind with his own. All he found was a toughly built, impenetrable wall.

"You've been practicing your Occlumency?"

Jarlan raised his eyebrows slightly. "I'l be sure to ask Donnica about them," he said. She really didn't need all five of them at once and he was bored, as much as he hated to admit it.

"Not recently," he said, cocking his head slightly. Light conversation was not something his father was known for.

"And yet you've retained you're abilities to subconsciously keep your mind blocked, have you not?" It wasn't a question per se, but a statement that Dagereth wanted his son to be aware of.

"If you are able to do that, then why must you keep yourself so tightly wound within your studies?"

"I have," Jarlan said, evenly.

"What does that have to do with my studies? There are plenty of other subjects that need to be explored besides mind control," he said.

Dagereth's face pulled up in a smirk. "It has everything to do with your studies, and the retention of your intelligence, Jarlan."

Dagereth folded his hands on his lap, "How can you continue studying and not feel the need to partake in other... interests?"

"Interests?" Jarlan frowned slightly. "Why would I waste my time on interests now? Do you not want me to focus on my studies any more?" his father's words didn't make any sense to him at that point.

Dagereth let out a low growl, was he son being that dense? Could he not get what Dagereth was saying?

"Son do you have trouble fancying girls?" Dagereth finally stated, the questioning tone was light but it was apparent that he had become irritated.

"Father, I have not even thought of girls. They require the time that I do not have right now," Jarlan said. He knew that he would have to marry in the next few years, but actually finding the next Dark Lady would require more time and effort then he had to spare right now. And even if he only found a girl to pleasure himself, mode of them were far too clingy in his opinion

"Well, Jarlan. It is about time that you start diligently looking for a wife. As diligently as you study. I was five years younger than you when I was betrothed to your mother, I do not like how far behind you are." Dagereth replied.

"Father," Jarlan almost sighed. "There is no reason for me to marry as soon as I come off age. Tha can wait. There are a lot of other things I need to do before I marry," he said.

Dagereth raised an eyebrow. "And what if I demand you marry?" Dagereth retorted, "You would much rather pick your betrothed than have me pick her for you, trust that."

"And when am I supposed to marry," Jarlan asked. He did not like that demand, but he had no choice at that point. His father demanded a lot of things from him, but finding a wife would take a long time. "Am I supposed to abandon my studies just so I could find a wife?" he said with distate.

"No." Dagereth bit out. "You are more than intelligent enough to do both. You will find a wife, but you will also keep up with your studies. I did it, and so shall you."

Ksenia walked towards the study, looking for her husband. She walked through the door, which was slightly ajar to find Dagereth and Jarlan sitting inside. Both of the wizards seemed tense.

"Hello," she said calmly, her eyebrow slightly raised. "Is everything alright?" she said as she walked further into the room.

Dagereth looked up at his wife. "Ksenia would you please explain to our son how important it is to find a suitable wife?"

"Mother," Jarlan said when Ksenia came into the room, rising from his chair. He bowed slightly and gave her a small smile. His mother could always make him snile. She was probably the only person who did that. He waited for her to sit before taking his own seat once again.

Ksenia raised her eyebrows at her husband calmly before taking a seat at the desk. "You do not want to marry?" she asked Jarlan.

"That is not what I said. I simply do not see the need to look for a wife now. Not when I have my studies to concentrate on," Jarlan explained.