Fenrir set off towards where his mothers stall was. She usually worked four hours in the day then two hours in the evening.
"She probably has about half an hour left till she's off"
He paused and looked up at the sky. "Yeah, around half an hour".
After he had ascertained (somewhat) the location of his mother, he continued on, ignoring the dullness of the slums. Afterall, he would be leaving it soon enough. 'Hopefully…'
Eventually Fenrir saw the cerulean hair of his mother at her stall. He could see her talking to a girl with pink hair which faded into green. The girl handed her some flowers and then left, walking past him.
Layla noticed Fenrir approaching so he waved at her, putting on a smile that came naturally. He had been pretty charming in his previous life as well. His personality was surprisingly similar to the original Fenrirs.
"Fenrir, do you need something? You're usually off playing around this time", Layla asked as she rearranged some knick knacks Fenrir didn't know about.
Fenrir inhaled and got ready to impersonate a salesperson.
"Actually, it's more you-", he pointed at her. "Needing something from me". He finished off with jabbing a thumb at his own chest.
Layla put a hand on her hip and raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly would I need from you?", she asked.
Before speaking further, Fenrir remembered a tip from his old life. 'Show, don't tell'.
His smile got wider and he made his way behind the stall. Layla stepped a bit to the side to accommodate him, the area was cramped after all.
Fenrir gestured towards the herb cabinet, "Herbs of course!"
Layla didn't look very convinced.
"Herbs!" Fenrir repeated. "I know dad usually gets them for you but I also know that he's busier now. How about I go to the forest and get you what you need", Fenrir finished. 'That should work… Probably'
To Fenrir's credit, Layla actually thought about it. After a second, she spoke.
"... Sure, as long as you don't cross the tributary. It's not safe".
"Of course!"
She gave him a pointed look.
"... What's with that look?"
Fenrir looked on as her eyes narrowed more. Fenrir felt his heart rate pick up, 'Old Fenrir was scared of her huh?'
"Am I really that untrustworthy?" Fenrir said whilst smiling crookedly. If he had to cross the tributary he would, he was confident in his abilities as a mage. Even if he had only awakened some hours ago.
Frankly, he felt bad lying to her. Guy wouldn't have felt bad lying, He, Fenrir, did though. He was a good son. Which is why he used the ultimate move.
He sighed and lowered his head, then he said in a feeble voice, "I just wanted to help…". It was the ultimate technique, Puppy Dog Eyes! It was probably even more effective due to him being a wolf kin since his tail and ears drooped in unison, making everything feel all the more authentic.
After a short pause, Layla sighed and relented, "Okay fine, you can go", she then turned her back and rummaged through a little cabinet, producing a wicker basket and handing it to him. "Here, use this to collect the herbs".
"ThanksmomIloveyou!" He spouted out quickly before turning tail. He was ready to run off, but then suddenly Layla called out to him. "Wait! Take these with you, how're you going to know what herbs to gather?" She said in a stern voice. When he turned back, he saw three different kinds of herbs. One flower and two types of grass.
"Oh yeah, thanks mom", he said sheepishly before grabbing the vegetation from the hands of his mother. He had been in too much of a hurry, he really liked exploring after all.
Once again, he turned his back to the stall and started walking, only for Layla to call him again.
"Wait!—", she said. Fenrir looked back at her, and saw worry in her eyes.
"Be safe okay?"
Fenrir's eyes softened, and his semi fake smile turned fully real. That actually meant alot to him.
"Of course! I'm not leaving you that easy!" He said, pumping his fist. Only after he caught her expression ease into a smile did he leave.
Now, time to meet up with Felix.
"Wait, should I have told her about Felix?
…
I mean she didn't ask… plus she looked busy. It's probably okay".
After he reached that conclusion, he set his full focus to set out towards his house.
On his way he started trying to remember more about the ritual stuff.
From what Felix had told him, it would work as long as the soul wasn't fully developed, which would happen at twenty years of age.
The ritual involved stuff associated with electricity, like copper, which was used as wire. Not here though, yet. The star vein flowers represented the sky, from where the lightning struck. The spring/carbonated water was a bit more iffy though, maybe it represented the energy?
Basically, the associated stuff, when set up would enhance Felix's affinity to lightning. When the affinity would be increased to an acceptable limit, manipulating mana and embuing it with electrical properties would become possible for him.
But why does the ritual require these ingredients exactly? What if one was struck by lightning, wouldn't that be the best case scenario for enhancing affinity? According to Felix's earlier explanation of environment affecting the buildup of affinity as well, it should be.
He did say that he made up the affinity system to compensate for late awakenings of sorcerers, Fenrir didn't take the ritual method was all that widespread, because if it was, the materials would not be that common and everyone would be a sorcerer.
Maybe only certain families or guilds or groups hold certain rituals. He'd have to ask Felix later if extremely intense environmental phenomena could enhance affinity to the same degree of effect as rituals. That seemed like useful knowledge after all.
Good thing he was nearing his house....