Altura

“Are you really sure that this will work?” I asked Aswelth.

“Yes, your grace. The mechanisms will need some tweaking, and duplicating them will take time, but they should work.” he replied. The object in question was a trap Aswelth had found while going through the stash of items I had gotten from the Organization.

According to him, said trap could be successfully used as a warning system and first defense that alerted the duchy whenever beasts crossed a particular point in the forest.

“Very well then. Perhaps we should offer up a reward in the Adventurer’s Guild for duplicating it? Or establish a different Guild called the Crafter's Guild?” I asked.

“I think it would be best if things remain within one Guild, your grace. Administration is already chore with the amount of Organizations we have. And that reminds me”- Aswelth moved to sit in front of me- “ What are we going to do about the Shadow Prince, your grace?”

“The ancestor is nowhere to be seen, you do not wish to involve your mother and the King claims to not know his location.” he said.

“What do you want me to do? I would order a hunt for all of the Organization’s bases to flush him out, but we both know that we don’t have enough people for that. The duchy is already running short with all of these organizations and things to do. Half of the guard is busy mapping the forest, the other half is busy in the duchy, and no one is free.” I replied.

“I think we need to hold the next recruitment for the Adventurer’s Guild.” Aswelth suggested.

“Sure. But I won’t allow newbies to be charged with searching them out. The Shadow Prince may look weak now, but remember that he’s been at it much longer than us. I doubt he is completely out of tricks just yet.” I said.

Aswelth leaned back in his chair, his frustration visible.

“What really troubles you, General?” I asked, curious and worried about his actions.

“The duchy, your grace. A few weeks ago it was growing so fast, but now it is as if there are problems around every corner, nothing is ready and everything is a mess.” Aswelth confessed. And now I knew the problem, he was frustrated with the lack of progress.

“And that is completely natural. The reason we are facing this problem is because the duchy grew too fast. The industry, economy, and the people did not have time to catch up. Now, we will have to wait until they do, rushing things will only make more problems. The best thing to do right now is to wait for the duchy to grow, not boost it up.” I told Aswelth.

“ I just don’t know if we will have the time, your grace. The Tourney hovers over us threateningly. Has the King notified you of a date?” Aswelth asked.

“Not yet. I have half a mind to just ask my mother and be done with it. And speaking of her, she had a surprise for me. I should go attend to her before she throws a tantrum.” I said, getting up to leave.

Aswelth suddenly moved away. Saying “Please do that, your grace. I do not think letting a Spirit Tree wait is wise.” Oh no, was someone scared of my mother?

I made my way through the Treehouses and towards the guard Mansion where she was waiting for me marveling at the hub hub on the streets. A month ago this area would have been quiet, but now there were constantly people moving from one place to another.

The duchy had been receiving a constant trickle of immigrants from the Kingdom, and news was that the Count in Cilanthra may soon find himself executed, an action that had no doubt been taken to appease me.Though I wondered how the King was going to deal with the heir problem now. I had just up and established my own Jewel, leaving him without an heir.

But that was not for me to worry about. The King was a grown man and could deal with his own problems, I had mine. And speaking of problems, I had just arrived at the guard house. A guard house that was thankfully still intact and not purple. I had feared that my mother would go ahead with her plans for the city despite me telling no.

I walked towards the main ground gingerly, knowing my mother was there, just waiting for me. The weirdest thing about the walk was that I did not run into a single other person. I should have run into another person by now, especially considering that half the guard was stationed in the city at the moment.

The main ground was, thankfully not empty. In fact, it was overoccupied by what must have been most of the stationed guard surrounding a dozen or so men that were showcosing auras of the Tree level. What had my mother done now?

“Altura! Can you get these goons of yours to back off?” my mother yelled from among the Trees.

“And can you tell me why there are a dozen Trees here Mother?” I asked.

“Well, you said you wanted me to build up your spy organization, so I called a few Rotere instructors. I did not know that your little guards would get so scared of them.” she answered. The ‘Rotere instructors’ surrounding her shifted at her words, seemingly lowering their guard. Did I just encounter another group of people that weren’t impressed with her antics?

“Stand down, it's just my Mother'' I told the guards who lowered their weapons, but did not disperse.

“Perhaps next time, Mother, could you please inform me before calling people over?” I asked. The Rotere guards turned their attention towards me, assessing me in a completely creepy manner.

“Can I help you gentlemen?” I asked them, observing their reactions closely to try and figure out what was going on , whatever it was, it was not normal. I got a distinctly sneaky feel from these Rotere guards.

But I suppose it made sense that the instructors of a spy organization were a bit sneaky. I just hoped that their morals weren’t prone to play hide and sneak.

“Yes. Is that Royal Lightning I sense on you, your grace?” one of them spoke, his tone cautious. I did not know you could sense another person’s elements, though it made sense that there were techniques to do just that.

“Yes, I do have that element.” I answered.

“And if it is not too much to ask, where did you gain such a prized element, your grace.” the same person asked. I recognized a fishing expedition when I saw it.

I summoned the staff from my spirit space, showing it to the Rotere instructors. “Here, this is what you wanted to see, isn’t it?” I said, making the instructors distinctly uncomfortable. Not used to being predicted were we?

“Yes, your grace. The staff of Royalty is legendary for its prowess.” The Rotere instructor said, smiling widely “Have you learnt how to wield it, your grace? I do not sense any of its seals being broken.”

“No, I have not had the opportunity.” I said, I did not like where this was going. I liked my privacy, thank you very much.

“Well that was something! Perhaps we can all take a step back eh?” a young man said, emerging from among the guards, interrupting whatever was going on. I did not know how I missed him, the man’s pink attire stood out among the black garbed instructors.

The fact that the ‘attire’ consisted of very short shorts and a sleeveless shirt was another oddity. Why did this person decide to wear summer clothing here?

“Yes! Norvane, don’t you want to meet your new disciple?” my mother said, clapping her hands. Oh no. What disciple?What had she done now? I would hope it wasn’t Argus, but I was pretty sure it was.

“Mother, we talked about this. I was under the impression that you were going to let me handle things myself?” I said.

“Yes, I know, but you don’t know so much about healing! And your Medical Association is useless! The head asked me about herbs!” my mother said.

Ok fine, she had a point, but if the way the young man stiffened up was any indication, he was less than willing to take up a disciple that knew so little.

“Perhaps, it would be best if you got someone to teach beginner level stuff first? I do not think Argus is quite ready for his discipleship.” I suggested.

“Oh please! Norvane is more than happy to do it!” my mother said, looking at the young man.

“Yes, I am.” Norvane replied, his smile very stiff. “I am sure I can set up some kind of timetable to teach him stuff, where can I find this Argus?”

“Argus should be in that fortress of hers on the other side of this duchy. Just look for a big ugly building of stone and you will have it!” my mother said before I could say anything. Norvane soon disappeared from view, leaving me to deal with my mother.

And I decided there and then that the talk we’d had before was not enough, a lengthier one may be in order if her actions were any indication of what was to come if I did not.