Viran peered outside of the carriage expectantly towards the city that became larger as time went on. The many months had already passed since they had started this long trek and through it all Viran repeated the same routine everyday. He trained his sword when he could, but he mostly thought more in depth about his spells and cultivated his mana. The boy could vividly feel the great increase in his mana, yet it was still not enough. Not enough at all.

“We’ll be entering through the gate now, hrm.” Sir Leonard said expectantly as he rubbed the white beard still growing on his face.

Viran peered out of the carriage, yet he only saw stone. Viran had to crane his neck upwards to even be able to see an end to the wall. With a glistering white stone the wall was a giant compared to the average person. What’s crazier is that the hymn of mana could be felt by Viran in the wall, and exactly as he thought amazingly huge runes floated in front of the uppermost reach of the wall. The runes moved in a rhythmic order and would wildly change colors every few moments. A single rune was just as big as Viran’s childish body and expanded outward like a band around the entire wall.

“Hrm, I had the same look as you when I first came to the capital. From my knowledge these walls and those runes have stayed completely intact for centuries, even before the Hegemon Wars of the Empire. Hell, these have been here since the last era in all likelihood.” Sir Leonard said with a grand smile.

Viran couldn’t help but show his sheer awe at those words. It was one thing if these runes were made far before the Hegemon Wars the Empire put forth three centuries ago, a result of these tremendous wars raged over years would result in the current hegemony that was the Empire. But if these runes and the wall itself still stood tall and mighty since the last era, that was something completely unheard of. Compared to the runes that they had previously found at the estate, these were much more refined and a much coveted piece of knowledge from even before the previous era.

The era that eradicated human dominance in the continent, the era that culminated in the deaths of millions and the dissipation of precious knowledge. Although the last era ended almost a full thousand years ago, the Empire was still a far cry from the luxury the previous era presented so long ago.

“Amazing!” Viran awed in the glory that the runes, and the wall itself, presented.

In the southern gate of the city, armed guards in shining armor parted the crowd making the road into the city completely inhibited. Viran looked out at the commoners and Knights outside and it was clear how different even the commoner class had with each other. Comparing the vestiges of these city folk to those in Wakeford or Arx was unimaginable. Viran could even see a thin man dressed in heavy clothing, the glimmer of gold could be seen woven throughout his clothing. Surrounding the man, of course, were armed guards as well, albeit much more savage looking compared to the Knights and without the solid equipment offered to them.

“... Is that a Noble too? But I don’t see any identifiers…” Viran muttered to himself questionly,

Sir Leonard took one look at the greatly dressed man before turning his head completely with a scowl on his face.

“Tch. It’s just some merchant with his mercenaries acting like a Noble. Hrm. Let me tell you, boy, serving underneath a merchant or a magnate is a terrible idea! I’ve had a terrible time when I was the secretary of a Merchant Company farther up North towards the wilderness. Y’see for most magic users, they simply become Knights or serve underneath the Lords, but for the remaining few that refuse to serve the higher class they usually are made into a productive capacity, like a carpenter or runemaster, or they become a mercenary. Hrm.”

“You were a mercenary?” Viran asked in a surprised tone.

“Well, hrm, yes. Technically I was, but I didn’t fight very often. Most of my spells aren’t good for that aspect anyways.” Sir Leonard coughed shyly before continuing. “The most prominent and well known Merchant Companies that handle bands of mercenaries send them out into the wilderness to hunt down expensive beasts and artifacts in ruins they might find. Depending on the haul, an entire group of expert mercenaries could live the rest of their lives lavishly! Though most of the time the Merchants themselves simply do away with the mercenaries and keep the goods for themselves. I’ve seen the same thing happen often in the North, and don’t even mention the rampant cutting of corners to cut the costs.”

“Sounds dangerous…” Viran frowned deeply. “I never knew…”

“Hrm, well I don’t quite expect you too. Due to the rampant expansion southward by your Father and the danger associated with the rift beasts down South makes the North the best option for any Merchant Company wanting to strike it rich in artifacts and ancient knowledge.”

“After seeing many of my associates never come back… I decided to leave my job, hrm, it just didn’t sit well for me. Some way or another I ended up working for the Magisterium in the North and I eventually earned my Noble Title for the research I had done there.”

Viran nodded softly as he heard Sir Leonard recount his story.

“Kuhum… But enough about that we’ll be arriving by the palace soon enough. Hrm.” Sir Leonard coughed in an obnoxious way before turning his gaze out of the carriage as well.

The inside of the carriage would be quiet thereafter.

“You know this better than me Idicium, I hate that boy. The mistake that you’ve made a decade ago was only half-corrected then with the death of his Mother. Yet I remained magnanimous, and in regards to your past accomplishments I allowed that boy to live despite his very blood seeping with sin. In regards to the few accomplishments you’ve garnered within recent years, I even allowed the boy to further learn more to protect his worthless life after his departure.”

“Don’t misunderstand me Idicium, I will not be doing any more favors for you or that child.”

Lord Idicium nodded softly in apprehension before eeking out a farewell.

“By your wish Craynor, Lord of the Pyre and Father of my Strength. Viran Idicium will depart alone, and will no longer retain my name.”

A man with umber hair and a savage, yet handsome, face nervously rubbed his palms together. Robert Idicium sat still within his carriage for a few short moments, yet even that felt like an eternity for him.

“My Lord, it is time to depart for the banquet. I have received confirmation that Lord Gregory and Lord Viran have settled down into their accomodations.” The secretary of Lord Idicium said outside.

Witha heavy push the doors to the carriage are open, and with a confident figure Lord Idicium walks out. The usual apathy oozed out of him.

“Very well. Let us go meet our Emperor Clarus, the leader of our Empire.”

Lord Idicium’s eyes wander towards an already empty carriage, the empty carriage of Viran. Lord Idicium wanted to simply believe his eyes were wandering, yet deep down he knew it was something more. A familiar pain in his chest was felt.

“Wow!” Viran awed for the thousandth time that day.

Viran stood in shock next to Sir Leonard as they walked into a prestigious mansion, a home even bigger than his own. However, comparing the mansion-like home that Viran would find himself in was futile, because right next to the residence was a building of amazing proportions. Just the same as the wall outside, the palace itself was dressed completely in white with no discoloration throughout the entire building. The windows themselves were large and were seen exhibiting themselves nicely within the stark white paint that the palace sported. Paved roads ran to and fro from the many buildings surrounding the palace itself and the outside of the short walls that surrounded the palace.

A single gaze towards the walls was all it took to realize how well defended the palace itself was, without mentioning the hidden runes that Sir Leonard and Viran hadn’t realized the guards there would be more than enough to dispel any threat that could befall anyone there.

However, despite the awe that Viran showed Sir Leonard grimaced upon seeing the amazing mansion laid out upon them. As they walked inside Viran also began to notice the twitching of the servants and Knights that accompanied him…

“Sir Leonard, what’s wrong?” Viran asked as he looked around suspiciously until a thought popped into his head. “Wait, where’s Gregory?”

Once those words were spoken Sir Leonard jumps a little bit as he turns back around with his eyes winced, as though he was experiencing a deep pain.

“Hrm, well you see… The residences outside of the palace itself are only used for the servants of the Nobles that attend the yearly event with their children…” Sir Leonard trailed off.

“I’m not a servant though.” Viran began to stare hatefully at the mansion around him.

“...Or Nobles that the Emperor is displeased with.” Sir Leonard leaned closer to whisper. “Though there is a possibility that your Father did all of this…”

Viran’s hateful gaze falls flat upon hearing those words, and a deep sigh exits him.

“...Just address him as Lord Idicium from now on. Please.” Viran urged Sir Leonard.

With a simple nod Sir Leonard leans away quickly as he is led off to his room by the servants. Viran himself is led in the opposite direction into a far part of the residence itself. Comparing his own estate at Wakeford Village to this one, Viran couldn’t help but keep his gaze lowered to the velvet carpeting on the floor. Except the carpet they walked upon was better than his own as well…

Once the boy finally reaches his own room, he opens the door. What meets him is a room better than his own as well. A room far better than the one at his own estate, and the one at the Idicium estate.

“Dammit even the air is better…” Viran muttered distastefully as he repeatedly took deep breaths.

As he sat down on the bed itself the softness envelops him and the young boy couldn’t keep himself from stretching out deeply. The soreness from constantly training his mana while riding inside of a carriage affected him deeply.

“The bed is better too… Hahh.” Viran sighed distastefully.

Viran waited silently until the spirit in his head finally spoke.

“You seem distressed.” Ry said calmly.

“Yeah, haha. The estate they have that’s for servants is better than my own home.” The boy silently muttered, attempting to hide the cracks appearing in his voice.

“...That’s not why you’re near tears though. It’s the very thought of being put in such tough conditions.”

Viran covered his eyes with his forearm, and he could feel the wetness connect with his skin immediately.

“Y...Yeah.” Viran muttered even quieter, attempting to hide the cracks that threatened to break out in his voice.

Silently, the boy laid there as he tried to assuage the pain he felt. Yet despite it all, nothing works.

Soon the silent sobbing would fade away, as the young boy fell asleep.