After getting breakfast, I prepared to go and see Maria once more and hopefully, I'll be able to catch either Mister or Missus Campbell there so that I could go and talk to them. If this goes well, we're looking at an alternative source of sugar and income for the whole county. Not to mention, help out the Campbells and make their situation a lot better than before. I mean, her situation is a bit better since she hasn't manifested her magic at a very young age and her family isn't broken. I want to keep the latter part the way it is. Broken families, no matter where or when is a terrible thing to have.
It's also a preparation for the worst case scenario if Mr. Campbell left. Life will be tough if the breadwinner of the family's not there and the remaining half is gonna be broken emotionally. At least I'll try to make her economic situation a bit better.
"Are you going out again, Sir Edwin?" Raphael asked as he arranged the books in the Study Room.
"Yep. I'm off to Brent to see a friend there." I smiled at the manservant-in-training as I thought about the potential business that could be had, "Would you like to come along as well, Raphael? It would be good for you to come out and see what's outside our estate."
"Sorry, but I can't come. Mr. Stahl is teaching me about Earth Magic." I can tell that he's very excited about it. Finding out that he had magical potential was something that he's very happy about and wanted to use it to help his mother, "It's really amazing that I'm also a mage like you, Sir Edwin."
"Yeah, though I wish your element was wind instead. It's rather difficult to keep up with Missus Mozart whenever she enchants herself during my lesson. It would be nice to have a peer to compare myself with but nevertheless, I don't mind you having Earth Magic." I sighed as I remembered what happened four days ago.
-0-0-0-0-0-
Raphael was helping me and Remi out in our garden until a bird suddenly attacked us for no apparent reason. I tried to drive it away using wind magic but it wasn't enough to keep the bird away. Remi's also unable to drive the bird with her water magic. I was about to call for help unti Raphael's magic awakened during that incident and caused the ground to pelt a clump of dirt to the bird. The bird was hit hard by the projectile, causing it to crash into a tree. Raphael began to levitate pebbles around him and sent them straight to the bird in wild abandon. While the shots
missed, it was a frightening display for the bird and caused it to fly away. Raphael was tired after that, possibly due to not knowing how to control his powers and collapsed afterwards.
He was very surprised when he discovered that he had magic while Mrs. Walt was not happy about it at first. The reason behind it was that there's a good chance that the Dieke family will try to take her child away.
From what I remember, the Dieke family had a series of misfortunes as of late when it comes to having children. It's no secret that they are not doing well thanks to how inbred the family line had become. One of four chances that their children will be sickly and riddled with hereditary disease. Two or half of the four chances that they would be a non-magical child. The remaining has magic and comes out normally despite the fact that there's a lot of incest going on in the family. I won't be surprised if the situation gets worse for the later generations.
Raphael and Sirius inherited a lot of Marquis Dieke's looks from what I saw in the books and anime. Sadly, the health part is a different story thanks to the former being healthier and fitter than the latter. Guess that him having a mother who isn't related to him worked out well.
I'm sure that Lady Dieke will try to use Raphael as a ritual fodder to save her son if ever she gets her hands on him and Missus Walt. Meanwhile, Marquis Dieke would get Missus Walt to surrender her son to him in order to raise him as his own.
Can't say I could blame the latter since his son from Lady Dieke might croak hard in the future and will look for an heir worthy of his title. The Dieke family is desperate at this point and if things hit critical mass, they'd even take in healthy, magically attuned bastard children just to keep the house from falling. Raphael pretty much fits the bill considering that he's not only healthy and has zero deficiencies but he's also a mage like me.
Missus Walt told Raphael that his father did horrible things to her. Marquis Dieke's wife kicked her out of the estate when she found out that she "seduced" her husband. While the information was a bit vague to protect Raphael's sensibilities, the message that someone hurt his mother made him angry about it. He wanted to get back at the guy that made his mom suffer but Missus Walt told him that he shouldn't pursue revenge and live happily. She wants Raphael to use his powers to do good instead.
Raphael took that advice well and promised his mom that he will not go after his mother's rapist and be a good person.
Father and Mother were livid when they found out more on what happened to Missus Walt during her tenure as Marquis Dieke's maid. Father wanted to confront the Marquis and Mother
muttered about cursing their bloodline for multiple generations but cooler heads won when our head maid and butler calmed the two down. They both swore that the Florencia Family will never let the Diekes have her or their bastard son ever again. Not sure how they'll do it but it will involve a lot of letters to certain officials and rules lawyering.
The staff, after hearing what the Dieke family did to the new hire were outraged that their new hire was treated horribly by their previous employers. A lot of them are assuring Mrs. Walt that the Florencia family is not like the Dieke household. They were also sympathetic with the Walts and swore to protect them.
As it turned out, the Florencia household staff has a tightly knit system with each other and act as if they were families with one another. Remy did say that she'd usually watch and listen to their weekly forums whenever she visited their quarters. I heard that they would make plans on how they will assign the usual activities, plan on the staff's shifts and what is needed for the rest of the month.
Oh and Remy promised to Raphael that she'll protect him and his mother from the Dieke family. Apparently, she got quite close with not only Raphael but also with Missus Walt whenever she has a chance to hang out with the mother and son. Remy is quite adored by the staff more than me and Anthony.
The single mother was overwhelmed and was tearing up about how much support she's getting from us.
They also began to make sure that Mrs. Walt and/or Raphael are not going to be easily removed from our employment and care through legal means as well. After all, our family does value bastard children with magical powers and one man's trash and shame could be another's treasure and pride. A small fraction of the Frescan County's population were also born from the nobility's bastards anyway that ended up in our county, migrated from a different nation/kingdom or brought here by my parents and/or those before them to start a new life.
In the meantime, Raphael had to be trained to use his magic.
-0-0-0-0-0-
"I'm sure I'll also get lessons that are just as awesome as Missus Mozart did with you, Sir Edwin." Raphael cheerfully said as he walked away from me, "Anyway, I better go now! It's my first day learning about magic! See you later, Sir Edwin!"
I waved Raphael goodbye as he headed to his lesson. I never thought that canon will be derailed a lot earlier than expected thanks to Raphael becoming a butler/manservant in training for our family. It was an unexpected yet welcomed surprise to me since I don't have to deal with a murderous and very vengeful spirit that will taint him if he had to go through that trauma of watching his mom die in front of him. Sure the Dieke matriarch would lose her son but at the same time, she was willing to throw someone under the bus and murder a mother and her child just to get what she wanted. I wish I could sympathize with her cause but she mistreated Missus Walt, unleashed a vengeful spirit, willing to kill a child and in another universe, has indirectly endangered a lot of people in the process. Anyway, there's not much I can do for Sirius here aside from praying that he won't be in too much pain as his sickness takes him.
I've finished packing up the case while we were talking and mentally prepared myself for what I'm about to say to the Campbells once we meet. I need to make them understand that they can make their lives a lot better if they tap into the source of sugar that can…
"Edwin, where are you going?" I heard my older brother's sing song voice and saw him at the door, peering inside from out along with his fiancee.
"I'm just going to visit someone at Brent. Nothing too serious or anything that requires you to get involved." I tried to downplay my visit in the hopes that my brother finds it uninteresting.
"Ohoh?" Tony smiled as he came into my room, "You sound like someone who is hiding something there."
"Perhaps you are having a rendezvous with a lady from the village?" the tone of mischief is dripping from Mira's statement, "I mean, it's never too early to have a crush with someone after all. Still, what would Lady Katarina think if you're going behind her back?"
"There's nothing going on between me and Katarina, Mira!" I shut down the thought that Mira had that I have a crush with Katarina. She's too much of a landmine for me to like! "Katarina has Prince Gerald coming after her and I'm not going after her!"
"What? My precious little brother has another crush again?" this is the worst. Being teased like this reminded me of my past life's childhood. I was really hoping that this won't happen since we're a noble family but I guess that I hoped too much, "Oh my, why didn't you tell me about this?"
"Because I don't want Prince Gerald to pay too much attention to me! He's already jealous about me giving Katarina gifts and I don't want him getting worse!" I said those words with clear panic in my voice just to make them drop the topic, "Please don't suggest that I steal Katarina's heart away from him! He might attack me if I did that!"
At first, I thought that they stopped from teasing me about what they perceive as my crush towards Katarina. She's cute and will be a very dashing and beautiful girl in the future but that's not enough for me to interfere with her engagement with Prince Gerald and the romance that her harem has towards her. I don't want to be involved with her shenanigans since I prefer to be left alone and work on a life of financial independence. Bringing a piece of the modern era in this rather odd and primitive era is also an added bonus too.
However, my hope was dashed when I saw the smile that they made. There's nothing innocent about the smile these two are making. It reeks of promises of mischief and adventures that involves troubles, unwilling people getting involved and not so fun stuff. They're also looking at me with an expression that non-vocally says "Gotcha!".
Think fast and escape now!
"Ummm… I gotta go now." I need to get the hell away from these two as soon as possible.
"Leaving so soon? Why would you do that, my precocious little brother?" I was grabbed by the sides by Tony and was held up high to prevent me from scurrying away from him, "Can't we just hang out a little longer?"
"No! I have work to do! I need to go to Maria's place and talk to her-..." I immediately shut myself up the moment I realized that I just gave them something that will be used against me.
-0-0-0-0-0-
Outside the manor, the sun is shining brightly and the birds are singing. The workers are harvesting the crops that are ready for picking. The maids are hanging the laundries that were finished for drying and airing. The butler is instructing the new manservants of their duties to the estate. Estate guards are standing guard to their posts with attention. Remilia is playing outside
with the family's pet cats and dogs as Marquis Randall and his wife watched their daughter play around while drinking tea.
"It sure is lovely to see Remy's energy coming back once more." Justine smiled as she watched her daughter enjoying herself under the sun, "She doesn't have this gloomy atmosphere around her."
"Yes. My daughter seems to have revitalized greatly when Edwin finally recovered from that terrible sickness." Randall agreed to his wife as he enjoyed the moment that the air of despair that once covered his family had dissipated and for once, he isn't telling his son that he will find a way to cure him or tell his daughter that she should let Edwin rest, "Still, have you found anything about the disease that Edwin had for the past months?"
"No, unfortunately." The Marchioness shook her head and frowned, "I asked some of my contacts back at the Ministry and found few details about it. Even then, these few details are not enough for me to pinpoint what our dear son was actually sick of."
"Few details?" The Marquis was curious about the last part.
"The fact that it only affected a small number of noble children, the most prominent of these cases was Prince Alan Stuart." Justine frowned when she got the answer from the Ministry, "It was quite off putting and there's a good chance that this could either be a case of bloodline sickness, a prelude to a plague similar to the Black Death, a new disease that our current methods cannot handle properly or, forgive me for making a quack theory, a deliberate attack to Sorcier."
There was silence on the table where the two were seated as they both pondered at what was just said.
"Hmmm… this is indeed a complicated situation." Randall could only sigh and rub his temples, "I don't believe that this was an attempt to spread a plague of some sort. They would have attempted to spread it as widely as they could and would have used a far more contagious disease instead. The disease our son and other children had was anything but contagious as it only affected one person and one person only. If it was a deliberate attack on Sorcier, they'd have done a rather-..."
"ALL RIGHT! ALL RIGHT! I'LL LET YOU BOTH COME ALONG WITH ME! STOP PESTERING ME ALREADY!" Everyone outside looked at the direction where the shout of Edwin was heard: the upper floor of the manor.
"... poor job…" Randall looked up to the source of the shout, "Huh… it's been a while since Edwin exercised the strength of his vocal chords."
The Marchioness only sighed at the odd comment that her husband made about their son's scream.
-0-0-0-0-0-
Where are they?
Mama and Papa had been out since yesterday. I wanted to look for them but Papa warned me not to go to the forest where he and Mama went.
I asked them why I shouldn't be there and they said that when I get older, they will take me there. I don't know what to do…
I ate some pieces of bread and cheese that were kept in our larder since mother told me not to cook without her around. After that, I did my chores today while looking at the direction where they went. I was hoping that there was a delivery here at our house but no one came today. I can't leave the house as well since no one will look out for it and I don't have the keys to the locks.
I'm stuck in this place without anyone to turn to and ask for help. Mama and Papa would never leave me. They always come home after they finish doing their work.
I looked outside the window and I still see black mists that lead to the forest. Perhaps I should follow it since it could possibly lead me to my parents. They told me to stay here...
All right, I have to look for Mama and Papa if I want them back. I need to look for a lamp first. I always saw them taking a lamp whenever they said that they need to go to the forest. Maybe they do it because of the black thing that started appearing in the forest. They also took ropes
and an ax but I can't find any axes. Papa did keep me away from using any of his tools… wait, I remembered that Papa has a sword under their room's floor. I did see him take it out from there in order to train and know where he hid it. I just need to get the keys of his secret spot. Finally, they would both always go there together. Mama would insist on going there whenever Papa says that he would go to the forest. Mama would always say that going there alone is dangerous. I will need help to save… but no one else is...
"Masters Edwin and Anthony…" a familiar voice outside was heard along with horses neigh, "We have arrived at the Campbell family residence."
"Ah, thank you Mr. Dane." the sound of the carriage door opened and Edwin's voice was heard from outside.
"You are welcome, Master Edwin. I am glad to be of service to you." one of Edwin's servants said.
I did not think twice as I ran for the door to meet with Edwin.
"Please help me…" I prayed that he could help me find them.
-0-0-0-0-0-
Early in the morning and I never felt so utterly spent as me, my brother, my future sister-in-law and Miss Hermione sat together in the carriage that was making its way to Maria's place. Mira admired the view outside our carriage with Tony giving her an impromptu tour of the village of Brent and the sceneries around it. Miss Hermione smiled as she held a basket that had our lunches. The two guards that had been coming with me since the day I made my first visit to Brent are seated outside and watching out for anything that might attack us.
Then again, you have to be stupid or suicidal to try and get into a bloody fight with the Florencia family.
I looked out of the window and saw Campbell family's house getting closer and closer. I tried my best to contain my excitement to what I might see behind the family's secret sugar source. Not
only will it help the county as a whole but it will also improve the Campbell family's status. From what I checked into, sugar is a bit hard to come by and we only get these via trade from the Far Eastern Lands, the few island colonies Sorcier owns or from the greenhouses that Mother built for sugarcanes that she and Father acquired during their days as travellers. Hell, I checked on the sugar prices when I was looking for an artisan who is willing to work for me and it was expensive. I mean, a quarter kilograms of sugar back in my previous life did not cost a quarter of your average monthly salary!
Sugar is truly a luxury item as of now but I want to make the damn thing easier to access. Perhaps I should check and see if sugar beets exist at this time. Aside from having Internet Withdrawal, I'm also missing the sweets and snacks of my past life. Sure the occasional cake and baked goods are all right but I still miss eating modern era snacks. I'll have to recreate them at a later time period.
I looked out of the carriage as it slowed down right near the front yard of the Campbells. I thanked Mr. Dane for bringing us here as I was the first to come out of it.
I was planning on knocking on the door until I saw Maria opening the door and rushing towards us. I thought that she was excited to see us but as she got closer, I realized that she looked worried and afraid of something. I did not waste any second and approached the future Light Mage. Everyone inside was surprised at what I just did but I did not care about that.
Something was wrong here since at this time, Missus Campbell would be with Maria.
"Edwin! Help! Mama and Papa are missing!" Maria was frantic when she said that.
Maria stumbled as she ran and I immediately intercepted her fall by catching her. I nearly fell on the ground though but it was a good thing I was strong enough to keep standing. I felt a part of my shirt get a bit wet with Maria's tears as she started to cry.
"Maria, are you okay? What's going on with Mr. and Missus Campbell?" I asked the future Light Mage.
Maria told me her story… and for the first time, I felt fear coursing through my body.
-0-0-0-0-0-
I am Anthony Roa Florencia, the first son of the family and the next heir of the title of Marquess of Frescan.
Today, I never expected that I would be involved in finding someone's missing parents.
From what I understand from Maria Campbell's story, her parents were unable to come home since yesterday. They were supposed to come back after they were finished with their foraging at the borders of the Forest of the Canaver since morning yesterday. They have never returned home since then.
The place where they last went was also something that many of the locals, including us, consider as cursed grounds. Legends say that the last Canaver died in that forest and forever cursed the area to drink the blood of the trespassers that died within its thick foliage. Animals deliberately avoid the place out of fear and people who try to go deep into it are said to forever wander within the forest or find themselves back at the entrance where they came in. The ones who were lucky enough to leave the cursed woods will forget everything that they saw in there. Some who try to remember what they saw there would lose their words and become muted. Burning down the forest did not work as it always sputtered out before it even spread. Cutting down the trees would cause the tools used to rust and decay. We tried to exorcise the forest but the curse keeps on coming back in two to three weeks later.
The Canaver family were proficient at making wards, curses and spells despite being a family of Light Mages. This forest is the testament of how capable they were as mages. A three hundred year old spellcraft that they made still continued to remain in power up to this day.
It became an unspoken rule in Brent that going to the Forest of the Canaver is forbidden due to how many traps are left untouched there. I'm not sure why the Campbells enter the forest but one thing is certain, we need to get them out as soon as possible.
This place had now become a dungeon like the one that we have back at the Academy. Only difference is that this forest was unrestrained and unchecked as it got worse. I extensively studied the forest in the hopes that I would cleanse this cursed place in my time. I don't want the same tragedy like what happened to my gramps to happen to my siblings.
One of our family members fell victim to this anomalous forest in the past. She was my grand aunt and would have lived on today had she not went into that forest at a young age of nine.
Grandfather was devastated with his sister disappearing into the forest. He failed to find her as he tried to explore the forest, mapping its twist and turns as he went deeper in the hopes of getting to her. He was forced to stop trying to enter the forest after a decade of failed attempts. Grandma intervened and had to put a stop on his obsession. He then made my father and at a later time, me promise that we will never go into that place and always protect our siblings from that place.
It is a promise that I, the future Marquis will break.
I looked at the ten men who were brave enough to answer my call without alerting father. Though by now, Mr. Dane would have sent a message to my father about. He was ordered to not keep any secrets from my father when it comes to our safety. I can't say I like it but I refuse to be stopped now that I have called upon a party. While it is foolish that I am doing this for a person that I've just met, I refuse to ignore their plight.
We purchased and gathered the items needed for this expedition. Ropes, magical chalks, copies of grandfather's maps, tools, magical weapons, torches, carts and provisions. Golems were made by the Earth Mage of our party to pad our numbers and carry the supplies. Various enchantments were weaved to prevent us from being afflicted by the effects of the forest.
All for the sake of bringing home a child's parents.
It is my duty as a noble to care, protect and for those who are under my station. Noblesse Oblige as my father taught me.
Maria Campbell's parents are under the aegis of the Florencia Family. It is my duty to help my future people.
I had to convince Mira to stay at the Campbell Family's place and protect Maria, Edwin and Miss Hermione. She wanted to come with me but it would be better if she was there than with us as we went to the forest.
-0-0-0-0-0-
My brother and his group went towards the forest, the very forest that my family warned me to not go into it. Three hour have passed since they have left to find Maria's parents with other mages who worked under our family. I looked outside from the window and saw Father and a
dozen of estate guards who were making plans to assault the forest to save the rescue party who entered the forest. Mother was also there and she was talking to a very worried Mira and Miss Hermione. Me and Maria stayed inside as the grown ups plan and think of ways to make sure that they will be able to save those who went to the forest recklessly.
"Man… that forest must be a huge deal if they're bringing a lot of people into it, huh…" I stepped away from the window as I turned to Maria, "Maria, are you doing… fine…"
Maria and I have been sitting around in their sitting room for a while. I tried to get her mind off of the things going on right now to keep her calm. After hanging out with Maria for a while, one thing's certain about her and her parents: they're all tightly knit and love each other. The Campbells did their best to stick together and consider themselves as fortunate since they have each other. Sure they are not rich or at a higher social class but they believe that they don't need those so long as they can be together as a family. The fact that this bond broke when Maria became a Light Mage was tragic. The continued gossip, the isolation, the rumor mongering and the endless backtalks that they had to endure had eroded their trust and confidence. Mr. Campbell had to leave, Mrs. Campbell nearly gave Maria away and Maria lost her sunny outlook in life as well as her outgoing personality.
I hated that they might go through that and I want to keep that from happening.
This bond that they have with one another would also be troublesome as well since Maria is now gone. I looked around for Maria. I checked her room and she was not there. I checked on the other rooms and in what could be the master bedroom, I found a chest opened there. When I finally checked on the dining room, my eyes widened as I saw something unbelievable.
The backdoor was wide open…
And Maria was running towards the Forest.
I remembered that before Maria was not like her future self. She was outgoing and brash, the type who would climb a tree even though she's a girl. She's also a bit tomboyish too as she was interested in bugs and stuff little boys are interested on. She's also very brave too. She probably couldn't wait any longer and decided to run towards the forest… and she has a short sword strapped on her back. She was running to danger and...
"MARIA!" I surprised everyone outside as I enhanced myself with wind magic to go after the Light Mage who is making a good distance towards the forest.
There were startled cries from the adults outside as I ran after Maria. Before they could rush in to see what was going on, I was chasing Maria. This will get me into a lot of trouble and there's a good chance that I'd get grounded until I grew facial hair but I can't just let my friend endanger herself!
-0-0-0-0-0-
Graaaaaaaargh!
I live!
And I am really sorry that it took me time to write once more. Lots of stuff happened in real life and I had to deal with them first. I tried to get some time to write this but I was too tired or stuck in a rut to write this.
Anyway, I realized that writing Chapter 5 will be divided into three or four parts instead of two. Third part of this would be the climax/conclusion of the arc.