Chapter 4: Let Loose
Before I knew it, my graduation from the Asura Royal Academy—and thus my tenth year in this new world—came almost in the blink of an eye.
A year spent training further with Leonel at the Water God dojo, and even getting acquainted with the local mage's guild branch so that I could continue my studies even beyond it. A year of still being on that leash James had thanks to the school. The last year until I was free to start working on those plans of mine.
As for the important things, let's run it down a bit.
As I mentioned before, my induction to the Water God dojo was under Clive as his next apprentice after Leonel now that my brother was Advanced rank, and was now dedicated to seeing if he couldn't master one of the Secret Arts or not. Leonel had also furthered his studies into Sword God and was looking on the path to become Advanced rank there in record time. For me, I was simply refining those basics, learning the basic lessons of Water God and sparring with Leonel to pick up the dual-styled tricks he'd developed to make use of Sword God alongside it.
On the magical side, I'd gotten acquainted with a mage there thanks to Grell. Someone who happened to be an old friend of Sauros', a wizened fellow named Ingo. A retired adventurer himself as it were, a frontliner who was an Advanced rank Attack mage, so the perfect person for an aspiring spell-blade like myself to start learning from. As you can imagine, when Grell introduced us, he'd been pretty crass about the idea of teaching some noble "brat" magic despite the reported fact I was a capable Intermediate mage.
So how did I convince him you ask?
Went out to the guild's practice yard and blew up a target with a silent Ex-Flame. I figured if anyone could be trusted to know about my capability to use silent spells, it would be someone Grell introduced me to. And boy let me tell you how that went.
It's just fresh enough to be easy to recall.
Ingo's wizened face had dropped down to an agape stare, his scraggly beard seemingly standing up as he stared dumbfounded at the smoldering target left on the range. His dark grey eyes, wide in shocked, looked to me as if he was expecting some trick. Perhaps I had just muttered the spell under my breath, or maybe his age was getting to him.
Surely some near-ten-year-old didn't just silently cast an Intermediate ranked spell right in front of him.
"Grell…" the old mage's head snapped around to the butler, who looked more than a tad smug as he brushed the dust off his shoulders. "A child educated at the academy using Intermediate spells I can understand. Nearing Advanced rank, I too can understand. What you neglected to mention was this boy somehow possessing a skill nigh-unseen among mages for decades if not centuries! Least of all that he was the child several of my colleagues spent years raving about due to his talent! Is this why they all left the Boreas' employ?!"
"I told you that Master Aegir was wise beyond his years," Grell cleaned off his glasses as he chuckled. "A boy barely to his tenth summer, and not only is he almost an Advanced mage, but he has been capable of casting magic silently since he was barely even two."
"Since he was…?!" Ingo spluttered as he lurched. "Where?!" by this point I think the man was forgetting I was not five feet away from him. "Where did this boy learn such a skill? Did some passing mage teach him? A professor from Ranoa who happened to be in Roa? How?!"
"I figured it out by myself!" my somewhat annoyed chime in made Ingo snap around again. I was starting to worry for the poor guy's neck. He was just as quick to lean down to my eye level, and one could hear his back creaking. Even without words, his wide-eyed expression told me he was demanding an explanation to how I figured it out. "See… when I started practicing, I accidentally cut off an incantation because I was a bit surprised. From there, I just remembered what it felt like and worked it out. It's uh… not easy though. So, I start from learning an incantation, then as I practice the spell, I start seeing how I can cut it down until I can use the spell with just its name. Once I get that down, then I start practicing how to cast it silently."
"But to do that…" slowly, Ingo stood back to his full height, pacing around as he stroked his beard. "Just abridging incantations is difficult enough for an Advanced or Saint ranked mage, even King ranked mages hardly do it… yet this child who hasn't even used an Advanced spell yet has devised an entire process? And all through self-study since he was a mere toddler? To take the entire process behind the spell and to do so without even a word… No wonder he would not have informed anyone of such a feat of genius… yet if he has already made this much progress so soon…"
"Ingo?" Grell broke through the man's rambling, also probably to make sure he didn't carve a ditch into the ground from his circling of me and the butler. "What do you think? Are you willing to take on the young master as a protégé?"
"And teach him what?!" The elder mage gave a dry chuckle. "It's no wonder my fellows didn't bother! Grell, this child can cast silently! What could a tutor possibly teach him that he will not simply figure out on his own, hmm? Clearly all he needed was the blasted textbook!"
"Ah, but what is it that Master Aegir lacks which you possess in abundance?" Grell chuckled as Ingo spluttered again. "While I shall not deny the young master is indeed far wiser than any other child his age, he is still that. A child. Or, rather, he is inexperienced. Master James unfortunately does not consider Master Aegir as much more than one of his pawns in Greyrat power plays. Dare I say, the boy has barely even been allowed to leave Ars at all these past eight years since he and his elder brother arrived. Talented and quick to learn he may be, but the young master is horribly inexperienced when it comes to using said talents effectively."
"Grell, am I being insulted or not?" My dry comment earned a warm chuckle from the butler, and I returned it with a playful grin. I knew he meant well and was just playing around. Plus, it was clear Ingo seemed to be going through a bit of a crisis.
"Ah… yes, of course! Fool I am!" Ingo laughed as he used a hand to tug his hair back. "I lost myself for a moment. Aegir, yes? Do repeat it for me… what was it you are intending to do upon your graduation from the royal academy?"
"I want to become an adventurer. Uncle James doesn't seem keen to give me any duties unlike my brother and cousin Romeo. So, I decided I wanted to do something of my own and join the Adventurer Guild."
"And what role are you planning to play as an adventurer?"
"Hmm, a mage knight I suppose. I've heard they're not common, but I figured that since I can use spells silently, I should be able to make it work. I'm also a student at the Water God dojo and plan to learn Sword God and North God techniques as I get older."
"He has quite the set of plans laid out before him," Ingo turned to Grell, who again gave a proud chuckle. "Hm… as ambitious as Sauros, though in his own way. Well then… I cannot guarantee I can teach you more than you already do as a mage. But as a mentor I can do this: Give you the experience you are sorely lacking in… through no fault of your own however."
"And how do you plan to do that?" I tilted my head at the mage, who chuckled as he folded his arms.
"Practical studies, of course! If you truly aim to walk the path of an adventurer, what better way to learn than by doing? The way to form your spells to best suit an active battle, how to meld and combine elements into mixed spells and more. What good is knowing how to simply cast magic?" the man shook his head, leaning down to my eye-level once more. "Nay, what I can teach you, Young Aegir, is how to truly use magic, to take this ability you have mastered and truly put it to use as a mage knight would. From me, you shall learn what a proper battle mage should be. And from you, I intend to encode this method of spell casting. Consider it a trade, yes? One set of knowledge for another."
"I'm good with that," as I nodded, Ingo offered a hand, and I exchanged a proper handshake with him. "I'm looking forward to learning under you, Teacher."
"Haha, so respectful already! We will begin your lessons after your graduation. Might I ask, have those rigid instructors even allowed you to glance at an Advanced spell yet?"
"Unfortunately, no," I shook my head with a sigh, Ingo giving an aggravated mutter. "The magic manual we used there only goes up to intermediate spells. And with all the other lessons they cram in, they said going past intermediate would be a waste of time since it's hardly the main focus. The book I used to study out of is back in Roa. It was part of Grandpa Sauros' library."
"Ah, must have been the college edition used in Ranoa. That edition is a popular purchase among the nobility… hells that may be the copy I gave Sauros all those years ago. Well then, my new student, the first lesson will be simple: Seeing if you are even capable of Advanced magic at all. You've had near eight years of practice already, so I have little doubts. Return here after your graduation and we can begin. Luckily for you, the mage's guild is ably equipped to handle such practice. It will also be an excellent chance to observe your process firsthand."
"Then we have our deal," Ingo and I shook hands again, and Grell gave an approving nod.
And that was, after almost eight years of going with the flow, the first step I took to marking my own path here, away from James' own plans or whatever else the nobility would have tried to get out of me.
At the time, I hardly knew just how far that path would take me.
Graduation came in no time at all. Perhaps it's because I knew what was ahead of me, but the final few months of this last bit of my tenure went by quickly enough. I kept my grades high and did a bit more than my share of showing off my progress with all that extra practice during my free time.
Not that I was looking forward to it for any other reason than being cut loose a bit.
As it were, the grand ballroom of the Silver Palace was full of chatter with this new crop of graduates, just as it had been when I was last here during Leonel and Romeo's graduation two years ago. The attending families were in another room, letting us have our time to celebrate while they no doubt chattered on about whatever noble business they had going on.
Like the school itself, the party was there to, and I am quoting my teacher, "remove the divide between noble and commoner for a time", and how say did they choose to display it? By not even bothering with chairs. Tables piled high with fine foods I'm sure some of these other students would've only hoped of having under any other circumstance, and not a chair around. Wasn't really a problem for the graduates from the older age group, but us kids?
HAH!
Fidgeting and antsy legs all around.
Definitely didn't help that everyone was shoved into formal clothes. Since it was a palace event, of course full decorum was expected. So formal suits and dresses all around. The students from the commoner family's who, naturally, couldn't afford those kinds of clothes were given a set as a gift from the school.
Meanwhile, me, a noble? An annoying amount of time with the maids doing their darndest to get my hair under my control after I was changed into some decent threads. Try as they might have though, it seemed my ever-growing mane of fluffy red hair was getting increasingly harder to tame, so they just settled on pulling it into a low tail and giving up on trying to slick it back.
Mark that as a problem from my old life I somehow am still suffering in this new one.
The comment of "it looks like a wolf pet" was proving amusingly apt by the way I kept it nowadays, way too messy for some's liking.
But it wasn't like this whole "everyone here is equals for the night" situation did anything. The nobles elected to section themselves off to their own end of the tables while the commoners huddled together. Both ends shooting less than pleasant looks back and forth amid all of the chatter.
And then there was me, the one standing with neither group as he set a plate. Well, for a bit at least.
"Heyyy Aegir!" my back was clapped by a hearty smack, and I turned to face the one friend I'd actually made these last three years. A boy my age named Urich, the son of a common knight and fellow apprentice at the Water God dojo, though we'd met during swordsmanship lessons before then. He was perhaps as average as average got, with features that didn't stand out and plain brown hair and eyes.
So, I guess I felt a bit of a kinship with that considering how I looked in my old life… even if I stood out way more now.
"Urich! I didn't think you could make noble clothes work so well," My remark was more in jest, Urich snickering as he rubbed his nose.
"Impressive huh? Now I've got something to show off back at my neighborhood! Still, we made it huh? I mean, you were definitely gonna get somewhere with how you blew everyone our age out of the water! Even some of the older students too!"
"Come on, don't downplay yourself. You're one of the best students from out class in swordsmanship, and I'm hardly top of the class in academics either. That was the princess."
That got Urich to give a nod.
"Yeah… and she's two years younger than us to boot! Kind of impressive for the heir no one expects to take the throne."
"That sounds familiar," Urich flinched as I popped a chunk of meat into my mouth to punctuate, the boy giving a somewhat awkward chuckle as he realized the slight fumble. Though my smirk in return eased the mood again. "C'mon, cut the formalities. This party is supposed to be where nobles and commoners set things aside right? No need to act like we're not friends."
"I think we're the only ones here who are actually bothering with that idea," Urich looked around to the two separate groups, shaking his head. "Kind of a shame huh? Really looked forward to this, and then everyone divvies off like usual. Though… you're also not at all like those other stuffy nobles anyway," and with attention being drawn to it, Urich and I looked at the nobles, who were quick to divert the dirty looks they were shooting my way.
"I seem to have a bit of a talent for ticking people off," I shrugged it off, Urich shrugging as he started piling his own plate high. "So, what're you planning to do now that we're off the leashe?"
"Train to be a knight, duh!" Urich chuckled as he bit into a leg of chicken. "I wanna follow my dad in being a royal knight! Just watch, I'll be a Water God Saint in no time at all!"
"Not if I beat you too it. Though I'm also gonna be training in Sword God techniques."
"Then looks like we've got a rivalry!"
As we slapped a high five, a clearing throat drew our attention.
"Sir Urich, I hate to disappoint, but if Sir Aegir is anyone's rival… it'd be mine."
"Luke?" As I turned, Luke flinched at my utter lack of formality at addressing him. We'd met a few more times since Leonel's Advanced Rank test at the dojo, and, well… let's just say Luke had an interesting definition of rivalry between us.
By that I mean I've kicked his ass every time we spar.
"A son of the Boreas house should show some decorum, should he not?" Luke's eyes particularly drew across my hair, meanwhile his was neatly slicked back and trimmed. "And perhaps try to look like a noble?"
"You try taming hair like this. Cutting it short doesn't help at all. Anyway, what's bringing you over from mingling with the others, hm?"
"Is it so hard to wonder if I'm being earnest?" Luke sighed again. "I wanted to congratulate you on graduating as well. I know Lord James has little in the way of expectations for you going forward, but you should know we in the Notos have taken note of your talents."
"Did Pilemon set you up to this?" My annoyed grumbled brought Luke to clear his throat. "He did, didn't he?"
"Father may have… had some suggestions. But I am serious when I say my congratulations are genuine. You as well, Sir Urich. As a fellow student of the Water God school, I wish the best among all of us as we continue our training."
"Ah right… aren't you being assigned as one of the princess's guards after this?" Urich got a nod in response.
"An honor I am proud to have been given. And you two… a knight and a mage, yes?"
"Adventurer, actually," Urich snickered at my correction while Luke's eyes widened. "I'm gonna join the adventurer guild. So do tell Pilemon if he was going to try and sneak some offer under the table to me, to kindly not. I've got my own plans."
"But… an adventurer?"
"How else am I going to get actual experience? Besides, court duties sure as hell don't appeal to me. I'd rather be out there seeing more of the world than spend more time cooped up in this city than I already have."
"And there he goes with those cutting, precocious words of his," Urich laughed while Luke balked. "I don't think anyone's swaying Aegir from that idea. If anything, I like it! I think Aegir'll make a great adventurer! Besides, he's just as good at magic as he is with a sword."
"True as that is, wouldn't you find your skills better served to your household?" Luke tilted his head a bit when I stifled a hard laugh. "… this has to do with the way Lord James treats you, doesn't it?"
"More the way he doesn't treat me," I stuck my fork towards Luke, giving a toothy smirk. "My uncle hardly cares what I get up to. It's my brother and Romeo who he's keeping his eyes on. I'm just the backup plan for a backup plan. Honestly, I'd bet James is looking for an excuse to not have to deal with me."
"Is that not a bit harsh?"
"Why do you seem bothered by that idea anyway? You're gonna be a royal guard until Pilemon steps down, and Urich a knight. Why is me being an adventurer any different?"
"Hagh…" Luke's sigh was one of relent, and he also began stacking a plate before shoving a bit of bread into his mouth. "Blame my uncle Paul. Father hardly let's up in his complaints about him. Ran off at around our age and revoked any claim he had to the Notos name for a time. Left my father to bear all the responsibility of succeeding the Notos household while he went gallivanting off to be an adventurer, only to come crawling back when he ended up married and needed to settle down somewhere."
"That's just Pilemon's bias rubbing off on you," I tapped Luke on the shoulder as he muttered. "Look, it's not like I'm going to be telling everyone I'm the third son of the Boreas Greyrat house. I'm not that crazy. I'm gonna use an alias when I join the Guild, keep eyes off my back."
"I doubt many wouldn't figure it out. Many in Ars are quite aware of you and Leonel. Your scarlet hair and eyes are hard to miss."
"Ah, but who's going to expect a noble kid like me to be so brazen and do it anyway?" I smirked again as I leaned on a hand. "If anyone does figure it out, I doubt they'd say a thing. I'll just be sure to prove myself before they do. Play it right, and who'll care if I'm a noble or not?"
"I must admit, with that attitude I'm unsure anyone will even catch on," Luke shook his head. "Even despite all the lessons, you remain utterly resistant to behaving with noble decorum."
"I mean I can be polite. But why should I put on a face for people who clearly don't like me?"
"If you want to keep making enemies in the courts."
"Courts I want nothing to do with."
"Hahaha, you really do think like a commoner!" Urich cackled while Luke rolled his eyes at me. But then a much softer sounder giggle cut through the boyish chatter.
[She really came out already?]
[It's really the princess!]
"I wouldn't happen to be interrupting anything would I?" The one greeting us was a younger girl. Her dress was finer than any other in the room, her blonde hair finely arranged to fall down her back and decorated by a black ribbon, and deceptively gentle looking blue eyes looked across the three of us.
Luke was quick to snap to attention while Urich all but froze in place from surprise. Me? Absentmindedly munching down a bread roll.
"Princess Ariel!" Luke put his arm over his chest in a salute. "Forgive me for wandering off as I did."
"Relax, Luke. You should be allowed to enjoy this party as well. I doubt anything will happen while we're here anyway. You two…" Ariel chuckled as she turned to me and Urich. "The son of Sir Albert and Aegir of the Boreas Greyrats. A pleasure to meet you both at this event."
"N-Not at all! The honor is all ours!" Urich was predictably quick to spit his words out as he bowed his head. "What brings you over to our little group, Your Highness?"
"I was actually seeking to speak with Sir Aegir myself," a phrase that actually got me to pause my munching, and a few silent waves of shock through everyone else in the room. "I do hope you won't mind if I borrow him for just a moment. You seemed so engaged in your conversation, I'd hate to interrupt it."
"N-Not at all!"
"If that is your wish."
The way Urich and Luke were so quick about it was almost impressive. But, what could be done when faced with the second princess of the kingdom? Though I was obviously being more blasé about it. Heck the fact I was still munching at all was getting me dirty looks from noble and commoner alike.
Finishing up the last bit of the roll, I turned to Ariel and nodded. "Not a problem at all, Princess. This is the place to mingle, is it not?"
Luke was sure to give me an unamused look I chose now to speak politely.
"Why thank you. If you don't mind, I'd like to speak to the side. Is that too troublesome?"
"I should be asking you that instead. Please, lead the way."
Ariel nodded and gestured off to the side. Urich and Luke exchanged looks, then melding back into the crowd while Ariel led me off to the side. In a spot both perfect to look at the rest of the graduates while also remaining uninterrupted from anyone else or be overheard.
"So, to what do I owe the honor of Princess Ariel deciding to speak with me in private?"
"My own curiosity more than anything," Ariel folded her hands, leaning back against the wall. "I suppose it's also because I feel we share some similarities. Third in line to succeed our respective households, yet with few prospects of doing so for one cause or another. A disinterest in it at all seems to be what we share, at the least."
"Please, I'm just a precocious child who enjoys riling his uncle up. I wouldn't dare compare the succession process of the Boreas clan to that of the royal family… mostly because I wouldn't be surprised if it was a lot more violent in nature."
"Ahh, there's that direct nature I've heard so many of our peers complain about," Ariel snickered, and all I could do was return it with a smirk. "Hmhm, I appreciate your honesty. Yes, my disinterest comes from a different source. Where for you it is because your prospects are being purposefully moved aside, for me, it is because of my own brother. Do you know why I need to regularly have the presence of my royal protectors present?"
"Is it fine with you if I guess, or would you rather tell me yourself?"
"By all means. I'm curious what your assumptions of my situation are."
"Assassination is my main bet," Ariel chuckled. Seems I was on the mark. "You have a reputation in the court even though we're only children. Ironic as it is, your brother sees you as a threat to his future claims over the throne of Asura, so he'd rather attempt to nip it in the bud before you come of age. Of course, by all means this is just the random theory of a bratty noble child spitting slanderous theory."
"Hahaha, good thing we're speaking away from where others can hear us then, hmm?"
"Of course. It's just theory though, no way it'd be true, right?"
Our tones were utterly dry. In fact, it was hardly uncommon knowledge that the struggles between royalty were far bloodier than lesser nobles. A power struggle between the royal family wouldn't be as simple as one sibling beating another and sending them off to some family territory while they remained in the main branch like it was with the Boreas. Of anything it was the least well-kept secret in Ars that the noble court was split in their support of the royal siblings, and that plenty of them were fine with contracting assassins to try and thin the candidates to the one they preferred.
Kind of fucked up this also applied to the actual eight-year-old. Where I could say my precocious attitude came from packing an extra half-lifetime's worth of extra memories, Ariel's seemed to come from the simple fact that as affluent as the life of a royal was, she had to deal with the utterly shit fact people were constantly out for her head. She always gave off the impression of a kid far more mature than they should have been.
Even if she didn't seem to care all that much as things were. Though one could only wonder when an attempt would either finally stick or she'd get the hell out of dodge and somewhere safer than the capital.
Succession disputes were never fun.
"So, what made you decide adventuring was the path you would take?"
"Overheard that, huh?" Ariel gave a playful little smirk. Makes sense she'd likely been listening in on us. "It's what I told Luke. Uncle James doesn't care much for me. He sees Leonel as a threat to Romeo becoming the next Boreas head, and I'm just the backup. Really, he only keeps us around so our father and grandfather back in Roa don't try and start anything. Though knowing my father, I'm sure he's been scheming all the while these past eight years. So… the short end of it is, if Uncle doesn't have to deal with me, I'm free to do whatever I please… within reason."
"And running off to be an adventurer won't draw his attention?" Ariel chuckled and tented her hands, giving an all too playful expression as I scoffed.
"I've got some friends among the manor staff who're in on it, particularly one of the butlers."
"And your brother? I'm sure if he's planning to take the spot of head for himself, he'd like to do so with his brother by his side, would he not?"
"We've got a few years before any of that becomes deadly serious. Even after they come of age, I'm sure Uncle James is looking to retain power until he's Grandfather's age. And if he plans to have Romeo succeed him, I'm sure he'd rather stall for time and see what moves they make first. Grandfather and Father aren't quite fond of my uncle."
"I heard that during the power struggle among the Boreas, he arranged for his other brother to be married off into the Eurus family."
"That he did. Haven't met the man to this day even when the Greyrats are getting together. Either way, I'm also not planning on using the Boreas name when I join the guild. I'll be sure to use an alias to cover my tracks."
"Smart, but will it work? I'm sure eventually people will form the obvious connection between a young adventurer with scarlet hair and the Boreas child who is of the same."
"Maybe, but that can come as may. Now… if you don't mind, I'm curious about you, Princess. Do you have any plans after this, or are you content to let your brothers be the ones to play power politics?"
Ariel looked to the crowd with a somewhat forlorn look, but it quickly faded back into that pleasant smile. Seems it did actually stick with her. And as we'd been chatting, the party had begun moving along, the older students starting to move the tables aside to make room on the floor.
Ah, right… the dancing.
"I'm not interested in taking the throne, as you can surely tell. We're alike in that way. If it is my brothers who are expected to take the throne, what is there for me?" Ariel glanced to me, tilting her head around as she leaned in front of me. "I'd rather spend my time enjoying myself than be caught up in their mess of power plays and politicking. A shame that unlike you, I lack the freedom to go off and have wondrous adventurers."
"Hahaha, I do doubt it'll be like the books. And besides, I've been practicing for this since I was small. My interest in magic and swordplay was sparked ages ago and I've not missed a day since. Though, wouldn't you say there's some who'd wish to see you take the throne instead?"
"What, as of now? When I'm still but a child? Hardly. Any who do now would only wish it so I could be a useful pawn in their own plans. Though, perhaps if things change…" Ariel shook her head. "Ah, why should we bother with thoughts such as this, hmm? It's a party, let's enjoy ourselves. In fact, why not celebrate your upcoming freedom from the yoke? Perhaps one day I may find cause to employ your services."
"Hahaha, then I'll be sure to make the name I use worthy of the call of the Royal Family of Asura," For the fun of it, I took the same salute that Luke had done, to the clear amusement of the princess.
"Then allow me to make my first request of you," Ariel put a hand towards me. "Would you kindly dance with me, oh noble adventurer?"
"Of course, Your Highness. How could I refuse?"
Honestly if anyone didn't know better this hardly at all felt like the kind of conversations children our age would even have. But, I don't doubt Ariel could tell that like her, I was mature beyond my—supposed—years in a way she could relate to. Or maybe it really was just a whim of curiosity that made her decide to see what my deal was. Maybe even some scheming of her own, if some part of her did think at all about taking the throne.
"So…" as we danced, clearly to the envy of the others in the crowd, Ariel spoke up. "Tell me, Aegir, what's this alias you plan to use in the future? Have you even come up with one?"
"Well… I've had some ideas…" I paused as the natural flow of the traditional dance we were following lead into a twirling move. "Though I do actually have one in mind. Well… it's probably not the most creative… heck it's hardly different than my real name."
"Ohh? Haha, then I think I'd rather be pleasantly surprised to find out what it is when you've thought it over more. I'll look forward to whatever stories in Ars you create from hereon. Consider it my royal endorsement."
"How lucky am I then? Haha, I'll do my best to meet your expectations, Your Highness."
"Oh I hope you do. I may have need of such an adventurer in the future. Do have some good stories next time we get a chance to talk, yes?"
"I'll take some interesting jobs then, hoping for the best. And I'll wish you luck with… whatever royals get up to. Just maybe don't try to drag me into anything too extreme, yes?"
"Hmhm, we'll see," Ariel gave me a snide look as the next move brought her back to me. "Hmm… still have some growing to do, but your arms at so bad. Same with the rest. I'm looking forward to seeing how you grow, Aegir."
I'm not sure how to feel about being able to read that she means that in a few ways. The hell are they teaching this girl if she's thinking stuff like that at this age?
Still, the alias, huh? I've had a few ideas, though simple as it is, I think I've got a decent enough one in mind…
"Happy birthday!"
And no long after graduating from the academy, my tenth birthday officially came about. As it happened, I was born in the fall of this world, right in time for the season to start changing around. And as decorum meant, with my second party coming to be, it was yet another ridiculously formal occasion. Though this time, it was pretty much all the manor staff and whatever relatives James decided to invite, which happened to coincidentally enough include some of the Notos Greyrats, so Luke just happened to be among the guests.
But honestly, I was being about as much of a wallflower here as I was during the graduation party. It was all obligatory congratulations from relatives I knew didn't really care otherwise, and of anything were likely here more to see what James was "offering". Heck the adults has about wandered off to one end of the room to talk what they would anyway. While I was certainly curious what James and Pilemon could have been talking about, I also didn't care much anyway.
I did catch sight of Romeo chatting with some of the older noble kids, though when he noticed my gaze finding him, he was quick to huff and usher his little group somewhere else.
"For a guy who's barely talked to me he really doesn't like me much."
"Have you even tried to get along with him?" Luke approached, looking no less amused than Romeo had been. "I know you Boreas members tend to have pretty intense rivalries, but at the least you could try and minimize the trouble you'd face later."
"Aegir's been focused on his studies while Romeo does business," Leonel slid on up to the two of us, putting a hand on my shoulder. "That and Uncle James has probably filled his head with plenty about keeping away from us. After all, Aegir and I are just his insurance policy."
"Have some confidence in yourself, will you?" Luke looked flabbergasted. "Either of you could come to be the heads of the Boreas someday, yet you remain so cynical over all of it."
"Give it a few years," Leonel chuckled as he then looked over to Grell. "Either way, time for the gifts that actually matter! Aegir, you mentioned you were looking for a better wand and sword, right?"
"Well, yeah…" reaching to my pocket, I drew out the wand I'd gotten from the academy. It was about as basic as basic came, being made of light wood and topped in a small red gem I'm sure barely even cost that much. The purpose of wands or staves for a mage was that the gems acted as an extra catalyst for spells, which helped minimize the amount of mana one needed to use to maximize using a spell. This basic wand was serviceable enough, but I knew I'd need something more robust for being out in the field.
"Hehe, then good thing we put something together!" Leonel folded his arms, and Grell approached next carrying a wooden case under his arms.
"Master Aegir, we wish you all a happy birthday. Please accept these, hopefully tools better suited to what you aim to accomplish in the future," Grell bowed a bit as he presented the case, opening it to reveal the contents.
Set on a plush velvet rest were a short sword and wand.
The sword was kept in an odd sheathe. One that didn't fully cover it, instead being a partial, leather wrapped piece that while keeping the blade secure also left much of the blade exposed. Not one made to be worn on the waist from what I could tell… maybe, at least.
The sword itself was simple but elegant. Its straight two-edged blade lacked frills but by eye alone looked weighty enough to cleave through beast hide while light enough to ensure easy one-handed use. The hilt was a slightly angled cross guard with black lines etched into it to add some flair, with the grip wrapped in dark leather still with that fresh shine. The pommel was itself simple, rounded but finished with a relief of the Boreas emblem in it… well, the best attempt at it in such a small space, it was really just the wolf head.
It was a sword that was plenty sizable for a ten-year-old, though I wasn't one to knock how useful a sword like this could be even for an adult.
The wand was similarly in the "simple but practical" zone. Done in a finely finished blade wood, it was etched by silver decorations and topped by a fiery red gem encased in silver bands, and next to it was a holster with a similar design to the sword's sheathe.
"Whoa… these must've cost a ton!" My impressed sound earned a chuckle from Leonel.
"Hardly anything for us! Though I uh… may've had to make the orders when no one was looking. Private affairs and all that."
"What's with the unusual sheathe?" Luke asked such as I drew the sword out to better look at the blade.
"Well, Aegir talked about wanting to carry his swords on his back so he could carry them easier," Leonel then mimed a drawing motion from his shoulder, "And a normal sheathe would make it hard to draw over the shoulder. I asked the smiths about it, and they suggested a holster design like this. Here, let me show you."
Leonel adjusted me around a bit as he took the sheathe and readied the belts, looping them across my shoulders and fitting them on, the sheathe resting just behind my right shoulder. A quick flick of my shoulder caused it to flip up a bit, and while it took a bit of fiddling, I managed to get the sword slid right back into place.
"A bit awkward for now… but I'll get used to it," I chuckled as I also gave the new wand a spin. "These are awesome, Leonel! Thanks, really!"
"Just make sure you actually put them to use. I wanna see that sword get some well deserved nicks and scratches."
"A nicked blade would hardly be useful," Luke looked between us as we laughed. "Hagh… I get what you mean. So, Aegir… you really intend to be an adventurer, huh?"
"He's still on about it, huh?" Leonel glanced over his shoulder, particularly at James and Romeo. "Though… maybe it'll be for the best, for a bit."
Ahh… I think I'm starting to get it. With how close he is to coming of age, Leonel is thinking more and more of what that's going to mean for his—and mine—involvement of whatever upcoming political crap involving the Greyrats and perhaps even the royal family will come about. And maybe some of just what our family back in Roa has even been doing for eight years.
"Leonel, it'll be fine," I tapped my brother on the arm, giving him the most assuring smile I could muster. "Like I said, it's not like I'll be going that far for this. Besides, it'll also help me learn how to actually use magic and my swordplay the way I want to. I suck as a noble, but I know I'll be a good mage knight."
"So that's your aim?" Luke hummed as I gave a confident nod. "No wonder you work so hard. Aiming for something like that takes efforts far beyond just practicing one alone."
"I'm basically an Advanced rank attack mage already as is… well, outside of Earth spells anyway. I suck with those. And my swordsmanship is coming along well enough too boot. I can pull it off, just watch me!"
"You're at least going to be using an alias, right?" asked Leonel, and I nodded. "Did you… get one settled?"
"I took some time to think it through, but yeah, I got one," the expectant looks not just from Leonel and Luke, but also the gathered staff were like a spotlight. One I was fine being under for now. "Greyfeather. As an adventurer, I'll be Aegir Greyfeather! So be sure to pay attention to that name!"