Ambient Mage

"How would you like to join our household?"

Why is the duke asking me that?

In the game he was never the kind of person to ask so nicely.

Whenever he found something he liked he would either coerce the person, or buy the item.

If the person refused, or item was unavailable, he would sponsor or try another angle of attack.

He was relentless. But he never gave them a choice.

Of course there were some that made their stance clear and broke away, but I assume because they did so, they lost value in his eyes, and he lost interest.

And now he's asking me to join.

Annelise pulled away from me

Kelson and her both stared at me. I guess they wanted to know how I felt too.

"What would I do in your residence?"

"Learn, amongst other things."

Well, he's curt. I would love to have said yes, but what will happen to Annelise and Kelson?

"Would I earn a salary?"

"Yes."

"Is it possible to send here?"

"Yes."

Their eyes widened.

Kelson this time looked like he was about to cry.

"How much then?"

"If all goes well, 1 to 2 silvers a month."

That's enough for them to hire decent servants to till the fields and help around the house.

"If you wish, you may bring your parents along with you."

"I can't."

Who would take care of the farm and the house?

They would move for my sake, but they would be unhappy being away from their farm.

"Hm.."

The duke scratched his chin.

Now that's a sight for sore eyes, the chin scratch animatic. Although, his beard isn't as trimmed as it was in game. 

Did that sound weird? Probably. Am I going to move on? Definitely.

"How about this? When you finish your scheduled work every 4 months you will be able to visit them."

I looked at Kelson and Annelise.

They looked resigned.

As if I'd already made my choice.

But they also looked happy.

They were ready to push me up higher into better living.

I loved them dearly.

"When would we leave for the main residence?"

"Right now."

As I expected.

"Could I receive payment in advance one time?"

"Yes."

That was surprising but at least they would be able to live comfortably for a while.

"Mom, Dad, did you need help around the farm before I leave?"

"No."

"Nope, your mom and I have it handled. Go."

This time I was the one to tear up.

I shifted my legs which had begun to fall asleep and began to pack.

"One last thing."

The duke turned around to me again.

"Am I allowed to say my goodbyes to everyone?"

"That's not going to take too much time, so it is alright."

"Be packed by nighttime though."

Well considering the sun has just risen, and I've already started packing I'd be okay.

I began to say my goodbyes to the creatures of the farm. I was sad to do so.

The cows and horses in particular. The chickens and pigs are a little dumb so I forgive the absentness of the animals.

I passed by some of the animals I had named. My favorite cow family in the herd. Ms. Moomoo and family. And then my favorite horse, a foal with a grey-blue coat. And her parents. The dad kicked me when I was younger. Never forget the Alamo. 

Sorry where was I going with this.

Right. I said my goodbyes to the townspeople throughout the day, many asked where I was going and what I was doing. Although I trusted them, it was likely safer that I told them half-truths.

"I'm leaving the village for better opportunities."

A young child, aged 12 leaving their village wasn't common, but also wasn't rare. So I guess they okay with it.

I should make an effort to mention that I also went around talking to the children of the village, and telling them I was leaving. Although I wasn't very close with many, I still was close with many. Even those who were orphans living in the church.

And with that around 3pm, I left back to the house. In game time passes a little differently than in real life. But living here has made me realize that time is 1 to 1 with reality.

As I had entered the house's gates I saw my parents holding a basket. I quickly walked over to them.

"Here a basket of food for the journey."

"Wouldn't take well if you got hungry on the trip would it?"

I took the basket and set it down. I hugged the two of them. They hugged me back tighter.

This was the family I recognized, one full of care. My memories of old could haunt me. I didn't care, for all intents and purposes, these were my parents.

Annelise was the first to release me. 

"I made a tassel for your trip."

She handed me a silver tassel, with purple, red and blue laced in.

"Whether you are a swordsman, a mage, a scholar, or a laborer, I hope you remember us with this."

I hugged her again. How could I forget.

"Mhhmhm."

Kelson cleared his throat.

"Here take this."

For a second he sounded like that one guy that says 'It's dangerous to go alone. Take this.'

He handed me a key that was all black, but the head or bow was abnormally shaped.

I knew exactly what this key was.

I activated my mana and used .

This was shocking. Unbelievably so. Only 5 exist in game.

The name of the item is 'The Black Crown'.

The reason it's named that is the head looks like a crown and coronet pattern.

But more importantly, it opens the 5 gates.

What are the five gates?

Well the five gates are actually rooms.

The key allows entry into one. Each room contains a trial.

Should you beat it, you receive a sword corresponding with the door.

Each door corresponds to one of the 5 main senses.

Sound, Sight, Smell, Taste, and Touch.

You are also allowed to begin the other trials if you clear one. Although you don't earn the sword once you've selected one.

So why is such an important item here with Kelson?

I know all 5 locations for these items. So why is this here was there actually 6?

No. Unlikely, the best players would have found out otherwise. And besides, they don't have a reason to keep it hidden as there are better swords in game.

Does that mean this black crown is the one in the Duke's treasury?

But why would he have it?

No. I get it. Aurelia gets kidnapped here.

It would make sense for the duke to upturn the entire village then wipe their minds with his mind mage unit.

I guess he sees the mana flow in the key.

In game this item is a pretty broken starting item. I can channel mana and is pretty much impossible to break. It's an artifact after all.

It's definitely top 3 beginner wands, although its still a decent wand into the mid game where it drops off.

Anyways, that solves some of my immediate problems like needing a wand. I still need to learn some basic magic and mana techniques though.

I put the key away in my backpack, in a slot easy to get to, and I hug Kelson too.

The duke arrived shortly after and with the eldest son and mages in tow.

"Are you ready to leave?"

"One second."

I turn to hug them again, before I let go and walk toward the troop.

The duke orders the mages to do something.

And a portal appears.

What.

I didn't know we were traveling via .

I turned back to my parents and waved one last goodbye as I walked through the portal.

***

*Duke Svarmet's Pov*

I arrived back at home. The boy was going through the natural security checks.

Time to get back to paperwork. As I sat down Barton greeted me.

"Welcome back, your highness. I take it your work has been fruitful?"

"Negotiations were short."

"I see."

Now it's time for the real answers.

***

*Lucas' Pov*

As I was getting searched, I was asked to go through a portal to get my body screened.

Like an idiot I walked through no hesitation. And found myself in a jail cell.

A guard put handcuffs on me and chained me to the back wall.

"You can try to move your mana, although you won't be able to manifest it."

"The walls have anti-magic runes."

So I can still use then?

Good to know.

Anti-magic is itself a magic attribute, so I just need to readjust to use .

A few hours went by and another guard came in.

"I'm here to ask just a few questions."

"Mind releasing me first? This isn't the best way to recruit someone you know?"

"We'll see about recruiting you, if you're not a danger."

Shit. Am I about to be tortured for information. Yikes.

He put a collar around me.

"This device is meant to restrict your throat when you lie."

"Lying once means it gets hard to breathe, twice your windpipe is crushed."

"Three times and your neck will find freedom from your body."

"I'm not going to ask if you're ready, that would be cruel."

"Let's begin."

"Who are you?"

"My birthmother gave me the name Aaron, I go by Lucas."

"Where are you from?"

"I'm from Garment Village, in the duchy."

So far the collar didn't twist and contract although I'm from earth.

"What was your purpose in approaching the young lady?"

"I didn't. Those thugs attacked me first."

"Where you sent by others to retrieve her?"

"No."

"Why did you bring her to your house instead of the garrison?"

"Because I didn't know what to do."

"That's enough isn't it your highness.", the guard called out.

"Fine."

"I'm sorry to do this to an innocent boy such as yourself, especially when you saved our little princess."

Another boy walked out. The Duke's second son. Matthew.

His face. I know exactly how old he is. But that means the game hasn't even begun yet. In fact the game's main events don't even start for another 6 years. 

How do I know this? Because there's a artwork in the main game, when you talk to a 14 year old Matthew. I'll explain that later.

That also means Aurelia is 12. Just like me. 

Oh man, I'm going to see the protagonist, aren't I? I mean eventually he gets involved with the duchy. It's inevitable in every playthrough. Well unless you make them your enemy.

The guard finished undoing my restraints.

"Alright little dude. You're good to go. Just follow those steps up and a servant should lead you to your quarters."

I began to walk out of the cell block when I heard Matthew click his tongue at me.

I didn't really care though.

I stepped out into the open sky again and realized it was almost sunset.

"Hello, I am Bolton. From now on you will be training as a knight, mage, adjutant, and butler."

Huh.

"May I ask why?"

"The lord decreed you will serve her highness in the future."

Huh?

"You will serve as her guard even through the academy."

HUH??

"I will guide you to the knight's shower. Tomorrow I will guide you around to show you how your life will be scheduled from now on."

We walked around a few buildings before arriving at the shower hall.

After showering with magic faucets, thank Nyx above for magic engineering in this world, I was redressed in a servant attire. I also had knight gear set aside, mage robes next to them, and a butler's uniform. I carried all of them to my new digs.

Apparently the servants quarters I was to be living in were more than one. I left my leather gear in the barracks, and took the rest with me to the main building.

"You'll be engaging half of your work day here."

"You will learn how to be a servant, and a adjudicator, which means you will have to learn history, sciences, culture, and politics."

"The servants building is the annex right here."

There were two buildings.

They were roughly the same size.

We went into the left one.

"This is the regular quarters, for the normal servants."

We exited the first floor not even bothering to walk to the third.

"This is the special quarters. These are meant for people directly serving the lord, or their highnesses'. So the respective butlers, the tutors, even the chef live here. Their quarters are laid out in such a way that they are able to prepare and do work here."

He paused as we walked up to the second floor.

"And this is where you'll be staying," he pointed.

It was a larger room than the regular quarters. It had a bed a desk and a scroll library.

"If you wish to train your swordmanship, there is a training ground outside."

I put the stuff I was carrying down and lied down in bed.

Gonna be a long 6 years huh.

Well, nothing to it, but to do it.