“So, are you ready?” asked Stein as watched how Nero nodded, making a last sip of water before moving his attention to the short man with gray hair who was now sitting in the chair near the bookshelves.

Right now, they were at the study chambers where Stein already prepared many books and put them on his table. Those books differed in size, subject, came from different authors, and even differed in colors.

Of course, those books, chosen by his new instructor, picked his curiosity. Even though Nero tried to hide it, experienced elder Stein noticed a brief change in the blue eyes of the boy which he couldn’t fake like his face.

“This is your self-study material for the month,” said Stein, throwing a glance at twelve books on the table.

“I don’t know who taught you before and which methods he used, but my lessons have three main foundations. They are the knowledge of the material. Make efforts and learn that material by yourself. I will just give you a bridgehead and explain topics you couldn’t understand or complete. The second is the ability to think. During my lessons, there will be moments when I could tell you a story or a rumor, expecting a certain deduct from you. The last is imagination. Disciples without imagination who can’t make different ideas and deductions are boring and it’s hard to teach them. There is no enjoyment in such a process when you are the only one who constantly gives something,” said Stein, watching after Nero’s reaction. “Is it fine?”

Nero only nodded with a serious expression on his face.

“Good. Before we start, can you tell me about your teacher a bit? What type of person he was, what you learned from him and how that process looked,” said Stein as he folded his hands and looked at Nero with clear interest on his face.

It took only a moment for Nero to tell about Gustav and how he learned from him.

“I see, education through story-telling, a unique approach, fitting for the children, your teacher was a wise man who knew how to entice the child,” said Stein as he put more books to the already big column of self-study material. “Since your teacher made you choose your areas of interest, I don’t need to do that. Here are the books about Imperial history, legends, herbalism, several memoirs of famous generals, describing their life, tactics, strategies, and battle situations they passed through. Regarding the politics, we will talk about it a bit later during our lessons.”

Nero only nodded, throwing an interesting glance at those books before returning his attention to his new instructor.

“Since we closed this question, and I already know about your interests, it’s time to check your overall width of knowledge,” said Stein as he took several bunches of different papers and placed them on his table. “This is not just a writing assessment. Explain to me things you wrote and provide your ideas and opinion why you think so. If you write something, you should know how to explain it and support your statement.”

“Now, take it, boy,” said Stein as he pointed at the first bunch of papers.

In such a manner, the first Stein’s mind assessment started.

...

..

.

Several hours later.

Nero barely walked out from his table with Clara’s support. For the last six hours, this place was his prison, where the insatiable gray monster squeezed all his knowledge, thoughts, and ideas, making his mind work without rest. His questions varied from easy ones at the start, which Nero easily passed through during the first hour, to the hard questions in the following hours. At first, he considered this exam as an easy one, but the first weird question shattered his belief. Such questions varied from logic one to questions with several answers. It was hard, especially when Nero didn’t know the right answer and had to guess it and provide his opinion on why he thought so. That’s why Nero returned to his table many times with a similar question when Stein turned down his answers. Sometimes, he thought that ideas and his opinion behind the answers were much more important for Stein than the answer, even if in theory it was the correct one.

Overall, this was the first time Nero felt dumb or silly as he watched how Stein looked at him with the same slight smile on his lips when he answered his questions. His face looked as if he was mocking and his questions shattered all the foundations behind different answers many times, making him repeat the circle till the old man nodded in approval.

So, after many hours of real torture, Nero was glad to leave this room and thanked heavens for the fact his maid came to save him, reminding his instructor that he was a living person. Thanks to Clara and the overall exhausted appearance of his new disciple, Stein agreed to end the assessment.

“By the way, boy, I don’t know if you considered these spheres, but I will add alchemy and taming books to your self-study material,” said Stein as he put several books from shelves and approached Nero, patting him on the shoulders. “Our first lesson will start tomorrow after your training with Primus. I will tell you your results the next time.”

As soon as he finished his phrase, he moved his dissatisfied glance at Clara.

“Take care of him. But the next time, you intrude and distract my lesson. I will remember which punishments I used in my distant past for similar situations,” said Stein as he narrowed his eyes, making Clara pale and nod. “Good, now leave. I need to prepare for tomorrow's lesson.”

Following the sound of the closing door and when they already approached his chambers, Clara finally released a relieved sigh and colors returned on her face.

“You looked like you knew what that creaker was when he addressed you,” said Nero after he recovered a bit after the stress and fatigue, making Clara pause for a moment and look back, checking if anyone heard her.

“Not here, Young Master. The Grey elder has very good hearing. Let’s wait before we reach your chambers where your words will be safe,” said Clara as she increased her pace towards the chambers.

Of course, Nero noticed her weird behavior, but he stayed silent, allowing his maid to close the doors of his chambers. and sat on the armchair, looking at Clara with a clear question in his eyes.

Clara spent several moments checking if she closed the door and heeded for any sound outside before she once again released a relieved sigh and turned at her Young Master.

“I don’t know why and don’t wish to know, but you attracted the attention of the scariest elder, on the service of the Claus family,” said Clara as he took a teapot from the table and prepared a tea for the exhausted Nero.

Nero gulped a tea while Clara continued her story.

“I know little, but I will tell you everything I know about him and other elders,” said Clara while Nero nodded, adjusting his posture and listening for her next words.

“There are only three elders in the Claus family, and society respects all of them. They all are strong warriors or mages who form an additional shield against any dangers threatening the Claus family. The Grand elder is the father of our Lord’s fallen wive - Patricia, your grandmother. He was a famous and strong mage, who saved our Lord in the youth. He left many decades ago to travel across the Continent. But his name and former glory are still protecting the family his daughter stayed with. The second elder is a mystery. Nobody knows who it is, but he lives here in Wingville and appears only in the hour of crisis. The last time he appeared was hundreds of years ago when the previous Lord died and our neighbors attacked us while our current Lord and his army were away. The final one, and the most public one, is the Grey elder. He is the only official who served the previous Lord and survived till today. No servant or a knight serving here at the Lord’s manor complex outlived him,” said Clara as she poured another portion of the tea for Nero.

“Is it all you know about my instructor?” asked Nero, while Clara shook her head.

“This may be rumors, Young Master,” said Clara, watching for Nero’s reaction.

“Proceed. There is at least a small peck of truth in every rumor or a legend. My teacher used to say so,” said Nero, nodding to Clara.

“Grey elder is the most public one among all elders, serving the Claus family. There were many times when he accompanied the Lord in the journeys outside. He also appeared in the city from time to time and even worked as a teacher in the distant past. Old people told me different stories about him, but the only common thing about all of them is his weird and sadistic personality, Young Master,” said Clara, making Nero raise his brow in surprise.

“The Grey elder was usually a quiet old man with a smile on his lips even hundreds of years ago, no problems appeared for the citizens from him, but the one common thing about all the stories I heard about him is about punishments he used to punish his disciples,” said Clara as she paled a bit. “Among the thousands of disciples who went to learn from him, hundreds died in the following months over-exhaustion, others escaped from him as if he was a scary monster. Especially such scenes happened when he wanted to check their knowledge, informing them beforehand and making them spend weeks in libraries in vain.”

“I see,” said Nero with an understanding smile. Now, when he passed through a similar procedure, he realized why those people left. “What about those who stayed to finish studies?”

“Nobody finished their studies under him. Whether it was a month or a year, but all his potential disciples eventually escaped from him. The maximum time was two years hundreds of years ago,” said Clara as she strangely looked at Nero for such a question.

...

..

.

Following the departure of the Primus, elder Stein easily entered the Baron’s Claus room where he was now reading several documents his intel brought for him.

The short-heighten, the old man made Baron Claus put away the documents and look at the guest.

“Which news this time?” asked Stein as he concentrated his glance at the sign on the letter belonging to the Claus family spy network.

“Bad ones, as usual. The conflict around the new dynasty is increasing. Nobles increase their resistance, conscripting armies and preparing walls. King continues to make concessions to the Trade Union for their military support, increasing the privileges of their merchants. Families founded on trade are furious. The king and his court continue to raise taxes, supporting his war with Duke Abraham for full central control over the northern part of the kingdom. While the king fights in the north, nobles at the other parts of the kingdom no longer hide their intention to rule, wishing to return the archaic order of their ancestors before the first king when noble was the only ruler on his lands. Besides, rumors regarding the miracle survival of the last uncrowned king became only stronger. Overall, the time of chaos is approaching. The ripples because of the death of the last legitimate ruler are no longer ripples. The long war and crisis are ahead of us,” said Baron as he released a bitter and tired sigh, giving the letter to Stein. “Besides, it looks like dark clouds started forming above the Claus family. The war is much closer than I expected and looks like Duke Gatsby needs our sky lizards for his ambitions for the throne.”

It took only a moment for Stein to finish the letter before he returned it to the pondered Baron Claus.

“No need to worry. This is not the first time when our neighbors try to bite a piece from our territories or interests. Even if there was no heir, Wingville would better die than bow to other Lord,” said Stein as he approached Baron Claus and patted him on his shoulders. “Relax, you will still have a lot of time to ponder when I leave.”

His words made Baron Claus shake his head and look at Stein with a clear question in his eyes.

“You know, he called me creaker,” said Stein with a grin on his lips while a similar grin appeared on Baron’s lips. “He is indeed her son. I never expected to get the same nickname after so many years.”

“So? How is he?” asked Baron Claus several moments later, returning his serious expression.

“I guess Primus has already told you about his battle potential, describing all potential routes that boy could take in details while I will be brief. This is the first time I regret I can’t have a son. If it was possible, I would have wanted a son or a grandson similar to yours,” said Stein as he looked right into the eyes of Baron Claus, whose brow rose when he heard him.

“Is he that good?” asked Baron, doubting his answer.

“More than good,” said Stein. “He is close to that exact disciple I spent so many efforts looking for. Though I gave up after endless failures and betrayals, your grandson reignited ashes in my heart and now the old dream is returning.”

“Hmm... I didn’t expect to get such a high appraisal of him from you. Your intuition and overall evaluation of the person were never wrong. So, now a short conversation face to face is not a waste of time,” said Baron Claus, watching how Stein nodded and prepared to leave.

“You should know that he got my approval, and I will be glad to serve him as the next head of the Claus family,” said Stein before he left the room.