The sun already passed the zenith. Though the day was still the ruler, it slowly lost its time. It was a typical day of early fall with still a blue sky, but with few clouds at the sides.

Right now, standing in front of an unfamiliar table inside a new room, Nero focused his attention on the man who was his only relative, his grandfather who was now rereading a familiar object. His letter which he sent to him recently.

As soon as Baron Claus finished reading, he furrowed his brows and raised his gaze at Nero.

“Are you ready for that? Words, written in this letter, are they true?” asked Baron as he stared at him with an emotionless and strict glance, the glance of the man who passed through many trials.

Even though Nero knew this person won’t harm him, a quick shiver passed through his back because of that glance which promised only outcome if he breaks his words. But Nero was no longer his previous self, just like in the village. There was a clear goal ahead of him and to accomplish it, he was ready to even sell his soul. What a short fright could do to him, compared to nightmares of that day.

“Yes, everything in that letter is true. I can guarantee it with my life,” said Nero with metal in his voice, untypical for boys of his age.

“Do you understand what responsibility comes together with that title?” asked Baron Claus as he narrowed his eyes. “I don’t know how you lived, and how my daughter raised you, how much freedom you had and if you followed orders. But, a position you want is different compared to your whole life before.”

Baron Claus stood from his seat and took a sword, inclined to his table, unleashed its blade, and pointed at Nero.

“This is the hereditary sword, passed from generation to generation, starting from the founding ancestor. This is the sword of power, but also the remainder of the chaining duty. A position you look for is also part of the same fate. Claus’ family heir is not a free man. He can’t make actions he wants, he can’t say things he wants, sometimes he can’t even fart when he wants. Every action, every word, and every thought is for the sake of family. Boy, tell me, do you understand that?” asked Baron Claus as an invisible pressure appeared as he finished, making Nero nod when he realized he couldn’t speak.

“You know, your mother escaped when it was time for her to marry a right man for the sake of family, to strengthen it, and to guarantee its survival. She was a woman and had a unique personality. Even hundreds of knights and I couldn’t stop her escape when we expected it and prepared for it. You are her son and part of her is in your blood. I don’t need a repeat of the same events which happened long ago. So, this is the last time I will ask you. Are you ready to sleep with a woman I point at and marry her in the future? Can you dirty your hands with the blood of innocent and helpless if needed for the family? Are you ready to abdicate from your former life to get what you want from me?” asked Baron as he sighed and focused his attention on the Nero.

There was no pressure, and he could speak freely.

“I guarantee everything except for the last point. My former life is already part of me. Nothing will take it away from me. This is a deal. You need an heir. I want revenge. A fiance and responsibility is a fair price for the army and resources. With that position, my revenge won’t take long, several decades, and all those people will be dead,” said Nero with a solid conviction in his eyes which shined with a shade of purple.

“If you become an heir. Right now, you are just a candidate. A real heir should prove his talent, battle potential, and show how cunning he can be. This is not just one time challenge after which you no longer need to prove it, but a life with constant challenges, a sole mistake is enough to lose everything, this is the life of walking on the thin rope, at least until a predecessor dies,” said Baron as a slight smile appeared on his lips. He also took a small bell, showing it to Nero.

“There will be the youth tournament among the children like you in the next month. Requirements are simple. You need to be a second rank squire to take part. I don’t expect your victory, but want to see one thing. I want to know if you are a warrior or not. Results don’t matter, just prove that you are one, and this bell is yours. A toy my mother gifted me will be in your hands. I know it’s a small reward, but conditions are minimal. Of course, if you surprise me, there will be more awards,” said Baron as he shook a small bell. “So, your opinion?”

“I agree,” said Nero, momentaneous ly with no wavering in his eyes or voice.

“Good, then you can go. There is nothing to talk about before that moment,” said Baron Claus, allowing Nero to leave the room.

Nero only bowed to his only relative before turning and moving towards doors when Baron’s voice reached him.

“An extra advice. Start conquering the hearts. It’s always better to have loyal people directly to you than to a family,” said Baron Claus before returning his attention to the documents. Nero paused for a moment and nodded before passing through the door.

...

..

.

Rays slowly fell towards the horizon as a day lost its lost hours. Right now, Nero was lying on the lounger in the garden together with Ethel, who calmly slept after the big and tasty dinner. A book was in his hand while another caressed his friend.

It was already the third hour while Nero was there with that book, a book about geography and recent events of Griffon kingdom. Even though he learned about geography in the village from Gustav, but his teacher lived there even before he was born and never left the village. Of course, there could be things that changed during that time. Reading a fresh version was a good idea in all ways possible.

Thanks to the book, Nero confirmed many things but also learned about changes that happened with the kingdom on the borders and geographical locations, while his mother and his teacher were in the village.

Even though he knew nothing about the recent events, his knowledge of politics told him that the time of chaos was coming.

The current borders and zones of influence with the capital Alexandrite on the north with the king and seven dukes in different parts of the kingdom were unstable. Even though Nero didn’t know the details, several words about Duke Gatsby, the noble his grandfather followed, was enough to feel the incoming cries of war.

‘He is a cunning and very cautious man. He will never act even with a bit of risk, watching after the battles, wars, happening elsewhere.’

So, such noble won’t act first but will wait for the right moment when other dukes will lose their vitality.

Putting the book away, Nero looked at Clara who came to him when a certain idea struck his head.

“Clara ...”

...

..

.

Following his request, it didn’t take long for Clara to show a specific structure in the manor complex. She already realized that Young Master started touring the complex territory, and this place was just the first which came to his mind. So, now Clara watched how her usually calm and serious Young Master smiled as he caressed a small orange tiger cub while Ethel growled at him and other cubs who came to play with him.

Claus family had many tamed beasts, on the service, had many areas where they lived. Starting from the sky lizards and finishing with tigers, wolves, and other beasts, the Claus family needed to take care of their cubs to tame and strengthen them from birth. Such taming cub houses was an ordinary sight in the families who had taming manuals.

While the small tiger cub enjoyed playing with Nero’s fingers, trying to catch and bite them, other cubs, starting from small lizards, wolves, and other beasts, came to him. It looked like Nero was a rare toy with which every cub wanted to play with.

Surrounding personnel responsible for taming and Clara, who knew what such phenomena meant, only smiled, watching how Ethel, who ran out of patience, jumped at the nearby cubs and started pushing them away from Nero. It looked like the small, blackbird pointed at Nero was his, and only his.

“You have a great talent, boy,” said one tamer, before he started taking cubs away from Nero.

“A talent?” asked Nero as he turned at Clara when that man left.

“Indeed, Young Master,” said Clara as she approached Ethel and gave him a small piece of meat to calm him down.

“Back then, when my tigers showed no malicious intent or envy towards you, I felt it was weird, but now it is a fact. Young Master, you are a natural-born tamer with a rare talent for the taming craft,” said Clara as she looked directly at Nero’s eyes. “These cubs showed it and cemented that.”

“Really? Why do you think so?” asked Nero as he furrowed his brows, trying to solve the puzzle while Clara only smiled watching him.

“Every natural-born tamer has an invisible aura around him which only beasts can feel, especially the cubs, which are more sensitive towards it. Even with no use of any manuals, it won’t be hard for you to tame those cubs just by raising your finger because of your aura,” said Clara with a total conviction both in her eyes and words.

When Nero heard her, he only nodded, pondering about it. Soon, different scenes when small birds could land on his shoulder. Small beasts which came to him on their own when he was hunting at the village, and the last, but an enormous proof of her words which was now sitting next to him, Ethel.

A certain idea appeared in his mind and he already wanted to check it. Turning at Clara when Ethel released a loud growl, making him pause.

A usually soft and growing black feather suddenly reared, sharp claws appeared on his four legs and two small wings raised while Ethel opened his beak and focused on Nero’s back.

‘Will tear apart.’

When those words appeared in his mind, Nero realized his companion felt his intentions and turned with an apologetic expression on his face with raised hands, showing that he had already given up on that idea. There was no need for the deaths of those cute cubs, and showing how Ethel was unique.

Of course, it surprised Clara when she saw how her Young Master and the pet looked like talking. As a tamer with big experience, she heard about mental links. But, Nero knew nothing about taming and just couldn’t create it, using manuals or special techniques, leaving only one answer. He and his pet had a naturally created link. That alone was enough to once again emphasize his talent, but Clara was an experienced maid, serving for many years. She pretended she saw nothing and quickly approached Nero with a smile on her lips to make to distract him so that nobody saw a similar scene. His existence was still a secret to the public, and Clara intended to keep it as long as possible because his life could become a problem for many people. She, as his maid, needed to protect him while he couldn’t, just like her mother did before her.

“Young Master, I can help you teach him how to act towards you. A bit of taming is always good,” said Clara, pointing at Ethel, who still showed sharp claws to the public.

“Hmm... I don’t mind it. I know nothing about taming, and would be glad to learn it,” said Nero.

“Then we will have our lessons in the evenings,” said Clara with a delighted smile.

...

..

.

It was already the early night when Clara and Nero returned from touring the central area of the complex. Though they didn’t enter inside, Clara showed him the territory, and now Nero knew where were forges, library, barracks, training grounds, and other structures. Only the western part of the complex was still a total mystery for him, but it was just a time question till the tour there.

Right now, they were on one of the landing points from which a breathtaking view of the city below opened. Sitting on the edge of the platform, several meters upward from the highest point of the complex, the wind passed through his hair as he looked at how bright the city was at the night.

Light stones illuminated every street and every building, and Nero, who saw so many of them at one spot several days ago, just couldn’t keep his mouth from widening. That was beautiful. Dark skies with distant stars and the city with many lights looked just like the mirror of those stars.

Clara smiled when Nero showed such a sincere feeling on his face. Certain scenes flashed through her eyes as she clenched her fists and looked at the seven-year-old boy. She was just glad that she made the first step to follow her mother’s legacy and repay the debt.

“When will I get a grant for the city visit?” asked Nero, returning maid from her thoughts.

“I don’t know, Young Master. Lord gave clear commands. You can do whatever you want in the complex except for the restricted areas, but the city visit is prohibited,” said Clara, adjusting her uniform. “I can ask for the instructions regarding your question.”

“Please do it,” said Nero as he stood up. “By the way, get me all the needed information regarding the coming youth tournament in the city. I will take part in it.”

Once again a surprise flashed through her eyes, but Clara just nodded and followed Nero.