42th day of Finore, year 853 A.C.

Traford

It's been already two weeks since I started working as a blacksmith. The payment gets bigger and I succeeded in making relations with a few interesting people.

Yesterday a noble came and asked me to help him with a few dozens of weapons.

So today I will be going to his court for preparing the necessary conditions. It would be better if my blacksmith master is with me, but since he has a lot of work himself...

The noble who invited me is Chilex Aving. He is a marquis and for the moment he is in charge of four legions from the kingdom's army.

From what the marquis told me, the kingdom's army is split in five:he has four legions, duke Geoffry Bexley Phelrey is in charge of five legions, duke Gauward Wyarde is in charge of three legions, duke Phomes Fordaye has 8 legions under his command and the king controls twelve legions. In my opinion is very ineffective to have the army split. Probably that's what caused the political instability within the kingdom.

Right now I'm at the mansion gate waiting for someone to open it. A beautiful lady in a maid dress comes my way and opens the gate.

“This way please. Marquis Aving is waiting for you in at the forge.”

I start following the woman around.

The road is made out of cobblestone and around it there are living fences. The main house is a huge building made out of stone and wood in a gothic style. Even the servant house is bigger than the inn I'm staying currently.

We walked a long time until we got at the forge, which is far away behind the servant house. Here I found maquis Aviag. A fattish man with a black hair and a quite big mustache. He walks towards me and starts speaking.

“Zephyr! I'm glad that you came.”

“Of Course sir. It's an honor to be requested by a such important person.”

Maybe it looked like I was kissing his ass but I wasn't. This is a very important person within the kingdom.

“So, you think that you can finish one hundred swords and one hundred and fifty spears within two weeks?”

“Yes sir. I can make around fifty swords at day, but since you invited me to stay here on my working period, probably I can make around twenty per day.”

“If you think you can do it alone than I will take your word.” The marquis replied smiling.

“If everything is ready, I would like to start working.”

The marquis thanked me again and leave. While I'm working I try to understand why a noble would want to employ a blacksmith when he could buy all the weapons.

‘ A sword is around 100 darns and a spear si 70 darns. That would make a total of 20500 darns.

Well… I guess that this is answering the question. I will receive for this job 5000 darns, which is a huge amount. But still I don't understand why with all this hurry...’

A few hours later, the same maid came to me.

“Excuse me sir. The marquis Aving wants you to come to the dinner with the family”

I don't understand why would a noble would put a worker at the table with his family...

“When is the dinner?” I asked.

“In one hour sir.”

“Then I guess that I will stop for today. Show me the way to my room please.”

I followed her in the main house until we arrived at a door.

“I will be ready in thirty minutes, please come here to guide me to the dining room.”

She noted that she understood and left.

The room is a big one. On the left wall are a few paintings and on the right side are two colored windows. In the center of the room is a huge bed and around him are few nightstands.

After I took a bath called the maid to take me to the dining room. We arrived and the marquis invited me to take a place at the head of the table. Right now at the table, beside me are: Aving, his wife, which is a very beautiful woman in her thirties, the two sons of the marquis who are looking at me with disgust and in the end, the marquis daughter, a beautiful child around my age.

The maquis tries to cut the silence and starts talking.

“Zephyr, what did you decide to be a blacksmith.”

“It's nothing special, I didn't have money so I decided to work as a blacksmith because I already knew the basic things.”

“Aha... pardon me if I'm too intrusive but where are your parents?”

“They died when I was little and I had to raise myself.”

“I'm sorry to hear that” The marquis added.

“Recently I lost my home and I had to travel to this city and start over”

“I see... This is very unfortunate.”

“So, do you come here with a carriage?” One of the sons asks in disgust.

“No, actually I came by myself. I'm a pretty powerful mage so the thieves and bandits wouldn't be a problem.”

At the hearing of those words, all the present people went silent. The envy could be seen in the eyes of the sons.

“A powerful mage you say... I'm curious what tier are you?”

‘Fuck this isn't good.’

“I'm not sure but I think I'm between second and third tier.”

‘Of course I will not say that I'm actually a sixth tier mage. Probably the wouldn't even believe me.’

“That's pretty amazing Zephyr.” Aving says. “Not any mage reach the third tier. Actually from my knowledge, the six tier is the highest tier a normal person can reach, and that only if he has an incredible potential. After that comes the training which will take tens of years.”

“At your age to be a third tier is amazing. If you start training, in a few years you will surely reach the fourth tier.” The wife says.

“Probably I will start the training soon, but right now I want to find out more about the world.”

The marquis whispers in the ear of his wife. In the next moment the woman raised from the table and took the little girl with her.

“Sorry about this Zephyr, but now that I know that you are a powerful mage, I want to talk something important with you.”

“I listen! ” Zephyr exclaim.

“What i'm going to tell you is secret and it can't be find out. Do you understand?”

“Yes”

“Good. You probably noticed that I'm in a hurry with the weapons. That's because we are preparing for a war.”

“I'm surprised that is a full scale war, but I already expected something like this” Zephyr answers

“I'm sure you heard about the unknown army that attacked us five years ago.”

“Yes, but only vague stuff”

“Well, they will attack us again.”

“ The king asked the friendly neighbors for help, but they can't send us too much. We will get four legions from the Republic Formene, our neighbor in the nord, and two legions from the Dorthilond kingdom”

“The Magocracy won't help us and that's why we need mages. And that's why I ask you to join us. If you really are third tier then you could influence the balance of the war.”

‘Well I was expecting to arrive here.’

“I will need more information if you want me to join. I can't just jump into a war without any information”

“Of course, we will meet tomorrow and we will discuss.”

The smaller son raised from his chair and hit the table with his hand.

“Father, how can you take a peasant child at war and me, your son, and a warrior you let me home.”

“Shut up Ised” The marquis screamed at him.

“No! I won't shut up, I request a duel. If I win I will go with you in his place"

"Ised! I told you to..."

"Ok" I spoke before the marquis could finish his sentence.

“Zephyr, you don't have to do this."

“It's ok sir. And beside this, it will be a good chance to prove me strength.”

“Then this is settle, tomorrow in the morning we will have a duel.” Ised screamed out and left the room.

“Then, I guess I should go and sleep. I want to be in my best for tomorrow morning.”

“Of course” Aving noted.

***

42th day of Finore, year 853 A.C.

Traford

In this morning I woke up, put some clothes on me and leave towards the forge. Once I got there I picked up a sword and I asked the maid to take me to the place where the duel will be taking place.

Right now I arrived at the backyard and I'm watching the stupid son sparring with a trainer. Here are all the family members, a few servants and some people wearing full plate iron armor.The marquis comes to me and starts talking

“Zephyr, please go easy on him. He is a good child but has a stupid vanity.” I noted my head in consent and entered the arena.

“A sword? I thought you are a mage.” Ised starts laughing.

“You are not powerful enough for me, so I won't use magic on you. I will defeat you only with my sword.” Ised's eyes filled with rage

He raises his sword and charges at me. I blocked him easy pushed him back. He tries again, but this time he targets my head. I block him again and charged easy at him. Before he can regain his balance I hit him in the stomach with the sword handle. He falls on his knees and I put my sword at his neck. The trainer decide that the fight is over and everyone looks impressed.

“Zephyr, to think that you are such a good fighter with the sword. And a mage over this...”

“You flatter me marquis.”

“Oh please, call me Aving. Such a strong man like you, it would be bed from me to let you call my honorific name.”

"You, you cheated, you said that you wouldn't use magic, so I let my guard down...”

“You ungrateful child, shut up.”

“No! I didn't used magic, it was a fair fight.”

“Shut up, you liar, you are only ten years old, I'm sixteen, I couldn't possibly lose against you.”

He raises his sword and tries to attack me. Before he could even be close, I utters: [Temporary paralysis]. Ised falls on the ground and don't move anymore. His parents hurries to him.

“Don't worry it's only temporary. He will be okay in a few hours.”

“I'm sorry about this Zephyr.”

“No need to worry. Now, should we go and discuss about the war?”

“Sure, come after me.”