While dinner with the Silverhound family was arduous, especially watching certain two jealous jackasses bicker, it was educational for Wolf. Even during a simple meal, this household radiated a stifling atmosphere of continuously plotting against each other.

Much to Wolf’s relief, the formal supper concluded and Duke Silverhound led him into a spacious library. Other than books, the study had a detailed map of Silverhound duchy painted across the entire far wall. The picture had no writing, no names, just geographical features and countless small red lines, which made it look like a jigsaw puzzle.

“My ancestors commissioned this map ages ago. It’s as old as the castle itself.” Duke Silverhound smiled proudly, but Wolf saw nothing worth bragging in the ancient, well-painted wall.

Duke Silverhound fetched a long pointer from an alcove and traced an odd shape in the map’s lower left corner, following the red lines. “This is Baskerville county, I guess the new Count will rename it.”

Then he moved from south-west towards south. “This is Farah county…”

Once he returned home, Duke Silverhound spent two hours looking for a fair distribution of lands between Wolf and those who plotted against him. After thinking it through, he acted impartially, finding the fragile balance between suppressing the upstart and staying in his good graces.

There was another reason for neutrality. Being overly inclined towards Wolf Hillman meant showing weakness, while being lenient towards the plotters would seem like holding law in contempt and inciting anarchy.

Duke Silverhound had a narrow path to walk, and could only show mercy towards Marquess Hoefler. He had mitigating circumstances, and he kept his noble title, meaning he still wielded the majority of his influence. Unfortunately, Hiragino and Beirut families devolved to Count households.

Seeing his lands scattered all over the place, Wolf felt a headache. It was impossible to govern those regions as they were. He originally wanted to ask Wayde to rule in his stead. It would be a great experience for his future role as Northshield’s Duke. But with this layout, Wolf felt like he was conning his friend.

“These lands are unmanageable, if that was your plan.” Duke of Silverhound clearly stated. “During more stable times, you would have three options. You could lease them to neighboring Marquesses, you could sell the rights to them, or you could collect taxes, without really governing the land.”

Neither of these options suited Wolf. Archibald dreamed of an environment where commoners could live well. The foundation of this dream was a safe domain, where common people could settle. “I would like to have proper lands and subjects.”

While his expression remained unchanged, Wolf’s request surprised Duke Silverhound. I thought he planned to pursue the path of a Mage?

Most Mages shied from politics. But Duke Silverhound planned for this eventuality.

“Under normal circumstances this is impossible. But given the times and how much potential you have, there might be a way. You could try trading baronies and counties with others and piece together a land of your own. In peaceful times we invest in security, roads and development, and we don’t want to give up our hard work. But most lands have gone to hells now, so one region isn’t much different from another. You may have to pay the difference in land’s worth…” The Duke held a long-winded speech and explained many matters to Wolf.

In short, he would mediate and see things through for Wolf, cobbling together a connected, if misshapen domain. He even offered to find administrators to govern the land. However, Wolf politely refused. He had specific people in mind for these jobs.

***

Wolf entered his and Wayde’s dorm suite. Technically, I’m no longer a student, so this is Wayde’s flat now.

It was midnight, and the curfew started hours ago. Wayde wheezed in his room, unaware of Wolf’s intrusion. Wolf waited for several moments, but Wayde’s breathing pattern remained unchanged.

Since that was the case, he took out a quill and a piece of paper. He wrote a brief note, asking Wayde to stop by Mandy’s flat tomorrow morning.

Wolf thought for another moment and confirmed that there was nothing else he could do. He closed the door, naturally without locking it, and left towards Mandy’s penthouse suite.

Even though he told them not to worry, Anna and Mandy waited for him late into the night. When he opened the door, both women walked out of their rooms and into the living room.

Anna had a sharp look and a slight frown, her entire being screamed ‘I want an explanation’. Mandy was simpler. She always was. She smiled warmly, and her eyes were limpid. Her entire being radiated ‘Thank gods you’re back’ aura.

“Um.” After leaving the Headmaster’s office, Wolf headed straight towards the ducal palace. He couldn’t find the time for a private conversation with the girls. “My name is Wolf Hillman, son of the Northshield’s great general and Duke without-a-land Archibald Hillman. I’m a True-Namer and a Ninth Order Sword-Sage, close to Tenth Order actually.”

The introduction was quite redundant. The only new thing Anna learned was that Wolf was a Sword-Sage, which Mandy already knew intimately.

“I apologize for keeping secrets. I promised my father I would experience Mage Academy life and…” Wolf revealed secret after secret to Anna and Mandy. He only withheld Conceptual Art, Star Body, that he was Lonely Eagle’s reincarnation and the fact that he wasn’t a purebred human.

In the Empire of Human, Sky’s identity had to remain a secret until Wolf died, or dominated the empire and nobody dared bring up his origins.

***

It wasn’t just Wolf talking about Wolf Hillman that night. Many nobles were checking into detail on this extremely young True-Namer, his father and anything else which could come useful. Mages specializing in divination earned hefty sums composing the following reports:

Son of Archibald Hillman (confirmed by Earthmother vow), born in Northshield (seventeen out of twenty) and raised without a mother (nineteen out of twenty). Grew up in the wilds (eighteen out of twenty), where his father raised him for a specific mission (sixteen out of twenty). Father is dead (eighteen out of twenty). After his father’s death Wolf Hillman found his way alone into Silver City (fifteen out of twenty) and spent his days hiding, and pretending to be a beggar.

Association with Wayde Northshield is his father’s will (twelve out of twenty). Direct student of Headmaster Smith (fourteen out of twenty) and his political tool to clean up the corrupt nobles (sixteen out of twenty). Plans to take over Northshield with Wayde Northshield (eleven out of twenty, bordering unverified rumor).

A True-Namer of First Order (confirmed by Earthmother vow). Mage Order above twenty (fourteen out of twenty), but hasn’t become a Second Order True-Namer (confirmed by Earthmother vow). He is higher Order Sword-Sage (sixteen out of twenty) and a Body Refiner (seventeen out of twenty)…

The reports went on and on, containing various random speculation. Some laughed happily while reading them, like Marquess Skia. Others cried, like the grieving families of Wolf’s enemies.

Over the course of a single day the Empire of Human got a new youngest True-Namer in history. The information on Wolf’s age and achievements was so ridiculous that everyone wanted to think it was a prank. And yet it came through official channels, which left no room for humor.

“What an age to be alive.” Lord of Gravel placed the report to the side while entertaining a thought similar to Lord of Steel’s. Humans had a World Power, followed by an Edict-Maker seed.

His report wasn’t a conjecture and had no room for vagueness. Which only made Wolf an even more terrifying and important existence in his mind. Maybe he could even help the Races of Man rise and exterminate Monster Beasts. Then, if our luck is good, maybe, just maybe, we could turn this into a world of humans. Dwarfs, Elves, Goblins, Grayfolk, Halflings, Orcs and Windfolk are too intelligent and need to be exterminated, lest they overthrow us after the Edict-Maker dies. Earthlings and Lizardfolk aren’t as intelligent and would make good slaves.

The smartest human alive indulged in a momentary fantasy in which humanity ruled the world. Humans could multiply and raise more geniuses, eventually setting sail into the stars and conquering distant worlds.

I’d commit it to a book, but something like that could get us wiped out by the other nine races. Grow up quickly, Young Man. Then we can work together to conquer this universe.

Lord of Gravel gazed off into the distance. With my knowledge and your potential… Should I bring him over to Highseat? No. He grew up on his own, it’s best to let him mature on his own as well. If he was sheltered, he wouldn’t have advanced as quickly as he did. I can wait. I still have more than a century before my body gives out…

The petty mortal plotted petty mortal plots, unaware that he intended to get involved in a scheme entities beyond his imagination had been preparing ever since they conceptualized the world he was a part of.