Fifteen leagues east of Robert's Magic Academy, there lies a territory that's being governed by the Claye family. A young noble with blond hair, which falls naturally in nose, appeared to be softer, more layered and slightly tousled texture and voluminous. He is wearing a velvet doublet with an undershirt. His name is Jin Claye, sixteen years old, marches towards the territory named Bradford Village. Behind him was his butler named, Antonio as he uttered, "Young lord, fifteen leagues had passed and you still maintain an elegant horsemanship, like an elite knight."
Jin smirked as he replied, "Do you feel the saddle sore, Antonio?"
Though embarrassed, Antonio nodded, "Aye, young lord."
"Then we should rest" Jin uttered with no sign of fatigue.
At this, his five guardsmen, weary from near eight hours astride their steeds, did brighten with joy, as they had been riding the horse for around eight hours without a rest. But Antonio retorted, "There's no need, young lord. We are near unto Bradford Village."
Turning his gaze upon the knights who rode behind, Antonio thought within himself, we must not show weakness before our young lord, not by someone who had no horse-riding training. But where does young lord learn such subtle horsemanship
As they drew nearer unto the village, the roads are cracked, sunbaked and devoid of proper paving. Foul-smelling streams of runoff trickled along the edges, thick with human waste. Clouds of buzzing flies hovered above the filth, while scruffy dogs prowled upon it. The drainage system was no better. Shallow ditches lined the roadside, clogged with thick muck, rot, and the stench of decay.
From a nearby hovel, a young woman peeked through a small window, her face framed by the rough-spun wool and coarse linen of her patched clothing. The walls of her home were made of wattle and daub, crumbling at the corners. As soon as her eyes met Jin's, she hurriedly pulled down a sheet of oiled cloth, shielding herself from his sight. Antonio, ever quick with his tongue, chuckled and said, "She's embarrassed by your handsomeness, young lord."
Jin's gaze lingered on the window, his voice low and bitter.
"Don't smooth-talk me, Antonio. That was no blush of modesty. That was the look of disgust."
The street was alive with the hum of insects and the pittifuldistant cries of hungry, malnourished children, their sunken cheeks and bloated bellies a haunting sight. Across the road, two old villagers whispered, their voices just loud enough to hear in a distance.
The old woman squinted through failing eyes, "Is that our new lord? He looks young and incapable."
Beside her, an aged man, "The last one bled us dry, seizing every copper coin with his inflated taxes. This one's no different." He murmured as the old man looked at ground remembering his survival and suffering.
"I heard he won the territory in a wager. A wager, can you believe it?" The old woman grumbled as she scratched her buttcrack and smelled it.
"He's looked this way, avert your gaze, he is a delinquent and often caused trouble in a neighboring territory." Old man murmured as he turned around and lower his gaze as they halted their gossip.
Nearby, one of Jin's knights leaned closed, visibly angry and said, "The serfs in this territory are insolent, my lord. Shall we put them in their place?"
Jin calmly replied, "Let them be, I am not an oppressive Lord."
Antonio blinked, surprised. He glanced at Jin, then at the villagers, then back again.
"Since when did the young lord learn to understand human emotion? The young lord I knew would've drawn his sword at the first insult." He murmured, "The young lord must be tired… or sick,"
"Why didn't you give them gold coins if you are concerned, young master? Asked the knight named Joemar."
"Giving money does not solved our estate poverty. Well, it's a short-term solution and poverty is structural not just personal."
"So matured." Joemar uttered as he was amazed by Jin's wisdom as he thought to himself, I hope he isn't a corrupt lord.
As they arrived at the gate of a weathered noble manor, once noble, now worn by time and neglect. Two knights stood watch, clad in dented helms and bearing swords chipped from neglect. Their scabbards were unclean and their posture, careless…They offered no salute, nor word of welcome, for this was not the first time they had encountered their young lord. With sluggish hands, they turned the windlass, and the portcullis groaned as it rose, its iron teeth clinking like old bones. Jin thought to himself, this garrison needs serious training. They are slacking.
Jin sat at a sturdy oak long table; its surface worn smoothly by generations of use. The light from the high, narrow windows fell in dusty shafts, illuminating the faded banners of House of Claye-almost a rag at best. Around the table sat his two vassals, Juan , the steward, responsible for administrative affairs and estates finance and Rodrigo, in charge of military finance and training.
Rodrigo leaned forward with a smile, "Jin, congratulations on ranking first at the trial exam of Robert's Magic Academy."
Juan clapped his hands together while smiling as he remarked "A banquet in celebration of young lord's accomplishment!"
Jin shook his head, as he uttered. "There's no need for that, Sir Juan. We're short on funds. Shouldn't we focus on stabilizing the estate first?
Juan thought to himself, "Pretentious, thoughtful brat. What did he know about stabilizing the estate? He's nothing but a spoiled kid." He cleared his throat and replied, "You are free to come bymy office later, Jin. If you wish to review the current situation of the estate."
Disinterested, Jin Leaned back at his chair said, "Maybe later, I'm weary and in need of sleep."
Juan gazed at Jin, narrowing his eyes with a smirk as he thought to himself, "Obviously."
Rodrigo, sensing the tension, stepped in with a gruff chuckle."Jin must be exhausted after a fifteen-hour ride."
"It was eight hours," he corrected flatly.
Rodrigo blinked, caught off guard. He scratched the back of his neck, chuckling awkwardly, "Oh" and thought to himself, "How?"
Jin rose from his seat, the chair scraping softly against the stone floor. He gave a slight, respectful bow, he calmly said, "If you'll excuse me,"
****
Later that morning
Upon his shoulder hung a long, hooded cloak of black, woven from thick wool. Beneath the cloak, he wore a black fitted shirt of undyed linen with two small wooden buttons fastened, its weave was tight and smooth, tailored close to his form. His legswere clad in a fitted breeches of dark wool that are neatly tucked into the high leather boots.
'Yawn…'
"It's rare to see Sir Jin to wake up too early, it's still three in the morning yet you are clad in travelling garb." As Antionio handed him a porcelain cup.
He sipped with the tea with bitter face within brewed from dried mountain herbs gathered by hand—no moon blossoms here, but the taste was clean and grounding. He spoke, "It's around time. I will be gone by five days, Antonio."
Lord Connor Claye forbids the young Sir from causing trouble in a rivaling and dangerous territory.
He whined, "I rank first during the trial exam of Robert's Magic Academy. I deserve a vacation, am I not, Antonio?"
"But Sir…" Antonio tried to retort but was cut short by Jin's bantered, "Shh…It's decided, Antonio. Make an excuse if Father decided heed a visit in my territory."
Antonio, furrowed his brow, "Sir, you aren't running away from barony, no?"
Jin replied, "I am not, I am meeting a friend."
Antonio Inquired, "Sir, Was his name Gabby Magus?"
"Spot on Antonio", Jin responded with a knowing smile. "Of course, Sir. It's the guy you wrote-an enrollee of the second batch in the Trial of the Academy."
"Sir Gabby must be exceptional talent as Sir Jin is eager to meet him." Murmured Antonio.
Jin mounted in his steed with grace. Clad in his long, hooded cloak, He sat tall, the folds of his garment flowing like shadow over the flanks of his horse.
"Please be careful, don't skip meals, have a proper sleep…."
"You sounded like mother, Antonio." Raising his hand in farewell without glancing as the horse was striding at full gallop.
Antonio thought to himself, "He stirred mischief and caused headache in this estate. But something within him changed before he took the trial of the academy. The young master must have matured lately."