"Master Lucas, it's time to wake up," the maid said as she opened the curtains to the room.
Still groggy from sleep, I let out a long yawn and muttered, "Give me a minute."
"I'm sorry, Master Lucas, but you don't have a minute to spare. You need to get ready for breakfast with the lord and lady," the maid replied, her tone polite but firm.
I sighed, knowing there was no use in arguing. With a sense of resignation, I swung my legs out of bed and began to rub the sleep from my eyes. As I got up, the maid quietly dressed me and fixed the bed.
As I finished getting dressed, the maid gave me a quick nod of approval and quietly left the room. I quickly made my way to the dining room to meet my parents.
As I entered the room, I saw that the table was already set for breakfast, and my parents were already seated, waiting for me. I took my seat at the table and greeted them with a polite smile.
"Good morning, Lucas," my mother said, her tone warm and welcoming.
"Good morning, Mother. Good morning, Father," I replied
"Morning, Lucas. How are your lessons with Mr. Beckett going?" my father asked, taking a sip of his tea.
"They've been pretty easy so far, but the lack of magic is pretty frustrating," I replied, poking at my breakfast.
"It's still a bit early for you to start your mana lessons, but since you've been doing well on your studies, I would be willing to teach you later today," my father said with a small smile.
"Really? Thank you, Father," I said, my face lighting up with excitement at the prospect of finally learning magic.
My father nodded, his expression proud. "I'm happy to see you showing such enthusiasm for your studies, Lucas. It bodes well for your future."
"Of course, you should make sure to take things at your own pace," my father cautioned, his tone kind but firm. "Piling too much on at once can end up hurting you more than it benefits you."
I nodded in agreement, grateful for my father's guidance. Despite my eagerness to learn magic, I knew that it was important to approach it methodically and not rush into things too quickly.
"Thank you, Father," I said, offering him a small smile.
He nodded in response, finishing his tea. "Now, finish your breakfast and get ready for the day. There's much to be done, and I have some meetings to attend to."
After finishing my breakfast, I headed to Mr. Beckett's class. When I arrived at the room, Mr. Beckett was already there, preparing for the day's lesson.
"Good morning, Master Lucas," Mr. Beckett greeted me with a small smile as I walked into his classroom.
"Good morning, Mr. Beckett," I replied, handing him the magic books that I had borrowed.
"I hope those satisfied your curiosity," he said, flipping through the pages. "Anyways, let's get started with today's lesson."
"Yesterday, we talked about the significance of nobility ranks in the kingdom's hierarchy. Today, we will discuss the people who hold these corresponding titles.
At the very top of the hierarchy is King Arthur, but below his majesty are three dukes. The first is the Duchy of Greaca, which is currently led by Duke Ellington. This duchy is situated near the southern border of the capital, which is located in the center of the kingdom.
The second is the Duchy of Tiaga, which is led by Duke Vicar. This duchy is located to the north of the capital and experiences unbearable cold weather, making it difficult for crops to grow.
The third is the Duchy of Dyleia, led by Duke Roger. This duchy is located closest to us, to the west of the capital. The land there is fertile and fairly warm, making it an excellent location for crops to grow.
Moving down the kingdom hierarchy from the dukes are the 10 marquis. These nobles also hold significant power and influence
Marquis Valtair of Ironwood - Lord Arcturus Valtair
Advantages: Rich in minerals and resources, making it a prosperous territory for trade and commerce.
Disadvantages: Dense forest makes it difficult to traverse and can harbor dangerous creatures.
Marquis Isadora of Amberfall - Lady Isadora Duvall
Advantages: The land is fertile and perfect for agriculture, allowing for a strong economy and self-sufficient lifestyle.
Disadvantages: Frequent rain and floods can pose challenges for the infrastructure and transportation.
Marquis Elric of Shadowmoor - Lord Elric Blackwood
Advantages: Abundant in rare and exotic plants and wildlife, making it excellent for finding medical herbs
Disadvantages: The land is often shrouded in mist and fog, making it difficult to navigate and easy to get lost.
Marquis Aurelia of Suncrest - Lady Aurelia Stormborn
Advantages: Located near the coast, the territory has a bustling port city and thriving fishing industry.
Disadvantages: The territory is prone to natural disasters such as hurricanes and tidal waves.
Marquis Corvus of Ravencliff - Lord Corvus Nightshade
Advantages: The territory is rich in natural resources such as timber and minerals, providing a strong economy and resources for construction.
Disadvantages: The territory is located in a mountainous region, making it difficult to access and prone to landslides and earthquakes
Marquis Serafina of Goldenwood - Lady Serafina Lightfoot
Advantages: The territory has a mild and pleasant climate, allowing for a diverse ecosystem and fertile land for agriculture.
Disadvantages: The territory is located near a dense forest and can be prone to forest fires and dangerous wildlife.
Marquis Leif of Frosthold - Lord Leif Iceheart
Advantages: The territory is rich in minerals such as silver and gold, providing a strong economy and resources for trade.
Disadvantages: The territory is located in a frigid climate, making it difficult to live and can be prone to blizzards and harsh weather conditions.
Marquis Thalia of Windhaven - Lady Thalia Skywatcher
Advantage: The territory is home to a diverse array of magical creatures and plants, providing ample opportunities for magical research and discovery.
Disadvantage: The unpredictable and volatile nature of magical creatures in the region can pose significant risks to researchers and civilains.
Marquis Emeric of Crimson Keep - Lord Emeric Bloodstone
Advantages: The territory is located in a strategic position, making it a strong military stronghold and important for national security.
Disadvantages: The territory is located in a dry and arid region, making it difficult to grow crops and can be prone to droughts.
Marquis Calliope of Silverglade - Lady Calliope Moonlight
Advantages: Silverglade is a heavily fortified territory with a long history of military excellence. Its people are trained from a young age in various forms of combat and warfare, and the land is rich in natural resources such as iron and coal, which have been used to build and maintain its formidable defenses. Lady Calliope, a skilled military strategist and commander, is respected by her people for her leadership and determination to keep Silverglade safe from external threats.
Disadvantages: The land is rugged and mountainous, making agriculture difficult and limiting the availability of food for the population.The heavily fortified nature of Silverkeep lead to a siege mentality among its people, making them suspicious and distrustful of outsiders.
The cost of maintaining the military and fortifications can be a significant drain on the territory's resources."
I made sure to jot down all the information that Mr. Beckett had shared with me. It was important for me to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each territory if I ever choose to pursue my plan of becoming the king.
"Alright Master Lucas it seems I dont have much time left so we will have to end here." Mr.Beckett said locking at his pocket watch
Saying bye to Mr.Beckett I leave the room and check my pocket watch.
"Its almost three might as well start heading to fathers office" I said to myself eager to begin learning magic
—------------------
Knocking on my father's office door, I hear a response: "Come in."
Opening the door, I see my father signing papers with a pile more next to him.
"Oh, Lucas, come sit down," father said while motioning me with his hand.
"You seem pretty busy, father. We can do this another time if needed," I replied out of concern about his giant pile of papers.
Father smiled warmly in response
"What are you saying, Lucas? How can I call myself a father if I can't make time for my own son? Now, don't worry about the papers. Those can wait."
My father's tone suddenly shifted to serious as he looked at me with an intense gaze.
"Alright, Lucas, before we begin, let me tell you something: magic isn't everything. So, don't be discouraged if you don't have much talent in magic. You have already shown that you have a capable mind. I had a friend in the past that was devastated by his lack of talent in magic and his family's lack of support, and he sadly took his own life."
"I don't want you to be the same as him. No matter if you have talent in it or not, you will still be my son and have my support."
"Don't worry, father. I won't let it get to me if I have a lack of talent in magic. After all, you said I have a capable mind." I replied with a smile to calm my fathers worries
"Good," my father said with a small smile. "Alright, let's begin."
"Close your eyes and look for your mana core" my father instructed
"Found it," I replied.
"Do you see the streams coming out of your core?" my father asked.
"Yes," I replied.
"Direct those streams out of your body, imagining the element you want to use. I'm guessing you already know your element," he said.
I followed his instructions and imagined a small ice ball hovering over the tip of my finger. As I directed the mana streams out of my body, I felt my mana leave my body. When I opened my eyes, I saw an ice ball hovering over my finger.
"Wow, that was quick, usually someone your age would take around 30 mins to use mana for the first time but you did it in a minute" my father said with a prideful look.
"I guess you do have a talent for magic. You also have the same element as your mother," my father remarked with a smile.
"That took way less than I expected, so I will show you one more thing," he said. Suddenly, an immense pressure enveloped me, and just as quickly, it was gone.
My first thought was, 'What was that?' and it seemed like my father knew it too, as he quickly explained, "I exerted my aura, which basically uses fear and my mana to exert pressure on my opponent. Right now, you probably won't be able to use it because your mana stream is too thin, and your core doesn't produce nearly enough mana."
"When will I be able to learn that?" I asked eagerly, realizing the potential power of using this ability as a negotiation strategy.
"Maybe in a couple of years, but when you're ready, I will teach you. So, don't worry for now. Just try to keep using your mana as it will help you increase the size of the mana stream, understand your element better, and increase your core output," my father said reassuringly.
As I said goodbye to my father, I made my way to my room. I took a moment to reflect on yet another eventful day.