A year and a half had passed since Ezra's Day of Introduction he was now two years old. These few months were relatively uneventful and nothing really happened, there were no bandit raids and Reitz's status was gaining stability and even getting rather stronger. There were no people who dared trifle with him in the surrounding territories. It seemed that Reitz was again gaining the good graces of the Rex and he became bolder. He was planning to amass forces to take out the Badlands and he just started a construction of the fort near the caves of the entrance.
As for Ezra, he was bored, if not for trying to experiment with his abilities he would have died of sheer boredom. There was nothing interesting aside from the books the library of Castle Blackfyre had. He had yet to finish all of them but he already went through half of them. He discovered that his body had stabilized and because of this AMP had little effect on his mana capacity now. It was really strange and he reasoned that it was probably related to the development of his body. He could now activate AMP six hours a day while tracking one hundred objects and twenty data points simultaneously.
Ezra also had been monitoring the control of his muscles, he realized that when he used magic if he thought to do an action his body would simply do it. It was frighteningly straightforward this was just when he used magic though, when he did not his muscles were clunky. He noticed that he could now use his magic on his body for a straight twenty-four hours.
In this period of time, he also discovered how they used the calendar. Basically, the measurement of time was the same on earth except that there were no leap years at all and no extra minutes were added. It was much simpler. Ezra guessed that the planet he was living in was fairly as big as earth give or take a few kilometres. He could not conduct an experiment on its actual curvature though since AMP could not measure very subtle changes. He was planning to use Eratosthenes' simple way of measuring but because for the past two years he was not allowed outside the castle he could not do anything much.
Due to this, he decided to make a journal which was filled with various things that happened on that specific day and the experiments he would do to his body. He also got to contemplate about life which never happened on Earth, because there was just a tonne of information on earth and various thing to take your mind off things, here on Bren where life was much simpler there really was nothing to do.
He was a borderline sociopath before because of the bullying he suffered when he was young it traumatized him and affected his emotional development, luckily he did not turn into a serial killer of sorts because his fascination with science gave him a sort of drive and purpose, but here, surrounded by nurturing people his heart of stone was slowly melting and he became concerned about his parents predicament, worries, fear, and joy, although he still had trouble adjusting and would never admit this to himself. In his opinion emotions were a weakness, he knew for himself that he would panic and get lost in thought and he was very annoyed at this habit.
Today he was excited because it was his second birthday and with that, he would be given partial freedom. With his mother accompanying him he could roam the streets of Bren, he could not wait to do so so as to ease the mundanity of life here. He refrained from giving advice or attempting to advance the technology here as logically it was impossible for a child his age to know such knowledge and thus he decided to lay low on this matter even though his mind craved to do so.
"Happy birthday Ez,"Reitz and Aerwyna greeted him. The castle was bedecked with decorations, though the occasion was much less grand than the day of introduction. Ezra still felt it was pretty special. Reitz and Aerwyna distributed food around Bren for the occasion so that the populous would truly feel it is a day worth celebrating. Right now he was sitting in a makeshift throne just big enough to fit him. He observed and the surroundings as he looked apprehensive at the guests. There were servants and knights who were present and were looking at Ezra with smiling faces there were a few nobles too.
Ezra still did not know what to reply, he did not know if he should reveal that he can talk. His mother told him the day before that he could, and just to keep the big words to himself for now.
In the end, he decided to reply.
"Thanks, mama, papa," said as Ezra nodded to them. He was met by various gazes of shock and smiles. It was not rare that noble children could speak at age two but the way Ezra said it seemed to hold intelligence, he did not smile or laugh like other children, he just acknowledged the greeting. This was met by his mother and father's awkward smiles. Sometimes they could not fathom this child before them. At times he was really intelligent but at other times he displayed his ignorance and innocence.
A year ago people were talking about Ezra's oddities there had been servants who actually saw him walk in the castle the past year, but it was not a walk like toddlers did rather it was precise more of how adults would walk. He was even seen in the library one time climbing up on a shelf by a terrified maid and thus was punished by Aerwyna for this with a spanking. Evan also was not exempt from a scolding from Reitz. He was a bit guilty when this happened and he saw to it that it would not happen again after which the rumours died down.
"Today you can officially go out of the castle and Bren," Aerwyna said sweetly.
Ezra smiled at this and everyone's heart was touched. But only Evan knew how desperate Ezra was. There were times that Ezra would slip by his watch to go outside, but thankfully Ezra was kind enough to refrain from leaving the castle every time Evan caught him and pleaded.
"Also you get more vassals today Ezra. Here is Caspian, he was an orphan from the bandit attacks before, remember when Papa got attacked? You met him a year ago but you were sleeping that time" Reitz said.
"Oh," Ezra answered.
"He will be a part of your escort for two days each week while the other days he will be training. This is so that he will be one of your most loyal vassals. Come, lad, introduce yourself before your new lord," Reitz beckoned to Caspian.
"I am at your command my liege," Caspian bowed as declared his allegiance.
Ezra saw a slim but fairly built child with freckles and a button nose, he did not know how this child would actually "guard" him but nonetheless he spared him a glance.
"Hearth, come, pay your respects to Ezra," Reitz beckoned to another child. He looked around nine years old and he had a glum face and an aura of nobility his black hair shone in the light and glistened as he strode forwards.
"Now, Ezra this is Hearth, he is er, um a son of Aaron, you know Lord Bedross right? He is going to be your retainer too. Aaron could not come today though because he has some tasks in his domain"
Hearth moved forward and knelt with one knee and did not say a word.
"Since he is Aaron's son I hope you treat him well Ezra and not treat him like a servant," Reitz smiled awkwardly at his own statement.
"Okay, papa," Ezra answered.
"You will also be able to go to the training area and observe for now Ez," Aerwyna added. She had seen her son she endured his constant pleas that he be taken outside as well. As a mother, she did not like withholding things that her son liked but she thought about his safety. The training area was slightly dangerous because there were spells flying here and there and Ezra might get hit, but now he was allowed to observe.
"Okay then let's get on with the festivities," Reitz declared and then the feast commenced.
The celebration continued for a while but then a guard from the gate arrived.
"My lord, there is a Demon Hunter who wants to meet with you. He says it is an urgent matter," the messenger said
Reitz frowned.
"I shall meet him tomorrow, for now, prepare his lodgings, for now, I will see no one. Tell him that"
"As you command, Milord"
The guard returned to his post as Reitz pondered at the sudden visit of the knight.