Mane was currently on the second level of the school library. It had been a week since he was admitted. Classes were great and studies were fine. Since all the first years were mostly six year olds, the first three years of school was aimed at increasing their intelligence. Actual combat training and fieldwork would begin in their 4th year.
Mane was reading a book on Basic Strategies for Beginners. However he was not alone. Two 6 year olds sat across Mane's table. These six year olds were Mane's roommates. They shared the same looks and were identical twins. They were talking about the hottest topic in the kingdom- the death of Baron Coal. "It's a surprise that the Baron was killed. I mean with his intelligence and protection from the king, how could this happen", one of the six year olds stated while brushing his brown hair away from his face.
Mane looked at the boy who asked the question- John- as one would a dim-witted person. "His intelligence is the reason why he is dead. No kingdom will allow such an intelligent man to roam freely. Intelligence is a powerful tool. It is more powerful than brute strength. An intelligent person can easily trick a powerful person to work for him. For the opposite to happen, that is what is rare. The Baron had been able to transform a barren wasteland like Green City, which by the way was called Green City due to the obvious irony- that it could not produce any crops- to an actual Green city. And he did this in just a few years. Other kingdoms will feel threatened- especially if the rumours are true. If Consort Maria was indeed his cousin- distant or not- he had ties to the king. This will heighten the level of threat he poses".
The other boy Jake, looked just as confused as his brother upon Mane's explanation. Looking at their brown eyes that were filled with confusion, Mane sighed helplessly and said, "Ah, forget it. But you owe me lunch today since I totally called it (The death of the Baron)". At the mention of giving away a free lunch the twins puffed their cheeks in anger and turned their eyes away from Mane. Seeing their expression, Mane laughed softly and returned to his book.
"What an intelligent child. To analyse the reason for Baron's death to such an extent and to have predicted it, truly a talent". The speaker was the librarian who was in charge of the second floor. Though Mane and his friends were a distance away and spoke softly, this man was still able to hear their conversation due to his special ability. He was so amazed by the little kid's analysis and conclusion that he sent a message to a higher up informing him of the talent he had just discovered.
Mane had no idea that he had just caught the eye of an important member of the academy's board of directors. He was currently reading the last page of the Basic Strategies for Beginners and contemplating on the next book on his agenda- Bloodlines and their Superiority. Every normal person who could awaken their bloodline would do so at the age of eight or nine. This was why the academy trained their students in the way of combat at age nine to ensure that they can use a year to get accustomed to their bloodlines. However, not everyone could awaken their bloodline. Most of these people would then concentrate on increasing their intelligence and becoming strategists, scholars, alchemists, or artefact crafters.
Strategists worked for the military, writing books and researching ancient scrolls that may be of importance to warfare. Scholars were affiliated to no faction. They were independent individuals who had intelligence greater than that of strategists. This was because whereas strategists focused on only warfare, scholars studied everything- from warfare to farming and business. They may not be comparable to strategists when there is war. However, as the locals always say, the strategists gain the land and the scholars grow the land.
Of all these professions, the most prestigious would be alchemy and artefact crafting. A prestigious alchemist can cause a king to listen to his every word and make countless mercenaries fight for him. Alchemists were basically physicians- and overpowered ones at that. A great alchemist could bring a person close to the brink of death back to life in an instant. Their diagnosis were spot on, treatment techniques unique and unpredictable, and their aid invaluable. Alchemists could concoct potions and create pills that would be sought for by even emperors themselves.
However, the difficulty of becoming an alchemist was 10 times higher than that of becoming a physician. This was why there are so many physicians but very few alchemists. A prosperous kingdom would have no more than 5 alchemists and yet a countless number of physicians. Though the three professions were prestigious, so was artefact crafting. Master crafters were as respected as alchemists. They could create blades that blademasters would literally kill for and craft guns that gunmasters would blast cities for. Compared to these professions, the wielder profession seemed normal. However, any experienced veteran would refute this naïve thought. Though alchemists could summon armies to fight for them, and rulers to listen to them, this was not set in stone. First and foremost, the alchemist must present pills and potions of great value to the king or the army to warrant their help. A mastercraftsman would have to present precious weapons. However, for a wielder? That was pure strength and power that he or she would need no one's help to display. The problem was that it required one to have a bloodline. One in a hundred people awaken their bloodlines. Another reason why the wielder academy is able to produce only about 25 wielders every year. Though alchemists and mastercraftsmen were rare, even they would not dare disrespect a wielder. However, if one is not able to enter the wielder academy to train in any of the above professions, then they can only settle for a mediocre job- tailoring, dressmaking, carpentry and the likes. Though one can become a master in these crafts and gain wealth and honour, they would have no power in the affairs of kingdoms and empires. One can only have a say in the affairs of a kingdom when they join the army as soldiers or become mercenaries.
Now, back to our story. Mane looked up into the night sky as he thought of home. He wondered how Uncle Jake was doing and whether his parents had sent him a letter. He sighed and then smiled at the thought of Uncle Jake sitting on a rocking chair and drinking a glass of fruit juice while talking about life. Uncle Jake was a strange man. He was the only adult Mane had never seen taking alcohol- his dad was no exception. He really missed that old man. After all, he had spent more time with the man than any of his parents. His parents were rarely around. Something that baffled him greatly. He did not know what they did for a living. However, he knew they were not mediocre individuals from the size and beauty of their houses-yes, houses. They had built homes in every kingdom and in the capital cities of every single empire. Mane knew this since Uncle Jake mentioned it once when he was about a year and a half old. Mane did not know why, but he could remember everything that happened since the time he was born. A few days after birth he could already see everything around him. It took some time to learn the languages though- 3 months. He never told anyone this- not his father, not his mother and not even Uncle Jake.
He did not know why but he just had this feeling that he was to tell no one. He could not explain it- the feeling. It was as though part of him was cautioning the other part to remain vigilant. The dreams he had also heightened his level of caution. On the fifth working day of the week- Friday- he experiences a recurrent dream. In the dream he stands before nine mountains. Each of these mountains weirdly enough, have a huge gate before them. He had tried opening the gates- yes, every one of them. However he had failed every single time. The strangest part was, the mountains gave him a feeling of familiarity and kinship- as though they were him. And every time he had the dream he could hear voices from the mountain. In the most recent dream, he heard them calling out a name- Basileus. What led to his confusion was the fact that he was sure they were speaking to him. Mane shook his head to get rid of the distractions and concentrate on the book in his hands. Today was the fifth day of the week. This time instead of just listening, he will ask for answers.