The people around the room were still staring at Eddy, the boy wasn't groundbreaking, but with the right support and the right training, he had potential to be a very powerful figure in the future.
Erickson was happy that Thaddeus inherited his mother's talent, she was an excellent magician, surpassing most of the Royal Magicians in power. He was wondering just how to protect little Thaddeus and his sister for the time being.
Sofia was grumbling as she stood up, "Wh-what happened?"
Eddy moved over to help her stand fully upright, she was much taller than him so he placed her elbow on his head.
He leaned in a whispered, "I think I was awakened, any idea what that is?"
She looked confused, "The amount of mana that High King Jeru drew would be enough for someone on the cusp awakening. But that type of awakening is very dangerous." She frowned and Eddy could see that she was holding her tongue.
'She doesn't want to critic the King, smart, I should follow her lead.'
High King Jeru stood there, just watching the interaction between the two that are bonded by fate.
Eddy whispered, "That was really cool. I felt. Alive. Is that what magic is? Power?"
Sofia was kind of wanting to nudge the young Lord for being unable to read the somber tone of the room, but she indulged, "I am unsure, but magic is often described as "taking the reigns of the world" and then the Magician wields it as they see fit.
Eddy frowned, "That is a bit presumptuous, no? To think we can wield those reigns?"
She looked puzzled.
"Yes." The King spoke, "It is presumptuous, young one."
'He can hear me? Ah shit.' He frowned and was shrinking instinctively.
Erickson strode forwards, "That is a healthy attitude. Only old fools believe they can "command" the world to do their bidding. Although, when one is powerful enough, the world's relinquishing of authority can appear as though they commanded it."
Eddy nodded, 'Old wizards get cocky. Don't.'
Erickson waved his hand, "Let us proceed with your preparations as a new Lord."
The King turned and walked into the next room, Sofia was dragging Eddy along as he was stuck in a daze.
'Don't be a dick. Don't be a dick.' Eddy was repeating his mantra from Earth.
The King waved his hand and a portal opened up, and three, Ten Man Squads walked outward. The only one Eddy could recognize was the one in gleaming silver armor that had smiled at him and spoken with him on the ride here.
He waved, "Hello, again!"
The knight stood emotionless, but Eddy knew he smiled under the helmet.
High King Erickson was happy, "It seems you have found your Uncle!"
Eddy was shocked for a moment, 'A blood relation is bad news bears, oh no.'
Then he worked up the courage, "He is my father's brother!" He shouted with as much kid like glee as he could.
The King smiled, "No, not blood brother. But he is your Uncle nonetheless." Then he nodded sagely to show finality.
Eddy dodged a bullet, 'A bother in arms. Often more important than an actual brother.'
Eddy knew about comradery in the military from his own uncle, he died saving his friends, a good death.
Eddy nearly choked up for a moment.
The King elaborated, "These men served under your father in the War. They were defending the holds of the Baron until you came of age. Now, they serve a Viscount."
The men in the room saluted at Eddy and he could feel the tension in the air.
The King spoke, "This is a very prestigious and rare occurrence within this Empire. Posthumous elevations in Title are often met with...push back, but worry not." He placed his hands down and a large table appeared with a huge map made of leather.
It was a light tan and one continuous piece, the markings had rings denoting elevation, with only a single "Important" marking.
"This, is your home, Thaddeus." The King placed his finger on the map, "Blackstone Fortress."
The King became very serious, "This is traditionally held by the Royal family, but I believe you are completely capable.
The "city" was a strange shape that was dictated by the mountains around it. It looked like...'A ravine?'
It was a literal wall of gray stone.
The King gestured, "There are no other openings large enough for an army. This is the largest city in the province. There are 64,000 people living there."
Eddy's eyes were about to pop out. "That is so many people."
Erickson laughed, "It is a sizable amount. I have administrators in place, they will stay and assist in your transition for a few years. Your job will be to gain strength. Collect taxes. And be the Lord of the Fortress. Can you do that?"
Eddy's stomach was bailing out, "I honestly...don't know if I can, but I will try."
The High King smiled on, "Honesty is rare in this place, but be confident, you are a Blackstone."
He placed his hand on Eddy's shoulder and the weight was like no other.
Erickson continued, "The reason I leave you this pass is that we are planning something, and we require FULL focus." The gleam in his eye showed a side Eddy hadn't seen yet.
Eddy asked, "Is it..w-" but he was cut off by Sofia covering his mouth.
Erickson looked saddened and nodded.
It happened in a few moments, but nobody in this room could leak the secret because the "Elders" had probably already SOLD the information.
Erickson was saddened but he saw hope in this young boy. An Iron Magician in one of the most defensible places in the Empire? What King wouldn't want him. Erickson was hoping Thaddeus was at least a mage, but with his level of power, he would be a full Magician in no time.
'Iron. The Iron Fortress. I'll have to write that down' Erickson walked off while thinking of cool nicknames, it was his favorite part of the job.
-----------
Eddy just watched as the King walked off into the distance and vanished into thin air.
Sofia was scared, "Lord..I" she didn't know how he would react to her "assaulting" him.
Eddy was just staring at the sweet teleportation exit the King had done.
'I have to learn that.' He was smiling and turned back to see the men standing much closer to him, in tight lines.
"Milord, please follow us, the Fortress is at minimal manpower, we must return in haste." The Captain spoke quickly, but he wasn't the one that Eddy wanted to speak to. Then he found him, "Ah, there you are. Why are you not up front?"
Eddy's uncle was near the back of the line, he stepped out, "Milord, I was demoted and removed from the Royal Guard. I am not fit for being a Captain."
Eddy's eye twitched, "Just get up here."
The man took long and measured steps to perfectly tower in front of his little nephew, "Reporting, milord!"
Eddy cleaned his ears, they were ringing slightly.
He leaned in, "Why were you demoted? Was it to join the Fortress guard? And what is the name of my Uncle, please!"
The soldier stood ramrod straight, "I was demoted for unceremonious actions, I failed to provide his majesty with a bucket... As to your next question, this was by pure chance and luck that I was able to join on the same day as your Land Granting. Lastly, my humble name is Rodrick."
Eddy moved his hand out for a shake, "It is nice to meet you, Uncle Rodrick!"
The man reached out and shook Eddy's hand lightly, "It is nice to meet you as a man, milord."
Eddy could feel the love gushing out of this man, they hadn't seen each other since Eddy was a baby, before the war begun. It made sense that Thaddeus wouldn't remember something so long ago, and he likely just found out he was nobility after all.
Rodrick knelt and spoke, "It has been a long day for you, nephew. I am sorry your world has been flipped upside down, but those pots and pans don't need your cleaning anymore." He looked down at Eddy's thumb and index, where he was rubbing during the carriage trip.
Thaddeus nodded and had a small tear in his eye.
Eddy wasn't sure what was being implied by "your world has been flipped upside down" but it was certainly true. This body had been...a nobody, as far as he could tell. An orphan of war, who now would be responsible for a Fortress, defense of the Capital's rear, and the people of his territory.
Eddy knew from history that this wasn't a HUGE ask as Fortresses weren't all that hard to defend from and when forts were mothballed, they could house just a dozen men and still hold off 10x their number. The point of a fort was that it was difficult to attack, but the biggest factor here is, 'The King actually trusts me. The defending is something the soldiers have BEEN doing, but he trusts me not to side with his enemies.'