~Author's note at the end~
Hendriks was reading some papers with a disturbed expression.
'It seems my peaceful days are about to come to an end...' *Sight*
The paper was a letter from one of the strongest nearby clans, this clan was in control of a huge part of the nearby lands almost as if it was its own independent country, their influence was nothing to scoff off.
The contents explained how a prominent heir had taken a liking to Bell Rain because of stories and paintings and was interested in enlisting in Blue Bell Academy during the next enrollment test.
The letter explained how this person will be following the normal inscription process and participating in the test willingly in order to express how they didn't expect nor request any preferential treatment.
If that's the case then why was Hendricks so troubled?
Hendricks suspected this to be a ploy from this clan to get into Bell Rain, but he wasn't sure about their intentions yet, and even with suspicions he didn't have the authority to antagonize such a power without the risk of starting a war...
The request looked fairly innocent, and to the unsuspecting eye, there was absolutely no reason to expect otherwise...
Hendricks looked at the glass of water on his desk and fell into deep thought. Janette had just recently brought it to him a few minutes ago and it was still fresh.
The clan's intentions were crystal clear to him.
"They are looking for you..." Hendricks mumbled in a low voice.
He gritted his teeth while trying to come up with a solution, he couldn't risk the people of his city to keep Janette safe, and even if he decided to gamble, Hendricks was sure the rest of the city leaders would rather kiss the clan's ass and offer Janette as a sacrifice in order to win their favor and keep their petty lives...
"JYRO!!"
*Bang*
A loud thud and the sound of rumbling came from the hallway and after a few instants a kid with broken glasses and an apron showed up.
"What the hell are you wearing..." Hendricks saw that Jyro wasn't wearing his usual clothing and couldn't help but mutter.
"I was cleaning the chimney, sir." Jyro said as he knelt on the office floor.
"Forget it, call Miss Marie, tell her it's urgent." Hendricks told Jyro as he sipped his glass.
"Immediately sir." Jyro stood up and went out like a breeze.
After a minute or two Nana appeared in front of Hendricks's office and was about to knock but...
"Come in..." Hendricks's voice resonated from the inside of the room.
"Excuse me... What happened Henry?" Nana's face looked a bit troubled, it seemed like she had an idea of the situation already.
"Look." Hendricks said as he stretched his arm and grabbed the letter, then he tossed it in Nana's direction...
Nana's expression was firm as she kept reading the contents of the letter slowly.
As she was doing so Hendricks put his hands together and a ring on his left arm started to shine purple...
A small sphere appeared between his palms and slowly expanded encompassing the whole room...
"The barrier is set, no one can hear us now..." Hendricks told Nana as he could tell she was already at the bottom of the page. A drop of sweat rolled down the side of his forehead...
"Do you believe they have spies nearby?" Nana asked.
"They haven't given me a reason to think otherwise..." Hendrick shrugged his massive build and continued...
"You and I both know the reason behind this ploy don't we?"
"It's quite obvious, I guess they weren't expecting you to have this kind of relationship with their targets. Do you have any recommendations?" Said Nana with a thoughtful expression.
"That certainly could be the case. I can only see two possible solutions for you, Marie." Hendricks said with a pause.
"I can already picture one of them, go one..." Nana replied with a calm expression.
"Aside from the obvious one, that doesn't seem to be working as well as it used to. You can always ask Janette to do the test ahead of schedule, That would ensure her safety temporarily. Although I don't know what we can do about you, Marie."
Hendricks was having a harder time than he would like to, He loves battle, adrenaline, and bloodshed! These kinds of petty tricks and schemes weren't his forte. To be completely fair to him his intellect was certainly capable, he just couldn't be bothered most of the time.
"I have already lived long enough Henry, as long as Eric's legacy can live on I'm not afraid to give myself away for my family." Nana once again interjected with the resolution of a soldier going to war.
"There's nothing more to discuss then. I will begin with the preparatives. We will do something about you when the time comes." Hendricks opened up his arms and brought them closer slowly in a clasping motion.
The purple shine that adorned the walls closed on him once more and the barrier was removed.
"I will forever be in debt to you Henry." Nana's expression showed a rare smile, one that has been missing since the death of her only son.
Hendricks stood there and slowly saw her off after she left the room Hendricks slowly wobbled off to his chair, keeping such a barrier seemed to have sucked the life out of him...
"I hate that shit."
~~~~~~ A Few Hours Away~~~~~~
An elderly man with a scar on his face and stained white and blue robes could be seen in a carriage with a thirteen-year-old kid dressed in a regular white outfit. The construction of the carriage was very detailed as if it wasn't a carriage but a moving piece of art.
The old man started speaking meekly...
"Master Leo, we are about to arrive, remember we need to follow the empress's orders and be very careful."
The kid slowly opened his eyelids and focused his radiant amber eyes on the old man and scuffed.
"I'm here because you bunch of useless morons were unable to catch an old hag and a kid, is there anything more pathetic than that?"
The old man gritted his teeth and refused to respond...
"Don't make me repeat myself, I asked if there was anything more pathetic than your bunch of useless morons?"
"No, Master Leo, there isn't anything worse than us..." The old man gritted his teeth and said feeling completely humiliated.
The sound of laughter could be heard in the surrounding area as the carriage approached the city of Bell Rain confidently...