Jade was in his office, as the sound of his chairs creaked in the silence while he rubbed his temple. His hands moved mechanically, the stamp in his grasp thudding against one paper after another. The monotony of the task weighed on him, but he was a man of discipline.
Suddenly a small sigh escaped his lips as he set the stamp down, his eyes wandering to the two massive double doors at the far end of the room. For a brief moment, there was only silence.
As if on cue, his double doors swing opened, and a young man stepped inside the office with a confident smile. He walked with a graceful demeanor that was rare in people of his age. It was Seb, the man Shane had said to be bought as a slave a few weeks ago. Jade's brow raised as he lay back in the chair in a comfortable posture as Shane approached deliberately.
Seb halted a few steps from the desk and offered a polite nod before presenting a folded letter. Its edges were crisp, and the seal was unmistakable—Shane's personal stamp. Jade reached out, his fingers brushing the letter's parchment as he accepted it, his gaze briefly studying Seb. The young man's expression was unreadable, serene yet slightly amused, as though he already knew the contents of the letter.
Jade unfolded the letter and began to read. The contents were brief, yet their implications were profound:
Sir Jade,
I want my subordinates to grow. Sebastian needs to face life and death situations as well as hunt monsters to get stronger. I would like to request you to provide him with a fake identity of a village peasant and some gold coins to start his journey as an adventurer.
Thanks a lot,
Yours truly, Shane.
Of course it was an excuse made up by Shane, because he couldn't just tell him all his plans that would put Jade in a dilemma whether Shane had lost his mind or he was an entirely different person.
Jade lowered the letter after reading it, his face gave off the look of confusion by the contents written in the letter. He couldn't understand Shane's intention and why he had changed so drastically in the period of these few days.
His gaze shifted to Seb as his eyes locked on to him, who remained smiling with no sign of faltering.
Jade stared at Seb with disbelief and asked, "Are you sure about this?"
"It's not my place to question his orders, Sir" said Seb as he tilted his head with a comical smile while still being respectful.
"Master believes that this is the best path for my growth and I trust his judgement."
Jade leaning back in the chair, his fingers tap continuously on the table as he stares at Shane. Looking at Seb, he was reminded of his old days where he would go on an adventure with the duke and do everything with the utmost loyalty and dedication.
"This isn't a simple request; you know that right? Adventurers are far from a glamorous job, it's full of danger, unpredictable events and most of all unforgiving. You could get injured or worse die, let's not forget that fake identities are not handed out lightly."
Seb looked into Jade eyes and spoke with an unwavering voice "I am aware of the risk but for my growth I must take risk and if master Shane believes that I need to face life and death, then as his subordinate I will do it without hesitation."
Jade let out a tired sigh while trying to scrutinize Seb and gauge him. "That may be what he wants you to do but what about you? do you truly believe that this is the path you want to take?"
Seb's smile widened as he looked back at Jade with calmness and spoke as if he had already made up his mind for the future. "It's not about what I believe sir. It's about the trust I have in him, and he has in me. My master sees this insignificant one with potential, and I won't let him down no matter the circumstance. If that means risking my life in any battle or every danger that I may come across then so be it."
The room fell silent. The words that Seb spoke had brought more weight than jade was prepared for, his words left hanging in the air. But even through all this Jade gaze still bored down on him. Searching for doubt in his tone but seb's words has not yielded anything. Giving up, he deeply exhaled and stood up, his imposing figure towering over his desk.
"Very well" Jade said as he showed signs of resignation to Seb's adamant decision.
"I'll grant your request but know, this isn't a decision that can be taken lightly. If you fail to adapt, survive or even falter in anything that comes your way, know that the consequences are yours alone to bear."
Jade walks over to a safe behind a painting, unlocking it with a small golden key.
Inside were large amounts of blank identification documents, each one was intricately organized. He took one from the pile and handed it to Shane.
A simple parchment with the name "Adrian."
"This will be your new identity," Jade said after handing a document to Seb. "You will be taking the identity of a young man from a remote village, seeking fortune and adventure. It's a common thing for commoners in remote villages to do. So you shouldn't receive any trouble with this.
He approached a drawer that was close to him and retrieved a pouch containing gold coins. "I think this should be enough to get you started for a few years. It's for both food, lodging and to keep up appearance you will need basic gear as well. Spend it wisely.
With both hands Seb took the items as he steps forward." Thank you, sir, I won't let you or master down" he said as he bowed his head slightly to Jade.
Jade continues to watch him for a moment before sitting back down, "One last thing he said with a stern voice as his finger drummed against the armrest of the chair. "If you're caught with a fake identity, you'll be faced with severe consequences and we won't be able to help you."
Seb hearing his words said with a steady voice "I understand, I'll be careful."
"Then may fortune favor you on your journey. You're going to need it." Jade said after nodding to Seb's resolve.
Jade leaned back in the chair as Seb turned and left the office letting the heavy door close behind him with a thud. creaks came from the chair as if breaking the silence in the office.
Jade smiled as he looked at the doors, but all that was interrupted by knocking from the window opposite him. Outside the window was a feathered owl-like creature - a lumivar, Jade stood up and walked to the window to let it in.
The Lumivarn was a creature of the cold North continent, it has the appearance of an owl and is known for efficiently delivering messages between noble houses. It's weird because even though communication crystals existed, nobles rather used the old ways due to the symbol of tradition in the empire, it's mainly used to summon individuals for significant events. Because of their majestic presence and role in all different ceremonials, it had allowed them to be revered as part of the empire's history.
Jade quickly took a medium size scroll from the leg of the Lumivarn, which immediately flapped its wings and flew back the direction it came. Jade returns to his seat and begun unrolling the scroll as his expression showed how nervous he was. His brows furrowed as he read the contents and his demeanor became serious.
Wasting no time, he opened the same drawer he got the pouch of gold from and brought out a communication crystal much larger than the standard one's for sale. It was at least five times larger than the one Melinda owns. He places it on the table and channel his mana into it. The crystal shifted into different colors as a sign that a connection was being established.
The image of a man with long dark hair falling past his shoulders. His beard looking neatly groomed made his frame even more sharp, giving him an aura more commanding. This was Shane's father, Duke Victor Nolan, the supreme authority of the Nolan Fief.
His ornate armor adorned with golden details emphasized his status and strength. He had a cape draped over his broad shoulder and a tall menacing build, that spoke of the years of battle experience both on the field and in governance of his fief. His presence exude authority and confidence befitting of a man of his stature. His piercing eyes brought out the weight of absolute leadership and responsibility.
After seeing him Jade immediately bowed his head respectfully. "I hope you are well my lord."
Suddenly Victor's deep commanding voice cut through. "There is no need for the formalities but tell me why do I see sweat on your face has something gone wrong?"
Jade in a panic wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief he had retrieved from his pocket. "My utmost apologies my Lord, I just received a letter stating that you are summoned to the Imperial Capital immediately."
Hearing what his butler said caused his eyebrows to raise. "The Capital? What is the reason for me to return there immediately?"
"My lord The letter stated that the third Imperial prince, Reynar, has been assassinated. It is possible that the summon is to gather all the nobles of the empire," Jade spoke as his voice was tense and filled with unease.
For a brief moment there was silence on the other side, then followed with a chuckle. "Ha, ha so that fool is dead. It's about time he was nothing but trouble."
Jade became even more nervous as beads of sweat trickled down his face. "My Lord please refrain from saying such things, when we're in the capital."
On the other side of the communicator victor laughed heartily. " Relaxed Jade, when have I ever stirred up trouble for you?"
Jade let out a heavy sigh, his resignation can be seen all over his face. "Far too often my Lord, Far too often."
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Author's Note: Trivia Time
In the Empire of Konark and many neighboring empires and kingdoms, identity documentation follows a strict protocol regulated by local noble houses. These documents feature mana-infused stamps unique to each lord, encoding their mana signature to identify the region of origin.
At birth, individuals must register at their local administration to receive these stamped documents. However, these documents are region-specific and cannot be used for operations in other territories, a measure aimed at curbing smuggling and trafficking. Although slave trading of other races is completely legal.
The sole exception is the Adventurer's Guild Card, a universal pass that allows free movement and operations across all regions. The Adventurer's Guild is a mysterious, autonomous entity that even emperors cannot challenge. Its origins remain shrouded in secrecy nobody knows how old it is and who controls it.
—-Also please show support by adding to your library, leave a comment and review. Still hoping to get contracted.