"Young prince, it's time to go," a voice called from behind the door.
Abel slowly opened the door, revealing a neatly dressed man with gray hair, a sign of his long years. A monocle gleamed in his right eye, adding to his air of professionalism.
"Are you ready, young prince? Or would you like me to offer my assistance?" the man inquired.
"No, I'm prepared," Abel replied calmly.
"Then, please," the man gestured.
Abel nodded and turned to retrieve his backpack. The two heavy bags, filled with his personal belongings, were difficult to carry at once. Despite this, Abel persevered, feeling a flicker of shame for refusing the old man's help.
The old man, observing the young prince struggle, shook his head. "It is inappropriate for the master to carry his own belongings. That task falls to his servants."
Abel paused, considering the man's words.
He stubbornly continued to carry the bags. This time, the old man faced Abel directly with a resolute gaze. "The young prince is the heir of the Reysmith family," he said. "As the heir of such a powerful family, I mustn't allow your reputation to be tarnished, even slightly."
"But-" Abel began to protest, but the old man interrupted him again.
"Prince, would you please let us handle those bags? If not, this old man might not see the sun tomorrow, as the patriarch will be furious," the old man said with a sly smile.
"Then... alright..." Abel sighed in relief.
Hearing the confirmation, the old man snapped his fingers. Two figures, dressed neatly like the old man but with youthful faces, entered the room. They bowed slightly to Abel and proceeded to carry his belongings effortlessly, as if they were merely books.
Seeing this feat, Abel couldn't help but lament his lack of such talent.
"Then, young prince, please," the old man gestured.
Abel nodded and began to walk, then stopped abruptly. "Um... what was your name again? It seems you're new here," Abel inquired.
The old man paused before introducing himself gracefully. "Allow me to introduce myself formally, Prince. This old man's name is Sebastian, and the Duke has assigned me as your personal butler."
"Only Sebastian?" As far as Abel knew, those without surnames were either peasants or commoners. This confused him.
"This old man is simply fortunate," Sebastian replied.
"Alright," Abel didn't press the matter further.
They walked for several minutes until Abel saw a carriage conspicuously waiting for them. It was adorned with expensive materials.
As Abel approached the carriage, he saw...
A Carriage Drawn by a Monstrous Jaguar
A jaguar pulled the carriage with a terrifying purpose. Its fur, as black as a starless night, seemed to absorb all light around it. From its powerful form emanated a bone-chilling aura, a palpable sense of death clinging to its every step.
The aura emitted by the jaguar was deadly. Yet, such a deadly monster was used as a mount?
'How truly powerful is the Reysmith family?' Abel wondered. He had been cooped up in the house all his life, rarely venturing outside.
"Sebastian, what kind of creature is that?" Curiosity overcame him, and Abel inquired.
"Hmm? Has the young prince forgotten?" Sebastian asked in a confused tone.
He continued nonetheless. "That creature is called Ymir's jaguar. It is the personal symbol of our archenemies, the Ymirfrost clan from the Devilwood Kingdom. They say this beast brings misfortune and agony wherever it goes. It is said to be a descendant of the frost goddess Ymir. The purer the Ymir jaguar's blood, the more terrible cold it emits. High-ranked Ymir jaguars can even control the Cold Chaos Qi. That's why Ymir's jaguars are said to bring misfortune and agony." Sebastian explained in great detail.
'I remember! The Ymirfrost clan - the Reysmith family's nemesis! And the Reysmith's weakness,' Abel thought.
"No, it's just been a long time since I've seen one. My mind was a bit blurry," Abel said clearly.
"It is my pleasure to fulfill the young prince's inquiries," Sebastian replied.
By the time they finished talking, they had arrived at the carriage. A maid gracefully opened the door.
Just as Abel was about to enter, his gaze fell upon the silent man standing at the back of the carriage. Abel unconsciously sweated.
"Um... Sebastian, is... is Brimeborg joining us?" Abel asked in a low voice
"Of course, young prince," Sebastian replied smoothly. "Sir Brimeborg will be our guardian and your personal bodyguard."
Abel's eyes widened. Brimeborg. Despite the past Abel's arrogance and pride, a flicker of fear ignited within him. This fear, it seemed, had seeped into his very being.
He looked silently at the giant man. Their eyes met for a fleeting moment. Abel felt dwarfed, like a child gazing up at a towering oak. He quickly broke eye contact and hurried into the carriage.
Settling in, Abel couldn't shake the disquiet. "Why am I so scared of him?" he thought in frustration. The Reysmith bloodline, he knew, never bowed to anyone. Yet, this one man caused his heart to race.
Memories flooded back – ones that weren't his own, but belonged to the body he now inhabited. Memories of relentless training sessions, of Brimeborg pushing him to his limits, sometimes even to the point of pain. Memories of complaints to his father, the Duke, who only offered a weary, "I'll try to educate Brimeborg," a promise that never materialized.
Was it just fear of the harsh training? Or something deeper? Perhaps, a twisted form of respect, a grudging acknowledgment of Brimeborg's superior strength and skill. Or maybe, as the thought struck him, a sliver of the old Abel's trauma remained, a remnant of past humiliation that still lingered.
"Ridiculous!" he scoffed internally. He, the heir of the Reysmith family, shouldn't be afraid of anyone. Yet, the unease persisted.
As the carriage began its journey, Abel stole another glance out the window. Brimeborg walked beside the carriage, his massive form a silent guardian. The rhythmic thud of his boots against the ground provided a steady counterpoint to the rumble of the wheels.