It was an early summer and this year Alex was going to be seven years old. Sigmund watched the boy who looked almost twice his age slowly eat his dinner in silence and finally couldn’t hold back.
“Alex, what exactly do you plan to do in the future? Are you training to take revenge on those bastards? Or you intend to work for the empire?” He asked a bunch of questions one after another.
After Demy’s death in the eyes of the two elders Alex completely transformed. He suddenly began talking like an adult and on the rare occasions he actually said anything, his knowledge seemed to be above Hanna’s and Sigmund’s combined. Luckily they blamed it on ‘trauma’ the child experienced and didn’t dwell much on it, but their attitude towards Alex involuntarily changed and even Sigmund often spoke to him as if he was their peer.
This time the old man was actually curious. The boy was training non stop and even though Sigmund didn’t practice Qi himself, it would be logical for him to assume Alex was driven by revenge. With ‘those bastards’ Sigmund meant the few local families that in the war aided the empire and after the occupation of Haldenburg became the new ‘nobles’. He blamed them for Demy’s disappearance although there was no proof and he, of course, mostly kept the accusations to himself.
In Alex’s eyes the concept of revenge had lost its value already a couple of lives ago. What was the use of killing someone if they would be born again? Or what was the use of taking someone’s belongings if he couldn’t take it with him after his own death? Alex was not going to burden himself with useless goals and waste his time.
Therefore he said, “I want to learn more about branding. Do you know anyone in Haldenburg who could teach me?”
Both Hanna and Sigmund looked back at him in surprise.
“Didn’t Demy teach you? The Brooks family always passes on their secrets to the oldest heir … what exactly are you practicing then?” Sigmund said.
“I just cultivate Qi.” Alex slowly shook his head, “Somehow mom always postponed the teaching of her alchemy skills and there were no written records left after she was gone. But branding is not limited to my family. From what I understand even weaker Qi warriors can practice it.”
“Hmmm …” Sigmund scratched his head, “I don’t have anyone left from the former governor’s circle and the only place I can think of is the school organized by the empire. But I guess you don’t want to learn from them, do you?”
The old man obviously implied Alex should have some kind of hatred towards the empire because of the fate of his parents, therefore was surprised when the boy only shrugged and said, “Why not? Can we go tomorrow and take a look?”
Demy never mentioned there was an educational facility in Haldenburg and Alex assumed the Qi skills and techniques in this world were mostly hereditary. Therefore hearing about the school was a pleasant surprise.
The ‘school’ turned out to not be what Alex expected. Empire did indeed organize classes for the locals, but that was only with intent to flush out some hidden talents or maybe a rare saint candidate to be later sent to the capital for a ‘real’ education. Thus the surprise of the man responsible for organizing the teaching was understandable when Sigmund came looking for him accompanied by a young boy who looked like a country bumpkin.
They were currently in the palace-like building that was once the governor’s mansion and luckily Sigmund was granted an audience to some big shot. After the permission was granted, the old man hid the sigh of relief in order to preserve his face and expertly guided Alex through the hallways, but after they arrived to the chamber they were currently in, he suddenly deflated.
“Sigmund, I really wonder what gave you the nerve to return here!” An overweight middle aged man, dressed in expensive red robes said partially in angry, partially in ridiculing tone, “You were lucky to keep your life back then, but for some reason you want to tempt the fate.”
“Aaron … I mean … your honor, governor Aaron ... we didn’t come to waste your time.” Sigmund clenched his fists, swallowing insults, “Alex want’s to learn, so I thought ...”
“Do you think empire will waste it’s resources and teach every peasant? You people need to learn your place!” Governor Aaron continued to ridicule, “And you know quite well – there is only one reason anyone is being taught in Haldenburg at all!”
Up until now Alex was glancing around – after all this was the first place he saw in this life that held a number of books, but after the last remark he curiously looked at the man behind the wide desk. Governor Aaron did invite them in and didn’t send them away, but didn’t intend to help either. It only meant he personally knew Sigmund and only wanted to make fun of him.
The old man knew it, but came prepared.
While doing his best to hold back anger, he said, “According to the edict on education from sovereign Cirius, every talented subject is to be taught regardless of their social standing, therefore …”
“So?!” Governor interrupted, stood up and came over looking Alex in the eyes, “What exactly makes YOU talented?”
“He is only seven years old!” Sigmund said and straightened up as if he was the talented one.
Finally governor’s expression changed. The boy in front of him was obviously eleven or twelve, maybe even older, but even tho he disliked Sigmund, the old man wouldn’t make up such lie risking his own neck.
Governor measured Alex with his eyes up and down and asked, “Do you practice Qi?”
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“A bit.” Alex nodded with a smile.
“Hmm … what is your name?” Governor Asked.
“Alex Brooks.” Alex answered, still with a smile.
His father didn’t use any last name and Demy automatically counted him as a part of her Brooks family and Alex didn’t mind. Also there was no use of faking name since sooner or later the truth would come out.
“Brooks … Brooks …” Governor Aaron furrowed his brows trying to remember where he heard such name.
“Sigh, he is Demy’s and Phil’s son.” Sigmund explained.
He knew it would come up, but he would rather get over it sooner than later.
“What?! Have you lost your mind?” Governor shouted in anger, but took few steps back as if afraid to get some infectious disease, “You want the empire to groom the son of the ‘barbarian from Haldenburg’?”
“Why not? Saint Wazir has checked him multiple times and he is a loyal subject, just like I am.” Sigmund said, but governor only laughed back.
“Hahaha! Right … ‘loyal’. Everyone knows where your loyalties lie, Sigmund!”
“Alright, Aarond, let’s stop messing around.” Sigmund finally lost his patience, “Few other people would like to become governors too and my written official protest about you overusing the power would only help them, thus, let’s not make it personal. Alex is talented and even you can see it!”
When the governor only harrumphed for an answer and sat back in his big chair, Sigmund continued, “No need to take your hate out on the kid. I know you don’t like me, but I give you my word – if you don’t make things difficult for him on purpose, you’ll never have to hear from me again, how about it?”
Governor stared back at Sigmund for a minute and then finally said, “Fine! But not because of you! Only because the young one here has a decent talent for cultivation! But I want to make one thing clear – I’ll keep an eye on him and if he even looks at the guards the wrong way, the Brooks family like will end right there!”
“Uncle Sigmund, what was all that about?” When they left the mansion Alex asked, “Did you steal his horse or something?”
“That damned arrogant bastard!” Sigmund angrily kicked a pebble on the wide walkway that led to the central entrance, “When Armenidians invaded he stabbed our governor in the back ... literally! And later for the service to the empire was appointed as the new governor! … Fedel Aaron … ptui! Back then I worked here – I was governor’s steward … everyone, even I, thought they were close friends, but in the end he … motherf*cker! Sigh … as it turned out the governor had only one true friend and it was your father. In fact, that was how I and Hanna became acquainted with Demy – at first I only knew your father.”
“Oh!” Alex nodded in understanding, “No wonder he didn’t want to teach me anything. Actually it would be weird if he did.”
“There is no way he could outplay me with bureaucratic tricks! I’ve been steward to three different governors – he’s just a toddler in comparison!” Sigmund gave a proud smile, “No wonder he wants me dead! But even though I’m retired now, they had to let me live. Firstly, because I still have some friends even in those families who became traitors. Of course, now they are called ‘nobles’. And secondly, because to create everything in governor’s office from scratch is too much of a hassle and they still need my help from time to time since they killed off everyone else … sigh … the governor and ministers …”
“Oh, I see!” Alex cheekily smiled at the old man, “That is the reason why you became a grumpy old man!”
“You little …!” Sigmund almost became angry, but then realized he was teased, “Don’t think just because you’re almost as tall as me, I won’t put you over the knee and teach you how to properly love your motherland!”
Both started to laugh and the gloomy mood was finally lifted.
“But what was that ‘only one reason anyone is taught here’ about?” Alex asked.
They were already some distance away from the governors mansion and no one could overhear their conversation. The streets were full of people, but everyone minded their own business rushing in their everyday activities.
“The heir of the Hansen family … whatwashisname … I forgot … Anyway, they say the kid was incredibly gifted from the birth, but I don’t buy it because someone started those rumors only few years ago. Few sources, whom I actually trust, say his trikuta began to swell right before the rumors started … anyway … it basically means he is almost guaranteed to become a saint and no effort is being spared in teaching him in order to continue his development in the capital.” Sigmund explained.
“Trikuta? Swell?” Alex tried to follow the old man’s explanation.
“Yes, the third eye.” Sigmund nodded, “You see, only in the rarest occasions saints have their third eye already at birth. Normally it develops during the teenage years. Of course, to become a saint is one in a million chance, so word ‘normally’ clearly doesn’t apply. But you’ll see in few days yourself. Just don’t try to pick a fight with him. Not only he is twelve years old, behind him stands the whole Haldenburg. He is also the reason Hansens rose to the position of the most prominent family in the region.”
“Mhm.” Alex nodded, “I don’t care for such things. I’m more interested why that Aaron guy called my father the ‘barbarian from Haldenburg’. Wasn’t he an educated man? Don’t tell me he ran around in armor made of leather scraps.”
“Hahaha! No!” Sigmund found it funny, “Didn’t your mother tell you? About your father’s fighting style?”
Seeing Alex shake his head, Sigmund said, “I guess it’ll be easier to show you. Come, since we’re already in the city, let’s go and pay our respects to the emperor.”
Alex’s confusion grew, but he didn’t mind to tag along. They rarely come to the center of Haldenburg and it was a refreshing change of scenery.
The emperor’s marble statue was erected in the middle of the central square after Armenidians conquered the Haldenburg seven years ago. Alex had seen it before from afar, but never payed a special attention to it. The depicted person there had three ‘third eyes’, so five in total, and was particularly creepy according to Alex’s standards, thus he even tried to avoid directly looking at it.
“That is the reason people called your father ‘barbarian’.” Sigmund said when they arrived pointing at the feet of the statue.
Only now Alex noticed that the tall, over nine meters high person was stepping on a broken sword. While it looked relatively small compared to the size of a stature, it would be huge if wielded by a regular person.
“That’s your father’s sword.” Sigmund said with a sigh, “And not a symbol – it is THE sword your father wielded. After his death it was broken in two and put under the foot of the emperor as the sign of broken resistance and empires might.”
Alex stared dumbfounded at the broken sword, but then suddenly realized the detail his mother skipped in her stories – a very important detail. All these years he admired his father’s skill on pinpointing the precise location of his opponents and defeating them only based on the smell while his mind was being trapped in illusions. And one had to recognize, that the opponents he faced were saints and not some random drunkards.
But now, looking at his father’s broken weapon, Alex understood how the man actually killed his enemies. He just cleaved them in halves! He knew their approximate position and slashed towards it with this enormous thing! No wonder people began calling him barbarian after that ...