Agis thought he understood the new addition to his duties quite well. Jor wasn't particularly impressive, as far as his first impression went. And, neither was he as strong as even the weakest leveled student in the lesser academies either. So, what did the saint see in someone so... pedestrian?

"Are you absolutely sure? Surely you can change his mind?" The king wore a surprised expression.  

He bowed low. "Forgive me, sire. He was quite insistent on his chosen class. There was nothing I, or anyone, save perhaps the saint himself, could change his mind." 

"Yes, but a Warrior class?" 

Agis nearly winced. The Warrior class was a generic class, which was the most common class among the class population. They were the frontline assault, and by no means were they weak in both skill or ability. Nazthrod Golbaag, the orc of legendary martial combat of the Warrior class himself, has one of the highest leveled classes in the kingdom. He was one of the few to have reached above level fifty, a feat which could be counted on two hands in the entire city. 

And yet, it was still a common enough class. Jor had a once in a lifetime opportunity to have chosen a more powerful class, which gave far more options in acquiring both skills and attributes that bordered on the mythical. Of course, even if Jor had chosen one such class, there was still the distinct possibility that the class might reject him, even with the help of an Architect to guide the process. Violently. 

Who knows, thought Agis. Perhaps, Jor might even attain a subclass. As ridiculously rare as that is...

Agis internally sighed. 

"Sire, we could always let one of the Warriors train the boy," Hagan looked like he had this conversation nearly a hundred times with the king, and had gotten nowhere. "Surely you do not have to waste time on a boy that does not wish to follow in your footsteps."

The king abruptly took to his feet and walked to stand before the great windows, gazing down upon the sprawling market with a frown. "Lord Ashton asked me for a favor. I will not refuse such a request," 

A beat of silence followed. "The Aaos Sí. How has King Oberon reacted to the news of the Lord Ashton's return?"

"They're laying low, sire," Hagan replied with a slow grin. "Their spies have gone to ground. They'll be making less trouble for some time now," 

"And... the Monarchia Daemonum? " Agis suppressed a shiver. "How has the... fair Queen Mother reacted to the news?"

"Quiet, as far as we can tell," Hagan crossed his arms behind his back. "They have closed their floor completely from any outside interference. Should we attempt to infiltrate, I'm afraid it would only end in disaster." 

"I see...," As far as Agis was concerned, he would be glad if that certain floor was closed for eternity. "Have they taken notice of the boy?" 

"Most certainly. They've had an interest in the boy the second the pair entered the city. Our spies confirmed my theory. I have no doubt they'll try something once tensions ease and our guard is relaxed. Be they the fae, or the demon queen," 

"I suppose it's only a matter of time before Lord Ashton leaves our fair city once more." The king sighed. "The boy will be a target for the rest of his life, it seems. Either Lord Ashton made a terrible mistake in bringing in the boy so publically, or made a risky gamble." 

Agis had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. His instincts were rarely wrong, but to be proven right... well, he certainly wished he was wrong. 

"The SR&ED division's newest proposal... we've rejected it about a month ago, yes?"

Hagan instantly focused on the king, looking both alarmed and... dare he say it? Fearful? He had a right to be.

Agis has heard of this particular department within the government. SR&ED. Scientific Research and Experimental Development. A secretive division consisted of the most unprincipled and amoral group of individuals that had come together. Their goal was simple. Power, with the sole intent of attaining power for the sake of the kingdom. Regardless of costs. It was an ugly division, one Agis wished to never interact within his lifetime. The damage they could do, if left unchecked, would be catastrophic. 

"Sire, it will kill him," Hagan said. "Even should the experiment succeed, the chances of the boy surviving would be slim during the recovery period. Should he die... I shudder to think what the preserver would do to you," 

"He heals fast," 

"Sire?"

"Lord Ashton informed me of his ability to miraculously... resurrect, from death," The king looked just as surprised as Agis felt. "Besides, should the procedure prove too much for the boy, the saint will not care,"

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"... Sire, need I remind you-," 

The king was a prideful man, but to cross the saint was arrogant and foolish. Agis would have interviewed, if not for his lowly status. 

"I know the history of my family hubris, Hagan!" The king snapped out. The hall warmed, as the glow around the king grew more obvious. Agis felt uncomfortably hot. "Lord Ashton put my family to his sword. For that, I have no hatred for what he had done. He did his duty. My family was drunk on power and corruption. They could not be excused for the suffering they have caused, and I can only spit upon their grave."

Seemingly calmed down, the king inhaled a large breath of air. Slowly, he released it. "Even my daughter was given barely a scant history of the failings of her grandparents. She learned, if not from me, then from the academy." 

The king turned to face Hagan with a decision already made. "Lord Ashton never took in a child, even those with incredible potential within this city. And yet, since the inception of our kingdom, he came before us with a favor for a child not born in this city. This child is special, even I can see it. And there's a reason my mentor chose him. And if the boy is anything like him..." 

Agis paled. Gods and curses! He never thought of such implications.

The saint was special in a way that was beyond even the highest classed levels within the city. There was plenty of speculation and rumors that the saint's level was above that of even ninety, which was unheard of in all the history of the kingdom. Even their enemies lacked such a powerful individual. And yet, if the boy had the same potential as the saint, the power he could possess would be limitless. Not only that, but the king has a chance to influence the boy to his side. By gods, even Agis has access to him. No wonder the king seemed so desperate. 

"Even so, sire, he is still too weak to go through with the procedure," Hagan replied. If Agis didn't know any better, he thought he detected a hint of frustration in his tone. "The boy's only level two. The chances of his death are too high to risk this," 

"Should he level now, it would only make the surgery that much more difficult." The king's tone was hard, this time. His tolerance for his aide had now reached his limit. "My decision has been made, Hagan. See to it that the division is informed of their newest patient."

Agis tensed when the king's eyes locked on to him. "You're not a fool, boy. Speak outside of this hall, and I'll have you charged with treason. Understood?"

"Perfectly, sire," Agis bowed low, stiffly. 

"Good," Hagan had already left, when Agis straightened his shoulders. "Tell the boy everything we've discussed. Privately, of course. I want you to act as his spy, and gain his trust. Then, await my call."

"Of course," Only Agis' training as an aide did he not stutter in confusion. He was to be a spy for the boy? No, he was expected to spy for the king as well. He had no idea what the king's plan was, but he will do as his king bid. "But, everything... sire?" 

The king chuckled. "Of course, mister Ballenbrin. I'm not so foolish as to put my kingdom at risk, all for my foolish pride. I'll make no enemy of the boy." 

"Sire," Knowing when he was dismissed, Agis bowed once more, before hurrying out of the hall.  

He felt a bead of sweat trickle down his neck. This was above and beyond his duties. Hagan assigned him to take care of a potential academy student, not the chosen of Lord Ashton. He knew this, of course, when he was handed the detailed report of the boy. He just hadn't quite realized how important Jor was until this very meeting. 

If he failed in his duty, he could kiss goodbye to whatever future career he may have had. He'll be working in a dead-end career as a librarian. Or worse, executed. Agis shuddered.  

When he found him, Jor had just finished eating his breakfast. If the empty plates on the floor were any indication, he ate well. 

"The chefs really know how to cook," Jor replied, as he drank from a glass filled with a golden-yellow liquid. There was awe in his voice, as he inspected his hands. That stopped Agis in his tracks. "I feel amazing...," 

Agis recognized it as a highly sought after fruit. The eldercloud mango was a rare fruit, naturally grown in the deeper sections of this very floor. They were, unfortunately, far too close to where one of the bosses of this floor rests. Once consumed, the effects would reinvigorate the health and mana in full and cleanses away any deficiencies, such as scars, illnesses or diseases (magical or mundane), and even malignant cancerous tumors. Only the most dangerous of curses and diseases of the higher levels could overcome the fruit's healing properties.     

Unfortunately, to cultivate and grow such precious fruits takes every hundred years or so. In the early rise of their kingdom, a number of farmers were dedicated to growing these precious fruits. Then, the Sunset kingdom agreed to a trade agreement with the fae, which had been in perpetuity since the beginning reign of their first king. One that the government has been trying to put a stop to, since... well, forever. The fruit was simply too precious. 

Still, the money that comes from exporting such fruits brings in hundreds of thousands of golden talis to their kingdom. It gave the king the monetary funds to expand on whatever operations he needed. The fact that Jor was eating one of such a fruit showed just how far he was willing to go, to not only earn the boy's trust but to please the saint. 

The goofy smile on Jor clearly showed just how ignorant he really was of what he had been given. Still, the effects of the fruit were as clear as day. There was a growing constitution to him, giving strength to those once sunken cheeks and baggy eyes. His normally pale-brown skin tone returned to a healthy golden bronze. His once limp and messy dark hair looked healthier, silkier. The once unsteady gait steadied, and his slightly shaking hands stopped.

"What is it you want to talk about?" 

Agis returned his gaze with a slight frown.  

"You're here. It's been hours since you've left me alone," Jor set the glass down on the nightstand. "Clearly you want to talk about something important?"

And so, Agis explained of the happenings of the kingdom.