Chapter 1: The Noble and the Fool
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The noble lady of Saclea opens her eyes. Remembering a memory made the lady nostalgic. A bloody memory of childhood it was, but the noble lady of Saclea could not help but smile at that old dream. Her aspirations started that day. She was so spellbound by the way the white-mantled female knight saved her that she deemed it her righteous path to follow such honorable profession. Her family, the Noble House of Saclea deemed such aspirations worthy of her noble blood.
“Surely I would become such noble one too.”
Sena said, a smile floating upon her face. It was a new day. The sun coming through the patio door was enough for the lady to know that it was time to get up. She raises her body out of the soft bed. Made of fine materials, such a line, stuffed with the finest cotton the farmlands of the Kingdom of Altria can offer. The lady glances at the unruly bed of hers. As a noble, she didn’t even try to properly make her bed.
She unclothed herself, revealing her snow white back. Walking to one of her closets, she picked up her blue dress embroidered with golden lines. Her dress has a crest; it is the crest of her noble family, tailored to be shown her family. Sena belonged to the noble of Saclea. A house of nobles that fought many wars and conflicts found in the continent of old. The house has many histories and in particular one of them is their might. Blessed by Champions of Old, the Noble House of Saclea has a rich bloodline that not many could obtain.
Sena adored her noble house. Her family was haughty, but they were right to do so with the might and riches they have, one could say that they can act as confident as they can be, as long as it does not tarnish the good name of the House of Saclea.
Sena wore the dress. Looking at the polished mirror near her bed, she inspected herself, before combing her hair neatly. Tying her blonde hair neatly with a braid, she took her decorated sword made by master smiths and rang the bell near her door.
Sena waited for her servant to appear. And for about three minutes of waiting, the door opened. A man garb in black appeared. This man wore a black vest and a tailcoat. He has a fine brown hair, and his face was above-average, enough to have this young man called to be as handsome.
“You are late Bruno.”
“Apologies milady, I have been helping the other maids from their work.”
“Helping, are those servants so incompetent that they cannot do their work without you?”
“Not really milady, I merely think that helping them would make the chores faster.”
“Hmph, enough, the morning is near high, I would like to partake in my breakfast. Today, I cannot be late to my classes. Mesh Academy has no care for nobles that are slipshod.”
“Indeed, I shall have the breakfast ready.”
Bruno bowed his head. He left Sena in front of her door as he orders the other servants living in the villa to prepare the breakfast. Sena didn’t mind Bruno leaving like that rudely. She was able enough to go down the stairs and locate the table that was being prepared for her.
The maids and servants greeted her as she passes by. Her head up high, and her chest proudly sticking out, Sena sat on the chair, took a knife, and thinly slice on a roasted beef finely cooked by her chiefs. Eating with pace, yet with utmost grace, Sena partakes on her breakfast like usual.
...
After finishing her breakfast, she went to the armory of her villa and equipped her chest armor. The Academy of Mesh, the City’s Mesh’s fine learning place where Knights and Mages are born allows anyone to bring minor protection. As a noble, she was granted the right to wear her proud armor. Mostly, the students of the Academy are bound only to carry their weapons.
Sena fitted the armor and went to the entrance where her follower, and servant, Bruno is waiting. Bruno is a minor noble that serves the Family of Saclea, his house has been allied with the Saclea Family since ancient times, hence allowing Bruno’s family, the Melchor’s, to hold a last name. His family has served the Saclea, and thus he was chosen to serve under Sena.
“Are you ready milady?”
“Yes, we shall now walk.”
Declaring that, Bruno opened the doors of the villa. Revealing a cityscape filled with buildings composed of bricks, stones, and marble. The tiled hipped roofs were lined as far the eye can see.
This is the City of Mesh. The city where the Kingdom of Altria’s finest students are honed to be sent into the battlefields in the middle of the old continent where they could face the current overlord threatening the peace of the Southern Continent of Old.
Sena Saclea has studied under this place for three years now. She was now a senior readied to have her mettle tested soon. She can’t afford to be late so she and Bruno walked down the path that leads to the foothills out of the noble avenue. She lives on the noble avenue. Like her, the other nobles were living in the avenue, separating themselves from the commoner’s that lives under them.
Sena walked gracefully with light steps. Approaching the end of the downhill path, she a commotion. She glances at Bruno to check it out. Bruno nodded and inspected the scene only to see a young man held down by two squires. Sena followed after seeing that Bruno did not gesture her. Looking at the auburn haired young man with vacant eyes, Sena wondered.
“You dare touch my clothes mongrel!”
“I was only preventing you from hurting that old peddler!”
“Silence mongrel.”
The young man with auburn hair refuted only to be struck by the noble. The two quires were holding him down, yet they struggling. Sena found the scene troublesome. And because they were on her way she stomped her foot.
“Out of my way you bunch of fools!”
“Who dare-“
The noble uniformed in the garments of Mesh Academy turned to Sena. He was about to speak his mind but seeing Sena, and the crest on her chest armor. The noble shut his mouth, he straightened his posture and greeted Sena.
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“Pardon me...milady.”
“Hmph, I don’t need your greetings. Just get out of my way!”
The male noble bit his lip. He gestured at his squires and knocked the auburn haired young man before dragging him down to an alley. Sena did not care much about what the male noble did. She merely signaled Bruno and left the scene, not daring to be late to her class.
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Arden dreamt of that day where he was saved within a circle of fire. Opening his eyes, he found himself in an alley, facing the sky and a young woman with brunette hair staring at her with the utmost worry.
“Susan?”
“Hello Arden, fought someone again I presume?”
“Yes, what time is it already?”
“Enough for you to be late at every training in the morning, it is already midday helpless magus.”
Arden looked up to the sky. It was indeed high noon. He seems to have slept for a while in the alley.
“Looks like I really slept for a while huh?”
“Slept? Your head was bleeding and there bruises all over you! What do you mean you just sleep a while?”
“Whoa, calm down Susan...”
Arden tried to appease his friend. Susan was a person aiming to become a nurse, an aspiring healer that aims to help the people around her, a devotee of light, and a friend to Arden, a person that was left with Susan's family after his foster dad, who didn’t even name himself to them, died.
Susan has grown with Arden since she was ten. So seeing this friend of hers, that was nicknamed as the helpless magus. She couldn’t help but worry and get irritated.
“Can you stand up already?”
“Okay, okay...”
Arden stood up. He felt like the blood on his auburn hair was gone. So he only looked at his long sleeved shirt with a tie and vest. It has blood stains. He then glances at his waist cape, the symbol of his apprenticeship in Mesh Academy as a lowly magus. It was a bit dirty but enough not to notice.
“It looks like I am fine.”
“Sure, if it wasn’t for someone informing me that you were beaten up by a noble then you would have bled to death. Seriously, can you stop being helpless?”
“Sorry...”
“Gah...”
Arden did not plan to change his ways. His old man, the nameless foster dad of his that would take him to help people out, molded him this way. Arden could not remember his old family. His memories when he was a child. Or even a single bit of the faces of his parents. He lost it all during that night. And only his nameless father, that he only called 'father', who was also only known as 'Sin'. A self-deprecating name he branded himself. In order to grieve for the sins, he created during that dark night.
“Listen here Arden, I know that you are really helpful towards others but can you for once take care of yourself?”
Susan said. Arden turned towards her. His vacant eyes that were recalling his father lit up.
“I will. But I don’t think I can help myself, Susan.”
“Really, no wonder they call you as the helpless magus, always ordered around, not even bothering to refuse them, a yes-man of a magus.”
“Hey, I am not a Yes man.”
“Then can you help me get to the class and carry my belongings for me?”
“Sure.”
“See?”
“Hmm, well it is you so how could I refuse you?”
“Good point.”
The two refuted each other. They were close enough to talk like normal. Not minding each other sexes. Arden and Susan have a brother-sister like a relationship. And most people know them as the brats of the Cher’s Inn—where they live together along with the owners, who are Susan’s parents.
“You better go now, Arden. The people in your class are probably going to give you an earful.”
“What about you, going home already?”
“Of course, unlike you, I am diligent and studious. So see you around.”
Susan said while tapping her staff to the ground, eventually disappearing into the crowd. Arden looked at the direction where she goes before pointing his eyes at the building located in the far corner of the city, where the Academy of Mesh lies. Sitting near the castle, Mesh Academy is well known for their ability to hone students into becoming fine Knights and Mages.
Arden is an apprentice working on the lowest tier. His father hated his magus line. But even so, he taught Arden some of his skills for self-defense and protection to himself.
“I better go.”
Arden knowing some magic didn’t mean he was great. That is why with a bit of haste he went to the academy to train.
...
Arden met scolding with his instructors. He was punished and was deprived of learning as punishment and was told to clean the library. In the library of Mesh Academy or at least the lower class ones has enough basis to teach even the foolish. Arden usually helps out here so he was familiar enough where to clean up and put the books around. After his menial task, he left out to the walls where the other lower class students of Mesh Academy reside.
In the Academy lies a hierarchy. The Higher Class for the nobles, royals, and geniuses. And the lower class, the bottom where people like Arden who doesn’t possess a last name dwells. It doesn’t really bother Arden. But as the helpless magus of the Mesh Academy, there are times that those of the upper class would mistreat the lower. Making Arden act up, and due to that Arden has gained quite a reputation as a meddler who can’t help but stick his nose where it doesn’t belong.
Arden is quite someone. He merely helps everyone out of guilt. In fact, the reason why he is studying as a magus was to help people. With the war against the overlord of the north growing more intense, he decided to become someone that is able to help the people out of there. Not because he aspires to become a healer like Susan, but because of Guilt, and repentance for surviving during that dark night where he was saved.
Out of Guilt, he would help people. And despite his poor abilities as a magus, Arden dares to strive just so he can repay the life he is living.