Isaac
Tightening his bathrobe, a tall, lanky man yawned while looking out the window of his noble sealed house. Lots of forests, a small lake in the distance, and a canopy of trees. From all things considered the view was magnificent, too magnificent.
‘All of these really fit in university grounds?’
Appalled by what he thought as the university going behind their backs. The tall man left the room with his disheveled hair and crusty eyes.
‘It was a good sleep even with all the noise…’
In a good mood, he went down a flight of stairs and made a beeline straight to the kitchen. On the kitchen table right away he saw a very very large brown eco bag, with a note on it. Not even trying to bother with trying to inspect the bag, he went straight to the letter.
“Good morning or afternoon Isaac, I brought all the seeds of the campus. I hope this convinces you to help us! Well wishes, Antonette. Your friend!”
Reading through the entire thing, Isaac was surprised, first thing in the morning. Someone did a reverse burglary, well something like it when he noticed a pack of biscuits left half open with crumbs left on the table.
‘Boundaries, every single damn time… they don't have an ounce of boundary. Shameless.’
He was annoyed beyond honest degrees, but very much surprised when he looked back again at the ginormous eco bag. Full of all kinds of seeds, it was a monumental task with only like a night to gather them all in one bag then transport them to the place he stayed at which he only vaguely hinted at.
‘I guess I'll text them about considering it…’
Tossing the small piece of paper on the same kitchen table. Isaac, not wanting to spoil his mood right away in the morning. Stretched his back, scratched some itchy spots. Took a mug, and some instant coffee, now in a much more jovial mood he took a kettle and headed straight to a faucet.
‘It's a bit more green today.’
Happy at all the fresh sweet air, and the warm sun he opened the faucet. Throwing another wrench to his mood, only a single drop of water came out. After several more seconds he shook the faucet, from just a small tap to a violent shake. Still nothing, with only a single drop earlier.
After being a maniac for a dozen seconds he finally dropped the kettle on the counter. Opened the kitchen cabinet under the faucet and subsequently sink. Revealing a streamline of pipes and valves, feeling the pipes and such, they were neutral, no vibration or a slight of tightness to it.
‘Is the office trying to convince how much they need more investments?’
After feeling all the pipes, Isaac relented seeing how the problem wasn't on the pipes, rather there was no water at all. Leaving the pipes alone he opened the fridge, lights were a bit dim but he still felt the coldness.
‘At Least they still have electricity coming in…’
Sighing he took a cold pitcher of water and put some in the kettle he was holding. And finally boiled the water he needed for his coffee. Knowing that the cold water would take a bit of time to boil from the weak power supply, that he knew was a little bit of manipulation done by the university office.
Strolling to the large living room, Isaac scolded himself that he wasn't able to notice the green atmosphere of the whole suite. The trees were tall and healthy, the scent of flowers entered the AC. He could hear bird chirping while even inside.
‘They really outdid themselves with this, and they just had to annoy me about funds.’
Opening the front door to an open deck and porch, now he really began to love the great outdoors. Trees everywhere, vast swathes of green and even birds flew around. There was just something a bit off in the far distance, but aside from that, the lovely atmosphere overtook his worries.
Pondering thinking of what was missing or even out of place. Isaac was taken out of his stupor when he heard the kettle whistling. Jogging back he took his instant coffee, poured it in his mug, followed by the hot water. No more sugar or cream, just pure on unadultered coffee from a plastic pack. Then it clicked when he looked out the open front door.
‘Where are the roads? Where are the other suites surrounding mine?!’
Surprised, he ran to the back door, opening the door to a stoned and expertly paved patio with a built-in fire place and place for grilling. A high end and luxurious backyard if it wasn't for the fact that beyond the tall transparent metal fences were more trees. And through the trees was a large pond or small lake.
‘This isn't the university anymore…’
Chills ran down his spine, things became serious now. He didn't know if he was in a whole new world or just a very very vivid dream. The chirping of the birds, the rustling of the leaves to the winds started to look more and more scary to him now.
Feeling unsafe of what lied beyond the trees, he ran back, closed the back door and to the other side of the house to also close the front door he left open. After a moment of confused circling around the very very large house. Stumbling on his luggages and boxes strewn around. After the short panic he finally found the side door leading to the garage.
Heaving his lungs out, he entered his boxy luxury SUV. Opened the glovebox and took out a gun along with all the magazines that could fit inside. Pulling back the slide of his modern glock, his small panic died down a little when he knew it was loaded.
With a small breath, he left his SUV, made sure nothing was inside the garage with a quick sweeping look. And went back to where he entered from, popping right in the spaced living room and all the luggage with boxes he messed up earlier. Ignoring the mess he closed all the shutters or covered the window to make sure nobody saw inside.
After quickly covering all the windows on the 1st floor, he rushed again up the flight of stairs. Going straight to his room and opening one of the bags laid scattered on the floor. Going through a bunch of other stuffs until he came across a box with a drawing of binoculars. Swiftly opening the cover and taking the things out, he made another rush out his room, and to a study across his.
Crashing in the room, a wooden desk surrounded by dozens and dozens of shelves lined with books met him. Going across the entire length of the house, it was an amazing view considering there was also an open 2nd floor of the library/study.
But he could only marvel at it for only a second as he ran behind the desk. And opened a glass door behind it, revealing a luxurious balcony, flanked by 2 other balconies on the side too. And in front of him was a magnificent view of sparse yet tall and wide trees, compared to those behind the house. Using the binoculars, he peeked through a small opening left by the trees.
The fast zooming in of the optics made him look past the tree tops, thankfully the house had a second floor. While also being on an elevated ground, making him see through the sparsely forested area. To a green field, with farmers and animals on it, and behind it a large river with a small village
With his vision getting closer, he noticed that it was a rundown settlement, with its roofs were old and walls with moss. But it was blurry as he looked into the binoculars, there was a rising dust cloud. Looking at its source, he noticed a group of men on horseback, Knights, probably, in armor, on horses, with swords, looking real as the steel glistened with the sun, alarmingly they were making their way to his direction.
‘Either cosplayers or God himself put me in a different world’ Tiredly chuckled Isaac.
He didn't know what to think about, his current situation was literally no different from a dream yet it felt so real. His heartbeats were real, the smell, touch, he even felt a bitter taste. There was one thing he knew though, from all the history lessons and inherent evil of men. Armed people rarely came peacefully, especially if they saw all the common household decorations, that would be the highest luxury in a medieval world.
‘There isn't enough space for my car to go through, killing them all would just mean more would come to chase after me…’ He was tired.
First bloody thing in the morning he was already given a decision that could mean life and death. Isaac was just so done, his sighs audible, and eyes resigned showed his unwillingness to just continue on.
‘I just wanted to show my miniature creek dams, my new system for steel making, and help my friends with their stupid plot. Not to fucking die to a sword.’ Swaying from side to side, he finally let go a very long and soft sigh.
Doing a brisk and calm walk, he went from room to room, collected some stuff on a large box that people of medieval times would go crazy over and hoarded them all on the porch table. 12 small pocket mirrors, 1 human sized mirror he took out of the library. Each accompanied by whiskey, some textiles, chocolate bars, spices and one even had a purple bath robe to spice things up.
‘Pacem do, spero me pacem recipere… worse comes to worse, I kill them all, take what I can from the house, take a horse and escape. Best comes to best, I live…’
With a solemn look, he readied himself and took a look at the now clear silhouettes of the mounted men. Their banner he could see clearly, a red field, with gold plates all over and a pouncing golden feline, holding a sword. They were close, and Isaac was prepared, to die, to kill or to make a run for it. But most importantly make it all out alive.
****
Scaring a bunch of grazing sheeps, a contingent of a dozen knights, and a magister escorted a very talkative Prince. Excited, joyous and giddy even, a contrast to the men and woman around the royalty who had serious looks. They were after all going to a forest infested by a never ending fog that overnight seemed to disappear.
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“Maria! Do you see that in the distance? A house, a hermit Magister's house perhaps?!” The Prince gestured to a woman Magister riding beside him.
“Yes Alt– Prince Altheon, but I do not think it would belong to a Magister, there has been no Magisters borne from Eisenmark your highness.” A feminine, soft and serious tone said.
“Dear God Maria, stop doing that! Your voice with magic weirds me and the men out!” The Prince showed a white toothy grin.
On the Prince's left, a large bannerman could only shake his head after hearing the banter. Compared to what their Prince said, him and the other Knights were used to the oddities of the Magisters. But he did find the antics of his Prince as a small relief to something very very foolish they were doing. A charge to an infamous forest, with only a dozen Knights, even a Magister like Maria wasn't enough to convince them, yet through oath and duty they had to follow their Prince on an impulsive charge.
“We're getting closer! Monsters or entities of death, ready yourselves!”
With that said Prince Altheon closed his helmet's visor and leaned down forward to go faster. And said a quick prayer, seeing the actions of their Prince, Maria, the bannermen and all other accompanying knights followed suit.
****
Sitting down and waiting for the eventual arrival of the men. Isaac could only prepare, by prepare, he meant drink his now cold coffee. Ready his gun, wear some actual clothes, albeit covered by the bathrobe to mimic medieval clothing. And most importantly of all, proper footwear in the case of work boots he had stored.
‘I don't even know if we talk the same language. But I sure do hope they understand the meaning of my gestures.’
Standing tall with his shaking hands hidden in his bathrobe. Isaac with his foolhardy bravado stood with his chest puffed up while the armored, armed, and mounted man dispersed themself in front of him in a concave shape. In front of him was a young man, a little larger than him perhaps. Wearing an ornate plated armor, a red surcoat with a pouncing feline on it, and a rugged looking armet with its visor up, somehow staying up even with the same feline ornament on it, it reminded him of a similar luxury car brand that used a jaguar, but more expensive as it was clearly made out of gold.
After a moment of silent stares, Isaac, one against a dozen, standing still and silent. Unflinching yet in chaos, managed to give the stark gaze of the one opposite of him a firm nod. Despite the dozens of seconds of silence and tension, he still somehow managed to not crack a sweat be it cold or hot.
‘Either charge me now or speak…’ Isaac nervously and quietly prayed, he was buckling from the pressure, yet somehow his external appearance made him look steadfast.
****
Altheon
He was disappointed, looking at the tall lanky man in front of him who stood with a steadfast gaze, really didn't give off anything special. A rogue Magister maybe, or those who didn't affiliate themselves with any order, self-made mage, they called themselves. Looking more closely, he could only sigh.
The robes of the man though looked different, yet made with quality materials, same could be said for the humble abode. They were different, yet what caught the eyes of the Prince were the objects laid on a table by a porch. ‘Expensive’ Now that he took a closer look it all seemed foreign.
While Prince Altheon was busy inspecting the “monster” and the intricacies of things. He was not able to notice the man give a nod of greeting and acknowledgement. But those around the man did, they wondered as to why their Prince was so silent.
Maria, with her head covered by her robe, looked awkwardly at the waiting man in front of them to return the greetings. Although she knew a host should be the one to greet and introduce themselves first. She could somewhat sympathize with the man, in his perspective he was just charged by a dozen armed men, which he didn't know if they were friendly or came to plunder him.
Unable to take the silence and the growing weariness of the man in front of them. Maria, with her powers as a Magister, said something that could only be heard by her Prince alone.
“Prince, say something! This man is growing weary and your Knights are becoming callous the longer you delay.” She hurriedly advised.
Hearing the loud yet soft voice advising him, Altheon nodded and hopped off his horse. His bright red surcoat fluttered with the same bright red feathers on his ornamental helmet with a feline on it. He had a smiling face while facing the clearly surprised man.
“Greetings Sir, I know a dozen people, armored, with arms, and looking at you menacingly could be a bit threatening. But I assure you, as a Prince of this Empire and Governor of this lands none shall come to harm you or your abode. We merely came here to inspect!”
Listening to the Prince slashing through the thick tension from earlier like it was butter. Made Maria more flabbergasted than impressed, but her Prince's way of diplomacy did have an effect. That she had to admit, from the earlier atmosphere of suffocating nature. Altheon managed to get rid of it all and led any interactions to a good start, now to how discussions developed relied on the man in front of them.
****
Isaac
He was silent, the man in ornate armor and expensive looking fabrics of the era talking stuff didn't matter right now. As of the moment, he needed to slowly let go of his finger in the trigger. His heart was beating so much he could feel it trying to burst through. He nearly shot the uncaring eyes of the man in ornate armor who greeted himself as a Prince if he heard correctly.
The stares of the dozen other armored men did not help much. They worsened the situation with their deathly stares, as while he grew weary, they grew weary too. Their horses being erratic was a clear indication of the thick tension that wrapped over the entire would be front yard. Yet the man in ornate armor who called himself as Prince had a different look, an uncaring one if he was right.
His weary self, somewhat washed over by the words and actions of the so-called Prince. He finally answered, not betraying his outer look that was still as a rock. “Thank you, and apologies my name is Isaac Von Eisen, and your assurances will be taken to heart Prince?”
“Prince Altheon Von Altus, apologies for the late introduction, I hope you can understand my circumstances for having the need to drag an army here.” Altheon said with the same jovial tone as he leaned on his stead.
‘He doesn't care about this entire thing… he seems down?’ Isaac's brows furrowed at the information his instincts told him.
Chuckling softly, Isaac very clearly showed his discomfort. “Hahaha… that's something I hope I can understand soon enough.”
‘Tell me you damned Prince, is it death or life I see?’ Heavy were his thoughts yet the chaos in his mind betrayed any bravado.
The Prince meanwhile also shared a similar soft chuckle, but compared to the chuckle of the man he was standing face to face with. Altheon's was genuine, joyous even, that considerably eased the tension of his Knights and even the man in front of him. Their grave looks easing bit by bit, yet the man still stood with a serious look.
Maria, silently seeing the entire exchange and how the actions of the man they were confronting changed. She immediately advised her Prince right away. “Prince, please don't dance around the subject, be direct, I fear this man might do something stupid. He seems to have accepted, one wrong joke, he will do something harmful, I am sure of it.”
Turning ever slightly to eye the hooded woman behind the whole entourage of Knights. Altheon gave a small subtle nod still with the smile plastered on his face. A Magister he could rely on was a real blessing he thought.
“Ohh we mainly came to inspect this place sir. If you are unaware, this forest area was covered in a thick fog that never disappeared no matter the season. Story goes that this place is inhabited by monsters due to how many villagers go missing here. So I hope you can understand this, overreaction sir Isaac. If I may ask an insensitive question at this time, are you perhaps a Magister? A mage?”
Listening to what the Prince said made Isaac confused by all means. What he revealed was no different from a lie created by a toddler yet when explained by the Prince was an apparent truth. And while eyeing the Knights behind him, maybe mocking the reason could result in his head being lopped off.
‘Magic? If I bluff it out that I'm a wizard or something, they'll know right away that I'm a scam the moment I see an actual wizard. Scholar is something I should stick too, but that also means I'm harmless and they could easily kill me…’
Ultimately Isaac had to make a choice, he hoped the Prince bought his reasoning for what he was. He knew what Mages and Magisters were, Mages were those that could wield magic, Magisters in where he came from were glorified Professors. Yet if he took his context of a random man suddenly transported to a place where people wore plate armor with vast fields and animals for tilling. He was in his wildest dreams and could've been put in a medieval fantasy world.
“An understandable reasoning, commendable too, Prince Altheon. And regarding your question Prince, I know of no Magisters or Mage. I am merely a man of knowledge, you may refer to as a scholar.” Isaac said the last part with a curt bow.
“Oho! Are you saying you're not a practitioner of magic, or mysticism?” The Prince asked interestedly while putting his hands on his chin and raising his brows.
“Correct Prince, I'm a man focused on science, of nature, of understanding how elements behave with one another, and a little bit on the school of thought. A learned man, Prince.” Isaac confirmed with a soft smile.
“Your knowledge and wisdom as a learned man scares me then sir Isaac.” The Prince said while looking at all the things behind him.
“My homeland wasn't well versed in magic, Prince.” Isaac started to break a cold sweat at the Prince's probe.
“Ahhh, a foreigner, yet your name reminds me of the realm. But the architecture speaks foreign, the northern territories perhaps? One that doesn't know of magic yet claims ignorance of magic…” Altheon loosely said as he swung his head in thought.
Maria, listening through the entire conversation, noticed her Prince's odd reactions right away. Isolating herself and focusing on sounds of rhythmic beats, there were over a dozen of them, one came from her own. Yet she only had to focus on the farthest one, and it was calm, steady and strong too. After a small moment she finally looked up and said something only they could hear. “He speaks the truth with sincerity, my Prince.”
Again, nodding subtly to thank Maria, Prince Altheon let go of his thinking pose and went to his usual jovial mood. “But I see you're a scholar in Academia, an impressive feat Sir Isaac.”
Isaac, through it all, somehow managed to not panic, despite the Prince playing around the subject of what he was, and how he got there. He was safe, yet he knew it was because the Prince ignored the holes in his argument. ‘That was close, too close… but I can't leave this man unsated…’
“But your words are true Prince, I am a foreigner, and somehow though I have gotten here, magic or not. It has baffled my knowledgeable mind either way. And seeing how I trespassed your lands Prince, as respect and proper tribute, I offer gifts. Do please just follow me, on foot would be better as everyone will get something.” Isaac finally had a genuine relieved smile, he made it clear he was a foreigner yet he wasn't willing to share reasons. And to make sure people didn't take it in the wrong way, he took the opportunity to give the things he planned to offer.
Silently turning his back behind the dozens of men, he walked with steady steps to the porch, covered in shade and with a full long table. Behind him dozens of men in armor cluttered as they walked, while their similar surcoats of design were being pushed by the winds. The Prince and his Knight's steps were heavy, evident of their strength and power.
Not looking back at the dozen people who followed him, Isaac took his position behind the table. Without delay he waved his arm across all the common day goods that would be priceless in a medieval society. “For all the troubles that I may caused Prince Altheon, you and your men are free to take them. And this are yours, my Prince.” He pointed at the purple robes with a larger mirror.
Maria, staying at the back of the Knights was impressed at the glimpses she saw. A noble scribe, evident from the title Isaac presented himself as. Was rich, richer than what she and her Prince thought. To be able to give away mirrors was a huge show of wealth, coupled with the expensive looking robes and the purple robe. Spoke power, and now that she looked at the manor like house. She was further amazed, the windows were made from glass themselves.
Similarly, as the one to receive the most expensive piece of the pie. Prince Altheon was more than amazed, a human height mirror with a full purple robe. It was no different as a gift to the Emperor, yet the man in front of him gave it all away with a smile. All for a small trouble he caused, while yet not confirming his identity, of whether he truly spoke true as a Prince and not just some brigand pretending to be one. With his mouth wide, Altheon, from all the etiquette hammered into him could only give his thanks.
“Haha… now it feels like we're merely robbers sir Isaac…” Although he chuckled with a bit of shame, the mirrors were a necessity, and he needed a way to protect his image and get them.
“You fool yourself Prince, from what you've said I was a monster to be put to the sword. With this I hope I can change my image.” Isaac's smile turned real and wider the moment he saw everyone of them turned impress. ‘It's working…’
“You've given us so much sir, all of this is priceless compared to the few villages that expressed their concerns.” Altheon still argued, he knew what the man in front of him was trying to do, and his pride won't allow it.
“The lives of hundreds if not thousands matter more than my own, Prince.” Isaac's smile was growing by the second as he pressured the so-called Prince.
“The lives of a thousand ignorant men and women are worthless compared to the likes of you sir. A man of charity, knowledge and understanding, in fact you should be the one to manage all these villages. Replacing the foolish administrators I've put.” Altheon exaggeratedly proclaimed as he put his hands up.
“They were merely doing their duty to you and the people my Prince, please take all of my gifts for the troubles I've caused.” Isaac's sly smile twitched at the stubborn Prince who kept playing off the gifts.
The Knight's meanwhile were hesitant to even touch the items, if their Prince didn't accept the gifts then they too could not take it. And all of them were hoping Altheon would take it, all the Knight's eyes were practically shining when staring at the expensive looking mirrors.
Some thought of the price they could sell it for, the ladies they could court.
“Mama would love this when I send it to her…”
“Lyra's going to be jumping when she I give her a mirror!”
“If I sell this in the capital, how much could they fetch? I heard the crown was looking for mirrors…”
Yet those greedy thoughts couldn't be sated until their liege and Prince accepted the gifts. But Maria who stood back and listened to the voices and the hopeful murmurs, she knew the Prince was merely playing a game. He was already determined to receive the gifts, his pride just didn't want to be outdone, and he could already hear where the argument would be heading.
“Duty or not, foolishness cannot be tolerated, so do think, for all that you've given us. Why not…” Prince Altheon had his smug smile and words stopped when he heard something enter his ears.
“Recruit that scholar my Prince!” Maria shouted it in a moments notice, yet still managed to make sure only her Prince heard it. Despite the impulsive decision, Maria knew that Isaac would be an asset. After performing a quick scan with her mana, she felt the large library upstairs, the excessive use of steel for seemingly ornate things, the glass, the strange metal box. It all pointed to the fact that Isaac was some talented artisan, with the knowledge to mass produce clear glass, metals, and probably even dyed products. If she was right, Isaac was golden goose, and they needed something to trap a gold laying goose.
Subtlely nodding to let Maria know he heard it, Prince Altheon turned his smug smile to a sly one and continued his words. “… consider owning the few villages around this area. Better yet, I'll give you the honor of working for me, as my personal scholar.”
Not knowing if what he heard was true, Isaac blankly stared at the Prince. ‘my math isn't mathing, mirrors and robes equal villages and job?’
“Do you accept?” Altheon asked the surprised man.
Brought out of his stupor, Isaac, nodded for a few seconds, before finding himself not offering an answer. “I accept my Prince… it would be an honor to work for you.” Just like that Isaac managed to fix everything that worried him after he survived, a job was secured, he even got lands as extra, and found a way to secure all the modern treasures in his house. It was the best thing he could ask for and better yet he didn't manage to shoot a shot, things were great, Isaac thought.