The General wore his best attire, a coat made of finest fabrics, next to his wife Orsa who silently watched from afar. She could barely stand to watch, but her husband demanded she witness this event and not interfere in this sacred rite of passage. Tundra, Vera, Helena, and Anthony looked at their father as a beacon of honor and respect even if he no longer wore the colors of general.
“My children...” He began to speak, measuring each word as weight as tempered steel. “I send you out into the world not as your father but as a humble arbiter to the Sacred Flames and all who came before them. For in the time of our ancestors, the crusade has been a sacred rite that only five have succeeded in; Hestia the Soul Harvester, Prometheus The Fire Bearer, Hephaestus the Holy Fire, Zeus the Thunder Cloud, and Helios the Sun Bear. We know these patrons as the Sacred Flames, but like all of you they were cast out on a crusade in a quest for new knowledge and greater glory. Now, in homage to these saints, I cast you out into the world with only one gift bestowed from my vast fortune. Use these gifts however you wish to help you on the journey ahead.”
He nodded to Chloe, the black hair maid, who dragged a large box over to the Lord’s side as he approached his first daughter Tundra. Although it was heavy, she managed to push it along with each step, crushing the ground in front of her into an almost sand like surface. With this she was able to move the box slowly behind him as Leon began to speak.
“Tundra, I understand you’ve managed to gain passage on an expedition to the mainland.”
“Yes father, Admiral Nyx was most generous to facilitate my orders and grant me an outstanding recommendation given my achievements thus far.” She stood her ground like a well-trained soldier.
“I’m sure your mother will feel safer, knowing that this will protect you on your journey.”
He nodded to Eau who had made it by his side, which was his signal to open the chest. Inside she revealed a full set of armor shining with a ruby gloss, a scaly leather that was strong as tempered gems. As she gazed on every detail of the magnificent design and engravings on the armor, her father explained its heritage.
“When my eldest brother Theobald went to the mainland, he and his troops managed to take down a fierce red dragon. From its hides he commissioned a suit of armor to wear a sign of valor, but sadly it was finished too late for it to be of any use.” He stared at the armor with a sorrowful gaze in memory of his first brother. “As the youngest brother it was my duty to guard the homelands, so I never had a chance to wear this armor except for ceremonial occasions. Now, I give it to you, so that it may guard you in memory of who it could not protect.”
“I will wear it with honor, my father.” She said, saluting him in a traditional Imperial fashion.
She knew dragonhide was known for its durability so even though it was used second hand, it should still stand as firmly as the day it was crafted. On command, Eau closed the chests box and proceeded to take it to her personal carriage. With his 1st gift given, Leon walked over to Vera beside and nodded to Chloe to bring the second gift, a small bound book with a key attached to them.
“Vera, you still wish to pursue knowledge on advancing magic through elemental cooperation?”
“Y-y-yes father....with all my heart.” She stuttered, but stayed firm in her resolve.
“Then take this journal.” With a wave of his hand, Chloe handed her the book with the key attached to it. “This is a ledger of every book in my possession, along with notes on where to find specific information I’ve found relevant through the course of my career. The key is a key to the study, for which I leave my entire book collection to be donated in your name to the Nomiki Institute for future research and development.”
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“T-thank you, thank you, thank you.” She bowed in reverence.
Although the Nomiki Institute was not as grand as the Pyro-kinetic Institute, it treasured all knowledge as priceless as any rare mineral or student. A dowry of an esteemed General’s career would be price among her peers and guarantee her an instructors position, maybe even one day full professorship. She tucked the key and book into her hands, as her father walked over to Helena, whom out of all his children had been the quietest of all.
“Helena...” Leon shook his head trying to wipe off the growing smile from his face. “...It takes a very special kind of Mage to wield what I am about to bestow upon you. Even my Second Eldest brother Herald, the most gift mage of my family could not wield its full potential. With proper training and a tempered soul, you might succeed where others have failed.”
He nodded to Delia to bring over a large ebony case that she held with both arms. With one twist of a latch and swing of its hinges, she revealed a shining illustrious glow from within the box that rivaled the sun in its brilliance. Anyone who didn’t know much about this object would be dumbfounded, but Helena looked at it knowing the object inside was both appropriate and vital to her own advancement.
“This sword was made for the first head of the house of Erebus. It was forged from the essence of star gems, the rarest of elements found in the heart of dragons, and is said to be able to burn through anything, even Orchialcum. It is one of few made in existence for the process requires tremendous time and magical craft. With this, Herald could have become the first Emperor of this nation, but he chose to serve it instead as the highest house of Neoptolemus.” Delia closed the case and handed it to Helena. “When you wield it, remember that service is the greatest honor that an Erebus can bestow upon its nation.”
Helena grabbed the case and bowed to her father without saying a word or acknowledgement. She simply held the box by her side as he moved onto his last child, a son whom he looked in the eye with a deep and measuring gaze. Although Anthony was as cold as his sister Helena, in his mind he was calculating what, if anything, his father would feel fit to bestow to his non-mage son.
“Anthony...my son.” Was all he said before nodding to Briar to bring over his gift without much circumstance.
In her hands she held a large leather bag, normally used for carrying coins, but now it served a different purpose. From the top of the large bag’s slight opening Anthony saw that it was filled to the brim with large red crystals that shimmer with darker crimson cores that pooled like blood. They were shaved and polished, fashioned like spheres, and tied together with a leather string held together with clasp marked with the Erebus family crest. The symbol of a red dragon, standing in the bright sun, was dulled by the brilliance of the crystals that stretched the bag like large ripe melons.
“Over the years, I’ve amassed my fortune in many relics and artifacts that are considered valuable within and around the Empire. These thirty stones, fire gems of the highest quality, collected from demons, should suffice no matter where you will go. I’m sure they will serve you well for any expenses you might incur.”
Blair handed the large bag to Anthony and he immediately opened it, selecting a random gem to hold up to the light. He understood why they called them fire gems, for in the light of the sun, the crimson core of the gem came alive like wildfire moving around like a miniature globe. He had read that the crimson core of Orchialcum was born in the heart of fire demons and that they were born creatures like the Chimera and the Phoenix. In this refined state a gem of this size, quality, and lust would go for at least 800 gold sovereigns on the open market, maybe more on the darker circuits. If he could find a craftsman, he could refine them into a weapon like Helena, maybe a full metal plate armor like his sister, but these thoughts were not for his ambition. Anthony placed the gem back into the bag and weighted against his heart with a heavy breath.
“Am I to understand I am to do with these as I wish?” He glared at his father.
“That is your right.” Leon said, turning his gaze as he began to walk away.
“Then with your permission, I would like to make an altercation about this gift?”
All in attendance turned their eyes, at the young master’s emboldened words against his own father for the first time in his life. Leon simply sighed not knowing what to expect from his son, but knowing that it was something futile and possibly unconventional at best. Was this a power move or something more calculating for a talent-less son to curry more favor? Everyone listened carefully for what he would say next.