“This ring was made by my grandfather, when he worked in the mines of the Duchy. He worked for years breaking and gathering bits of rock left over from their daily smelting and refining. In a few years, he gathered enough slag to make a ring from the rarest minerals he helped to gather. It may not look like more than tarnished tin, but it was enough to gain my grandmother’s hand in marriage. When she passed, she gave this ring to my mother who gave it to me when I left the empire so that I would always have a reminder of home. I hope that wherever you go on your journey, young master, you will remember me and your home that waits for you here.”

Anthony picked up the ring and held it in his hands, hearing this story of a ring so ordinary and yet so extraordinary in its prominence, made him prize it above the fire gems in his possession. He placed the ring on his right pocket, and bowed before the maid, not like a master or servant but as a humbled student who was leaving one of his true masters of teaching.

“I will remember both, with the utmost fondness, Ms. Briar.”

“Hold on one moment!” Anthony turned around to see Delia standing behind him, next to the other maids Chloe and Eau staying behind to witness these proceedings. “We’ve got a few parting gifts ourselves, don’t we ladies?” She nodded to Eau and proceeded to remove a finely crafted chain from around her neck.

“When my mother was young, she lived on the mainland, in a village that was destroyed during a demon attack, but before she left she gathered one object standing amongst the rubble ruin at the edge of what was once a river bed.” She removed an amulet made with a strange stone that was grained like wood, but as silky as river stone sparkling like an opal. “Although the river was no more, and her village ruined, she carried this piece of her home for years, until she found a new home, a loving husband, and a large family. Over the years, she thought this stone was lucky and she gave this to me when I left for the Empire, hoping that I could one day give it to my family.” Her eyes grew tear as she looked at the amulet and right into Anthony’s eyes. “Although I have no sons or daughters, I hope this brings you luck to wherever you may go, young master.” She placed the amulet in his palm and he placed his hand on her shoulder.

“I was already lucky to have someone like you in my life, Ms. Eau.” He smiled as he pocketed the amulet with the ring.

Chloe approached next, unbuttoning a large broach she had set on her maid’s uniform. Holding it compared to the others it seemed somewhat lacking in appearance and prestige.

“I don’t have a fancy story like the rest of you galls, but when I was younger, I grew up in the Free States.” She gazed at the broach with a sense of nostalgia and happiness. “My father was a trader in the Free States, and helped ship everything from spices, to rare gems, to somethings that other traders feared to be risky and dangerous. On one voyage, he lost his cargo, his crew and everything but his shirt, but washed up on land and came across the old decaying bones of a large demon. Although he couldn’t take the whole thing, he managed to find a few small pieces and took them to a master craftsman. He traded a few of those bones for seven pieces of jewelry, one for his wife, himself, and 5 for his children. This piece was given to me but I traded it for passage to the Empire thinking I would never see it again.” She laughed at the next part of the story as if it was just amusing as it was fantastic.

“Once the lady Orsa took me to a high class auction, one of the objects was this very broach. I told the lady my story, and she bought it for a hefty price. Then she gave it to me without asking anything in return. She said, ‘love made this object, and love led it back to where it needed to be.’ I hope it will lead you where you need to be too, young master.“ Anthony sniffled at the sentiment of his mother.

“I’m sure it will, Ms. Chloe...” He took the broach and placed it with the other tokens. “...I’m sure it will.”

Finally, Delia walked up to him with a sense of overconfidence in every step she took. It was as if knowing her gift would be better than the rest.

“Unlike the other maids, I bring you not one, but two gifts.” She reached into her dress and started swinging around a small dagger type object in the air.

When she stopped she presented a small hunting knife in her hands. It was jagged and thin but glazed with a look of steel even though it was polished like a finely crafted stone knife. Attached to its bone handle that was fine as pearl, Anthony wondered how he never noticed her carrying it before since she knew him.

“Before I was a mage, I came from a family of demon hunters, in the mainland.” She held the knife to her face as Anthony examined every twist curve and cut. “We arrived at the Duchy where they don’t have demons, but we do have a fair share of greater beasts, like the bronze boar, the iron bear, and the stone lizard. On one such hunting trip me and my father came across a fierce, ruby salamander, one of the rarest of salamanders said to be born of fire itself. Although the beast is sacred to the Duchy and could not be killed, some things do grow back. My father managed to cut off one of its talons to which he made this knife. Although it may seem like mere stone, it's said to rival the talon of a dragon itself. Before I left for the Empire, he gave me this knife for protection. I only hope it will serve you faithfully as I have served you, young master.” He took the knife and held it in his hand measuring its weight and caliber.

Stolen story; please report.

When held the knife in his left hand and nodded in respect that this object would come in handy both practically and defensively.

“This is an extraordinary gift, one that I will cherish? Yet, you said you had another gift, what could possibly be better than what I have received?”

“I have a message from your mother.” He listened with caution since it must be important to share by proxy instead of in person which was forbidden tradition. “She knows that she cannot offer you help in these crusades, but she wishes to remember the words she has shared with you over the years, particularly about finding help in unexpected places?”

“...Tell her I thank her most gratefully and shall take this message to heart.” He nodded before moving past the maids and onto his carriage.

From the corner of his eyes, he spotted all four maids bow to the young master one last time before he made his way one the carriage. He instructed the driver to head to his pre-appointed destination. As he traveled with his remaining rubies, and the four gifts in his possession he began to think back on his mother’s lessons. One time he asked her about her time at the Pryo-kinetic Institute when he was only 10 years old. It was the subject of how she managed to graduate despite the loneliness of being both a prodigy and student of non-noble standing. She simply smiled and turned her cheek and began to weave a tale that he would engrave in his brain anytime he felt the same.

“When I was at the Institute it was the loneliest time of my life.” She looked into his eyes with quiet and sorrowful nostalgia. “I lived far away from my friends and family, and I was isolated from my peers for both my age and social standing. My professors worked me harder than any other student, to mold my potential until I practically collapsed. However, out of all my professors there was one I cherished most of all, not only because she came from humble standings such as myself but she had a unique way of viewing things.” Her frown turned to a smile when she imagined the face of his old professor.

“Her name was Zoe Gaia, and she had reached her first awakening when she was nineteen years old, but what made her extraordinary is that she managed to rank as Grand Master in only 11 years of training, the fastest recorded growth in the nation. Although most of her training methods were considered unorthodox and eccentric, she opened my mind to new ideas and new ways of thinking in the art of mage craft. In the midst of my isolation, she was the only one who showed me favor. In a way she was also my only friend at the institute.” She sighed with deep regret once more as the young Anthony sensed there was not a happy ending to this story.

“What happened to Ms. Zoe?” He watched as his mother's face quickly covered up her longing with a smile.

“Well, she tried for years to change the way we view magic as a whole, but the powers that be felt that her ideas were too radical. I heard the board offered her a nice retirement in the Duchy, but I’m to sure where. I tried to keep in contact but she became very reclusive afterwards. Every day I hope she’s still alive and still trying to teach.” She rubbed the tuff of his hair like a gentle breeze. “If you ever find yourself lonely and seeking friends, you should go out and find them because you might find an ally in the most unexpected of places if you keep your heart and mind open to new ideas.”

He thought about these words all the way to first stop on his arranged carriage ride. As they arrived at their destination the carriage driver stopped in front of a large building of stone and marble, surrounded by pillars paying tribute to various figures in the nation's history. Amongst these were interpretations of the 5 Sacred Flames standing at the center of a large glowing crystal, symbolizing the light of knowledge in the kingdom. Anyone who passed knew of this building and its history but the carriage driver called out the name before Anthony exited the carriage.

“The National Archives, sir?” Anthony stepped off the carriage to look upon his old place of employment, not as an employee but a humble inquirer. “Will this be all, sir?”

He walked over to the carriage driver and pulled out three large gold coins in his possession and placed them into the driver’s hand. His eyes practically lit up with shock as he saw thrice his yearly salary in his possession.

“Stay at the ready, I’ll be back shortly.”

“Yes, sir!” He said pulling his carriage off the park, expecting the next time they saw each other there would be more riches for his loyal services.

His journey ahead would be long and costly, but it required vital information. Having worked in the archives for the last 4 years he had known how things work for gaining information. You either had to know someone who knew the department and have funds to acquire their services. It was a common practice he learned quickly, even in the backlogs but instead of money or favors, Anthony prefered they donate a new book to his department. Many of these books were old and torn, but still had valuable information which had been compiled over the years.

He knew the head of records was an ambitious man, who could only be swayed by the power of greed. Hopefully he would accept a fire gem or two for tracking down the whereabouts of one Zoe Gaia and her latest places of residence. Another gem to charter supplies and transportation to the Duchy, and whatever was left to set up a place where he could track down the lost master. If there was any key to finding out how to unlock his full potential, perhaps it would begin with her. He didn’t know where he would find him or how long it would take, but in pursuit of this knowledge he was willing to risk his very soul.