Eiden stopped near the intended location and rethought his decision. He never thought he would have to ask for help from a person he offended, arrogantly. So far he turned to people his family was closer and he himself felt a connection. He felt disgusted with himself, recalling the incident.

Evan was punished by Uncle for starting the fight in which they ended up breaking an age-old statue. So, he was elated in their next fight, when he was able to break Eiden's new belt, and laughed at Eiden's face in glee, knowing that he wouldn't be able to complain. Eiden was very angry, and he decided to play dirty and get back to Evan. This needs help, someone needs to look out. He recruited Raki, who was very reluctant at first, yet, out of loyalty, Raki agreed to help with Eiden's dirty work.

They agreed to meet just after the lessons finished, the only time Eiden could get away from the spy guards. They went to a plant nursery greenhouse, where Evan had been growing a few ornamental plants to replace the broken ones during the flash flood in the inner courtyard. He then released the bunch of big, fat, hungry caterpillars which he made Raki to capture from Palace orchards.

When he saw, the next morning, Evan was enraged and yelling at everyone, he thought that he perfectly executed his dirty trick. Eiden was still silently gloating about his success when he went to tend his finely grown magnolia bushes, which were almost ready to plant in the courtyard.

"Young master, may I speak to you for a minute."

Eiden was surprised to see Sage, a young Craig worker, from the town of Jayrose. Thanks to his mother's near obsession with roses, whenever they went to the flower festival in Jayrose, they met many florists and flower specialists, and Eiden met Sage and his family a few times.

"Oh, Hello, Aren't you Sage, from Jayrose?" Eiden asked.

"Yes, young master." Sage stepped into the greenhouse.

"What do you want to ask?" Eiden thought Sage might want to meet his mother.

"My newly made hybrid roses are in greenhouse three. Only young master Evan and I use that greenhouse. Yesterday, a horde of caterpillars somehow entered it and ruined most of the young master's plants and a few of mine." Sage paused.

Eiden felt his heart drop to his stomach. With an iron will, he stomped his squirmy insides and made a sad face.

"Oh, that's bad."

Sage took a moment before replying.

"Yes, young master Evan is complaining that it's my fault," he said, looking directly at Eiden, which most Palace workers wouldn't do.

"Young master, the caterpillars, I noticed, must have been collected from the berry grove near the second orchard, where my outdoor flower patch is. Is it a coincidence that the person who I saw collecting caterpillars, and the young master together went to greenhouse three yesterday evening?"

Oops. Is revenge going to come back and bite him? Eiden felt attacked. He took an arrogant stance.

"Could be…Are you accusing me? Sage,"

Sage's eyes blazed and Eiden felt the anger.

"Young master, I merely saw you, as my work was done for the day. I didn't go in to check after you. The next day, the plants were ruined." Sage answered.

Eiden knew the young man was barely restraining himself.

"Sage, look, I'm sorry about those plants, but what do I gain from ruining some stupid roses?" Eiden inwardly cringed at his own words.

"Young master, I worked really hard to get this position, I just started working here. Young master Evan has complained to the head gardener, and I'm going to be discharged from work."

Eiden truly felt sorry. But, if the word went out, Grandmother might send him away. He's not going to risk it.

"Too bad, you had been working close to caterpillar grove. Probably they came clinging to your clothes, Sage." Eiden tapped the young man's shoulder.

"You should have been more careful. If you get fired, this time, I'll ask Mama to put a good word on you next time." Eiden put his hand in the pocket, got a bunch of gold coins, and put them in Sage's side pocket.

Sage spluttered and tried to talk, but Eiden flashed a smile, and slipped away from the greenhouse, leaving poor Sage, offended and ignored.

Now standing near the village where Sage lived, Eiden regretted his mean and thoughtless words. But, he needed help from someone whose talent and dedication to gardening work were admired by specialists to work on Papa's only hope for survival.

Eiden bit the lower lip and resumed walking, recalling hazy memories he had of meeting that family. The large greenhouse with an arch of multicolored climbing roses resembling a rainbow hadn't changed over the years. So, he was in the right place.

A girl, possibly about his age, opened the door when he knocked.

"Who are you?" She questioned with a defensive edge. A small child peeked behind the girl, got scared, and ran away calling for their mother.

"I came to meet Mr.Heather" Eiden answered.

"Rosi, who's at the door?" a female voice came behind the girl.

"Someone asking for father," Rosi answered over the shoulder.

A woman appeared behind the girl, and Eiden remembered her. He slightly lowered the hood and put it back again, revealing his identity. The woman gasped and covered her mouth with a hand.

"You're the boy in the poster!" the child exclaimed.

The woman shushed him sternly, ushering Eiden inside, and closed the door after looking around.

"My lord," she bowed.

"I need to talk to Mr.Heather, please," Eiden said.

Mother sent the small child to the greenhouse, and asked Eiden to sit. Beautifully painted, handcrafted wooden carvings of numerous flowers, and pots of indoor plants gave an artistic touch to the cozy living room. The front door opened and Sage entered holding a basket filled with plums, which he gave to Rosi.

"Father needs a few minutes," he said, removing the boots. As he walked to the living room, where Eiden was sitting, set eyes on the stranger for the first time. Eiden had lowered his hood, completely, and watched sadly as Sage adapted a murderous glare.

"You?" he snapped. His mother tried to quiet him, but Sage wasn't having it.

"Oh, is the little lord in trouble?" he mocked.

"I'm sorry" Eiden stood up. He didn't feel comfortable sitting when he was threatened.

"Sorry? For what? Ruining my work or getting me fired? Or making it impossible to find work anywhere?" Sage asked. His words were harsh and waves of anger came from Sage.

Eiden shrank back and hung his head down. He wanted to leave, but he had no other person to ask for help.

"Get out." The words bellowed like thunder so close to him, that he almost jumped.

"Sage," Sage's mother tried to intertwine.

Eiden's pride was hurt, but he knew he deserved it for the way he acted in the past. He mumbled another sorry and went to the door. But, before he reached the door, it was opened by a slightly taller and plump, pleasant-looking man, whom Eiden recognized at once as Sage's father, Mr.Heather.

"My lord," he bowed low.

"The lord that got me fired papa, get your high and mighty ass out of our house." Sage spat and a slight magical push sent Eiden almost crashing into the door.

"Sage, stop." Mr.Heather ordered the angry young man sternly, which didn't match his pleasant demeanor.

"Come inside, my lord," Mr.Heather invited. Eiden meekly stepped back inside behind the older man.

"Tea?"

"No, thank you, Mr. Heather" Eiden shook his head.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

"The story is that the young lord was taken by someone. I'm glad to see it's not and you are well. What brought you here, my lord." Mr. Heather asked without paying attention to his enraged son.

"I need some help to grow a special and ancient magical plant,” Eiden answered.

"Papa, you're not thinking about working with this, are you?" Sage interrupted. He turned to Eiden glaring.

"You got me fired, and now going to get my family killed?" he yelled to Eiden's face. It was risky for anyone to help him, so he didn't deny the accusations.

"Is that true, my lord, are you the reason Sage lost his apprentice work at the palace?" Mr. Heather asked.

Eiden nodded.

"Yes sir, I put those caterpillars in the greenhouse and didn't tell anyone," he confessed.

"I'm really sorry." he bit his lip and looked at Mr.Heather, expecting a kick in the butt out of the front door.

"Helping you can put my family in danger. Why do you want this plant?" Instead of yelling, he calmly asked.

"I can't go into details, but, I'm trying to find my parents, and this plant would save the life of the person who is helping me.” He felt that he was wasting precious time, and standing up, he bowed at the family.

"I'm sorry for disturbing your evening and endangering you with this visit. I'll leave, I only ask you, please don't alert my uncle."

"My lord," Mr. Heather called as he stood up.

"I'll help you." He said. Eiden was surprised.

"Papa, what did this brat ever do for you to agree to get us all killed?" Before he spoke, Sage interrupted, raising his voice.

Mr. Heather looked at his family and back at Eiden, who was chewing his finger and sporting an anxious look.

"I'm not doing anything for this brat."

What. Eiden felt anger, building up. Did he lie a second ago?

But, Mr. Heather didn't stop.

"I'm doing that as a service for what his family has done to our society. When I was young, it was hard for us Craigs to make ends meet. We weren't paid higher wages and ridiculed. Lady Eunthae worked so hard to change that even some Nesol aristocrats opposed her work. Thanks to that, now we enjoy a quality life." Mr. Heather looked at Eiden, without a speck of anger in his eyes.

"I knew Lady Enya since she was young, much before this brat was born. I can't ignore an opportunity to help somehow to find her."

Eiden felt his eyes getting wet. He gulped and thanked Mr. Heather.

"What should I do, my lord?" Mr. Heather asked.

"I need you to take a magical oath and come with me. I might not be able to come here afterward, so you need to be at my hiding spot." Eiden said, bracing himself for rejection, it was too much to ask.

"Magical oath? Papa, are you mad?" Sage laughed an ugly laugh.

Eiden turned to Mr.Heather.

"Please don't misunderstand. I have other people with me, and I am responsible for them. Magical oath is not to betray me, thus, I can ensure my people are safe." He said with the dignity of his position as their leader, even though he considered them as friends.

"But Papa, How about your joint pain?" Sage's mother asked with a worried expression.

"Oh, are you sick? Mr.Heather," Eiden asked, he didn't realize that before.

"It's only a little joint pain, nothing else. My lord. Let me fetch my tools and potions." Mr. Heather stood up. Eiden noticed a slight limp when he moved.

"No," Sage held his father's hand.

"I'll go," he said.

"Father won't even be able to run if something happens." he sent Eiden a withering glare.

"Sage, with your anger, you're only making more trouble for the young lord." Mr. Heather said to his son.

"I'll take his stupid oath. Alright?" Sage opened the door and stormed out to the greenhouse. Eiden was baffled and had no idea what to say.

"My lord,"

Eiden looked at Mr.Heather who was slightly smiling.

"Sage is a good lad. A little rebellious, but trustworthy. And very talented, he will help you with your work better than me."

Eiden was not so sure. Nonetheless, he accepted Mr. Heather's recommendation, because he had no other choice. Sage brought a satchel with tools and they shared a magical oath. Sage said goodbye to his family before Eiden teleported themselves to his next stop.

His next stop was Mashu's bakery.

"Please stay quiet," Eiden told Sage.

They sneaked to the house and Eiden knocked on the door. Mashu opened the door and he was holding a toddler, surprised, but hurried them inside.

"My lord" he bowed, leading them into the kitchen where the windows are only open to the backyard.

Mashu pulled a chair, but Eiden didn't sit. He was looking at the toddler who was alarmed at the sight of hooded strangers, and his lower lip was wobbling like going to cry. Mashu patted him on the back.

Eiden looked at Mashu's face and the toddler. Nothing was said between them, but everyone heard a whole conversation. Finally, Eiden managed to speak.

"I'm going into a very dangerous place where my parents are trapped, I can only hope I'll be able to find them. But, if I get them back, I need someone to protect them, as they may be weak, hurt, or sick."

Eiden almost jumped by the sudden clattering sound that echoed through the kitchen. Mashu's wife had dropped a kettle, and the toddler started to cry. Mashu gave the crying toddler to his wife, who was trying to stop crying herself.

"How many?" he asked.

"Four to six, strong, and can teleport long distances with an unresponsive group.”

Eiden learned about being a leader of the country, and in the army. But it was all in the books, and training sessions in the Palace surrounded by bodyguards. After lessons, he was hugged and kissed by his parents, was dressed in silk by maids, and then feasted on luxury food as he threw the military responsibilities out of the metaphorical window. Now, he's looking at a family that he's going to split, and asking a man to walk to possible death.

"I can give a secret signal, we worked out one. They will act casual, like leaving for the pub. If they are working, they will respond with a "no" signal. Shall I call them my lord?"

Eiden pondered a bit.

"I already made a huge ruckus a few days ago, do you trust these people not to bring a guard here?"

"I do." Mashu scratched his beard.

"Call them."

Mashu started to call around, and they were waiting in his warded room. Not so discreetly, Eiden checked for a trap, and he thought Mashu noticed, but didn't tell anything. After a few tense minutes, they heard the first knock and someone coming. Eiden felt like he was sitting on a porcupine that was on fire.

Mashu opened to reveal a soldier in civil garments. Eiden thought he remembered the soldier. Mashu pointed at a seat to the guest. Second and third came, if anyone wanted to talk when they saw the cloaked strangers, they didn't. There were three people. Eiden thought that's all. Until they heard another knock. Mashu was looking disturbed.

"Stay here" he went out.

Eiden tried to stop feeling that he was going to be betrayed. After hours, though he knew just a few minutes had passed, the door opened and Mashu entered with a young man.

Eiden was surprised by the familiarity of the young man. And he heard Sage muttering something under his breath. Eiden removed his hood and waited a second for someone to attack him. He looked at everyone, and only saw a little surprise.

"Hello," Eiden bowed.

"My lord,"

They introduced themselves by name and military rank.

"Simon, first commander, second platoon, imperial league.

Marcus, first commander, third platoon, imperial league.

Gorga, Marshal, third platoon, imperial league, promoted from dion league.

Raki, Captain, first platoon, imperial league, Mashu called my father, but he's busy, and I came instead."

"I need help with a dangerous task." Eiden simply and directly stated his need.

"My lord, pardon me, you look like young lord Eiden Northstar, but I'd like to see proof." Simon, A tall, bearded man, whom others saw as the unofficial leader of the gathered party said.

"What proof would you accept?" Eiden knew what they wanted but still asked.

"The heir ring," Simon stated.

"Lord Hadrian's family bracelet." Marcus, a red-haired tall man like his father, Eiden faintly remembered as a grandfather's student, pointed to his hand.

Both of the jewelry they asked for was the ultimate proof that Eiden was the real young lord Eiden Northstar, as they were blood-bound to him and couldn't be worn by anyone but him.

Eiden took a deep breath, removed the wristband covering his wrist, removed the wards covering his rings, and set his hand on the table for others to see them clearly. Then, he conjured balls of fire and water in each hand.

Simon and others deeply bowed.

"What do you need, my lord?" he asked.

"You need to come with me to an island near the fallen city, where I'll be getting my parents out. This is not a task for the weak, or faint of heart, as you know the fallen city is riddled with a lot of dark magic, and as soon as you are detected, you will be attacked. There's someone very powerful who will take the lead in my absence, you need to assist him to defend the place.

I'm supposed to be back in a few minutes. But, I can't say for sure. If I come with them, or without them, or if only they come, we all could be only illusions of dark magic, that's why the other person with us is important, he will tell you if so. You need to take us and escape."

"I am going with lord. If any of you are not, I hope you won't betray others." Mashu spoke for the first time.

"What are the odds you will find the lady and the lord, my lord?" Gorga, a broad-sized man, asked.

"Yes or no. They might be dead all along. Only, I know it is the place they disappeared. I'd been searching for a long time." Eiden answered.

"My lord," Marcus slightly bowed.

"Pardon me for speaking my mind. I know you're strong, I've seen you train. I'd heard Lord Hadrian talking about you. Yet, you're about a year or so short of age. And might only reach my chest height, possibly weighing less than half of my weight. Just a few years ago, I saw you jump from the Gazebo rooftop to lord's arms. Shouldn't we accompany you, wherever you're going, rather than wait?" He looked down at Eiden.

Eiden felt like his face was red enough to be a tomato. He smiled shyly and shook his head.

"There are some things I can not tell you here because it's going to endanger the people who are supporting me. If you swear not to betray me and come with me to my friends, you will hear why I have to go and why it's better for you to wait. For short, my mother is the one you should protect, and it's on her survival, the fate of you, me, and our world will depend on."

The men looked at each other. For a long minute, no one talked, and then almost at the same time, Simon, and Mashu stood up, others followed shortly.

"We will," Simon said.

They exchanged a magical oath. They showed that they were all wearing full armor under their clothes. Mashu wore his and kissed his wife and the baby. Eiden gave them a link to follow him to the backyard of the now isolated cottage.

"We are going to the safe house, I'll take a break in the middle. I'm not good at long-distance teleportation."

They touched Eiden and after two short jumps, they arrived at the small wooden cabin of the hermit. The door was closed, but light was burning inside.