Chapter 74: Fordox 1
Even after two days the mansion was still under organization by the maids Ben purchased. During the time while Ben spoke to the City Lord, in the maid's quarters a small commotion was taking place. Gasps and words of disbelief was heard from each and every maids servant present.
"You have to be lying Tilly, I don't believe that dashing young man didn't lay you down." one of the senior maids said full of disbelief.
"I swear it. When I stood at his doors, he didn't even have his eyes on me, he had even rejected me from serving him. It was at that moment I thought I was done for, you all know how the master is when things aren't done the way he wants." this particular maid was the one sent to 'serve' Ben.
"What you said is true, but, then if he didn't lay you, why didn't you return last night and why haven't you been reported to the master?"
"I really don't remember what really happened, one thing I know, I was giving in to my fate but then everything went blank. The next thing I knew I was waking up in his bed with the blanket over me."
"No way!"
"Oh my god, what a gentleman."
"Wow, at least he isn't like that useless son of the master."
"!!!"
"..."
"You better know what comes out of your mouth young lady." the heads maid held the ears of the one who spoke about the young master and twisted it.
"Aw, Aw, Aw" she cried.
"Alright now, everyone to your post!" the heads maids shouted.
After dinner Ben was escorted to his room again by the same maid, she has wholly decided not to resist if Ben should really lay her down tonight. She confidently stepped in the room and was about to take off her dress, she had taken her bath twice for this occasion alone. To her surprise Ben's next words stomped her.
"Do you wish to leave this place?"
"Huh?" the maid, Tilly, made a dumb expression.
"I asked, do you wish to leave this place?"
"I do, I mean I'd love to but..." the maid started then stopped.
"But what? Let me guess, you have friends here and don't know how to start all alone in a new place." Ben looked at her and knew he had hit the spot. "What if I ask you and your friends to come work for me? At least these two night should tell you I'm not like what you would have heard about people who like playing hero. I understand, that is why I want you to work for me, as you must have known, I have bought a small place and have no one to handle the place, truth is I don't really have the time to look around for servants. So I'll ask again, do you..."
"Yes, oh yes." Tilly burst into tears when she heard Ben. Never in her wildest dreams would she believe she was really leaving this hell hole.
"Good, you present master only gave me a chance of picking twenty maids, so I'll be leaving you to choose your friends and capable servants to work for me, don't bring in core servants of this manor since their loyalty had already been given to the City Lord. I only need twenty worthy servants and I promise you will live a life much better than this, I hope I can leave this task to you..."
"...Tilly, my name is Tilly, sir." Tilly answered when she realized Ben stopped for her name.
"Tilly, okay. I hope I can leave this task to you."
"Certainly sir... I mean master."
Currently Ben, Stephan and Vivi were in the study. Knowingly or unknowingly, it looks like Ben has found himself loyal friends to serve him. He himself wouldn't know this now since he doesn't need them for now but in the future, these two will be a good ally to him.
"Guys, we may have known for a few days, but, let me reintroduce myself; my name is Benjamin Williams, son of Lord Williams from the Duchy of Kambel in Moonlight kingdom. I am currently at the stage of an Advanced Blacksmith and of course, a Chosen." Ben said everything in one breath.
"You're a noble?" Stephan asked with jaws wide open.
"Yes." Ben answered.
"And your father is a Lord?" Vivi asked from the side.
"Yes."
"And you are an Advanced Blacksmith?" Stephan asks again.
"Well, I still need practice to perfect my skill, but yes, I am." he smiled.
"And you're a wizard. Ben, I am so..."
"Not yet though, but like I said," Ben interrupts Vivi from apologizing. "all fingers are not equal, from here on out I will continue my journey to my school, I only pray nothing serious has happened since I'm late. Again, it is not your fault." Ben raises his voice when he saw the siblings wanted to apologize. "Why I decided to tell you all this, is that I will leave everything in your hands. I wish to see this place better than it is."
That night, Ben left Nalazi without anyone knowing, even the guards were none the wiser. Luckily The Phantom wasn't too far from Nalazi. Not 'far' was in other words a one week journey, that wasn't a problem for Ben.
During his one week journey he was able to make new discoveries. He found out that his elements didn't just take the forms of spells but other shape too, such as Armour of Ice, a cool Cape of flames, fire wall, he could even form shapes of animals however that took a lot of energy from his Flame halo and then strangely or not so strangely Ice Sculptures and weirdly enough, ice coffins, he doesn't even know how that would help but better something than nothing.
...
On the 24th day of the 11th month of the year, Ben arrived at a calm middle class city. This was going to be his final destination, Hamvester.
Hamvester is ruled by a Baron in his late fifties, he was already a Late Fifth-level elemental swordsman and to boot that, he even had his own wizards at his calling. He was a pretty strong ruler if you ask Ben when compared to his father, Lord Williams and the Lord of Nalazi.
For his father, whose fault would that be? The difference lies in the disparity between the two Kingdoms.
And like every other big city, merchants, immigrants, and civilians would have to wait outside and be checked in before given entry to the city. There is of course the small gate for much wealthier merchants, nobles and the rest, however, unlike Nalazi, Hamvester had a lot more intakes from that gate. Truth be told Ben was the only one without any other thing than what he carried on his horse.
"Have you heard what I've heard? It's the latest news so far." a merchant asks his companion.
"I've heard a lot, which one could it be?" his companion asks rather intrigued.
"It's about the Magic Institute, The Phantom." the merchant whispers.
"Hmm, what happened to The Phantom this time around?"
"Huh, you truly haven't heard about it? Haha, that would be 5 pieces of silver, hehe." the merchant says while stretching his hands to be paid before he leaks Abby information. Grumbling a little his companion handed him the money.
"I swear, if I ever find out this news is fake, your gonna pay me double my money." his companion warned.
"Ho Ho, you don't have to worry about that, my friend. If this news is fake then I'll pay triple the amount." the merchant proclaimed. Seeing the amount of confidence the merchant, he didn't pursue the matter and waited to hear the gist. "I heard that the Fordox Magic Institute attacked the Chosens that were being transported to The Phantom on their way here not to long ago. When the wizards from The Phantom sent a distress signal reinforcement came, but, they lost a few Chosen because of the ambush." the merchant sounded a little depressed.
"WHAT?! It can't be!" his companion exclaimed.
"Hello there," a voice came from behind the two. "This Fordox you speak of, why did they attack the other Magic Institute, The Phantom?"
"Hello, do you not know about the two rival Magic Institutes?" both the merchant and his companion were surprised and confused that there was someone who didn't know about the great rivalry of the two Institute. Unless... "Well, it depends on what your want to know and how much your can pay for my service." the merchant immediately showed his business side.
Facing the two business men Ben only shrug his shoulder then threw a gold coin at the man. The merchant caught the coin midair with a frown at first then opened his hand. Looking at that shiny gold coin he smiled widely.
"Keep the change." Ben's words only made the man smile with more glee.
"Ah, where do I start," the merchant says licking his lips with no reply he continued. "The Phantom was the..."
The history about the dispute between the two Magic Institutes Fordox and The Phantom went as thus; The Phantom came into the lands two centuries ago, they began as a clan, whereby, the original inhabitants of the land, Fordox, didn't mind them. They had believed they, The Phantom, a small sized clan, wouldn't pose a threat to a Third Class Magic Institute. Oh how wrong they were.
The Phantom slowly but steadily rose to fame, and so because of their expertise in runic magic, many bright Chosens decided to attend this seemingly small clan. Seventy years later, The Phantom was promoted by the International Magic Association to becoming a big size clan, only a step away from becoming a third class Magic Institute. This made the Fordox to take desperate measures to trying to suppress The Phantom as much as they can.
One hundred and twenty years later The Phantom was now as strong as Fordox. Students even from Fordox defected to The Phantom, and that was when all hell let loose. Fordox Magic Institute, because they couldn't use their sole strength to destroy The Phantom, they went as far as recruiting rogue Spellcaster just to increase their power, however, this has shaken their entire foundation.
One hundred and sixty years later Fordox and The Phantom waged war against themselves, the accusation being that The Phantom were stealing student from Fordox. The is a crime and goes against the rules stated by the International Magic Association.
But when The Phantom and the defects students were brought to trial, it was known that every defected student went on their own accord, they weren't threatened to do so. Some even had the backing of their parents and clan. Because of this the International Magic Association couldn't do anything to The Phantom.
However because the hatred was already built for more than a century and a half, Fordox continued to wage war. The inhabitants of Fordox began to change. Little by little rogue Spellcasters dominated. Little by little the actual inheritors of Fordox were cut down like chicken one after the other.
And who will they say were responsible? The new Fordox pointed fingers at The Phantom. Anyone with common sense knew that wasn't the case. Yet, no one could say so, for fear of being killed mysteriously.
With the change in power within Fordox, the new Fordox had taken things to the extreme, wanting to take over The Phantom and eradicate them all in the disguise of revenge.
How else can they do this if not to weaken the current foundation and future pillar of The Phantom.
Having learnt all about the situation Ben felt a little worried. Looks like he can no longer show his identity as a Chosen of The Phantom Magic Institute openly.
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