章 113: A Grand Announcement

Helio was a time for rest. It was the most joyous occasion of the week, especially for the commoners. It was a day of rest and recreation, often local shops were closed but there were still foreign tradesmen and merchants not from Bren who would seize the opportunity to conduct trade with the locals. Taverns were still in operation, however, so it was a time of drink and merriment. Children would often play in the fields, a day where children could feel like children.

But today there was an announcement to be made and the commoners gathered to the square. A guard donning black armour went to the stage holding scroll and gave it to a robed official.

"Citizens of Bren, starting today, our gracious Lord Blackfyre, has declared that he shall pay for the wages of your children, in exchange for compulsory action." There were loud cheers among those in attendance which were most of the commoner population since they had great admiration for the Blackfyres.

"Long live, his lordship!"

"Long live, Lord Blackfyre!"

Shouts of joy reverberated, in Bren. Which could be heard all the way to the gates. After the shouts died down a bit, the scribe raised his hand to calm the audience down.

"This action is attendance in a university." The scribe look down at an audience, he was met by bewildered stares.

"The university is the new project of Earl Blackfyre, he will teach your sons and daughters new skills in the established institution, they can pick and choose what topics they like and they can make their own craft and help the wellbeing of Bren and Fulmen."

There were still looks of confusion, but the scribe just went on.

"We will teach your children a lot skills such as crafting, smithing, arithmetic. The state will teach them to be both scribes and artisans."

There was another round of cheers. In this era normally families kept their own artisanal techniques for themselves it was a way to preserve secret knowledge and retain it within the confines of the lineage. Learning from the state means learning the techniques of the private artisans of the nobility who are far more skilled than the regular folk. Meaning that their children could learn from better craftsmen incorporating it to the family style.

"The children will be ascribed a status of student, and they should not be obliged to engage in the family craft, the Castle will pay for them calculated on what type of trade the family engages in. Their wages will be paid in bank notes. This policy will start on next month after the day of birth of Lord Ezra. Right now, a structure is being prepared outside the walls of Bren for this edifice where your children will be taught. As for the details, your children will be oriented when they attend university the first time. This will be all."

The people were buzzing with excitement because each family could be paid a sum even if there was no profit for that day. Praises were sung in the confines of taverns toward this glorious policy of Castle Blackfyre

. . .

Meanwhile, the training grounds were jam-packed with people. There were decorations and cloth for shade set up draping over half of the area. Local nobility were present, they would not resist the opportunity to meet the imperial princess.

The local lords all over Fulmen flocked to Bren to meet her. The Viscounts of Thehl Edhil, Fexil Fenteri, Draginfel, Dragonorn, Crest Fellern and even the Viscount of Alyrne, who would usually miss meetings, were present in the training grounds to attend Ezra's lecture. All but Aaron, who was the Viscount of Abrosite, who was strangely missing because he was often the one who was always in attendance when Castle Blackfyre ordered summons.

"Looks like word travels fast," Ulric raised his eyebrows.

"Or, that they had been notified that the Imperial Princess was going to be present earlier than us," commented Heinrich. They recently got a report from one of their subordinates who the persons of note were. They wanted to know each viscount under the Bren under attendance. Other lesser nobles were written in another report.

"Looks like it's going to be hard to compete for the attention of the princess,"

"We'll see how this develops though,"

"Aye," nodded Ulric.

There was a slight commotion before the event started, that grabbed their attention.

"I am the Viscount of Certatio! Are you telling me I can't sit near the front?"

"I am sorry milord, but these are orders from Earl Blackfyre, and the sitting arrangements were already fixed. The children of the citizens of Bren take the seats on the front."

"Didn't you hear me, oaf? I told you I am a Viscount, I take priority over any commoner! You idiot. You don't know your standing. It's impossible for the Lord Blackfyre to insist in such stupidity. Ask him again, I doubt you heard him right."

The guard was sweating and he didn't know what to do.

"Si-sire, It is really what he said all the guards were briefed,"

His fists started to glow, light flames were glowing on his hands, "I TOLD YOU TO ASK HIM DIDN'T I?"

Reitz entered the fray, "Viscount Grimes, what brings you to Bren, you should have told me earlier that you were coming," Reitz's smile was broad as if he had met an old friend, however, the viscount was actually a vassal of Duke Terros.

The viscount was stunned for a while, "Earl Blackfyre, this guard has treated me disrespectfully, he would not let me sit in the front seats, he told me it was your doing? Is that true?"

Reitz chuckled, "Don't be alarmed, Viscount Grimes, all the nobles are sitting at the back actually. The real event starts afterwards. There shall be a banquet hosted at the back, and as you can see, we have set up shades for the nobles, children sit in the front because they are the ones who can benefit for this lecture while we mingle at the back. The lecture itself isn't important, it's getting to know the princess that is. Besides we wouldn't like sitting under the sun wouldn't we" Reitz gave a hearty laugh.

He looked as if he was struck by lightning and then he suddenly laughed," My good Earl Blackfyre, I am sorry I misunderstood. Yes, it is better to be at the back where we nobles are." the viscount nodded." Of course, the princess too would be in the noble's area, won't she?"

"In truth, there is a special area for her since she is a child after all, however, she will join us shortly after the lecture," reassured Reitz.

"Yes, yes, of course, Earl Blackfyre, I'll be on my way now," nodded the viscount as he chuckled and bounced toward the back of the training grounds.

"Looks like the Earl handled that gracefully," Heinrich observed as he whispered to Ulric.

"Yes, he seems very experienced in politicking, that's for sure."

The children from Bren were escorted to their seats, some wore shabby, tattered clothes, and others wore more decent clothes. Nobles who were closer to Reitz brought their own children with them, however, this was the first time their children attended because the lectures prior were catered to the commoners and they deemed it as a popularity event which their offspring needed not to attend.

There were stares of disgust from the foreign nobles at the grubby children. But they turned their faces back against them and continued their whispering.

The children wore startled looks, they didn't expect to see nobles and such a grandiose place for lectures. Normally Ezra just gathered them through word of mouth where they met at the back of his lab or anywhere there was space. The event today was too formal and most of them were startled especially the ones who attended the lectures regularly. They walked nervously as they saw the predatory eyes of the nobles gazing at them.

Hestia finally arrived with her grand entourage. She donned a fiery red dress that had bare shoulders and her hair was knit into a braid. Her skirt was flowing and was carried by handmaidens. Overall her outfit was quite eye-catching. Her elegance and demeanour was truly fit for a princess.

Everyone stood in attention upon her arrival. She waved toward the people and greeted them and nodded like a natural. Her smile was bright and contagious as everyone also smiled.

Ezra was at the back looking at the princess, "Hmm, I admit she is kind of cute when she is not going on a rampage," nodded Ezra as he whispered to Rycharde.

"Haha, I think you summed up womankind quite nicely, my liege," Rycharde chuckled.

When everyone had settled down, Reitz went on the platform and clapped his hands together. "Today, I have a few announcements to give you, before my son's address." He smiled broadly.

"First, I would like to announce that all orphans regardless of their magical ability will be provided for by Castle Blackfyre."

There was a half-hearted applause since the noble's didn't understand the benefit of the policy. In their opinion, it was a waste of tax money.

"Next, is that Bren, is making a University, a house of knowledge, open to all the citizens of Bren regardless of age, gender or status. This will be the first institution in the whole empire to provide knowledge to its citizens so that they will be able to learn and apply their skills for the improvement of the domain."

Another round of applause followed, but this time it was much livelier.

"It shall be compelled that all children shall enter this institution. The orphans will be provided quarters and given a stipend. As for those who are with family, they shall be given equivalent wages of the day's work."

There was a round of livelier applause as the children had clapped and hollered, which was met by contemptuous looks by the nobility. They were told by Ezra many times that he would like to build somewhere they could learn and it had finally come to a fruition.

"I envision that, through this, we can discover new ways of smithing, new ways of mining and improving farming and overall improving the lives of every citizen in Bren. This is an undertaking toward the future! This institution shall be called The Fulmen Institute of Technology."

There was even livelier applause among the audience at the concluding statement of Bren.

Heinrich was in amazement, "Such foresight, what a Lord, this is all an investment for the future, using the citizens as a big thinking machine, he might discover new ways of doing things or improving the current way we do things or make new products, for use as export,"

"Yes, this information alone was worth the trip," Ulric added.

"And now for the lecture, my son, Ezra Blackfyre," Reitz beamed truly proud of his son.