章 15: Threat

"You don't seem particularly surprised," remarked Thomas, gazing down at William with a sidelong glance.

"And you seem disappointed," mused William, meeting Thomas's gaze with a smile.

Though his left eye twitched slightly, Thomas maintained a smile of his own, asking, "Why would I be disappointed?"

"Why, indeed...?" asked William, breaking eye contact to take stock of his surroundings.

Seeing William look away, Thomas's blue eyes briefly narrowed into a withering stare. Some of the Knights and attendants accompanying them had similar reactions, but they remained silent and performed their duties, escorting William and his entourage to a large, elaborate, heavily armored carriage that had four spoked wheels but was currently floating above the ground, made flight-capable by the bluish-white Magic circle beneath its chassis.

Gesturing to the carriage, Thomas stated, "If it pleases the Young Master, our itinerary has you checking into your room at the estate, meeting with the current Lord, and then touring the city. If you would like, we can also ferry you to the Royal Academy to meet the Headmaster. I'm certain your esteemed elder brother would also be enthused to see you."

"Then I would have you send messages to arrange a meeting at their earliest convenience," mused William, stepping past Thomas with his hands behind his back as he added, "Showing up out of the blue and expecting them to drop whatever they're doing to entertain me would be rather...inconsiderate. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Indeed..." responded Thomas, his voice a bit lower as he closed his eyes and bowed to avoid William's gaze. Unfortunately, William wouldn't let him off that easily, stating, "Come along. You will ride with me," as he boarded the carriage.

Though he wanted to refuse, the warning look he received from Therese, Ryza, and Amira compelled Thomas to board the carriage, albeit with a clenched jaw. As for the three girls, Therese moved to replace the person operating the carriage while Ryza and Amira inspected the chassis and Magic circle for tampering, much to the chagrin of the escorting Knights and attendants.

"So, how long do you plan to keep this up...?" asked William, his words directed at Thomas, but his gaze focused on Ryza and Amira, awaiting their signal.

"Could the Young Master be more specific...?" asked Thomas, feigning ignorance.

Seeing Ryza make an OK symbol with her left hand, William turned to meet Thomas's gaze with an intense, penetrating stare, causing the latter to tense as it wasn't the kind of look one would expect from a boy of only ten. William looked closer to twelve or thirteen, but that was beside the point.

"Look," said William. "I understand that you probably feel like you got dealt a shitty hand. It can't be pleasant knowing you were born to serve and that your father's status and authority will invariably be ceded to an 'outsider' rather than his firstborn son. But suck it up. Your position is far from the worst, and the only people who benefit from you behaving like this are our enemies..."

Furrowing his brows, balling his fists, and clenching his teeth, as he was ultimately just a fourteen-year-old kid, Thomas hissed, "Don't speak as if you know everything. You have no idea how hard my father has worked to protect the main family and frontier territories!"

"Isn't that the reason I'm here?" countered William, stoking Thomas's fury with a cheeky smile.

Undaunted, William added, "Also, I'm not the one undermining your father and his efforts. Why do you believe he worked so hard and weathered so much? It's because he is loyal to my father and our family. You dishonor him and us by believing you are 'entitled' to inherit his status and position when you clearly don't understand its significance and 'why' it's passed to an outsider..."

"Enlighten me..." growled Thomas, glowering as he resisted the urge to attack and beat William to a pulp.

"First, answer me this..." said William, his expression and tone relaxing as he sat back and asked, "Would you consider the political climate of the Capital honest and aboveboard? Or is it plagued by corruption and those who only care about furthering their personal goals and interests? Kind of like you."

Though he wanted to hit William for daring to 'slander' him, Thomas took a deep, steadying breath before responding, "There are multiple factions, if that's what you're asking. Our House represents the various Orthodox groups, those who believe that uncontrolled progress will accelerate the world toward its inevitable end. That makes us the common enemy of the other factions and groups, especially those backed by the Magic Council and Merchant Association..."

"Excellent. You have at least a basic understanding of the situation. As expected of my future Chamberlain," mused William, causing Thomas's frown to deepen.

"Just listen and keep breathing," said William, maintaining his smile as he explained, "The reason our ancestors implemented our current system is to prevent the corruption that has taken root in the Capital from spreading to the frontier. You've clearly been impacted by the Capital's culture and political climate, so what do you think would happen if you inherited your father's title and passed it to your son? Each successive generation would be easier to influence, eventually leading to a power struggle between the main and branch families. One that would almost certainly be financed by those who fear or have harbored grudges against us for centuries. Does that sound orthodox or conservative to you...?"

"..."

Taking advantage of Thomas's silence, William stated, "That's why I can tolerate at least a little 'rebelliousness' from you. We both know you have a much better understanding of the situation in the Capital, and because of your father's status, you likely have many connections. That makes you inordinately qualified for the position of Chamberlain. And I expect you to teach my future son how to serve a similar role so that he can support my successor. That is the best way to safeguard our family and preserve the values we've upheld for nearly a millennia..."

Though he still had doubts, Thomas wasn't incapable of understanding that William was seriously considering what was best for their family. It was difficult to believe that the person across from him had barely begun his eleventh cycle, but as news of William's 'aptitude' had already reached the Capital, it was more...unsettling than unbelievable. One thing he was now absolutely sure of was that he wouldn't benefit from making William his enemy...

"I understand..." said Thomas, lowering his head.

Shrugging, William responded, "It's fine, even if you don't. Just remember that the purpose of the Oirthear Constellation is to protect the people we serve, not promote our personal wants and desires. If that sentiment dies before us, we've failed as Nobles."

Punctuating his words with a playful wink, William suggested, "Now, shall we make for the mansion? I imagine your father is a busy man. It wouldn't be courteous to keep him waiting."

"R-Right..." replied Thomas, grabbing a corded, walkie-talkie-like device that allowed those within the cabin to speak with the driver. Soon after, the carriage and its accompaniment were on their way, zipping through Axial's airspace using a route reserved for especially high-ranking Nobles and merchants...

...

'I can see why Thomas would want to keep it for himself...'

At William's request, the coach flew over and around the estate that would serve as his future residence, assuming he chose to maintain his status as the Gamma Star of the Oirthear Constellation.

Serving as the eastern throughway to Axial's central district and covering more than 60,000 square meters, the Oirthear Capital Estate, Eastwarden, was even grander than Castle Oirthearhall. It had a distinct 'Gothic' style and was almost entirely white with hints of cobalt blue. The central keep and ward had more than seven hundred guest rooms, a barracks, and, as could be expected, an aviary, but the thing that caught William's attention were the many towers and turrets outfitted with Magic-powered batteries and anti-wyvern armaments.

"Does the Capital suffer frequent attacks from the sky...?" asked William, perking his brows.

"It's a precaution," replied Thomas, his back straight and expression stoic after regaining his composure.

"Mmm...I think I understand. There's no way a ground army can get this deep into the Capital, so the main concern is people hijacking aircraft or using similar means to drop explosives or employ tactical Magic from high in the sky..."

"That's one reason," affirmed Thomas. "But the biggest threat we face at the moment are the remnants of the Creator God's worshippers and their Demon sympathizers. A little more than sixty years ago, they managed to teleport a fleet of airships directly above the Royal Palace. The resultant conflict only lasted a few hours, but the amount of damage they inflicted before the Braves could mobilize shook Axial to its core and kicked off a recession that lasted more than a decade."

"Speaking of the Braves...have you met any...?" asked William, genuinely curious. According to his Master, Leshien, even she wasn't a match for a Brave. Most of their power came from their weapons, but they needed to be exceptional to earn the right to wield them.

Nodding in affirmation, Thomas replied, "I have. And you will also have a chance to meet them at the Academy. They frequently assist with exams, give lectures, and put on exhibitions near the end of each year to maintain their image and relevance. The Pleiades only recognize those who inspire others, so many Braves are public figures or celebrities. I am personally a fan of Ninya Teallaigh, the Flameforged Iron Princess. You wouldn't think a great axe is a suitable weapon for a woman, but seeing her supple form as she swings around the Alfa Tinerix during her concerts..."

Seeing William raise his brow and grin in amusement, Thomas faked a cough, forcefully regaining his composure as he stated, "With the Young Master's reputation, I wouldn't be surprised if one or more of the Braves approached you of their own accord."

"I doubt they'll be the only ones," mused William, leaning his head back and closing his eyes as the carriage began its descent toward a staging area at the back of the estate, right next to the barracks.

Interpreting William's actions to mean he no longer wished to converse, Thomas withheld his response. He, like many others, was curious to know how capable the 'disciple' of the legendary Ebonsword was, but he wasn't in a position to ask William for a demonstration. Doing so was tantamount to telling someone you doubted them, and since William had made it fairly clear he could see through him, Thomas decided to play it safe and avoid offending him...

...

*tok* *tok* *tok*

"Enter," said a deep voice, belonging to a tall, gaunt man with somewhat weathered yet 'resilient' features that included spiky, windswept brown hair with a perpetually-increasing number of white streaks, luminous blue eyes, and a well-manicured mustache.

Entering the room, William met the man's gaze with a smile and offered a polite bow, stating, "It is an honor to meet the Ancillary Star of the Great Oirthear Constellation..."

Rising to his feet and placing his right hand over his chest, the weathered man, William's uncle, Andralius Oirthear, responded, "And it is my honor to welcome the Gamma Star of the same. And that is no mere lip service, my boy. Your father, my Lord and brother, has told me of your capabilities and exploits. To think you could attune to a Gryphon at such a young age...you must be a remarkable young man..."

"I am merely blessed by circumstance and opportunity," replied William, raising his head without a hint of arrogance visible in his brown, gold, and green-hued eyes. In the eyes of others, he may have accomplished much for his age, but as that was facilitated by his Innate, System, and the fact he was on his seventh incarnation, he didn't let it get to his head.

...