Chapter 1

James slightly woke up and started looking around and noticed that he was moving in a wagon and his father was walking alongside the wagon making the horse move. He noticed his mother was sitting relaxed besides him. The wagon stopped and his mother got out looking at him in a orderly manner to get out of the wagon.

"Get out James and go fetch water from the nearby river."

"I don't see any river besides I am old enough to do other sort of work. Like riding the horse."

"Do you want the whip."

James took the barrel in his hand and walked to the nearest source of water as being pointed by his mother. He was really happy having got to spend some time alone as it was easier to exist in this way. He lived in a matriarchal society and as he was a boy. He was not able to do enjoy anything at all. His family was one of the considerable low-level traders. Even so his mother did not do any work except direct his father to do things. She always accompanied them on the trades but still it was the father who did all the things. He was one of the two slaves owned by her and having helped her bear a child he was considered to be little bit higher than the other man who was alone at home taking care of the house.

James always thought of leaving the family by not accepting the token from his mother and living as a fugitive, but life as a slave to your own mother didn't seem that bad. After all it was only daughters who were allowed to inherit property. He always thought about joining the Fenrir academy at the capital as anyone with enough mana can pass the test to the academy. As it was already said by the common-folk that the academy has its own life and did not discriminate from woman to woman he thought about the same and had already decided to give it a try to become a mage.

James decided to stop a little bit as it did seem like he was getting tired but then ruled out the notion as he did not possess the magic item which will allow him to know time and did not want to have wasted too much a time. According to his mental watch it was nearly half an hour the least and was slightly fearful of being rebuked. He saw the wagon and a few men surrounding it. James did not thing of anything else as it was common for high ladies to send their slaves behind wagons after particular items and as it were his mother was indeed a trader in jewels.

"Kill her already Ragrok, Mistresses order."

The man in front the throat of James' mother. James remembered the training from his teacher, the other man of his mother, Selvin. In face of danger during travel always hide. He suddenly dropped dead on the ground without making any noise and slowly slithered behind the bushes.

The men all took different things and climbed on their horses and left. He approached the wagon after some time and looked horridly. He didn't know what to do. Not that he loved his

mother or something, but now he would be taken under the care of another women as his mother did not have a heir. He will be worse than a slave in another household.

He remembered Selvin's teachings one by one to calm himself. He remembered the conversation that had happened before he had left.

"There will come a time before you have to choose between life and freedom. Choose freedom. Then you will be able to at least fight back and about death, you can decide to live by fighting against those who tries to kill you. And just so you know, if you are running away for a secluded life by the cottage, come to me before because I will have a gift for you."

It had been three hours since James was sitting besides the wagon and the party of scout had come. Of course, his mother had used the transistor calling for help except they only came to clean the bodies.

The lead knight came forward to him. "So, were you the one who did this."

"If I was it, will I still be staying here mam."

"SILENCE! Do not talk back male. Bow before me."

James suddenly understood the implication of everything. A small plan began to formulate behind his mind. A plan of survival. He smiled slimly.

He bowed with both knees on the ground with his head touching the ground. He then stood up with his head bowed and began to speak. "O Great knight. I would dare not kill a woman, lest not my mother. I had gone to fetch water under the hill to the river and when I returned my mother and father were killed by bandits. As it was ordered by my mother that I should stay hidden in such situations as I am no worth in battle, but later should take revenge I hid myself from them."

"Take revenge! Did you see their faces."

"No, ser."

"Then how are you going to take revenge."

"My wish is to be an adventurer under one of the less pretentious guilds and later hunt down as many bandits as possible for the rest of my life while being under an honourable woman."

"Don't fool yourself boy, men are no match for women and only a woman can kill a woman."

"Even so, would there be need of men to flank the bandits and to act as sacrifices, ser."

"You are peculiar, I will give you that. We are taking you home and also to your slave master Selvin as per your mother's will. Apparently, he is supposed to be allowed to be independent and be able to take care of you and train you until you are sixteen and it is her wish that you try out the academy exam to see if you are of any worth. He is supposed to be turned over to Madam Lonna while you are supposed to train yourself and accept the maximum possible luxury of your life."

"What is luxury meant for me, ser. I am nothing but a servant child."

"It apparently seems that your mother was one of the few who accidentally fell in love with their male child. Anyway, I am going to take you to Selvin."

The knight took some powder and sprinkled it over him and he dropped to the ground.