7 My Name is Rowan!
Rowan watched the blond fool constantly ask questions and he fully answered each and every query. He started off patiently educating the man who was probably a year or two older than him but slowly became bored with it.
It was funny seeing the man almost jump in delight from finishing his papers.
However, he has heard these questions before, from Olinthus, the only difference was that Duke Gale was more grateful and polite. This was somewhat amazing to Rowan as he received acknowledgment when he was currently just an object, rather than a human.
Admittedly, Rowan felt that it was nice getting a little feeling of achievement, well his answers have not been put into action yet, but nevertheless, it felt good.
It was still boring, though. So his voice became less patient and refreshing and more flat out monotone. Maybe Gale realized it and let him take a break, but it really woke Rowan up when Gale asked his last question.
"Then what do you want to be called?"
Rowan thought Duke Gale was really going to call him 'Little Ancestor' the entire time, despite his negative answer.
He, although he is asked a lot of questions, never really received a choice in choosing what he wanted for himself. Everything was somewhat decided from his childhood to current adulthood during his life in Olinthus.
Even if he's currently a wooden mirror, it's a new page in life. And, well, he didn't expect that.
"My name is Rowan!" The young man felt a little embarrassed by saying it a little too enthusiastically, but he doesn't exactly have a way to take back his words. Thus, he patiently waited for Duke Gale's response.
The blond man in front of him looked like he was holding back a laugh as his lips kept twitching, but it seems like he gave in to end up with a sunny smile.
"Well then, hello Rowan. Welcome to the country of Nelumbo!"
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After that little awkward incident, Duke Gale finally decided to leave his somewhat large, but bearable piles of papers and exit his workroom with Rowan. Gale thought it would be best if he brought little Rowan to King Luken and report his discoveries of the mirror.
Of course, he could not blatantly carry a wooden mirror down a populated hall with chatting nobles and gossipy servants, so he ever so carefully shoved Rowan beneath the jacket of his pine green suit.
Rowan silently writes down this grievance on his mental notebook.
'This is the second time. Is this a tradition of the kingdom?' The young man mentally ground his teeth and wanted to scratch the Duke with his nails.
Duke Gale, on the other hand, thought this was a brilliant idea, easy transportation is faster transportation.
As he scurried down the halls with his right-hand pressed on the left side of his chest to prevent the mirror from shaking awkwardly, many people asked him in concern.
"Duke Gale, are you having heartburns again from stress?"
"Are you coughing out blood again, sir?"
"If you want to report anything, I could deliver it to the King in your steed."
Everyone that passed by automatically assumed he was suffering from the after-effects of high stress and was going to the King to rant his grievances. They all looked at him with pity and respect, wiping an invisible tear at all the work that they silently piled upon him in the form of papers. Although magic users have stronger constitutions than nonmagic humans, they are not invincible. Thus, they gave their silent support by making way for Duke Gale to easily enter the King's study room.
Rowan silently snickered at the "special treatment" that Duke Gale was getting and thought that he somewhat deserved this weirdly earned pity.
The Duke really wanted to deny all the allegations and wonder if everyone really saw him as a weakling. Then again, this would get him pity from his fellow nobles and make them do their own work for once. So, thanks to the Duke's thick skin, he thanked them for their worries and finally reached Luken's study room.
Knock, knock, knock
Rowan heard the perfunctorily knocks upon the door and felt a bit itchy, despite not having a feeling body. He just felt that it would be more fun if he bashed through the door, so Rowan could have a little entertainment in watching the King and the Duke argue it out. He had been technically working with Duke Gale for several days. He! Needs! Entertainment!
Gale, unlike his previous entrance where he brazenly rushed into the room with his magic abilities- wait no, Rowan shook out of his silent observation as he heard the Duke rudely slam open the door with, once again, his wind magic. Then, hearing the leisurely footsteps towards the source of the heavy sigh.
"Luken! I have wonderful news!" Gale closed the door the same way he opened it and pulled out Rowan out of his suit jacket. "The mirror is absolutely 100% useful, it helped me with my work!"
Now that Rowan was out and about from the jacket, he first saw two delighted and surprised red orbs staring at him.
"... Is that so?" Luken could only muster those three words and before Gale could continue boasting of the mirror's prowess, a voice drifted out from the mirror.
"It is so, King Luken."
The two men looked at the mirror, one with his eyebrow raised and the other trying to hold back a laugh. It really sounded like the mirror was talking to an idiot. And the said idiot felt a little wronged from the mirror's tone.
'Can magical tools that answer questions sass people like this?' The thought was quickly brushed off by the King and he just assumed that it was his imagination. Probably a coincidence that it sounded like it had a bit of emotion... Yea?
Rowan was truly treating the King like a fool. Did that man truly have no other words to say? If you're shocked, don't say anything! Or argue with the Duke for a bit to give me some drama to revel in!
Unaware that Rowan was silently raging within the hand of Gale, the King started to ponder on the meaning of life before he was shaken out of his thoughts from Gale mouthing something towards him.
Ask. For. Its. Name.
Ask for its name? Did the creator name the mirror or what? People do not often name magical tools unless it is engraved within the tool that gives it a special effect. Like powerful swords with their names engraved with runes on their blades to exude flames or even emit poison. But this mirror, Luken once again scanned the plain mirror, had nothing, but that snake wrapped along with the handle of the wooden mirror.
Something's wrong with this mirror.
But, for now, only observation is necessary, since it had proved its worth.
Thinking that Gale was trying to get the King to make himself look like a fool in the mirror's eyes (?), he still went along if it meant that Gale would just hurry and give him an actual detailed, report on the mirror. He was definitely happy that the country could get some leverage when dealing with hard times and unknown disasters, but it is still better to have information on what specifically the mirror can answer and the full extent of its answer.
Sighing, Luken directed his piercing red eyes towards the wooden mirror. "What is your name?"
It sounded like a question, but also an order. Just barely polite. It seems like King Luken is simply done with the pestering of Gale. Rowan could slightly tell as he observed the man's facial expression go from surprised and delighted to a bit offended to tired as time went by. Rowan did not write this off in his little mental book since:
1. After spending time with Gale, Rowan understands that he can be unbearable at times.
2. King Luken has been, so far, politer than everyone combined in Olinthus.
3. The young man could tell that the King did not feel like getting sassed a second time. Third time if you could their first meeting's question.
Plus, Rowan was more than happy to answer that question. A second person! A second person (unwillingly) wants to know my name!
"My name is Rowan." The young man proudly announced his name, though only he is unaware that his voice sounds slightly autonomous and monotone when answering questions, yet a hint of emotion manages to slip through every time. However, King Luken did not notice the emotions this time, as he went back to being surprised. Thoughts immediately went through his mind.
'So did the creator name this mirror? Does it mean that what my spy stole was precious? No, why does it have a name? Or... did it name itself?' Then, King Luken wanted to slap himself silly, he could just ask the mirror!
On the other hand, Duke Gale was a bit... more simpleminded. He started off choking back his laughter, but when seeing Luken's surprise, he let out a peal of messy laughter.
"Isn't it cute?! It named itself after the tree it was made out of! You should've seen it when I first asked it, it made it up on the spot!" Gale did not think as much as King Luken, but unintentionally misguided King Luken with the thought that the mirror named itself.
Rowan silently marked another grievance with Gale in his mental notebook.
