(IV) Parthrak

Leon entered the messenger post near the front gate, where the commander led him toward. While alone, he accessed his inventory to retrieve the four letters when his eyes revealed his shocked.

The three items he retrieved from the monastery in his past life were sitting in his inventory. As tempted as he was to take a closer look at them, he put it at the back of his mind for now.

He pulled out the four letters and handed them to the postmaster, ordering them delivered immediately before exiting the building.

"Leon!" A voice exclaimed as the young boy turned to see his mother rushing over, "What are you doing out here?"

"I'm just handling matters since it's my first time seeing Othniel, and I was unconscious when I arrived," He explained.

"It's too dangerous!" Sasha scolded, "What if you overexert yourself and collapse from the mana poisoning?"

"Master Clyde said it was completely gone." Leon protested, struggling to hold his ground as she grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the keep. "I have a duty to these people! I need to see what I'm dealing with!"

"No, right now, you don't!" She sighed, kneeling before him as she straightened his clothes and stared into his eyes with concern, "You're only twelve, sweetie. There are people who are taking care of the city until you're capable of doing it. You should be resting."

"I've been resting for over a year!" He countered, "Mom, I'm fine! Really!"

"Sweetie, your body has gone through something really traumatic and you need time to recover and get better, now come back to bed." Sasha explained, standing up as she walked toward the keep.

"At least let me walk around the city once, the exercise will be good for me!" He requested, "I need to see firsthand what is happening here and see how I can help!"

His mother sighed, shaking her head, "Fine… but you will need to bring an escort."

He sighed nearly an hour later as an entire squadron of soldiers surrounded him. An older servant explained the city, pointing out districts and important buildings.

'Definitely not what I had in mind, mother…' Leon thought, unable to see anything beyond the wall of armored legs surrounding him.

They made their way through the market square when suddenly a young man was thrown out of a building as a merchant exited after him, screaming and pointing at him, "You should know better than to enter, you dirty dog!"

The young man wore tattered clothing and had ashen skin with black lines tattooed across his entire body, with a crown of small horns around the top of his head and long, pitch-black hair tied back into a loose ponytail.

Patrons gave a wide berth as the situation developed, whispering amongst one another as they eyed the young man from a distance.

"I'm sorry, sir!" He said, repositioning himself into a prostrative position and bowed repeatedly, requesting forgiveness, "I hadn't eaten in days and was looking for scraps!"

"You disgusting pissrak need to learn your place!" The merchant shouted, kicking the young man in the back of his head.

He exclaimed, shouting sorry once more before running away as Leon's soldiers rushed over to de-escalate the situation.

Taking his chance, the young boy slipped away, vanishing in the crowd as the servant looked around frantically and called his name repeatedly.

Leon found a clothing stall, pulled out a single gold coin, and bought a set of clothing and a scarf before approaching a bread stall and purchasing a loaf.

He wrapped the scarf around his head, hiding his identity, and began looking for the young Parthrak. They were a tribal race renowned for their peerless fighters, but many were captured and sold as slaves.

They hailed from a small island off the eastern coast of the continent, where they were locked in a daily life-and-death struggle against the overwhelmingly powerful beasts that inhabited the island.

Leon turned into an alley and saw the young man huddled up, crying in the corner. He approached and offered him the bread and a set of clothing and shoes, asking his name.

"I-I-I'm Mikaru." He replied sniffling as he spoke. He eyed the bread before ravenously grabbing the bread and scarfing it down like a starving animal. Then he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, "Thank you…"

The young Lord nodded as his eyes emitted a faint golden light. He activated his [Inspect] ability, reviewing Mikaru's status, and was shocked at the diamond in the rough he discovered.

[Name: Mikaru Steelheed]

[Age: 15]

[Class: Magic Swordsman]

[Potential: S]

[Trait: Dauntless Swordsman]

His attributes were nearly flawless, and Leon's eyes sparkled as he desired to have him join, but before he could ask, Mikaru stood up, thanking him again, and walked away.

"Wait!" Leon shouted, running after him.

"You shouldn't follow me; people might get mad at you for helping someone like me…" Mikaru said, turning back and forcing a smile.

"By order of the Count of Othniel, I demand you halt!" The young boy said, pulling his scarf back and revealing his regalia.

"You…" He said, turning back as he stared at the young Lord of the city incredulously, "You're the count?!?"

"I am, and I wish to employ your services." Leon said, stepping forward as he tossed the clothes and shoes at Mikaru, "Now, get dressed and follow me."

"But…" He started to protest, but Leon cut him off and told him to hurry. Reluctantly, he quickly changed into fresh clothes, no longer tattered and barely covering his frame; he almost felt like a new man.

Leon led him through the streets, no longer hiding his identity as he located the servant with soldiers thrashing the area searching for the young Lord.

"Oh, thank the Goddess!" The servant exclaimed, rushing over and grabbing Leon's hand, "Your mother would have my head if anything happened to you, don't ya know?"

The soldiers blocked Mikaru's path, preventing him from following, when Leon turned and ordered them to stand down so that the young man could approach.

"Young lord!" The servant scolded in a hushed voice, "What are one those things doing with you?"

"He is not 'one of those things!' He is my newest servant and my personal bodyguard in training." He explained.

"Are you out of your mind?!?" The servant shouted, drawing the eyes of onlookers, "Your father would disown you for hiring a slave!"

"You are never to call him that again! Do you understand?" Leon ordered, anger flashing in his eyes as he stood his ground, "I will declare war on the capital if I have to defend the rights of people, do not get it twisted!"

"Sir…" Mikaru stepped forward sheepishly, staring at the ground, "I don't want to cause any trouble… so maybe I should just go…"

"Yes, tha-"The servant said, but was quickly interrupted.

"No. You have done nothing wrong and I know you will become an ally I would be honored to have." Turning to the servant, Leon said, "Lead us back to the keep. I'm exhausted."

"Yes, sire." The servant said, bowing and turning around before being stopped by the young Lord.

"Oh and Jeeves, if you continue to speak for me. You will no longer be employed."