Chapter 27 - Harken

*Yawn*

Ah, a new day and a new me.

The sun is shining.

The birds are singing.

What was that, did someone say something about an embarrassing moment that occurred yesterday?

You must be thinking of someone else.

But they came into my room?

Then it seems there is an imposter on the loose!

Their footprints lead directly to me?

Clue number one, the imposter is a phantom.

After all, there's no way that could ever have been me.

*Knock knock*

Ah!

"Excuse me, master Cain. I am here to inform you that breakfast will be ready in 30 minutes."

Phew.

That startled me.

From behind the door to my room I hear a voice which I can only assume belongs to the Head Butler.

"Thank you. I'll be down in time."

A few seconds later, I hear footsteps receding.

It'll take me a while to get used to this new environment.

Shaking off my drowsiness, I head out of bed and open the curtains to the window, though I can't help but wonder if calling it a glass wall would be more appropriate. It spans the floor to the ceiling and to both ends of the room, and at the centre is a double door, also made of glass, leading to the balcony.

"Haaaa"

Heading out the doors and feeling the cold, white stone beneath my feet, I take a deep breath, a whiff of fresh air clearing my mind.

Looking out over the vast greenery, it's hard to imagine that all of it is part of the manor grounds.

I can spot several gardeners tending to the myriad of flowers of every colour, and in the distance, through and above the metal fence that separate this grassy plain from the stone pavements, a breathtaking sight.

Trees, flowers and grass as far as the eye can see, a paradise of green with splashes of brightness here and there. If not for the sparse few houses scattered around and the orderly stone paths, one might even think the entire upper circle was one huge garden.

Past the upper circle's walls lies a forest, though not of trees but of stone. The buildings of the middle and lower circles sit in close proximity but are not too densely packed, placed as if by design, and between them lie paved roads traversed by a constant steady stream of pedestrians and wagons travelling up and down.

I was never much one for appreciating scenery, but...

I think I could get used to this.

Well, enough dilly dallying.

Time for me to experience the city for myself.

Making sure to take the savings my parents gave me and Annette's silk pouch, still carrying a faint, lingering scent of my favourite snack, I head downstairs. On the way I meet several maids, but I'm too ashamed to look them in the eye.

Picking up the pace, I make it to the bottom and rush to the dining room at a speed that would probably make even Usain Bolt proud.

There, Serena is sat at the head of the table while Lawrence is stood behind her, his back ramrod straight, wearing a butler's suit, both looking like the definition of nobility.

Seeing me, Serena smiles.

"Did you get a good rest?"

I definitely can't tell her about how my mind was too active to fall asleep at a regular time, so I simply agreed and sat down at the seat closest to her.

"That's good. I was worried you might have had trouble falling asleep, especially after what happened last night."

She's definitely making fun of me, but I can only try to avoid eye contact and do my best to hide my face which I can feel is already heating up. Perhaps upon seeing this she stretches her index finger out to prod my face.

"Hehe, even though you always act so mature for your age, you're still a little boy. You should show off your cute side more often."

Please stop poking my cheeks...

Well on one hand I kind of want to say something, however on the other hand seeing how much fun Serena is having I can't help but think that it's nice to be treated like this once in a while.

Thankfully my dilemma doesn't last very long as Lawrence rings a small golden handbell and Serena gives one last pat on my cheek before returning to a dignified state.

Thank you Lawrence.

Hopefully my eyes properly convey what I'm saying in my heart.

A few seconds later some maids enter carrying our breakfast, consisting of fresh bread, butter, cheese and ham, then leaving as swiftly as they arrived.

Mmm, delicious.

After so long on the road, even the bread alone is like a gourmet meal, let alone the rest, all of it high quality.

After a while we both finish eating and Serena proceeds to speak.

"As I said before, unfortunately I won't be able to accompany you on your tour of the city. There's some stuff I have to do at the Magic Association Headquarters including getting you your proof of membership."

I nod in understanding and she returns with a warm smile, patting my head.

"But don't worry. Lawrence knows the city far better than I do. He'll take you wherever you want to go, or if you don't have any ideas then I'm sure he'll be able to think of something."

I look at Lawrence who, upon hearing this, proceeds to bow.

"It's fine Aunty Serena."

Though I certainly would be more comfortable having someone I knew with me, it's also probably best that I learn how to interact with others better.

However maybe there was something wrong with my tone, because as soon as I spoke those words, Serena pulled me into one of her signature lung-crushing hugs.

"Oh, such a good boy! Now I really don't want to go! Ok, how about we postpone your tour till tomorrow and then we can spend the whole day together, how does that sound?"

Can't... breathe...

Hmm?

Tomorrow?

What will I do for the rest of today then?

I'm already burnt out from training every day since we got here, so sword and magic control practice are no good.

There's no point in learning new runes or runic arrays, the former for obvious reasons and the latter because I need a teacher's guidance.

What other hobbies do I have...

Reading...

That's it?

Am I... a loser?

No! Bad thoughts!

In any case, I don't want to spend my first day in the capital stuck at home.

Luckily at that moment, Lawrence, my guardian angel, swooped in once more to save the day.

"Madame, it would be impossible for us two to tour every place of interest in the entire city in one day. I'm sure young master Cain would be very willing to accompany you tomorrow."

Mhmm, well said Mr. Guardian Angel.

It seems Serena also found the answer satisfactory as she let out a sigh and opened her arms to free me.

Whilst doing my best to hide the fact that I was taking deeper breaths than usual to regain the oxygen that had been squeezed out of me earlier, Serena stood up and headed towards the door leading to the front of the mansion.

"I'll be heading out first then. I'll be back before nightfall so make sure to bring Cain back by then as well."

Lawrence bows to her retreating back, though she never turns around, and once the doors shut the room is bathed in silence.

Elegantly, he turns to me.

"Young master Cain, would you like to head out now?"

No time like the present.

Let's go.

We head to the front courtyard where a carriage is waiting and Lawrence opens the door for me, but as I head towards him, I pause.

"Lawrence, would it be okay if we walked?"

Recalling how it was when we first arrived, I don't feel like staying in a carriage. It's far different being able to experience the atmosphere first hand than through a glass pane. Not to mention the fact that we'd probably draw less attention if we went on foot.

"As you wish, young master."

Thankfully he doesn't seem to mind it.

Now, where should we go first?

"Any recommendations on where to visit Lawrence?"

"As the upper circle is mainly residential areas, might I suggest we explore the middle circle? If the young master sees any place he fancies we can visit there as we walk freely. Otherwise I have mapped out a travel plan for today's excursion."

"Hmm. Then how about we go with the second one. Lead the way."

"As you wish, young master."

He sets off and I follow, but he gradually slows down so that we're walking side by side. Actually he's making sure to stand slightly behind me, but not enough that I can't see where he wants us to go.

Walking in the upper circle is like walking through a nature reserve. Everything is so peaceful. If not for the occasional group of patrolling guards or carriages passing by, I'd almost think we were alone and not in the largest city on the continent.

Speaking of which, it seems everybody travels by carriage up here.

Then again they probably aren't going on any sightseeing tours.

Despite telling myself this though, I can't help but feel slightly self conscious being the only pedestrians walking.

It also doesn't help that since Serena's house is so far from the upper walls, the distance doesn't look to have shrank much at all.

Another factor I hadn't considered was the incline.

Are we seriously going to have to walk back all this way uphill?!

-------------------------------

20 minutes of walking later and we finally reached the upper walls.

A gate, similar to the one we passed through when we first entered the city but with far less traffic, stands before us.

The guards say nothing as we pass through and on the other side it's like stepping into a whole new world.

"This way, young master."

Following his lead, we head left as various attractions draw my sight.

A street performer, probably a tier 1 mage, busy entertaining crowds with water magic, making bubbles and rainbows in the air. Shops selling assorted trinkets and wares. Children playing without a care.

Before I notice it, we've arrived at our first destination.

"This, young master, is the grand library."

It certainly is.

I can't wait to go inside.

But hold on.

Was it a coincidence that Lawrence brought me here first?

Or maybe...

He also thinks I'm a loser?!