Another Problem Solved!
"Sir, I'm actually a scholar" James explained to Arden who he really is, and it surprised Arden, his jaw dropped and his eyes widen.
"You are a what? Scholar?" Arden still not believing that one of his soldiers is actually a scholar.
"Yes, I am a scholar, I came from one of the towns at Bisvirb that is known for many smart and genius people that came from that place," James convince Arden that he is really a scholar and Arden seems to start believing him.
"Well, even if you are, there is no way you could do all of the research by yourself" James turned excited knowing the person he is talking to, began believing him.
"I came to this town with 2 of my friends, both are scholars and also studied the same field as me, alchemy, thus making us alchemists," Arden raised his hand to his chin and began rubbing it, showing that he is thinking about it.
"Well…" James stopped him before he could make the words he is going to say.
"Sir, I think it's already the time for us to be at the training yard, let's discuss about this later, I will bring my friend's next time we talked about this" Arden froze, getting stopped at the middle of his words.
'I'm not mad, rather… puzzled, bla bla bla' Arden didn't move for a moment, just stared at the directions he was staring all the time while thinking at his mind and began not thinking about his surrounding.
"Sir? Hello? Sir? Are you listening to me?" James trying to figure out what happened to Arden, not moving and just staring at the walls.
Arden instantly regained his consciousness and now startled, "Yea? I'm here, let's walk to the yards right now, shall we?" Arden began to stand up and leaving his chair and make his way to the door.
James did the same and rushed to the door before him and opened the door for him. With a polite gesture with his hand gesturing him to leave the room first and he will follow him from behind.
Arden didn't expect this kind of service from this person, he never got that kind of attention from others, having to do all the things with his own hand. But of course, he left the room first and could hear the door being closed behind him and the footsteps coming closer and closer.
They began making their way to the yard, having some small talks while doing so and going their own way once they reached that place. Arden to the hill while being watched by the crowds of people waiting for him to start the event and James to his place where his comrade and friend gathered.
Once he reached to the hill, he coughed to gather the attention of his soldiers at the lower ground, "Ehm!" All of them instantly looked at him and became quiet.
He looks around and once he thinks he has the attention needed, he talked "Today, we will celebrate the birth of the new commanders! There will be beers and meal for everyone" All the audience gave a round of big applause, too noisy that reach the point that it's deafening.
"But! There is some terrible news" All of the audience turned silent when they heard "but" and their expression turned into sadness, thinking it will be bad for them.
"You see, one of the new commanders from a section of my army made a bad mistake, he is replaced by the person he fought against yesterday" Most of the audience became excited again, seeing the new have no connection to them what so ever.
"That's the terrible news, now… shall we enjoy ourself?" The audience cheers and began dispersing, most of them going straight for the beer and food, while some just stand there and chatted.
At the corner of his eye, Arden could see Haldin, near the forest that is located near the training yard itself, with some of his friends. All of them facing the trees and began banging their head to it.
All of his friends got the same fate as they did the same thing as him, using drugs and most of them are in the group of Haldin in the day they were caught
Arden didn't want to care anymore about them 'Well, that's his fault to do something that made him regret' Arden chuckled before leaving the area and getting some beers.
At the end of the celebration, most of the soldier go back to the barrack either drunk or didn't even go back to the barracks, just passed out at the yard.
All 3 of commanders just took a sip with Arden in the middle of the celebration. Surprisingly, only Bryan wanted to drink, Rob and James didn't like to drink.
Not only they didn't like to drink, James just drinks his first sip of beer at that very same moment. A scholar is known to be very vigilant after all.
Arden left the yard, just a little bit drunk, he took 2 glass of beer at the event and still not drunk.
As he began making his way back to his castle, Arden heard footsteps behind him, 'looks like someone following me, I will try to act like a drunk man' Arden began his act to see whoever followed him.
At first, he walked straight and giving the sign of him not being drunk, the one that followed him is still cautious about him.
As moment pass, he began acting like he got a delayed effect of the beer and started to walk like a drunk person, feigning some fake falls to the ground.
The person becomes relaxed and unsheathed his sword and rushed to him. His footsteps became closer and closer, all this happened when Arden waiting for the right time to strikes. 'NOW!' His mind shouted at him and he instantly unsheathed his sword, turned around and parried the incoming attack.
Arden saw a person in his robe and began making a fighting stance, The assassin can be seen shocked from his body language and keep attacking him, still believing it's a stroke of sudden luck and that Arden is still drunk and can't fight.
Slash
Slash
In 2 attacks, Arden disarmed the attacker and pinned him to the ground, Arden force opened the robe of the assassin and there he is, Haldin, never learnt from his mistake and causing problems with the wrong person.
"Well… Well… look what we have here!" Haldin resisting at that moment and trying to break free from his pin, Arden's knee pinning down his lower part to the ground.
"Haldin, I have enough with you, the next time you mess with me, you won't get off it with your life still intact with your body!" Arden intimidated him and could feel his knee getting wet and instantly making released his grip. Haldin stood up and ran away for his life as soon as possible.
Arden casually walked away and back to his castle as he goes, feeling a little drunk after all the beers.
"Dammit! I still have a lot of problems to do" He is feeling tired about all the things he needed to solve, there would be a lot more before he could continue with his own life and just live a calm life.
He made his way to the castle and just go to sleep beside his wife in the bedroom. HE slept calmly and even dreamed about himself at his dream, having a nice calm live as a peasant and a demon came to him telling him to work endlessly.
He woke up from the nightmare and slightly screamed before realizing there it's not a good idea while his wife still sleeping at the bed like a baby and having a pleasant dream judging from her expression.
'Let's not bother her, I need to find that butler and talk to him' He got up from his bed and left his bedroom.
There he saw him, the butler 'I think I don't need to search for him anymore, he popped out of nowhere" The butler noticed his lord and gave him a bow.
"Hey… you, what's your name?" The butler looked at him for a few seconds before understanding the question and answered it.
"My name is Arthral, I came from the northern province" Arthral gave him a bow once more time and Arden looked at him for a few seconds.
"Okay, you are my head butler from now on, tell all your colleagues" Arden stated to him and he looked at him in disbelieve and confusion.
"What? Really?" Disbelieve and confusion started to become excitement.
"Yes, really! Now, I have some task for you to do, find a maid you think is the best at her job and make her a head maid, both of the position is equal! From now on, you will be organizing others to do their work and sometimes help them!" Arden told him what to do and left to his office.
Arthral still staring at disbelieve but convinced that he is really a head butler now. He continued his job and waited until the night to tell his colleague.
Meanwhile, Arden at his office, thinking about the trade with the jungle people…