Disparity

Using his newly acquired pack of Timberwolves, William spent the night exploring the forest and expanding his numbers. Leshien's remark about the Talamhnath potentially escaping the forest and attacking his people resonated with him, so before returning home, William intended to make the forest a bit safer by bringing the monsters most infamous for assailing travelers under his heel.

In the span of a single night, William succeeded in 'taming' a total of 108 Timberwolves, a trio of fire-breathing bears called Redback Tyrants, and twenty-seven goblin-like creatures known as Pucae. These 138 monsters were only a fraction of the total number that inhabited the forest, but if he took things too far, it would raise too many red flags.

During his previous life as Eskhaar, the thing that had 'outed' Aiden as a potential Demon King was that he had tamed most of the monsters near the settlement he had established. What annoyed him the most was that he simply instructed them NOT to attack travelers and merchants. He had no intention of militarizing them, but since he could if he wanted to, those in power couldn't tolerate his existence.

"Coexistence should be the outcome any reasonable society strives for..." muttered William, caressing the sides of a juvenile Timberwolf's face as it panted happily. If everyone simply worked together and did their best to pull each other up rather than focusing on elevating themselves, William believed the systemic issues present in most worlds could be resolved in a few generations. Such sentiments went against the natural order, but so did society itself. People, regardless of their race, banded together to rise above and become the veritable masters of their environment. The next logical step was to overcome individual differences and expand beyond the confines of one's homeworld, yet, more often than not, society went in the opposite direction, weaponizing culture, and gatekeeping to ensure the 'sanctity' of their ideals at the expense of progress...

Unfortunately, William, or, more accurately, Aiden, wasn't incapable of understanding why people stressed over their differences. The fear of being isolated was a powerful motivator, and because people were born into different circumstances and societal standings, those in power were under a great deal of pressure to maintain the status quo while those born under a less fortuitous star endeavored to rise above their circumstances, often at the expense of others. Without a sufficiently inciting incident or a catalyst to promote change, it took generations to implement meaningful change. That was much too long for most people, especially those in dire straits. So, rather than trying to fix things, everyone did their best to make the most of their situation. People just wanted to be happy or, at the very least, ease the suffering imposed upon them by life itself.

With such thoughts in mind, William gradually drifted to sleep, encircled and protected by the monsters he had tamed. While he dreamed, he couldn't help imagining how things could be if he simply used his power to bring everyone under his influence. It would surely make things much easier for him, but as he believed free will was the most fundamental right of those who had attained sapience or self-awareness, William refused to become a hypocrite by depriving that right from others...

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Though he was tempted to wait for his Mother and Ailbhe to retrieve him, William ultimately returned home on the eve of the sixth day, entering the castle via a secret passage connected to his room.

"Welcome back, Young Master," said Therese, waiting for William in the panic room connecting to the passage, located behind a large portrait of his family.

"Have you been waiting here all this time...?" asked William, replacing the panel he had removed to gain access to the room.

"Not the entire time," replied Therese, smiling as she explained, "We know how much you relish your freedom, so we expected you to arrive between tonight and noontime tomorrow."

"Has Master Leshien already departed...?" asked William.

Exhaling a faint, exasperated sigh through her nose, Therese responded, "Indeed. Though, before she departed, she entrusted us with a message. She wanted us to tell you that she is prohibited from entering the Capital, so even if you were to prepare a room, she wouldn't be able to occupy it."

Surprised by the revelation, though he could imagine the reasons, William raised his brows and questioned, "Master is prohibited from entering the Capital? For what reason...?"

"There are several, but the main reason is that she makes many Demons nervous," explained Therese. 

"I see..." muttered William, smiling wryly as he understood the problem. Leshien had never gone into detail about her past or what she had done before becoming his martial instructor, but it was fairly well-documented that she had a 'deep' resentment toward Demons. She wouldn't slaughter just any Demon that crossed her path, but those who exploited others or abused their hereditary Contract Magic to force people into servitude had little hope of survival once she learned of their crimes.

'The Demons must have quite a bit of influence in the Capital if they were able to bar Leshien's entry...' concluded William. However, as he preferred to withhold judgment until he had taken stock of a situation personally, he didn't immediately assume the decision was rooted in corruption, even if it was 'very' likely.

Deciding to change the topic, William smiled and stated, "I would like to take a bath. Please have it prepared by the time I return from the aviary."

Closing her eyes and bowing respectfully, Therese replied, "I shall have Ryza and Amira prepare it immediately."

"Excellent," said William, nodding in approval. "But inform them I will be bathing alone from now on. I'm competent enough to survive alone amid a forest of monsters. I can bathe myself."

"Are you certain...?" asked Therese. 

"When am I not...?" countered William, his smile broadening. His situation gave him free rein to do whatever he pleased with his Maids and others in his employ. It was even expected for him to do so. However, while he had long since discarded many of his modern sensibilities, William didn't think he should be 'experimenting.' Not specifically because of his age, though that was a major contributing factor, but because it simply wasn't right for someone in a position of power and authority to use those in their service as an outlet for their desires.

Though she exhaled another faint sigh, Therese smiled and no longer questioned William. She knew better than anyone how 'abnormal' his behavior was for someone in his position, but since he was clever enough to avoid being taken advantage of, his 'consideration' wasn't necessarily a bad thing...

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With Leshien's departure, William could have used the remaining two weeks until his departure to relax and re-read the textbooks necessary for his first year at the Royal Academy. Instead, he dutifully practiced with various weapons from 5-9 AM before eating breakfast and heading to the aviary to attend Ailbhe and the other Gryphons. After lunch, he and Ailbhe would join his Mother in her daily flyover of the estate before wrapping up the day with an additional four hours of training, guided meditation, and a long, relaxing bath before bed. With such a packed schedule, two weeks passed in the blink of an eye...

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"Take this. And remember, an Oirthear's pride is as vast as the sky..." said Orianna, handing William a highly ornate greatsword with a golden, cross-shaped guard and a predominately white sheathe. It could certainly be used as one, but its true form was a lance intended to be used from the back of a Gryphon. The handle could extend upwards of three meters in less than a second, so if the opponent wasn't prepared, they were in for a very abrupt surprise.

Recognizing the spear as Orianna's personal weapon, Dazabagh, William accepted it with mixed feelings. He was touched, but even though he was her biological son, he didn't feel he fully deserved Orianna's adoration and love.

"Seriousness and solemnity don't suit you," mused Orianna, smiling as she raised William's chin with the side of her right index finger, forcing him to meet her gaze. Then, cupping his left cheek and caressing his cheekbone with her thumb, she gingerly stated, "You may never be the most radiant star in the Oirthear Constellation, but countless people will look to you as an example. It's okay to have moments of vulnerability or lack confidence, but never open your heart to anyone you're not willing to die for..."

Moving her hand to the back of William's head, Orianna pulled him close to plant a protracted kiss on his forehead. Before pulling away, she then jokingly whispered, "And try not to bully anyone. Your power is ultimately yours to do with as you please, but there is always a 'correct' way to wield it..."

Releasing her hold on William's head, Orianna once again met his gaze, her smile broadening and heart melting when she noticed his pouty look and the moisture in his eyes. She also felt a sour tingle in her nose, but as the Commander of the Duchy's forces, her advice to William also applied to her. It was one of the things she hated most about being a Noble, but with millions of people depending on her for their livelihoods, she couldn't afford to show weakness outside of closed, private settings.

"Go. And make our family even prouder..." said Orianna, stepping away from William and the massive blue crystal, known as a Waystone, that would transport him, Therese, Ryza, and Amira to the Capital. First and Second-Year academy students couldn't keep pets, and flying was heavily restricted in the Capital's airspace. So, until he became a Third-Year and received a 'beast handling' and flight license, William had little choice but to leave Ailbhe behind, much to her frustration.

"I will," responded William, taking a deep breath and puffing his chest with pride as he turned to join the trio that would be attending him during his stay in the Capital. The affairs of House Oirthear would always remain secondary to his personal goals, but as he owed them quite a bit, William intended to do his best to preserve his parents' face and uphold the honor of their House. It was his obligation to do so, not just because they were his parents but because they were good people. They doubtlessly had a few skeletons in their closet, but as a former 'Demon King,' William wasn't inexperienced with 'extenuating circumstances' forcing good people to do very bad things...

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"We welcome the Gamma Star of the Oirthear Constellation to the Royal Capital, Axial," said a blonde-haired, blue-eyed youth, bowing respectfully at the forefront of a platoon of parade-ready Knights and attendants.

Stepping forward, William adopted a practiced smile and said, "You must be Cousin Thomas."

Nodding in affirmation, Thomas responded, "Indeed. And my father, Lord Andralius, is looking forward to meeting you," while gesturing toward the entrance of the secure, circular chamber they were standing in. Access to Waystones was, unsurprisingly, heavily restricted. But they were also vital to the flow of goods in and out of Axial, so even the esteemed relatives of a Ducal House couldn't afford to tarry.

Supplying a nod of his own, William joined Thomas, followed by his trio of attendants. Then, under the escort of the knights, they made their way out of the terminal, giving William his first taste of the 'disparity' between his family's estate and the Capital. 

'I suspected it, but it's still a little jarring...' thought William, his expression a mask of disinterest despite the presence of digital displays, automated kiosks, electronic billboards, convenience stores, and other fairly modern facilities. The Dwarves had disseminated their technology and production methods more than five hundred years prior. Combine that with Magic, a veritable Golden Age, and a shift from focusing on warfare to promoting a global market, and it wasn't a surprise that the development of Axial was decades, if not centuries, ahead of other cities...

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