[Nobility]

The rays of dawn welcomed another day. A refreshing breeze was blowing across the vast grounds.

Federick was enjoying the sun and the freshness. With no garment to hide his young body, he was sitting upright on a piece of stone.

His breathing was steady, slow, and intercalated. The oxygen was located in his stomach, moving up his chest and ending at his clavicles, repeating the process in reverse as he exhaled.

He had entered the simple but arduous realm of contact. He was directing energy into himself, in a simple process but surrounded by strange enclaves.

The process was simple because he did not need to do anything besides the above. After all, in the realm of contact, the cultivator could not manipulate the energy. He only underwent an arduous process of increasing his vitality.

According to the movies he remembered, the refined art of cultivating required equally ostentatious techniques. "Refining Art of the Nine Divine Revolutions," "Primordial Chaos Cultivation," "Art of the Six Reincarnations."

Those names were common in these techniques. At one moment he thought of his Father, then his system, and finally his cousin... In the end, he asked about his system. His answer surprised him.

[The text recorded on the ancient donkey skin, comprises in itself a cultivation technique; Refined, prestigious, and of born talent. It was probably fabricated by an enlightened personality from high realms far away].

But his surprise was not at the description, but at its name: "Natural Spirit". He liked the man who manufactured this technique... For, at least it eliminated the chances that he was Chinese.

Federick practiced until he felt his limit. He could no longer store any more energy inside him. He decided he would skip breakfast to more efficiently process the remaining energy inside him.

After putting on some ordinary clothes, he decided to go outside. He stored a few coins in his pockets, with the thought of having breakfast at some local eatery.

His first task was to leave the central part of the city, as Athens was divided into a total of five sectors: the outskirts, middle, inner, upper, and central.

Or as it was usually to the taste of the upper strata, to call them: Peasants, Intelligent Fools, Magical, Lineage, and High Lineage.

These zones were comprised of a high level of Athenian inhabitants. On the outskirts were individuals who were part of precarious jobs or artisans.

The median was made up of skilled workers, merchants, and businessmen; of lesser success.

In the interior was a prestigious population. Comprised of mortals of great financial success and magical individuals; Although the magical profession was of notable prestige and there was a need for ample resources, Athens City still featured a large number, though mostly at lower levels.

A true world power was centralized in the "Superior" zone. Numerous families with noble titles were settled there, mostly made up of magical individuals, concentrating magicians of higher levels.

Even the title of "Superior" had been proposed by members of the noble families...

Finally, the Central part, coined in such a way since ancient times, that even ancient families kept no record of it. It contained the four families of higher levels. The Royal family and the three great noble families.

The royal family, "Battlemman".

The great Noble family, "Mercateth".

The great Noble family, "Avens".

And the great Noble family, "Liu".

All these great surnames, which maintained a presence in immemorial history, had a foundation of thousands of years.

Four families that had survived chaotic times, amassing a great heritage.

...

Federick found himself in a small-scale store. He had eaten breakfast hours before and was currently enjoying a rudimentary ice cream. It was a homogeneous mixture of milk and fruit, manipulated to cold magical treatment.

Although it was colloquially called "Rüdd". It meant "Cold to damage teeth".

He had been wandering for quite some time, but never trespassed beyond the inner area, because the city of Athens consisted of miles and miles, which became farther away when thinking in miles.

Moreover, his knowledge of the city was neither deep nor extensive, for he spent much of his time in the solitude of his room or the garden of the family establishment.

Suddenly it occurred to him to visit his grandfather, the King, seeking to solve a conundrum, was the crop as exaggerated as his descriptions? Since he was a renowned high-level magician, forming part of the magical elite, would he see through his breakthrough?.... Though he didn't want to admit that he found himself bored.

So he set off, dangling money on the counter... The ice cream was both rudimentary and expensive.

Again he had to return to the Central area. The journey was considerable, so he hurried to his destination.

Taking shortcuts he knew, he arrived in the shortest possible time. Even hurrying to the point of producing sweat, it had taken him quite some time.

His Grandfather was supposed to be in the Palace. But, this should be guarded by high military powers all day long.

But he simply showed his handsome face in front of the imposing guards and passed without much difficulty. He must have been incredibly handsome... Either that or his status as 'Prince'.

Inside, he only had to ask two questions and he knew the location of the King. Although they had wanted to evade the question, it wasn't something a gentle squeeze on the shoulder wouldn't solve civilly.

When he finally arrived, he heard nothing from inside. He tried to push open the huge doors, but it was a wasted effort... Until he noticed how, conveniently, two windows connected with a tree.

Federick abruptly entered the room. A couple of leaves mingled in his hair, but a confident smile shone in his expression.

"Good morning, Your Excellency, illustrious personalities," Federick said as he bowed slightly. A greeting that made up part of his studies.

Most individuals inside found Federick's violent entrance strange, but they returned the greeting out of respect just the same; He was the "Crown Prince to Wisdom...".

But many glances were directed to the central figure. On a throne, stood a considerable giant. Exceeding six feet in height, with a large build and a luxuriant beard, stood Carlos II, his eyes closed.

"What is the reason for your visit, Prince Frederick?" Carlos II asked.

"I intend to familiarize myself with the political atmosphere, dear King. I hope I will not be a nuisance." Federick said politely and modestly. He remembered the education that had been instilled in him... Although he had jumped from a window into a tree, and used this as a means of transportation to the sealed room.

With a faint smile, Carlos II amusedly replied: "You can dispense with being part of this meeting".

At this, all doubts were removed, and the atmosphere resumed as before.

"As has been repeated at previous meetings, Your Majesty, all powers expect you to be wise and lenient, and effectively allocate the ownerless magic crystal mine." A decrepit old man exclaimed.

Federick was surprised at this. Magic crystals were the most valuable resource, relatively speaking, in the entire world. Its procurement was unique: from magic crystal mines.

Although it had probably appeared on the land of a small nobleman, it was a resource of high value and a national necessity. Therefore, the reigning power would analyze other aspects to allocate it.

So, even though the astute figure of the old man claimed unity, he only included select forces in his view.

Usually, such decisions would only keep in mind: unanimity, power, and merits.

At this exclamation, Carlos II suffered a slight headache. At this age, he should already be retired! But he was still exercising... Suddenly, his gaze shone on his grandson.

Federick received a sudden chill. He thought and concluded that the reason was the creaking voice of the decrepit old man. He, therefore decided to evaluate him silently.

[Sifu: Nicknamed 'Old Bamboo', he is a cunning figure who has remained in politics for centuries. He is an antiquity with an expiration date, being a high-level magician...]

Federick immediately knew that he was an illustrious figure, of great importance, and that his cultivation realm was too early...

"What do the others think, about the esteemed Sifu's proposal?". Carlos II asked.

Before anyone could expound their thoughts, a childish voice rang out.

"In my opinion, the magic crystal mine should be appropriated as a property of national character." Federick proposed after a basic analysis of the lustful and greedy expressions of the dirty old men.

"You were allowed entry, but you shouldn't have an opinion. Sit quietly and listen to the elders, Young Federick." Said a middle-aged man.

The man who had spoken was none other, than the Patriarch of the "Avens" family.

At the exclamation of Mr. David Avens, the other individuals fell silent. They had no intention of opening their mouths.

"I agree with Mr. David, what is Your Majesty's opinion?" Concluded the plot of the Patriarch of the 'Liu Family', Fan Liu.

The King, Carlos II, observing the situation, momentarily revealed an intense aura, to quietly say, "The lineage is respected... Especially you guys, you must understand this maxim, right?

In a moment, the hall fell silent.

"My apologies, Your Majesty."

"It was my mistake, Your Excellency."

"To make your point. Why do you think it should be so, Prince Frederick?" Carlos II concluded serenely.

"As you all know, magic crystals are a highly valued resource. Appropriating a mine of these, of a national nature, would produce greater state security and supply. Universal funding in Athens City could reach higher dimensions.

And likewise, an 'innovative' economic activity would be added, even on a global scale.

But overcoming these aspects would be an impact on the elementary unity; By this, I mean you, illustrious personalities, dear ones... By maintaining a not at all fragmented unity." Federick concluded.