"Ugh..." Damian groaned as his eyes fluttered open. He had just awoken from his peaceful slumber back in his room.
Yawning, "I guess it really wasn't a dream huh." He whispered. "Sweet."
"O-kay " be stretched while jumping off his bed. "It's a new day, better make the most of it."
*Knock*... *Knock*
"Who's there?" Damian asked, although he knew exactly who was at the door.
"I see you're awake Damian." The visitor spoke up.
Smiling, "Oh... What can do for you early this morning brother Lucien?" Damian asked, making sure to stretch the 'brother' part a bit.
Lucien responded with a low grunt.
'Hahaha, who would've thought that teasing this pompous jerk of a brother would be so fun.' Damian thought with his childish tone.
"You see Damian, I came to give you some... Advice... Think of it as a little something from your elder brother." Said Lucien with an expression that soured at the end.
"Why thank you. So what's the advice." Damian asked, cutting straight to the point.
In response, Lucien leaned closer to him, "I'm sure you know this, but a child with no backing like you will find it hard to actually prove himself as an heir, so I came to offer you a little something."
He leaned in further, his face now in front of Damian as whispered into his ears.
"Pledge your loyalty to me"
Immediately after hearing those words, Damian's expression darkened. Not from anxiety or fear, but from rage.
"Lucien..." He whispered back in a cold almost manacing tone, dropping the brother act completely. "You're in my way..."
"Huh?... H-how d-"
Before Lucien could talk back, Damian pointed to another door beside Lucien with a stupid expression plastered all over his face.
"I- I have to go use the bathroom..." Damian stated in the most stupidly annoying voice he could muster, trying his best to hold back his laughter by covering his mouth with his palm.
'Ahahaha' Damian laughed internally.
Lucien could tell what Damian was plotting, but it still took him all he had to calm his ego if not... well... Things would've gotten out of hand.
"I-I'll leave you with t-those few words Damian. Remember them." He stammered and stormed out of Damian's room.
When he was sure Lucien was out of range, he burst out his uncontrollable laughter.
"That was priceless" he remarked, trying hard to calm himself.
"Ok, ok Pheww.... But I should really go take a bath."
• • •
After having taken his bath and getting all dressed up, Damian sat at his reading table with a book and pen, scribbling down his next plan of action.
"As it stands now, I'm already considered a potential heir to the throne... But I still don't have a land of my own" he muttered.
"If my plans are to succeed, I have to get one for myself, but right now, my share of inheritance doesn't even cover a single grain of sand" he shrugged
'Even Aeron was promised a few cities once he turned 16.' Damian thought with a hint of jealousy.
"I'll have to take matters into my own hands."
Just then, he heard a knock on his door.
"It's open" he called out.
'Another guest?'
But this time around, it was a maid who entered the room. Bowing slighty before speaking up.
'A bow?... Well that's a first.'
"Young master, the king summons you."
'...'
Her statement was followed by a brief moment of silence.
"He's summoning me?" Damian asked, showing surprise.
'Perfect timing,' he grinned 'and here I was thinking about how to get an audience with the king.'
Rising to his feet.
"It's about time I sowed the seeds of rent."
• • •
"You summoned me father." Damian spoke up nervously.
He was now in the throneroom with his father. Just him, his father, the head butler Winston and some guards.
Damian was down on knee with his head bowed in respect as he spoke.
"Glad a see you're in good health." Started the king.
"Thank you... Father"
"I won't waste much time as I still have things to do." He chuckled to lighten the mood, but his deep grumpy voice gave off another impression.
'Did he find out about my class and skills?'
"You must be wondering why I called you out here today."
'...'
"Damian... How would you like to go to school?"
"Huh?.... I mean.... Father... Why do you ask?" He inquired, raising his head slightly.
"Exactly what I said... I think you should go to an academy. Since your swordsman class is a physical one, how about a knight academy.?"
"But father, I don't understand... Why me?"
"Do I need a reason to send my son to school?"
"Umm... No?" Damian replied.
"Then?"
"..."
Damian kept the ensuing silence for a few seconds before speaking up with a small grin.
"Father..." He started. "I guess I'll take you up on that offer."
"Excellent choice."
"But father,..." He continued "How about we make a little wager?"
"A wager?" The king inquired.
"Yeah..." He replied, now staring face to face with the king, but still bowing on a knee.
"What are your terms?" Elric demanded.
"It's quite simple really..." His grin widened as he rose to his feet. "If lose, then..." He paused.
'This is it... Its all or nothing.'
"If I lose, then I'll quit all my aspirations for the throne."
"Oh-ho?... This is interesting..." Remarked King Elric. "And if you win?"
"If I win," Damian continued. "Then I get to pick any city of my choice as my own."
"A city?" He confirmed.
"Yes Father."
"So what's the wager kid?" Elric grinned as the proposals were already quite enticing to a man of his nature.
"Let's bet on whether I can graduate at the top of my new school." Damian grinned further.
His statement caused the king to burst out in laughter.
But Damian's next statement threw the room into silence
"Oh, and pardon me father, but I forgot to mention... I'm not going to a Knight academy." He smiled, staring into his father's eyes.
In this world, academies were grouped according to what try taught. There was the knight academy, mage academy, alchemist schools, etc.
And among all the many academies, only the elite of the elites were allowed to enter, the mixed academy.
Unlike the others with many branches, this one only comprised of one grand structure while mixing the attributes of all academies. It was known as Xavier's Academy of Swords and Sorcery.
In this academy, only a handful graduated with exceptional results. And now, standing before the king was the trash heir who claims to have what it takes to stand at the top of these elites.
"Such insolence!" Winston yelled out. "Even the great first prince Arthur could only get the top spot in the Knight Academy... What hope so you have?" He blurted out. But his speech was cut short by the king.
In a moment, the tension in the entire room increased as King Elric had begun to flex his aura, So much that even the guards who were high class warriors were shifting in unease, while the butler although tensed simply stood there unmoving. Proof of his innate hidden power.
Rising from his throne, he walked down the stairs in a slow heavy rhythm. The weight of his boots echoing and reverbing through the throne room with each step he took.
Finally, he stood before the Damian. The child who made this mighty king rise from his glamorous throne.
But unlike the tensed guards and butler in the room, Damian stood there with his childish grin plastered all over his face as he gazed into the daring eyes of his father as if his aura had no effect on him.
"Hahahahahahaha!" Elric laughed, clearly amazed.
To everyone's relief, he released the aura he spread throughout the throneroom.
"I like you kid. You really are my son hahaha!" He praised. "Tell you what, if you can accomplish that, then you can choose any city you want under the rank of barony and you also get to choose your retainers. How does that sound kid?"
'Bingo' he thought.
"It's a deal." Damian agreed with a smile.
Just then, Elric walked beside Damian and ruffled his hair before speaking up. "I'm proud of you kid... Now go get some results Ra-hahahahaha!"
He walked away laughing as the guards rushed to his side.
Damian on the other hand stood there shocked, then suddenly, while staring at his father's back, A tear ran down his cheek as Damian whispered softly.
"Thanks... Dad"