The morning sun, filtered through the high, arched windows of House Dukker, cast long, golden stripes across the stone floors. For Elias, this particular morning held a charge of electric purpose. The silver coin, still heavy in his pocket. His agenda for that morning was a simple but vital first step: get permission to go out.
He found his parents, Lady Elara and Lord Alaric, in their shared sanctum. The room was a massive and a true testament to their dual responsibilities. Alaric's side of the enormous oak desk was a bulwark of national documents, sealed with the crest of the Aerthian throne, while Elara's was a more chaotic, but no less significant, landscape of ledgers, maps, and correspondence and a few files and papers that formed miniature pillars infront of her. Elias watched them for a moment, unsure if whether to enter and proceed or leave them to thier work.
His mother was currently comparing a few documents, her brow was furrowed in frustration as she stared down at a detailed map of their northern part of thier territory.She was locked in a bitter dispute with a cabal of northern merchants. The region of Blackwood was a veritable treasure trove, home to sprawling, ancient forests that produced high-quality wood, and, more importantly, it held a few precious Nodes were precious Flowstone could be found and extracted. The deep woods were also teeming with various beasts, and the rare materials harvested from them were a valuable commodities. The merchants, with their incessant demands and manipulation of supply lines, were a constant thorn in her side, especially now that there was a decline in the exchange rate of the Standard Pound they wanted to take advantage of this and amass as much resources as posaible for a cheaper price so as to sell it for a higher one when, inevitably, things settled back to the way they were and had set thier sights on their region due to the increase in demand for Blackwood and Flowstone. They were trying to use various loopholes in trade laws to encroach upon the region to reap it's benefits.Solving this issue was crucial for the family's standing and the stability of the local economy.
On the other side of the desk, Alaric, Elias's father, a man known for his calm demeanor and strategic mind, was buried under an avalanche of national paperwork. The documents were concerned with national-level issues—treaty negotiations, fiscal policy adjustments, and legal reforms. This was more burdensome since the other Nobles were also trying to bend the various circumstances to their will bia adding loopholes and vague statements to policies and reforms in order to empower themselves. They had sensed the current Kings weakening grip on the throne and like sharks who has smelled blood, they were closing in. Or they were trying to. The King's grip while lossening wasn't completely gone and there were people like Alaric in the Privy Council who would ensure that due process was followed.
The scene established, without a doubt, that both of them were genuinely, and importantly, preoccupied with matters of great importance.
Despite their burdens, they looked up as soon as they sensed Elias's presence. A warm, tired smile touched Alaric's lips.
"Oh,Elias. Is anything the matter?"
Elias, gripping the silver coin in his pocket for courage, took a breath.
"No, Father. It's… I wanted to ask a question."
"What is it?" Elara asked, putting her papers down and giving him her attention.
Elias was moved. Both of them had stopped what they were doing and were listening to him.
In his old world his parents,well they would listen to him if he talked to them but it was always about timing. If they were busy working or engaging any of his other siblings they would postpone what he wanted to say or they would hear but not listen. He understood them but..... Here,these people,this version of his parents put everything aside, important diplomatic decisions that could decide the fate of a society.
For him.
"Are you ok?" His mother asked,worry in her voice as she saw the sad look on his face. She walked around the table and stood beside Alaric.He shook his head and put on an innocent smile.
"No I'm alright. The thing is,I... I want to go to the township," he said, the words coming out in a rush.
"Just for the afternoon. To see it."
A quiet fell over the room as his parents exchanged a look. It wasn't a look of disapproval, but of concern.
"My dear," Elara began, her voice soft as she sat on the arm rest of Alaric's chair,
"We'd love nothing more than to show you around our city but as you can see, we cannot accompany you right now. We are quite busy at the moment."
Alaric thought for a moment then offered a solution.
"I can request Sir Eddie to accompany you. He is a reliable guard and he knows the city well enough to show you around."
Elara shot the idea down instantly, her voice tinged with a playful exasperation.
"Alaric, that is a terrible idea. Sir Eddie is a wonderful man, but he is the most overly serious person in the entire manor. He would march Elias to the town square, stand at attention for an hour, and then march him back. The experience would be more of a chore than a fun outing."
Alaric considered this, his brow furrowed in thought. He was about to suggest another knight when he remembered Elias's schedule.
"Wait son, don't you have your Flow training. I believe I also instructed you to do a number of sword swings to improve your form before we start with swordsmanship tomorrow?"
"Yes, Father," Elias confirmed.
"But I wanted to go in the afternoon during my free time."
"In that case, why not ask Aina to go with you? She is matured enough to know what to do in any situation. She's a perfect fit."
Elias, who had a far more intimate understanding of his sister's temperament, wanted to protest that Aina wouldn't agree in a million years. But he saw it then: Alaric was already glancing back at a piece of parchment, his mind already drifting back to national duties, and Elara was pointing out a detail on the document he was working on, their eyes once again focused on the immense tasks before them. Elias, with a sigh, realized any banter would cost them time in work. He politely bowed and took his leave telling them that he'd ask Aina. His mother waved at him as she rose to return to her seat and his father smiled at him As he walked out the door.
This brought him to his present predicament: trying to convince Aina. He found her standing by the grand staircase, her back to him, staring out a window.
"Aina, please," he persisted.
"It'll be fun. Just for the afternoon."
Her only response was a firm, unyielding "no."