The next morning Caedus woke up groggy. Almost feeling as tired as he did the day before, but a lot more manageable. He sat up in bed, staring at the floor for a second, thinking.
'I guess I am really in Iridia. All this felt like a fever dream yesterday, but there is no denying it now.'
Caedus sighed loudly and stood up, stretching with a big yawn.
He shuffled his feet into the bathroom and started splashing water on his face and getting ready for the day. Since he had no idea what was going to happen today.
He turned the faucet off and went back into the room to put on his new boots.
"So they figured out plumbing before electricity… or just skipped it entirely?"
He frowned.
It wasn't something he first thought of, but his grandfather would tell stories about how the whole world used to glow with artificial light powered by electricity. But as far as he could tell, people still used fire-lit lamps. It kind of bugged him. 'Maybe modern technology doesn't exist in this world, or it just isn't as efficient.'
Caedus was still pondering this question as he opened the door into the hallway and nearly ran into the innkeeper. "Oh, I am sorry, I wasn't paying attention." Caedus was slightly embarrassed from almost running her over.
"Don't worry about it, young man. I was just about to wake you up. How are you feeling?" She kindly said.
"Still a bit tired, but a lot better from yesterday." He honestly said.
"Do you want a coffee? I still have some downstairs." The innkeeper offered gesturing him to follow her.
"What's a coffee?" Caedus' curiosity got the better of him, so he followed without hesitating.
"Hmm, I forgot that Sir Umbra mentioned you newly ascended. Think of it as a drink that will wake you up." The innkeeper said.
"I'll try it. By the way, I apologize for being rude. My name is Caedus, but what do I call you?" Caedus just realized he never introduced himself. His grandfather would surely have scolded him for being rude.
"My name is Greta. It's nice to meet you, Caedus." Greta smiled at him warmly as they made their way into the empty dining hall.
"Likewise." Caedus smiled back, and the smile wasn't forced. It felt nice that Greta was treating him kindly.
As Greta showed him to the table, she disappeared to get him a plate of food and coffee.
A few minutes later, she returned with a steaming plate and cup.
"Now, I have to warn you, this drink will be very bitter. If you don't like it I will get some sugar for it. Is that alright with you?" Greta warned.
"How bad can it be?"
He took a sip.
…
His face immediately darkened.
"…Could I have the sugar?"
Greta turned away quickly, laughing behind her hand.
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After Caedus finished his now, much sweeter coffee, and wolfed down his plate of food he needed to find out what time it is.
"It's about ten in the morning, you slept quite a bit last night." Greta teased.
"Ten huh? What should I do for the next 2 hours?" Caedus asked out loud.
"Why not take a look around the streets? If you get lost just ask for directions back to The Broken Canopy. But i wouldn't make Sir Umbra wait too long however. So be sure to be back here in 2 hours. He also mentioned House Corvane is sponsoring your joining military is that true?"
"Is that Umbra's family name?" Caedus turned his slightly.
Greta nodded her head. "They are... well known in the Ironwood Kingdom."
"What for?" Caedus asked.
Greta didn't answer right away.
Instead, her eyes flicked toward the empty tables… then toward the entrance… then back to him.
When she finally leaned in, her voice dropped to a whisper.
"Well, I don't know what Sir Umbra told you, but the Nightmare Crow Clan is a organization that works directly under the King. Different families in the clan specialize in different things, but Sir umbra's family, House Corvane, is known for being the King's spies and intelligence gathering family."
"Oh?" Caedus was a bit surprised at that revelation.
Greta pulled away slightly and nodded solemnly. "I don't want to speak ill will of them Caedus, but be careful. You seem like a sweet young man. Getting caught up in the drama of the nobles is never a good idea."
Caedus didn't respond right away.
His mind drifted back to Umbra, his seemingly dual personality. One serious, and one relaxed and non serious, the way he melted into shadows, how effortlessly he moved through the city.
"I see." Caedus slowly said. He didn't completely understand. It made him a bit more confused on why Umbra would sponsor him so diligently and without any questions.
"And I suspect, you guys will speak about it more later. For now you should enjoy your time in the city. In case things get hectic in your life." Greta said, trying to circle back to the beginning of the conversation.
Caedus slightly smiled at that. She was right. And there was no point in pondering about the thoughts and motivation of others. This new information did make him a bit anxious but not anymore then him being in a new world with strangers all around him.
"You're right… I'll head off now."
Greta nodded. "Just try not to get lost."
"I'll try not to."
Caedus stepped out of the inn and into the street. The city seemed even more alive then it was last night.
He stood there for a moment talking it all in.
He exhaled slowly and then began walking.
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Caedus tried to forget all of his problems and truly immerse himself in the streets. He wandered around making small talk with merchants who were standing by there street side set ups and people next to him seeing there wares.
Each cart full of goods was something he couldn't even dream of. Odd looking fruits and vegetables. Another was selling necklaces. He even saw someone selling whole dishes of cooked food.
Caedus couldn't help but smile at the amazing sites. Naturally growing up on Earth, civilization was pretty much non-existent so being around this many people and new things brought excitement to him.
Before Caedus new it, the sun was directly above him which signaled to him it was time to head back to The Broken Canopy. As Caedus began to turn around he heard the noise of a carriage drawn, accompanied by the crowd around him speaking in worried hushed tones.
"Isn't that the Corvane family"
"What are they doing here?"
"Is there a spy in a capital?"
In the middle of the street, almost parting the crowd like a sea. There was a large luxurious carriage pulled by two large black horses. It was adorned with silver trimming with a black paint being the base of it. As he was observing the carriage he saw a familiar figure exit the carriage while scanning the crowd. It was Umbra.
After a few seconds they finally locked eyes. Umbra smiled and waved at him. "There you are Caedus. Come over here, and hurry up we don't have all day."
Caedus could feel his face getting a little hot as dozens of people turned there heads to look at him.
"Are they friends?"
"So there isn't a spy here?"
Caedus quickly walked towards the carriage and stepped in, he immediately wasn't a fan of all the attention, shutting the door behind him. Inside the carriage was a lot bigger then how it looked on the outside. It was big enough that Caedus could comfortably lay down in there without worry about taking up to much room.
Umbra was sitting on one side of the carriage who put his hand out showing that Caedus should sit across from him.
"How did you sleep Caedus?" Umbra asked.
"I slept fine." Caedus replied with a slight frown. "How did you know I was here?"
Umbra raised an eyebrow before smiling gently. "I am sure you have heard something about my family. We have eyes every Caedus."
This just made Caedus' frown deepen. "Really? Are you watching me?" The thought of him being watched made Caedus a little wary. Almost like his life was in danger.
"Of course not. I guessed you would be exploring and this is the closest shopping district." Umbra chuckled. "But seriously my family does have eyes in a lot of places but that doesn't mean we are all knowing. Relax Caedus."
Caedus didn't respond to that. Instead he decided to ask some questions he had floating around in his mind from the new information Greta had told him.
"I guess I should ask Umbra. What do you want with me? You at first mentioned you help newly ascended regularly but it seems you are going the extra mile for me. Why?"
Umbra didn't immediately respond. He just kept smiling at Caedus, his eyes were barely visible.
"Well I do need something. But first let me say this. I won't ask you to do anything extremely dangerous." Umbra let that sink in.
"I won't ask you to be a spy, or go on a dangerous mission. I just want you to join the Ironwood Crown Initiative instead of the regular military. Think of it as you are getting a lot of a higher quality training and it will have higher benefits and it is better for your military career."
'Ironwood Crown Initiative?' Caedus hadn't heard of it yet. "In exchange for?"
This was the moment of truth for Caedus. What did Umbra and the Corvane family want from him?
"I just need you to do your best in it. I don't want you embarrassing my in front of my family, it would suck if they guy I wanted to sponsor wasn't good at being a soldier." Umbra teased.
"And what else?" Caedus knew there was more then that.
"Well, first I would have to tell you what the Ironwood Crown Initiative is. So here is a bit of background for you. The Astral Empire has been quickly expanding its borders over the past few decades and becoming more aggressive. The King of Ironwood has been growing wary of the Empire's lofty ideals. Part of the reason of the Empire's aggression is growing is because of the strength of the youth in their land. They have given birth to a few monsters. This makes their confidence for their future grow, and with confidence come the idea they are better then everyone else, which can lead to some dangerous actions. So the King had an idea. Why not make monsters of our own with our own youth. That way in the future. If the Empire ever wanted to invade, our future, the youth of today, would be able to fend them off." Umbra's smile slowly faded as he told the story.
"So the King ordered all noble families to send there children through the Ironwood Crown Initiative in order to foster their children into the Ironwood Kingdom's future leaders."
Caedus listened intently before bringing up a point to Umbra. "Then how do I come into this? I am literally just a nobody."
"You'll do fine. Everyone have a soul ability. Either way, it still determines what battalion you are in but this is more to have you get into the inner circle of the noble youth."
"But why? I may not be very knowledgeable about this world but the fact the King isn't sitting around waiting for the Empire to invade and is trying to deter it is a smart thing. Unless I am misunderstanding." Caedus interrogated.
"No, you are right. But as my family doesn't have someone of age to send to the Ironwood Initiative, I had the great idea to send you. Something that worries me, and not so much my father is if we foster all these youth to become as strong as the King, in order to deter the Astral Empire, what's to stop them from trying to take the crown. So all I need you to do is tell me at any point. If any of the noble groups are planning to rebel against His Majesty in the future." A smile began to form on Umbra's face again while a frown deepened on Caedus'.