It was approximately two or three months after the emperor's ball that I found myself summoned by my father, the Earl of Archphantom. There were many causes by which my father would summon me. For missions perhaps, or to cater a noble's scion. Even marriage was a possibility as I had now stepped into the realm of eligible bachelors. But that would be a more prolonged conversation.
The house of Archphantom has stood for over two thousand years. Sworn to secrecy, our line has long held the vigil of shadows beneath the sun. The crest of the black dog imprinted to a shield hung above the mantle of the estate fireplace. It attested the loyalty of our family for generations.
Publicly we stood in the county of Orenstein– part of the Calia duchy. Our line sold grain, timber from Knockwood– a small local forest in the Samsinuri'Matu, and we peddled medicines to the upper class.
The church of Sòl had a firm presence in our land. Yet the priests and sorcerers of our realm that practiced old Goetëa magic were most well versed in the art of harm rather than healing.
Mágëa and Goetëa, the art of deception and vitality respectively in the golden tongue.
It was an hour past high noon when I answered the summons. Father stood arms clasped behind his back and gazed through the glass windows of the estate into the garden.
"Caleb," he said, "I have a mission for you."
Naturally, I fell to one knee and listened closely.
"What would you have me do, Lord Archphantom?"
"First thing's first, happy eighteenth birthday."
Father's words were not to celebrate– evidenced by his curt tone. It was to inform me that this mission would be my coming of age. It seems he planned to retire from his position as Earl.
"I thank you, father. I hope you live long and reach a healthy retirement age."
"A celebration is planned for your eighteenth birthday. The barons of the territory as well as those you personally requested have all arrived to celebrate and feast."
There were only three barons in the county of Orenstein, hardly enough for a proper gathering. As such, I had arranged other guests to fill the roster per my father's order.
"I understand father, the guests will surely feel of lighter spirits by the end of the day."
"That they will, but this is not the only reason I have called you here…"
At last, we got to the heart of the matter. The mission which would decide my worthiness to succeed the house of Archphantom. A pause caught in my heart at the thought. This was a critical mission– and likely the most difficult I will have undertaken yet. When a breath had passed, my mind was steady and I listened to my father's every next word.
"Have you been paying attention to the latest gossip?"
The query was not irrational, there had been much gossip about the realm these days— rising taxes on grain and cattle, active pirates along the coasts of the Anathion, riders in black sweeping through the southern countryside and felling whole villages in their travel, talk of secessions in Apollicos and Sumelo… the drama never ceased within high society. But which gossip my father was referring to I knew not.
I expressed my ignorance plainly, "It seems I've neglected to spend time with my peers. I know not what circulates the realm."
"The hearsay I speak of is not one uttered in the circles of the broader empire. It is quiet– restrained. You would only have heard it whispered if you had eyes and ears in the capital city. Especially if you've friends in high places."
"It must be quite a serious topic then."
"Indeed for I have suspicion that it is responsible for the recent change in the emperor's disposition."
Now that was a serious claim. But what mere gossip could move the emperor of the undying empire so antithetically to his purported values?
Father's words enlightened me, "a rumor began to circulate in the royal court three years ago. It stated that ancient Mágëa-King Yaevnrauth's research on the Elixir of Immortality was not lost when Effinitia fell."
I kept my expression firm though a shock echoed in my body. I was not privy to this rumor. But it was suspicious– for if Father's words are to be believed, the war with the city-states of Inbal had begun about the same time that this rumor started spreading,…
"There are many versions of the rumor. Some say we are the ones that hide it. Others claim that it was hidden by one of the dukes. Some even say that the church has it."
"Then it is my mission to find the lost research?"
"No. There is no need to search for it. I already know that the emperor has it himself."
"But how?"
Father finally turned to face me– his coal-colored eyes had not a single speck of light inside. He walked to his desk and pulled out a formal document. It bore no seal, just a simple hand-written letter that said the following:
Investigate the rumors of Yaevnrauth's research. If they are likely true, begin searching for the research itself.
It was a short and direct order– a letter from the emperor.
"You found it?"
I could scarcely contain my surprise at Father's words. This research was mythical… with it, one could craft the Elixir of Immortality– a draft that can extend the life of a living creature indefinitely and cure any ailments. At once I considered the emperor's likely goal.
"Is this about the second prince, his grace prince Idan?"
"Astutely guessed. That's what I've surmised as well. It was three years ago that the emperor gave me this task and I fulfilled it in a summary fashion. I traced the rumors to a steward in the council of Duke Solomon of Akkaad. But one thing troubles me…"
Father pulled out parchments full of notes in the handwriting of the court wizard. They made repeated reference to the Elixir of Immortality. I suppose the emperor had him studying it for insights.
"I found the ancient research preserved in the steward of Duke Solomon's care– he had been practicing unsanctioned wizardry. But… I don't know where the steward got it from. Under interrogation he just kept claiming like a madman that it came to him– wanted to be found by him. Like some kind of destined curse."
"Do you think someone intentionally spread the rumor and wanted you to find the research?"
"You know the ways of our family by now Caleb, we are Archphantoms. It is in our nature to assume the worst."
To assume the worst indeed… The one who spread this rumor not only had knowledge of ancient mythical research thought lost after the fall of Effinitia, but also knew intimately the inner workings of the royal court and understood the emperor's heart.
Father continued, "the emperor has begun to invest a lot of the royal treasury's budget into funding alchemy research. He also asked me to look for three ingredients– the Herb of Immortality, the ashes of a Phoenix, and the Waters of Longevity… these ingredients are reported to be in the far east and north primarily."
I only knew of one ingredient myself, the Waters of Longevity is a name for fountainhead waters from the River Az, in the heart of Arcticus. They're an old enemy of our empire and the one primarily responsible for the collapse of the Heathcliff dynasty. Ironically though, their kind are rather short-lived by virtue of their natural habitat. The north beyond the Izalae Mountains is said to be so cold that most infants do not survive the harsh winters there.
Yet despite our ancient animosities, they've never once been conquered before in the past four thousand years of recorded history. Not even the Aurians were able to claim Arcticus as their own… So how would the emperor seize this ingredient? I could not fathom his majesty's plan.
"If I am not to find the lost research, and you do not need me to search for the ingredients either, then I assume you wish for me to uncover the secret behind the mysterious rumors?"
"These rumors I believe are the core of all the changes happening in Helios. I want to know who's behind them. This mission will challenge you in ways you've never experienced before. You may die. If you wish to refuse, I will find one of your siblings and give them the task instead."
I had never heard my father speak as plainly as he did then. All pretense was stripped and he simply told me the risk at forward. It was an ill omen in my mind. Even so, what would I be if not a loyal servant of the empire?
"I accept father, I will uncover these rumors for you."
"Excellent. With that settled, you should go. Your birthday party will begin soon. Now is the time for you to make the connections that I know you are seeking to make."
Father dismissed me to prepare for the party and I began in full. By the time guests arrived it was an hour before dinner. When things were in full swing, only then did I make an appearance.
I First had the doorman announce my arrival and prepared an introductory speech to kick things off. From the upper side of the stairs I heard the doorman call out and prepared to orate myself for the lower nobles present— as it was a birthday for merely the son of an Earl, not much in the way of high nobility would bother to come.
"Announcing the arrival of his young lordship, sir Caleb Henry Archphantom, son of Earl Nathaniel Archphantom!"
My presence was at once commanding, each of the barons turned to see the young lord– and hear his words. I took a glass of delicious red in hand and raised it as if in toast.
I spoke clear across the hall, "fine gentlemen and lords of the land, it is my honor to stand in the presence of such excellent men this evening. Today is the celebration of my coming of age– my eighteenth birthday!"
A round of mandatory applause echoed throughout the room.
"I'll not speak overly long, I'm sure we're all eager now to enjoy the well-earned comforts of food and recreation. But I will take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued loyalty to our empire– and your continued friendship with my family. But enough formalities… please– I bid you all, celebrate!"
With the rise of my hand a round of "Aye's!" sounded through the chamber. Each lord raised his cup to toast and drank heartily enough to show their trust.
After the speech I greeted the local barons of the duchy– Harrow, Duskan, and Corvo. Then I had to choose which of the external guests I would greet first. A political decision as much as it was a simple greeting. But not a hard one, I had already rehearsed my choice long before.
I approached a man with a wiry build and thick-skinned hands that bore many callouses. He was a tad short though stocky, and bore a set of black marks under the lids of his eyes. Baron Coscan of the Amar-lan barony– servant of the count of Dorianne.
"Baron Coscan, thank you for coming so far from the south to this humble gathering of mine."
The baron of Amar-lan was a stern man and had a far more militaristic air about him– likely from his experience dealing with Kar'kashan raiders in the south. His skin was a bit darker than the other lords present, owing to his southern blood. While whispers abounded at my first choice of greetings, I had the utmost confidence in my decision.
To the lesser nobles present it appeared as if I was favoring the southern nobility– a slight against the crown. But they did not know my family's true trade. For the dukes who would hear of this through second-handed gossip, it would serve as a source of dread and warning.
"Archphantom plans to join the southern coup d'etat," is what the lower nobles will think.
"Archphantom is ready to decimate the southern nobles," is what the higher nobles will understand. Tis' a simple game to play– this thing called politics.
After greeting lord Coscan and a few other southerners, I moved to another baron from outside the territory.
"My lord Baron Percival, congratulations on your recent title. I hear his grace lord Drakkennide knighted you himself."
The baron turned and nodded, "Aye, he gave me a land at the eastern border. I must thank you for your invitation here, young lord Archphantom. As I am new to these gatherings, it is a boon to have the friendship of such an old family in these lands."
"Why, it was a matter of course for me. Your career is one to watch– a Drake Knight at the age of merely twenty, how impressive! I'm sure that Duke Drakkennide will see fit to grant you another promotion soon. Perhaps then we'll speak as peers in the aristocracy one day."
On and through the night I moved about the gathering, greeting the guests in strict order. The last to be greeted was my scapegoat, lord Byronia.
It was customary that the order in which guests are greeted signals favor, status, and support. Being last in a series of greetings is a slight, but one that is common at every gathering. Lord Byronia always was the last guest to be greeted and it served us both just fine. He received free food and some undertable fees, and I received a willing scapegoat who would suffer the indignity of being last in my guestbook without losing any status– since he already has none in high society.
Byronia and I spoke in quiet as the party proceeded comfortably.
"You pulled quite a stunt there on the balcony," I said– referring to that time with the third prince.
"Caleb, why can't you mind your own business?"
"Apologies friend, but the third prince is a part of my business."
He sighed and took an intentionally long sip of his wine– expressing the desire to get drunk and cause a ruckus as soon as possible.
"I don't believe the third prince is really a threat to stability. I've seen him myself, he just wants to be recognized."
"Oh, is that so?"
Although I feigned ignorance, I of course was intimately familiar with the details of the princes. The third prince may have many nasty rumors about him circulating, but he doesn't show any logistical signs of wanting to seize the throne– although my view of him has shifted after learning that his cataphracts departed for the south.
"You of all people must know he's not a threat. The real problem is the emperor."
"You know, I could have your head rolling for that comment."
"Good, then take it already."
Another long sip of wine. My, he must be so eager to leave.
"You're merely a viscount," I said, "you should not concern yourself deeply with the affairs of the imperial family."
It was a clear message, 'don't interfere. I'll deal with it myself.'
Byronia just shrugged.
He downed four cups over the course of the evening before being booted for disorderly conduct. The rest of the night proceeded as usual and when the guests cleared out, I moved to prepare a carriage for my leave in the morning. I had a mission to fulfill after all.