The Warmth of the Hearth

The morning is greeted by the ringing of bells accompanied with the striking of the clock. Everything is busy at House Laisren, with housekeepers off to fulfill their duties and staff to do their work. Olin Laisren, a forty-year-old mage, serves as the head butler of the house. He makes sure that everything is in order, including the young lord. Although considered as a powerful Agni user, Olin chooses to remain with his job as a butler. This prim and proper attitude provides a stark contrast to the methods of his brother, the Lord of House Laisren and Luke’s father.

He approaches the bedroom door swiftly yet carefully, a daily endeavor he has grown accustomed to. “Young Lord, I believe that it is time for you t---” He stops abruptly seeing Luke already up and ready, an unusual sight to add to the morning.

“I’m already up Uncle Olin. What’s for breakfast?” Luke greets the butler with a smile. His orange eyes shining as the sunlight reflects off them.

The butler gives off a smile as a reply, nodding for the young master to follow him to the dining hall.

They hurry their way to the empty hall where the table is filled with food enough to feed a dozen people. The family has never been the one to wait as they have their own schedules to follow, making sure that their name doesn’t fall behind other Houses. This means that meals together are rare occasions, and even then, nothing really happens.

“Uhm, you wanna help me finish all of this?” Luke asks Olin jokingly.

“I’ve already had my fill, young master.”

After eating a quick breakfast and brushing his teeth, Luke quickly followed Olin to the carriage that was prepared in advanced. The carriage was pulled by two white horses that were dressed in red and blue silk that contained the family crest. The body of the contraption was painted similarly to the fabrics, sporting two huge metal wheels that allowed it to quickly cover ground.

“I suggest we hurry, should we not want to be late.” The butler said, opening the door to the young Laisren. Luke promptly got on and Olin followed shortly after, signaling to the coachman that they are ready for travel. They hear the loud crackle of the whip, followed by the swift take-off of the carriage.

Ezicion was a place bustling with mages and it was easy to see the magic it has to offer. High rise buildings sported complicated contraptions, brew stations that display tonics and potions for every ailment, and clothing stores that made garments and robes from the finest unicorn silk flood almost every alley of the streets. The Summer Domain was also considered to be a hot commodity for merchants and traders to set up shop, which explains the bustling streets of the marketplace despite the day being so early.

As the carriage rounds a corner, the scenery is greeted by a huge mystifying wall of manna that could be pegged as non-existent to the naked eye. Luke leans closer to the window to look outside. They were nearing the border which separates the Slums from the rest of Ezicion. The Mur, a tall magical barrier which segregates the mages from the Feeble. The barrier was designed by the Royalties to act as a one-way mirror that allow the nobles to see the Feeble without them looking back. To instill the importance of magic into the hearts of the people. It was doing its job, because unlike the prestigious structures that exist within the wall, what Luke saw outside was far from pleasant. Lines of broken houses made from wood, rivers polluted with garbage and dead fish. It always stung to see the image every time he was on his way to the Academy. The wall was the biggest reason why Luke questioned the system Ezicion is so proud of, because the system only favored those at the top while throwing away those at the bottom. He knew that with their capabilities, they would be able to help them if they tried.

“You seem to be troubled, young master. Is something wrong?” Olin asked, concern visible in his kind eyes.

In an instant, Luke put on a smile to put Olin’s worries at ease. “I’m fine Uncle Olin. However, there’s something I always wanted to ask.”

“What would that be, young master?”

“Why aren’t you assigned as head of the house? You’re much older than father and just as capable as him, why are you stuck being a butler for your brother?” Luke asked. This was a question that always remained a mystery to him.

Olin gave off a warm smile, the wrinkles in his eyes offered him an exceedingly kind look despite growing old. “I was never interested in politics, my dear Luke. The constant gamble for power, a game which seemed to me, both exhausting and pointless.” Olin pauses, looking out of the window for a second before focusing on Luke again and continuing. “When we were your age, your father and I always talked about the future. I was uncertain as to whether I really wanted to be the lord of the house, but your father, he always said to me that he was willing to fight for the title. Now, you can see that he has won, and I have lost. Although, I must admit, I might have pulled a few punches. I trust you to keep that a secret, young master.” Olin ruffles Luke’s black hair, a trait all of house Laisren shares.

The carriage abruptly stops, arriving at the destination. Luke prepares to leave Olin but before he could step out of the carriage, Olin leaves him one last reminder. “Do not fear the fact that you are different, young Luke. Powerless you may feel as off now, the time will come that your true strength will show. I wish you luck on the test, young master. We shall wait for your return.”

“Let’s hope that time comes sooner rather than later Uncle Olin.” Luke answers with a huge grin on his face. “I’ll see you after school!” With that, he sets off.