Path to Power (Chapter 1) - Life as a Stable Boy -

[TzenToku]

It was early in the morning before dawn when a little stable boy lying in the barn with the cows woke up to perform his daily tasks for his masters. He was only a young boy at the age of 12 who manages much of the noble family’s cattle. He could not remember his own name after witnessing the massacre of his village by bandits and robbers. He was saved by William D. Flourite, a nobleman who found him lying within the ashes of the burning village and then adopted him as a servant to the family. Traumatized, it took him a few months to recover before he started talking. The nobleman whom adopted him called him Zhang, and soon everyone else followed and called him by his new name.


He began his day by washing his face and cleaning himself up, followed by bringing all the cows out of the barn and into the fields. Brushing and milking the cows were his regular duties every morning. Boring as it may seem, but he was very grateful he had a place to live and a place where he could call home. He loved his new life as a servant to the Flourite noble family. When the sun started to rise, he was standing outside of the huge mansion with a white horse by his side, waiting for Sophie L. Flourite, the young mistress, daughter of the Flourite family to come out. His duty was also to follow the young mistress everywhere the she went outside of the mansion walls. Sophie walked out of the mansion front doors, down the steps and towards Zhang.


Sophie: Good morning Zhang (With a gentle smile), how are you this morning?

Zhang: I’m doing well my lady (Bows lightly), cows are all out on the fields and Hector here (Horse) looks as eager to see you as always.

Sophie: How many times have I to remind you. No need for formalities, it doesn’t look cute on young boys (Grins at Zhang).

Zhang: My apologies my lady (Smiles back), but these are orders from your father. And I respect him as my savior. Where to today my lady?

Sophie: (Gets up onto the horse with Zhang helping her) Hmmm…. Let’s go down to the nearby village of “Wir” shall we?

Zhang: As you wish my lady.

Zhang pulls the horse by the rope guiding it on its way. Before they got to the main gates Zhang shouted “OPEN THE GATES!!” the mansion gate guards rushed to open the gates and wished the young lady a safe journey followed with a bow.


They went for a journey for a while until they approached a river when Sophie asked to stop and got off. She walked towards a flower by the river, bent down to observe it.


Sophie: Zhang, come here. Come... Come…


Zhang approaches Sophie without saying a word while looking confused.


Sophie: Look… It’s a six crescent flower, very rare. It’s the main ingredient used in making potions to cure most poisons.


Zhang squatted beside Sophie to observe closely upon the flower. He had always enjoyed Sophie’s lessons on potions which she always shares during their journey anywhere. She would always stop them when seeing any rare herbs and give Zhang a short lesson on the arts of potions. Zhang would always enjoy her lessons and pay close attention, taking every opportunity to learn for not many people have these knowledge. He looks at the flower and is amazed by the six red, crescent shaped petals.


Zhang: Do you want to pluck it?

Sophie: Never pluck this flower as a whole, only take three petals each time and let it grow. Otherwise you’ll destroy the whole flower. Only the petals are needed, the rest of the flower should be left alone. And only take one seed each time to avoid damaging the flower.


Sophie plucks three petals and one seed then planting the seed into the ground about 1 foot away from the flower. She keeps the three petals in the purse she carries and gets back on her horse.


Sophie: Shall we get going?


They then continue their journey along the river until they reached a bridge made of grey and white stones. Just as they were crossing the bridge, a squad of Wyvern riders flew over them towards the country’s borders. Wyvern riders were the elite of the Vanorse Nation. They are highly respected by the citizens of Vanorse and feared by enemy nations.


Zhang: (Looking up) How I admire those great riders. Having the privilege to serve the country as an elite. I wonder if something has happened near the Vanorse – Fanlarg borders. May Helios, the sun god protect our soldiers in battle.

Sophie: (Sighs) May Selene, the moon goddess bring the hearts of people both Vanorse and Fanlarg to peace. Our nation has been in war with Fanlarg years before I was born. My father has worked hard for many years to help victims from both nations who had their lives affected by the war. All we can do is to help ease my father’s burden by helping where we can, which is exactly our next stop (She then smiles at Zhang).

As they arrived at the small village of “Wir,” the village folks came to greet Sophie as they saw her coming. “Greetings Lady Flourite” was the greeting that was heard as they continued to the village center. Everyone could be seen bowing to her for she was highly respected by many not only as the daughter of the Flourite family, but because she has helped war victims to find shelter and food.


As Sophie got off her horse, the village head, Omar, walks towards her giving her a hug and greets her.


Omar: Greetings lady Flourite, on behalf of the village of “Wir,” I thank you so much for the grain supply you have given us.

Sophie: (Smiles at Omar) Thank me not noble village head, for such credit should go to the villagers of “Sift”. I was merely the middle person in your trade dealings. And the villagers of “Sift” thank you all for your supply of iron ore. My dear Omar, today I come to you with another trade deal and this time it’s from the village of “Qu’sar.” The village head there would like to know if you would spare them 20 bags of corn each month in exchange for 2 carts of silk every week.

Omar: We are most delighted by this deal and would be very interested in starting by the end of this week. Once again the village of “Wir” is in dept of your kindness in dealings (Bows to Sophie).
Zhang and Sophie rested at the village before they continued their journey. During their rest, the villagers invited them to feast and shared stories about their lives. Zhang had learnt a lot about how the long ongoing war has affected the villager’s lives. As they were about to leave, a little girl runs up to Sophie and hands her a tiara made of vines.

Sophie: Shall we head to the town market before heading back home?
They now continue their journey towards the nearby town.

Zhang: As you wish my lady. My lady, you seem to enjoy bringing different villages of different cultures closer together.

Sophie: During times of war like this, it is essential to work together with others, especially your neighbors to survive. I try to bring the different villages closer that they may benefit from trading with one another to survive this war. Because of the ongoing war, food and supplies from the capital has being diverted from the villages to the military. The people have to learn to survive without the support of their government and leaders at harsh times like these. I may not be a powerful mage, able to speak in parliament like my father can, but I wish to help in any way I can.


Before they arrived at the town, Sophie put up her hood and covered her face with a scarf to avoid attracting attention. Once they got passed the town gate inspection, Sophie got off the horse and Zhang left the horse at a nearby stable. Both of them walked along the streets looking from stall to stall for something that might interest them.


Sophie: See anything interesting?? There should be something new, I mean the merchants here are from different parts of Vanorse.

Storm Merchant: Come!! Come!! Everyone come take a look!! Create your own storm cloud with this machine here!!


The merchant pours water down a funnel, into the machine and out comes a small back storm cloud making thunderous sounds. Everyone nearby were all amazed.


Zhang: Wow… that looked so cool!! There are so many things here I have never seen before!

Sophie: Just wait one day when you go to the capital. You’ll be amazed by what you see there.


They walk around the town market awhile and bought some new unique items. Zhang ran to the stable to get the horse for Sophie and they continued their journey back home. Zhang could never find a better way to spend his time as a servant than as an escort where he could learn a thing or two from the nobles. Once they reached the gates of the mansion, the guards opened the gates and greeted Sophie welcome home. By that time it was already dusk and the sun was starting to set. Zhang helped Sophie down the horse and brought it back to the stable where he fed it. He also started to bring all the cows back into the barn and made sure they were all well fed for the day.


Once he was done, he walked out of the barn and towards the servants’ dining area where he would eat dinner with all the other servants. Before he got to the dining place, Sophie came out of the mansion and stopped him.


Sophie: Zhang, tonight you’re going to be eating with me behind the mansion near the pond.

Zhang: But my lady, it if against the family’s laws for the servant to dine on the same table with the master or mistress.

Sophie: Then we shall dine on two tables. Now come, don’t give me any more reasons to be annoyed. Plus, father is not home, who cares about the family’s laws.


That night they ate on two separate tables. The mansion was on one side and the pond was on the other. That night, there was a full moon and the sky was cloudless.


Sophie: I really do hope the villages would cooperate and be able to survive through this war. The government does not pay enough attention to their people. It is our duties as nobles to watch over the people in need.

Zhang: How much longer do you think this war would last my lady (While munching on the food)?

Sophie: I don’t know, but I hope that one day the leaders of both sides would let democracy take its place instead of using military force. (While putting her hands together facing the full moon) May Selene’s light shine upon the soldiers who are far from home. May there one day be peace in Ashura.


Zhang had always looked up to Sophie as an older sister, learning and accepting everything she teaches him. As they finished up their dinner, Zhang asked to be excused and headed to clean himself up before going to bed.


Sophie: Zhang, remember that all journey that you take, whether if it’s with me, other people or yourself, there is always something to learn from it. There is always a moral in every journey you take. I hope before you go to bed tonight, you will take the time to think whether if there was a lesson to be learnt from today’s journey.

Zhang: Thank you so much and good night my lady (Bowing towards Sophie).

Sophie: Good night to you too my dear escort (While smiling).
Zhang walks towards the servant’s bathroom to clean himself and finally towards the barn. He lays on his straw made bed facing the ceiling thinking to himself “What could be the lesson the young mistress want me to learn?”

Zhang: Do you know what could it be? (Talking to the cows) Hmmm… hopefully I’d get it soon enough.


He then stares at the ceiling, thinking what could be the lesson Sophie wanted him to learn until he fell asleep. That was the end of his regular day as a stable boy and an escort to the young mistress.