Path to Power (Chapter 2) - An Unexpected Visitor -

[TzenToku]

That morning before dawn broke; the whole mansion was busy getting prepared for the arrival of a very important guest. The night before, the head servant made an announcement to all staff to be in their best behavior and the mansion should be presentable for tomorrow. This order was no exception for the young stable boy. The servants were ordered to have the mansion prepared and were to assemble in the front yard for the mansion before sunrise. The busiest were the chefs and dining planners, preparing great feast for the arrival of the honored guest. By sunrise, dozens of butlers, maids, gardeners including the stable boy were lined up and waiting for the arrival of their guests.


Moments later, the front gate guards opened the front gates and greeted the arriving guest. A chariot with dozens of escorts rode passed the front gates towards the main door of the mansion. The chariot was escorted by several knights on unicorns, two spell casters on horses, and one Wyvern rider. The knights were carrying banners and flags with the royal family’s emblem on them. When the convoy came to a halt, the Wyvern rider landed between the convoy and the mansion staff. As the rider on the Wyvern got off, the mansion staff bowed at the convoy and greeted them welcome. The staffs were intimidated with the presence of a Wyvern so close to them.
Zhang: (Thinking to himself) I wonder who our guest could be, he must be a very important person to have so many escorts.


Just then the rider made an announcement to the staff. He was a buff soldier carrying a long sword with armors that looked as heavy as the rider himself.

Bough: I am Captain Bough of the Wyvern elite!! Where is your lord?
Just then, the main doors of the mansion opened, and Lord William D. Flourite walks out to greet the captain and his guest.

William: Greetings Captain Bough, welcome to Flourite estate, it’s been a while since we last met. Congratulations on your promotion to Captain.

Bough: It’s been awhile Lord Flourite (Bows at William). I thank you for your recommendations and support for my promotion, I could not have done it without you.


Captain Bough then walks towards the chariot and before he opens the door for the guest to exit, he makes an announcement out loud.


Bough: It is against the law for commoners to lay eyes upon the Oracle without his permission. Pray silent for his arrival!! Kneel!!


Every staff were shocked to know it was the Oracle who was their guest that day and they immediately kneeled with their faces down. Captain Bough double checked to make sure all the servants had their heads facing the ground before he opened the chariot door and helped the Oracle out. Zhang could not see anything but the armored boots of the Captain, the leather shoes of his master and a pair of leather boots which he suspected was the Oracle.


William: I am grateful that you have graced us with your presence great Oracle.

Oracle: A request from the head of the Floutire noble family himself has come to my ears, how could I refuse. I understand the purpose of my summons and will discuss the matter with you shortly. Shall we proceed Lord Flourite?


Lord Flourite leads the Oracle and Captain Bough into the mansion. As they entered the mansion, Lady Sophie was at the main doors to greet the Oracle. Lady Sophie herself was amazed to see the Oracle would have his face covered with a hood and scarf to prevent anyone from seeing his face. Once they entered, the main doors were locked tight with the Oracle’s escorts on standby just yards away.


Once the guests were in the mansion, the staff returned to their regular duties, but some were forced to stay outside the mansion while the Oracle was present. Zhang continued his duty milking and brushing the cows when he heard some of the maids talking from behind the stable. Zhang walks up to the 3 maids and joins their conversation.


Maid 1: I can’t believe the Oracle is really here. Do you think something serious is going to happen?

Maid 2: Hmmm… What I’m really curious about is why Lord Flourite would summon the Oracle here. The Oracle rarely responds to any summons, even by the royal family.

Zhang: Umm… sorry for asking but what makes the Oracle so special than any of the other powerful mages and nobles?

Maid 3: (Chuckles) You really don’t know much do you stable boy?

Maid 2: Don’t be mean to him, he’s still young. Let me give you a brief explanation Zhang. Once every generation, a mage is chosen out of many by the Moon Goddess in the Moon temple up in the “La’Nirr” province to become an Oracle. The chosen mage will have all their magic powers taken away from them and will be blessed with the gift to see the future.

Maid 3: However the future the Oracle reads may change from time to time due to the constant changing factors like people changing their minds.

Maid 1: I think Lord Flourite summoned the Oracle to see the results of the ongoing war in the future. He must still be seeking a way to stop this long war.


The four continue their discussion until Zhang decided to excuse himself and continue his duties attending to the cows. Hours passed and the Oracle’s escorts were still on standby, waiting for further orders. Zhang really admired their discipline and hoped he could learn a thing or two from them.


After hours of waiting, the doors finally opened and out comes Captain Bough, making his announcement for every servant to keep their heads down for the Oracle. Lord Flourite and the Oracle then came out and talked a while before the Oracle is being led back to his chariot.


Oracle: I had not expected the aftermath of the war would affect this area so much.

William: (Looks sick) Neither have I. But is that the only way to change to course of the future?

Oracle: Nothing is certain old friend. (Looks at Zhang and back at William) I believe I have already explained to you the details. I advise you to go seek assistance from Lord Mansoor of the “Lang” Province and Lord Kaneshiro of the “Ju-Sang” Province. I hope you have not forgotten about the summons by the King to the capital the day after tomorrow. Every noble family head in Vanorse has been summoned for an emergency meeting and all will be meeting in the capital the day after tomorrow. Make good use of this opportunity to establish a close friendship with the Mansoor and Kaneshiro family.

William: I understand my part of the plan. And thank you so much for your guidance and advise great Oracle.

Oracle: It is in my interest to see this Nation at peace once more. I will carry out my part of the plan as discussed. Long live Vanorse…

William: Long live Vanorse…

Captain Bough gives William a bow and leads the Oracle back to the chariot. He gets onto the Wyvern and takes off into the sky, overlooking the convoy. The convoy then leaves though the main gates and the gate guards bids them farewell.


William then looks at Zhang and calls for him.


William: Zhang, come here. (Zhang walks to William) Tomorrow you will follow me to the capital and the day after, you will be my personal servant in parliament hall. Sophie, bring this boy inside and get him cleaned up and a pair of decent clothes for our journey tomorrow.

Sophie: Come now Zhang, let’s get you looking like a gentleman for tomorrow. (Brings Zhang into the mansion)


Sophie calls for the maids to give Zhang a proper bath before they got him some new clothes. The maids stripped Zhang off his worn and torn clothes and threw him into the large bath tub and started scrubbing him. Zhang could not remember the last time he had a proper shower or when was the last time he could walk around without there being mud in his finger nails or the smell of cow dung in his clothes. They brushed and scrubbed him all throughout his body and there were bubbles everywhere.


Out of the shower he came and the maids toweled him till he was dry. Sophie then brings Zhang to a room where she had several formal servant’s clothing laid out for him. She gets him to try each of them until there was one that fit him. By the time she was through with his appearance, it was time for dinner. Zhang was brought to the dining room where William was waiting for him.


William: Now Zhang, come here. I am about to teach you proper servant’s etiquette while his master is dining. While I am dining, you will not be allowed to eat or leave the dining room, so before the lords dine, make sure you eat a big meal beforehand. Other lords will have their own personal servants so try to keep your standard up to them.


That night William thought Zhang all the basics etiquette he would need during the noble gathering the day after tomorrow. At that night itself, Zhang was allowed to sleep in the mansion with the other senior servants. While in the servants’ bedroom, they started talking.


Butler 1: Haha… congratz stable boy!! The master sees potential in you. You’ll do good in life.

Cook: Hey, don’t forget to mention my name to the other cooks in the capital! I want to know whose cooking you think is better, mine or theirs!

Butler 2: Remember not to embarrass the Flourite family name while at the capital.

They talked and gave as much advice as they could to Zhang before tomorrow came. They talked until Zhang could not stay up any longer and fell asleep. All the staff had high hopes for Zhang that his presence in the capital would bring great honor to the servants of the Flourite family.