Meeting the sly bastard

(Lex POV)

After bidding farewell to my father and having Esel and Lily pack up their things, essentials like clothes, pocket money we provide weekly and some of their own trinkets.

"Are the two of you ready, finished gathering your things?"

I asked the two of them for formalities sake,

"Alright, sir Arlan and you three I've invited a taxi for you all of you to take to the capital, remember I want all of you to return safely and Lex... take care of these two and don't forget to send letters okay?"

Dad spoke kindly to all of us well, excluding Arlan who always said his name with a sort of edge to it. Arlan had already gotten used to it at this point and didn't point it out,

"Apologies Lucas but I've already prepared a different mode of transportation to the capital, it seems I might have forgotten to tell you..."

Father looked at him icily,

"And what would this method of transportation be?"

Arlan clapped his hands excitedly not befitting his age,

"Well you see for the last two days I've been fixing my portal magic to suit multiple people and reduce the effects of motion sickness your son should probably understand why isn't that right Lex?"

Belatedly I nodded, affirming what he said and also in relief at the fact that my sick feeling would be reduced significantly now.

"Yes what master is saying is true, dad you have no idea how disorienting the original spell was... it was horrible."

Lucas just nodded in sympathy at the hidden disgusted emotions hidden in the tone of my voice and secretly notes to never ask to try it.

Once again I hugged my father. Arlan asked to approach him, he touched the three of our heads and something which felt like a buff travelled through my body, its effect was to increase the mind's focus and then he touched his own before waving his hand to create a portal. He does not need a magical focus to conduct his magic through staff or another form of device.

Soon the reminiscent blue energy swirled around his arm and soon a gateway to a seemingly luxurious place opened we could see the other side of the portal.

A bright hallway and red carpet lay across the floor. The walls and ceiling had gorgeous patterns engraved on them and chandeliers hung from the ceiling.

*Whistle*

I whistled feeling in awe of the appearance of where we'd be going but also slightly worried about where he's taking us. So I asked out of curiosity,

"Master where exactly are we headed to in the capital?"

Short and brief that's how I liked to ask things,

"Well, you see I'm known as a top 10 magus in the continent correct?"

"That's right."

"What do you believe us mages this high up in the hierarchy are capable of doing?"

I pondered quietly while tapping my chin,

"Well according to news reports and stories are you not capable of destroying an entire city in a single night?"

He looked at me with narrowed eyes and replied

"Yes, that is a broad way to look at our capabilities. So who do you think takes care of us when we enter a country?"

Why was he wasting time like this? Isn't it obvious that it'd be someone high up in the...

'Oh!'

"Would it happen to be the royal family master?"

He smiled lightly,

"Yes you're right, well mostly to be exact it's the country royal court mages that handle our stays when we enter a country and they provide us with a tonne of luxuries to keep us content. This is especially because of the incident that happened nearly 200 years ago now, oh the memories..?"

I nodded in understanding everything he said and understood what incident he mentioned was, where a mage who experienced a conflict with one of the many royal families in this world. They ended up fighting to the death against them and single-handedly caused a great tragedy where over 3 cities and over 500 thousand people died, this incident was named in history books as 'One mage one nation' or 'bane of magus history' and other various names that spread in other countries. Though this single incident somehow didn't incite hate against mages apparently due to our contributions to protecting the nations they're usually born into and good publicity.

Then my dad spoke up,

"Wait! If you're going to a place closet related to the royal family then you can't go wearing that."

He sighed tiredly and explained to get some clothes resembling closer to nobility's standards I promised to purchase some new clothes there and he accepted my response.

Now finally I told the teens who'd be the servant of me... a servant, to prepare themselves and we stepped through. This time I could feel only slight dizziness though the kids didn't handle it as well...

"Just head forward and take the second right there are restrooms for you to use if you need it."

Arlan pointed, clearly pitying the kids who felt sick though they shook their heads and soon gained their composure though their faces remained pale. We walked forward slightly and suddenly there was a trigger and my [instinct] skill picked out multiple people with hostile intentions but I couldn't point them out, it felt like a sudden adrenaline rush and my body warmed up.

I looked around after the stunning feeling and found us surrounded by people in red and gold coloured robes,

"Put your hands in the air unidentified mage! Identify yourselves!"

One in blue and gold robes ordered I looked at Arlan hoping for salvation and so, salvation came while rolling his eyes.

"Little Harper~ do you not remember this great magus already? It's only been around what? 10 years?"

He stated playfully and looked at the man in blue, that same man heard the voice and mumbled under his breath

"That voice, that confidence...

"Uncle Arlan is that you?"

Arlan smiled at him kindly but then grimaced,

"One! I told you to just call me Arlan the uncle bit makes me feel old! Two! If you recognise me then why have you all not dropped this barrier yet?"

The man in blue or Harper as Arlan called him dripped a cold sweat and so he ordered the mages to pull it down after he confirmed Arlans magical signature or some magical mumbo jumbo.

"Khukum! Uncle Arlan you know I have to address you respectfully it's the etiquette I've been taught since I was young..."

Arlan just scoffed at the mention of the aristocrats' etiquette, though I made sure to take note of how he addressed someone of similar standing to him, never too early to begin my etiquette lessons. I want to be able to play different roles and since I don't have any time to learn how to I can at least practice some method acting. After all, I'm probably going to play different kinds of protagonists after all.

As Harper makes some small talk with Arlan he finally points at us and asks,

"So if I ask who are they unc... I mean Arlan?"

He submitted to him,

"Oh, the brown hair one is my slave and will be acting as my servant while the other two... they are the servant of my servant so that's that."

Harper raised an eyebrow and tried to confirm something,

"Wait you of all people got a slave? From where? Why? That's not like you at all."

Arlan just spoke offhandedly,

"He just... interests me is all."

Arlan spoke dully,

'Sounds kinda weird to hear you be interested in me doc.'

I joked inwardly but kept a placid face. As I calmly observed the people now that their originally hostile intentions have dropped.

'I wonder what sort of interesting things will happen when I'm here...'

To be honest, I was kind of bored and wanted to be occupied, I didn't have any particular training regimen or things to study and keep me occupied...

'Wow look at my lazy ass looking to do work.'

I sighed inwardly at my self-mocking and followed Arlan who was being led to meet the royal family to inform them of his stay, while we were led to our rooms which were in another part of the castle meant for servants. It was past the royal garden, which was full of plants that I'd never heard of or seen in my previous life on Earth.

A refreshing feeling courses through my body and a couple of soothing scents coalesced into something that could hypothetically clear the mind of stressful thoughts. Slowly we approached the servant's home and encountered a manor, that could put some of the poorer nobility to shame. A place with a surprisingly modern feel, it was very eye-catching and use various kinds of reflective materials for both the interior and exterior.

We followed a quiet maidservant that lead us to the second floor of the building and were given the keys to a room reserved for outsiders servants. I and the kids thanked her as she scooted away while we entered our temporary residence. A place with multiple beds, approximately 20 or so is arranged and didn't look necessarily uncomfortable. There were a couple of toilet facilities and other necessities on the first floor where the people.

Inside were other people dressed in maid and butler outfits that I aesthetically enjoyed looking at. Though to not seem creepy I kept my eyes up to where they should be. Though they did look like a bunch of cosplayers, I could say that Arlan looked the most like he was the one person who put their all into attending a costume party.

"Hello everyone my name is Lex Armine, these two are Esel and Lily we are pleased to meet you."

I spoke quite well for my first time though Lex Armine's merchant experience helped. The first one to introduce themselves was a rather plain-looking fellow who has short brown hair and brown eyes he seems in his 30s.

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance as well sir Lex, I am George Stanley from the house of count Fors, if I could be so inclined to ask who you serve."

'Hmm... do I always have to mention who I serve in these meetings perhaps they already know I'm a newbie.'

"Ah, yes my apologies I come as the servant of magus Arlan Schmidt these two are servants of my own family."

"Sir Arlan has a servant? I see, and since you have servants of your own are you of some noble family I've never heard of the Armine family before. Perhaps fallen nobility?"

I pondered the answer to this question I could lie but I'm curious about the treatment I'll get if I announce my position as a slave and a commoner merchant.

I know I decided not to follow on my whims so easily but I couldn't help myself besides at most I was ready to get looks of disgust or maybe even disrespected but I should just be able to bring up Arlans name...

So I did just that and the reaction was a big t confusing, there was a disdainful look in some of them while others seemed like they could care less. Either they're smart enough not to provoke Arlan or because of my position, there's some level of respect. There was only one person who had a different reaction.

A figure with fox-like eyes and an orange ponytail, he seemed to be... amused.

'God, why do I always have to interact with these sly looking people.'

I judged a book by its cover and ended up right to do so...