Mark_Ward
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Chapter 7: New Friends
🕑 Added 2022-01-25 20:29:59 +0000 UTCBefore his sister’s party was even thrown, it wasn’t long before his grandfather took his education into hand. Royal tutors were summoned forth to teach him all sorts of different subjects.
It was tricky at first to pinpoint what level he was at since he had been reading materials all over the place. The first few days were filled with test after test, Magnus never imagined he would be experiencing the brutal modern testing system of his world again.
Nevertheless he prevailed, sticking it through till the end since in truth there were many gaps in his knowledge of this world and everything it had to offer that his new teachers could fill in.
Thankfully before long they were right on track with his education. One thing that surprised him was how his schooling was tailor made for him. His teachers picked up on what interested him, and briefly covered the stuff that bored him instead of making everything a grueling trial. He had more patience than a child, but he was still thankful for that.
Also what drew his attention was that they would go at his own pace taking their time going over everything at the speed he understood it. He guessed this is how it felt to be a rich kid with private tutors.
Then the day before his little sister's big party, Magnus was greeted to a big surprise that morning.
“My prince,” one of his maids greeted him when he woke up.
“Yes?” Magnus replied as his maids busied themselves getting him ready for his day.
“Your grandfather is summoning you downstairs,” the young man replayed the message she was told to bring to him.
What does he want this early in the morning? Magnus mused to himself.
“Alright, I will be down there,” he replied.
It wasn’t long before Magnus headed downstairs as he didn’t want to hold up the old man all day long. When he did arrive he saw that it wasn’t just his grandfather waiting for him.
There were two other boys who were a bit older than him by a few years, but within his age range. They fidgeted in their spots awkwardly, and he could sense the nervousness coming off of them.
“Grandfather,” Magnus bowed his head politely to the old man. It wasn’t until the old chief came back to the city that Magnus realized how well loved and respected he was. Everyone seemed to revere and show him a bit of hero worship. He guessed the old man’s accomplishments were much bigger than he imagined.
“It's good to see that you made it. Now come, come,” the old man waved him over. “Meet your new companions!”
Magnus raised a single eyebrow, but made no comment. He guessed he should have expected that his family would take the fostering of friendship in hand. He was after all royalty and he did need to make the right connections for the future.
Still it did kind of feel all fake! Though it did come with the position and all since you were always the one that held all the power and others always wanted something from you whether it be wealth, land, or titles.
“We would mind introducing yourselves to my grandson,” his grandfather turned to face the two young boys.
The first to bravely step forward was a boy with a massive jaw, black hair, blue eyes and much paler skin than them. Once he took him in he kind of looked familiar, but he couldn’t place his name until he was kind enough to do so. “I am Hahn, next chief of the Ice Wolf Tribe! Nice to meet you,” he then added as if remembering himself.
“Same,” Magnus nodded his head with a blank look on his face, but inside his mind was racing. Hahn wasn’t he that idiot that tried to kill that Admiral and was betrothed to the Water Tribe Princess… now his sister!
Yeah, Magnus didn’t like him and it wasn’t because he was pretty handsome. Yeah, that was totally not it.
Anyways now that the boy mentioned his tribe’s name, Magnus could say he was pretty familiar with it. He was thankful for his new streamlined education or else he would have never realized how politically important this young boy was.
There were four types of different Tribes; Massive, Large, Medium, and Small! Massive tribes numbered in the millions of tribesman, Large tribes were hundreds of thousands strong, while Medium tribes numbered tens of thousand strong, and Small tribes were only a couple thousand strong.There were also Tiny Tribes who only numbered a few hundred souls, but they were mostly ignored or not considered at all.
The Ice Wolf tribe was one of the Massive tribes in the Northern Water Tribe numbering 3 million strong. And these Massive tribes only numbered 4 altogether. It was no wonder that the Chief arranged a marriage between his sister and the young heir. The tribe not only provided plenty of warriors for the war effort, but also held plenty of sway.
“And you are?” Magnus asked, turning to face the second boy. He had brown hair, blue eyes, and the same beige colored skin as him.
“I am Lance of the Rokaq Family,” the boy answered with a friendly tone.
“Really?” Magnus asked, trying his best to hold his smile back. Whatever R.O.B placed him in his world had a funny sense of humor since this is the second look alike from a different show.
The boy seemed to sense his humor because he asked, “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing! But I do have to ask. Do you by chance have a blue cat tucked somewhere?”
“How did you know about Mr. Fluffies?” the boy asked, surprised. “And he isn’t a cat,” the boy said as if he was explaining this the hundred time. “But a Frost Salamander-Cat!”
“Of course he is,” Magnus chuckled. At that moment Grimm decided to get his lazy butt up as he came yawning into the sitting room and stood next to him.
“Oh yeah, and this is Grimm,” he waved towards the wolf-shark who took in both boys.
“So cool,” the young nobleman said as his eyes sparked in pure joy. “Aren’t they very rare?” he asked.
“They sure are,” Magnus answered. “He was a gift from General Zoanok.”
“The General Zoanok!” young Hahn asked, and Magnus knew when he was in the presence of a super fan.
“The very man in flesh,” Magnus replied.
“Can I pet him?” Lance whispered.
“Sure,” Magnus waved him over. “He especially likes belly rubs and scratches behind his ears!”
“Just like Mr. Fluffies,” the boy said with a smile.
Magnus meanwhile shook his head to himself, who in their right mind even names their pet Mr. Fluffies!?
At any rate, House Rokaq now that sounded very familiar to him. He had been going over the Great Houses of the Northern Water Tribe with his tutors.
Unlike the Tribes, there were 3 types of Noble Families in the Northern Water Tribe. There were the High Houses who were basically like Dukes, then there were Great Houses who were like Counts, and finally there were Minor Houses who were like Barons. There was also Lesser Houses who you could say were Knights, but most of them owed their loyalty to a bigger house and fell under their sway.
Where the Tribes looked for quantity, Nobles Families looked for quality meaning how powerful their water benders are.
And House Rokaq where part of the Big 3 High Houses with a Grandmaster ranked water bending at the helm of the Family.
Looking at the two boys, Magnus had to say his grandfather brought a few big shots for him today. Though not to sound arrogant or anything… he was the biggest big shot among them all. You know royalty and all. He didn’t want to get into it right now, but there is a reason why his family held all these forces together.
Smiling brightly at the two boys, Magnus took the time to properly introduce himself. “Well met both of you. I guess you already know who I am,” he said with a cheeky smile. “Nevertheless, let me introduce myself to you. I am Prince Magnus of House Kuruk, next Chief of the Water Tribe!”
A couple more pleasantries were exchanged between them while his grandfather stood off to the side with a fond smile on his face as he watched them interact.
Then he dropped the bomb upon them.
Clearing his throat, they turned to face him. “It is good to see all of you getting along so well with each other.”
“Why thank you grandfather,” Magnus replied to the old man.
“Well then, I guess you won’t mind if you are to become new study partners!”
Magnus said nothing as he was sort of already expecting this development. “You will all start partaking in your lessons with each other. And you will soon begin your Water bending training as well!”
Now this time, Magnus did reveal his surprise. This was what he had been waiting for this whole time. He wouldn’t lie, he thought he would have to wait for a couple more years for his training to begin, but his grandfather actually came through. And he could be happier than ever.
To be honest, he was sort of starting to struggle with his improvised training, as he had no idea where to take it next. He had plenty of great ideas brewing underneath the surface, but he needed a solid foundation or else he would be muddling in the dark.
What he needed was a Master, to teach him. And right now he was on track to get one.
“It would be our pleasure,” Lance bowed his head with Hahn close behind.
“Good,” his grandfather said. “Now this old man will leave you to talk among yourself and get to know each other.”
Without another word the old left, leaving them to figure everything out.
Magnus knew better than anyone what would distract people's attention around the palace. So he asked, “What to go to the stables? I heard they brought in a Snow Ape-Bear!”
***
Magnus would have thought it would be a total drag having two little kids follow him around. But it turned out to be not so bad. His fellow scions had a sense of maturity that went beyond their years. He guessed having the weight of a whole Noble Family/Tribe would make someone grow up much faster.
He wondered to himself what he was doing when he was their age. Most likely scratching his butt while snot ran down his nose.
Anyways the sights of the palace drew their attention throughout the whole day. He might have not realized it since he grew up in this place and seen everything day after day, but the Royal Palace was pretty amazing.
And his two sidekicks were mostly gaping as he brought to the beautiful gardens carefully cultivated here in this inhospitable land, to the Great Hall with many great animals both deadly and beautiful hanging on the walls, to many painting and artwork hanging around, the menagerie of beats found in the stables, and much more.
Finally after a much tiring day, Magnus brought the boys to their suites. It would seem like they were staying within the palace for the foreseeable future as his hanger on.
They both look dead tired on their feet, so after promising to show them some more attractions that the palace held in the future, he bid them an adieu.
He had much planned today including picking out a gift for his little sister with his mother. He didn’t want to look like a big bad older brother after all, so he would be spending the rest of his day going over presents that the servants brought in the reception.
Who knows maybe he could pick up something nice for himself after all the gifts that his mother didn’t want would be thrown away or given out to the servants.
***
Mix these two and what do you get?
Frost salamander; https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Frost_salamander?file=FrostS5e.png
