Even among nobles, there was a strict hierarchy when it came to the colors that could be worn. Every shade, every nuance of clothing, was a clear indication of social status. I knew this, but seeing it up close still made me feel strange.
Curiosity pushed me out of the carriage, and I soon found myself walking through the city streets. It was a completely new experience for me, but what struck me immediately was the way people looked at me. Whenever they saw me, their faces contorted into an expression of fear, as if my presence were a threat. I felt like a lion walking among a herd of deer, watching them but knowing I couldn't be part of them.
- Is this your first time, young master? - The guard next to me, the thinner of the two, laughed with an almost mocking tone.
- Yes. - I replied, my voice sounding more nervous than I would have liked. The crowd around me bothered me. The weight of the gazes on me made me feel vulnerable, as if I were being watched from every direction.
- New Moon City is much bigger than the local towns. No wonder your father settled here with the other nobles. They command their territories from here. It may seem bad at first glance, but believe me, it's much better than in the villages.
Doug, the guard, spoke without really paying attention to what he was saying. He moved away slightly, reaching out to take a tomato from a passing vendor. He didn't hesitate. Taking a big bite of the fruit, he devoured it with relish and, just like that, threw what was left on the ground. The scene that followed left me speechless.
The children in the street, who looked as dirty as the ground they were standing on, jumped into the mud. The competition for that piece of food turned into a brutal fight. They crawled through the dirt, as if their lives depended on that crumb. The vendor, seeing what was happening, looked at Doug and his carriage, but didn't dare protest. He knew very well what that axe Doug was carrying and the insignia that adorned the carriage meant.
I frowned, feeling a pang of anger forming in my chest. The sight of the children gorging themselves on mud, fighting over a simple tomato, bothered me in a way I couldn't explain. For a moment, indignation almost swallowed me up. Why wasn't anyone doing anything? Why did this seem normal? But at the same time, I felt a weight on my shoulders, a familiar burden. Ever since I was born, everyone had told me that this was the natural order of things. As a nobleman, I was special. The peasants had their place, and I had mine. For a while, I believed that.
But... hadn't my great-great-grandfather been a peasant too? Hadn't he been a simple man, without riches or land?
I found myself lost in thought, not knowing what to do with this new doubt. The discomfort it caused was undeniable. But I couldn't allow myself to think about it any longer. I had to move on, even if it meant swallowing this feeling of helplessness. Pretending that everything was fine.
I needed to make my father proud. I needed to show that I was worthy of the legacy I carried. Now was not the time for questioning or weakness.
The two guards were so used to stealing from vendors without paying that it seemed natural to them. It was no secret among the peasants. They had a terrible reputation, and I silently watched the whole thing with the distance of someone who knew they weren't part of that world. I tried to strike up a conversation with the guards about something, anything to distract my mind from those uncomfortable images, until we finally left the shopping area.
When I got back into the carriage, the weight of the city and everything I had just experienced was still there. I looked out of the window, observing the streets and the people inside, as if the world outside was now something distant and incomprehensible.
The black carriage advanced through the streets, and as it moved, it revealed the magnitude of the New Moon city before me. Guards patrolled every corner, their presence marked by constant vigilance. Although the eyes of the others were focused on the busy streets, my skill allowed me to perceive something else. I could feel, without even leaving the place, the presence of the warriors hiding in the shadows.
The surrounding peasants emitted an almost static energy, a soft and constant vibration that I could barely distinguish. The preparatory warriors, on the other hand, were like slow, pulsating beats, a force in the making. The rhythm of their pulse increased as their strength grew. But none of this compared to the presence of my father.
I knew exactly when he was around, because his vibration was unmistakable. It was like an insurmountable tide, an immense force that took over everything. When he was around me, my whole body seemed to resonate in harmony, as if every bone, every fiber of my being was a source of the light of life.
It was a unique sensation, something I didn't see in anyone else, not even combat masters. The latter, despite possessing impressive strength, couldn't radiate that energy with the same intensity. They had the light of life at three specific points on their bodies: the head, the belly and the pelvis. These were the places where the energy was concentrated.
I knew that, unlike ordinary warriors, combat masters spread this light all over their bodies, as if it were something that flowed freely through their veins. But even so, none of this compared to what I felt when my father was nearby. He was like a calm storm, a natural phenomenon that I learned to respect every day.
It took about twenty minutes for the carriage to reach its destination: the Full Moon School. I knew what awaited me there. It was a place dedicated to the children of nobles and merchants, a place where I would have to learn to deal with my future and the power that would come with it.
The school was set within a dense green forest, right in the heart of the city. To me, it looked more like an old mansion than an educational institution. The structure was imposing, surrounded by a deep moat, like a small town cut off from the outside world. High, sturdy walls protected the place, and although it wasn't what I imagined of a school, I felt a sense of grandeur as I approached.
The building was the height of a five-storey building and, at the main entrance, two guards armed with iron swords stood guard over the passage. The drawbridge that gave access to the school had been lowered, and the guards thoroughly checked each carriage that entered, one by one. It was a protocol I still didn't fully understand, but I knew it was necessary.
The sun was beginning to rise, and I couldn't identify where the sweet smell of flowers that filled the air was coming from. It was something different, fresh, perhaps the surrounding forest, but it was comforting.
When the carriage finally stopped inside the school compound, near a stable, I got out. My two bodyguards followed me quickly, keeping their distance but always alert. Rammal, the eldest among them, leaned over a little to keep his voice down:
- Young master, we'll stay here now. You can explore the place on your own, but remember, don't lose your identity.
I looked out over the vast terrain and, despite feeling a little lost, a sense of fun began to well up inside me. The environment around me was totally new, and I was about to discover everything this place had to offer.
Men dressed in butler suits walked with firm steps, while well-groomed staff and maids moved between the buildings. The organization was meticulous, and the feeling of being in a controlled and structured place was palpable.
As I got used to the place, I realized that inside the school there was a stable, a warehouse and even a working blacksmith's shop. Everything seemed to revolve around the inner workings of the school, with every part of the complex looked after with immense care. Further on, I spotted a dormitory where the servants and guards lived, which made me reflect on the layers of division and hierarchy that existed even in there.
The environment was full of contrasts, and although it was a seemingly perfect place for those born to rule and command, something inside me couldn't help but wonder: was this really what I wanted?