NOVEL NEXT Chapter 132: New Home
The other nobles, representatives, and merchants could only watch as the old butler took Subject 1 away.
Perhaps, even if they had enough money to pay, they wouldn't dare to go against an Archmage's Family.
Nonetheless, they still felt frustrated since this event should only be for lower nobles and other small or medium-sized organizations. It was an unwritten rule that high-ranking nobles shouldn't participate!
Unfortunately, it seemed that the Farrell Family was quite desperate.
In the meantime, the old butler had actually heard their whispers.
"Why would House Farrell want that young slave?"
"Did you see his eyes? That boy's not right—"
"The Archmage hasn't left his tower in decades. What does he—"
However, the old butler no longer cared about them…
Thud…
The heavy doors shut behind them, cutting off the speculations made by the nobles.
***
Outside the Obsidian Tower, the butler's carriage was unmarked.
However, it was also quite unusual because of its black polish, which absorbs the light.
As the door opened, Hayden saw that the seats inside were luxurious and seemingly made of high-quality leather. They would probably travel for a long while, so he was quite thankful for it.
The butler then gestured for him to board.
Hayden didn't speak and sat perfectly still while his shackled hands rested on his knees. It was a basic sitting form trained to them.
The butler studied him for a moment and smiled. "You're not afraid."
It wasn't a question.
Hayden's polite smile remained the same, and he replied. "Should I be?"
The butler didn't reply, but he reached into his coat and produced a small silver key.
"The Archmage dislikes unnecessary restraints," he said, unlocking the Crimson Shackle. "He believes true loyalty cannot be chained."
Just like that, the shackle clattered to the floor.
Hayden flexed his wrists, his Ocularis Lens whirring softly.
[ Suppression has been lifted. Aura pathways stabilizing. ]
Hayden didn't react, seeing this report as he continued acting like a loyal slave.
***
The carriage rolled through the night as Hayden's new home seemed to be quite far away...
With his Lens, Hayden confirmed that about three hours had passed in near silence. The only sounds were the steady clop of hooves and the creak of wheels over the uneven roads.
Well, the butler didn't want to speak anymore, and Hayden was supposedly trained to be silent unless asked by their 'masters'.
He just sat perfectly still, with an obedient posture, while his expression was blank.
However, behind the façade, his Ocularis Lens worked tirelessly, mapping the route, calculating distances, and analyzing every scrap of information.
[ Estimated distance traveled: 42 miles northeast. ]
[ Terrain: Rocky foothills. Approaching elevated region. ]
[ Destination: Unknown ]
'That's quite fast for a horse-drawn carriage… I guess that horse is enchanted by magic or something…' Hayden mused as normal horses shouldn't be this fast.
Nonetheless, this carriage was probably owned by an Archmage so it was probably quite reasonable to have such enchanted horses.
In any case, after two more hours, the carriage finally slowed.
Then, after a few moments, the butler finally spoke.
"We've arrived."
Hayden wasn't sure what to expect, so he prepared himself for whatever he was about to see.
'Hmm…'
What Hayden saw was not a Mage Tower or a laboratory where he might be experimented by the Archmage.
Instead, he saw a manor. Beyond the gates, he saw the structure of gray stone...
Since it was already dark, Hayden felt a bit confused since he wasn't seeing any light, even on the lamp posts at all...
If not for the moonlight and his Ocularis Lens, he would have a hard time visualizing the manor.
Still, it was as if no one expected them to arrive today.
'Wait…' Hayden felt something off as he also noticed that there wasn't a single guard patrolling the grounds.
As Hayden approached the manor, his Lens immediately started working.
[ Life signs within a 100-meter radius: 8. ]
'There are only six other people?' Hayden was confused.
After all, the Lens doesn't detect his own life signs.
So, not including the butler and the coachman, the manor currently only had six other people inside.
In a manor built for a hundred or so people, nine people was definitely small.
It was strange.
In any case, the butler led him inside, and Hayden realized that it was still well-maintained despite not having a lot of servants in this manor.
The manor was still tidy, and there wasn't any dust.
Nonetheless, the air still smelled a bit of aged wood and dried herbs…
"The Archmage is not in residence," The butler said as if reading Hayden's thoughts. "You will serve his granddaughter, Lady Julia Farrel, until further notice."
Soon, a faint scuffling sound came from the shadows. Then, Hayden heard a child's voice.
"Is this him?"
A girl of no more than seven stepped into the dim light.
She was dressed in a rumpled nightgown. She had silver-blonde hair tangled from sleep as she looked every bit the pampered noble child—except for her eyes.
It seemed a bit too cold, as if she wasn't looking at a human.
The butler bowed. "Yes, my lady. Your new attendant."
After that, the young lady simply left… It was at this moment that the maid arrived and guided the young lady back to her room…
The butler sighed at this as he started to brief Hayden. He confirmed that the manor only had nine of them. Aside from the butler himself, Hayden, and the coachmen, the six other people include the young lady, the gardener, the cook, the guard, and a couple of maids.
Before Hayden could ask more questions, a figure emerged from the corridor. He was a muscular man in a mage's robe.
He was definitely the only mage guard of the manor.
"Hold still," He said as he raised a hand.
Just like that, a pulse of crimson energy shot from his fingertips, wrapping around Hayden's throat like a collar of fire before sinking into his skin.
[ Warning: Foreign mana detected. ]
[ Nature: Curse-type. Purpose: Conditional lethality. ]
It was something he had studied in the Obsidian Tower… He was familiar with this.