POV Draven Bridgewater
Draven was a Noble of the Sapphire Principality.
Being a Noble of the Sapphire Principality was a never ending marathon.
When Draven was six years old, his parents were killed in the Revolutions. He wasn’t even sure who killed them. Were they killed by the Revolutionary Army, the Fairy army, or the Great Fairies?
They never recovered the bodies. Their funerals had empty caskets.
Draven would say that he loved his parents. However he knew they were horrible people.
Draven found the women in the basement, chained to the wall and used it as their play things. They heavily taxed the people. Killed anyone that offended them.
The people that was in his city hated him. So much so he had to wear a disguise while traveling through his city.
He would constantly be targeted for assassination.
In the early years after the Revolution, he feared Minister Brian would take away his Noble status.
The new government led by Minister Brian made sure the Nobles weren’t abusing their power and actually doing their job.
Draven had to work himself to the bone to keep his noble status after his parents died. Studying until he couldn’t keep reading. Filling out documents until his finger shakes. The pressure was so much that it deteriorated his health and he had panic attacks many times.
Draven felt he was always running, chased by the governmental official with swords.
He was on a tightrope and one mistake he would fall.
The number of nobles that survived the years after the revolution were only a handful under the new government.
He was paying for the sins of his parents. The world will make sure to never let him forget it.
----
Seven days before the present day.
Draven stood in the waiting room of the Duke Mansion, where he was met with a disdainful gaze from another older man. "Bridgewater," Benjamin uttered the name with a hint of contempt.
Draven straightened his back, he saw the man a few times since Bridgewater city was unfortunate neighbors with the Ruby Republic.
“Hello Congressman,” Draven said. “What are you doing here?”
"I'm here to negotiate with the Duke for a trade involving the Hero Relic," Benjamin replied. "I assume you're here to seek military aid and engage in some ass-kissing."
Draven countered, "Can’t we be civil with each other? We are basically neighbors. I don’t see us working with each other well if you keep antagonizing me."
“Your a noble!” Benjamin said in disgust. “A leech that drains the people of their hard work and money. You don’t follow the same laws as the common man. You didn’t earn your power or prestige, you were given it! Your own parents tortured innocent people and were punished because people like me had to revolt and punished them! Why would I be civil to a disgusting corrupt Noble like you!”
“How am I supposed to redeem myself if people like you don’t give me a chance,” Draven snapped back. “You were also Noble one time Riverberry. Tell me have I specifically done any crimes that I deserve to be punished for. My whole life I’ve been doing nothing but helping my city and paying for crimes my parents committed. Even when I do everything well, people like you still hate my very being. Do you believe I deserve your hatred when I did nothing wrong? ”
“You enjoy your nobility and your parents deserve to die at least hundreds of times for their crimes,” Benjamin said. “I can’t like the son of such monsters.”
Draven shook his head, this was best he was going to get with people like Benjamin.
----
Count Draven and Duke Galen locked eyes with intense hostility.
"I demand to see Jasmine. Galen, you cannot keep her away from me," Draven asserted.
"Or what? You hold no influence here," Galen scoffed.
"I will expose your abduction of her to the world. Your reputation will crumble, and Minister Brian will strip you of your Noble status."
"You fool! I control the newspapers and reporters! What can a mere Minister do to harm me? I am a Duke!"
"You're bluffing. The Princess would relish seeing you cast aside after breaking her heart."
"You bastard! I should have you executed!"
"Go ahead and try. Better men than you have attempted to end me and failed," Draven declared, locking eyes with the Duke.
Galen clenched his teeth and averted his gaze. "Butler, fetch Jasmine for me."
The Dog Tribesman butler bowed and then disappeared.
Galen signaled to the guard, "Bring in the next visitor."
The guard nodded, opening the door for Benjamin to enter.
Duke Galen fixed his gaze on Draven, "Aren't you going to leave?"
Draven turned his attention to Benjamin, "Mind if I stay? I won't interfere. I'm curious to witness the tactics you employ in negotiating with Duke Galen."
Benjamin shrugged, "Do what you want."
Draven shot a smug smile at Galen before casually moving to the couch and taking a seat.
Benjamin began, "You, of all people, should understand the Northern Duchy deficiency. It lacks farmland, relying heavily on food imports."
Duke Galen nodded, "Do you have a solution to the food crisis?"
"I possess a Magic Formation that can create a barrier, preserving heat and keeping out the cold," Benjamin replied.
Duke Galen inquired, "What's your request?"
Benjamin raised a finger, "I want the Drought Necklace."
Galen shook his head, "I won't part with a Hero Relic."
"The amount I'm saving you is incalculable. Hero Relics, as powerful as they are, have a price. I won't settle for less than the Drought Necklace," Benjamin asserted.
Duke Galen countered, "You're a shrewd businessman. Provide the Magic Formation, and if it meets my satisfaction, I'll give you the Drought Necklace. If not, I'll pay you a fair market price."
"Your satisfaction is subjective. How about I set up the Magic Formation on an acre? If it successfully grows food, you will hand over the Drought Necklace."
"One acre is too small, make it five acres."
Benjamin grimaced, "You're too greedy, Duke Galen... Fine, I'll test the Magic Formation on five acres. Be prepared to lose the Hero Relics."
Duke Galen agreed, "Deal. Do you have the Magic Formation with you?"
Benjamin shook his head, "It's in a secure location."
Duke Galen frowned, "How unfortunate."
"May I hunt in your Dungeon? Obtaining Rebound Orbs would be valuable," Benjamin proposed.
"I can sell them to you directly," Duke Galen suggested.
Benjamin declined, "Your version of selling involves an overpriced markup. I'll pass. A gifted Rebound Orb would be appreciated."
Duke Galen refused, "I won't give out free Magic Orbs. You can hunt in my Dungeon, I can at least offer that courtesy."
Benjamin nodded and left for the Dungeon within the Duke's Mansion.
----
Draven was finally able to meet his beloved Jasmine.
Jasmine was escorted to the room by two royal knights. A pair of twin children that was rumored to be over level 30.
“Hello Draven. It is good to see you again,” Jasmine said, smiling pleasantly.
Draven noticed there was no joy in Jasmine's eyes.
Draven replied, “Hello my love. I would like to see you in better circumstances,” Draven took a deep breath. “Are you being forced to stay here against your will?”
Jasmine said, “Of course not.”
Duke Galen then said, “As you can see, she is happy to be here. You can go home Count Draven.”
Draven stared at Jasmine. Something felt off, he clutched his hands. He needed to take action and save Jasmine. However, he couldn’t do it alone.
He was going to contact the other members of the Golden Egg.
Draven then said toward Jasmine, “I will be leaving for now my love.”
Draven then turned around and faced Duke Galen and said, “I will be back.”
----
Draven later finds out that someone has stolen from the Duke mansion.
An uncountable number of Magic Orbs were taken away.
Two Hero Relics. The Crown of Thorns and the Staff of Moses were stolen.
The priceless Mithril Shield was also stolen.
POV Draven Bridgewater
Draven was a Noble of the Sapphire Principality.
Being a Noble of the Sapphire Principality was a never ending marathon.
When Draven was six years old, his parents were killed in the Revolutions. He wasn’t even sure who killed them. Were they killed by the Revolutionary Army, the Fairy army, or the Great Fairies?
They never recovered the bodies. Their funerals had empty caskets.
Draven would say that he loved his parents. However he knew they were horrible people.
Draven found the women in the basement, chained to the wall and used it as their play things. They heavily taxed the people. Killed anyone that offended them.
The people that was in his city hated him. So much so he had to wear a disguise while traveling through his city.
He would constantly be targeted for assassination.
In the early years after the Revolution, he feared Minister Brian would take away his Noble status.
The new government led by Minister Brian made sure the Nobles weren’t abusing their power and actually doing their job.
Draven had to work himself to the bone to keep his noble status after his parents died. Studying until he couldn’t keep reading. Filling out documents until his finger shakes. The pressure was so much that it deteriorated his health and he had panic attacks many times.
Draven felt he was always running, chased by the governmental official with swords.
He was on a tightrope and one mistake he would fall.
The number of nobles that survived the years after the revolution were only a handful under the new government.
He was paying for the sins of his parents. The world will make sure to never let him forget it.
----
Seven days before the present day.
Draven stood in the waiting room of the Duke Mansion, where he was met with a disdainful gaze from another older man. "Bridgewater," Benjamin uttered the name with a hint of contempt.
Draven straightened his back, he saw the man a few times since Bridgewater city was unfortunate neighbors with the Ruby Republic.
“Hello Congressman,” Draven said. “What are you doing here?”
"I'm here to negotiate with the Duke for a trade involving the Hero Relic," Benjamin replied. "I assume you're here to seek military aid and engage in some ass-kissing."
Draven countered, "Can’t we be civil with each other? We are basically neighbors. I don’t see us working with each other well if you keep antagonizing me."
“Your a noble!” Benjamin said in disgust. “A leech that drains the people of their hard work and money. You don’t follow the same laws as the common man. You didn’t earn your power or prestige, you were given it! Your own parents tortured innocent people and were punished because people like me had to revolt and punished them! Why would I be civil to a disgusting corrupt Noble like you!”
“How am I supposed to redeem myself if people like you don’t give me a chance,” Draven snapped back. “You were also Noble one time Riverberry. Tell me have I specifically done any crimes that I deserve to be punished for. My whole life I’ve been doing nothing but helping my city and paying for crimes my parents committed. Even when I do everything well, people like you still hate my very being. Do you believe I deserve your hatred when I did nothing wrong? ”
“You enjoy your nobility and your parents deserve to die at least hundreds of times for their crimes,” Benjamin said. “I can’t like the son of such monsters.”
Draven shook his head, this was best he was going to get with people like Benjamin.
----
Count Draven and Duke Galen locked eyes with intense hostility.
"I demand to see Jasmine. Galen, you cannot keep her away from me," Draven asserted.
"Or what? You hold no influence here," Galen scoffed.
"I will expose your abduction of her to the world. Your reputation will crumble, and Minister Brian will strip you of your Noble status."
"You fool! I control the newspapers and reporters! What can a mere Minister do to harm me? I am a Duke!"
"You're bluffing. The Princess would relish seeing you cast aside after breaking her heart."
"You bastard! I should have you executed!"
"Go ahead and try. Better men than you have attempted to end me and failed," Draven declared, locking eyes with the Duke.
Galen clenched his teeth and averted his gaze. "Butler, fetch Jasmine for me."
The Dog Tribesman butler bowed and then disappeared.
Galen signaled to the guard, "Bring in the next visitor."
The guard nodded, opening the door for Benjamin to enter.
Duke Galen fixed his gaze on Draven, "Aren't you going to leave?"
Draven turned his attention to Benjamin, "Mind if I stay? I won't interfere. I'm curious to witness the tactics you employ in negotiating with Duke Galen."
Benjamin shrugged, "Do what you want."
Draven shot a smug smile at Galen before casually moving to the couch and taking a seat.
Benjamin began, "You, of all people, should understand the Northern Duchy deficiency. It lacks farmland, relying heavily on food imports."
Duke Galen nodded, "Do you have a solution to the food crisis?"
"I possess a Magic Formation that can create a barrier, preserving heat and keeping out the cold," Benjamin replied.
Duke Galen inquired, "What's your request?"
Benjamin raised a finger, "I want the Drought Necklace."
Galen shook his head, "I won't part with a Hero Relic."
"The amount I'm saving you is incalculable. Hero Relics, as powerful as they are, have a price. I won't settle for less than the Drought Necklace," Benjamin asserted.
Duke Galen countered, "You're a shrewd businessman. Provide the Magic Formation, and if it meets my satisfaction, I'll give you the Drought Necklace. If not, I'll pay you a fair market price."
"Your satisfaction is subjective. How about I set up the Magic Formation on an acre? If it successfully grows food, you will hand over the Drought Necklace."
"One acre is too small, make it five acres."
Benjamin grimaced, "You're too greedy, Duke Galen... Fine, I'll test the Magic Formation on five acres. Be prepared to lose the Hero Relics."
Duke Galen agreed, "Deal. Do you have the Magic Formation with you?"
Benjamin shook his head, "It's in a secure location."
Duke Galen frowned, "How unfortunate."
"May I hunt in your Dungeon? Obtaining Rebound Orbs would be valuable," Benjamin proposed.
"I can sell them to you directly," Duke Galen suggested.
Benjamin declined, "Your version of selling involves an overpriced markup. I'll pass. A gifted Rebound Orb would be appreciated."
Duke Galen refused, "I won't give out free Magic Orbs. You can hunt in my Dungeon, I can at least offer that courtesy."
Benjamin nodded and left for the Dungeon within the Duke's Mansion.
----
Draven was finally able to meet his beloved Jasmine.
Jasmine was escorted to the room by two royal knights. A pair of twin children that was rumored to be over level 30.
“Hello Draven. It is good to see you again,” Jasmine said, smiling pleasantly.
Draven noticed there was no joy in Jasmine's eyes.
Draven replied, “Hello my love. I would like to see you in better circumstances,” Draven took a deep breath. “Are you being forced to stay here against your will?”
Jasmine said, “Of course not.”
Duke Galen then said, “As you can see, she is happy to be here. You can go home Count Draven.”
Draven stared at Jasmine. Something felt off, he clutched his hands. He needed to take action and save Jasmine. However, he couldn’t do it alone.
He was going to contact the other members of the Golden Egg.
Draven then said toward Jasmine, “I will be leaving for now my love.”
Draven then turned around and faced Duke Galen and said, “I will be back.”
----
Draven later finds out that someone has stolen from the Duke mansion.
An uncountable number of Magic Orbs were taken away.
Two Hero Relics. The Crown of Thorns and the Staff of Moses were stolen.
The priceless Mithril Shield was also stolen.
