Year 9987 ASF
The courtyard of the North mansion was loud that morning. Eddy and his two friends were in the middle of a fast game of Stoneball (a rough sport where you just kicked a hard leather ball around and hoped it didn't break your toes). Viktor Wolfstun, who had wolf-strength running in his blood, charged in and kicked the ball with all his might. The ball flew like a metro and struck straight into Eddy's stomach. Eddy folded over with a loud scream and dropped to his knees.
"Viktor!"
Elias shouted, rushing to Eddy's side.
"Did you forget he's a Reinborn? He doesn't have your stupid wolf bones"
Viktor scratched the back of his head, as his ears turned red.
"How was I supposed to know he'd stand THERE? I wasn't aiming at him!"
"You should be more careful buddy, " Elias replied
Eddy waved them off while slowly standing.
"I'm fine. Just… don't kick it THAT hard again."
The three laughed it off and kept playing, but their game stopped when they heard the sound of wheels on stone.
A black carriage rolled into the courtyard, pulled by two ironhorn mules.
Aldric, their old butler, stepped out first. Behind him came Albert(Eddy's elder brother) walking calmly, his cold blue eyes unreadable. But what made the boys curious were the two figures stepping out last.
A tired woman with shaking hands and a small girl, maybe Eddy's age, clutching her mother's dress and staring at the ground.
Eddy blinked confused . "Who… are they?"
Albert didn't even glance his way. He simply placed his hand on the girl's shoulder and guided both women inside
the mansion. Aldric turned to the boys.
"Young master Edward… they are your family's new slaves."
Viktor broke out laughing instantly.
"No way! You got your first slave! Lucky! Mine brings me water during training."
Elias nodded. "Yeah… and you can make her clean your room. It's nice."
Eddy felt something warm and proud in his chest. A slave of his own. It sounded special and was excited. That evening, while walking through the hallway of the north family mansion , Eddy was thinking about his new slaves and was very curious to meet them ,but while passing by his parent's room , he heard some loud noise .
Being a curious boy, he put his ear close to the door , but then he heard .His mother's voice shook.
"I never knew you were like that theon , after all we have been through, all the trials all of our journey together, how could you buy slaves , how could put a price tag on the human souls "
His father coughed before speaking. "Listen to me sweetheart. I know what I did you didn't like but please listen to me, what i did was for a reason , they.."
Before Eddy could hear anything else he felt a cold hand on his shoulder , when he turned back he saw his brother Albert with his evergreen cold stoic face
Eddy asked "Elder brother, why are mother and father talking in such a rude and loud manner to each other?"
"It's nothing," Albert said, putting a hand on his other shoulder and said to eddy
"Go to sleep."
But Eddy didn't sleep well that night , he had never seen his parents argue before and was very scared , he was very scared and he blamed the new slaves for it , as his heard them arguing over something related to the slaves
Days passed after the slaves reached the north family mansion, the girl named Inber and her mother were given a room in the mansion's dungeons , the mother was sick and weak so she couldn't do much but her daughter would help the butler in doing the chores, the girl at first avoided eddy out of fear and shyness but her mother told her to go and speak to him as he was her new master and she had to serve him . But whenever the slave girl tried to approach Eddy, she was avoided , he would not look at her or even eat at the same table , when she tried to speak, Eddy would snap at her and scold her. He didn't even know why—it just felt easier than understanding anything she said , but she relentlessly continued her efforts to connect with him
After a few days Eddy , Viktor and Elias went on a sparrowfly hunt , when the boys were preparing traps behind the garden and collecting supplies, the girl nervously approached them. At first they didn't notice her but then she opened her mouth as if to ask something.
Eddy snapped. "I said stay away!"
She stepped closer anyway.
And Eddy pushed her harder than he meant to.
She fell, scraping her knee. She cried in pain.
Aldric watched all of it from the balcony in silence and was disappointed.
That night, Eddy's mother called him to her room.
"Edward," she said softly,
Eddy replied " you called for me mother?"
"Yes," Lady Elowen said, she then continued on with "my dear son I was informed you have been behaving with the new slave girl in a rather cold demeanor?''
Eddy stayed silent
Lady Elowen then asked oftly " My son why?"
To which Eddy answered
"Because you were unhappy "
Lady Elowen face had a confused look
" The other day I heard you and father having an argument, i never saw you two speak with each other in such a harsh tone , but after they arrived you two argued , it must have been the slaves doing "
Tears started coming out of Eddy's eyes as. He barely looked at his mother who had a soft caring expression on her face
After listening to her son's word Lady Elowen hugs him , caressing his head and comforting her crying son she says
" Oh my baby, I didn't know you heard us , see what you thought was a total misunderstanding. Yes me and your father had an argument but later on we realised each other's rationale , and trust me it was not the doing of slaves "
Eddy speaks " really" with a broken voice
Lady Elowen smiles warmly towards her son and tells him " Yes , so from now one don't hurt that little girl anymore, she is just like you the only difference between you and her is that you were born and noble and she was born a slave , she too was afraid after coming here in a totally new place alone with her mother, but she was happy to find out someone her age here someone who can understand her "
"So promise me my son , you will treat her nicely from now and not only her but anyone who you meet in life, as kindness is the greatest wisdom that I can give you my son "
Her voice was gentler than any punishment.
Eddy nods in response and sleeps in his mother lap that night
The next morning, Eddy approached the girl in a shy manner and apologised to her . He expected the girl to run, but she was hesitant at first looking towards her mother but when she nodded , the girl approached Eddy and gave him a yellow rose wrapped in a white napkin with the words written on it
"Will you be my friend?"
Eddy nods and receives her gift
Later that day when the boys are playing , Inber approaches them , walking in a shy timid manner , with sweat rolling down from her overthinking head , Viktor and Elias at first look at her coldly and tells her to leave
But the Eddy stands up for her and tells the boys that if she doesn't play he won't either and that she too was her friend like they were Viktor at first was flabbergasted by Eddy's words but Elias being the sharp nail he is understands Eddy first and later they both convince Viktor too , who even though not liking Inber due to his friends pressure plays with her
for next few days the play multiple games
Like Stoneball, catch the star and even go hunting sparrowfly together , During their hunting trip eddy catches one sparrowfly but he sees Inber looks sad and released the sparrowfly, and for the first time since the 3 months of Inber and her mother arriving to the north mansion, eddy sees a bright smile on Inber's face , he gets awestruck by her smile and happiness and blushes , after which vicktor and elias starts teasing him , they continue on to have a lot of fun until
A scream tore through the halls.
"Lord North! Someone help..... he's collapsed!"
Eddy's heart dropped.
And everything changed.