Klarion stepped out into the warm afternoon air, the sun high up in the sky, casting long golden rays over Blacksword Manor and the surrounding empty dorms. Hatsune was close beside him, her ears moving back and forth to track the sounds of the campus around them as they made their way into the more populated areas.
As soon as they were out of sight of Blacksword Manor, the campus was bustling with activity. Young scions, out of their school uniforms and wearing richly embroidered tunics and fine cloaks, moved about and socialized, their bodyguards trailing behind them. Though still early in the year, Klarion noticed that some already had servants attending to them as well. Some carried books and satchels, others simply tending to their scions’ whims. The hum of conversation filled the air, a strange blend of college life and aristocratic privilege.
Klarion couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of déjà vu. Everyone and everything he passed on their walk was so reminiscent of his own experience in college back on Earth in many ways. Yet, the closer he listened to the surrounding conversations, the more it stood out exactly just how different his second time through college would be. Back on Earth, students talked about course loads, social events, and the best coffee spots on campus. While there was some of that here as well, he also caught snippets of discussions about many other things that would never have been talked about back on Earth, such as which kinds of servants were best suited to enhance their scions’ success in the Academy, which seemed to be the focus of more than a few conversations.
“—A chef and a personal tailor are essential, of course, but having an elite trainer possessing an Essence can make all the difference in the Trials in the next few years. Speaking of—”
“—which is why my lord father sent me some money. I hear the House of Bonds has a new batch of alchemical assistants— supposedly ones capable of brewing potions tailored to enhance your capacity to learn magic skills. An investment, really, and—”
"My father insisted on a strategist as well as a bodyguard. Someone to oversee my preparations for the battlefield assessments next year, and to ensure I develop proper command techniques. You’re only as strong as your retinue, after—”
Klarion exhaled slowly. It was a lot to take in. As much as he might wish the Academy would just be about individual studies, the reality was that it was a carefully cultivated ecosystem of power, resources, and alliances. All the conversations he was overhearing spoke about how other scions weren’t just working on their own to grow stronger. Thankfully, he had already realized he was going to need to take a similar approach to gather the support necessary to take him to the next level.
As they walked, Klarion also took note of the increased Sentinel presence around the campus. Unlike the nearly imperceptible way they had blended into the background since the first week of classes started, they now stood in plain view, armored figures positioned at regular intervals. Klarion felt more than a few masks track him and Hatsune as they moved around groups of other scions. Despite the scrutiny, Klarion appreciated their presence. These weren’t mere guards — the Sentinels were enforcers of order, a reminder that, no matter how privileged the scions were, the Academy’s rules were absolute.
Hatsune must have noticed his gaze lingering on one of the Sentinels because she tilted her head toward him. “Nervous?”
Klarion lightly shook his head. “No, just getting used to the attention.”
She hummed thoughtfully. “I’d like to say it will go away with time, but given everything that has happened so far…” She trailed off, not needing to reiterate to Klarion the events of the past few days.
He nodded in unspoken agreement.
It was only a few minutes later they arrived at their destination. The Hall of Bonds was just as imposing as the other times he had seen it. Moving in front of him, Hatsune led Klarion into the building through the main entrance. Knowing that Klarion was going to be looking for servants to staff Blacksword Manor, she began making her way to the far side, where a sign hung indicating that many kinds of non-combat servants were available for evaluation in the next rooms over.
Klarion moved to follow his Leporine bodyguard, eyes sweeping the main chamber as he did so, noting the ways that other scions went about their business. A few were already disappearing into side rooms with specialized purposes without hesitation, already knowing what they sought.
It was as Klarion was taking this all in that his gaze locked onto a familiar figure across the room.
Lorissa.
The human scion stood with a carefully measured stance, her light green cloak marked with what he took to be the mark of The Ivory Banner. Still without a bodyguard, she had the look of someone contemplating her options, her own sharp gaze scanning the room as well. But the moment she noticed Klarion and Hatsune, her posture stiffened. In a single, swift motion, she pivoted on her heel and stepped through a doorway labeled with Trainers and Tutors, disappearing inside.
Hatsune chuckled beside him, having noticed Lorissa at the same time Klarion had. “It seems someone doesn’t wish to speak with you.”
He gave the Leporine his own slight smile of amusement. “Lucky for her, I’m not here for tutors today.”
While he didn’t think any further about the woman, Klarion did consider the room she had entered. He could have guessed that the Coins of Service weren’t just for bodyguards and servants, but also to engage the services of those who could help the scion develop skills, refine techniques, and secure greater advancements in their studies. It was something he would have to consider in the weeks and months ahead, especially if he ran into issues with his studies like he was expecting. He might not have an excess of Coins of Service now, but when he did, he’d need to take a closer look at the options available.
For now, though, he had a more immediate concern.
Klarion scanned the inscriptions above a number of doorways as they got closer to the far side of the chamber. Each indicated a different category of servants available. Some were straightforward, while others hinted at specialized roles he hadn’t heard of before. But he wasn’t there to attain any of those today; he only needed servants to help maintain Blacksword Manor now that he, Hatsune, and J-65 would be living there full-time.
His eyes landed on a doorway with the inscription above it reading Household Staff. That seemed like the right place. Indicating to Hatsune that he was heading to that one, he led the Leprine inside.
The chamber beyond was vast, far larger than the one where he had selected Hatsune as his bodyguard. It stretched into the distance, lined with rows of iron-barred cells — not of imprisonment, but on display for selection. Within each stood individuals or groups of potential servants, most waiting in an eerie silence. Many of those in groups seemed to have similar features. Perhaps families? It made sense, in a grim sort of way. Keeping families together would likely make them more cooperative, and more willing to sign on with a scion without resistance. Yet the implications still left a sour taste in his mouth.
As he wandered deeper, he caught sight of a number of nearby attendants gathered around another scion next to one of the desks scattered at regular intervals through the vast chamber. A dark-skinned human scion dressed in a finely cut tunic embroidered with silver, he barely acknowledged Klarion as he stood talking with the attendants. Behind him, six red-haired elves — three men, three women — stood in a perfect line, heads bowed, eyes fixed firmly on the floor.
They made no sound. No expression of emotion. Only absolute stillness as they waited for their new scion to complete his business.
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Klarion studied them for a moment before moving on.
Even in a place like this, the stark reality of power dynamics was on full display. These weren’t free laborers seeking employment. They were already bound by service, their fates dictated by whom offered Coins of Service to the Hall of Bonds for their service. At least they had some limited capacity to say no and instead wait for another scion to express interest.
His fingers twitched. The thought still unsettled him, but he forced himself to push forward. This was the world — the Multiverse — he was in now.
As Klarion walked past the cells of those set aside for first-year scions, he examined the occupants. The first thing he noticed was the uniformity of their clothing. Each potential servant, whether elf, orc, beastkin, or some other race, all wore the same plain, practical attire — simple tunics and pants in neutral tones, devoid of any personal flair. It was designed for function, not comfort.
The second thing he noticed was how they all avoided his gaze once they saw the crest of House Blacksword on his uniform.
Heads remained bowed. Eyes flicked downward the moment he got too close. No one attempted to make themselves stand out, no desperate pleading, no attempts to catch his interest. Whether through training, discipline, or fear, they all seemed to adhere to the same unspoken rule: A scion’s attention was given, not taken.
Klarion exhaled sharply through his nose. He’d seen the way the majority of scions carried themselves — how they expected the world to turn at their whim, how they relished the deference. Even here, in a place meant to provide a scion with servants, there was an implicit understanding that scions would not be competing for talent. Those who were bound to service would take what they were given and be grateful for it.
Hatsune, walking at his side, said nothing, but he caught the way her eyes looked over the cells they passed. She was assessing them too.
Klarion continued deeper into the chamber, taking note of the different races present while he waited for the attendants to finish helping the other scion.
There were beastkin—fox-like, cat-like, and wolf-like men and women being the most common, their ears twitching at the faintest noise much like Hatsune’s did, but otherwise standing still. Orcs, their green skin mottled under the dim light, towered over the others, though they were just as subdued. A handful of reptilian races stood out to him as well, among them a wide range of kobolds, their scaled arms crossed over their chests, their slit-pupil eyes sharp but wary. A good number of other, more exotic races were represented as well.
But what struck him most was the absence of certain races.
Humans, dwarves, elves—the races most associated with the “civilized” side of the Empire, at least from the perspective of the Academy’s scions who were mostly of those races—were rare. And those few that were present were in cells that stood apart from the others, and often marked by distinct differences in their descriptions.
Klarion drifted toward a small wooden plaque beneath one of the cells, scanning the information.
Name: Erynn Vaselle
Race: Forest Elf
Class: Ebon Ink Scribe (Rare)
Level: 18
Cost: 45 Coins of Service
He frowned. Forty-five Coins of Service? That was more than the entire amount he had earned in the Dungeon. He glanced at the next plaque.
Name: Leoric Stonearm
Race: Hill Dwarf
Class: Iron Artificer (Rare)
Level: 15
Cost: 40 Coins of Service
Klarion moved from plaque to plaque, seeing the same pattern repeated. Any human, elf, or dwarf was significantly more expensive. Even those with only Uncommon classes were going for twenty-five to thirty-five Coins of Service, leaving little room for additional selections had he decided to go that route.
So that’s how it is.
The Academy’s economy of service wasn’t just about utility — it was about status. The more traditionally esteemed races were valued higher, not necessarily because they were more skilled, but because their presence in a scion’s household carried extra prestige. A scion with a team of elves and human retainers wasn’t just gaining competent servants — they were making a statement.
If Klarion had any desire to appear more “acceptable” in the eyes of The Ivory Banner, he would need to sink his entire budget into a single human retainer with an Uncommon class.
But he had no interest in that game.
He wasn’t about to waste everything on appearances, especially when he had an entire manor to maintain. No, what he needed were capable servants at a cost in Coins of Service he could afford.
Klarion turned his attention back to a portion of the chamber where potential servants with Common and Uncommon classes were, as well as those races less favored by the other scions. With only thirty Coins of Service, he would need to be smart.
As he continued thinking over his options, Hatsune broke the silence.
“Have you thought yet about what servant positions you are planning to fill?”
Klarion blinked, pulling his attention from the cells in front of him to face her. He could read the genuine curiosity in her eyes, but there was something else beneath it — an expectation. As though she wanted to see his thought process at work, to gauge how he intended to shape Blacksword Manor. Which made sense, as it was her home as well, now.
“I… don’t know yet,” he admitted. “I’ve never had a household to run before. Not one as big as the manor, anyway. The most I ever had to manage was keeping my small place from turning into a disaster zone.” He rubbed his jaw. “What about you? You probably have more experience with this than I do.”
Hatsune tilted her head slightly in thought, ears flicking forward. “I do.”
Klarion gestured vaguely at the chamber around them. “So… what’s your advice?”
She paused for a moment, considering his request before nodding. “My family’s household had many servants, each with clearly defined roles.” She hesitated, then forged ahead. “Of course, our estate was much larger than your manor, but the fundamentals are the same. Given that you are just getting started, I recommend you begin with looking for a Steward, a Housekeeper, a Butler, a few Maids, and a Cook.”
“That’s already a lot, and I only have thirty Coins of Service,” Klarion furrowed his brow in concern. “And what’s the difference between a Steward and a Butler?”
“The Steward is your most important hire,” she patiently explained. “They oversee the estate as a whole — managing resources, staff, and ensuring that every servant does their job properly. A good steward keeps everything running smoothly whether you are at Blacksword Manor or not.”
“So they’re like the manager of the whole place?”
“Yes.” Hatsune nodded. “Meanwhile, the Butler is in charge of the manor’s internal affairs, particularly anything that involves you directly. A good Butler will organize your schedule, manage visitors, and make sure your personal needs within the estate are met.”
Klarion grunted, scratching his chin. So, the Steward managed the household as a whole while the Butler focused on him. The distinction actually made sense, but he was still unsure if he needed someone to attend to him just yet. After all, no one but Valdre and Redrek were likely to call on him in the near future. Any other visitors he might expect would likely need another kind of reception altogether.
“Alright,” he said, shifting his stance. “And the Housekeeper? The Maids?”
“The Housekeeper is in charge of cleaning, laundry, and the overall maintenance of the manor’s living spaces. They supervise the Maids, who make sure the majority of those tasks are handled, and all of them ensure that the manor remains in good order. Without these servants, things will quickly fall into disrepair and disarray.”
Klarion nodded slowly in thought. A Housekeeper wasn’t just a glorified janitor — they were a vital role as well. Especially considering the dust-covered state he had found Blacksword Manor in, which he would need to see dealt with soon in any case. So a Housekeeper and a number of Maids would be a must as well.
“And the Cook is self-explanatory,” he finished.
“Yes,” Hatsune said, then her lips quirked slightly. “Unless you plan to prepare all the meals not just for us but for your entire staff as well?”
Klarion snorted. “While I like cooking, if I did that, I would have no time to become strong enough to fend off the enemies I seem to have.”
While he had managed a bit more than basic cooking back on Earth, he knew it would not be possible with his schedule to keep up the practice every day. And he had a guess, given that any cook likely had a specialized class, that food was just not about sustenance here — certain dishes likely could enhance stats, replenish stamina, or even provide buffs. If he wanted to take full advantage of that, he needed someone who knew what they were doing.
He rubbed his face again, frustrated that he knew already that he would soon be all out of Coins of Service. “Alright. So that’s five kinds of positions to fill, and likely more than that in servants.”
Hatsune nodded in agreement. “Yes. But it will be a good foundation for Blacksword Manor. With them, you will have the essentials covered. Additional servants can be acquired as needed when you get more Coins of Service.”
Klarion began mentally working through the numbers. If he wanted to follow Hatsune’s suggestions, and he did, it was even more necessary to balance affordability over every other consideration except basic competency.
He returned to looking over the cells around him, more clearly understanding what he was looking for. A Steward. A Butler. A Housekeeper. Maids. A Cook.
Time to make some decisions.
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