A Gamer Into Trails

Don't forget to drop those power stones!

Who is ready for everyone's favorite prince?

*

I guess my path to learning Magic has settled, hasn't it?

Moreover Roselia would even use one of her spells to grant me a Familiar, just like how she would grant Emma Celine and Vita Grianos.

To put it simply, Familiars are constructs created through one's own Mana, and in extreme cases, one can even split their soul to create a Familiar. They will then serve their Master, or the creator can grant them to another. Either way, they can be one of the best servants to have. They typically take on the form of animals. Given enough training or enough Mana to the being they're bonded with, they can achieve a human form.

And well if I was ever given a chance for this to happen, I know the go to choice, since I've always enjoyed how fox familiars looked like. I've decided mine will be a white fox. Coming up with the name will be the hard part though. At the present, I was thinking of the name Hikari. It meant Dawn in my past life, and it would reference the light of the sun that would peek over mountaintops to start the day. This way I could use it as a memento of my mother who died giving birth to me, since she went by the name Aurora.

Has a nice ring to it doesn't it?

Unfortunately this Familiar business won't happen immediately. I need to settle personal matters first before using the talisman Roselia gave me. I can enter her village when I am ready, the village of Eryn. Eryn would be the same place Class VII would make their base of operations in the later half of the cold steel saga...

And yet, it seemed something else was now in store for me , since I was able to make my way back to the first floor of my villa where the others were at. I saw Giliath, Rean and Kasia together.

But not only that, I saw two secret agents wearing full black suits and black sunglasses. Seeing them here, I knew it was something serious. Yet what they said to me caught me by surprise, especially since they gave me a bow in respect.

"Greetings, Your Highness.", The two men in black said with a bow. Rean saw this and acted confused. Well, I couldn't blame him. Even I was surprised. How did they know?

Seeing this, I turned toward Giliath.

"Father?", I asked him with confusion in my eyes. To which he only smiled back at me.

"Come here, Naoto, they know.", Giliath responded to me. Hearing that, I nodded my head and reached Giliath's side. As I did, Kasia spoke to me.

"Naoto, you and your father will be going to Valflame Palace. You've been cordially invited just now.", Kasia replied with a smile, bringing another surprise my way.

"The Emperor invited us? Really?", I replied with surprise.

"Indeed he did. As such, you cannot go to greet His Majesty in that shabby outfit.", Giliath retorted at me as he looked at my current appearance. I was just wearing a simple blue shirt with black pants while Rean wore a black shirt with white pants. Father was currently in his full military garb, so I was expecting to wear something similar to his since he said that. I could only inwardly sigh. Even Kasia's eyes twitched a bit hearing that.

"Do you think it's time, Giliath?", Kasia decided to ask. To which Giliath nodded his head at her. Seeing this drew my interest. What were they on about now?

"Yes. This day would come eventually. Naoto, listen well, before your mother passed, she left you with something. It would do well to fit you.", Giliath responded, looking my way.

"That's right. We previously agreed on only showing you this when the time came for you to get invited by the current Emperor of Erebonia. First appearances matter a lot in noble society, let alone introducing yourself to His Majesty.", Kasia also responded with a smile.

"Wait, I am going to be introducing myself to His Majesty!?", I asked back in surprise, which learned a chuckle from them both.

"Haha, indeed you are, my son. As long as you behave like you did to Her Majesty Queen Alicia, it should go well. Come now.", Giliath said to me, before he took my hand. I followed his lead and we parted from Rean and Kasia. As we did, I looked back at the two secret agents who stood still in place, acting like nothing happened.

"What do we do about those two?", I decided to ask Giliath. Giliath grinned hearing that.

"Just pretend like they're empty air. That's what they're good at doing.", Giliath responded back at me.

Hearing that, I wanted to twitch my eyes but I remained calm. Giliath led us to his safe further away into a corner the living room. I always wanted to know what was inside that thing. It didn't take long for him to enter his pin and open it up.

Before long, I saw a pretty long beautiful wooden box appear inside of it. Inscribed on it was a symbol of sorts, a phoenix bird to be exact. It was a golden crest, designed in a deep violet and white. it had a five pronged crown at its tip with the bird of a phoenix embedded in its center. It was very pretty to say the least, looking very similar in design to the crests of the other Four Great Houses.

"This...", Seeing this engraved box, Giliath smiled at reaction.

"Go see if you can lift it up. This box is yours from today onward.", Giliath said, smiling back at me.

"Okay!", I said happily. Giliath made room for me to peek inside his safe. Sure enough the box was pretty long. Still, I was able to effortlessly pull it out, placing it out on the ground. Well, it was unexpectedly heavy, but I was able to open the box with some effort. I couldn't be distracted from its content the moment I gazed upon its content.

The contents of this box was scarce, or was it plenty? I wasn't sure. I saw regal clothes, assuming the design was based off of House Phoenix. Three outfits of the same design, but different sizes. One small to fit my current age, one somewhat larger, likely to fit my teens while the largest one was for when I was old enough to where I wasn't growing off to the right.

Now I know why the box was so long...

Off to the right was a jeweled rapier. It was currently sheathed. It's scabbard was pure violet in color with its handle pearl white. I didn't know what it looked like on the inside, but it looked quite powerful. I wonder, did House Phoenix practice rapiers like the Auslese family did, or was this mother's personal weapon? I guess she had the intention of passing it down to me if that were the case...

Further up in the box, were two letters. One was wrapped smaller and had a home-y feeling to it, while the second letter was much larger. It was wrapped and stamped with the symbol of the phoenix. The second one looked a lot more official like. Perhaps it was related to House Phoenix itself. I could only guess this first letter was from mother. Maybe she had written a final will of sorts before she passed?

Besides these few items, there were two books. Both of them weren't titled anything, so I would have to see what they were later. Moving down to the center of the box was what surprised me the most.

A personalized combat orbment. I guess I won't need to worry about where I will get my tactical orbment down the line as I continue my training. Really, was mother really planning on handing me everything? I was very curious to see what slots it had, and wondered if it had the potential to be upgradable.

Seeing all of this, I felt a wave of emotion come over me. I know passing down an inheritance can be a hassle sometimes. And I couldn't even get to know you before crossing over into Zemuria. I really wish I could have at least gotten to know you a bit more, mother...

But that was all in the past, and I could only accept what is now laid out in front of me.

And currently, Giliath and Kasia are probably wanting me to try out this new outfit on. And I must say it is very regal looking, no doubt I will look like a high class noble once I put it on.

"I'm guessing I'm to put this on before we go see His Majesty?", I decided to ask.

"Yes. Kasia thinks you may struggle with it at first. Why don't you go with her to put it on?", Giliath suggested.

"I've been waiting for this day. Let's go put it on Naoto.", Kasia replied back at me.

"Okay!", I answered happily, before the two of us went to one of the rooms that was empty nearby. A few moments later, a sound of ruffling clothes could be heard. It didn't take long before a figure emerged from it, wearing a completely new shiny outfit...