《True Nobility》 Chapter 1 – A Young Noble The sun began to cast its light upon a large town. Within the town full of expert architecture, a large, Gothic castle towered above the neighboring buildings. Tall towers stretched from its base as if it were reaching for the clouds. Intricate arches decorated the many windows and doors of the castle. A tall iron fence surrounded the building, making it difficult for anyone to trespass. The castle''s magnificence cast a shadow of superiority over everything. The size of the property was immense, and it would easily take an hour or two just to walk its perimeter. A cool breeze blew through one of the windows of the towers. The chilly air broke past the sloppily placed curtains, allowing the beams of warm sunlight to explore the room. The interior did not fall short of the great castle''s display.The room was large and the ceiling was high. A fine wooden floor held the room, and not a spec of dust could be seen. The room was spacey, and it only contained a single king-sized bed along with a small, square table to its side. A grand closet was placed against the wall opposite from the bed. Each piece of furniture was overly decorated with complicated patterns and brightly colored cloths. The cold wind swept through the room and finally caressed the face of a young boy who hid beneath his blankets. Soon followed the warm light of the morning sun. The child''s face contorted in response. He sleepily arose from his slumber, wiping the dirt from his eyes. The child was very young. He appeared to be only seven or eight. Dark brown, nearly black, hair covered his head. His hair was a short bowl cut that went halfway down his forehead. His skin was a light olive color. No callous, wrinkle, or other sign of work could be seen on his tender skin. The boy left his bed, leaving his blankets sloppily on the mattress. The first thing the child did after getting up was approach the opened window. His chestnut eyes took in the scenery before him. A rich town occupied the land. Elegant buildings decorated the earth. All of the buildings were tall. The smallest was still able to reach its third floor. Giant towers would somehow dwarf these grand buildings, although their size did not sacrifice any of the elegance of the other structures. The town had a theme of bright colors as many of the buildings were the colors peach or white. Many colorful banners would also connect the roofs of the buildings. Although the sun had barely risen, many people bustled around the streets below. The people of the town were just like their town. They sported colorful attire that presented their wealth. Women wore frilly, long dresses while the men wore multiple pieced suits. Numerous shiny wagons would roll through the streets. It seemed the city was in its prime, and that it was continuing to prosper. The young boy soon closed the latch to his window and recovered it with the curtains. A final yawn escaped his little mouth before he finally opened the large closet in his room. The closet was filled with expensive looking clothes. The clothing came in all kinds of colors and designs fit for royalty. They were all made carefully with materials of the highest quality. The silk was smooth and the cotton was soft. The furs were warm as well. The boy did not take out clothes to change, but instead called out. "Stephen, I am awake!" "Yes, young master." A voice full of respect responded just beyond the door. Soon a tall middle aged man walked in. He was then followed by a young maid. The man, Stephen, was tall and skinny. He looked to be on his last stretch before entering his senior years. He had no muscles to display, but rather gave off a dignified look. He had pale skin and a bald head, save for a few strands on the sides and back of his head. The little hair he had left was a dark gray and was combed neatly.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. The young maid was tiny when standing next to Stephen. She was already short, and when compared to Stephen''s height, she appeared elf-like. She had night black hair cut in a bob which framed her petite face. The young maid was fair skinned and pretty. Similar to Stephen, she stood silently awaiting the boy''s words. "Help me dress." came the tiny voice of the child. The two servants nodded before picking out clothes from the closet while the boy stepped out from his nightgown. The boy was then fitted into a white dress shirt, red pants, and a similarly red coat. The posh look was finished after the maid placed a purple handkerchief before the boy''s neck. "Young master Everwish, breakfast has been prepared. The master and lady are already waiting for you. Do you require further assistance?" The boy shook his head and left the room without a word. The two servants stood at attention until the boy was out of sight. Instead of relaxing at the boy''s departure, the two began making the boy''s bed and cleaning the room with the same amount of respect.
The young lad made his way down a flight of stairs. After descending three floors, the boy made a few turns into a dining room. The room was longer than it was wide. The ceiling was far above the floor, providing space for the three chandeliers to hang. On the other end of the room was a large circular window, letting a generous amount of natural light inside. "Atlas, you sleepy head, you should learn to wake early. When you get older, you''ll have a lot of work to do. The only way you''ll finish it all comfortably is if you rise early." The voice of a woman echoed from across the room. The woman was a beauty. She had blood red lips and dark brown hair. Her hair was braided and reached the middle of her back. Her skin was pale and covered by a plain red dress. "Let the lad sleep. It''s because he''ll be working so much that he should enjoy the rest he gets!" A voice full of vigor sounded within the room. Appearing from a door on the other end of the room was a handsome middle-aged man. His long, dark brown hair was combed back. He had tanned olive skin. His body was muscular and toned, but small enough to move around easily. Some wrinkles could be seen on the corner of his eyes. He was dressed just as posh as the child and woman. "Bring out his breakfast!" continued the man''s voice. Atlas, the young child, smiled at his parents. He then took a seat before being served a platter of eggs, ham, and bread by a servant. The servant then left the room as quickly as they had come. Atlas''s legs were too short to reach the floor, so he swung them back and forth as he sat. He looked up to his father and asked, "Father, do you really work a lot? Mother doesn''t work, so why can''t you rest too? One of the servants can do it if it''s too much for you." The boy''s father cast an appreciative look to his son. He walked by him to tussle his hair, earning the playful grunt of his son. "A good noble doesn''t shy away from his responsibility. He should work so his people can live better lives. He can''t just toss such important work to others. In return, I get enough money so your mother and you don''t have to work.... Although, I will be needing your help every now and then." The child''s eyes brightened. "I can help you with your work?! What will I do?" "You''ll be stuck in your room writing reports." The father bluntly said. Atlas''s face fell flat as his expectations were let down. His mother then stretched his cheeks playfully and said, "But for now your only job is to look cute! Now hurry up with breakfast so we can enjoy our day!" Atlas didn''t need his mother to ask twice, and he began stuffing his face full of food. "Life as a noble is great!" he thought.
Author''s Note: Hello, this is the writer of Peerless Emperor of the Skies (PES). I have a lot planned for this work. I have had this idea for a while, so I''ll have a better sense of direction than I did with PES. I hope you enjoyed this first chapter, and I hope to keep a good quality throughout the coming chapters. All feedback is appreciated. Please keep an eye out for my updates. Thank you. - Master Dragon GAO! Chapter 2 – A Trip To Town After filling his small belly with food, Atlas followed his mother around the estate. Meanwhile, his father went straight to his office. "Atlas, why don''t we have a look around town?" Atlas''s mother turned to one of the servants. "Go prepare the buggy." The servant nodded and hurried down a maze of hallways. Atlas and his mother took their time as they made their way outside. As they walked, they passed many sculptures and paintings. All of the floor tiles were spotless and appeared as if they were shining. Many windows lined the walls in order to let in as much light as possible. Whenever the two came across the servants, the servants would bow and greet them before hurrying out of their way. After a ten minute stroll, the mother and son walked out the castle''s front door. They were greeted by Stephen and the pretty young maid. Awaiting them was a fancy white buggy with healthy white mares pulling it. The sides of the vehicle were embroidered with gold painted patterns. Plumes of red feathers arced over the wheels, giving an eye catching effect. The swaying of the feathers in the wind made the buggy appear as if it were alive. Stephen helped Atlas and his mother into the buggy before seating himself outside to direct the horses. The maid sat herself outside as well, rather than sitting inside the buggy with the mother and son. Once Atlas and his mother were seated comfortably, the buggy began moving away from the castle, and began heading toward the streets of the town. Atlas looked out the window as the view of the city flew past him, or rather as he flew past it. The horses were strong and graceful as they pulled the buggy. The vehicle glided down the street. It''s speed along with its beautiful design caught the attention of many people. The citizens would stop what they were doing to watch the elegant buggy drive past them. Children would excitedly pull at their mothers and point at it. Although there were other rich looking vehicles on the street, Atlas''s buggy was still able to steal the attention. It seems the people recognized it as the property of the large castle. Little Atlas enjoyed his trips to through the town. The sight of men organizing their stalls and the large crowd of colorfully dressed people gave him a difference experience each time. Every excursion was different for him, and he was excited to find out what he would see this time.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. After touring the sights of the town for a couple minutes, Stephen called out from the front. "Lady Everwish, where will you be going today?" "Let''s go to the Burwicks'' market. I heard they''ve gotten a new stock of dyes and yarn." The Burwicks'' market? Atlas had been to multiple markets and he never bothered learning their names. He wondered if this was one he had seen before.
After twenty more minutes of riding, the buggy arrived in front of a large plaza full of tents and stalls. Stephen dropped Atlas, his mother, and the maid off before setting off to find a place to park. The three did not wait for Stephen to catch up, but instead head off on their own. The three''s appearance drew a lot of attention from the crowd. A beautiful woman in a bright red dress, a pretty maid who silently followed after, and a little boy dressed up to please his mother. The woman in red had an air of superiority as if no one could stand at the same level as her. The maid seemed as if she existed on another plane of existence, and although she was pretty, no one dared to approach her while she was attending to her Lady. The small lad on the other hand, was adorable to the eyes of the public. His red coat seemed to restrict his movements as his arms were kept to his sides. The handkerchief hanging out from the collar of his shirt would tickle his neck, and he would constantly fidget his head. His shoes also seemed to cause him problems. The way they were made forced the boy into a little waddle as he struggled to keep up with his mother and maid. As he walked, the little Atlas turned his head this way and that, taking in as much of the view as possible. Colorful stalls were set up all around him. Stripes of all kinds of colors decorated the large tents. People of all kinds of looks walked about. Bearded men with large, muscular frames, robed scholars who dug their faces in their books, and cheery entertainers filled the crowd. Each of these people had their own purpose for coming to this market, and their being together gave off a strange image to the small Atlas''s eyes. "Atlas, hurry up, darling. We can take our time after we visit the dyes." His mother''s voice broke Atlas''s trance, and Atlas soon hurried back over to his mother''s side. The three easily broke through the crowd, as the many commoners would part themselves on their own. A path naturally opened up for Atlas and his mother, and the three quickly arrived to the dyes. The shop was within a large, blue tent. A hole was open within the center of the tent''s roof, allowing sunlight to illuminate the inside. Colorful yarns and pastes were displayed for the customers. Shelves of silk and tapestries also lined the sides of the tent. While Atlas''s mother sifted through the products, Atlas explored the other side of the shop. He had seen his mother use dyes and yarn back in the castle, but he had never seen so many. The many colors were exciting at first, but Atlas soon grew bored of them. He wanted to see the rest of the market. He took a glance at his mother, and saw that she was still looking through the first half of the products. Atlas stood thinking things over before finally making a decision. He took a final glance at his mother and then to the shop attendant at the front of the tent entrance. While the shop keeper was looking through a box of goods, Atlas hurried out of the tent and into the crowd of market goers. Chapter 3 – A Noble in the Market Once he was outside, Atlas paused to take in the view. A river of people pushed past each other as they each moved with a purpose. Atlas looked back behind him to see if his mother had noticed his disappearance before he waddled into the crowd. He easily slipped through the crowd thanks to his little size. He pushed past their legs one after another, and he was making good distance. Because of his small size, however, he was not able to tell where he was even going. All he could see was the backs of the adults, the sky, and the ground. He could not see past the crowd, and before he knew it, he was in the center of the mass of people. As he moved, the packed crowd slowly shrunk, and soon Atlas was able to walk a comfortable distance away from the other people. After a couple minutes of getting pulled by the flow of the crowd, little Atlas found himself in the outskirts of the market. What he saw was unlike anything he had seen before. There were no colorful tents. The people were not well-dressed. The entertainers were nowhere in sight. The stalls looked plain and the people''s clothes weren''t flashy. Although they did not look impoverished, Atlas''s first view of the middle-class was a shock. The young noble looked back at the remnants of the market crowd. He debated in his head whether or not he should turn back around. Atlas finally came to the decision to stay. He had never seen a place like this, and now was his chance to see what it was like. In his past excursions to the town, he had only seen the rich life of the upper-class. He had never seen what it was like to be average. When he looked back at the dull stalls, Atlas was greeted with the gazes of all the vendors. It seems that Atlas''s outfit and indecisive demeanor, added to the somewhat empty street made him stand out. Atlas shrugged off their stares and made his way down the street. He looked left and then he looked right. The boy''s head swiveled like a top as he shuffled along. As he walked, he felt his expectations slowly crumble. He thought he would find something fun or interesting, but all he saw was the same, plain buildings and vendors. There were no street performers. There were no colorful patterns. It was all just the casual look of the middle-class. The excitement in Atlas''s eyes died down. Atlas''s look was a very amusing sight for the vendors. A little noble was getting his first taste of ordinary life. A couple of the more bitter vendors sneered at the lad''s naivety. "''Young master'', how about giving us some gold since you have so much at home?" "Hey, missy, you''re not gonna find any of your pretty dresses here! Oh wait, you''re a boy? Your skin looked so soft, I thought you were a girl!" "Oi! did the Lord of some family drop off his illegitimate? Bah! I wish I had the money to fool around with women!" Atlas''s lip quivered as the vendors'' words echoed around him. He didn''t understand everything they said, but he knew they weren''t good words. Instead of looking around, his head dipped down and he continued to walk. He wanted to go back to find his mother, but he had lost himself along the way. The ordinary look of the town made it hard for the boy to navigate. Seeing the boy''s mood drop, some vendors came to their senses and stopped their teasing. Many vendors, however, continued with their jeers. The insults continued until a commotion began stirring among the shop keepers.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. "Hey, brat! What do you think you''re doing this time!" "You filthy beggar, why are you showing your face here again!" Atlas lifted his head and looked behind himself to see what was causing the racket. What he saw was an older boy, probably thirteen or fourteen, sweeping past the stalls that had been insulting him. The boy had orange, spiky hair and pale skin. He was dressed in brown overalls and a plain white shirt. Freckles dotted his grinning face as he ran past the stalls. When he passed a stall, his hand would dart out and take something from the display. The youth went by four stalls before he caught up with Atlas. The boy paused next to Atlas and looked back at the vendors. He pulled down the skin under his eye and stuck his tongue out at the shop keepers. "Peh! If you''re gonna bully a kid, you deserve to get stolen from! Hey kid, come with me!" Seeing the vendors getting out of their stalls, the mischievous boy grabbed Atlas and ran through the street''s alleyways.
The two went through many twists and turns. After several minutes, the older boy stopped in the middle of an alley. He turned on his heels to face Atlas with a grin plastered on his face. "I''m Jimmy! Who are you? You some kind of noble? I didn''t think you guys visited these places." Atlas wasn''t sure how to react. He had just been harassed by the shop keepers, and now he had no idea where he was. The youth did seem friendly, however, so he relaxed a little. "I-I''m Atlas... Atlas Everwish. I guess I''m a noble...." The boy named Jimmy nearly jumped when he heard Atlas. "You guess you''re a noble?! You''re not lying about your name, right?! If you''re an Everwish, you''re being pretty humble by saying ''I guess I''m a noble!'' Isn''t your dad the Lord Everwish? You guys are the big dogs of this town!" The words spewed from Jimmy''s mouth. Instead of answering Jimmy''s questions or thinking of his status, the only thing that came to Atlas''s mind was that Jimmy liked to talk a lot. "Hey, hey, I helped you back there, didn''t I? That makes us friends! Since we''re friends, you can hook me up with a reward, right? You guys won''t miss a bag of gold, will you? If you can''t do that, then you could at least let me be one of your servants!" Jimmy''s eyes flashed as if he had hit the jackpot. He had been spending his life alone in these streets for the past couple of years. If he could gain the favor of this little master, he would be able to live an easy life. Living as a noble''s servant, especially the Everwish''s servant, would be tens - no - hundred times better than how he was living now. Honestly, Jimmy hated his current life. He didn''t like stealing, but it was something he had to do to get by; thus he only stole from those he saw displeasing to his eyes. Unfortunately for Jimmy, Atlas shook his head. He then pointed at Jimmy''s bag. "You stole those. Good people don''t steal, and I can''t be friends with people who aren''t good." The color drained from Jimmy''s face. He quickly set his bag down and rushed for an answer. "I-I didn''t steal - well I did I guess - but it was for a good purpose! I promise! What if I were actually sell these and give the money back to the poor! Wouldn''t that make me a good person?" Atlas shook his head once again. "That just means you''re making those people steal too. It''s okay if you''re poor as long as you''re a good person. That''s what my dad told me." Jimmy wanted to pull his hair out after hearing the child''s response. "But those guys were mean to you. Don''t you think they deserved it?" Atlas paused after hearing that question, but finally shook his head a third time. "Just because they aren''t good, it doesn''t mean we shouldn''t either...." Jimmy had taken three blows in a row. Did this kid have no gaps in his justice? "O-okay, if I give these back, will I be a good person?" Despite being a thief, Atlas had a good impression of the boy in front of him. He also wanted to be friends, and thought that it would be good if he became a good person. Atlas nodded his head, saying, "If you give those back to them and pay them back for the trouble, you''ll be good." Jimmy didn''t know whether to laugh or cry. There was no getting past this child''s sense of justice. Chapter 4 – The Price of Friendship Atlas followed Jimmy around the town. If Jimmy was going to pay the vendors back for the trouble he caused, he needed to prepare his belongings in his home. "I keep all of my money at home, little master. We''ll go pick it up real quick before we return the items." As the two walked, they drifted farther and farther from the Burwicks'' market. Rather than taking the main streets, Jimmy opted for the alleys and obscure paths. What Atlas saw on these paths was another surprise to him. The alleys were another step down from the dull middle-class environment he was just in. The alleys were filthy. Old rain water pooled in the dips in the earth. Garbage was littered along the way. Rats scurried about with the confidence of lions. The worst thing about these places were their stench. Atlas had never experienced smells such as these in his life. He only knew the fragrance of flowers and the sweet smell of his mother''s perfumes. The child could barely handle the rotten stench, and he pinched his nose the entire way. After an hour''s walk, the boys came across a small, dirty tent. The tent was deep within the maze of alleyways. The tent was a simple tarp stretched along two bars. The canvas-like structure was then leaned against the back of an old shack. It was far from the main streets and well-hidden from the nobles'' eyes. It was like Atlas was in an entirely different dimension. Jimmy was not bothered by the dirty environment around him, and he casually entered the ragged tent. Atlas hesitated. He didn''t want to go inside the smelly tent, however, being alone outside wasn''t much better. He pinched his nose shut and used his handkerchief to cover his free hand. He then hurried to open the tent in order to follow Jimmy inside.
"What do you think of commoner''s life, young master?" Jimmy was relaxed on a pile of dirty hay, eating an apple. The inside of the tent was larger than it seemed outside. Thanks to Atlas''s small size, he did not need to crouch or duck. The tent was packed with all kinds of things. On the back right corner, here was the pile of hay which Atlas guessed was Jimmy''s bed. At the back left corner, dirty clothes were piled together. To the front left corner was a small, wooden chest. The boy took a peak inside and found a few slices of hard bread, half eaten fruits, and a few pieces of cheese. Finally, on the right corner was another small chest. A strong stench that was not unlike the one in the alleys permeated from it. Atlas was about to open this chest as well, but was stopped Jimmy''s voice. "I wouldn''t look in their if I were you." The young Atlas stopped his attempt to peek inside, and patiently waited for Jimmy to make another move. Jimmy took a few more bites of his apple before tossing out the tent''s entrance. He then looked questioningly at Atlas.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "Do you want some? You can just grab what you like from the chest. Just sit back while I get the money." With that, the freckled boy began digging through his hay bed. Atlas was feeling a little hungry. The sky was already turning orange, and he hadn''t eaten since breakfast. Despite his rumbling tummy, the boy didn''t even consider eating Jimmy''s food. Little Atlas didn''t even think the "food" was edible when he looked at it. Atlas just patiently stood by the tent entrance as Jimmy looked through his tent. "Ummm, Jimmy, do you really live here? Do you eat this every day?" Jimmy smirked at the question, but did not pause his work. "Yup! I found this place a couple years back! I''m pretty good to have gotten all that food too, huh?" Atlas was confused by his new friend''s proud attitude. Was this really something to show off to people? If this was good, then Atlas was great! His home was bigger than this tent, and his food looked better too. "What do you do for fun here?" asked Atlas. Back in the castle, Atlas would paint colorful pictures, read funny stories in his father''s book collection, and watch the servants. There was always something for him to do, that is, after he was done with his daily studies. He wondered what things his friend did. "Fun? Well, I just explore the town. I collect more food, sell the things I -ahem- steal.... and I come home to rest. I guess the most exciting things I do is run from those vendors and barter with the old farts." Atlas was even more confused by Jimmy''s routine. "You don''t read or paint?" Jimmy realized that the little noble had been living an entirely different life. By now, he had moved away all of the hay, and he was now digging into the earth. "No way! Paint is expensive! If I had that money, I would use it for food. As for reading, books are expensive too!" Jimmy furrowed his brows. "I wouldn''t be able to read anyways... not even if I wanted to. I never learned..... Not many of us commoners can read. You''re pretty lucky to be a noble, little master." It seems Jimmy found what he was looking for, and he soon pulled out a small tin box from the ground. "C-can''t you ask your parents to teach you? Maybe the servants can help you..." Jimmy was silent as he opened the small, rusty box. A sigh escaped his mouth as the lid popped open. "I don''t have parents. I''m on my own out here." Atlas was thoroughly confused none of Jimmy''s words had made sense so far. What did he mean by "I don''t have parents"? Atlas knew enough to know everyone comes from a mother and father. "I-is that a commoner thing too? To not have parents, I mean." Jimmy dumped the belongings in the box onto the floor. Among the trinkets and coins was a beautiful ring. The ring seemed like a star when compared with the tent''s environment. It as surprisingly clean, almost to the point of shining. What was even more surprising was the large red gem resting on the top of the silver band. "No, young master. Having no parents isn''t a commoner things.... It''s just a me thing, I guess." Jimmy counted his coins over and over and finally sighed. Atlas was still confused by Jimmy''s answer, and he was about to ask further. Before he could ask, Jimmy spoke. "Little master, it doesn''t look like I have enough to pay back those vendors, but I have this ring. Could I sell it to you and have you pay them back for me? I honestly want to be your friend, and to do that it seems I need to be a "good" person by paying those old farts back." Jimmy held the silver ring to Atlas. "I''m not entirely sure how much it''s worth... Mother never told me, but it should be enough. Will you buy it from me?" Atlas stared at the ring. A sour feeling began to crawl in his stomach. He wanted his friend to be a good person and to pay back the trouble he caused, but it seemed the only way he could do that was by selling this ring. Although Atlas was young and naive, he could tell that the ring meant a lot to Jimmy. Would he really make his friend part ways from such a precious item? Is that what had to be done to be friends? Atlas began rethinking his conditions. Maybe he should just let Jimmy be his friend..... but Atlas''s father said good people will sacrifice their desires for others.... Atlas didn''t know what to think. Jimmy was still waiting for Atlas''s answer when a loud shout came from outside the tent. "Hey runt! You''re here, right?!" Chapter 5 – Dog Eat Dog Jimmy froze as he heard the voice. His brows furrowed and a serious look grew on his face. Jimmy took a long look at the gaudy ring before forcing it into Atlas''s hands. "Hold onto it real quick. I guess I need to finish up with this before we keep moving. Whatever you do, little master, don''t come out!" With that, Jimmy slipped out of the tent to confront the origin of the voice. Atlas stood inside patiently. He wasn''t sure who had called out to Jimmy. He only had a vague image of the people outside. The sun''s light shined onto the tent, allowing little Atlas to see silhouettes outside. Atlas was able to see three - no - four figures outside waiting for Jimmy. When compared with Jimmy''s figure, they were like giants. "Runt, where were you today?! We were waiting for you to show up with the loot! Hoffin got beaten to a pulp because of you! You better have an explanation for this!" The lead figure berated Jimmy as his loud voice boomed outside. "Why can''t you steal stuff on your own? You don''t pay well for the items, and I''m not even a member of your gang! I don''t have to bring stuff to you everyday! I''m gonna live a proper life now! I''m not working with you guys again!" One of the back figures seemed to speak up. "So what if you''re not in the gang? Brat, you''re already affiliated with us! Hoffin broke his arm because of you! If you don''t pay up double, we''ll waste your arm too!" Another figure added on. "Not just one! We''ll break both of them! Let''s see you live a proper life as a cripple, yeah?!" Atlas was pale as he hid in the tent. He didn''t understand the situation. He didn''t know why those figures shouted or why they wanted to hurt Jimmy. He was still too young and still too sheltered to understand the struggles the commoners faced. "I don''t have money to pay you back right now... I''ll pay you back later. I promise. Can''t you guys just leave me alone now?" It seemed Jimmy was acting more submissive after hearing the threats. In response, the lead figure softened his tone. "Hmm. You don''t have money? I could''ve sworn you''ve been saving up for what? Three years now? What happened to that money?" "W-well, obviously I gotta eat, so I don''t have much anymore...." Jimmy needed the money to make up for his past mischief so he could be a ''good'' person. Only when he righted his wrongs could he be friends with Atlas.There were many people in the town he had wronged. He hadn''t spent any of the money he earned off them, and had been diligently saving up. He barely had enough to pay back the people he stole from, much less to pay these thugs. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. The lead figure crouched down in order to look Jimmy in the eyes. The figure''s soft voice once again rose to an angry yell. "Don''t lie to me brat! I know you''ve got money with you!" The shadow of the man sent a powerful slap at Jimmy''s face. The figure of the young teen twirled before falling to the ground. The man''s silhouette proceeded to kick Jimmy''s body over and over again. After a full minute of beatings, the man''s shadow stopped and pointed at the tent, making Atlas''s heart momentarily stop in fear. "Go thrash the tent. The Brat definitely has a lot save up in there! Heh, after this, let''s go have a good time at the brothel, yeah?" Hearing the man''s words, Atlas paled. He backed up to the end farthest from the tent entrance. On his way back, he stumbled and fell onto the loose pile of hay. While little Atlas was still getting up, the tarp of the tent was torn off, revealing Jimmy''s assailants. All four were muscular men. They were all deeply tanned from the hot sun. They were wearing dirty, torn rags and many scars covered their bodies. The thug who beat Jimmy, and who Atlas assumed was the boss, was bald. He was also a bit cleaner than his companions. His rags looked newer and he looked healthier overall. Atlas''s gaze then shifted to the hurt Jimmy. An ugly image was imprinted in Atlas''s head. The orange-haired boy lay on the ground as if asleep. Heavy, irregular breaths struggled to travel in and out of his mouth. His face was beginning to swell, and his right eye was already purple. He looked too weak to even open his eyes. The thugs were surprised to see Atlas hiding in the tent. A sick smile then arose from their mouths. "Oh ho ho?! What''s this? A little master?" "Kid, why don''t you scram while you can? We don''t wanna mess with the noble families. If you prove to be stubborn, though, we aren''t afraid of showing you what it''s like in a dog eat dog world!" The other thugs noticed the tin box containing Jimmy''s saved up money. One of the thugs reached down to pick up the tin box, but before he could, Atlas let out his voice. "Don''t touch it! If you do, then you''re a bad person! Jimmy was going to return the money he stole! He wants to be a good person!" A smirk crept up the lead thug''s mouth. He looked back down at Jimmy''s beaten body. "What the heck is this, brat? Did you think you can live a ''proper'' life because you can be a ''good'' person? Ha! HA! This is too funny..." The man wiped tears at his eyes as he broke out into a hysterical laughter. He then suddenly stomped onto Jimmy''s stomach before looking back at Atlas. "Noble''s brat, get out of here now. I''m being serious now. There is no such thing as a good or bad person in this world. There are only the powerful and the powerless. We do what we can to survive. It''s not something a spoon fed brat like you would understand." Atlas was terrified of these people. They beat Jimmy up just because of money. To Atlas, this made absolutely made no sense. Money wasn''t something Atlas would fight over. Back home, there was more money than he could count. Atlas''s mind couldn''t wrap around the thugs'' reasoning. "I can''t just leave! If I leave Jimmy here, you''ll keep hurting him! If I let you hurt him, I won''t be a good person!" The lead thug held the bridge of his nose. He appeared annoyed with Atlas''s answer. "Why couldn''t you be like the other nobles and ignore this...." He lazily looked at his companions and let out a command. "Go teach this little noble how cruel the world really is. The brat thinks everything''s as simple as good and bad." Seeing the men approach him, cold sweat began pouring down Atlas''s back. The men were closing in on him. Step. Step. Step. The approaching figures were like a coming judgement to Atlas. Their shadows loomed over the boy, and his knees gave out. The little Atlas looked helpless in front of these men. Just as they were about reach him, an old voice came out from behind him. "If one of you lays a hand on the young master Everwish, you''ll all be going to the gallows." The words stopped the thugs in their tracks. Surprise flushed their faces as they heard the name ''Everwish''" Atlas slowly turned his head around. He recognized the voice, and knew that help had come! Walking out from one of the dark alleys was a tall, middle aged man. Many wrinkles lined his face and only a few hairs sprouted from his head. Stephen was here! The gray haired butler peered at the lead thug. "This is as you said, a ''dog eat dog world,'' but what do you think should happen when a tiger graces you with its presence?" Chapter 6 – Racing Thoughts "The answer is that you make way for it. You cower. You hide. Mutts shouldn''t delude themselves into thinking they could challenge even the cub of a tiger." Atlas smiled when he saw that his butler had arrived. Now that Stephen was here, the thugs would go away! Then he and Jimmy could return the stolen money! Atlas immediately stood up and ran to the old butler''s side. "Stephen! Those guy wanted to hurt me! They beat up Jimmy too! Stephen you have to help Jimmy!" Stephen''s face appeared blank. Not even the smallest reaction could be seen as Atlas explained the situation to him. It was as if an emotionless statue was standing before everyone. The butler''s ghost-like eyes had a cold gaze as he looked over the thugs. His eyes were clear and empty as if he could see through them. Although the butler had yet to do anything, the four thugs were frozen in fear. The color washed from their faces the moment they had heard the man address Atlas as "Master Everwish." Offending a noble was bad enough, but as long as they were just some wealthy family, they could get away by using their gang''s influence. Offending the Everwish family, however, was an entirely different level. Offending the Everwish family was suicide! If the Everwish family sought punishment, the thugs could only hope they would be able to see the sun rise tomorrow. Atlas looked pleadingly at his butler. Back at home, Stephen would help Atlas with everything. To the young noble, there was nothing this butler would reject. The old butler grabbed a hold of Atlas''s wrist and turned around. An emotionless voice escaped his throat. "Let''s go young master. Your mother is worried about you, and it''s best we don''t keep her waiting." Atlas was surprised by Stephen''s reply. He almost didn''t believe him until he began dragging him away. When Atlas realized that Stephen was serious about leaving, he began a frantic struggle to escape his grip. "No! Stephen, if we leave now, they''ll hurt Jimmy! They''ll steal the money we were going to return! We can''t leave now! Stephen, stop!" No matter how hard little Atlas pulled, he could not free his hand from the butler''s grip. Atlas continued to be dragged even with his flailing. "Young master, think of how the other noble families would react if word of your excursion were to come out! The Everwish family would be a laughing stock! What noble family has trouble watching over it''s only young master! Please understand our position and leave them. Atlas continued to shout and struggle as they got farther and farther from the scene. Tears began to form at his eyes as he wailed, but the butler continued to ignore him. Finally, just before they were out of sight of the thugs, Atlas let out a final shout. "If we leave now, I won''t be a good person! You won''t be one either, Stephen! What noble can just ignore the bad around them?! Aren''t nobles supposed to be good people?!"This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Stephen stopped after hearing Atlas''s last outburst. The butler stood without moving. After several breaths, he let out a sigh before turning back toward the thugs. His cold glare was like a readied bow pointing at their heads. "Look, young master. These mutts have already lost their spirit just by hearing the name ''Everwish.'' They definitely won''t try anything else today, because if they did, they would only find endless regret. They seem to be leaving now anyways. There is nothing left for us to do here." The butler''s voice sent a shiver down the thugs'' spines. They were able to figure out Stephen''s warnings, and hurried to get out of his sight. "Now then, young master, let''s go see your mother." Stephen was about drag the little noble again, but to his surprise, Atlas still wouldn''t budge. "We need to help Jimmy still.... They broke his home and he''s hurt.... We should bring him back with us." Stephen let out another sigh before walking over to the beaten boy who lay on the ground. With one arm, he slung the young teen over his shoulder, and with the other arm, he held onto Atlas''s hand. "Can we go now, young master?"
Instead of heading back to the market, the three went directly back to the castle. By the time they returned, the sun had already gone done. The little Atlas was tired, dirty, and hungry. He had been lost for half the day, after all. All he wanted to do right now was relax, but there were still more pressing issue for him. The three entered through the front gate and were soon accompanied by several servants. "Young master, please go see your parents immediately. I''ll take the boy to a room to be treated." Stephen then took large steps down a hall and quickly disappeared. Atlas was then alone with the many servants who stood at attention, ready to heed his commands. The boy looked around at the servants and asked, "Where is mother and father?" One of the maids respectfully answered. "The master and madam are upstairs within their private quarters. They are awaiting your appearance, young master." Atlas nodded before heading up the stairs alone. He smelled like the dirty alleys and his belly was rumbling. Despite his discomfort, Atlas''s priority was seeing his parents. He had left his mother without warning and hadn''t returned until now. His parents were sure to be worried. As he climbed the seemingly endless staircase, Atlas''s nervousness grew. He must have made them worry a lot... He caused a lot of trouble outside too... Many thoughts began forming in his mind. Many doubts about how they would react to his actions surfaced. Each step he took echoed in his head like a drum. Step. Would they scold him? Step. Would they punish him? Step. Would they let him go out again? Step. Would he still be a good person? Step. Would they forgive him? Step. Tears began spilling from Atlas''s eyes. He didn''t care about the answers to his other questions. As long as they would forgive him, Atlas would be fine with any punishment. He didn''t care if they scolded him. He didn''t care if they punished him. He didn''t care if he could never explore the town again. He didn''t even care if he was still a good person! If his parents couldn''t forgive him, then he would be drowned in his despair! Before he even realized it, Atlas had approached a large, wooden door. The door was a beautiful display of art. Intricate patterns decorated its surface while gold bordered its frames. To the young Atlas, however, this elegant door was an imposing gate that signaled the end of his happiness. Just beyond this door were his parents who had the answers to his questions. Atlas stood in front of the door, unsure about what to do. Anxiety filled his body. He began to pace back and forth as if trying to flush his thoughts from his body. Maybe he shouldn''t go inside. That way he wouldn''t have to face his parent''s disappointment. The time the boy paced before the door felt like hours as hundreds of thoughts raced through his mind. Open the door. Don''t open the door. Open the door. The boy''s thoughts oscillated like this over and over again. Finally, the boy took a deep breath and charged through. No matter what, he couldn''t keep hiding from his parents. He had to face them eventually, and the longer he avoided them, the more hurt they all would be. Chapter 7 – Beyond the Doors The doors suddenly flung open, producing a dull thud when they hit the walls. A small boy emerged from behind the doors. His clothes were dirty and a foul smell drifted from his body. His eyes were red as snot and tears ran down his face. The moment the boy entered the room, he spotted a man and a woman waiting for him. the boy ran toward the couple immediately . The woman''s face was pale with worry and the man had deeply furrowed brows. When the two saw the boy their expressions softened and were replaced with relief. The woman took the boy into here arms. The woman didn''t seem to care about the filth covering his body, gave him a deep embrace. The man took a knee beside the boy, putting his hand on the boy''s back for a reassuring pat. "Atlas! Where did you run off to?" Atlas''s mother had been looking through the dyes when Atlas had left her. Although it didn''t take long to realize his absence, it was already too late. He had already been lost too deep in the crowd. She had looked all over the market, but was unable to find him. She had never thought he would make it all the way to the back alley slums. Atlas was not able to respond to his mother for quite some time. He spent the next few minutes crying, unable to choke out a single explanation to his parents. After several minutes of crying, Atlas wiped away the last of his tears on his sleeves. He would sniff frequently and his eyes were red and puffy. When his parents saw that he had calmed down, they sat him on the bed to talk. They wanted to know what their son had been doing on his own.
Atlas went over the events of today. As he explained, his parents would change their expressions. When he told them that he ran off on his own because of boredom, his mother showed a disappointed expression. When he told them about the teasing of the vendors, his mother''s expression changed to a more irritated one. Atlas then went over how Jimmy had taken Atlas with him when running from the vendors, and how Jimmy wanted to be his friend. He told them how Jimmy was going to be a good person by paying back the vendors for stealing from them, and how he was willing to throw away his savings. Finally, Atlas told them about the thugs who had beaten up Jimmy and how they were about to beat him up too. Had it not been for Stephen showing up, Atlas believed he would''ve been as badly hurt as Jimmy. By the end of Atlas''s story, his parents shared a look with each other. A worried expression was upon both of them.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. "I-I don''t care if you yell at me, or punish me, or don''t let me out again.... but will you forgive me?" The small voice of the child reached the couple''s ears. Their faces softened at the boy''s voice and his took him into another deep hug. Her soothing voice alleviated the boy''s worries. "Of course Atlas! We''ll always forgive you! No matter what you do, if you know you''ve done wrong and get the courage to tell us about it, we''ll always forgive you." "E-even if I''m a bad person?" Atlas''s father chuckled at his son''s question. He reached out his hand to tussle the boy''s hair. "Ha, what do you mean? You''re not a bad person, Atlas. You''re the sweetest child we know. I don''t think it''s possible for you to be a bad person!" Atlas smiled at his father''s reassurance, but shortly after, he furrowed his brows again. "The bad guys said there was no such thing as a good or bad person, though...." The boy''s father''s expression grew serious as he thought. He was silent for a few moments as he held his chin. After a few breaths, he looked into Atlas''s eyes. "Atlas, what they said wasn''t entirely wrong. The world really is a ''dog eat dog'' world. If you don''t have the power to protect yourself, you''ll be pushed around by the others. Our family is one of the most powerful families in our nation, so most of the time you don''t have to worry. The other people, people like Jimmy and those thugs, however, are stuck in that world. They have to do what they can to get by." Atlas tilted his head at his father, and with a sad voice asked, "So there really is no such thing as a good or bad person?" "No, there definitely is. There are so many ways people see good or bad. There are too many to count. It''s to the point where making an actual definition for it is impossible.... but I believe good and bad does exist. People might not be able to understand it, but they can definitely recognize it. You''ll always be able to tell when you''re doing good or bad.... and it''s the job of us noble''s to protect the powerless from the powerful, so that the good can always beat the bad." Atlas was thoroughly confused by his father''s words. The thug leader had said that the world was divided by power, and that good and bad did not exist because it was the powerful who decided ''right'' from ''wrong''. His father, on the other hand, said that both divisions of the world existed. There were the powerful and powerless, but there was also good and bad at the same time.... Combining the two views like his father had seemed like a contradiction, but Atlas still hoped that his father was right. "I''m happy." Atlas said. "Oh why is that?"Answered his father. "A world without good and bad is a sad world. I don''t think anyone would be able to be happy. They would only think about being more powerful than each other... Since good and bad exist, even if you have power, you will be bad when you do bad, and you will be good when you do good..... That makes me happy." The parents smiled at their child before giving him another big hug. "Make sure you don''t run off again. Next time we might just leave you!" Atlas''s mother joked as she pulled his ear. "Huh?! But you said you would forgive me!" "I said we''d forgive you, but we never said we''d help you out of your mess! We raised a son who could learn from his mistakes!" The family of three laughed within the room. They were nobles. They didn''t have to sweat under the scorching sun. They could have whatever items they desired with their money. They were respected by the masses. They were nobles, but they were satisfied with just the love given by family.
Author''s Note: Hello! Dragon''s back at it again! Not much has really happened in the story so far, but I hope you are all still interested in following Atlas''s story. This chapter seems like a good closing, huh? Worry not, True Nobility is not done. Think of the chapters up ''til now as a big prologue to give a bit of background on Atlas''s family and attitude. The story should be picking up soon. Please keep following this story, Dragon GAO! Chapter 8 – Changing Seasons Two months passed since Atlas had gotten lost. As time passed, so did the pleasant weather of summer. The sun set sooner and the winds grew colder. The leaves began changing to the colorful reds and yellow, and the animals were growing anxious for cold weather. It was now the middle of September, and the world was preparing for the coming winter. The markets were always in a scramble at this time of the year. Farmers would hurry to sell their harvests. In order to combat the coming cold, everyone would be in search for new coats and quilts. People would stuff their larders full of food. Most importantly, those with money were in a rush to prepare for the coming festivals. In the middle of this hectic time, a young boy was still lax in his room. The sun was beginning its ascent and so was the boy. He wiped the sleep from his eyes before performing his routine look out the window. The moment he opened the wooden covers, a chilly wind blew into his face, sweeping his already messy bed-head into an even messier scramble. The cold air sent a shiver down the boy''s spine and the little remnants of sleep were washed from his body. Outside, the boy could see the golden rays of the rising sun caress the land. Since it was still early, the sky was still mostly gray. The golden streaks from the sun, however, provided a beautiful contrast which fascinated the boy. After taking in the scenery and a breath of fresh air, the boy covered the window with thick curtains. He then opened the grand closet across from his bed. He took a sweeping look with his eyes before calling out. "Stephen, I''m up!" "We''ll be entering, young master." Soon after the declaration, a gaunt, aged man entered the room. He was followed by a short, pretty maid with a bob cut. The two servants helped the young boy get dressed before sending him out. Once the boy was gone, the two began tidying the room.
The boy hurried down a spiraling staircase. Once he descended three floors, he began his shuffle through a hall. It didn''t take long for the child to reach a dining room where his parents awaited. A woman in a frilly pink dress and a man in a suit were seated at the table enjoying their breakfast. "Atlas, you seem to be getting better at waking early. On any other day, I''d say that..... but it''s probably because you were excited for today, right?" The clear voice of the mother resounded in the halls. Her joking smile was directed at the boy Atlas as he took a seat at the table. A sheepish smile covered Atlas''s face as he nodded toward his mother. "I''m just as excited as he is, dear. The fall festival is coming up! Oh, I remember the festivals when I was a child! Those are some of my best memories!" The boy''s father reminisced in his past as the little Atlas scarfed down his food. Seeing his son''s liveliness, Atlas''s father made a suggestion. "Why don''t you go out with some of the servants to do the shopping. Today''s weather looks pretty good." Ever since the eye opening day that Atlas got lost, he wanted to learn more and more about the lives of the commoners. He wanted to know more about the life he was "fortunate" to avoid.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Lord Everwish thought it was a good idea for his son to get familiar with the town''s people and their lives, so he would occasionally let Atlas head into town. Of course, in order to avoid repeating the last dilemma, Atlas would be accompanied by multiple servants. These servants would always follow near the young master. They would act as guardians to make sure the young noble did not get lost or get into any trouble. They would also act as teachers should the little Atlas want to learn more about what he saw. At first, Atlas''s mother was opposed to the idea. She had nearly passed out when Atlas got lost. She didn''t want her son getting in any more danger. Atlas''s father was able to convince her, however, saying it would be better to learn now when he was in the safety of the servants rather than learning the hard way when an emergency should arrive. Atlas''s eyes beamed at his father''s suggestion. It had been a week since his last trip to town, and he was eager to see more of the life of the commoners. He didn''t want to be the ignorant child that he was before. He wanted to be able to help people like Jimmy. He even wanted to help those thugs avoid their "bad" lives. Atlas''s father smiled at his son''s enthusiasm. Once they were finished with their breakfast, Atlas and his father made their way toward the castle''s front gate. By the time they arrived, Stephen had already gathered a group of three servants. The servants all bowed as their masters approached. They stood side by side to greet Atlas and his father. Little Atlas''s gaze wandered around the three servants. He was already somewhat familiar with them. The first from the left was his coachman. His name was Harrison. He looked older than Stephen and had a completely bald head. It seemed he made up for his lack of hair by growing out a long white beard that reached the middle of his chest. The man had white skin and had a slightly plump body. Atlas spent the least amount of time with Harrison, as the coachman would only pick up and drop off Atlas. Nonetheless, Atlas had a good view impression on this coachman. The middle servant was a short middle-aged woman. Her name was Helen. She had long brown hair and a body that let everyone know she had a hearty breakfast every morning. Although she wasn''t pleasing to look at, she wasn''t displeasing either. She always had a cheerful smile which made her comfortable to talk to. The last servant was tall and muscular. His muscles, however, were well hidden under his suit. This man was Atlas''s personal guard whenever he went around the town. The man''s name was Gregor. He had short black hair and he stood a whole head taller than the average man. Although Gregor was still only in his twenties, he was one of the most capable guards in the estate. The young man was handsome, but his fierce stare and silent nature would drive people away. Gregor would always have Atlas nearby and in sight, but as he was the one to speak the least, Atlas had yet to get a solid impression from the man. After greeting Atlas and his father, the servants waited for Atlas to board the buggy. The group of four were soon ready to depart, and Atlas was already waving excitedly to his father. The buggy was about to exit when a orange haired youth ran out from the castle. The youth had a sloppily put on suit and a messy bed head. As he ran, the youth was let out a shout. "Wait! You forgot me! You can''t leave me behind here!" The youth was Jimmy. Ever since Jimmy was taken back to the estate, he had been living and working there as a new servant. Although he didn''t have as much freedom as he did on the streets, there was no way he would swap back to his old life. As a servant of the Everwishs, Jimmy would be fed three great meals everyday, receive fancy clothing, and above all get paid a large sum! The only problems Jimmy had were the movement restricting clothes and the dullness of the everyday tasks. These problems were bearable for the youth, but when an opportunity to go around the town came up, he would beg his superiors to let him go. The days Atlas went out were days he would go nearly crazy. No matter what, he would try to go out too. Jimmy wasn''t always able to join Atlas, but the days he did were like rains in the desert to his strict life as a servant. Stephen sighed as he saw Jimmy rush out of the castle while Atlas''s father let out an amused chuckle. "Greetings Master Everwish! Greetings Mr. Stephen!" When he reached the group, he immediately bowed to both Stephen and Atlas''s father. "Mr. Stephen, please allow me to head out with the young master! It''s so boring dusting the library and the horses stink! Please let me go!" Stephen self mockingly shook his head. Why did the Everwishs employ this child? There was nothing wrong with wanting to save this boy from the streets, but why employ such a troublesome character? In the end, Stephen too had a good view of Jimmy, and he wanted to see the boy grow into someone respectable. "Alright, fine. I''m in a good mood, and making a scene in front of Master Everwish is unbecoming of me... Go ahead." Jimmy grinned and thanked Stephen before climbing into the buggy. "Come on little master! Let''s go see how the town''s doing!" Chapter 9 – Crows’ Market The white buggy drove along the streets of town. As usual, the many citizens would stop what they were doing to get a glimpse of the Everwishs'' buggy. Gregor, Atlas''s bodyguard, accompanied the coachman outside to drive the buggy. Meanwhile, Jimmy, Atlas, and Helen the maid rode within the comfortable buggy. "Little Master, where''re we headed today?! The market? I''ve been wanting to put my salary to use. I haven''t had the time to spend my money yet!" Atlas nodded. "Mhm! Father sent me out this time to do the shopping!" Do the shopping? Weren''t the castle''s necessities usually delivered? It would be too much of a hassle to go out every week to get everything. There were at least a hundred servants living in the castle. There was no way the little buggy would be able to carry everything. Jimmy was quick to figure out the real reason for Atlas''s outing. His father probably wanted Atlas to get a feel for middle class life. Things such as buying groceries and bargaining were completely foreign to nobles. "Alright then, little master, let''s go get us a good haul today! Helen, which market are we headed?" "The Crows'' market, Mr. Jimmy. It isn''t as flashy as the other markets, but the prices are good." Jimmy''s face grew embarrassed. He still wasn''t used to being addressed formally. "Helen, there''s no need to add the ''Mr.'', after all, I don''t call you ''Miss''!" The middle aged woman smiled at Jimmy''s response. "The young master got himself a good servant." she thought. The grand buggy continued to move through the town as if it were gliding. Soon enough, Atlas would get another chance to see the markets of town.
The Crows'' market was farther than the Burwicks'' market. It was forty minutes from the Everwish castle, and it was deep within the middle class area. The buildings were not colorful and flashy like the rich part of town that Atlas was familiar with. When compared with the rich districts, these buildings were dull. These buildings were built only for their intended purposes. Nothing more. Nothing less. After the long ride, the Crows'' market came into view. There were multiple stalls lining the streets. Large tents also sprouted from the ground. None of the vendors decorated their stalls, nor did they call out jokes or poems. They just packed as many items as they could into the display in hopes of catching the crowd''s attention with their wares. This was Atlas''s fourth trip outside with the servants, but he still wasn''t used to the scenes he would see of the commoners. The coachman Harrison dropped Atlas and the other servants off before finding himself a spot to park and wait for their return.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. The group of four - Atlas, Helen, Jimmy, and Gregor - made their way through the market''s entrance. As they walked, Atlas would curiously look at his surroundings. He wanted to get familiar with the lives of the commoners. If he could do that, then he would be able to help more people like Jimmy. Atlas swore he would no longer be the ignorant child he was two months ago. "Helen, what are we getting first?" "We''ll be getting the vegetables first, Master Atlas. We''ve gotten here later than expected, so we need to hurry if we want the best vegetables! Let''s hurry, young master!" The round maid then grabbed Atlas''s hand and dragged him through the crowd. The group of four made their rounds through the market, buying from one stall then finding their way to another. After three hours of shopping, the group were lugging around quite a few bags. The entire time, the young master Atlas and his servants were quite the sight for the other customers and vendors. Leading the small shopping team was a fat, middle aged maid. She moved with a purpose, and she would be able to find the best products for the best prices. Whenever there was a chance, she would somehow bargain goods down to half their original price. This plump, cheery maid couldn''t be underestimated by the local vendors. Even the vendors who were ''seasoned warriors'' were no match for Helen''s skills. Following closely to the maid was a small lad who looked about seven or eight. He was well dressed, and made a surprised face at everything he saw. It was obvious to everyone that this boy was from the richer district of town, and that he would normally be a perfect target to scam were it not for his maid. The next two servants were stark opposites of each other. An orange haired, preteen boy walked leisurely. It was clear that he was just a servant, but for some reason, he was acting so informally in the presence of the young master. The boy''s steps were large and carefree. He only had a single coin pouch in his hands. He seemed to be enjoying the attention he was getting from the crowd. The other servant was a large, muscular man. He made quick, precise steps. It was as if nothing could mess up the rhythm of his feet. The man carried what should have been a crushing amount of bags. Four bags were griped by each of his hands, and another four were slung on each of his shoulders. The man did not seem bothered by the weight, and had an unchanging, serious look in his eyes. What shocked the onlookers even more than his strength was his vigilance. The man was somehow able to catch each of their gazes. It was like nothing could escape his eyes. It was about noon when the four finished their shopping. Jimmy, Atlas, and Helen sat at a table, eating their lunch from a nearby stall. Meanwhile, Gregor stood to the side, silently watching the passing crowd. Jimmy was munching on a large sandwich as he called out to Gregor. "Oi, bodyguard sir, why don''t you eat too? Don''t you get hungry?" Gregor remained silent and continued to survey the area. Seeing that the bodyguard had no intention of replying, Jimmy turned his attention to Helen and Atlas. "What are we doing next? We''re done with the shopping, but I don''t wanna go back to the castle yet! It''s still early, and if we go back now, Stephen''ll work me to death! Let''s do something exciting for once!" Helen''s body wobbled as she laughed. "I guess we don''t need to be back right away. Little master, what do you think? Is there anything in particular you want to do while we''re still here? Is there anything you want to learn about from commoners'' life?" The young noble pondered as he took another spoonful of soup into his mouth. "Umm, I guess we can see what they do for fun around here. On this trip and the last one, I only saw what they do to buy their groceries. We haven''t seen what they like doing to pass the time." Although Atlas was happy to go out and see the commoners, he still had no clue about their actual lives. He only knew that they went to stalls and would argue with the vendors for a better price. He still didn''t know what they enjoyed doing. If Atlas was going to be a good noble like his father- a noble who could help the commoners- he needed to find out what the commoners liked. "Something fun? Finally! Enough with this boring shopping!" Jimmy''s mood brightened after hearing Atlas''s desire to do something fun. "Leave it to me, little master, I''ll show you what fun things you nobles miss out on!"