The maids and servants stood around the room while 2 guards were posted by the door. Silas and Tormac were guided to the upper floor. The air was heavy with caution and doubt, as though even the slightest deviation would lead to an eruption. The two followed the Captain with a close eye on their surroundings. No surprises, no ambush. The Captain led them into a huge room with a desk by the window on the other end of the it. A man sat behind the ornate table, poised in his gaze towards Silas. The man had wrinkles by his nose, indicating experience, knowledge and wisdom that came with time and the grey hair that came with it as well. No amount of time could possibly erode the man's presence and the aura he emitted without even uttering a word. Even the Captain who seemed to be a seasoned veteran, averted his gaze to the man's bearing.
"The Count" Silas knew with just one look. No man with such authority would survive without a demanding presence like the one behind the desk.

The Captain slowly approached the table, bowed with a hand clenched to a fist by his heart and said "My Lord, I have brought the boy, Silas Ryd and another one who accompanied him."
The Count dismissed him with simple a wave of his hand and with a snap of his fingers, summoned Renard, the butler. Renard moved towards his side and awaited further instructions. With a voice of authority and command, yet filled with noble courtesy the Count spoke up "You are in the presence of a noble, would you not greet me?"
Tormac immediately went down on one knee, with his head bowed in reverence. Silas stood firm, simply bowing and avoiding direct eye contact. The guards placed their hands on the hilt of their swords, ready to strike and cut off his head at the signal of the Count. The Count, ironically was amused by this show of defiance, for it wasn't a disrespect at all, it was simply a difference in custom of greeting. The Count knew this was a deliberate act and not just ignorance. The Count's eyes scanned every inch of Silas, every muscle twitch, every facial expression and his very posture of greeting. 
"Black eyes, Black hair, visible scars on the body, piercing gaze that comes with years of experience, mage attire with ripped of insignia as well. I heard you even threatened the men i sent to summon and to the extent that you asked them to gamble between choosing to disobey their orders or forfeit their lives" The Count said
"Well, I can't reveal if i was bluffing or not, my Lord. For my safety, of course. At that moment i believed it was an appropriate response to being surrounded by strange men with stranger intentions. I couldn't guarantee my safety or my friend but the least i could do was try." Silas responded, keeping his head bowed.
"Your friend, you say. Strange mana collections around the body, mage attire as well with insignia torn off, green eyes, blonde hair. Where are you from, friend of Silas?" The Count said, turning to Tormac.
"Tormac Kempo, my Lord. I'm from Austrand. Son of a farmer." Tormac said, not daring to look up.
"From Austrand? What are you doing here?" The Count asked
"That's-" Tormac began but was at a loss of words as to how to deal with the situation
"No answer, huh?" The Count said, then turning to Silas "Where are you from, boy? Which family are you a descendant of?"
"I am an orphan my Lord, scrounging for survival through any means necessary. I have no family to speak of, nor any lineage to boast of" Silas responded.
"None to speak of? Nonetheless, that's not why i have summoned you. I have summoned you now and here to invite you as a mage for the House Silvaren, Silas. I can grant your friend over there a rank too, should he be deemed competent enough to hold one." Those words lit up Tormac's eyes, who had been hoping for a decent living wage job for the rest of his life. Silas noticed Tormac's eyes light up with hope.
"My Lord, have you perhaps heard of the commotion i caused recently?" Silas asked
"Yes, I am aware of it. It was partly my daughter's fault but she has never failed to judge a person's character and their convictions accurately, and with that she deemed you to be worthy and trusted. And with that information, i intend to make you a part of the House" The Count said
"Thank you, my Lord. But my answer remains the same: I hold no true allegiance to any House, Family or nobility. Those by my side, are enough and i ask for no more. No materialistic desire could sway my mind or opinion as they hold little meaning and value to me." Silas answered, direct and firm but with courtesy befitting a noble-born.
"Very well then, if not as a House knight, i would like to at least employ your services as an adventurer, temporarily. Could you do that then?" The Count said, with a faux look of defeat
"Yes, my Lord. If the given task is within our abilities, we will perform the duties you give us." Silas said, knowing the task would also bring compensation
"Then it is settled, as of now Silas Ryd and Tormac Kempo are now under contract for the House Silvaren as my escorts." The Count said, with Renard sliding a parchment of agreement onto the desk "The task is simple, you will follow me around throughout my day and remain by my side as my bodyguards. This will only be for a week and the compensation will be handed by Renard at the end of your services. Room and board will be provided as well"
The duo was excited for the new and immediate work before them and that they get to learn more of nobility and customs while on the job. This was far beyond what they had imagined when escaping the massacre of the Academy. While they had their hopes high, fate had set the bar higher. Even through all this Silas was still vigilant of the Count's intentions as no opportunity just drops itself into ones laps, but it was still a much needed break both of them needed.

Silas woke up in the guest quarters the next morning, on a soft bed in a room that smelled like noble luxury. The duo was granted a room meant for noble guests of the House and were allowed in it for the duration of their contracted service. One bed on either ends of the room, pearly white walls, carved pillars, golden mirrors, a large wardrobe and a separate bath. No comforts left to provide, the room was filled with items like perfumes, soft slippers, silver goblets for alcohol and metal quills. Silas woke up Tormac, who probably had the most comfortable rest of his life and walked barefoot across the room towards the bath and get ready and prepare for the day. Tormac rubbed his eyes and got off the bed, slid into the slippers toward the tables for the morning tea while waiting for Silas. They had another day before they started their service as a part of the contract and were free for that day. Butler Renard had called for them to fix up their look and for changes in their wardrobe, if they were gonna work their part, they had to look the part of noble escorts. After many measurements, Renard asked "Would like any personal preferences in the clothes being tailored for you?"
"I would like my clothing as tactical as possible please. I cannot move around freely as an escort and perform my duties with the clothing you have chosen for us. I'd need a large trench coat and can i have fingerless leather gloves, please? Preferably with a large hole on the palm side of it. Thank you." Silas said
"All of that can be arranged, no problems at all" Renard said and turning to Tormac "What about you, sir?"
"Whatever gets me through the day, please." Tormac said
"Alright, sir. Your clothing will be ready and delivered to you by tonight. Please rest up and come by in the evening and i will explain the schedule and duties of the Count as you escort him." Renard said and left.
"This is nice, I just wanna stay here forever" Tormac said, smiling cheek to cheek
"You don't know what's going on do you?" Silas said, while rummaging through his rucksack
"They're testing us right? To see if we are actually good and try to employ us again?" 
"That's their secondary concern, Tormac. The first is to let us experience this.....this opulence and comfort to get addicted to it. They think we would come running back to them once we leave after the contract. This isn't simply an escort quest, it's an endurance test as well." Silas said checking his Crimsonite bullets and counting them "We do what we do, we earn what we can and we leave. This is a trap"
"I mean, why not stay here? We could still get employed and we could earn a decent wage too, far more than we ever could by simply working for magic towers. At least there will be a job guarantee here than to roam the world with no goal." Tormac said frustrated.
"Be a servant here or be free out there, Tormac. If you'd want to be here, that's fine. I just can't be there with you." Silas said "Plus, i did promise you we'd go to Austrand. I planned to leave this island from Austrand, anyways."
"Wait, you planned to leave me? When were you gonna tell me this? After all that we've been through?" Tormac said, visibly upset
"I got you out of the academy and i couldn't just leave a friend to fend for himself. So i decided to go to YOUR hometown WITH you. The journey i would take after that is too long and without a goal. I can't pressure you to join me through all that, you could at least be with your family. Whatever happened to the Academy is now behind us, we need to think about tomorrow." Silas explained to calm Tormac
"What is even out there for you to go to the extent of leaving a friend behind? You could come and stay with me at Austrand. We could still do quests there, together and still earn." Tormac said
A servant knocked on the door as soon as Tormac finished speaking, to let them know that luncheon would be served for them and they should come down quickly. Tormac looked at Silas, still distraught and said "We will discuss this later" and walked out of the room. Silas was sad too, but he had to let Tormac know of his plans beforehand or it might seem like he had later abandoned Tormac. 
Silas moved towards the dining hall for the servants and sat with Tormac. The duo were given the privilege to stay in the noble-housing but since they weren't true nobles, their dining and the rest of their activities were to be done with the servants. The food was hot and the broth was tasteful, this much sufficed those that worked with nobles as those of lower class weren't assured of a warm meal even if they were guaranteed of a meal. The duo ate in silence still digesting the conversation before. Neither wanted to leave the others company. Parting of those who were brother-like was always upsetting even it was necessary. Silas believed that the least he could do was take Tormac to his home before they had to part, but he silently hoped Tormac would come with him on his journey forward and exploring the world. Tormac was silent, contemplating on their next move, his next choice and to decide if his next destination would be home or the rest of the world to explore. It wasn't an easy decision but a necessary one for the both of them.