"What did you mean when you said you didn't want to keep my hosts waiting?"
Ren asked this question as they were walking down the extremely strange and magical market known as Diagon Alley. They were walking towards a large, white building in the distance; Gringotts Wizarding Bank.
"Well, it is an international law that if a student migrates from a outside Europe, then it is mandatory for them to live in a European family for two months so that they can acclimatize to the weather, food, and culture of this continent. So after searching a lot, I've found a family for you to stay with. Most families don't agree to accept a stranger in their house, but these people were friends with your parents, and they also needed someone of your… profession, so they accepted you."
"Who are they? And what do they need from me? And by profession, do you mean monk?"
Ren was very surprised. He hadn't heard of this in any Harry Potter book or movie before.
Dumbledore chuckled, and said, "All questions will be answered in time. Don't worry about that now, child. Let us go to Gringotts."
They entered the building as Ren curiously watched the goblins, wearing crimson and gold uniforms, standing on either side of the bronze doors. They were short, long-fingered, clever-looking creatures, with beady black eyes. Soon they entered a massive lobby, with towering marble pillars and large crystal chandeliers. Goblins sat on high stools behind long counters. Ren could see quills, ledgers, and heaps of coins on every desk. He could even see weighing scales on some desks, with the goblins measuring bars of gold and silver, even large rubies and diamonds.
Dumbledore took Ren to one of the desks and rapped sharply on the marble. The goblin sitting there looked up with an annoyed look, which turned into a fawning smile when he saw it was Dumbledore. "What bring you to Gringotts, Professor?"
Dumbledore patted Ren's back and said, "I'm here with Mr. Ren Alaric, for him to get his inheritance from his father, Lord Edmund Alaric, and his heirship of House Alaric."
The goblin curiously stared at Ren, eyes drawn to his bald head and monk robes, before he nodded and hooped down his stool, saying, "I'll go get the accounts manager of House Alaric."
Soon, they were ushered in a luxurious private room by a different goblin, who called himself Burgurd, and was the accounts manager of Ren's family. The trio sat around a round table in the center of the room, on which was a silver knife beside small black bowl. The bowl looked unassuming, but it glowed with powerful and intricate magic in Ren's Eyes Of Truth. Burgurd said, "Mr. Alaric, this is a bloodline test, and it will tell us your bloodline as well as status. Please put in a drop of blood."
Ren took the knife and gently made a cut on his finger. A drop of blood dripped out before the wound closed and healed under the knife's magic and Ren's own Qi. As soon as the drop touched the bowl, it erupted into swirls of red light. The light then coalesced into a string of text floating above the bowl.
'Most Ancient And Noble House Of Alaric - Lord'
Two soft gasps were heard in the room as both Dumbledore and the goblin looked at the text with widened eyes. Ren, confused, asked, "What's wrong? Professor? Mr. Burgurd?"
Dumbledore replied, "Well, nothing's wrong… but we didn't expect the bloodline test to identify you as the Lord. I thought you would be an heir."
Burgurd nodded in disbelief, and said, "I thought that too. But the test is never wrong. It seems it qualifies Mr. Alaric… ah no, Lord Alaric as an adult. But that does not change much. Let me go bring your Lord ring."
He hurried out of the room while Dumbledore curiously watched Ren's relaxed and impassive expression.
"I thought you would be happy, or at least excited at the prospect of being a Lord."
Ren chuckled dryly, and said, "Well, Professor, I don't even know what being a Lord implies. Besides, material wealth matters little to monks."
Dumbledore also chuckled in response.
Burgurd came in, gingerly holding a wooden box as if it was going to explode in his face, and carefully placed it in front of Ren. He spoke, "Lord Alaric, inside this box is the Lord ring of House Alaric. It is the key to the entire Alaric fortune, your proof of identity as a Lord, and has secrets that are for you to find out. Please keep it safely."
Ren opened the box. Inside was a simple band of pure, graceful mythril. Inscribed on the inside of the band were the words, 'Vires Ad Protengendum'.
"Strength To Protect", said Dumbledore quietly, as he stared at the ring with a form of respect in his eyes. "The Alarics have always been known as a house that has carried its nobility in the true sense of the word. I hope you carry the legacy of this house well, Ren."
Ren nodded silently, as he solemnly picked up the ring and put it on. It glowed slightly, as the magic recognized him as its owner and the ring became smaller to fit snugly around his finger.
"Let's go, Lord Alaric. Down to the Alaric main vault.", said Burgurd, as he stood up and walked towards the door.
"Mr. Burgurd?", Ren spoke, "I would prefer it if you call me Ren." Burgurd looked back and nodded. Dumbledore smiled slightly.
---
A monk isn't supposed to be this rich.
That was the first thing Ren thought when he laid his eyes upon the Alaric fortune. He was currently standing before a literal lake of gold galleons. Past the lake were a bunch of doors, leading to rooms containing the Alaric family grimoires, rare books, magical artifacts, precious stones and metals, potions, and any other miscellaneous stuff owned by the Alarics that was deemed valuable enough to be kept in a vault.
"Here is a list of all the items in the vault, Mr. Ren. It's classified into books, artifacts, potions, materials, and miscellaneous. Please take a look." Burgurd handed Ren a long scroll. It was filled with rows on rows of names which made no sense to Ren, but he memorized them anyway, in case he later needed something from this list.
Then, Ren filled up a pouch and with Dumbledore, went out to Diagon Alley to get his school stuff.
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Author's Comments: Hey guys! This is my first time putting in an author's comment, so let me know if I can do this in a better way. But anyways, what I wanted to tell you was... Firstly, thank you very much for the support I'm getting!🙏🙏🙏 I know my updates are pretty messy, but you guys are still reading every new chapter I'm posting, so thank you🥰! And secondly, expect a nice plot twist in the next chapter!