The fate of hundreds of lives hung in the balance, dependent on the mercy and goodwill of those within the city's walls.As the large gate swung open, the caravan made its way across the bridge and into the heart of Ice Demon City."Wow," escaped the lips of many as they were greeted by the sight of towering houses unlike any they had ever seen. Even the seasoned merchants, who had visited Ice Demon City before, couldn't help but marvel at the intricate craftsmanship displayed in every structure.Each house bore its unique design, adding to the city's charm and allure. It was as if every corner held a new surprise, making the experience of exploring the city feel like a journey into the unknown. In that moment, Ice Demon City truly felt like a place of endless possibility and discovery.Emmanuel's keen eye, honed by years of navigating the streets of poverty-stricken Ravaryn city, quickly picked up on the subtle signs of prosperity in Ice Demon city.The roads were remarkably well-mai
Lily had been cured of her illness, like many other refugees who had suffered injuries or ailments. The individual responsible for their healing was none other than Advisor Wise.Emmanuel couldn't help but recognize Advisor Wise's elevated status compared to Butler Jacob. His thoughts lingered on the enigmatic figure who seemed to hold the key to a better future.Emmanuel couldn't help but be captivated by Advisor Wise's striking appearance, unlike any he had encountered before. The man's handsome features seemed almost otherworldly to Emmanuel.Filled with determination, Emmanuel reassured Lily, "Don't worry, Lily. I'll become a knight and buy a house like this for our family!"Encouraging his younger brother Theo, Emmanuel added, "Theo, you can become a knight like me too!"With renewed hope and ambition, Emmanuel had already discovered that they could reside in such houses by renting them. And if they managed to amass enough wealth, they could even purchase one for themselves. The
Aldo froze, his heart sinking as he turned to face Instructor Zikk. The imposing figure stood tall, his steely gaze fixed upon Aldo with an intensity that sent shivers down his spine."Yes, Instructor Zikk?" Aldo asked, trying to keep his voice steady despite the unease coursing through him."Where do you think you're going with those children?" Zikk's voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a blade.Aldo swallowed hard, his mind racing for a suitable response. "I... I was just taking them for a walk, sir. Thought they could use some fresh air," he stammered, hoping his excuse would suffice.Zikk's expression remained unreadable, and Aldo could feel the weight of his scrutiny. "Fresh air, hm? And what brings you to this particular part of the training grounds?" Zikk inquired, his tone laced with suspicion.Aldo glanced back at Gaston's motionless form, his heart aching with concern for his friend. "We were... just passing by, sir," he replied, trying to keep his voice steady.Zi
"Summon Aldo and have him bring Emmanuel here," I instructed without hesitation.Emmanuel's resilience was truly extraordinary. To possess such stamina without the aid of any skills marked him as an anomaly. He was what some might call a natural-born genius.Half an hour later."Young Lord, Knight Aldo and the recruit are here," Aldo announced as he knocked on the door.Setting aside the documents I had been reading, I rose from my seat and opened the door.Aldo entered the room, accompanied by Emmanuel. As I studied Emmanuel's figure, he reminded me of a stick insect. Tall for his age, but with a visible gauntness that revealed the bones beneath his skin. His complexion was muddy, his lips cracked, and dark circles marred the skin under his eyes.It was a state reminiscent of many residents of Ice Demon City before their arrival."This is Emmanuel, Young Lord," Aldo introduced the new recruit, prompting me to give him a scrutinizing gaze as if assessing his potential. However, the s
The revelation left Emmanuel pondering what other secrets Ice Demon City might be concealing. Two mages in such a small city seemed extraordinary. Why hadn't Ice Demon City gained fame for this?"Here, take this," I said, tossing a bag in Emmanuel's direction.Emmanuel quickly grasped the cloth bag, sensing its weight and confirming it contained a substantial amount of coins."This is a gift," I stated.Concerned about Emmanuel's malnourished condition, I encouraged him to use the money to purchase food for himself and his family. I stressed the importance of proper nutrition for focusing on magic training."Magic requires your full attention, even for the simplest spells," I reminded him before departing.I had instructed Aldo to escort him to Solan.Later, I planned to also visit his two siblings, considering the possibility that Ice Demon City might harbour three potential mages in the future.…Elisora CityEarl Greenfield and his officials were fully occupied with the preparation
"Do you believe the heroes can succeed?" Ladia turned back to Greenfield and inquired."Of course," Greenfield replied with a confident nod."I am indeed relieved that you think so," Ladia smiled."Ah, by the way, I am going to enter the dimension soon too. Once inside the dimension, you cannot exit, but you can still send messages.""So before that, I have decided I would meet all the candidates of the throne before I go," Ladia stated.Greenfield's eyes widened in surprise."What date should I plan it on?" she asked.…"Nero reported that the Merlocks have postponed their plans," Aldo relayed.Despite the Merlocks advancing towards Ice Demon City with the cover of the Endless Forest, Nero's aerial surveillance allowed him to detect their movements easily."They've chosen to halt their advance? Perhaps our recent activities have deterred them. The Merlocks are cunning creatures; they wouldn't act without thorough planning. They're likely reassessing our strength," Wise speculated.So
"But...if you want to fly, there is still a long way to go," Solan cautioned, her tone serious. "There's also the chance that even if you have the potential, you might not be able to learn a single spell at all. It depends on how much hard work you are going to put in, and a little bit of luck."Emmanuel and the two kids nodded fervently. "We won't slack off!" they exclaimed in unison."Alright, let's go meet the baron. I will also introduce you to the advisor. Before starting magic training, we need to do some other things first," Solan said decisively.…As I was engrossed in reading the reports from the information agency, Jacob burst into my room in a panic. He didn't even bother to knock, instead rushing straight to my table, gasping for breath.His face was drenched in sweat, and his expression betrayed his anxiety."What's the matter?" I asked, furrowing my brows and scanning our surroundings. Jacob's distress only heightened my concern."A Demi-saint?" I murmured, sensing the
"Baron Ethan?" Martin called out, noticing the young man's pause. "Oh, my apologies," the young man responded with a smile. "I was a bit caught off guard by your sudden visit today.""I am glad to know that Sir Martin has gotten rid of those beastmen," I said, feigning relief. "My timely act of sending the letter to you has borne fruit. I have always been worried that those beastmen would come back again and attack my city once more." Despite my words, I couldn't help but smirk inwardly at my own performance.How could I convey to him that I was simply disinterested in pursuing those beastmen and had delegated the task to him instead?Martin's unexpected response caught me off guard.He smiled, his words laced with discernment. "You've become quite manipulative, haven't you? Those eyes of yours are ever assessing, much like your father's."His astute observation left me momentarily stunned. While I maintained a composed exterior, internally I grappled with a mixture of surprise and
"Ryle Green, step forward!" the Royal advisor said, seeing Ryle was in a daze.Ryle coughed and stepped forward, his heart pounding with excitement as he knelt before the Princess."Ryle Green, you are hereby granted authority over fifty thousand soldiers," the Princess said, her voice like a melody that soothed the soul. "You shall be the commander of the Vanguard Army!"With a snap of her fingers, the Princess bestowed an insignia upon Ryle's shoulder, its glow of light like a beacon of hope in the face of the looming threat of the Beast Kingdom."I will crush those beastmen for you, Your Highness!" Ryle said, his voice filled with determination and resolve.The Princess smiled, her eyes filled with pride and hope. "We have faith in you, Ryle," she said. "Together, we will defeat the Beast Kingdom and restore peace to our lands."Princess Ladia nodded, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "I expect a lot from the younger generation, Ryle," she said, her voice laced with both encou
The Dwarven Kingdom, a land renowned for its glittering wealth, held its breath. The Brightwing Empire’s meager offer, a desperate plea for aid, was all they had to entice the notoriously hard-drinking mercenaries. Even if their weapons were outdated, their reputation for unmatched effectiveness in battle preceded them. Surely, that would be enough.“Your Majesty,” a guard murmured, his voice barely a tremor in the air. “They have arrived.”Princess Ladia, lost in a labyrinth of thought, startled slightly. She had wrestled with the decision for what felt like an eternity, but finally, a solution had emerged. All that remained was to face them, to meet their gaze and offer her hand in this desperate alliance.Viscount Lamiel, a man whose arrogance was only surpassed by his thirst for gold, strode into the royal garden, flanked by a legion of equally boisterous mercenaries. Princess Ladia recognized most of them – the nobles summoned by the crown, their faces etched with a mixture of g
The scene unfolded with brutal efficiency. Several soldiers, their faces grim and resolute, descended upon Drew and the other soldier, their movements swift and decisive. There was no struggle, no desperate pleas for mercy. They walked away with heads bowed, accepting their fate with a stoic silence that spoke volumes of their resignation.Ryle, his expression a mixture of weariness and amusement, ran a hand through his hair, a sigh escaping his lips. "What a waste of a perfectly good sleep," he muttered, his voice laced with a hint of exasperation. "Young men like myself need our rest, yet everyone seems determined to disrupt my slumber over such trivial matters."His gaze shifted to me, and a playful smile curved his lips. "Allow me to introduce myself," he said, extending a hand towards me. "Ryle Green, third son of Count Green, and as you might be able to tell, the future commander of this very army." He spoke with an air of unwavering confidence, his words carrying the weight of
Two soldiers from a rival camp, their boots crunching on the gravel path, happened upon the conversation. One soldier, his face contorting with barely suppressed mirth, clamped a hand over his mouth, desperately trying to stifle a chuckle. His companion, sensing the impending eruption, jabbed him in the ribs with an elbow, a silent plea for decorum. But the laughter, like a trapped spring, was too powerful to contain. Tears welled in the soldier's eyes, threatening to spill over as his shoulders shook with silent mirth. Finally, with a strangled cry, he burst into a full-blown guffaw. "Hahahaha! If it's the Young Master leading us! Hahaha! We'll be able to… Pft! Hahaha!"The sound of his uncontrolled laughter echoed through the camp, drawing curious glances from nearby soldiers. Gaston, his face a mask of confusion and irritation, turned to the source of the amusement. "Excuse me, but what's so funny?" he demanded, his voice laced with displeasure.The soldier, still gasping for br
The unyielding army of the Ice Demon City had been journeying for a considerable number of weeks, traversing a multitude of cities and towns along the way. During our sojourns, we would occasionally restock our supplies, find respite in taverns, and often in the great outdoors, before resuming our arduous trek.Given the unfortunate circumstances, we were informed that the Ice Demon City was the most distant of all cities from the capital. This reality meant that we were among the last to receive the urgent message, compelling us to join the ranks of the other nobles and their armies in the capital.It was in the fourth week of our relentless march that we finally arrived in the grand and magnificent Capital city. The journey had been long and arduous, but our determination never wavered, as we knew our presence was required in these critical times. I had already surmised that the majority of the other nobles and their forces would have already amassed in the capital, readying themse
As the first light of dawn broke through the windows of the guest house, Miron found himself indulging in a breakfast that was nothing short of exquisite. The flavours were so delightful that he couldn't help but admit to himself that it had been a long time since he had enjoyed a meal as delicious as this one.Before long, Miron was summoned by the lord of the Ice Demon City. With a gracious wave of his hand, the lord invited Miron to take a seat on the soft and ornate sofa in the grand hall. Miron, still feeling a bit tense and on edge, quickly obliged and sat down.Despite the gravity of the situation and the impending battle that lay ahead, the lord of the Ice Demon City seemed completely at ease. He sat on his throne, casually eating his food and even humming a tune that was both strange and captivating. Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, Miron finally mustered up the courage to ask, "My lord, how can you remain so calm and untroubled? Surely you must feel some fear or
"You won't find Baron Ethan in the mansion," Zikk stated, his hand resting lightly on Miron's shoulder. "He should be in the Endless Forest, training his soldiers."The gesture, though seemingly warm and reassuring, sent a chill down Miron's spine. He sensed a veiled warning in Zikk's words, a subtle reminder of the stakes involved. This was no ordinary mission; it was a delicate dance, a test of Miron's competence and discretion."I am busy," Zikk continued, his tone shifting to one of finality. "I'll get going."Miron, still reeling from the weight of Zikk's revelation, blurted out, "Sir, you're working in this city?" The thought that the Grand Knight, a legendary warrior, would be toiling away in the mundane tasks of everyday life seemed utterly incongruous.Zikk chuckled, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Of course, I need to feed myself, right?" He winked, a playful glint in his gaze. "See you around."With that, Zikk turned and strode away, disappearing into the labyrinthine all
The whispers and hearsay suggesting that Ethan Slayer was the individual responsible for instigating a full-scale conflict between the formidable Beast Kingdom and the vast Empire were, in the opinion of Miron, nothing more than baseless conjecture. He was firmly convinced that these rumors were merely the result of devious political machinations being orchestrated by a select group of nobles within the Empire, who were cunningly manipulating the situation to their own advantage.Such tales of intrigue and deception were likely to be believed only by the most gullible of commoners and the lowest-ranking of nobles, who were easily swayed by sensationalist stories and exaggerated claims.Furthermore, there was another outlandish rumor circulating, which held that Ethan Slayer had single-handedly defeated an entire legion of the Beast Kingdom's most formidable warriors, and had compelled a daunting elite force of ten thousand beastmen to retreat in disgrace, with their tails tucked meek
Miron approached the city with a sense of trepidation, expecting the usual lax security measures that were common in many of the smaller territories. However, he was pleasantly surprised to find that the checkpoint at the gate was both rigid and strict, a testament to the city's strong defenses.As he entered the city, he was immediately struck by the vibrant atmosphere that pervaded the streets. The residents of Ice Demon City went about their daily lives with genuine smiles on their faces, as though the war that was raging in the north was of little concern to them. Children played and laughed on the streets, while adults busied themselves with their work.Miron's eyes widened in astonishment as he realized that the roads within the city were all paved, a luxury that was rarely found in such remote territories. He shook his head in disbelief, wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him."I must be seeing things," he muttered to himself, unable to comprehend the level of develop