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
Despite being just a baron, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease regarding the princess's invitation. While it was technically an invitation I could refuse, I couldn't help but wonder about the implications of doing so. Rejecting the invitation might be seen as a slight against the royal family, but accepting it could potentially thrust me into a world of political intrigue and danger. It was a delicate balance to navigate, and I needed to weigh my options carefully.If I were a weaker and less influential baron, rejecting such an invitation would undoubtedly be the safest course of action. But my circumstances were different now. I had grown stronger and more formidable, and with that came a newfound sense of responsibility and opportunity. Ultimately, I needed to consider all the factors at play and make a decision that aligned with my goals and ambitions.Accepting such an invitation felt akin to walking into a trap, a celebration of one's demise. What troubled me most was the
The atmosphere outside the city hall was charged with anticipation as the key figures of the city, along with the residents, gathered once again. Mason, Roland, the Stone Village Chief, and others stood alongside the lord, ready to hear the latest developments.Jack leaned in towards Aldo, his voice low with excitement and curiosity. "It seems the lord has an important announcement," he muttered, echoing the sentiments of many in the crowd.Aldo nodded in agreement, his gaze drifting towards the newcomers standing at the far right. Among them were the latest batch of refugees, their faces reflecting a mix of hope and uncertainty as they awaited the lord's words.As the lord stepped forward, the murmurs of the crowd fell silent, all attention focused on him. His voice carried with authority as he addressed the gathered assembly."My fellow citizens," he began, his tone grave yet determined, "we stand at a pivotal moment in the history of our city."The crowd listened intently, hanging
"Hey! Why should we listen to a brat like you?" The interjection came from the back of the crowd, a young soldier, his face flushed with anger, his eyes blazing with defiance. The rest of the soldiers turned to stare, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.A genuine smile spread across my face. Finally, someone had the audacity to speak up. A flicker of satisfaction ignited within me. This was exactly what I had been hoping for, wasn't it? Didn't this feel like the natural order of things?I had anticipated this moment from the very beginning. There was no way these esteemed scions of nobility and battle-hardened knights would meekly submit to the commands of a mere child. The moment I was elected commander of one of the three mighty armies, I knew this tension would inevitably arise. After all, who among these talented warriors would willingly follow a teenager with little to boast of in terms of accomplishments? And let's not forget the shadow of my less-than-st
Ladia couldn't help but castigate herself for her lapse in judgment. How had she not seen it before? If the involvement of the magic towers would significantly aid the Empire, then the impact of the very person who had defeated the magicians of the tower participating would be monumental.The princess's heart thrummed with the realization, chiding herself for taking so long to come to this epiphany. Was Ethan's proposal the correct course of action or not? She no longer dwelled on the question.With a steely gaze, Ladia announced, "I have reached a verdict."The room fell silent as all eyes turned to the princess. The final decision lay in her hands, and she was ready to reveal it. The anticipation hung heavy in the air, and Ladia took a deep breath before continuing. "I have decided to accept Ethan's proposal."A murmur of surprise rippled through the room, but Ladia held up her hand for silence. "I believe that Ethan's plan, with a few modifications, is the best course of action for
My suggestion ignited a firestorm of debate among the upper echelons of the capital. The princess convened her officials in the grand throne room, where the air was thick with tension and uncertainty as they deliberated their next course of action. Ultimately, the march toward the City of Aran was postponed by a full day, a delay that weighed heavily on everyone present. The officials found themselves divided, caught between two stark choices: should they attempt to reclaim the nearby City of Aran from the Beast Kingdom, or should they focus their efforts on retaking the more strategically significant City of Northfall?"But, Your Majesty," one of the officials interjected, his voice rising above the murmurs of the assembly, "as we stand now, we cannot afford to risk an attack on the Northfall Fortress! I have heard reports that the beastmen have fortified their walls and laid even more traps to ensnare us! If we allow this farce to continue, we will be nothing more than lambs led to
A chill snaked down Ryle's spine. Ethan's suggestion hung in the air, heavy and suffocating, like a shroud woven from despair. To attack City of Aran, a fortress city now bristling with tens of thousands of Beast Kingdom soldiers, felt like a declaration of utter annihilation. Even Lance, their most valiant commander, had fallen captive within its walls.Ryle's brow creased into a deep furrow. He, too, was a commander of the Initiation Army, a man who had tasted the bitterness of defeat and the sting of loss. He couldn't fathom how Ethan, this newly appointed leader, could so blithely propose a course of action that reeked of self-destruction."I cannot, in good conscience, agree with your plan," Ryle stated, his voice laced with a mixture of disbelief and frustration. "As we stand now, attacking Northfall City is a fool's errand, a suicide mission. We are scattered, depleted, and outmatched. We must first rally our remaining forces, regroup along the borders, and then, and only then,
"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