“Captain, the riders have yet to return or send a message from the east.” One of the soldiers knelt before their captain, a man wearing a cuirass bearing a wolf upon his chest.
“Wait for everyone to return. We will move out in full battle formation.” He ordered, his face darkening.
***
“Well, this is it. Everyone, gather up.” Graves said as he activated his teleportation relic.
The cylindrical relic ignited, enveloping everyone in a large pillar of light and finally taking them back home after five days of constant battle and unease.
***
They landed back in Trison, in the guild’s front yard.
“Come with me, everyone!” Graves said seriously.
Everyone followed him into the guildhall, a large empty room with a single table at the front and dozens of chairs surrounding it.
“Ortho, assemble the guild.” Graves urged.
Ortho nodded and disappeared, only to return a short while later with dozens of men and women.
“Is this everyone?” Graves asked.
A woman dressed in leather armor with a bow slung across her back stepped forward.
“We still have three parties in the dungeons, but aside from them, everyone is here.” She explained.
“Alright, thank you, Jane.” Graves nodded.
Iris promptly moved to the doors and closed them, standing in front of them and allowing no one to enter or leave.
“Everyone, what I am about to say does not leave this room, or else everyone here may die!” Graves said seriously, and the room fell silent.
He then explained what had happened and how they had lost half of their main party.
The guild grew silent. Some cursed, some lowered their heads, and some openly cried.
“All of that because Marjory was a member?” A lizardman asked.
“It would seem so, yes. They want to erase that part of her life, it seems.” Graves sighed.
“And who are they?” A blonde woman asked, pointing at Corvin and the rest.
“This is Corvin. He saved us, and these others are the only survivors of the village the army slaughtered to make sure nobody discovered the truth.” Graves said.
“Everyone, for the time being, you are to pretend that I never returned. The others are fine since they do not know who went on the mission. I am the only problem. If they discover that I am here, they may send assassins or even the army to Trison.” Graves warned.
“Don’t worry, Guildmaster. We’ve got your back!” The guild members shouted.
“Alright, you are free to go. Thank you.” Graves bowed.
“Jane, could you please help these men find a place to sleep and find them work at the guild until they are ready to move on?” Graves asked the blonde woman.
“Wait a moment.” Corvin cut in and produced three bags of coins. “Each one contains fifty gold. It should be more than enough to live comfortably for a while until you get back on your feet.”
He tossed a bag to each of the men.
The men bowed, tears streaming down their faces, and thanked him before leaving with Jane.
“Aren’t you generous?” Liara cackled.
“Hey, Graves, are you sure about that? Why not bind them with a contract?” Corvin interjected.
“They are my people, Corvin. I handpicked them myself. They are family, and I trust them.” Graves said passionately.
“Alright, we shall see what happens.” Corvin shrugged.
“Khrol, let’s go. I need to get you registered with the Association and introduce you to my party, assuming they are back.” Corvin said and waved goodbye to Graves and the others.
“Liara, Mina, be smart. The rest of us can talk further once I’ve had some rest.”
Suddenly, Iris jumped in front of him. “Could I visit Brael sometime?”
“Sure. My place is the last house at the end of the raiders’ district.” Corvin said with a smile and left.
***
“Prince Marcos, we bring grave news.” One of the captains said as they knocked on the door.
“Enter, goddammit.” Marcos cursed.
As the three captains entered, they immediately dropped to one knee, visibly shaking.
“Spit it out!” He shouted.
“We didn’t find any trace of the targets. We also lost thirty riders and a Rare Icon holder.” Said the bald man with an eagle emblem on his chest.
“Our men also wiped out a fishing village before disappearing.” Another added.
“Anything else?” Marcos asked coldly.
“There are traces of teleportation magic having been used along the shore.” The last one said.
“Go back to your duties. You have done enough. Whichever one of you lost those thirty men is to train thirty replacements and pay them properly out of your own pocket. I won’t punish you any further. This is my brother's failure after all. You are dismissed.” Marcos said coldly.
The men bowed deeply and left.
He stood for a moment and left his office, a slight smile tugging at his lips.
***
“Father, I need to report a certain transgression,” Marcos said as he bowed behind a tall, slim man wearing white silk pants and a matching tunic with a cape attached at the shoulders, cascading almost to the ground.
His crimson hair flowed over the white cape in beautiful contrast, while a pristine white crown, simple and almost halo-like in appearance, adorned his head.
The man turned, revealing a youthful face, and said emotionlessly, “Speak, son.”
“Yes, Father.” Marcos bowed again. “Alexius has created a problem.” He spoke coldly.
The Emperor’s brow twitched as he sighed. “What did he do this time?”
Marcos gulped and recounted everything he had discovered.
Emperor Konst exhaled and sat upon a pristine marble bench surrounded by tall Soulfuel Peach trees.
The Emperor enjoyed tending to his garden during his spare time. Over the years, he had collected some of the rarest trees and plants on the continent and beyond. Some even claimed that something within this garden was the source of his youth, though wiser people knew better than to question the power of a Mythical Icon holder.
“Investigate whether the Dudley boy is still alive. I will handle the Church and make sure this matter is dealt with properly. If anyone stands in your way, you know what to do.” Konst said coldly.
“What about the Governor of Trison? He won’t stand for this, and we need Trison as our outpost in the south.” Marcos interjected.
“I cannot allow it to spread that the Empire’s armies were defeated by a single party from a barely known guild in the south. Our enemies, who are many, would use it as an opportunity to attack us. And with the Scourgefell growing increasingly unstable and the Beastkin becoming more active, I cannot allow that to happen now. If Governor Franq stands in our way, remove him. There are plenty who would gladly take his position and wealth. Deal with it, Marcos. Do not involve me in this matter any further.” Konst commanded and waved him away.
***
Alexius sat in his private wing of the mansion, eating with Marjory, when Konst slammed the doors open as he entered.
“Marjory, my dear, could you please excuse us? I need to speak with my foolish son.” Konst smiled, though his eyes had grown cold.
Marjory gulped. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
She stood, bowed, and left, leaving Alexius frowning.
“What is the meaning of this, Father?” He asked, his tongue twisting around the word father.
Konst walked up to him without a word and grabbed him by the neck, lifting him high above the table, a fork still clutched in Alexius’s hand.
“You, the second strongest member of the Valerium line, and you turn out to be a fucking cretin!” Konst shouted.
“Did you not think that I would find out? It cost me an entire Centuria, and not just any, but the Crimson, a unit of men more loyal to the Empire than even my own children. And you sent them all to their deaths. For what? A hint of jealousy?”
He raised him higher just as Alexius poured silver mana into the fork, making it burst with blinding light.
“Go on, try me, son. Let us see how that ends.” Konst roared and tossed him across the room.
Alexius stabilized himself with flashes of silver light around his hands and feet as he landed.
“You’ve done worse things than this. Who are you to lecture me?!” Alexius roared.
“Indeed, I have. But I never failed. I never left traces, and I always got what I wanted. That is why I am Emperor. So, listen to me closely. I don’t give a damn if you are my son or second only to me. I will make your child Emperor before I ever make you one. Just test me, boy!” Konst roared.
“Leave my child out of this! Do you hear me, Father?!” Alexius shouted.
“Your child? That child will be my first grandchild. All your other brothers have failed to produce one. That child will be stronger than even you. I can feel it. So, from this moment onward, you are removed from the line of succession. You are to remain here until your child is born. Afterward, you will be exiled to the Scourgefell and forbidden from returning until you have cleared it.” Konst ordered.
“Father! You cannot do this to me! I am the Crown Prince!” Alexius screamed.
“I have allowed too much. It is time for you to learn the consequences of your actions. You have one month. Once your child is born, you will depart with your Legion. Marjory and the child will be taken care of.” Konst said and turned to leave before suddenly pausing and smirking.
He casually waved the back of his hand as if dismissing a servant, and a scream erupted from the balcony as something flew away, burning like a shooting star.
“Damn flies everywhere.” He chuckled and left, leaving Alexius pale and shaken.
***
Corvin returned home with Khrol at his side and Lucian resting on his shoulder, while Nera relaxed within his shadow.
They found nobody at home and headed straight for the Association.
Corvin walked up to the counter where Daisy sat reading a book.
“Slow day, huh?” Corvin smiled.
“Oh, hello, Corvin. You are back early. If you are looking for your team, they took two dungeon missions and should be back within a day or two.” Daisy replied.
“Thanks, Daisy. I would also like this old man to take the entrance test. Here is the fee.”
He placed a single gold coin on the counter.
“Not a problem. Mister Greydin is in his office upstairs. I’ll go get him.”
Daisy hurried away, and moments later, wooden steps creaked loudly as Grey rushed downstairs.
“Corvin! You’re back! How was it?” He asked excitedly.
“Can we talk somewhere more private? And this old man would like to take your test.” Corvin said quietly.
Grey’s expression turned serious, and he nodded.
“No problem. Come with me, sir.” Grey bowed politely to the old man and led them toward the back rooms.