by Michael Sisa
Edward joshed, “Child, do you want me to carry you to the carriage?” His voice was almost laughing. He knew that the child was currently in great pain despite his strong facade.
“No,” was Dan’s reply. His expression was serious, and his mind was filled with thoughts on the possible outcomes of the agreement. He made sure that his every movement did not look strained. Worrying Minerva was the last thing he would want to do.
After that word, Dan and Minerva packed their belongings and went out of the inn. Their destination was the famous castle.
***
The travel towards the Roshaila Family’s Castle took eight hours by cart, and by the time they had arrived, it was already late in the afternoon. It was almost dusk. The group passed through the Commoner’s District, and after a couple of hours, they traversed through a large clearing filled with nothing but paved ground. From a distance, a large castle that bespoke of the word ‘sturdy’ greeted their eyes. The sun hovered right before them, and its crimson-gold appearance gave the castle a looming shadow. Series of trees were lined up in arrays, and a dark wall made the fortress seemed impregnable. Numerous battlements were seen at the top. The gates were black and metallic, and it opened inward as if welcoming the group. It took them a few more minutes before the carriages finally halted to a stop after entering the gates.
“We’re here,” Edward said right after the carriage halted. He ushered for Dan and Minerva to go out of the metallic cart. The two of them wordlessly followed as they traversed through the main hall of the first floor. Minerva’s lips were partly opened as she appreciatively gazed at the majestic interior of the castle. Various paintings ornamented the walls, and statues of the former Family Heads were seen at a corner. Numerous servants saluted them as they walked through, and the ground was carpeted crimson. The chandelier above was ornamented with innumerable blazing candles, illuminating the vicinity with a bright hazel glow.
Edward clapped his hands once, and he declared in a loud and imposing voice, “All of you—gather!” Immediately, everyone inside the castle gathered at the main hall. Footsteps filled the air, and the ground softly rumbled. In a span of a few minutes, around two thousand men and women gathered before the head of the family. All were anticipating Edward’s next words.
Edward pointed his arms towards Dan’s direction. Everyone’s eyes immediately followed. With pride and conviction, he announced, “This child here... from now on—he shall become a Roshaila — Officially! This child here is a son of mine from another woman—my beloved wife, Minerva!”
Minerva was stunned from his bold declaration. Both she and Dan knew what Edward was trying to achieve. It was the best way possible if they wanted everyone to accept Dan to the family. The gathered men and woman began murmuring after Edward’s revelation. The Head of the Roshaila Family was known for being a devoted husband. Ever since his wife died, he never once looked for another. Everyone was filled with disbelief from the news.
“Most of you know that my wife, Athena, has been dead for many years now. Unfortunately, my child, Reina had been married to the Prochson Family. She is the blood link that ties the two great seats.” He walked towards Minerva and placed a hand on her shoulder. He ignored the murderous glare of Dan from behind. “This woman here is someone precious... someone that I truly cherish with all my heart.” Minerva’s cheeks turned red from his words. “Moreover, she’s the mother of my child, Daniek.” Edward glanced at Dan.
Edward raised his chin and declared, “From now on, these two shall also be your master.” He paused as he gazed at his people. “Understood?”
“Yes, our Lord!” Everyone bowed in unison. The revelation was stunning, but everyone’s loyalty to the House of Roshaila was more than enough for them not to question the Royal Magician's will.
Edward grinned from ear to ear. He turned to Dan. “What do you think, child? All of them are yours to command, Young Master~”
Chapter 12: Two Years After
Dan was huffing, and his body was filled with numerous speckles of blood that continued to drip down from the pull of earth. He gripped the sword held by his right arm. Afterwards, he channeled an astronomical amount of soul spirit into the weapon. He gnashed his teeth, and with a hand-shattering force, he sliced the air in front of him. A violent and deafening sound reverberated, and a translucent blade made of nothing but murderous rage cruised towards a large boulder a few meters from him. The blade hit the target, cleanly splitting it in half. As if not content, it continued to cruise forward; nothing was capable of stopping it in its track. The high-pitched and nauseating sound continued to fill the air as the blade kept mowing down anything it passed through. Eventually, it collided with the wall that enclosed the castle. The ground violently shook, and dusts and detritus fell down the sturdy wall. A large cut that resembled a dragon’ claw was created.
“That went overboard… It broke,” Dan silently mumbled as he watched the metallic blade of his sword form numerous nicks. It was a low grade weapon, but it broke after a single trike. He wiped the sweat on his forehead and then glanced towards the old man wearing a black tuxedo. He was standing straight, body rigid, and a perpetual smile was plastered on his wrinkled face. His white beard drooped down till the chin, and his eyes were grey, almost transparent at first glance. He was the butler in-charge of the young master of the Roshaila Family.
“Young Master, the trip towards the Prochson Family’s castle will commence soon,” the butler reminded. He handed a silver goblet to Dan. It was filled with water.
“Thank you, Kurt,” Dan courteously said. He gulped the content of the goblet in three gulps, and after a breathe of exhilaration, he turned towards the butler. “I’m sorry about the damage to the estate. I’ve come to grasp the principles of the technique, but I still find it hard to control the amount of power in my strikes.”
Kurt waived a hand as if dismissing the remark. “It is fine. Everything the eyes can see in this area is yours.” He cleared his throat. “Young master, let us get you to a proper set of clothes. We cannot let you meet the Prochsons with such sweat-filled attire, right?”
Dan scrutinized his garb and nodded in response. Suddenly, a voice rang out from his left. It was Edward. “My—you’ve destroyed a part of the castle again?” His eyes were dancing. He cannot help but feel delight whenever he saw the exponential rise in strength of the child before him. He was eight years old, but his battle prowess was that of an adult magician. “Your fiancé, Yvette… you will meet her soon.” Edward turned to Kurt. “Make sure that my son wears proper attire. He should at the very least look presentable.”
“Of course, Lord,” Kurt bowed.
“What do you mean by fiancé?” Dan asked. His eyes were grim and serious. He did not like the sound of the conversation. “You told me that the meeting with the Prochsons is to finalize the alliance by forming contracts with the leaders.”
“Yes. Marriage is the way we’ve decided to use. You will marry Yvette Prochson,” Edward nonchalantly replied.
Time seemed to have stood still as Dan tried to process the words that came out of the man’s mouth.
“No—I will not,” Dan said in a firm tone. He tried to retain his calm despite the stunning revelation. Now that he thought of it, he did hear Edward stating that his daughter had been married to the Prochson Family. “Your daughter’s been married to the Prochson, right? There’s no need for two of us to do the same thing.”
“Hahaha! I knew that you would say that,” Edward said. He slightly tilted his head to the side. “Yvette’s really beautiful, know that?”
“Father—” Dan stared at Edward. During his stay with the Roshaila Family, he had molded himself to be able to call the man as father. It was a must if they wanted their façade to continue. Still, Krisse was the only man he would genuinely regard as father. That much, he was sure. “This is not part of our agreement.”
Edward did not reply. His eyes continued to dance as he ushered the sweat-filled child to go insi
de. The journey towards the allied family’s estate would soon commence. It was a meeting that would decide the fate of Roshaila and Prochson for the years to come.
***
“Dan, are you sure you’ll be alright? I can accompany you if you want,” Minerva said. She held an infant on her bossom. Her left breast was exposed as she suckled her child. The child was born over a year ago, and its red hair resembled Minerva’s. Its eyes were that of Krisse’s: it was deep and strong.
“I’ll be fine. It’s not like the two families are going to war or anything. We’re just going to discuss… some things.” Dan walked towards Minerva and patted the head of the child on her bosom. “She’s pretty like you, mother.”
“Yes… she’s pretty… so precious,” Minerva added. Her gaze was soft and gentle as she caressed the child’s skin.
Dan gently smiled as he watched the two most precious beings in front of him. After he putted on his silver coat over his white sleeved garb, he smoothly twined his tie around his neck. Currently, he had the appearance of a pure blood noble.
He leaned and kissed Minerva on her forehead. “I’ll be going now. Rest well, mother.” He glanced at his sibling. “You too, Muan.” The infant chuckled as though she understood.
After those words, Dan went towards the castle’s underground chamber. The area was dimly lit, and only the light from the magic circle was what illuminated the vicinity. Edward, Kurt the butler, and a dozen others were already inside the chamber by the time he arrived.
“Welcome, young master,” a female voice said. Dan’s eyes widened when he saw for the first time the face behind the mask of the female assassin. It was the assassin that confronted him back when he first won the archery competition. “We’ve been waiting for you. The warp portal’s ready.”
She had silver hair that hanged past her shoulder, and silver eyes that were fierce and strong. Her lips seemed velvet, and its crimson color shamed even the fully bloomed roses. Her skin akin to snow, and it greatly complemented the frilled dress she currently wore. By Dan’s estimate, she was probably around her early twenties.
Dan broke out from his surprise. He jeered, “Not gonna be an assassin today, huh?”
“I was a maid before I was an assassin. For today, I shall escort the Young Master and the Lord to the Prochsons.”
Dan inwardly thought on how much a waste it would be if such a skillful assassin was to remain a maid, but he did not bother to voice his thoughts out loud. He turned to Edward. The man was wearing the same attire as Dan. “So convenient. I thought teleporting to another location’s not that easy? To think that there really is such a thing underground this castle.”
Kurt answered in Edward’s stead. “True, Young Master. To create a warp portal, one needed a fortune. Specifically, they needed to procure a minimum of eight teleportation stones. The castle of the Prochsons a bit far from here—we used a total of 25 stones to accommodate this lot.”
“Yes, moreover, you cannot just warp into a certain location. Anti-warp magic is usually engraved in different key points, rendering magicians unable to teleport straight to a certain place.” Edward added. Somehow, he kept the tie on his neck a bit loose.
“So after teleporting, we still have to travel a certain distance?” Dan asked. “Moreover, you told me before that the Prochson’s castle is located deep in the mountains—I take it that the path towards it is dangerous? You specifically told me to bring my weapon.”
“Hahaha! Really intelligent! Sometimes I ask myself if you’re really just eight!” Edward chuckled. “That’s right. The path towards the mountain is really dangerous, but that’s not the reason why I told you to bring your weapon. The monsters will be taken care of by my men—there’s no need to bother ourselves with the creatures. The real problem are the Prochsons—they’re the real monsters of that mountain.”
Dan lightly tilted his head. “I thought you’re allied with that family?”
“Young man, alliances are much more complicated than you think. Once they think that you’re no longer worthy of the alliance, they would immediately regard you as enemy. There are no in-betweens.” Edward said. “Lately, they’ve began questioning the potential of the child that I’ve declared as my son. They’ve began doubting if you’re really capable of taking one of the seven great seats.” Edward’s eyes flickered. “That’s why we’re bothering to take this arduous trip towards their estate—to prove that the Roshaila Family is not delusional.”
“Then the marriage?” It was the most concerning thing for Dan.
“Nah, even if you reject the offer, I wouldn’t mind. Personally, I think it would be better if you get married to someone of greater stature than one of the seven great families. Your potential is too great to be wasted on the Prochsons.”
“And to think the two families are allied with each other. The way you spoke of them…,” Dan smirked. The relationship of the two families was more complex than he thought.
“Heh~ enough of that. Let’s get going. It should be dawn at the Laketine Mountain Range by now.”
After those words, Dan and the rest of the group stepped inside the large magic circle. Their vision blurred, and a nauseating feeling embraced them. A deafening and high-pitched sound echoed in their ears as they saw themselves pass through an abyss. Different mountains and cities passed by them in split seconds, and by the time the teleportation was finished, they found themselves at the bottom of a gargantuan mountain range that spanned as far as the eyes could see. Thick snow blanketed the ground, and the tip of the mountain was covered by clouds. The sun had yet to make its imposing appearance as the group began walking upwards.
“Welcome, Roshaila Family” a voice rang out before them. Upon looking, five men clad in pure white greeted Dan and his group. Beside the men were four carriages, and it was pulled by creatures that resembled yaks. “We have prepared a convoy for the esteemed Roshaila Family. This way please, if you will.”
“We are grateful,” Edward said as he made his way towards the second carriage. Dan and the butler also entered the carriage Edward was in. The rest of the men entered the remaining ones.
The five men that escorted them were of few words; they spoke not a word as they traversed through the steep and subzero road before them. Large boulders were seen along the way, and the occasional breeze that seeped through the window sent shivers to everyone.
“GROOAR!” a loud roar was heard an hour after the convoy began traversing the mountain path. The source of the ominous roar was a creature with six arms and a body filled with thick white furs. Its eyes were yellow, and its canines drooped till the chin. It was thrice the size of an average human.
Immediately, without a word, one of the five men clad in pure white disappeared from his spot and reappeared right in front of the monster. He then pulled out his claymore and wordlessly beheaded the beast. Everything happened in a flash, and even Dan had a hard time following as he watched the surreal scenario. He was sure that the man had yet to show his true strength. He felt that the man’s movement was suppressed despite the surreal agility.
“Sorry for the commotion, Lord Edward. This path is usually infested by those monsters,” one of the white figures said.
Edward leaned on the couch and waived a hand. “It’s fine.” He turned to Dan and grinned. “The guy that killed the beast’s strong, right? This is the reason why I told you that the Prochsons are the real monsters of this mountain. That warrior from before, it’s probably a middle ranked. The Prochson have more of them at their disposal.”
“Father, I wonder how strong you really are… you’re one of the very rare S ranked magicians of the Empire, right?” Dan suddenly asked. It was a question he had been pondering about ever since he found out that the man was one of the Royal Magicians.
“Hahaha! I’m nothing but a simple Lord of a castle,” Edward said. “Right, Kurt?”
“I beg to disagree, Lord,” Kurt politely said. “If you willed it, you could decimate a portion of this mounta
in from a single cast of your magic.”
“This butler—” Edward smirked.
“So, Royal Magicians are that strong, huh?” Dan raised a brow. He found it hard to believe that the cunning but laid-back man beside him was such a monster. After finding out that the man had just a single wife his entire life, he had come to respect the man a little. Though whenever he saw the man speaking with his mother, he usually felt the urge to tear the man into pieces. He felt that there was something more behind the smiling eyes of the Head of the Roshaila Family.
It took them a couple more hours before they arrived at the Prochson Family’s castle. Like routine, the white clad figures annihilated all of the monsters that blocked the convoy’s path. The travel was quite comfortable despite the numerous beasts that intercepted their journey.
“We’re here,” a white figure said. He opened the door of the carriage and ushered for those inside to come out. “Please enter through the gates.” He bowed and afterwards led the way. Dan and his group immediately followed.