Chapter 31: Great Families PT 1

The Great River runs almost through every Empire on the continent of Nia. From the Forest of Life with the many elven tribes to the mountains that host the Dwarven Federation. The river goes by many names but from the simplicity of our ancestors, humans chose to call it the Great River. The river has provided us with fresh water and fish for generations. The river flows both ways. A wonder of Nia. One of many of course but the Great River flows in both directions and the Dwarven Federation claims that it starts from their mountains is false or at least can be considered false. At the half of every year, the Great River switches its flow. From up to down, west to east, so on and so forth. Yet here at M-TRI after years of study and research, we haven’t figured out why. The magic phenomenon even works on waterfalls and is a miraculous event to see. One that I highly recommend every person on Nia to see at least once. That along with the Orange Sky and Black Night events that occur every three years by the Temple of the Crystal Caverns. Where the fiercest monks of the Empire and perhaps the continent reside.

* Excerpt from the journal of Kingston Stan. Head M-TRI researcher in the magical phenomenon of Nia.

We moved swiftly just a bit over five hundred troops running faster than the speed limit in a school zone. I could push the troops harder, and I’d knew they’d make it through the journey without complaint. I could, but I wouldn’t as I wanted them to be well-rested before our unavoidable confrontation with the ten great families.

As we moved, I thought back to what I knew of all ten great families. Nightingale, Judd, Koama, Grand, Lord, Manick, and Corba just to name a few. These families all were descendants of the original party that traveled with my ancestor and first head of the Kan household. As the centuries passed, these families grew distant from my own as newer and newer generations overtook the previous. Their original values and traditions were replaced by new ones. From noble values of protecting the Empire to more self-centered and family-aligned interests. Not that I could blame them as I could see how my family had done the same throughout the years. The difference between us and them I’m guessing is the level of power each family wields.

Ten families and ten irritating but what should be minor stops if all went well. With Princess Moriah along for the ride, I expected this incident to be resolved within a week.

The Nightingale family and their scion Bella were all unique magic users having access to something called dark water. The reason for their darker blueish tint of hair. From what I knew of this affinity it gave them an advantage in the use of any water-related magic or physical abilities. From the information gathered as we moved, they would be one of the farthest and most likely the last I would meet amongst this minor stop. Several times we had been stopped by what I could only guess to be the Last Kingdom's spy force. Figures in black leather armor and who were directing us to were Lady Gloria whom I’d met but hadn’t gotten the opportunity to get a full impression of her as the events of the battle took place. No matter as for the week we would be working together to try and solve this in a non-hostile manner.

So, who were the ten great families to me? Over the weeks I was slowly coming to understand our relationship. In some format my family was the superior noble but what did that mean. To me, little at first, as I grew up in the comfort of the Kan old castle learning the history of the Empire, my family, and how to properly fight and cultivate. Back when my head was filled with nothing but magic and the feeling of growing stronger. It felt like it could have been decades ago but in reality, it wasn’t.

To me, the ten great families were just tagging along in a journey my family wanted me to complete to prove my worthiness as the heir. Not that I had much say in the matter as the first child and son of Duke Vasu. Now as a fully grown magi-human without whatever raging and magical effects that forced my body through a rapid change, I could see so much more that I was missing as a child. Back then it felt as if I was on a constant high and I was glad that was over.

The question was, however, who were the ten great families to me. To me, in full capacity as Young Lord Aegis Kan heir to the West Dukedom and next Lord of the Wall. As I aligned my thoughts more with that stance, I came to the realization that I was their superior noble. That means in laymen's terms that I was the big dog on the block. I led the pack. The alpha wolf.

It was time I started acting like one.

Swiftly, three days passed, and we grew closer to the first territory overtaken by the Grand household. The city of Tow was led by Baron Tow and is currently occupied by Ryon Grand. Outside the walls sat the forces of Gloria and we hailed them as we drew near. Although I had detected several presences disappearing once we entered the last ten miles to the city.

We slowed and Princess Moriah drew near me as we came within shouting distance for people of our level. We commanded our forces to stop before we made our way towards the distant figure of Gloria. The woman was in similar black armor to the figures we’d seen along with travel to the northern portion of the Last Kingdom. All this time I’d yet to truly know what her position was amongst the forces of the Last Kingdom but with her level of strength and closeness and resemblance to the Warrior Princess I had my guesses.

She spoke first the moment we neared. “Greetings Young Lord Aegis Kan and Princess Moriah. I thank you for arriving so swiftly to solve our current dilemma.”

“I apologize for the rudeness of my fellow Imperials. It seems shortly after the Nox surprise attack they took it upon themselves to take action to complete our mission in the swiftest manner possible.”

I chose my words carefully not placing blame on either party or myself. I represented the Kan family, not just myself, Aegis.

“Will you need any assistance…?” Gloria’s voice faded off as I was already acting.

My bloodline roared to life, and I could swear I heard the roar of a dragon as the ability consumed a thirty feet circumference. The front gate of the city wasn’t too far, and I began to move towards it. My bloodline power is burning and transforming the landscape around me.

Step.

Step.

Step.

Until my ax glowed brightly. So bright that any who looked at it directly without the proper power would lose their eyesight.

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Step.

Step.

Step.

Until I was at the gates of the city of Tow just feet from it. My bloodline power was now concentrated within my ax.

“RYON GRAND.”

My voice thundered out like a sonic blast. Using magic, I made sure it would be projected over the large city. Behind me, I could hear a commotion as Gloria’s men moved back and I was sure the eyes of Moriah were locked on my back.

“GET YOUR ASS OUT HERE AND FACE ME.”

“I CHALLENGE YOU. YOUR HONOR IS IN QUESTION.”

As I finished my left foot stepped forward while my left arm was raised and using the strength of tier seven. I threw my weapon at the city gates. A blue barrier sprang to life and for a few moments it seemed like it would deflect my weapon from impacting the city gate but in those few seconds of silence that felt like an eternity, my ax head melted through and impacted the city’s closed gates.

“Cover your eyes and hold onto your ears and loved ones,” I spoke once again projecting my voice to the city and the troops behind me.

Then the roar of the dragon came. The concentrated effects of my bloodline in a single weapon along with the kinetic energy it stored enhanced the effect as what seemed like a nuclear bomb was sent off at the gates of Tow along with much of the wall for this portion of the city was gone. Dust billowed out and a construct of my own making appeared. A strong wind came sweeping the dust out of the way and revealing the city within.

“You dare?”

A response was uttered and as the remnants of the dust and debris were swept away a tall figure standing roughly at my height revealed himself. Ryon Grand of the Count Grand family line stood in front of me. Silver armor covered him from head to toe and he held a glowing red bastard sword and had a shield with his family’s crest equipped. I moved before he did sweeping my ax up, which had embedded itself into the circular crater at the point of impact. My shield was now in hand as I used the momentum of the dash to run into him.

“I can see all weakness before me, and all shall provide to my insight.”

“I call to you fireflies who’ve lost their spark come from [Beyond].”

In quick succession two of my perks became activated as I barreled into Ryon. The surprising figure didn’t have time to defend as I used that momentum to bring him through a wall. Pivoting as I did not want to cause any more wanton damage than I already did. I pushed the figure out a sonic boom erupting as I used my strength to the max and only after we impacted into the dirt a ways away did, I release the hold on Ryon.

Only now did I get a good look at him and his weaknesses as ashes fell like fireflies flashing in the air around us. The last spark of flame dying and turning them into ash. It was beautiful like the weaknesses on Ryon Grand that seemed glaringly obvious to me. His armor was not as superior as mine. Not a masterwork but definitely on the higher tiers of items.

Ryon slowly removed himself from the ground. The magi-human was clearly mad as the moment he orientated himself he was off. Rushing towards me in a flurry of blows and the two of us found ourselves locked in the intricate dance called battle. Trading blows that Ryon was missing while I scored knicks here and there. My perk analyzing him and showing more and more weaknesses as time passed. Such as when he moved to thrust his left foot always, always would twitch and shift before. This opened an opportunity for a counterattack. While we fought, I was also analyzing how my perk was showing me these things it classified as weaknesses. I came to realize that these weaknesses were things an experienced fighter would come to notice about their opponent’s overtime. Or someone with worldly experiences such as a farmer, a miner, and other professions that worked outdoors. For I saw all things classified as a weakness even where the ground wasn’t firmly packed and could collapse with enough force. I could see my ashes beginning to stick to Ryon and all of these things I notice accumulated until I had Ryon Grand exactly where I wanted him.

As he once again shifted his foot a few things happened all at once. We’d been fighting for several minutes now and in the corner of my vision was a counter. This counter showed me the current number of stacks on a target in my vision and Ryon Grand just reached five. I felt the excitement from the ashes and both Ryon and I moved at the same instance. His sword went out for a piercing attack and my shield parried in that moment I struck several notifications appear blinking in the corner of my eye as I felt a burst of energy reenergize my mind, body, and even the mana I expended.

Ryon lay on the ground my ax to his armored neck while a foot was on his chest.

“Yield or the next attack will damage more than your pride.”

We stood for a few moments in silence. I didn’t know if Ryon was stunned in some manner of disbelief at the ease with which I defeated him although I was beyond him in tiers. Or maybe it was something else. I did not know. I did not care.

Around us, ashes continued to descend, and I waited for the answer I knew I would hear.

“I… yield. My honor was in question, and you have corrected me to the right path.”

My ax moved aside, and I reached my hand out and helped pull Ryon Grand to his feet.

“The Paths are hard, and one must not forget their way fortunately you have others to keep you from straying.”

I finished the ritual. From the very beginning of the challenge, I had done it how the nobles of the Empire were taught. Outside of the north, the more ‘civilized’ and traditional way for nobles to air their differences was by a challenge of honor. The moment I uttered the words ‘your honor is in question,’ Ryon knew that this was a serious matter but not a fight until death.

Ryon was silent as we made our way towards my troops and the destroyed part of the city, and my mind moved to be occupied by the notifications I received.

You have successfully critically hit your opponent's weakness. Opponent has been afflicted with Tundra’s Grasp.

You have successfully built five stacks of Ashes Fall [Beyond] upon your opponent and harvested stacks regain your health/mana and returning mental endurance spent!

As a result of your actions opponent has been hit with [Transcendent Dawn]. This allows you to bypass the targets defense and strike directly at their soul!

As I finished going through the notifications, we arrived back at the destroyed portion of the city. Already people were out and about reworking and rebuilding. I took a deep breath. Next time I would try to minimize damage on such a large scale.

“Gather you men and prepare to leave. I’ve reached an agreement with the leader of the Last Kingdom, and you’ve effectively attacked my own vassal.”

Ryon’s face now revealed to be a handsome young man with red snake-like eyes and black hair looked worried. Opening his mouth to speak I stopped him.

“I do not care. I wish to finish this fiasco within the week, and I have two more stops to make before the day is done. Go and gather your men.”

The young man nodded and was off just as Gloria made her way towards me.

“Forgive me if this comes off as rude but you are strong for someone your age. I presume you to be in your mid-twenties like my liege, but Princess Moriah here has revealed you to be even younger.”

I glanced at the Moriah who also appeared not a moment after Gloria.

“My family is trained as warriors since birth,” as I spoke my eyes were drawn to Moriah where they remained.

“In order to be recognized as heir to and the next duke a series of trials are prepared. Trials that I have completed since young and trials that I will continue to complete until I am no longer the Young Lord but the next Lord of the Wall.”

I only received a smile in return from Moriah. Ever since my outburst, her movements around me became different. I would think about it later. The sun was still high in the sky as it was early morning and I wish to subdue another two before it set.