The next morning, as usual, Tristan woke up early and made his way to the inn's backyard to begin his morning routine of physical and sword training. The crisp morning air surrounded him as he swung his blade with precision and focus.

A while later, Brady awoke and noticed Tristan practicing through the window. Observing the boy's disciplined movements, he muttered to himself, "His dedication is remarkable, far beyond the most knights. No wonder he's so strong."

Motivated, Brady got up and went to wake his team. He barged into the adjacent room, shouting, "Wake up, you lazy knights! It's morning already. Let's start our training!"

Blake groaned, rubbing his eyes. "What? Captain, are you possessed? Why are we doing training in the middle of a mission?"

"Take a look outside," Brady said, gesturing to the window.

Blake and Gaiden peeked out to see Tristan diligently training. They turned back to Brady, then Brady smirked and said, "See? Even Tristan, who's already incredibly strong, doesn't skip his training."

"But Captain—" Blake began, only to be cut off.

"No buts! Now get your lazy selves up and moving!" Brady barked, dragging the two knights from their beds.

Brady continued his wake-up call across the team but left Liliana, Lyra, and Sheyla undisturbed. Soon, the group joined Tristan outside, gathering near him.

"Good morning, Tristan. Enjoying your solo training?" Brady asked.

"Whether it's enjoyable or not, I must maintain my condition, Uncle," Tristan replied calmly, continuing his practice.

"You all hear that?" Brady said, turning to his men. "Even an ten-year-old understands the importance of staying battle-ready."

"I'm 8-years old, Uncle," Tristan corrected.

"Wait, what? You're eight?" Blake asked, stunned.

"Yes, sir," Tristan confirmed without missing a beat.

Gaiden's jaw nearly dropped. "Incredible. You might just become the strongest person in the world soon."

Even Blake, known for his brash attitude, thought to himself, "Even Gaiden, who rarely reacts to anything, is amazed by him."

"Alright then!" Blake suddenly shouted, newfound determination in his voice. "Let's train, Captain! No way am I letting an eight-year-old outshine me!"

Gaiden and Barden exchanged looks, nodding in agreement, their resolve renewed.

"That's the spirit of a knight!" Brady said with a broad grin, leading them into a vigorous training session.

Meanwhile, upstairs, Liliana and Lyra stirred, awakened by the noise of Blake's energetic shouting. They peeked out the window to see the group training outside. Sharing a sly smile, the two rolled over and decided to sleep in a little longer.

One hour later.

"Alright, I've finished my morning routine. Uncle, everyone, how about you guys? We've still got a long journey ahead of us today," Tristan said to Brady and the others.

"Got it," Brady replied, wiping sweat from his brow. "That's enough for this morning. Let's get ready to depart."

"Yes, Captain!" the team responded in unison, their voices ringing with newfound energy.

They went to prepare, while Brady headed upstairs to wake Liliana, Lyra, and Sheyla. Once everyone was ready, they gathered for a hearty breakfast before heading to the city gate to begin their journey via horse-drawn carriage.

As the group boarded the carriage, Blake, who had taken the role of the driver, turned to check on everyone. "Is everyone ready?" he asked, gripping the reins.

"Yes! Let's go," the others replied enthusiastically.

The carriage set off toward Redwatch. The journey was uneventful for the most part. They stopped to camp in the forest overnight, sharing stories over a simple dinner by the fire. Taking turns standing guard, they ensured the group's safety.

The following morning, they resumed their journey, the wheels of the carriage rumbling along the forest path. By late afternoon, the city of Redwatch came into view, its tall gates and bustling streets welcoming them as they arrived.

"Finally, we're here. I can't wait to see Father and Mother," Sheyla exclaimed excitedly.

The group arrived at the estate of Marquess Roussanne, where the head of the Roussanne family, Lucien Roussanne, along with his wife and eldest son, stood waiting at the entrance to the main residence. Blake brought the carriage to a halt, and everyone disembarked.

Sheyla immediately dashed toward her family, throwing her arms around Lucien. "Father, Mother, Brother, I'm home," she said, her voice filled with emotion.

"Welcome back, Sheyla," Lucien said warmly.

Her mother, Gracia, eyes glistening with tears of joy, stepped forward. "Sheyla, thank goodness you're safe," she said, embracing her daughter tightly.

"Mother," Sheyla whispered, her voice trembling.

Her brother, Gideon, smirked playfully. "Welcome back, my idiot sister," he teased.

Sheyla quickly hugged him as well. "I'm back, Brother."

Meanwhile, the members of Team 1 knelt respectfully. "Greetings, Lord Lucien, Lady Gracia, Young Master Gideon," Brady said formally.

Tristan, however, stood silently behind them, his gaze fixed on Lucien.

Lucien acknowledged the team's gesture. "Well done, Team 1 of the Red Shadow. For your efforts, I grant you three days of leave and a handsome commission as your mission reward."

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"Thank you, my lord," Brady said gratefully, and the rest of the team echoed, "Thank you, my lord."

"You may all go now," Lucien instructed, his voice firm yet kind.

His gaze then shifted to Tristan. "Is this the boy you mentioned in your report?" he asked Brady.

"Yes, my lord. His name is Tristan," Brady confirmed.

Lucien approached Tristan, lowering his head slightly in gratitude. "Thank you for saving my daughter and ensuring her safe return."

"Think nothing of it, my lord. I simply did what any person should," Tristan replied humbly.

Lucien turned to his wife and son. "Come here," he said.

Gracia stepped forward, her expression gentle. "Thank you, dear boy, for saving our precious daughter," she said, bowing her head slightly.

"Thanks for saving my idiot sister," Gideon added, bowing his head as well, though his tone held a hint of jest.

"It was nothing," Tristan replied, bowing his head in return.

Breaking the formal atmosphere, Sheyla suddenly grabbed Tristan's hand. "Why is everything so stiff and awkward? Come on, Tristan, you promised to cook for me when we got home!"

Before anyone could respond, she tugged on Tristan's hand, leading him inside.

Lucien, Gracia, and Gideon watched with a mix of amusement and relief. Gracia sighed, smiling softly. "Thank goodness she hasn't lost her lively spirit."

Gideon nodded, following them inside. Lucien was about to join when Brady stopped him.

"Pardon me, my lord, but there are urgent matters I must report to you immediately," Brady said.

"Alright, follow me to my office," said Lucien.

"Understood, my lord," Brady replied, following Lucien.

As Brady headed to Lucien's office, the rest of his team returned to their barracks to report the completed mission to Commander Rowen.

Inside the Lucien office, Lucien sat behind his desk while Brady stood at attention in front of him.

"Alright, what do you need to report, Brady?" Lucien asked.

"My lord, I must report the betrayal of Team 2's captain and his members. They attempted to assassinate Lady Sheyla, but their plan was thwarted by Tristan," Brady stated gravely.

"What?! Are you telling me that the mastermind behind Sheyla's abduction is one of our own?" Lucien's voice rose in both anger and disbelief.

"Yes, my lord. I believe we need to devise a strategy to root out any spies within this territory," Brady suggested.

Lucien clenched his fists, his face darkened with fury. "Unforgivable. To think I nearly lost my daughter due to my own negligence..." he muttered, his tone filled with self-reproach.

Brady remained silent, bowing his head respectfully.

"What other news do you have?" Lucien asked, struggling to calm his anger.

"My lord, do you recall a few months ago when a large orc force was moving toward the Netherbane Cursed Forest? I reported a massacre of one of their battalions near the forest's southeastern border," Brady began.

"Yes, I remember," Lucien replied.

"At the time, I believed the Death-Tamer Mortis Lavindra was responsible. However, I was mistaken, the one who carried out that massacre was Tristan," Brady revealed.

Lucien stared in shock. "Tristan? Are you joking?"

"No, my lord. Tristan recounted the event in detail. But there's more I didn't report at the time," Brady added cautiously.

"Go on," Lucien urged, leaning forward, his curiosity piqued.

"At the site where I discovered the orc corpses, I also found a cave. Its entrance was small, suitable only for a child around five to eight years old. Inside, I found various items, but one stood out is a sword bearing the emblem of the Ciyane family," Brady explained. "That sword isn't ordinary. I recognized it immediately as the blade once wielded by Gran Ciyane, the King of Swords."

Lucien's expression froze in disbelief. He struggled to find words as Brady continued.

"Outside the cave, I also found two graves, both sized for an adults. Forgive me, my lord, but based on the evidence, I concluded that they were the graves of Gran Ciyane and Lady Alinda. I didn't report this earlier because I wasn't certain. I considered the possibility that it was merely Gran Ciyane's training ground. However, my suspicions were confirmed when I witnessed Tristan's swordsmanship, it mirrors the style used by Gran Ciyane."

Brady dropped to his knees, bowing his head deeply.

Lucien placed a hand to his temple, overwhelmed. "So you're saying that Tristan is my nephew?"

"Yes, my lord. Lady Sheyla herself has already confirmed it," Brady replied.

Lucien let out a heavy sigh, leaning back in his chair. "I don't know whether to feel joy or sorrow. But one thing is clear, I must speak with Tristan about all of this."

He composed himself before continuing. "Is there anything else?"

"One last matter, my lord. The village of Allrose has been completely destroyed. According to Tristan, the perpetrators are the same group responsible for Lady Sheyla's abduction—a cult or organization devoted to the Demon God."

Lucien exhaled sharply, his frustration mounting. "More unexpected problems... If there's nothing further, you may leave. And don't burden yourself over not reporting Alinda's matter earlier. I trust your judgment."

"Thank you, my lord. I take my leave," Brady said, bowing once more before exiting the study.

As the doors closed behind Brady, Lucien sat in silence, his thoughts a chaotic storm of emotions and unanswered questions.

"Well, whatever it is, let's eat first. I'm starving, and I can't wait to try my nephew's cooking," Lucien declared as he stood, leaving his study to head to the dining hall.

When he arrived, his family greeted him eagerly.

"Father, why did you take so long? We're starving!" Sheyla complained, practically bouncing in her seat.

"Alright, alright, I'm here now," Lucien replied with a chuckle, taking his seat at the head of the table. He glanced at the array of dishes prepared and smiled.

"It seems you're all eager to eat, especially you, Sheyla," he teased.

"Of course, Father! You'll understand once you taste Tristan's cooking," Sheyla said, her tone brimming with confidence.

"Alright then, let's eat," Lucien said, giving the cue for everyone to begin.

"Enjoy your meal!" the family said in unison.

Sheyla wasted no time digging into her food, while Gracia and Gideon watched Lucien, waiting for his reaction. Lucien took a spoonful of the dish Tristan had prepared and placed it in his mouth.

He froze, eyes widening slightly as he processed the flavors. "What... what is this? This richness, this savory balance... it feels like I've been transported to a peaceful countryside, basking in serenity," he thought. Without a word, he began eating voraciously, surprising everyone else at the table.

Gracia and Gideon exchanged confused glances before following suit, taking their first bites. The moment the food touched their tongues, their expressions lit up with surprise and joy. They, too, started eating enthusiastically.

It didn't take long before Sheyla exclaimed, "More! Please give me more!"

"Me too!" Lucien chimed in.

"Same here," Gracia and Gideon added in unison.

Their servants quickly obliged, serving second and third helpings of Tristan's dishes. Each of them devoured three full plates, unable to resist the simple yet extraordinary flavors of the meal.

As the plates were finally emptied, Lucien leaned back in his chair with a satisfied sigh. "It seems we'll need to keep you around, Tristan. Your cooking might just be the greatest treasure in this household," he said with a chuckle.

Tristan, who had quietly watched from the side, smiled and simply said, "I'm glad you enjoyed it."