Odesday, 8th of Febrinna, 5662 AE, 468th Year of the 5th Era

“This is indeed a lot to take in…” The Duke of Ardunon said as he was scratching his thick beard.

Hunt had just given the full report on the situation of our expedition and what happened throughout the week we were on the journey to the Highest-ranking official within the building, sparing almost no detail in the recounting. We had spent several hours already on the table, with all the evidence we had managed to gather in the form of Wolfram’s journal, the mysterious letter, as well as testimonies from our team - which was mostly me and Ivan - and the exact nature of the rituals we had managed to bear witness towards. One of the most troubling things we had shown the Duke of course wwere the remains of the White Gryphon and the two Wyvern corpses which had the mysterious markings branded upon them.

When we had revealed the corpses of the gryphon and the wyverns earlier after sunset, many of the Gryphon Knights’ own mounts and gryphon partners gave a visceral reaction of anger and rage as they hissed out and shreeked and screeched which frightened many of the regular people and militiamen there. These turn of events were obviously very deeply concerning and I would count ourselves lucky that at the very least, one of the most prominent political figures within the realm was now being made aware of what the current situation was like after our report.

“While news of the eradication of these Malcanis Cultists is wonderful to hear, the fact that they were even allowed to profligate to begin with within the borders of our realm, despite the fact that their activities remained confined to these regions and this county, is a terrifying prospect. Not that I blame the Lord-Count Imperial in any way, but it is at the very least an indication that there needs to be a reshaping of the local baronies…” The Duke of Ardunon continued

“You need not remind me twice, Eddie.” Alfred said with a severe expression plastered upon his face “A total of three villages laid to waste, over a thousand deaths of men, women, and children, yet all I got in return from the barons is ‘We will secure our territories…’. I’m sorry Pat, but this includes that halfwit Surlock! What use are their titles if they’re going to spend most of their lives and fortune in the capital anyways? The local magistrates they had left behind besides yourself are no better anyways!”

“I am merely a steward of the barony I’m living out my retirement in. It doesn’t matter to me who proclaims himself to be baron of the land. All of it is the King’s land anyways.” Blakebow said nonchalantly as he took a sip from his tea cup. “But, not to absolve the barons in any way for their relative inaction, this is a situation that has only been brewing in isolated territories for the past few weeks and was contained in roughly a fortnight by our brave adventurers and knights here.”

“This only goes to show that had the barons acted quicker, we might have spared hundreds more lives from their untimely deaths! The accords be damned, I care not for the opinions of our deceased comrades, their progeny’s inability to effectively rule is frankly embarrassing and I am of half a mind to just outright assign the rule of these territories to the locally-elected Council Magistrates.”

The situation truly was a massive headache, especially so for Alfred who was a Royal count and had to administer his realm which was basically a land where many of the deceased knights and war heroes of the Lowerian War had their descendants and families enfeoffed as compensation and settlement. I had yet to learn much on how the Kingdom of Feldonia organised its military capabilities, but from what I had learned from talking to Hunt as well as a bit of my lessons from Alfred, most states on Terradome did indeed field a standing army organised professionally outside of the use of levies and the local militia for home defense. With that being said, I was reminded of just how crucial and vital information and intelligence was in any conflict or engagement and the rapid capability of the modern world to relay information was an indispensable part of warfare. Although it did got me thinking if the magic of this world would allow for instant or at least quick communication, maybe involving magic orbs or crystals, but I digress.

“With that out of our way, the next order of action is indeed what to do with Lord Malcanis here, erm- I mean, Edezuri was it?” Alfred said as he looked at the physically-childlike albino beastman who had his wolf-ears perked at the mention of his name.

“Yes. If it isn’t too much to ask for, I am in your care…” Zuri said

The presence of Edezuri, the self-proclaimed incarnation of the Dread Wolf Malcanis of the days of the Old Aurigen Imperium and the Later Heroic Kingdom, was a headache in and of itself. While everyone in the meeting room indeed believed in the fact that he was who he said he was, the circumstances of his summoning as well as the fact that he was reduced to his current child-like state with most his powers either vanishing or sealed, proving his authenticity would be a difficult task to achieve.

“You are indeed in our care, but there needs to be a way for us to confirm or at least prove that you are indeed who you say you are.” The Duke of Ardunon said “And while I truly believe in the testimony of Mentor Hunt and his companions, such a thing would not be enough to convince the many members of Parliament.”

“If I may be so bold as to give my opinion, Your grace…” this time, Jenny had raised her hand as she looked at the duke with respect.

“Of course, your Ladyship.” The Duke acquiesced

“Would this not be an issue if we were to just bring Zuri to the capital and have him examined there? I am sure the many Archmagisters and Masters of the Imperial Academy would have ways to confirm that claim. Failing that, from my own studies, I believe that contact with the Beastmen Confederation, especially that of the Wolfman Clans, would surely prove to be something that we could leverage with the existence of Zuri.”

After pondering the suggestion floated upon the table for a few moments, Duke Osgiling smiled and nodded at Jenny’s opinion “That is indeed a most intelligent decision, Your Ladyship. You shed light upon matters that even I had yet to come to mind.”

This time, the person of interest himself chimed in once more with Zuri speaking out his mind. “While I am personally adverse to being treated like some political bargaining chip - though it wouldn’t be a first for me - I realise that I have little choice on these matters and that I am far out of my depth in the current day and age. But all I ask is that my dignity be retained and my safety be guaranteed.”

“Of course. That is the least we can do for you as from what I gathered you had personally done no harm and you were completely unaware of the machinations of these madmen who bore your name for their little cult.” Alfred said as he had then nodded towards the Duke of Ardunon. “...Bloody hell. I will be one and seventy this year yet I still can’t afford myself a break.”

“Bahahahahah!! The world still isn’t ready to lose you yet, Lord Alfred!” The Duke of Ardunon laughed boisterously as he slammed his fist on the arms of his chair which cracked it a bit, causing Alfred to squint his eyes at the Duke. “Errm…! Ahem! I mean… From the tasks given to us now, it seems very clear what is required of us to do.”

“Yes. It seems that I must convince your cousin to convene an emergency council.” Alfred said to which I knew he was referring to his grandnephew, the current reigning King of Feldonia. “I’ll have to return to the bloody Capital again. Bloody hell.”

“Oh don’t give me that look like you’ve stepped on shit, granduncle!” Duke Osgiling said “You are currently the oldest living male member of House Lamellarouge, a war Hero, the First Guildmaster, and a Royal Count! You are the only one in this entire Kingdom besides the King to convene such an important council! Besides, is the timing not perfect as it falls in line with this year’s Emperor’s Day Celebration? You rarely show yourself at court anyways.”

“What meaning of the word ‘retired’ eludes you, grandnephew? Besides, why do they even still call it ‘Emperor’s Day’? We’ve not had an Emperor in almost thirty years!”

“Alright, we’re starting to veer a little too far off-topic, milords.” Hunt said as he shifted the focus of the meeting back towards the more pressing issue of our future plans “So I take it all of this means that the Prince-Imperial will be convening a special council in regards to our recent discoveries?”

“It does indeed, but it will not do without the presence of the people who I would take as pivotal in their roles for this campaign to be accomplished. I will have all the adventurers present here along with Sir Churchward and his knights come to the capital with me and receive their rewards and accolades directly from the king. I am sure all your hard work deserves to be acknowledged and a success of this magnitude is what we need now to fully convince the guild of your appointment as the next guildmaster.”

Hearing all of that, many in the room were elated but they were all also surprised by Alfred’s remark on Hunt’s prospect as the next Leader of the Kingdom’s guild. None more so than Hunt himself who immediately became flabbergasted. “Milord, I assure you, I did not take on this role for any other reason than it was a request from you! I have no ambitions for such a lofty title and we’re conversing as if there are no other candidates! The next election isn’t even due until two more years! Besides, the ones who contributed the most to the expedition would be our newest adventurers, Charles and Ivan!”

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“Those two are still young and will get their feats recognised, I guarantee it, but with you as the head of the expedition and with all the proof of success you have brought, it would be a far more believable story to the public for a veteran knight and Hero of the War such as yourself to accomplish. Besides, with you rising through the ranks, would it not be easier to take care of and support the young master Ivan? I myself have many plans for Charles, not the least bit is my full intent to get his adoption recognised at the Dynastic Registry. That in itself will secure the two’s future and from my hope, be a seed for the destiny of this blessed realm itself! Do you boys not agree?”

Alfred had sent his gaze towards Ivan and I and honestly, I was completely at a loss for words. All this time I thought Alfred was only being friendly and wasn’t going to go through with this whole ‘adoption’ story. Perhaps an informal recognition, maybe, but to actually have me a part of an official registry which would be surely against the odds. If this world was anything like the medieval world I grew up in, adoption fell almost completely out of favour amongst the nobility of Europe as bloodlines were of paramount importance to everything anyone could aspire to be. Adoptions flew in the face of these conventions and were mostly left to the hands of the church. I didn’t know how to feel about this and the sense of danger I felt when I pondered the possibility was undeniable as I would have to then contend with the other members of the Feldonia Royal House and not to mention the Noble and Aristocratic Class of the Kingdom as a whole. But despite all that, another feeling rose up from deep within me. And that was a truly wondrous feeling of excitement at the endless possibilities I had both to secure a decent living within this world and the resources that might be necessary to aid me in trying to find clues on a way back to earth if it was even possible at all.

After pondering all of that, I could only nod my head before bowing in respect towards Alfred. “It would be of my utmost honour!” I said to which Alfred nodded with satisfaction before he turned towards Duke Osgiling of Ardunon.

“Do you have any complaints or reservations about my plans, Eddie?” Alfred asked the Duke as he folded his arms on the table and leaned in towards the man as I could even feel the pressure coming from his aura starting to exude from his body.

“Oy, oy! Calm down, granduncle! Hahahahahah!” Duke Osgiling laughed once more as he released his own aura to match that of Alfred’s though I could see beads of sweat forming on his brows as he wiped them away with his handkerchief. “In all my years, I had never once thought of going against or even contradicting your sage advice. If you say it’s for the good of the future of this nation, then by God it is!”

As Duke Osgiling said that, Alfred retracted his aura as he gave a smirk. Duke Osgiling immediately continued to voice out his thoughts on the matter as he turned his attention towards me. “I am not a Lamellarouge despite my late grandmother being the Prince-Imperial’s eldest sister. I have no say in whatever dynastic politics the Prince-Imperial will engage in, but all I can say to you, young Charles, is good luck! Though I have heard many tales of your prowess from all the people that I have great trust in, the politics of court are far different and far removed from the noble and honest trials of war and martial prowess…”

What the Lord Duke said was true. Being a great general or warrior on the field of battle doesn’t necessarily translate to being a shrewd statesman or even politician and the court of political intrigue could in some respects be even deadlier and far more cutthroat. All of this was true but there is indeed one thing that the Duke was not privy to. I was no lamb waiting for the slaughter, an innocent and naive newcomer who had no idea how to weave his way through the dreaded politics of court life. No. I was Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain, ruler of an Empire on which the sun would never set. I had spent most my reign at war and I had come up on top. I was master of Europe and though my enemies plotted they could not best me! The dynasty I had built up was mighty and my scions would continue to play a pivotal role in the Great Concert of Europe for centuries to come… But of course nobody here needed to know all that.

“I will take your advice to heart, Your Grace.” I put my hand over my chest as I bowed towards the Duke.

“Bahahahah! You’re a charmer though, I’ll give you that!” Duke Osgiling said as he slapped his thigh and stood up from his seat as he pointed towards me with a large grin “Tell you what, Charles? First thing tomorrow after tonight’s feast let’s say you and I have a friendly spar! While diplomats and men of finer senses would test their mettle against each other in a womanly battle of wits, real men of war like us let our blades and our skill at arms do the talking for us! If you win, I’d even give you my eldest daughter’s hand in marriage! Whaddya say?”

I nearly choked at the latter half of the man’s offer as I didn’t know how to even react to that. And I didn’t have to as in the next minute, the Reverend Mother Margaret slapped the back of the duke’s head before giving him a stern look. “Eddie, stop being stupid and sit back down!”

This made me even more shocked as never before had I seen a woman of the cloth treat a grown man, let alone a Duke and Marshall, like she would a child. And the fact that the guards did nothing was not as surprising as the Duke’s reaction from the treatment.

“Sister! That slap was too harsh!” The Duke said as he sat back down while rubbing the back of his head “You know I was merely joking with the boy…! Maybe…”

I leaned in towards Jenny to ask her what exactly I was seeing here as it was still bewildering for me to see the Reverend Mother hiding so much steel beneath her kindly exterior. “Jen, who even is Mother Margie?” I whispered into her ear as I asked to which Ivan who was standing close to us also perked up his ears.

“You didn’t know?” Jen whispered back with slight confusion.

“Jen, I did not ask a question for it to be answered by another question…”

“Mother Margaret was born Lady Margaret Clarice Osgiling, daughter of the Late Duke of Ardunon and the current duke’s elder sister.”

Both me and Ivan widened our eyes as our moths formed an ‘o’ shape as an inaudible ‘ohhhh’ escaped from our lips. I nodded as I had gotten the full context. Truly, I had to be careful when facing these so-called ‘adventurers’ in the future. One was the daughter of a duke, another the sister of one. What is with these nobles sending their daughters out on such perilous endeavours.

While I was getting clarification from Jenny, everyone else - especially the veterans - laughed at the scene of the reverend mother scolding her younger brother. Soon the atmosphere calmed as Duke Osgiling continued his thoughts. “In regards to my dear Mentor Hunt becoming a prospective candidate for the election of the next guildmaster, I am fully and without any sense of doubt in me in support of such a plan! Sir Henry Rolfe is becoming tired as well and everyday he’s bitching about how tired he is and just goes on and on about his upcoming retirement back to his noble estate. It would do well for me to finally have a good drinking partner at court, hahahahaha!!”

“You’re going to make me age twice as fast at this rate, Your Grace.” Hunt said as he continued to rub his temples as if he had the biggest headache in his life

“Your skills will only stagnate and rot in a backwater like Ashfell, regardless of how quaint it is. Besides! You’ll be closer to your daughter and grandchildren at the capital as well as being closer to your estate in Grifftongue! Stop complaining and just accept the machinations of my Uncle Alfred! Hahahaha!” Duke Osgiling gave another friendly slap to Hunt’s back as he laughed at his friend’s apparent misery.

“Then this is settled!” Alfred said as he banged his fist upon the table three times like a judge would a hammer at court “We will all make preparations to head to the Capital for the Emperor’s day celebration a month from now. And while this current meeting is adjourned, ladies and gentleman, we have a feast to enjoy!”

And with that, everyone clapped and cheered as we prepared to head out to the courtyard for the village’s feast.

***

Tirsday, 9th of Febrinna, 5662 AE, 468th Year of the 5th Era

The clock had already struck midnight by the time the feast was prepared, but you wouldn’t know it as the cheers and merriment of the villagers in the main courtyard as well as all the lighting and decoration done to the surrounding buildings did well to illuminate the village within the dark of night.

A long table with seats had already been set in the middle of the courtyard where the food and drinks would be served. Many of the children and young women of the village were dancing to the music that was being played by a band of locals using fiddles, drums, and flutes which made for a lively atmosphere as many of the younger soldiers and knights even participated in dancing with the young women.

Many of the village's signposts and houses were decorated with colourful banners and lanterns to provide lighting to the courtyard. For an event that only had a few hours to get prepared for, it was most impressive how lively it was and how beautiful everything seemed to be. It was as if the hardship the villagers were facing just only a few weeks ago was a lie and a bad dream that everyone had woken up from.

Alfred had taken a seat at the main chair at the far end of the main long table with the Duke of Ardunon and Patrick Blakebow sat beside him on either side followed by all the other veteran adventurers and knights. I seated myself closer to the opposite end along with the other younger members of the party and expedition. As we were busy conversing among ourselves and having a genuinely fun time just enjoying and basking in the atmosphere, some of the older folk of the village arrived with large wooden plates and on them were honest-to-God delicious looking meat. I saw roasted pork and beef with their succulent meat still wet with some fat as well as from the oils used to cook them. That alongside other servings of smaller duck and rabbit meat would easily quench the hunger from most people.

Besides the meat, bread was also served as a main course while not long after, the men of the village brought in a few barrels of what I could tell was beer. Alfred had the Reverend Mother lead a prayer before the feast could be started. When everything was set and ready to go, Alfred - by the strength of his arms - lifted himself off his seat as he stood while immediately being supported by the Duke of Ardunon and Blakebow. With that, he raised his tankard of beer and while I was preparing for another long and inspiring speech, Alfred merely said, “Cheers!!”

“Cheers!!” Everyone else shouted in response as the music grew livelier and we began to feast while others continued to dance. I even saw Ivan and Jenny getting up from their seats as they began chasing around some of the village children in a game of tag. Soon enough Zuri also joined in the fun as he ran around with the other children who took an interest in his fluffy tail and ears. He fit in very well with the kids despite being literally over two thousand years old. I laughed as I took a few swigs from my own beer mug while watching all of it occur. It was a lovely atmosphere. Simple, but lovely in its own way. Reminded me a lot of my own retirement despite the noise and merrymaking. If only life only consisted of these good moments. But I knew, more hardship was still to come. Should that time come though, I was hopeful that more good times would also follow.