image [https://i.imgur.com/dbWAM2w.png]

Tarion

Wood snapped as I walked on the broken pieces of the door. My prize bled over a crushed table. Food and plates make a mess on the floor. Roast Chicken? While outside these walls, my people starved in the cold, the Osberg guard relaxed in the lunch hall, and multiple fireplaces warmed their chubby bodies. Look around at the shocked faces. Mana focused around my eyes, and I saw hues, thirteen silver grade, one gold. All first circle. The ‘left behind.’ Shock turned to anger as the navy blue-uniformed officers got up from their benches.

A guard grabbed his sword. “Intruder!!” and the rest did the same, encircling me.

A few taps in the air and a swinging sword moved slowly. Leaving my greatsword sheathed, I let the sword slice the air by tilting my body to the side.

No mana blade. I guess not all first grades are equal.

I grabbed the silver-grade’s arm with my left. Unbalanced, he stumbled. My Points enhanced left fist slept the man to the floor. I hear the wind divide from a guard's blade and bend down. My finger pulled my sword’s long hilt out of the way and a sword passed over me. My boots step in close and I blow the air out of a guard's lungs with my left fist to the stomach. Mana hummed behind me.

In one swift motion, I pulled my great sword out of its scabbard. Steel collided in a dance of sparks. The golden grade sliced at me with quick cuts to my body. Gloved on hand on my blade, I defended each and attacked back between strikes. The gold grade was forced backwards, and several silver-grades filled his void. Hands back on my hilt, I swung around my great sword. Moving it faster and faster and using its weight and momentum, I created a dome of steel. The guards stood by, apprehensive, unable to see an opening through the blurring weapon. I heard more footsteps thundering through the entrance and the shings of blades.

I have my audience.

The silvery dome hummed and glowed a subtle blue. I drag the sword up into a high vom tag stance with its point to the beams above. Sword burning with mana, I slashed down. A gust blew the men on their bottoms.

“That sword…” The gold grade mumbled. He dropped his sword onto the ground, bowing on one knee with his hand on his heart. He looked away from my eyes, terrified.

“Your Grace. Welcome to the barracks.”

A wave of surprise moved through the guard.

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The guard belts out. “KNEEL FOR OUR DUKE!”

A chorus of clangs and clanks with weapons thrown to the floor. Each man bends a knee. I let my mana blade subside and thrust my sword of Osberg into the stone floor.

“Shameful.”

I tap in the air and put all my points into Mana capacity. My mana circle revved to full speed around my heart and I erupted into a bonfire of mana. The officers squirmed on their knees.

“It's been a day. And not a SINGLE man went to investigate!” I looked around with a grimace. Guards stealing a look at me snapped their heads away from my piercing eyes.

“Cowards.”

Their eyes look up at me. That really pissed them off. Good.

“How many livelihoods were destroyed? How many people suffered without a meal because you were too cowardly?”

I picked up a roast chicken drumstick from the floor. “Was the food too distracting for you?” I flung the chicken at a silver grade. “Couldn't handle the cold? What was it? What’s your excuse?” With both hands on my sword pommel, I waited for an answer from the first circle gold grade.

His lips drew a line. The officer bent down further to the floor. I sigh.

“Displine. It is lacking in my guard. I can't blame you too much. It was my responsibility to train you, beer-belly arseholes. To instruct and guide you well. However, due to my being…indisposed, I left the matter to my dear brother. He will answer for his failure, but so shall you.” I pointed to the leaking black head of the possessed bear. “A cursed beast of the power of ten first circles terrorised the woods. Loggers were maimed and hunters were unable to hunt. Fortunately, it reached my ear before the situation worsened. But you can make it up to those you let suffer and to your Duke."

“Yes, you grace.” The guards shout in unison.

I point at two silver grades. “You two. Toothy feller and the big-headed boy.” They look at each other with dread. “Take my prize. Send it to a taxidermist. My new butler will handle the payment… Come on! Stop staring at me and hurry the fuck up!” The two officers rush off to complete their tasks.

“And the rest of you. Follow.” I ripped my blade off the ground and twirled it before sheathing it into the sheath on my back. As I made my way through the crowd of first circles, dozens of footsteps clacked on the stone behind me. I grip my fists closed, trying to contain my glee.

It fucking worked!

Charles

Not even fifteen minutes passed and his grace came back. Long obsidian hair still matted with blood shone in the white daylight. His bearded, dirt-covered face was still a beauty to be compared to the demigods of the lands above. His dragon-like ruby eyes focused He walked with confidence towards me, a head taller than the officers who tailed him. The young stare at their revived Duke with admiration.

“Charles. You are my new Bulter.”

My whole world twists.

“W-w-w…WHAT!?”

Tarion just smiled and said, “I need a friend by my side.” And got into the carriage.

“W-where to, Your Grace?”

“My Lawyer.”

3 days until Vanessa arrives.