John took three others with him. They paired off and headed for the Zombie Hulks without hesitation. Alaster leaned back in the Skeletal saddle, content to simply watch. He was intrigued to see how they would challenge Monsters that towered over them.

The two pairings approached that issue in different ways.

John jumped up, ramming his shield into the knee of the Hulk. As Undead, it did not care much for muscle or nerves, but John did not intend for the joint to buckle. The power behind John was not small. The power of John’s jump shattered the rotten bone of the Zombie Hulk’s knee.

Unbothered by mere pain, the Hulk was silent as it fell, bringing it into range of the second Death Knight’s sword. Burning a brilliant purple and leaving a trail in its wake, the sword cut wide. Burning so hot that the rotten flesh did not burn, but instead melted.

The Hulk lifted its hand to swat down at the swordsman, but John slammed his shield into its hand, batting it away.

Alaster turned his attention to the second fight and saw the two Death Knights working seamlessly to slowly whittle away at the Hulk’s body without letting it fight back.

Both fights were flashy, and the pressure waves they caused made the ground shatter and the Undead Armies move further away or risk destruction.

But the result was inevitable. The Hulks would lose. And once they did, Alaster’s Army would charge forward and defeat the Lich. It was only a matter of time. Alaster sat up and prepared to move forward. He wanted to be the one that took the Lich’s head.

But he did not get the chance.

As the Hulks were still fighting, or at least not dying, the Lich’s Army moved, marching away from the battle. They were retreating. As planned, the Medium Cavalry charged out of the trees in order to stop them, but they were halted by the ground falling from beneath them. Only a few feet, but it was enough to halt their charge.

Some of the Lich’s Undead broke off to engage the fallen Cavalry. From a glance Alaster could tell that the force was not meant to defeat the Cavalry, but instead hinder them, preventing them from pursuing the Lich.

Alaster ordered his Heavy Cavalry to go around the Hulks and chase after the Lich, but he already knew that it had gotten away.

He had decimated it’s army, eliminated its trump cards, and forced it to retreat. But Alaster suspected that it would rebuild its army in just a few days, perhaps a week or two.

The Hulks fell dead after just a few more moments, their heavy bodies in several pieces in various states. The Death Knights who had left returned, proudly kneeling before their Master.

“Good job. The Lich unfortunately got away, but we have done well today. However, we must keep the pressure on it and I will be unable to do so consistently. Catherine, I am giving you command over my army. Pursue the Lich. Use what is needed to corner it but do try to preserve the army. They are a pain to rebuild.”

Catherine knelt down, “Yes milord.”

Alaster sighed, “I now have a lecture to attend. You get the fun part and I get the boring part. Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around?”

John laughed and a few of the others chuckled. Catherine stood up with a grin, “If its any consolation, I’d rather be reading than marching through the dirty forest.”

“I guess we all have our roles. Alright, help out the Medium Cavalry and get chasing. If you let the Lich have any time to recover, it’ll be another large-scale battle.”

Catherine saluted with a fist over her heart and a slight bow, “Sir!”

She turned around and addressed the army, “After the Lich!”

Unlike Alaster, who was bonded to each Undead through his soul, Catherine was not. She could not command them through mere thought. But she had commanded an elite force of Experts. Alaster was confident in her abilities to command the dead.

Alaster turned around and rode towards Galmore, it was still early in the morning, so he had time. Instead, he wished to see more of the forest that made the people of Galmore hide behind their walls.

Monsters had keener instincts than Humans. They could more easily tell when they were outmatched, so they all avoided Alaster. The few that remained, hid, and watched as the Human trespassed their territory, too scared to actually defend it.

The massive trees blocked out much of the light, but Alaster was not hindered. His [Dark Sight] now extended to nearly thirty meters, while his [Seeker Sight] extended to nearly six meters. He saw all the Monsters either hide or flee.

The Monsters he saw took many forms. But most were standard Beasts. More numerous and vicious than he had seen elsewhere, but still just Beasts. They were a threat to Adepts, and Alaster understood the reason the Galmorians were content to remain in their city.

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Eventually, the massive walls of the city came into view. Not wanting to bother with the Guard, Alaster simply used [Swap] to switch places with the Shadow Assassin that remained in his room at Azemar’s residence.

He was just in time as well, as before he could do anything, Lunaria knocked on his door.

“Alaster! Dad says its time for the lesson!”

“Ok, I’ll be right down.”

* * * * *

“Lukas, come. Sit. We have a lot to discuss.”

Lukas hesitantly walked into the office, closing the door behind him. The last time he had been in this room, he was scolded and lectured for nearly three hours.

“Have I done something wrong father?” The boy asked.

Duke Redmond shook his head with a smirk, “No no, nothing like that. This is important, but I do not think you will be opposed to it. Of course, I wish to know your opinion.”

The Duke sat down in one of the lounging chairs, away from his desk. Lukas sat down across from his father, tense, but curious.

“Ok? What is it?”

“How old are you now?”

“Sixteen.”

“Next year, you will be seventeen.”

“Yeah? That’s typically how age works.”

The Duke chuckled, “Shut up and listen you brat.”

Lukas grinned. It had been a long time since he and father had a moment where they could talk to each other without someone else present.

“As you know. It is common for Nobility to get married once they turn eighteen, but they are typically engaged long before then.”

“Oh gods. Dad, did you promise me to some noble lady?”

“No! Seriously now, shut up and listen before you get pissy. Where was I?”

“Trying to work your way into informing me who you sold me to.”

The Duke grabbed one of the paper weights on the table between them and threw it at Lukas, who easily caught it.

“Ah, that’s right. Normally, Nobilty become engaged shortly after their fifteenth. That way the pairings can be better matched with the Classes the child receives. You have not experienced that. I have kept you… ‘open’, if you will. This is both to entice others to continue fostering a good relationship with me and in extension, the Royal Family. But is also because I have not found a young lady that I believe suits you, while still benefiting both the family and the Kingdom.

That has changed recently.”

“Who?”

“A young lady that you know quite well. Evelyn.”

“Evelyn? But she isn’t a Noble.”

“No, she isn’t. Which did give me a bit of hesitation, but she grew up around some of the highest Nobles. She already knows the environment and how to act. She has even begun manipulating them to suit her, something that makes me quite satisfied.

It was her special Body Constitution that prompted her living with us, and I have done my best to provide the best materials and education in order to foster that so that her loyalty to us, and therefore the Nation, grows. As you know from your history lessons, if you bothered to stay awake, many Nations have been laid low by isolating or outright attacking someone with a special Body Constitution.

Her Class is unique and already quite potent. Being able to directly attack the Mana of her opponent while still being a Novice? Armor will mean nothing against her! And her healing is growing exponentially. She spends her free time healing in the infirmary. She already has a following among our Family’s Soldiers.

She is kind, beautiful, and diligent. And the two of you already have a strong relationship.

Of course, the two of you marrying will strengthen the relationship between the Nobility and Commoners, as Evelyn is technically a Commoner. But the effect of that will be minimal, worth mentioning, but not worth much more.

What do you think?”

“You are asking my opinion? Don’t the heads of the family typically just do it and expect the couple to obey?”

“Yes, but that seems cold hearted to me. Your mother and I were like that. We were forced together by our parents. It caused our relationship to be quite cold for many years, before we put in some very hard work to develop it. It was nearly a decade after our wedding that I realized that I loved her.

I may be old fashioned, but that seems like the reverse of how it should be.

I could force the two of you to marry. It would not even be an effort. But even if both of you rejected the marriage, it would cause a split in your relationship that would take many years to heal, if it ever did. I do not want that for either of you.

So yes, I am asking your opinion. Just as I will ask hers regardless of your answer.”

“So even if I reject it, you will still talk to her about it?” Lukas almost scoffed, but his etiquette training kicked in.

“Of course. Like I said, she isn’t stupid. She hears the rumors flying around and has no doubt thought about it herself. Most of your peers already believe the two of you are engaged, though that certainly hasn’t stopped them from approaching me about either of your hands.

So yes, I will talk to her about it and hear her opinion and move on from there.”

“I’m surprised you aren’t thinking of marrying me off to multiple women. Its certainly not unheard of among Nobility.”

The Duke’s own father had been married to three women, though only sired children with one.

“I have considered it, but if that ever became a serious consideration, it would be after you and your first wife had the opportunity to truly forge a strong loving relationship. Jealousy would otherwise have room to take root and that has fractured everything it has ever touched.”

Lukas nodded to himself and leaned back. Of course, he had thought about it before. How could he not. He could see the beauty Evelyn already was, and she was only growing more so with each passing day. Every time he overheard the whispers about the two of them, he thought about it.

But it had always been a fantasy in his head. This was the first time he had actually thought about it as something that could actually happen. Made only more serious because it was his father, Duke of the Lissurian Kingdom, that suggested it.

Lukas liked Evelyn. A lot. But did he actually want to marry her? Would such a relationship work? Personally, or even politically? Did he care? Would she? What if she didn’t want to marry him? What if the mere thought made her gag?

Lukas’ mind ran faster than a crossbow bolt. Imagining thousands of scenarios, a second. His heart sped up and he felt his ears burn, as they usually did when he panicked.

He liked his current relationship with Evelyn. It was a relationship both had been careful to maintain but had grown organically through the years. But the mere idea of marriage could shatter that relationship instantly. Did he want to risk all of it for the chance at something better?

Lukas had always been hesitant to maintain eye contact with the Duke. Even in the lightest of moments, his eyes had could crush a spirit, but Lukas met them. Staring at them defiantly and with determination.

“Yes. I want to marry Evelyn.”