Point Of View: Lorian Vellorn

I was particularly concerned about Stella’s condition, even though she seemed safe. Besides, what had happened to Seven? I didn’t fully understand the boy’s role in all this, but it was important to keep him close. I looked at my bowl of stew, which I was slowly eating, and took a deep breath.

“By the way, shouldn’t they have returned by now?”

My thoughts were interrupted by the soldiers’ conversations. There were five of them here to ensure my safety; the other six, already counting the blonde girl and the captain, were in the forest. I wasn’t worried—we were far from the forbidden forest, so this entire area was supposed to be safe.

The soldiers here were all wearing their heavy armor, making it difficult to recognize their faces. I looked at the group in contemplation. My old butler, who had prepared the stew for us, was now sitting and eating his portion. His white hair and wrinkles announced his age, even though he had an athletic build.

“If you’re worried about your comrades’ safety, I think one or two of you should go check on them.” It was good to inspire an image of a benevolent lord in these soldiers, and there wasn’t much that could concern me as long as my butler was with me.

“Are you sure, Lord Lorian?” One of the men stood up; his gaze seemed apprehensive. Taking my time to respond, I lifted the bowl to my lips and drank the broth, letting the salty taste spread through my mouth.

“Yes, yes, but go quickly. My safety is a priority—don’t forget that.”

The soldier saluted and, without worrying about disturbing his comrades’ hunt, left, his armor clanking with every branch he stepped on.

“The captain’s going to be furious when that fool messes up the hunt,” another soldier commented, causing the small group to burst into laughter. I even noticed that Olfred, my butler, had a smile on his face. That was good. Sitting around a campfire, even with strangers, brought warmth to the heart.

Stella, where are you?

The thought returned to my mind as I patted the mirror I carried with me. My butler gave me a concerned look. The old man had been with me my whole life—he knew when something was troubling me. He was like a father to me, as the one who shared my blood was constantly preoccupied with his duties. Count Ismael Vellorn… What is my father doing right now?

“Is something wrong, my lord?” Olfred asked me. I saw his gaze fixed on me. The old butler was always careful when it came to me.

“It’s nothing, Olfred. I just have a lot on my mind right now.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

I took a deep breath and let my mind go blank. Tomorrow, I would have another chance to call that dwarf. Her name was Durmila, if I remembered correctly. If that wasn’t possible, I would use all my wealth to find Stella. Something like that would be simple for me, as I had my sponsor backing me.

I spent a few minutes in silence, listening to the soldiers chat, lost in my thoughts. Soon, the princess’s faction would begin to move. Everything was going wrong for the king and the supreme mage. The nobles with the most social and economic prestige knew what was happening in the kingdom. King Eryndor Valier, so cruel, had sent the princess to study in the Empire of Veridia, hoping she would be assassinated. But that didn’t happen. The girl was a ray of light and hope and had gained supporters there.

My thoughts were interrupted by desperate screams coming from the forest. I quickly stood up, looking toward the stretch that separated us from the road. The soldier who had left to find Captain Gregor was now running toward us, carrying Kaori Tanaka in his arms.

“Lord Lorian Vellorn, they were attacked by an Owlbear.”

The man looked desperate and exhausted. He knelt down, placing the blonde girl on the ground. His expression was one of utter despair; I saw sweat streaming down his forehead.

“Where is Captain Gregor Olindar?” I abruptly asked, silently praying the man was dead. That would definitely be good for me—another significant loss for the king. Because, although Gregor wasn’t the best swordsman, he had the loyalty of the soldiers.

“He’s trapped in the ice, the captain’s legs… My lord, please help him.”

The plea came unexpectedly. If I refused now, it could create friction with many of the kingdom’s soldiers. I sighed, looking at the girl and the soldier kneeling beside her. Kaori seemed to be in a state of exhaustion, having pushed herself beyond her limits.

“Take me to him.”

I looked at the soldiers waiting for orders and continued:

“I’ll need one more of you to come with me. We don’t know what we might find.”

The soldier who had brought Tanaka stood up and began walking. I followed closely behind, inwardly praying that Gregor was in the worst possible condition.

The night’s forest humidity brushed against my skin; the temperature had dropped considerably. I started connecting the dots in my mind. We were just over a day’s journey from the capital—there shouldn’t be Owlbears here. Someone had brought this thing here, but for what reason? There was no way anyone could have predicted that the soldiers accompanying me would go on a hunt.

After walking for nearly a kilometer, the soldier stopped and pointed west.

“That’s where I found Lady Tanaka.”

I pulled a small crystal sphere from my pocket and injected my signature into the object. A yellow light illuminated the area within a radius of nearly three meters.

I noticed that even my breath was freezing in the air as I exhaled. I approached the site, which was completely frozen. I could see the ice statues that had once been brave soldiers. At the center of it all was an imposing bipedal creature, completely frozen, its claws aimed at a man standing before it: Gregor Olindar.

Half of his body, from the waist down, was encased in ice. A little further behind him stood another frozen statue. Did Kaori do all this? Terrifying. Could she freeze people while they were still alive? Even a massive and imposing creature like an Owlbear? That was insane. In no time, she would surpass Abimael. Just two weeks, and she was already capable of casting a spell of this magnitude…

“Ignition.”

The air in my palm grew hot. Keeping the rune active, I moved toward Captain Gregor Olindar. If we had been alone, I could have easily plunged a knife into his heart. But I settled for melting his legs. With luck, he would never be able to walk again.