A man sits at his desk, sighing.
For this man has quite the burdensome job, yet one that many would wish for.
This man, the viscount Aster Golde, has ruled over the city-state of Cracas for over a decade by now, and despite his youthful appearance, he’s nearing fifty in age.
And from his office, he looks down at his people.
Poor, but not impoverished. Scared, but not desperate. Weak, but not defenseless.
All things that he would much prefer to be changed. But alas, they have been condemned to these lands with him. All that is around them for miles all around is a dense forest, where even the shortest incursion must deal with the deadly wildlife. Not to mention, the Twisted that they have banished into the woodlands.
With so many threats against them, the only ‘safe’ excursions are the ones led by himself, and while he has already recovered from the last, his best men have not. It will be days until they’re ready for another.
The tired Lord sighs once more, before deciding to take a look at something. “Information.”
Name: Aster Class: Noble Duelist Level: 37 Skills Stats ~Leader~ Level: 37 STR: 42 Leading Level: 44 VIT: 17 Etiquette Level: 34 AGI: 45 Noble Presence Level: 35 DEX: 46 Commanding Level: 36 WIS: 23 Finances Level: 34 INT: 24 Diplomacy Level: 34 CHA: 65 Management Level: 37 HP: 380/ 380 Intimidation Level: 42 MP: 315/ 315 Appeasement Level: 40 MP Regen: 25.9875 /Minute Conversation Level: 32 HP Regen: 25.65 /Minute Arts ~Duelist~ Level: 37 Sanguine Strike Analysis Sesquipedalian Sharpshooting Level: 34 Noble Standard Command Bats Into Smoke Cane Fighting Level: 46 Viscount's Aura Vampiric Legion Life Sense Reaction Level: 35 Life Everlasting Tunnel Vision Blood Money Alertness Level: 31 Parrying Level: 42 Sharp Eyes Level: 37 Footwork Level: 35 Graceful Moves Level: 36 Blunt Combat Level: 40 Weapon Care Level: 33 Expand [ LOCKED ]
At the moment, the [Noble Duelist] lord of Cracas is in prime condition. If only his people were doing as well as he, he laments. With the few resources they can safely gather, he is doing just as well as they are. Moving to take over his father’s rule of this land was a humbling experience, at the very least.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
With the growth that his people have made in his years of rule, even one of these things changing would mean prosperity for him and his people, and, more importantly for him, his daughter.
He thinks back on his past… if he had accepted the losses it would take to kill that Twisted one, would things be different now? Would Cracas be more prosperous without that obstacle in the way? It’s too late to decide now, he decides. The only way that anything will change…
Is if someone else does something to intervene.
But Aster is in no position to be so optimistic. It’s not like someone will just appear as if out of thin air and slay the Twisted by sheer coincidence. The only way that beast will fall is if the Kingdom intervenes, and Cracas has been long since left for dead by the King.
Aster stands up from his desk. He’s not going to get anywhere just sitting around brooding over his issues all day. He needs a breath of fresh air. Golde takes his cane and steps out of his office, nodding to the mansion’s servants as he passes by. Nice fellows, whom he took off the streets and gave a home. He has no regrets, especially given the hope that remains in their eyes when they look at him.
He steps out of the old mansion, going into the streets to see the little empire of nothing that he inherited. Just like his mansion’s employees, the people look at him like a hero, as if he’s the reason they still live. But despite his best efforts, he feels that the admiration is not deserved. What the people deserve is a batter ruler than he.
But in the end, he is all they have, and vice versa. They are in this together. He passes through the market district, looking around. All that is sold here is little trinkets and the occasional tool. The little food that farmers can produce in this environment, and the sums that they take from the forest, are distributed by the government here as needed. He wishes things could be done differently, but this is how Cracas operates in its eternal state of crisis.
At one time, before Aster was even born, these streets were lined with glorious steam-powered machines like the ones he was all too familiar with in the Capital. That was before the First Twisted awakened once more, at least. Now, these lands are hopeless. The last machine in Cracas broke down last year, and Cracas has no hope to trade for the parts they need to repair it. It doesn’t help that the only mage in Cracas is only capable of preserving the little food they have.
He shakes his head. Those thoughts are exactly what he was trying to escape by stepping out of that damned mansion. He might as well find another way to pass the time, he supposes, walking off, the clicking of his cane following him.
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The Lord of Cracas stands, dumbfounded. Somehow, the guards have roped him into their training, and now they’re making bets on how fast the trainee in front of them is going to be taken down. Well, this is just what he needed, so…
He chuckles, gripping his cane a bit harder and raising it. “What’s wrong, old man? If you want to back out, that’s fine.” Oh. Oh lord, this trainee thinks Aster actually needs the cane. He chuckles, as do some of the onlookers.
‘[Analysis].’, Aster prompts, looking at the trainee.
Name: Markus Class: Guardsman Level: 16
Oh. It looks like the guard who bet on five seconds is going to be quite happy.
The trainee sighs. “Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He raises his wooden training sword, and Aster simply stands by. “You can have the first move, young lad.”
The trainee squints. “Alright then.” He then rushes forward, going for a strike to Golde’s side. ‘Good footwork’, Aster notes, before using an Art. ‘[Into Smoke].’ The trainee’s wooden sword only passes through a mist, as the Lord appears a couple steps to the right, striking out with the cane in his hand. Before the trainee can even react, his sword is knocked out of his hand, and he takes a strike to the gut. Nothing that will keep him out of training.
Aster looks down at the winded trainee. “Not bad, lad. You’ve been practicing well, you’ll be a good guard in time.” He crouches down to help the trainee up.
With rookies this promising… Maybe Cracas stands a chance after all. But that’s a matter for the future.
This was just the escape he needed.
Hopefully, this is a sign that means today will be a good day.
He can only hope.