I had been training relentlessly for two months. My body had adapted to the rigorous regimen, and the results were satisfying. Mana Stage 2 Adept and Aura Stage 1. But strength meant nothing if left untested.
"If I won’t face struggles, I won’t learn anything," I whispered to myself. This was not a boast but a conviction.
Thalosridge wasn’t just a destination; it was a crucible. For weeks, I’d pushed my body and mana to their limits, but the estate’s training grounds were too safe, too controlled. I needed a real test, a place where my skills would be challenged by the unpredictable. Thalosridge, with its lawless streets and shadowed dealings, was perfect. More than that, I had a purpose there—a debt to settle.
"Baron Thalos" I whispered.
---
Earlier that day, I had approached my father.
The air in the hall was thick with the scent of polished wood and wax, the morning light filtering through tall windows to cast long shadows across the stone floor. My father, Alaric, sat at the head of the table, his calloused fingers drumming lightly against the arm of his chair. His piercing gray eyes studied me, as though searching for some hidden motive behind my request.
"You wish to visit Thalosridge?" Alaric's brows furrowed, his voice low and measured. "Why?"
I stood straighter, meeting his gaze with calm resolve. "To observe and learn. The ridge is a crossroads of trade and conflict. If I’m to understand our lands, I need to see its edges, not just its heart."
He leaned back, his expression unreadable, though the faintest twitch of his jaw betrayed his unease. "Thalosridge is no place for idle curiosity, Aren. Bandits prowl the routes, and the locals aren’t fond of our banners. You’d be walking into a viper’s nest."
"I’m not going to gawk, Father," I replied, keeping my tone even. "I’ll study the people, the defenses, the terrain. Knowledge isn’t gained by staying safe within these walls."
A long silence followed, broken only by the distant clatter of servants in the corridor. Finally, Alaric nodded, though his eyes remained hard. "Very well. But take guards—four, at least. And you’ll report to Captain Torren before and after. Understood?"
"Understood," I said, inclining my head.
Before I could turn to leave, my mother’s voice cut through the room, sharp with worry. "Aren, that place—it’s dangerous. Please reconsider." Selene stood in the doorway, her hands clasped tightly, her dark hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders. Her eyes, usually warm, were wide with fear.
I crossed the room to her, my boots echoing softly. "Mother," I said, my voice firm but not unkind, "if I don’t face danger now, I’ll never grow strong enough to face it later. Hiding here won’t prepare me for what’s coming."
Her lips trembled, and for a moment, I thought she might argue further. But she reached out, her hand brushing my arm, and let out a heavy sigh. "Promise me you’ll be careful, Aren. You’re too stubborn for your own good."
A faint smile tugged at my lips. "I’ll be careful. I promise."
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[ Next Morning ]
The dawn air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of dew and horse leather as I tightened the straps of my saddle. The courtyard bustled quietly, the clink of armor and low murmurs of the guards filling the space. Captain Torren stood nearby, his scarred face set in its usual grim lines as he checked the provisions on his mount. Four guards—handpicked for their skill and loyalty—stood ready, their eyes scanning the surroundings with practiced vigilance. My sword hung at my hip, its weight a familiar comfort, and my mana pulsed steadily within me, honed by months of relentless training.
Selene emerged from the keep, her shawl drawn tight against the morning chill. Her eyes were red-rimmed, but she held her composure as she approached. “Aren,” she said softly, placing a gloved hand on my arm, “remember your promise.”
I nodded, meeting her gaze. “I will, Mother. I’ll return.”
She managed a faint smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes, and stepped back. Sylvie lingered by the steps, her arms crossed, her expression a mix of resentment and something softer—worry, perhaps. “Don’t get yourself killed,” she called, her voice sharp but brittle.
I smirked faintly. “Train hard, Sylvie. I’ll test you when I’m back.”
Her scowl deepened, but she didn’t retort. With a final glance at my family, I mounted my horse, the leather creaking under my weight. Torren gave a curt nod, and we rode out, the gates of the estate groaning open to reveal the open road.
The first day passed uneventfully, the rolling hills and sparse woodlands offering little beyond the rhythmic thud of hooves. Torren rode at the front, his silence a steady presence, while the guards—Loren, Gavric, Taryn, and Elias—kept formation around me. I used the time to observe, noting the terrain’s shifts, the places where ambushes could hide. Thalosridge was three days away, and I knew the closer we got, the less forgiving the land would become.
By the second day, the hills grew steeper, the air sharper. We camped that night in a shallow valley, the guards taking shifts to watch the darkness. I sat by the fire, tracing the flow of my mana, feeling its warmth coil through my veins. Mana Stage 2 Adept was no small feat, but I was far from invincible. Aura Stage 1 gave me an edge in close combat, but Thalosridge would demand more than raw strength. Baron Thalos’s name lingered in my mind, a shadow tied to a debt I hadn’t spoken of to anyone—not even Father. Settling it would require cunning as much as skill.
On the third day, the landscape grew jagged, the road winding through rocky outcrops. The air carried a faint tang of smoke, a sign we were nearing Thalosridge. Torren’s posture stiffened, his hand resting on his sword hilt. “Stay sharp, my lord,” he muttered. “The ridge doesn’t welcome strangers.”
I nodded, my senses heightened, mana thrumming faintly. The town’s silhouette appeared against the horizon, a sprawl of stone and timber nestled against the cliffs. Thalosridge was no mere destination—it was a crucible, and I was ready to step into its fire.
To be continued...
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