"Second mother want's me to investigate personally the case of the Dark elves by sending me to the northernlands and seek help to the Froiland estate" Prince Davey murmured
'The 12 masked assassin are still in a mission, I can only rely on the shadow knights for now!'
"Young Lord!" the Shadow Knight said telepathically.
"I have sensed it too. Let them be for now. Follow their movements discreetly, and do not act without my permission," I replied through telepathy. We had sensed six Masters trailing us since we left the Palace. Traveling by carriage, it would take us seven days to reach the Northern Border territory.
A fight seemed inevitable. Six Masters were formidable opponents. The regular guards wouldn't stand a chance against them; only the Shadow Knights could handle such adversaries. Unfortunately, I had only brought two of them with me.
"Your Highness, we are in the middle of the Capari Forest. This is the best place to make camp and rest," Captain Mavis said.
"Very well, Captain. I will be in your care," I responded.
"Have some soup, Your Highness," a guard offered, handing me a bowl.
"Thank you. You can take turns as watchmen tonight. I will go for a short walk to get some air," I said, standing up and taking the bowl of soup with me.
"Please allow us to send two guards with you, Your Highness," Captain Mavis began.
"No need, Captain. I won't be far," I assured him.
As I traveled far enough from the escorts, I sensed the presence drawing closer.
"You can come out now!" I called out into the darkness.
Six Masters emerged from the shadows, their expressions a mix of surprise and amusement.
"We never thought you'd actually notice us," one of them said with a smirk.
"The moment you appeared to tail us," I replied coolly.
"What an interesting fellow," another of them remarked.
"Who do you old geezers work for?" I demanded.
"Such a foul mouth. Let me silence it forever! **Wind Blade - Swift Flow Manifestation!**" One of the Masters stepped forward, and a blade of wind formed in his hand, as sharp as any steel.
He lunged at me with a deadly precision. Before he could reach me, a Shadow Knight materialized from the darkness, intercepting his attack with a swift **Blackcloud Palm**. The clash of energies sent both combatants skidding backwards, the air vibrating with the force of their powers.
The remaining five Masters spread out, encircling us. Their leader barked an order, and they advanced in unison. The first Master recovered quickly, his eyes burning with rage.
"Impressive, but can you handle all of us?" he taunted.
"Shadow Knights!" I commanded through telepathy.
The second Shadow Knight appeared, cloaked in darkness, and engaged another Master who wielded a spear of flame. The two clashed with a thunderous roar, fire and shadow dancing violently.
I focused on the leader, who seemed to be orchestrating the attack. He smirked, drawing a long, gleaming sword from his side. "Let's see how you fare against me," he said, lunging forward with incredible speed.
I barely dodged his initial strike, feeling the wind of his blade pass by my cheek. Summoning my own power, I conjured a shield of energy just in time to block his next assault. The impact sent shockwaves through my arm, but I held firm.
The forest around us became a battlefield. The Shadow Knights fought valiantly, using their mastery of darkness to counter the Masters' varied elemental attacks. One Knight, locked in combat with a Master wielding earth magic, dodged a barrage of stone spikes, retaliating with a flurry of shadow-infused punches that shattered the rocks to dust.
Meanwhile, I faced off against the leader, our swords clashing in a deadly dance. His technique was refined, but I matched him blow for blow, my movements guided by a calm focus. He snarled in frustration, pushing harder.
"You're better than I expected," he admitted, his voice edged with grudging respect.
"I've had good teachers," I replied, deflecting his blade and countering with a slash that grazed his arm.
He stepped back, eyes narrowing. "Enough games. Let's end this!"
He unleashed a powerful attack, a torrent of wind blades converging on me. Summoning all my strength, I projected a barrier of energy, the wind blades shattering against it like glass. I channeled the residual energy into a concentrated blast, aiming directly at him.
Caught off guard, he took the full force of the attack, being thrown back into a tree with a heavy thud. The other Masters, seeing their leader fall, hesitated.
"Retreat!" one of them shouted. "We're not prepared for this!"
They gathered their wounded leader and vanished into the forest, their forms dissolving into the shadows.
I stood there, catching my breath as the adrenaline faded. The Shadow Knights rejoined me, their expressions hidden but their presence reassuring.
"Young Lord!!" a shadow knight exclaimed
"No worries! I must endure using only brute force to face them. Revealing my true capabilities would only complicate our journey further. Head to the nearest Shadow Knights post and lead an investigation team to track down those six Masters. Discover who they're working for and report back to me."
"As you commanded" two shadow knights then disappeared before me!
'I know that no one on the surface can stand against me when I unleash my true power, but I am uncertain about the capabilities of an apprentice of the gods. There are rumors of a new method to grant mortals greater power, surpassing the traditional blessings. This unknown threat requires caution and strategy.'
_______**FROILAND ESTATE - AVALON CITY OF NORTHERN BORDERLANDS**_______
Seraphina Froiland POV
"The Third Prince will arrive soon. Prepare a banquet and ensure his highness's chamber is thoroughly cleaned," Cedrick Froiland, the younger brother of Alistair Froiland, commanded.
"I'll take care of it, Uncle!" Lady Seraphina, Alistair's daughter, replied promptly.
"I trust you with this, my lady," Cedrick said, nodding before he left.
Father is busy fending off monsters from the Forbidden Forest. In recent days, the number of creatures crossing the borders has doubled, and the reason remains unknown. This unending battle against the creatures of the Forbidden Forest in the northernlands seems perpetual.
As I entered my mother's chamber, I found her diligently managing the family's internal and external affairs.
"Mother, the prince will arrive shortly. Sir Cedrick has asked me to serve as his highness's personal aide during his stay at the estate," I said. Previously, I was entrusted with assisting my mother with family matters, but with the prince's visit, I need to fill my father's role as the prince's aide. The estate's administrators are currently overwhelmed by the land's pressing issues, leaving no one else to take on this responsibility.
"Go ahead, my dear. I will accompany the prince at the banquet once he arrives. Station the Froiland Knights to escort him and ensure everything goes smoothly and safely," Mother said, not looking up from her work.
"Yes, Mother!" I replied, heading out.
"My lady, a messenger from Middletown is here requesting assistance," a maid said as I was about to rest on the couch.
I quickly got up and went outside to investigate.
"My lady, please help us!" the messenger pleaded urgently.
"What assistance do you need?" I asked, assessing the situation.
"Some monsters have breached the defenses of Eastgate Town and Southgate Town. The forces of Middletown won't be able to hold out for another day!" the messenger exclaimed, his face pale with worry.
"When did this attack start?" I inquired. Middletown is quite distant from the central city of Avalon, requiring at least two days to reach by carriage.
"This is the fifth day," the messenger responded.
"That long already? Captain Sayun, mobilize the Froiland Knights immediately and send aid to Middletown at once!" I ordered.
"But my lady, we are tasked with escorting the prince," Captain Sayun protested.
"Captain, do as I command. I will manage matters here," I insisted. With the Froiland Knights, the travel time can be shortened to a day.
"As you command, my lady. Please lead us, sir," Captain Sayun said, directing his attention to the messenger.
The messenger nodded and swiftly led the way, with Captain Sayun and the Froiland Knights following closely behind.
As they departed, I was about to turned back to the estate
"THE WANING CRESCENT OF THE AVALEON EMPIRE, THE THIRD PRINCE HAS ARRIVED!"
A grand escort surrounded a noblesse-designed carriage, the knights exuding a powerful aura. It was clear that the Third Prince was a highly valued member of the Imperial family.
The carriage door opened, and a young child of about five feet in height stepped down, adorned in a blue and red coat with a crescent moon sigil. His noble bearing was unmistakable.
"I greet the Crescent Moon of the Empire, the Third Prince," I said, prostrating myself. With the head, right hand, and vice head of the Froiland family absent, this gesture of deep respect was essential to reflect the gravity of our greeting.
"Rise, my lady. I understand the current state of the Froiland Estate, so this greeting is acceptable. Your people should always be the priority," the Third Prince said graciously. I stood up and took the prince's hand to guide him down the last step of the carriage.
"Captain Mavis, take the Imperial Knights and aid Middletown in their defense," the prince commanded.
"As you command," Captain Mavis replied. The knights mounted their horses and swiftly departed. The speed of their horses, enhanced by magical synergy with the knights, was astonishing. The horses and knights shared the same stamina, allowing for incredible swiftness.
"With the Imperial Knights' speed, they should arrive in Middletown within two hours," the prince remarked.
I was both shocked and amazed. The journey that would take the Froiland's best knights a day could be completed in two hours by the Imperial Knights. Such a stark difference in capability was truly impressive.