His food supply easily depleted, it seemed like he missed cooking more than he thought. Izik really enjoyed being able to prepare and eat his own food. It was something that brought comfort to him since he started planting and hunting. He loved it more the moment his mysterious sponsor began sending him monthly allowances. Being able to afford spices completely change his kitchen game.
"I heard that the Duke's son had been training since he came back."
Izik didn't bother looking up, he kept his eyes on the tomatoes he was inspecting. He went to the market early in the morning so that when he come back to his house, he has some time to prepare his own lunch.
Their small town was laid at the border of the Soleil dukedom and Ravignac dukedom both were considered the strongest contender for the throne.
"Isn't that what he's already doing in the academy?"
"I heard that there's a rumor that... well, the Empire may need an official Crown Prince soon."
There were several gasps that were let out, even Izik stopped what he was doing.
"Shhh! If the guards hear you, they're gonna throw you in the jail..." Someone clicked their tongue
"I know but then... why else would he be training like that? I heard from the merchants that it seemed like all dukedom were preparing for something..." That's big, Izik swallowed. He knew that the Emperor was not getting any younger and he had served Serene for over 50 years.
Was the Emperor ill?
Or was there anything that happened that required them to officially crown an heir?
The kingdom of Serene had been under a special kind of monarchy since it was established. It was ruled by the powerful family of Gailet for hundred of years. Just like any other Empires, the throne was passed from one generation to another until something changed.
The people watched as the first Royal Family descent to madness. Forgetting their vows of servitude, nobility, and kindness. The 25th Emperor brought the kingdom into the ground with his greed. He neglected his duties and indulged his desires more. His cruelty filled the lands of Serene with unnecessary bloodshed.
And when the people had enough, they finally fought back.
When a new Emperor finally ascended after they made the hard decision of purging the first Royal Family, a new decree was passed.
From that moment on, no Emperor of Serene was allowed to marry or have a child. This was to prevent a single family holding the throne for years.
The moment an Emperor decided to take a wife they must abdicate the throne.
Having a child and wife meant betrayal to the throne and to the Empire. There had been Emperors before that were executed for trying to hide their own children.
Sadly, even the children were executed themselves.
Because of this law, Serene created a unique system that allowed the seven most powerful families to establish their own dukedom. Under these dukedoms will come the next Crown Prince that will take the throne after series of trials supervised by Shadow Judges.
And to who were these Shadow Judges no one knew. They all came from any family, status, and designation. Their identities were always hidden. Once they fulfilled their duties as a Shadow Judge their next duty was to find their successor who will be the new Shadow Judge that will help in choosing the new Crown Prince.
There were a lot of things that everyone don't know about Shadow Judges but one thing was for sure they made a vow of fairness and neutrality. Anyone who swayed from their vows will suffer a grim consequence.
"Oh my," Someone gasped. "Maybe..."
"Shh, we have to stop talking about this. If a Royal Guard hear us we will spent time in jail. I have kids to feed."
Izik placed his tomatoes inside his basket and paid for whatever he also bought.
Why was he even listening to their conversation? He wasn't interested in politics. All he dreamed of right now was to live a peaceful life.
"I don't know why they would bother with it when we all know who will be the next Crown Prince," It took his everything not to stop or look at them.
Without really asking them, he knew who they were referring to. At this point, everyone does.
Xanthe Soleil.
"Don't you believe with our own candidate?" Someone clicked their tongue.
The Duke Ravignac was popular for his cold heart and cruelty. He doesn't believe in second chances and wanted everything perfect. Another thing that made him popular was the fact that he took in five wives and have 13 children
On how the Prince was determined no one exactly knew except the people in the Ravignac palace.
Some says the duke watched as his children fight to death. Other says the prince was chosen based on the amount of mana. There were other ridiculous rumors that Izik heard but none were proven.
"Do you? It's so obvious at this point."
It's not like Theo Ravignac was weak. He was actually a Class S Hunter known for his summoning magic. But even without using his magic, like Xanthe, he was skilled in combat with his weapon of choice, two long thin swords.
"Being a strong Hunter and having huge amount of mana are not the only qualification to inherit the throne."
That was a good point, Izik thought. He doesn't really know the criteria. No one does. Only the Shadow Judges.
"Again, let's not talk about this. We just heard of all the activities the Emperor did last week. He's still a healthy man. He's a little old but he was known to be the strongest Hunter that appeared after nearly 200 years."
Izik sighed. He really should stop listening to gossips. The Emperor was a healthy man. It will take at least another five years for him to officially take in a Crown Prince.
"Well until that son of Soleil was born."
That was his cue to leave. He'd rather not hear anything about Xanthe.
Fixing his hood, Izik dropped by a small shop of herb. As he was scanning through the bags of herbs he heard children laughing and teasing behind him. Peeking over his shoulder, he put on a small smile. Izik grew up without a friend. He was too busy surviving to even get himself a friend. Not that he didn't try, he did but it all ended in either him being pushed down or some other case of bullying.
"We have fresh sage, it was just delivered," Izik turned to the merchant.
Sage was always good. "I'll have some of those then." Izik let out a small oomph when a kid bumped on his back.
"Sorry, Mist—"
The ground shook, huge cracks splitting the road. Loud screams filled the place. Soon, everyone were running trying to save themselves while the kids fell on the ground, bursting with tears.
"Shit," Izik was quick to gather the kids in his arms. "Calm down!" he yelled. "Hold each other! Don't let go! Let's get out of here, quick!"
A loud vacuum sound broke the whole place. The ground gave another shake.
RIIIIIIPPP!!
Izik watched in pure horror as the air ripped. They need to hurry and get out there.
It's a dungeon!
How in the world did a dungeon just suddenly appear out of nowhere in a middle of a crowded town plaza??!!
"We need to get out of here!" Izik grabbed the kids, making sure he got everyone but before he could even break into a run, they were engulfed into a dungeon. The force threw them to the ground.
Izik let out a pained scream as he felt his ribs crack from the force and the weight of the five children he tried to run with. Two of the kids he let go rolled on the ground. Izik's only consolation was they at least landed on a softer ground and not some concrete road. That should minimize the impact.
Ignoring the pain, he pushed himself up, quickly eyeing his surrounding to make sure everyone was with him.
As much as he wanted to rest, he knew the danger they're in. They're in a dungeon and what's worst was it was not an identified one. This dungeon could either be a Class E or Class S. Whatever class it was, their situation was not looking good.
Five children and a Laic...
The best thing Izik could do was lead this children somewhere safe, hide and wait till Hunters arrive. Seeing that they seemed to be in some kind of meadow which meant they would be against monsters that would have animalistic feature. Based on his classes and the books he had been reading, dungeons like this would be between Class E to Class D but of course, he will not ignore the possibility that it could also be a special dungeon.
No, he doesn't even want to think that this was a special dungeon.
If he wanted all of them to get out alive then this can't be a special dungeon.
"Are you okay?" he asked the children. Most of them nodded however one remained on the floor unconscious. Izik was quick to carry the kid on his back. "Listen," he gathered the kids. "We're in a dungeon." He could see how the kids face fell into pure fear.
That's right no matter how young these kids were, they were taught the dangers of dungeon the moment they can understand things.
"I know it's scary but I would need you all to calm down. We need to get out here, okay?"
"A-are you a Hunter?" one of the kids asked.
Izik could probably lie but he was bad lying. "I am not..." He watched all the hope drain from the kids face. He understood why they would feel like that. "But I will do my best to get us all out here." His voice was loud with reassurance.
Should he just lied?
More than that, will they ever really get out there?
Izik was quick to push those negative thoughts away. They will get out.
They have to.
One of them wiped their tears away with his arm, "Okay, let's get out of here."