In the vast land of Wycliff Baron, a place brimming with magic and an otherworldly ambience, stood a well-protected sanctuary. This sanctuary served as a formidable defense against the recent surge in magical creatures.
The territory was heavily guarded from all sides, providing a safe haven for its residents seeking refuge and comfort from the encroaching dangers beyond its borders. The guardians of this sanctuary were vigilant and resolute, entrusted with the crucial duty of safeguarding the lives of those within.
The guards donned their customary sturdy leather armor, which offered both protection and flexibility. Their attire proudly bore the emblem of the Wycliff family, symbolizing their loyalty and dedication, gleaming in the sunlight as a testament to their unwavering commitment.
Armed with gleaming swords and sturdy shields, they stood at their posts, ready to repel any wild intruders.
On an apparently ordinary afternoon, as the guards went about their duties, their attention fixed on the anticipated arrival of visitors and merchants to the small city within the territory, their senses suddenly became heightened.
They instinctively reacted to an unfamiliar presence with cautious anticipation.
Their faces reflected readiness, and their bodies assumed poised stances as they directed their focus towards the gate.
There, a composed and calm young man stood, appearing to be in his teens.
The vigilant guards approached him cautiously, prepared to handle any potential intruder. Suspiciously, they inquired, "Who are you?"
The youth, unmistakably Emberon, responded calmly, "I am the Wycliff family's sole son."
His words hung in the air, carrying weight and significance.
It became evident that Emberon had assumed the form of the Wycliff family's younger son, either through consuming the Emberon creature or as the reincarnator consumed by Lord Emberon.
"Wycliff son?" the guards exclaimed, taken aback by this unexpected revelation.
They hastily tried to recollect the events of the past few days.
Recalling the departure of the Wycliff family's son, who had challenged an exceptionally gifted individual respected even by his own parents, the guards pondered the young man's jealousy stemming from his perceived lack of talent that had spurred his challenge.
However, a nagging question troubled them: Where were the teams dispatched to retrieve the wayward son?
With a growing sense of unease, the guards exchanged troubled glances.
The absence of the retrieval teams, who should have returned with the prodigal son, cast doubt upon the situation.
"Should we..." one guard began, hesitating, but was interrupted by Lord Emberon's realization that the stationed guards seemed uneasy and astounded.
Their expressions betrayed a mix of anxiety and disbelief, as if they had witnessed something inexplicable.
Intrigued by their peculiar behavior, Emberon furrowed his brow and scrutinized the guards intently.
"What's wrong?" he calmly inquired, his voice tinged with curiosity.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
The guards hesitated momentarily, their nervousness evident as they exchanged glances, before mustering the courage to respond.
Their voices quivered slightly, betraying their apprehension.
"Sir," one of them began tentatively, "didn't Sir Palest and the others accompany you?"
Emberon feigned surprise, pretending that he hadn't expected anyone to follow him.
He widened his eyes in a display of astonishment, concealing his true knowledge behind a facade of innocence. "Oh," he innocently remarked, "someone followed me?"
The guards collectively nodded, clearly astounded and concerned.
"Yes, sir," one confirmed, his tone uncertain.
"They went to locate and retrieve you."
Once again, Emberon acted as if he had no knowledge of their actions, casting doubt on their words through a rehearsed show of surprise.
"Really?" he exclaimed, feigning astonishment.
"I had no idea."
He looked at the guards' faces, observing their expressions and understanding the gravity of the situation.
"Are you sure?" he asked skeptically.
The guards exchanged glances, silently communicating. With a sense of duty, they reiterated their previous statement urgently.
"Yes, sir," one of them said, sounding desperate. "Sir Palest and the others went to find you. We need to locate them."
Emberon furrowed his brow, appearing pensive. "I see," he murmured, sounding confused. "But I had gone to the slimy forest to practice my skills. I am familiar with the forest and its dangers, but I'm not sure if they are. Are you absolutely certain? They could be in danger if they really went to find me."
His words lingered, concealing the fact that his subordinate, Steelteeth, had already dealt with the intruders in the dungeon, erasing any evidence of their presence.
As the guards heard Emberon's words, horror filled their widened eyes, and they nodded in agreement.
They were well aware of the perilous nature of the Slimy Forest, with its formidable magical beasts and monsters. Given the recent increase in magical beasts throughout the land, they could only imagine how much more treacherous the forest had become.
Moreover, how had their young sir managed to survive?
They gazed at Lord Emberon, the current Wycliff heir, standing before the gate of the small city, a mix of astonishment and trepidation evident on their faces.
Soon, Emberon affected a surprised expression, as if he had just recalled the reason for his return from the forest. He muttered to himself, "No wonder I came back. I witnessed a great deal of destruction along the way."
As he spoke, Lord Emberon acted as though he remembered his harrowing journey through the dense woodland, where he had intended to navigate the treacherous terrain, master its secrets, and evade dangerous beasts.
Now, he pretended to question the purpose of his venture, as if he had only just realized that the destruction he witnessed was not solely caused by wild creatures, but by those who accompanied him.
He intentionally made his voice more emphatic as the weight of this revelation settled upon him.
"Who sent them after me?" Lord Emberon narrowed his eyes, maintaining a calm demeanor with a slight furrow in his brows, indicating a mix of anger and confusion.
"I had mastered the ways of that forest to avoid dangerous beasts. Why would someone be sent to find me? Do they know how perilous it is? They might encounter dangerous beasts, and their chances of survival are exceedingly low."
The nearby guards were taken aback by Lord Emberon's outburst, exchanging perplexed glances and displaying uncertainty on their faces.
Sensing their confusion, Lord Emberon stepped forward with determination. His gaze pierced through them, his eyes burning with anger and resolve.
"It must be my parents," he declared, his voice reflecting a blend of astonishment and vulnerability. "I didn't realize they still cared about me." Pausing, Lord Emberon's voice softened, tinged with uncertainty. "But I'm not certain," he continued cautiously.
"Perhaps they know where I am headed, and they perceive it as dangerous. So they sent someone as a sacrifice, and when that person or people perish, everyone will continue to blame me, over and over again, for their deaths."
The guards remained frozen in place, their mouths agape in disbelief.
Sacrifice?
Lord Emberon's words had stunned them, and their minds struggled to comprehend the unfolding situation because if what the young lord said was true, then it meant...
Lord Emberon's anger simmered within him, frustration mounting.
He deliberately approached the guards, who, in their bewildered state, found themselves unable to move or respond.
"Just kidding, I don't despise everyone, but I'm unsure about the intentions of the team that pursued me. So it's best to expect the unexpected, if they are dead, I don't really have that much cafe for their existence" he mumbled with a smirk.
Afterward, he passed by them, leaving them filled with questions and shock.