Ryan was deep into his training routine when a piece of news arrived that left him both shocked and speechless. He had been practicing his swordsmanship, focusing on perfecting each swing, sweat dripping down his forehead as he moved with precision. Just as he was catching his breath, one of the family attendants rushed over, clearly carrying an important message.
"Master Ryan, there's urgent news you need to hear."
Ryan wiped the sweat from his brow and sheathed his sword, his curiosity piqued. "What's going on?" he asked, looking at the attendant expectantly.
"The Duskveil territory and the Pendragon territory… they're going to be connected by a teleportation array."
Ryan blinked in shock, the words not quite registering for a moment. "A teleportation array?" he repeated, his mind racing to process the information. "How much is that going to cost?"
"Approximately one hundred million gold coins, Master Ryan," the attendant replied, bowing slightly.
Ryan nearly choked. "One hundred million? That's enough to buy an entire small territory!" He stared at the attendant in disbelief. A teleportation array between the Duskveil and Pendragon territories? That was beyond excessive.
It wasn't that he didn't appreciate the gesture—he had been exchanging letters with Seraphina ever since he left Pendragon, and she had written that she missed him. But this… this was on a completely different level.
Ryan sat down on a nearby bench, his mind spinning. He couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all. He almost wanted to write back to Seraphina and jokingly say, "Rich loli, beg for support!" the thought amused him, and he couldn't help but shake his head with a smile.
Later that day, Ryan joined his parents and Scarlet in the main hall for a discussion. His parents had just received news about the Evil God cult—the very cult that had attacked them before—and it was causing some concern.
Roger leaned back in his chair, his expression serious. "We've received word that traces of the Evil God cult have been found near Valenor, the capital. Your mother and I will be heading there soon to investigate."
Helena nodded, her face calm but concerned. "This cult is dangerous, Ryan. We need to find out more about their movements, especially since they were involved in the attack on us."
Ryan listened carefully, feeling a pang of worry in his chest. "Valenor… that's quite far from here. How long will you be gone?"
Roger sighed. "It could be a few weeks, possibly longer. But don't worry. You'll be in charge of the territory while we're gone."
Ryan's eyes widened slightly. "I'll be in charge?" He hadn't expected that. While he had been preparing to take on more responsibilities, being the lord of the territory while his parents were away felt like a big step.
"You'll do fine," Helena reassured him with a gentle smile. "We trust you. And Scarlet will be here to help you."
Scarlet, who had been quietly listening, nodded. "I'll do my best to support you, Ryan."
Ryan gave her a grateful smile. "Thanks, Scarlet."
Before his parents left, they had a more casual conversation in the study. Ryan, Scarlet, and his parents sat together, sipping tea as they discussed the upcoming trip to Valenor.
"Ryan, you'll have to keep an eye on the territory's affairs," Roger said. "You're going to be the acting lord while we're gone."
Ryan scratched the back of his head, still feeling the weight of responsibility settling in. "I'll do my best. But Valenor… it sounds dangerous with that cult lurking around."
Helena leaned forward, her expression serious but motherly. "That's why we need to go. The cult has been quiet for too long, and now we're seeing signs of them again. But don't worry about us. Just focus on managing Duskveil."
Roger grinned. "You've been doing well so far, son. I have no doubt you'll handle things just fine. Besides, we'll be back before you know it."
Ryan smiled, though a bit nervously. "I'll try not to mess up while you're gone."
Scarlet, sitting beside him, chimed in with a calm voice. "I'll help you, Ryan. You're not alone in this."
Ryan looked at her, grateful for the support. "Thanks, Scarlet. I guess we'll have to figure things out together."
Just as Ryan was getting ready to take on the responsibility of running the territory, two letters arrived—one from Leo and one from Vivienne. Ryan wasn't expecting correspondence from either of them, so he was surprised when both letters arrived at the same time.
He opened Leo's letter first:
Dear Ryan,
It's been a while since we last saw each other. I heard about the teleportation array connecting your territory to Pendragon. Impressive! That'll make things easier for visiting, I imagine.
But I also wanted to let you know that I'll be stopping by Duskveil soon. There are some things I want to discuss with you in person. I think you'll find it interesting.
Until then, stay sharp!
—Leo
Ryan raised an eyebrow. Leo coming to visit? That was unexpected. What could he want to talk about? Ryan made a mental note to prepare for Leo's visit and set the letter aside before opening the one from Vivienne.
Dear Ryan,
It seems things have been busy on your end. I heard about the teleportation array, quite the luxury, isn't it? I'm sure there's more to the story than meets the eye.
Anyway, I'm writing because I've been thinking about your territory's growth. There are opportunities we could explore together, especially with trade. Let's talk soon.
—Vivienne
Ryan blinked. Trade opportunities with Vivienne? That was interesting. Vivienne was known for being sharp when it came to politics and economics, so her interest in his territory was something to take seriously.
With both Leo and Vivienne planning visits, and his parents heading to Valenor, things were about to get busy. But despite the sudden influx of responsibility, Ryan felt ready. It was time to step up and take charge.
to be continued....