"No, this is what you deserve."
For once, Sean smiled, a rare sight from the usually stoic wizard. "Without you, I wouldn't have walked away with such a big reward this time."
He glanced at Harry, his tone light yet sincere. "Otherwise, I'd probably be lying dead in that cave, just like those fools we encountered."
Sean turned slightly, his sharp eyes softening for just a moment. "If fate allows, I hope we meet again someday."
With that, he gave Harry a nod, then turned and walked away. There was no hesitation in his stride. His work here was done, and there was no reason for a wizard to linger in a place like this, a desolate backwater, barren of magical promise.
Harry stood silently, watching Sean's figure disappear into the horizon. After a moment, a faint smile crossed his lips. He reached into his pouch, pulling out the blue gemstone Sean had handed him, along with the freshly written letter of recommendation. These small objects represented doors to another world, a world Harry wasn't yet sure he'd step into.
He tightened his grip on them, then turned on his heel and began walking toward his own territory.
Time Passed
What happened in the days that followed shook the entire region.
News of Henry and the others' deaths couldn't stay hidden for long. Despite Earl Thorn's best attempts to suppress the truth, the facts were too damning to ignore. Everyone knew Henry and his companions had been lured out under Thorn's invitation to hunt. Yet, days turned to weeks, and none of them returned.
Whispers turned to suspicions, and suspicions flared into accusations.
The families of the fallen knights, especially Henry's powerful and deeply rooted lineage, exploded with rage. Henry's house wasn't just influential, it was fortified with more than one knight and had strong alliances.
When the truth became unavoidable, chaos descended.
Messengers from Earl Thorn's camp were ambushed and killed. Henry's family declared that Thorn had orchestrated a conspiracy to murder them all, branding him a traitor to the kingdom. The declaration wasn't just words; it came with armies. Allied with several other lords on the Black Forest border, Henry's kin and their allies marched, aiming to crush the Thorn family.
It was war.
Earl Thorn's position seemed hopeless. While the Thorn family was strong, they weren't strong enough to withstand the combined might of multiple houses united against them. The tide of war seemed inevitable, the fall of Thorn imminent.
But then, something no one expected happened.
From the shadows of the brewing conflict, a shocking player emerged, Harry.
The young lord of the Cecil family, now a 'Great Knight', moved swiftly and decisively. Without warning, he launched an attack on the allied lords as they advanced against Earl Thorn. But he didn't face them head-on. Instead, Harry struck from behind, hitting one of the key lords' territories while their forces were occupied.
The result was devastating.
Harry's army overwhelmed the unsuspecting defenders, storming the territory with brutal efficiency. Within days, the noble family that had once ruled the land was captured, their stronghold burned to the ground. Every noble tied to the ruling house was rounded up and sent as prisoners to Earl Thorn's domain.
A knight family that had stood for generations was wiped out in the blink of an eye.
----
The captured stronghold burned, casting a red-orange glow across the night sky. Inside the castle, the commotion was still winding down. Footsteps echoed in the halls, the heavy clank of armor mixing with the distant crackle of flames.
In the throne room, Harry stood tall, his presence commanding. The young Great Knight had proven himself not only on the battlefield but as a decisive, ruthless leader.
"Have they all been taken?" Harry asked, his voice cold and sharp, cutting through the air.
A soldier stepped forward and saluted. "Yes, my lord. All members of the noble family have been captured. The remaining forces have been subdued."
Harry nodded slowly, his gaze sweeping the room. The faint light of the fires outside danced in his eyes. "Good," he said, his voice calm but laced with an underlying authority. "Make sure there are no loose ends."
The soldier hesitated for a moment, then nodded firmly. "Understood, my lord."
Harry turned, gazing out of a shattered window as the once-proud castle burned. This wasn't just a victory, it was a message.
The chaos of war wasn't a time for honor or mercy. It was a time for calculated moves and brutal efficiency. Harry understood this better than most, and he was determined to shape the future of the Black Forest border on his terms.
Harry's intervention turned the tide of the war. His sudden betrayal of the allied lords fractured their coalition, sending shockwaves through the region. The capture and destruction of one of their key territories forced the remaining lords to retreat, regrouping to defend their own lands instead of pressing their attack on Earl Thorn.
This act of loyalty or calculated self-interest, solidified Harry's place as a key player in the region.
For Earl Thorn, Harry's actions were nothing short of salvation. With the weight of the Cecil family behind him and Harry's newfound influence as a Great Knight, the Earl was able to stabilize his position.
But Harry didn't linger in the spotlight. After ensuring the immediate threat had been neutralized, he quietly returned to his own territory. His actions had reshaped the balance of power, but his ambitions stretched beyond the Black Forest.
As Harry gazed at the flickering blue gemstone in his hand that night, he thought of Sean's parting words and the letter of introduction tucked away in his belongings. This was a moment of transformation, not just for the region, but for himself.
The road ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear. Harry was no longer just a knight. He was something far more dangerous, a figure who could shape the future, not just for the Black Forest, but for the kingdom itself.
Salah stood before Harry, his head lowered, the weight of Harry's gaze bearing down on him like an invisible force. Finally, he broke the silence, his voice trembling with respect. "How do you wish to deal with them, sir?"
Harry's tone remained calm, almost indifferent. "Send them to Thorn City, as usual. I'm sure Earl Thorn will appreciate such a gift."
"Yes, my lord." Salah nodded obediently, but a flicker of hesitation crossed his face.
Harry noticed immediately. "Is something on your mind?" he asked, his voice quiet yet firm.
Salah froze. Facing Harry's gaze was like standing before a towering mountain. The pressure was immense, but his thoughts weighed heavier. After a brief pause, he gritted his teeth and forced himself to speak.
"Lord Harry…" he began, his voice tense. "Are we truly certain about standing so firmly by Earl Thorn's side?"
Harry's eyes narrowed, but he let Salah continue.
"Earl Thorn is facing a coalition of more than a dozen families," Salah explained, his words spilling out faster now. "Our actions have helped ease his burden, yes, but… if he falls…"
He didn't finish, but the meaning hung heavily in the air.
If Earl Thorn lost, Harry and his allies would be marked as his supporters and targeted for destruction. Their loyalty would make them enemies of the entire coalition. The consequences would be catastrophic.
Harry smirked faintly, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes. "Do you really think Earl Thorn is doomed to lose?"
Salah hesitated, his throat tightening under the weight of the question. But he forced himself to answer. "Yes."
He lowered his head further, his voice steady but grim. "Earl Thorn is strong. Thorn City is nearly impenetrable. But against the combined might of over a dozen knight families, his strength won't be enough. The numbers, the resources, the coordination, they're overwhelming. He can't possibly withstand them forever."
Harry didn't flinch. He listened in silence, and then, with a calm certainty that sent a chill through everyone present, he replied, "No. You're wrong."
Salah blinked, his breath catching.
"Earl Thorn 'will' win," Harry said with absolute conviction.
The room fell into stunned silence.
The others exchanged glances, confusion etched across their faces. From everything they knew, from all they'd seen, Earl Thorn's chances of victory were slim at best. Was Harry aware of something they weren't?
As if reading their thoughts, Harry's smile widened slightly, but he offered no explanation. "You'll see soon enough," he said. Then, with a wave of his hand, he dismissed them. "Go. Carry out the orders."
Though uneasy, Salah and the others bowed and retreated.
Just as Salah had feared, Harry's intervention provoked an immediate response. The coalition of lords, enraged by Harry's betrayal and his unexpected attack on one of their key territories, redirected their focus.
An army of over 10,000 soldiers, battle-hardened knights, apprentice warriors, and professional soldiers, marched on Harry's territory. The ground seemed to quake beneath their boots, their formation a disciplined show of strength and unity.
The sheer size and coordination of the force were staggering. Even the king of the Kingdom of Meissen would have hesitated to take such an army lightly.
Among the coalition, there was a shared confidence. Harry's resistance would be short-lived. He was outnumbered, outmatched, and surrounded. The young Great Knight would have no choice but to surrender or face utter annihilation.
But then, just as the coalition prepared to strike, a shocking piece of news swept through the region.
Instead of retreating or surrendering, Harry had launched a counterattack. But it wasn't the typical defensive maneuver they expected.
Reports came in of precision strikes against the coalition's supply lines. Hidden forces led by Harry had infiltrated their ranks, sowing chaos and confusion from within. Entire convoys of provisions were destroyed. Vital supply chains were severed, leaving the coalition forces stranded with dwindling resources.
And then came the rumors of an alliance.
Harry had secretly negotiated with several of the smaller families within the coalition. Using his newfound influence and the weight of his reputation as a Great Knight, he persuaded some of them to defect. Promises of protection, wealth, and status lured them to his side.
Suddenly, the once-unified coalition began to fracture.
Factions within the alliance turned on one another, accusing each other of betrayal. Skirmishes broke out in their camps, further weakening their position. The mighty army of 10,000 was no longer a single, cohesive force, it was a fragmented collection of distrustful lords, each scrambling to protect their own interests.
In the midst of this chaos, Harry struck decisively.
Leading his elite forces, Harry launched a direct assault on the coalition's leadership. The lords, already weakened by infighting and resource shortages, were unprepared for the ferocity and precision of Harry's attack.
One by one, their armies crumbled. Lords who had once stood tall were either captured or forced to flee.
Within weeks, the coalition that had threatened Earl Thorn's very existence was dismantled.