As expected, even with war looming on the horizon, these pampered nobles had not forgotten how to indulge in life's luxuries. The grand banquet they held was nothing short of extravagant, a display of wealth and excess that bordered on the absurd.
Around lavishly adorned tables piled high with delicacies, nobles in glittering finery laughed and exchanged toasts. The air was thick with the scent of fine wines and gourmet dishes, as servers moved gracefully around the room, delivering plate after plate of mouthwatering food. Each dish was a work of art, not just in taste but in presentation, making the guests almost reluctant to eat them, fearing they would ruin the aesthetic beauty. The rich aromas made everyone's stomachs growl, but the true feast here was not just for the body—it was a feast for the eyes, a celebration of power and privilege.
Given Clobber's relatively low standing, he wasn't afforded a seat at this grand banquet. However, as the Duke's herald, he had the privilege of standing by and attending to the Duke's needs, ready to pass on any orders. He stood to the side, watching as the nobles indulged, wondering just how much of their carefree laughter was genuine and how much was a mask to hide their true intentions.
Count Daniel, the host, sat at the Duke's right hand, but even he wasn't enjoying the luxury of the feast. His thoughts were elsewhere—on his grandson, to be specific. Clobber's sudden rise in the Duke's favor had left him stunned. In just a few days, the young knight had managed to capture the Duke's attention, and now he was a central figure at the Duke's table.
Though proud of his grandson, Count Daniel was also deeply concerned. The position Clobber had obtained was one of great responsibility, but it was also fraught with danger. Many powerful families had their sights set on that position—noble families eager to gain the Duke's favor, all hoping to see their children rise to the ranks of the Duke's closest allies.
It wasn't just about power; it was about influence, honor, and the potential to shape the future of the Duchy. Few were able to hold onto such a position, and those who could were always under intense pressure, both from their allies and their enemies.
Count Daniel knew his grandson had the potential to succeed—he was clever, quick-witted, brave, and fearless. But even with those qualities, the competition was fierce. There were so many vying for the Duke's favor, and standing out in such a crowded field would not be easy.
As the banquet continued, a quiet tension simmered beneath the surface. The nobles around them were all calculating how to use this event to further their own agendas. Some had already decided that Clobber was a threat to their own ambitions, and they were biding their time, waiting for the right moment to remove him from the Duke's good graces. They hadn't shown their true colors yet, not wanting to cause a scene in front of the Duke, but the tension in the air was palpable.
Soon, the banquet came to a close, and the nobles shuffled away to prepare for the next phase of the evening—an important military meeting. The Duke's plans for the upcoming campaign were to be discussed, and everyone knew it would be a tense affair.
The military strategy had been largely decided already, but there were always details to iron out. The nobles were accustomed to these kinds of meetings, and the process was almost mechanical by this point—routes had been decided, the bulk of the forces were already accounted for, and most of the key officers had been assigned to their respective positions. There was little room for surprises, but every detail had to be meticulously arranged.
Clobber, who had been somewhat ignorant of the specifics of the Moiy Forest before this meeting, learned much about its composition and the looming threat that had caused such a stir in the region.
The Moiy Forest was ruled by a powerful beast faction, with the leader of this faction being a creature that the Duke had been tracking for years—a young Tensilon, or Steel Dragon. This dragon, though smaller in size than a mature Golden Dragon, was known for its agility, far surpassing its larger cousins in speed and maneuverability.
The previous campaign to rid the forest of this menace had ended in disaster. The Steel Dragon had attacked the Golden Duchy's military camp without warning, slaughtering a great many soldiers and nobles. By the time the Duke returned on her dragon, the camp was nearly empty, with barely half the soldiers left alive. The Steel Dragon had already fled, leaving no trace of its presence.
This time, however, the Duke was determined not to let the dragon escape. The goal of this new campaign wasn't to kill the creature—no one but the Duke herself could hope to defeat it—but to contain it, to force it into a smaller area where it could no longer wreak havoc. The Duke had considered using fire to burn down the Moiy Forest entirely, even if it meant losing valuable resources and long-term profits.
To the Duke, the end justified the means. The death of the Steel Dragon was paramount, and once it was killed, the entire forest could be mined for its wealth, the dragon's remains used to turn the surrounding land into a veritable treasure trove of minerals.
Veronica had never once doubted her ability to kill the Steel Dragon. She was a Dragon Knight, and her mount, Vivian, was more than capable of facing such a beast. While the Steel Dragon was dangerous, it was still a relatively common dragon species—a Mineral Dragon. Like the Golden Dragon, it had the ability to infuse the surrounding land with minerals, but unlike the Golden Dragon, it wasn't as rare or as powerful.
The difference between them, Veronica mused, was like comparing a common jewel to a rare one—both beautiful, but only one would fetch a fortune.
The upcoming battle would be brutal, but for Veronica, it was a necessary step in securing her Duchy's future. The Steel Dragon's threat had to be eradicated, and with it, the rest of the forest and its resources would be under her control.
As the meeting continued, Clobber listened attentively. He had a growing understanding of the gravity of the situation—the Steel Dragon was no mere beast, but a symbol of the wild, untamable forces that existed in the world. The Duke's plans were bold, but they were also calculated. She knew exactly what she was doing, and though the risks were great, the rewards would be even greater.
For Clobber, this was just the beginning. He had his own role to play in this grand scheme, and though he was still learning, he knew that his future was tied to the success of this campaign. He couldn't afford to fail—not with the stakes as high as they were.
As the meeting adjourned and the nobles began to leave, Clobber's thoughts lingered on the Duke's plan. This war was not just about defeating a monster—it was about securing power, resources, and ultimately, the future of the Duchy. And he, for better or worse, was now a part of it.
Vivian, the Golden Dragon, had traveled with Veronica in her youth, and through a series of fortunate events, she had risen to the rank of an elite within her species—one of the finest in the Golden Dragon clan. It was almost as if fate had guided her from her humble beginnings to become the towering figure she was today, transforming from a simple Golden Dragon into a Golden Great Dragon.
As the name suggested, the transformation was not just a change in size—it was a vast enhancement in power and constitution. People often overlooked the true implications of a dragon's growth, assuming that the increase in size didn't equate to much of an increase in strength. But that couldn't be further from the truth. Unlike humans, who were composed of flesh and blood, dragons were magical creatures through and through. Their bodies, despite appearing solid, were essentially vessels of pure magical energy.
Every scale on Vivian's body, every inch of her blood, was infused with potent magic. It wasn't just their size that set them apart; dragons were beings of pure power. And in Vivian's case, as a Golden Great Dragon, her magical capacity far exceeded that of ordinary Golden Dragons. She was a force to be reckoned with, and her strength, when combined with Veronica, the Dragon Knight, was nearly unmatched.
The difference between a Dragon Rider and a wild dragon was vast. A wild dragon, despite its raw strength, could never compare to a dragon that had been bonded with a rider. The bond between a Dragon Rider and their mount was more than just companionship—it was a fusion of magic, mind, and soul. When a Dragon Rider and their dragon fought together, the result was a synergy that made them far more powerful than the sum of their parts. It was a classic case of "1+1 > 2." The rider brought out the dragon's full potential, and the dragon, in turn, enhanced the rider's abilities beyond human limitations.
As for the Tensilon, the Steel Dragon—the creature that had been causing so much trouble in the Moiy Forest—it was no match for the combination of Veronica and Vivian. The Steel Dragon had already proven its cunning by evading the previous attempts to capture or kill it. Its speed and stealth were remarkable, and it had already ambushed a military camp once, causing a massacre before disappearing into the forest. But that was its only advantage. The Steel Dragon's abilities might have been impressive for its size, but it was still no match for the power of a Golden Great Dragon and a Dragon Knight working together.
Veronica and Vivian had been through countless battles together. They knew each other inside and out, their bond unbreakable. Vivian's power was virtually limitless, and Veronica, as a seasoned Dragon Knight, had mastered the art of riding and controlling the dragon's movements in battle. With the two of them combined, the Steel Dragon didn't stand a chance.
If the Tensilon thought it could take on a Golden Dragon and a Dragon Knight, it was gravely mistaken.
The real problem wasn't the Tensilon's strength—it was its cleverness. The Steel Dragon was like an eel, slippery and elusive, able to hide in the dense Moiy Forest, making it difficult for any force to track and eliminate it. But Veronica and Vivian were determined. The Steel Dragon might have been cunning, but it couldn't outmatch the years of experience and strength that Veronica and her dragon possessed.
If it weren't for the Steel Dragon's ability to sneak away and avoid direct confrontation, Veronica would have already cleared the Moiy Forest of its threat. But even now, she remained resolute. The time for battle was drawing near, and Veronica had a plan that would not only rid the Duchy of this menace but also secure the future of her people.
This war was necessary. The Steel Dragon had to be eliminated. Its presence threatened the stability of the Duchy, and if left unchecked, it could grow even more dangerous. The Moiy Forest, once a rich and resourceful land, had become a battleground, with the Steel Dragon at its core. Veronica had already made up her mind—this time, the Steel Dragon would not escape.
The plan was simple. Unlike the previous attempt, which had failed because of the dragon's ability to ambush and flee, this time, Veronica would use her full strength and the full might of the Duchy to corner the creature. The goal wasn't just to kill it—it was to drive it into a corner, cutting off its escape routes, and then finishing the job once and for all.
But there was another part of the plan—one that would ensure the Duchy's future prosperity. After the Steel Dragon was dealt with, Veronica intended to claim the Moiy Forest for the Duchy. The forest, rich with natural resources, would be theirs to exploit, and the corpse of the Steel Dragon itself would become a valuable asset. The dragon's remains would be buried beneath the tallest peak in the Saint Gold Fortress, its body seeping into the mountain and turning the surrounding land into a rich vein of minerals. It was a bold plan, but it was one that would pay off in ways that would benefit the Duchy for generations to come.
Veronica had no doubts about her victory. She had faced dragons before, and she had always emerged victorious. The Steel Dragon might be clever, but it was nothing compared to the might of a Golden Great Dragon and a Dragon Knight.
And Clobber, standing by the Duke's side, couldn't help but marvel at the depth of the Duke's resolve. Veronica was a woman of unmatched strength, both in body and in mind. Her plans were always calculated, her decisions decisive. As Clobber looked at the Duke, he knew that this war was only a small part of her larger vision. The Duchy would be stronger for it, and he would play a role in that future.
He had already committed himself to this cause. Whether it was to secure his own future, to rise through the ranks, or to support the Duke, Clobber was ready. The upcoming battle would not only decide the fate of the Moiy Forest and the Steel Dragon—it would determine the future of the Duchy itself. And Clobber, for better or worse, was a part of that future.
The Duke's victory was inevitable. The Steel Dragon had no idea what was coming.