Chapter 106

Chapter 106

Chapter 106

Chapter 106

—Dale of Saxony reporting to Your Excellency, the Duke.

The moment Dale returned from the Guild City to deliver the items he had obtained, even the imposing Black Duke was unable to conceal his astonishment.

…!

The ruler considered that he was already well aware of the extraordinary capabilities and boundless ingenuity of his descendant. Despite this, Dale always found a way to return with findings that completely exceeded any previous expectations.

It was the accountant’s ledger belonging to the mayor, linked to the Church of Shadows.

—So the suspicions were completely real —the Black Duke expressed in a serene whisper, keeping his attention fixed on the obsidian chest placed atop the wooden surface. Inside it, a cardiac organ of human origin continued to beat regularly.

—… How is this possible? —Dale questioned, seeking answers from the most imposing practitioner of the dark arts in the entire region.

—We are facing a container of life force.

—Does this mean that the Drowned One has managed to transform into a lich? —the young man replied with a tone of total disbelief. He was alluding to the mythical figure of the lich, that sorcerer of darkness who manages to evade death through strictly forbidden spells.

—The foundation holds similarities, however, it presents subtle variations —the Black Duke clarified, largely agreeing with the suspicions that Dale already harbored in his mind.

—The stories indicate that he sealed a commitment with a demonic entity of the oceans to claim eternity.

The Duke received his son’s comment by plunging into deep and introspective meditation. Due to his status as the most outstanding dark mage of the known lands, he possessed the knowledge necessary to intuit the implications of such a revelation.

—For the moment, our priority must be to ensure compliance with the deal you made with him.

—Understood, father.

The Black Duke diverted the conversation with absolute skill, prompting Dale to formally nod without manifesting further doubts.

—It brings me enormous tranquility to know that you have returned without suffering any harm.

Upon pronouncing those words, the Black Duke’s face finally softened with a genuine display of paternal affection.

A short period later, the day corresponding to the thirteenth anniversary of Dale’s birth arrived.

—My sincerest congratulations on reaching your thirteenth year, Lord Dale!

In the vicinity of the main room of the Sachsen bastion, Sir Helmut Blackbear bent his knee in a sign of respect to commemorate the young heir’s birthday.

—Congratulations!

Unanimously, the members of the Night Raven Knights imitated the gesture, bowing while keeping their combat blades pointing directly toward the floor.

—I beg you to stand up —Dale requested, sketching a smile loaded with a certain shyness—. It is thanks to your unwavering loyalty that I have managed to reach this point.

—Lord Dale…!

Sir Helmut, like Sir Baskerville and the rest of the Night Raven Knights, experienced how the fervor of their loyalty increased notably in their hearts.

—This celebration does not have as its main purpose to celebrate the instant of my arrival into this existence —the young man added while maintaining a peaceful countenance—, but to commemorate and testify to my deep gratitude for all the effort exerted that has molded me into the person you see today.

His words perfectly reflected the innate distinction of someone who was destined to take the reins of the Duchy of Saxony.

His mother, Elena, contemplated the scene with a gaze overflowing with pride, while the sovereign of Saxony could not hide the immense satisfaction he felt toward his heir.

—I wish you a wonderful day, brother!

—I thank you enormously, Lise.

Finally, a little girl, after moving away from her mother’s side, dedicated a cheerful gesture to Dale.

Being surrounded by the inhabitants of the lands of Sachsen, who had been a fundamental part of his growth, Dale perceived the comforting shelter of his family environment and smiled, leaving aside the icy and gloomy atmosphere typical of the winter season.

The commemoration of Dale’s thirteenth anniversary was organized with a display of magnificence rarely seen.

Despite this, marking a clear difference from the festivities of the upper echelons of the Empire, it did not require the attendance of highly relevant personalities from other regions, nor was it structured as a high-society gala riddled with the exaggerated formalities common among noble families.

The festivities in the territory of Saxony were designed exclusively for the enjoyment of their own people, encompassing every individual living within the limits of the fief.

The entire settlement of Saxony was immersed in an atmosphere of collective joy. Even the workers in the fields belonging to the duchy received the benefit of not paying the usual tributes, such as the delivery of basic products collected from the cold lands of Saxony, also being granted several days of absolute rest under the central motive of the young lord’s anniversary.

Across the lands, small festive gatherings were organized that reflected the joy of the settlers, all of them dedicated to extolling Dale, the main descendant of the ducal house.

Viewed from a certain perspective, that constituted quite unusual behavior within aristocratic circles, although it fit ideally with the identity specific to that region.

During the moments before dawn that day.

Even though the early morning hours advanced inexorably, the glimmers of the celebrations decorating the town did not diminish in intensity. However, in the less illuminated sectors of the Sachsen bastion, a girl persisted in her rigorous training despite the late hour.

—Charlotte.

—Dale!

Taken by surprise due to his sudden intrusion, Charlotte held her breath for an instant.

—Are you practicing combat techniques at these early hours of the morning again?

—That is correct.

Under the faint reflections of a waning moon, Charlotte nodded firmly.

—I have the obligation to increase my capabilities.

Emphasizing the concept of power, Charlotte gripped her combat weapon with greater vehemence. Upon noticing her determination, Dale decided to intervene in the situation.

Executing a highly agile maneuver, he took a weapon from the facilities intended for armament and removed it from its covering.

—Do you think it’s a good idea if we check how much you have progressed in your skills?

—It seems like an excellent idea to me.

Charlotte accepted, showing a slight smile, and assumed her combat position without showing the slightest hesitation.

Initiating an extremely swift advance, the young woman approached Dale, directing an attack with her forceful armament. Her speed was so surprising that Dale himself could not anticipate the movement with the necessary fluidity. Although his initial purpose was simply to evaluate the girl’s level, the speed of the onslaught forced him to react under pressure, finding himself compelled to quickly activate his four magic circles.

By the time he managed to react completely, the space had already narrowed critically.

—Heh.

Charlotte showed a gesture of victory while keeping the tip of her weapon aimed at him.

—It is evident that your capabilities have increased since our last encounter —Dale acknowledged, returning the cheerful gesture to her. At that precise instant, Charlotte’s gaze showed a glimmer of doubt.

—Is something wrong?

—Absolutely not, it’s nothing.

—I have rarely met anyone who claims that nothing is wrong and that it actually is the truth.

Listening to Dale’s reply, Charlotte reacted by puffing out her cheeks with discontent and looking away to one side, giving way to a brief lapse of quiet between both.

—It is simply about…

After remaining silent for a few moments, Charlotte showed certain doubts before deciding to speak again.

—In recent times, I have the impression that the distance between us is growing larger.

—Do you consider that it is I who is moving away?

—… I have no idea, you oblivious person!

The young woman strove to hide her distress, pretending that the matter lacked real importance.

However, her suspicions were not entirely wrong. While Dale’s reputation was firmly consolidated due to his status as the Duke’s successor, Charlotte remained in the background, exercising her techniques with the sword in a solitary way… The current reality was far from those times when they shared long days of practice inside the fortress.

—For that reason… I need to become much stronger —Charlotte manifested—. That way, I will have the capacity to remain by the side of the famous dark heir who is capturing the attention of all the inhabited regions.

Her only longing consisted of staying close to Dale. That declaration caused the young man to hold his breath for an instant.

In that moment, the evocation of Sir Bardel, Charlotte’s progenitor, who had lost his life at the hands of the great chosen warrior, came to his mind. And now, the descendant of this one swore absolute fidelity in terms of chivalry precisely to the person who had taken her father’s existence away.

It was complex to imagine what Sir Bardel’s perspective would be upon seeing his beloved daughter acting practically as a piece moved at the whim of whoever was his rival.

—Charlotte.

A strange mixture of sorrow and guilt began to manifest in the inner depths of Dale, urging him to pronounce her name.

—What is happening?

—… It is of no importance.

—What is that due to? Why do you change your mind so suddenly?

Dale opted to remain silent, limiting himself to smiling in a calm way.

—Analyzing it well, the date of your own anniversary has not yet arrived, am I correct?

—No, there is still some time left. Why do you mention it?

Dale, having already reached thirteen years of age, continued the dialogue with Charlotte, who was twelve.

—Under that premise, until that moment arrives, you will have the obligation to treat me as your older brother.

Dale commented, adopting an air of detachment, causing Charlotte’s face to acquire a reddish tonality while she buried the tip of her blade in the surface of the ground, experiencing a slight internal annoyance.

A couple of days later, in moments where the joy for the festivities still remained at a quite high point, a contingent made up of a thousand paid combatants made their entry back to the Sachsen fortress. Despite their condition, they did not exhibit the rustic behaviors common in mercenary bands; on the contrary, they showed a discipline and an order so strict that they resembled a perfectly coordinated mechanism.

It was a group of soldiers with high-density body protections, where each member carried defensive equipment of a dark tonality that was extremely expensive.

—Jonas of Kennet reporting to the leader to expose the results obtained by the Black Armor Company!

—Excellent, share the details of the campaign.

That group corresponded to the Black Armor Company, cataloged as the most distinguished group of combatants of all the regions, having Dale as its maximum strategist and leader.

—We have obtained an absolute triumph in the dispute for the lands linked to Count Wilhelm! Likewise, the balance of losses in our ranks has been…

After listening attentively to the details offered by Sir Jonas regarding the acts of war, Dale nodded, showing his approval.

The mercenary group was at a stage where it possessed the necessary maturity to act autonomously under the direction of the second in command, Sir Jonas. Despite finding themselves in a numerical disadvantage of two to one against the enemy, they had managed to rise with the victory.

—You have demonstrated excellent strategic capability in the field.

The plan implemented lacked flaws and, occupying the role of guide, Dale could not help but feel deep satisfaction for the performance shown.

—A truly exceptional job, Sir Jonas.

—All the merit is due to the knowledge that you have provided me, my lord!

Sir Jonas, who considered himself Dale’s favorite student, had been in charge of absorbing all the notions relative to the direction of regiments, tactical planning, and the arts of war. He represented one of the few people in whom Dale placed absolute trust to delegate the control of the Black Armor Company, which he himself had structured from its foundations.

No matter how gifted the combatants could be in the field, if the person in charge of leading them lacked the necessary cunning, the totality of the group would inevitably head toward disaster.

—I still have a great quantity of knowledge to transmit to you.

From that perspective, Sir Jonas stood out for being an individual who found a true delight in learning, counting on the ideal discernment to retain the information. Constantly, he posed interrogatives, motivated by understanding to the bottom every concept of military strategy that Dale shared with him.

—However, this moment is not the adequate one to continue with the lessons.

After making that precision, Dale made a gesture of negation.

—Currently we find ourselves celebrating my anniversary, so I have ordered to reserve a good portion of food and drinks for the enjoyment of the entire contingent.

—We thank you enormously for your generosity, Lord Dale!

—Go to relax and leave the formal discussions for a later occasion.

At Dale’s order, Sir Jonas proceeded to kneel, supporting his metallic blade against the ground in a clear manifestation of imperishable respect.

—Ha, ha, for all the heavens! That position of privilege that you possess results truly dazzling!

Master Baro let out a loud laugh while ingesting a generous drink of the liquor characteristic of the rulers of Saxony.

—My best wishes on your day, Apostle of Darkness —added the Saint of Shadows, who carried her face covered by a dark fabric over her eyes, manifesting a peaceful expression at a short distance from them.

The main precinct of the court had ceased to function as a neutral space in the vicinity of the Guild City. Although the so-called Court of Shadows persisted in its labors of imparting resolutions within said settlement, simultaneously it had consolidated itself as the most feared and efficient network of executioners of the entire continent. With the finality of watching closely each operation, it resulted imperative that the high commands remained in the proximity of Dale.

The leaders of the judicial organization, with Master Baro and the Saint of Shadows at the head, had determined to establish a new center of operations in the icy regions of Saxony, counting on the backing and shelter of the faction of the Blacks.

Both the Black Armor Company and the Court of Shadows represented only a fraction of the diverse and influential groups that Dale had dedicated himself to consolidating under his command.

—Master Baro, I require requesting your services for a specific task.

—What is it exactly about? Is it necessary that I take charge of extinguishing the life of some target? —inquired Master Baro while he continued enjoying his drink. Dale proceeded to deny with his head.

—It is precise to provide instruction to a person.

—Understood, it will suffice that you indicate who it is about and I will make sure to demand the maximum effort possible from her.

At the time that Master Baro gave his conformity, a silent figure emerged from the zones of penumbra close to Dale: it was about a silent warrior who fulfilled the function of constant escort, protecting him from the dark sectors.

—We are speaking about the main executor of these lands…

He was referring to Saint Aurelia.

—My desire is that she manages to eradicate any trace of the chivalrous codes from Aurelia’s combat style, molding her technique until converting it into the skill proper of a true specialist in silent eliminations.

—What a dilemma in which you put us. How are we supposed to proceed before this? —commented Master Baro in a low voice, simulating a gesture of bewilderment upon fixing his gaze on Aurelia.

—There does not exist any inconvenience in trying it.

Little time after these events, in the framework of the celebration of Dale’s thirteenth anniversary, there was made an official delivery of a territory proper under the authority of his progenitor, the Duke of Saxony.