The rays of sunlight flashes through the window inside the office, and the heat coming from the hearth makes up for a welcoming morning. Mornings are easily where a person's energy spikes up, allowing them to start the day with eager productivity. The brothers Ivan and Damian most certainly have the most energy today…
"Damian made a key from his earth magic and opened the door!" Ivan said, quickly stepping away from his father's greatsword.
Damian glared at him furiously. His finger pointed at his brother as he tried to defend himself.
"Ivan convinced me– he forced me into this!"
"And despite how wrong you think it is to sneak up on someone's office, you still followed through on your brother's folly?" Lanius said, raising his eyebrow and his lips curving half a smirk.
"Both of you did something wrong." Lanius entered his office and closed the door. "No point in bickering any further, so settle down you two."
Their father grabbed Frost and sat down on the well-furnished, darkwood long chair. His hand motioned on the cold steel, fingers tracing the runic patterns etched deeply into the blade.
"Someday, both of you must learn how to be responsible with every decision you make. Although it is too late for regrets now that you did something wrong—sneaking inside my office to do whatever pleases you—all you could do afterwards is to move on and promise me to never do it again." Lanius said.
"Are my words understood?"
"Yes, Father." Both answered, nodding their heads, none of them blaming each other any further.
Though Damian wanted to argue, he didn't need to because his father never truly got mad.
It was always like this, he would expect his father to do harsher punishment simply because he looked like the type of man who would. Hard faced and imposing, wearing a black fur cloak that made his muscular and tall frame even bigger than he already was. The said cloak was made from the fur of a black direwolf he had slain when he was fourteen. Menacing, even as a child…
Damian can't help but think his father might have been a terrifying man before he retired and became the heir of Aisdel. Sure, he was an adventurer, but most adventurers don't have this distinct, lingering bloodlust that makes someone crave for battle..
The mere thought of his father lashing out terrified him. Truly. Damian knew his father was being gentle with him and his brother so he wouldn't scare them. Besides, they're still children. No sane father would wish his children to be afraid of merely approaching him.
"Hmm, actually…" Lanius slid Frost on its leather sheath, strapping his greatsword firmly across his back. "I came looking for you two, we're going to the mountains."
Lanius grabbed his other greatsword that the brothers overlooked. Its grip was made from darkwood, both the hilt and pommel seem to be made with dark-colored, polished steel. Perhaps the blade itself was dark in color too. Bandits would have to second-guess choosing their profession if they came across a tall man carrying two greatswords on his back like they weigh nothing.
…
At the mansion's front yard, horses were lined up, ready for the upcoming journey.
There were three stallions meant for riding, and two packhorses for carrying the supplies. Their sworn knights had already finished packing their luggage and supplies, strapping the essentials securely and tightly onto the packhorses. Food, water, clothing, tents, bedrolls and heavy blankets to keep themselves warm from the biting cold. They had even packed the right tools for the trek as well: ropes, climbing axes, and woodsman axes. Everything was ready.
Sir Elric's grin spread across his face, hands rubbing together and letting out playful giggles. This will be his first time joining a small expedition, and he couldn't hide his eagerness.
Sir Robin, on the other hand, looked as if he had already been on many trips, and saw this as just a routine of his sworn lord. He crossed his arms, looking at his junior knight with utter indifference.
I think he's still salty about Father's boulder training… Damian told himself.
"The place we're headed to, the Mistypeak Mountains, is a breeding ground for monsters," Lanius spoke, briefing his party about the perils they will face. "They tend to raid villages and nearby towns whenever a winter storm approaches. There are occasional mana storms on the mountains as well, but those only occur at its peak."
Damian settled on Sir Robin's mount, while Ivan took his seat on the Red Knight's chestnut stallion.
Sir Elric turned his head to face Ivan behind, both of them grinning at each other and bumping their fists. Sir Robin doesn't spare them a glance, while Damian only sighed at the two. If only he had the same excitement as they have.
The thought of going on a trip for more than a few days gave his stomach a strange twist. He wasn't the kind of person to go on long camping trips, and the fact that there will be dangerous monsters lurking on the mountains added to his worry. Afterall, he had never seen one in his life. Beatrice had told him stories about Mountain Trolls—massive, vicious, blue skinned humanoids—that come out of their lair to eat humans, destroy villages and towns during massive snow storms. He wouldn't want to fight them head on, not when his small body is barely a snack on their massive stomachs.
A lady in green dress, and darker green shawl, walked towards him.
Catherine smiled, leaning in to press kiss on his forehead. Then, she pulled his small frame into a warm and enveloping hug. Somehow, all of his worries seemed to melt away.
"Take care, my sweetheart." Catherine said. "Never leave your father's side, and stay close to our knights too."
"Yes, Mother." Damian nodded, his face was clearly gleaming with a happy smile.
For him, all those hugs and kisses were good luck. And It wouldn't end there; Catherine will pray for them on their trip to the mountains. All in good faith that no grievous harm shall befall to her sons, husband, and knights once they come back home.
It's Ivan's turn. Catherine kisses his forehead and hugs him, but the boy also hugs her back tightly, holding on for almost a minute. She chuckled wholeheartedly, patting his back with more reassurance.
And finally, she stepped up to Lanius. He grabbed his wife's waist, pulling her against him, and kissed her squarely on the lips. Catherine's cheeks flushed red or pink as the kiss lingered for more than a few heart beats. She covered her face bashfully when they parted, then jabbed her husband like a cat batting at a ball of yarn.
I guess Father also needed Mother's good luck kisses. Damian thought, and a slight smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Beatrice came out of the mansion's main door, frantically running towards them. She is carrying Liana in her arms, though the girl seemed to have been pulling her hair on their way here.
"Liana–we're already here," Beatrice sputtered, while gently trying to pry the toddler's tiny hands away. "Please stop pulling my hair…"
"Let me see Father!" Liana grumbled. "And my brothers too!"
Liana gave the maid a sourful glance, before turning towards her brother. She waved her little hand, a farewell wave from their one and only sister.
Lanius, who was about to saddle up, turns back and gently pats his daughter's head.
"Dont be a handful to your mother," Lanius said. He glanced at the maid who was holding Liana. Beatrice's eyes were half-close, utterly defeated by the green haired girl.
"Liana," Lanius pointed out. "her hair."
"Oh! Right…" Liana finally let go. Beatrice's hair is now a tangled mess because of her.
With a final farewell to his daughter, Lanius signaled his party to depart. His guards stood at attention as they opened the gates, bowing their heads as the mighty lord's party rode past them.
"Safe travels, m'lord." The guards said in unison, before closing the gate shut.
As their party began to head out in the outer wilds, Damian took one last glance at his home. Uncertain of what might happen during their journey, the monsters he might face, and a chance to witness a mana storm with his own eyes. Deep in his gut, a mix of worry and excitement was stirring up.
…
The skies were clear today, no thick and heavy
clouds forming on the horizon.
As they continued heading down the road, rhythmic rumblings echoed in the distance, feeling the vibrations from their mounts. Followed by long, deep bellows. A familiar sound Damian once heard the last time he went outside his home.
Mammoths, a caravan of them, carried loads of raw etherium shards on their backs. They occupied the road with how gigantic these beasts were.
Despite the term etherium already existing in the common vocabulary, locals and adventurers still call them mana crystals. These crystals are being delivered towards the southern border. A trade deal was made beforehand between Duke Ericus and Duke Garland through the marriage of Lanius and Lady Catherine of House Sully—one of the wealthiest Great Houses of the Empire. Trading them for grain, freshly harvested crops and other important supplies to aid Aisdel through its harsh winter season.
With no other choice. Lanius signaled his party to turn sideways and let the transport mammoths have the main road for themselves until they pass over. They rested for a while, under the line of trees.
Once the caravan passed over them, Lanius's party continued heading towards the main road. The mammoths left heavy hoofprints on the snow.
Two days have passed. The party drifted away from the main road.
By the fourth day, the sky was already casting a hue of deep blue and orange when they reached the town of Orstun. The town was still three miles away from the perilous foot of the Mistypeak Mountains.
Orstun is surrounded by walls made out of stone. Granite most likely. The guards had stern looks on their faces, watching over the plains of snow covered ground for any signs of monsters nearby.
Houses were built using darkwood and stone foundations. The design was typical of the northern countryside. Rustic, and campy, it feels warm on the inside.
"We'll get some sleep at an inn this time." Lanius said. He led the group inside the warm, and cozy inn.
Everyone seemed eager to settle on their beds, but Damian was interested in going to the balcony to see the mountains from afar.
His father stood between the wooden railings. Arms crossed behind, looking at the titanic rock formation with sharp, jagged peaks. The clear sky and bright moonlight made the mountains visible for the eyes to see. Some peaks were covered by thick mists. Guess where the namesake of the mountains came from.
"You're still awake." Lanius hummed.
"The view seems nice." Damian said, slowly walking towards his father. "Hmm…I see blue lights forming on the bigger clouds, just above the peaks."
Damian pointed at the big group of clouds formed higher than the peak itself. The blue light almost looked like lightning, but the flash wasn't instantaneous. Moreso, it lingered for just about ten seconds before dissipating in the air.
"A mana storm." Lanius said. "It happens when there's a high amount of mana concentration. Those blue flashes of light that resemble lightning? Those are pure mana energy spewing out of the air."
"Surges of pure mana from those highstorms can cause etherium shards to form on the rocks. And, if a person is exposed to raw etherium's dusts without proper equipment, you'll catch the Shimmer.
"The Shimmer…" Damian said, "How bad is it?"
"From what I know, this disease corrupts your body from the outside and within. Crystals will form in your skin, with your veins faintly glowing blue as the infection spreads to the body and further deteriorates. They also corrupt the local wildlife, turning them into more aggressive, mutated monsters."
"Then we must avoid it," Damian spoke up. "Dying to the Shimmer feels like a horrific way to go."
"You don't need to be worried, our biology differs from normal humans." Lanius said, ruffling Damian's hair. "I was exposed to it once, nothing happened. Figured it was my Arcaedian blood that protected me from such a powerful disease."
Damian didnt knew more about etherium, other than it being formerly called as mana crystals used for energy and it being the subject of studies by master mages. It had definitely been here for a long time on Terra, but only now they were being discovered in large numbers underground.
The Melvorian mines were some of its largest producers, he wondered if those miners were ever healed after their exposure with those raw, unrefined etherium shards. Though he never saw the mines owned by House Redford himself.
As Damian absorbed all that information, he wondered how his father knew a lot of things.
"You know so many things other than swords and martial arts, Father." Damian said.
"Just because I'm a dedicated swordsman, doesn't mean I wouldn't be interested in scholastic knowledge." Lanius quipped, nudging Damian's cheek with his finger. "In fact, knowledge is valuable, Damian. In a way, you're just like me, curious about the world and its wonders. The only difference is that I travel often. Being immersed in the world is the best way to learn afterall."
Damian realized he took his father only for a legendary warrior. In fact, he was actually more knowledgeable than he thought. He thought only his mother was the smart one.
"Now go get some rest, we have a long day ahead of us." Lanius said, ruffling the boy's hair one more time before sending him to sleep inside the inn.
…
The trek towards the mountains was arduous. The winter chill tingled Damian's cheeks, but it did not bother him. Was it his layered clothing? A normal person, even if they are clad in wolf pelts, fur cloak, and layered tunics would freeze in the northern lands unless they make fire once they made camp.
The cold was the least of their worries. Thick snow plagued them, every step felt like a heavy drag. If the boys stepped out of their mounts, almost half of their bodies would get buried in snow. The men got off their saddles and guided their horses to lessen their mount's burden. They held the reins while the boys sat on top of the saddles.
Sir Elric's chestnut whinnied, struggling to keep pace on the others. Ivan, who sat on top, tried to calm the horse. The boy grabbed a carrot to cheer it up.
"Up, Smiler," Ivan whispered, waving the carrot in front of the chestnut stallion. "It will be too long until we find a shallower slope."
Sir Elric glanced at Ivan, smiling. Smiler seemed to listen and bit the carrot, now the stallion strided harder on the steep slope. Smiler kept its pace to Sir Robin's mount, Snow Drifter.
The white stallion bumped its head towards the chestnut Smiler. Damian, who sits on top of Snow Drifter, rubs its head and calms it down.
"Easy now, Snow," He whispered, then glanced at Ivan and Sir Elric.
"Calm your horse down, Sir Robin." Sir Elric said, "Don't tell me you taught it to spite me and my handsome stallion."
"I don't spite anybody." Sir Robin replied, heavily stepping on deep snow to get ahead of them.
The younger knight rolled his eyes, determined to keep pace to his senior. "Hey, wait up!"
After two hours of painfully trekking the mountain, the party breathed a sigh of relief as their foot stepped on a shallower slope. The snow also thinned out once they reached the flat of the mountain. Sir Elric let out a guffaw that made nearby birds fly out of their trees.
"Nobody moves," Lanius said coldly. "They're watching us."
A chill pause hung in the air. Everyone looked around the line of trees, jagged rocks, even the snow they were standing on. Sir Robin squinted his eyes. Walking backwards closer to Damian.
Sir Elric covered Ivan, his hand gripping the handle of his sword.
A massive boulder hurtled towards them.
Lanius backhanded the boulder like a pebble, deflecting it away from his party. It came crashing down the treelines on their right side. Inhuman groans echoed after, one troll scrambled on his legs but it was too broken and grotesquely gored. Sir Robin threw a dagger at the monster, killing it in an instant.
Dozens of trolls emerged from the trees they were hiding in. They encircled Lanius's party. The monsters stood imposingly, standing over seven or nine feet on average.
They had blue skin, painted in white tribal tattoos, their sharp tusks great for tearing flesh apart, their arms unusually large and their pot bellies full of consumed adventurers and hikers alike.
Trolls don't normally come out of their nests during clear weather, but this time it was unexpected. On a bright sunny day, they come face to face with Lanius, who had been hunting them relentlessly for three years, and now they come in full force of two hundred and more.
Was it the mana storm that drove to come out of the mountains? Or did their scouts informed about Lanius coming over the Mistypeak Mountains to do his usual monster slaying expedition? Either way, the situation everyone was expecting to be bad turned to the worst possible scenario.
But, none of the men showed an ounce of fear. On the contrary, they looked as if they had been craving this. Sir Elric grinded his teeth as he grinned, his knuckles turning white for gripping his sword handle tightly. Sir Robin was calm as a feather, his right hand on his sword and his left on his revolving pistol.
Badum! Badum! Badum!
The sound of drums from the drummer trolls standing over the jagged cliff rumbled on the mountain. Followed by a deafening roar that irks the party's ears. The Troll Chief, who had slicked back red hair, and gigantic frame, raised its hammer made from ice magic. It ordered the trolls to charge.
"Whatever happens, you stay close to us." Lanius told his sons. "It'll be over soon."
He unsheathes his two greatswords—Frost on his right hand, and a black claymore on his left.
It is the signal for others to unsheath their weapons. The clearing turned into a battlefield.
Sounds of metal hitting bone erupted. Sir Elric fights like a mad wolf, tearing the troll's limbs like carving a cake. A troll headbutted him, and he did the same to the monster far larger than him. He pulled its tusks hard, shattering it and dislocating its jaw.
"Yeah! Come at me!" Sir Elric roared, unleashing his inner direwolf. He charged wildly, his sword slicing and thrusting through the vital parts of the approaching trolls.
"Did he not use Reinforcement?" Ivan said, guiding Smiler to get closer to Damian.
"No…I can't sense mana use at all." Damian replied in awe. He glanced at his father and Sir Robin but neither used their Reinforcement as they continued to cleave through the horde of massive trolls.
Lanius became a whirlwind of black and blue—Frost slicing the heads of incoming trolls, a glow of blue light shimmering on the blade's runes—while his black claymore dismembers the trolls coming from his side in half. Vertically, horizontally. Guts spilled on the snow, now tinted with their vile blood.
Sir Robin's pistol exploded into wild shots. It hit a troll's head, shattering its monstrous face down to its bones.
It was pure chaos. Damian wasn't expecting he'd witness a horde of monsters attacking them head on. Moreso, he couldn't believe that a small party of three warriors could hold their ground against a massive force.
A small, juvenile troll slipped through the chaotic fray, flailing its axe wildly, thick saliva drooling from its hungry mouth.
"Ivan," Damian pointed out. "Ivan, a troll!"
Damian glanced at his father who was busy fighting an elite troll warrior. His voices wouldn't be heard from this distance, still occupied with a larger group.
"Hold on, this might be my first kill." Ivan grinned and jumped out of Smiler. "Let's see what you've got."
The juvenile troll charged at Ivan, swinging its axe through the air, hoping it hits the auburn haired boy. Ivan ducked beneath the arc and punched the troll's ribs, a loud crack echoing on the clearing. Angered, the young troll punched Ivan's face, but the boy didn't fall back.
The two exchanged punches like seasoned pugilists. Neither yielded. Trolls possess a natural healing factor, which is why it's harder for Ivan to knock it down.
"Dont just sit there!" Ivan yelled. "Use your magic and help me with this troll!"
Damian snapped out of his mind. He was still shocked about what was happening around him. It all happened too quickly. Still, he had to focus on the current threat, a troll was still near them.
Extending his hands, he called upon his mana radiance.
"Fireball!"
His hands formed a sphere of flames and struck the younger troll right in its face.
"Ooww! Awwaahwaaww!" The troll shrieked, but the fire quickly dissipated.
"Grrrr, rraghhh!"
The burning pain only angered the younger troll further. It leaped high towards Damian's mount, ignoring the boy he was exchanging fists with.
"Get away from me!" Damian reached both his hands. "Windblast!"
A violent gale surged from his palms, launching the younger troll up in the air. It flew backwards, crashing itself onto a jagged tree branch that impaled it through its torso. The monster flailed its limbs wildly as blood poured out of its guts. With one last desperate roar, its entire body went limp.
I…I killed it. Damian said to himself. My first kill.
He was neither proud nor regretful of what he did. It was necessary to save himself from harm. Ivan doesn't seem to mind his own injuries, as he casually wiped the small bruise on his cheek.
Sir Robin rushed back towards the horses, carefully looking for nearby threats. He glanced at Damian, who was still stunned by everything that had happened so far.
"Damian," Sir Robin said, checking for any signs of injury. "Are you boys okay?"
"I'm…alright." Damian spoke hesitantly. "Ivan fought a juvenile troll barehanded. But I was the one who killed it."
Sir Robin glanced at the impaled, lifeless troll, then back towards the brothers.
"You both fought well, young masters." He reached for his bag full of ammunition on his mount's saddle. "I apologize for letting one slip through."
He loaded his revolving pistol full.
This time, he stuck closely to the brothers, letting Sir Elric and Lanius to handle the slaughter at their fronts, while he stayed in a defensive position. Six consecutive shots were fired from his revolver, all shattering through skulls and ribs of any trolls that dared to approach them.
A deafening roar echoed on the battlefield. The second troll chieftain emerged from the jagged cliffs where the drummers banged their drums. It wielded a massive ice axe, its red hair was messy and unkempt. With another ear-shattering roar, it jumped out of the cliffs to aid the hammer troll chieftain.
Lanius stood still. He casually stuck his greatswords on the snow.
Father? Damian thought. What is he doing? Why won't he use his swords against the bigger trolls?
The battlefield fell silent, seeing the two chieftains in front of Lanius. Judging by the distinct tattoos of the trolls, it appears the two warmongering tribes had joined forces. United just for a small party of three warriors and two toddlers.
With a long deafening roar, the hammer troll chieftain swung its ice hammer towards Lanius.
Lanius didn't flinch at the slightest, he jumped in the air right before the impact, and landed on its massive shoulder. With a single lightning-fast horizontal chop of his bare hand, he struck the monster's neck. The hammer troll chieftain's head hung loosely, dangling against its chest.
"Raaaghhh!"
The axe troll chieftain roared and swung blindly in a frenzied rage towards Lanius. But instead, the heavy axe sliced through the other chief's already loose neck, sending the decapitated head thudding heavily in the snow.
It felt unreal to everyone who witnessed the act. Sir Elric stood frozen, his mouth forming an 'O'. He had never seen a human, even those with strong Reinforcement, chop a troll chieftain's head with his bare hand. Lanius's hand was a lethal blade itself.
The axe troll chieftain looked around. Confused. It frantically checked its shoulders to see if Lanius had landed there.
Boom!
A grotesque explosion shattered everyone's ears, chunks of meat flying and scattering in the snow. Lanius had landed a devastating blow directly on the troll chieftain's leg.
"Aarghh- URRAGHHHH!" The axe troll chieftain fell on its back, holding its gored leg as blood sprayed across the snow.
To end the giant troll's agonizing wail, Lanius calmly mounted on its chest. A relentless, brutal barrage of punches rained down on the troll's face. The remaining trolls watched in absolute horror as they watched a human overpowering the strongest of their kind. They trembled, frozen in fear, not even knowing what to do as Lanius' face became splattered with vile blood with every punch he threw.
The troll chieftain's limbs twitched, even when its face were completely obliterated. When the movements finally stopped, Lanius gripped the monster's head and forcefully tore it from its shoulders.
Lanius stood, turning his face to the remaining trolls, his gold-yellow eyes shimmering intensely. He let out a long, quiet sigh, his face remaining stone-cold throughout the entire carnage.
"Don't let a single one of them get away." Lanius commanded his knights.