Chapter 283 - A Messenger of the Night
Nathan Evenhart:
The exhibition continued with increasingly impressive presentations. Without a doubt, the most exciting moment was the spell demonstrations performed by some of the royal guards of the dukes. When the spectacle ended, we were all guided back to the dining area. On stage, representatives of the duchies showcased their most valuable artifacts—ancient relics steeped in history—while the servants moved between the tables, serving the meal.
Beyond the exhibition, the event also marked the graduation of the final-year students. I observed some of them from a distance, seated at one of the tables. There were many smiling faces, taking the opportunity to strengthen ties with the nobility of their duchies. However, not everyone was seeking political connections. Some were clearly destined for a military career. It was easy to identify them, as those who wished to stand out proudly wore the brooch of their magic class pinned to their robes.
There were two career paths for those seeking to join the military: serving as a soldier in the kingdom's army or serving in their own duchy's military.
Although they might seem like similar choices at first glance, the difference between them was considerable. For those seeking quick wealth, the kingdom's army was a tempting option. However, in the long run, this choice might not be as advantageous, depending on the individual's ambitions. The reason was simple: competition. A soldier in the kingdom's army competed for promotions with a much larger pool of candidates than a ducal soldier. And, let's be honest, in a kingdom where connections matter more than merit, who do you think the realm would choose to promote—someone from the capital or someone from a distant duchy?
The career progression within the ducal army was more stable and promising, even though the initial salaries weren't as attractive as those in the kingdom. How did I know this? Well, don't blame me. As the future duke, it was my duty to understand these nuances.
Aunt Margie called our attention by saying, "Children, it seems we will have company soon."
I followed her gaze and saw some nobles from our duchy approaching. They stopped to greet others along the way, but it was evident they were heading toward us.
"We're not children…" Chloe muttered.
"It's just an affectionate way of saying it, my dear," my aunt replied with a smile.
I observed the nobles for a moment, but soon returned to my meal.
Martha leaned slightly and asked, "Would you like me to ask them to come later? It is impolite to interrupt a superior noble during a meal."
"They are probably just waiting for you all to finish," Hugo commented. "Staying close is a discreet way of showing they want to talk."
We were seated at the ducal table, separate from the others. Behind me, Hugo remained standing as a guard. On my lap, a gray cat slept peacefully.
It didn't take long for one of the nobles to step forward. Hugo acted as an intermediary, granting him permission to approach. As they got closer, I recognized some of them. They were the marquesses of the Evenhart Duchy.
The duchies had three marquesses. Two of them were under the duke's command, while the third answered directly to the kingdom. The ones approaching us were the marquesses subordinate to House Evenhart.
"Tonight is truly special," commented one of the older men. His dark brown hair, streaked with gray, contrasted with his thick beard, giving him an imposing look. His direct manner of speaking revealed his origin—the northern region of the duchy.
He was Marquess Eldric Ursfeld, whose family crest bore the image of a bear. His responsibility spanned the mountains and some of the forests of the duchy.
We greeted him formally. According to noble etiquette, only we were allowed to interact with the marquesses. The rest of the table had to remain silent, without even conversing among themselves.
"I'm glad you came, Eldric," my aunt said with a sharp smile. "I would hate to have to draft a document claiming that my marquess was ill or something of the sort."
The man let out a hearty laugh.
"I don't particularly enjoy being around these pompous city folks. I only came to see if my presence at this meeting could serve as a way to show the duchess that I hope she grants me the honor of taking our future rulers to the next annual gathering," he said jokingly.
Beside him stood a thin, composed man with a calm expression—a stark contrast to Marquess Eldric's energetic presence.
This was Marquess Caelan Elmareth. His family's symbol was a swordfish, and he oversaw the part of my territory that bordered the sea.
"Our lively Eldric has been entertaining some rather interesting ideas since the new political shift on this continent," commented Marquess Caelan.
"Are you talking about the fourth great kingdom that emerged, the Olarion Kingdom?" my cousin asked.
The two marquesses exchanged glances.
That was a delicate topic, one that left both the royal family and the dukes on edge.
This was one of the main reasons behind this event.
"Exactly, Lady Chloe," Caelan agreed.
In the past year, a major shift occurred on my continent, all linked to Princess Rose Olarion. The continent had long been divided into multiple kingdoms. One entire half belonged to the Alliance of the Three Kingdoms, the former Asalon Empire, while the other half consisted of numerous smaller kingdoms. Because of this, the Three Kingdoms had always maintained dominance over the continent, both economically and militarily. After all, they descended from an ancient empire. Their alliance was strong, and despite racial differences, they functioned as a unified force. This allowed them to impose many of the continent's governing policies. But a few months ago, something unexpected happened.
The other half of the continent united and formed a fourth great kingdom. This meant that the formerly fragmented lands were no longer divided, but now a single, unified nation. Although they weren't militarily superior in terms of skilled mages or flying cavalry, the sheer fact that an entire region had consolidated made them immensely powerful. This new nation was now known as the Olarion Kingdom.
Now, my continent had four great kingdoms, and the political landscape had become unstable. Olarion began operating as a unified economic alliance. Instead of each small kingdom negotiating individual trade agreements with the Alliance of the Three Kingdoms, the Three Kingdoms were now the ones forced to negotiate with Olarion. Previously, as independent kingdoms, they were weak, forced to rely on the mercy of the greater nations. But now—united—they had gained enough economic power to sustain their own market.
Rather than yielding to the pressure of the Human Kingdom, which historically held the continent's greatest military strength, Olarion began making its own demands. They demanded equal treatment, pushing for the removal of economic restrictions and the reduction of taxes and tariffs imposed on trade with the Three Kingdoms.
The past year had been tumultuous economically, largely due to the Human Kingdom, which had always looked down on those smaller nations. The problem was that there was one common factor among them all: The border with the other continent. A location that required cooperation between the kingdoms. From what I had heard, the Human Kingdom had exploited the former small kingdoms, sending their soldiers to the most dangerous frontlines, using them as disposable forces in suicidal missions without caring about their losses. Now that the balance of power had shifted, everything had become a battle of egos.
"Not here," my aunt interrupted. "Leave these matters for the annual meeting."
Marquess Eldric stepped closer to Chloe and me.
"It is an honor to see you both again. Sixteen years spent on vacation from noble responsibilities in the duchy," he chuckled. "But now, it seems that in the future, we will be constantly stuck in boring meetings."
He leaned in slightly, moving closer to both of us.
His previously lively expression changed for a brief moment.
"The Evenhart family will always come first… If, by any chance, you ever decide to stop calling yourselves dukes and accept the titles of king and queen… my blade will always be sharpened. I owe that much to your parents," he whispered before stepping back.
I understood what he meant. Eldric was an extremist, a staunch defender of old traditions and an opponent of the political nobility in the Capital. If I had to sum up what he and his family wanted, it would be for the Duchy to reclaim its status as a Kingdom. In other words, what he truly sought was Evenhart's independence.
"Thank you for your demonstration of loyalty, Marquess. I'm glad to count on your family," my cousin replied in her most political tone, offering nothing more than a neutral response.
The Marquess Caelan sighed and turned to Eldric.
"Old man… you're still clinging to those outdated aspirations," Caelan said.
"I must've had too much to drink," Eldric commented, laughing.
My aunt ignored the remarks, but I noticed a faint layer of wind surrounding us, subtly filtering the sound so that certain parts of the conversation wouldn't escape.
"By the way, I want to thank you for the new seeds that have been arriving recently," Caelan said. "I've never seen anything sprout so fast and in such quantity. I was truly impressed."
Now it was Marquess Caelan who leaned in and whispered.
"You didn't happen to kidnap an elf and magically exploit them, did you?" he asked jokingly.
"They're just some special seeds that our botanical specialist, Yusuf, has been producing," my aunt replied with a smile.
I glanced back quickly—toward the true source of those seeds—my mother. Before, she had always used her magic to enhance seeds meant for our farmlands, but lately, my aunt had been sending special shipments to these two marquesses.
Of course, no one knew that my mother was the real source of those seeds. Her elven abilities were a secret, and no one would suspect that a human commoner had access to elven magic.
The conversation between them continued, and I took the chance to discreetly slip away, taking advantage of the distraction. I felt a bit disappointed for not finding anything related to the ancient civilization among the dukes' objects. Maybe they simply didn't want to display such relics, assuming they even had any.
"Beloved," a voice called softly beside me.
Cylla approached, walking gracefully.
"Where are you going?"
"Just wandering. I want to take another look at the treasures—see if I missed any details. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be near their collections," I responded through our mental connection.
The surroundings were still bustling. Some nobles conversed at their tables, enjoying the banquet, while others roamed the anchored ship nearby. Most of them were waiting for the final grand event of the night, when each duke would give a brief speech. While they used the occasion to strengthen political connections, my focus remained on examining those treasures once more.
"I'll stay with you. Who knows? Maybe with me around, you'll have better luck finding something," Cylla said, laughing at my side.
We entered the ship again, retracing our steps, passing by a few people. I quickly scanned the display cases. The practical demonstrations, like the one with the explosive arrow, had already ended—probably due to a limited number of arrows available.
As I walked through the corridors, I examined every detail, from sculptures to paintings. I was looking for any clue, any relevant item. I scanned everything with my eyes, but in the end, there was nothing.
"Let's go back…" I sighed.
'Caw!'
A sharp cawing echoed through the hall. The raven's cry reverberated off the walls, the floor, the ceiling, and even the objects around us.
"Beloved…" Cylla turned her head, analyzing our surroundings.
"I heard it too…"
Suddenly, a raven emerged from one of the rooms, soaring through the air. It hovered in front of us, flapping its wings slowly to remain suspended. Then, it drifted closer to me.
I stood still, unsure of how to react. The raven cawed again, giving the impression that it was trying to say something. Then, it flew off into the depths of the ship.
I was stunned to see that strange raven again. A flood of questions rushed through my mind.
How was it here?
What was it, really?
But my mind arrived at only one conclusion.
"Cylla, we need to follow it."