Free Web NovelChapter 26: Chapter 026: Greenwood.
The forest was filled with chirps of birds and insects and the roar of distant beasts. The noises all seemed to recognize the presence of a certain individual, who couldn’t help but find the noise so surprisingly warm and fine, he couldn’t stop himself from smiling.
Towering trees, with trunks wide and thick as pillars, seemed to stretch on for miles. Their canopies were so high above and tangled, they formed a thick green roof that did not allow the sunlight to penetrate except in trickling, cascading beams that bounced and danced across the moss covered floor.
The forest floor was lit up with luminescent mushrooms that shone and reflected whatever little sunlight that chanced on their surfaces.
Here and there, crystal clear streams meandered through the luscious undergrowth, their waters glowing faintly under the effect of the light radiating shrooms while its clear nature allowed for full view of different species and colors of fish that swam in them! Meanwhile on the banks where these streams met to form a river, flowers bloomed and in impossible, unseen shapes! A few of them recoiled at Mikael’s touch while others seemingly leaned forward in predatory curiosity.
As he walked on, he took notice of the forest’s wildlife, prey and predator alike. Just ahead, a herd of silver horned deer passed, waiting just a moment to assess that the white, two legged creature was not a threat. Overhead, a three eyed owl glided and hung around a pack of rodents in preparation to catch it’s breakfast.
The other thing Mikael noted and appreciated about the forest was how dense the natural mana was in the air, exactly the very thing he needed to fuel this venture. ’Must have a large vein directly beneath to be this saturated,’ he mused as he continued. Anyhow,the Duke was straight up generous with his recommendation!
At some point, he willed some of the mana into a footstool that kept his feet a few meters away from the ground and that propelled him forward without tiring him and while it did help physically, the mental drain was...disturbing and a bit much as he had to actively manipulate the mana particles to his will. Yet, he did not stop as it was far more convenient than walking and the side effect was negligible as he mostly used external essence - mana.
"I can’t seem to shake off the feeling that this reconnection will hurt a lot though," he muttered.
✦ ✦ ✦
"You called for us, my lord." Clinton’s voice entered the garden, signaling his entrance with the maid, Lina. They bowed.
"Yes, Clinton. How have you been?"
"In good health, to the glory of the most holy Goddess Aurora."
"Music to my ears." The duke’s smile disappeared. His voice dropped a few octaves.
"The events of few days are still as surprising as they are shocking. Personally,...If somebody — not a soothsayer or an oracle — had told me that such would have happened, I would have given him his tongue for dinner. But that is exactly how it happened and I hope you all have learnt something from it. Lucius."
"Sir!" Lucius stood upright.
"What are your observations and deductions so far on that incident? You are the most insightful of my children so enlighten us. And call me Father. I am not your commanding officer now, am I?"
"Yes, Father! Forgive my mistake. With your permission, Father, right after we came into the hall for dinner yesterday, we all instinctively reached out to our weapons and prepared to cast a spell, as we’ve been taught to always trust them, our instincts that is. Then Mother instantly cast a protective barrier around us. That action signified that our guest was far from normal — dangerous even and that we were to be cautious.
The duke smiled with satisfaction. "That’s my boy. Go on!" Sybil sneered at Lucius, who smiled at her with an "I’m coming for you later" look in his eyes.
"Lucius, focus! Sybil, Daddy’s talking, okay?"
The little girl frowned and scoffed.
"Yes, Father! As dinner went on, I noticed that Mikael, the guest, seemed to have killed off some of the guards before you showed up, and part of that was why Mother dearest was worried throughout the course of dinner. And during the fight between you and Mikael, I also observed that you both were holding back in a way, after which you — forgive my insolence — gave up way too easily. That I couldn’t..."
"Formal language, Lucius," Selena reprimanded.
"Yes, Mother! That I could not fathom, because I believe, at your current strength, you could have taken him out anytime. That is all I have to say, Father."
"Good boy. Now, Evander, what was Mikael’s face like throughout dinner yesterday?"
"Father! Mother! Like Lucius said, when we first entered the dining hall, I drew my sword. But when I looked at our guest’s eyes, they were at first condescending, cold and darted around so quickly it seemed like they were not moving at all. I believe that within that short time, he had probably mapped out the following: escape routes, weak points of everyone in the hall, as well as the weakest and strongest among us. But then, as dinner went on, I also noticed that he seemed to genuinely enjoy the food and our presence and did not look like he was going to kill anybody."
"Wonderful analysis, Evander." The Duke turned to Isabell. "When you two fought, did he come at you like he wanted you dead immediately?"
Isabell put a hand under her chin, recounting the fight between her and Kael the first time they had met at the camp.
"No, Father. It was almost like a...sparring session between a master and his student."
Turning to Lina and Clinton, the duke questioned, "And he was not hostile to any of you, was he?"
"Not in the slightest, Your Grace," they responded in unison.
The Duke stood up, pulled his seat back and began circling the table.
"Our guest, Mikael, never intended to hurt any member of this family. That was the first thing I saw in his eyes when I first met him in the courtyard. Killing the guards was a warning that we should not take him lightly in the slightest, or he would then strike. The cold, decisive front was a mere facade. He merely needed somewhere to — er — how do you youngsters put it... a place to crash, yes... A base of sorts. The reason for that, we’ll discuss with him whenever he returns."
"But then, as to why I surrendered, the reason was simple. Have you children ever...heard the proverb: ’fear these two things in battle: a man who hath nothing to lose and a man who art not sane, that is, crazy.’ Our guest Mikael was both. Even I could tell that alone we fought; he was not at full strength. Your mother knew it too, hence she chose to stay back and protect you all, ready to flee had things gone south. I am sure you all know what I am saying: Mikael has the power to kill everyone here in the Flaming City and without casting a single spell! Of course, myself and my wife excluded. But had he been truly desperate, I am ashamed to say we, I might not have been able to protect you, my children. A statement unbefitting a father but I must say it, to keep me on my toes too."
The Duke paused as the realization dawned on his children on how close they were to death, as their own powerlessness dawned on them. A heavy silence followed suit.
The Duke coughed after a while.
"My instructions are simple and they are as follows: Treat Mikael as brother — all of you. To Lina and Clinton, treat him as you would any of my children. My wife and I will always be here to mediate any issues or disputes that may arise and you all are expressly forbidden from engaging in combat with him. I say that for your sake." His gaze rested briefly on Evander.
" If any of you wish to discuss any matter privately, come see me in my study in an hour. Selena dear, Clinton, let’s continue inside. Kids, be on your merry way and remember to keep this all secret from your peers. And Luna, nothing is going to happen to you. So feel relaxed."
The girl was practically sweating buckets but the Duke had his reasons so the much he could do was reassure her of her safety under his roof.
" Never hesitate to meet me or the Duchess for anything during this period. Understood?"
"Yes, Your Grace!"
The Duke continued inside the house. The Limnor children, with the exclusion of Sybil, who smiled as sweetly as ever, as though she had no care in the world as she followed her parents inside. The rest looked down, particularly Evander.
The stranger, Mikael, seemed to threaten his position as he was entitled to the title of Duke of Limnor. He gritted his teeth in pure fury even as his own powerlessness continued to stare him in his face.
’I will show that white-haired, handsome brat his place in this house. No one dares to take away my inheritance.’
