The axe in my left hand felt heavy like I was carrying
something foreign, something I've never used before, could it be the constant swinging I've been doing in all directions that'd made my already wounded arm feel heavier as I swinged and slashed at every monsters around us creating an unnatural pool of blood which seemed to blend in with the snow around"Your highness it is finished they are all dead." a stammering voice shouted from the distance clearly keeping distance. "Is it now." I replied to the man with to pale skin tone, brunette hair and simple brown eyes glancing at the scattered trail of the corpses of monsters that were around me. "How many did I kill today?" I asked walking towards the walls "About 150 your highness the prince." He replied swiftly "That's far too few is the a problem in the forest?" I asked unconsciously turning my gaze towards the forest covered in a thick and murky smog. So this is what happens when an area experiences in an influx in mana, what's strange is the fact it's gathering in one place and not moving is it because there is a lord monster but that's impossible a lord monster can not dictate the laws of nature something is afoot "Bring the horseless carriage." I said pointing at at another guard with a pale bland face and brown hair and eyes who seemed shocked at the request "Prepare it I'm going to the capital I need to report this to her majesty." I said walking further into the castle which hasn't seen a day of peace since I've arrived "You there." pointing at the same brunette with a somewhat questionable appearance.
"Yes your majesty." He replied to eagerly "Call for Lady
Vanderbilt I must consult with her before my departure." I ordered him descending further into the castle until two huge door appeared before me.
Entering the castle I followed the confusing pathways of the that seemed to have no end "Im lost aren't I?" I enquired to myself and without surprise no answer was granted. "Huhh" the groan which was supposed to happen in my head somehow managed to escape "Lady Ophelia Vanderbilt of Nůremberg castle greets his highness the prince." a woman with an unusually coloured hair that seemed to tether between shades of red and white appeared, her slim face accompanied with brown eyes that were a marvel to look at bowed her head and slightly curtseyed "Prince Sasha Dmitry Brynjar ol-Sanja - rel-Íseldur greets the Lady Ophelia of Nůremberg the proxy head of house Vanderbilt who governs the territory of Nůremberg." I replied with my hand on my chest and a slightly bent back.
"I've come to the knowledge of something disturbing in your territory lady Ophelia I'm sure you can smell it since you are a mage?" I asked failing to contain the anger that exuded in me causing Ṣa'da to seep out shaking the air around us and making the Baroness flinch in her seat but not falter in her resolve as her brown eyes beamed with determination "Your highness the prince despite my position I've not broken etiquette I ask you do the same and allow me to explain myself." she said bowing her head down on the floor in a manner that one would to a deity.
"Rise and explain yourself Lady Vanderbilt and explain in a way that will satisfy her majesty the Kaiser!" I declared my eyes burning with rage. "Your highness. " she said looking around the room looking at each and everyone. "Everyone leave us!" I ordered my eyes still filled with rage.
The room quickly vacated with no complaints leaving the once bowed Baroness of Nůremberg. "Now that everyone has vacated how should we proceed your highness?" She said in playful manner which didn't stop the smirk from sliding on my face playfully so, "The intention was for me to fail but we can't have that can we?" I enquired with the playful smile still on my face, "But how is it a lord monster is in one of your territories Lady Vanderbilt?" I enquired with my face and eyes laced with worry "It seems I've grown on you seeing how you look so worried." she said clearly intending to get a rise out of me. "And to answer your question I don't know how this creature became like this and it worries me that something is up in the Imperial court." she continued her eyes looking at window which pointed straight at the forest which the locals nicknamed 'the forest of death' due to the number of lives it claimed.
"Why do you say that?" Mt question this time was laced with concern and worry "Because six time I've sent letters to the county of Aragon and six times I've gotten no response." horror seemed to daunt my face as her words filled the soundproof room "WHAT!" I screamed "Worry not only one of the letters had important details and it was in code which upon the wrong person getting hold of it would burn leaving no traces I'm no amateur my lord I would like it if you'd stop treating me as such." She said looking at me with a face of rage and annoyance "We are allies not master and student prince Sasha." She continued again.
My face which was red with rage calmed at her lecture of my behavior "Forgive me lady Vanderbilt t'was not my intention to her lady's position as my ally." I responded quickly with little to no hesitation and stood to bow my head as an act of apology to her.
"We must plan on how to end this disaster if lady Aragon is not a solution we must look for another " I said.
As we continued our discussion I felt the air around the forest begin to thin and thicken simultaneously as though it was responding to an external stimulus "Did you feel that!?" I asked my voice rougher and louder than usual "I don't know!?" she responded in a hurried and anxious manner.
"Þurhprěmsprungtorft" she cried out as black veil of smoke engulfed me and her and we instantly moved from the castle's room to the front of the forest which had the scars of magic which was an indication magic had been used on this area "Fuck has my sister caught on to our scheme?!" I shouted panick flooding my face "It seems a sibling rivalry is also happening in the north." a woman with pure glistening metalic silver hair and amber gold eyes wearing trousers and an overheard Cloak that covered most of her face revealing only her eyes and strands of her hair and the brown trousers with boots she wore "Your accent indicates you from the South girl." Ophelia responded with anxiety covering her face "The weak should not be speaking be quiet." she responded to Ophelia raising her hand and her I felt a pressure engulf Ophelia who's body began to give out and her falling to her knees was proof of the power imbalance between the two "For you to overpower a 7th runic circle mage and that silver hair and amber gold eyes mixed with the southern accent must mean you are that woman who destroyed an entire army by herself, Princess Eman Pollux Intisar al-Marid - del-Boaz." I declared shocking the weak kneed Ophelia "What is a royal of house del-Boaz and al-Marid be doing here?" I heard Ophelia who was still under the pressure of her presence ask "What else? The 'Guardian' asked us to come" she responded "So you not the only one here?" I asked anxious of the answer I might receive from her who seemed to be smiling from beneath that cloak of hers.
"Yes me and my two brothers are here." She responded nonchalantly as if another nation sending three grand masters to another was not a declaration of war even if it's the 'Guardian' who ordered it.