The next day...
Drahon woke up with:
[SYSTEM ALERT]
Status: URGENT
He quickly got up from bed. He had just been woken by a loud peep from his system. It was early in the morning, so he had managed to get a good sleep.
[Incoming Threat Detected]
[Hostile magical faction approaching from the Eastern border]
*Estimated Ti of Arrival:* 1 hour
*Identified Force:* Wandering Mage Conclave
*Composition:*
* Fire Mages (Tier II)
* Illusionists (Tier I)
* One Warlock-Class Commander (Tier III - Unknown Artifact Detected)
\[Recomnded Action:] Imdiate reconnaissance and force mobilization.
Failure to respond may result in regional damage and population loss.
[Track Threat] – [View Map] – [Dismiss]\
"Dismiss," Drahon said as he got up from bed and went towards the door. He even forgot to wear one of his royal clothings, as he was still in his normal clothing.
He didn’t even bother about how he looked; he could summon armor whenever he wanted.
Almost opening the door, he suddenly realized that he didn’t know too much about who was around him—the commander of the knights, steward, and all that.
He decided to ask the system:
The runes flickered in front of him and he saw:
[System Profile: Key Personnel Assigned to Your Kingdom]
[Marwen – Baron of Westmoor:] Loyal noble in charge of western territories. Oversees land managent, tax collection, and commands local militia. Trusted to maintain order and defend borders.
[Galen – Royal Knight Captain:] Commander of the kingdom’s knights. Expert in battlefield tactics and personal combat.
[Serena – Head Healer:] Responsible for all dical operations. Ensures the health and recovery of soldiers and villagers.
[Liora – Mage Instructor:] Trainer of magic users, specializing in elental spell developnt.
[Eldric – Spymaster:] Oversees intelligence gathering on enemy kingdoms and internal threats.
[Faelan – Chief Scout:] Leads reconnaissance missions and provides early warnings of approaching dangers.
Gazing a little longer at the profiles, Drahon decided he would start by telling Faelan the Chief Scout to prepare a group of scouts to check what was happening.
If the group of wandering mages were to near the kingdom, then they would all be cooked.
They were now low on fighters, and any more confrontation or battle would really dilapidate the kingdom.
But what surprised him about this sudden incoming attack, apart from him knowing beforehand, was why he couldn’t just rest for a little bit, at least decide when to start looking for the eggs.
He still had five mythical eggs to look for, and at the mont, it was like he was in a vast ocean covered with hungry sharks.
This was a brutal world he was in, and that was the thing that could make this hard for him. If he was to find the eggs, he had to really focus on that and not just be randomly distracted by invasions.
But wait?
Drahon felt like he was simply acting like a weakling at this point. He had a Fire Dragon and a Barbarian Dragon. Also, he could take a Half-Dragon Form. Why was he acting like he was alone?
Entering this level, he wasn’t restricted from using his dragons, so he might as well make the best of it.
But again, these were mages, and he had just three mages. If only he could convert...
"Can I use my dragons at the mont, in this level?" he asked his system.
[Yes], the system replied. [It might make you feel bad, but this level is all about you gaining strength as a person. You will be able to use your dragon again, though, but it will be at the end of this level, in a large massive war—kingdom-shattering scale. So right now, you’ll have to do it the hard way.]
Shit...
Fuck...
Damn...
Well... he had to be... a Lord...
Lord Drahon.
Drahon... the Half-Drahon.
---
The mont Drahon left his room, he alerted the guards stationed at his door. His tone was calm but sharp. "Raise the inner alarm," he said. "No bells yet. Just enough to gather the key officers."
Within minutes, hurried steps echoed down the halls. Galen, still fastening his chestplate, arrived first. Serena followed, wiping her hands with a linen cloth, her expression already knowing. Faelan entered from the courtyard, winded from whatever scout duty he had just returned from. And Marwen, composed as always, ca in last, his brow slightly raised.
Galen stood broad and steady, armor clinking faintly with each move. A short, squared beard lined his jaw, and a thin scar ran down his temple, probably earned in so skirmish he’d never bother to retell.
Serena wore her healer’s robes neatly, the sleeves rolled just above her elbows, and her hair was tied in a loose braid.
Faelan leaned slightly as he stood, his cloak fluttering with the breeze he always seed to carry in. His face was half-shadowed by the hood, his eyes sharp and restless.
Marwen arrived composed, his deep blue noblecoat pressed and clean. His silver-rimd cuffs matched the rings on his fingers, and his eyes, quiet and unreadable missed nothing.
And Liora wore dark robes with a crystal pendant on her chest.
[A/N: Just had to describe them all.]
"We have incoming trouble," Drahon began, facing them all in the council chamber. "A group of mages. Unknown number, unknown allegiance, but they’re marching for us."
They all exchanged glances, wanting to ask how he knew about this, but Drahon simply didn’t give a chance for that.
"Liora," Drahon said firmly. "We’ve got no ti. Gather every mage we’ve got, novice or not. I don’t care if they’ve only lit candles with their hands, I want them ready."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice slightly. "Position them behind the second barricade, just past the main gate. If they can cast shields, put them in front. If they can only throw sparks, they’ll aim for distractions."
He was now speaking like he had always known the kingdom, and that was because he gained so information about the kingdom (perhaps from his system).
He held her gaze. "I know they’re just three, but they could be very useful."
To Galen, Drahon said: "I want patrols increased. Quietly. If we show panic, we lose the people."
Faelan stepped forward. "I’ll send scouts. North ridge and forest edge?"
Drahon nodded. "And west. If this is a diversion, they might circle."
Serena looked up. "I’ll prepare the infirmary. And herbs for exhaustion."
Marwen folded his arms. "And the people?"
"Tell them nothing. Not yet," Drahon said. "Let them think I’m just being paranoid. Until I’m right."
There was a silence. Then Galen smirked faintly. "So, business as usual?"
Drahon’s eyes narrowed. He hadn’t even spoken to this guy till now, sa applied to the others, and he was already like:
Business as usual?
But nonetheless, this was like a video ga, and he was to ’play’ along, familiarize with the shit that would be happening.
"Exactly," he finally replied.
---
Ti slowly went by, and Drahon was anticipating them to co at any given ti. He stood on the basent of a tower that overlooked outside the kingdom.
He was already in his armor, and he wouldn’t hesitate to summon his SSS-rank sword at any given ti.
To be honest, only he could solo the incoming mages if he wanted to, but then, it was risky because he didn’t know what type of mages they were.
Just then, a system notification ca into view:
[The mages are soon in the kingdom - 1 minute remaining]
Reviews
All reviews (0)