22 The Birth Of The Ironcloud Base (1/2)
For five months, the Council waited for good news in anxiousness, with nothing but a few reports to satiate their curiosity. However, they also had their share of trouble.
The Gambit Adept Family was sending armies of mortals in the northern territories of the Thornfield household. Three cities had been plundered, fourteen villages barred from the map, and thousands of corpses which had yet to be buried. Phillip Dawins not only lost his daughter, he was also witnessing his lands being sacked and his cities crumbling.
The Thornfield Council used to send the Water Troop, but it was nothing but a ghost now. There were slightly less than 50 knights, rescued in extremis by Drodosis' golems, but their psychological health had yet to be verified. Their stares seemed empty, and while some were still sane, they wouldn't enter a battlefield anytime soon.
Instead, squads of acolytes intervened, and the situations seemed to have calmed down. Elder Hugo had displayed considerable might in the past months, which caused the situation to reach a stalemate.
It was spring. Flowers were blossoming, trees were gleaming in a green glamour, wild animals were plenty and kids were having fun. An army was walking in synchronisation.
'Some of them are my age, huh…', Drodosis thought bitterly.
He didn't know how, or why, but his life had taken a strange turn. Had he been born in one of those commoner families, he would have been one of these kids, ignorant but happy. He wouldn't be half as strong as he was, but he wouldn't have so many burdening responsibilities.
It's not as if his motivation would waver at this sight anyway. He had taken a path of no return.
Returning to the Water Fortress, the household entered an emotional state, throwing a banquet at his order.
”Listen, guys.”, Drodosis addressed his subordinates, ”Today, is your day. You've proven your worth, and I sincerely hope you will be able to enjoy yourself tonight! You won't have many occasions like this!”
After his Ironcloud Knight Order left his side, Drodosis went over the knights from the Water Troop, and selected a few ones.
”I know you went through a lot, but I saved you. How are you gonna repay me? I can't ask the others, since they are half-dead, but you are more or less healthy physically, and less damaged than others mentally”, Drodosis suddenly asked.
Although he looked like tough and ruthless, he wanted to give them a chance…an opportunity to live their life once again. So what if they escaped a blood bath? Did that mean they would become ordinary men for the rest of their lives? Drodosis wouldn't allow such potential to be thrown away in such a stupid way. By bossing them around, they would fulfil their social needs, and more importantly, they would get a purpose, a goal to strive for and to live for.
”I, Gale Ubert, will serve you rightfully sir..”
”…”
18 novice knights joined him.
”As of today, you are all Ironcloud Knights. Be proud of your ident.i.ty, and go enjoy yourselves with the others.”
18 soul fragments entered his spirit. The more knight subordinates he had, the more burdening it was on his soul. Fortunately, as soon as he would break through the intermediate acolyte realm soon, this burden would greatly be lightened.
Drodosis knew that banquets and festivities weren't his things, but this time, he decided to give it a go. It was the opportunity to get praised for months' worth of efforts, as well as expanding his network in the family. Influence and resources were two sides of the same coin after all.
”So, a flawless victory again, huh?”, his grandfather asked him.
The elder Water Dragon had sneaked behind his back, and Drodosis didn't notice the slightest undulation of magic or air, despite having extraordinary perception. How strong was his grandfather for real? At least, Drodosis could already tell that his grandfather's injuries were fully healed.
”Yes, once again. There was a pseudo-adept in their ranks, as well as many advanced apprentices. Had it been a frontal battle, we would have lost”, Drodosis answered carefully. His grandfather seemed too serious to be here as a grandfather. He was currently talking to his supreme elder.
His relations.h.i.+p with his grandfather had always been special. Sometimes, he would be the kind grandfather caring for his grandson. Sometimes, he would be the ruthless, calculative and scheming Supreme Elder, pillar of the Thornfield Family.
”Good. No living being is invincible after all. Even adepts can sometimes fall in unfortunate circ.u.mstances. Anyway, I have another task for you…”, Elder Water Dragon said. It was a personal request, and it didn't come from the Council.
”…”
”The Gambit family has been causing trouble for quite a while already. It is backed by three supreme elders of pseudo-adept strength. Fortunately, they have advanced recently, so I should have no trouble stalling them 3 on 1, but I won't be able to crush them as I did against the Huntingwood Supreme Elder, do you understand?”
”Is another war about to begin? We don't have the resources to engage in another war…”
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”This is what every other elder in the Council agreed on, but you and I know better.”
”This is also the perfect opportunity to earn a few more territories, and conquer the entirety of the Northern Daw Region”, Drodosis mumbled
”I know it is dangerous, and politically, if I continue to send acolytes to resolve mortals fighting each other, then the royal family would intervene. It is corrupted after all. The Northern Daw Region, if it falls in our hands, will lead to a tremendous increase in our strength. The magical vein is bigger than we expected. It encroaches on the Gambit family's territory, although they have yet to discover it. A conflict will happen anyway, so we'd better use the effect of surprise. However, since they didn't send any acolytes in the Thornfield territories, I can't send any either, or else it would be an attack without warning, something which is not allowed by the Royal Laws.”
”So you want me to go there instead.”
”Indeed.”