Volume 1 Chapter 4 Part5 (1/2)

Dragon Order of Flame

Volume 1

Chapter 4 Part 5

The Astal family had a fairly large domain, so it took 2 days to get to the town of Maran. As Luke was riding with the others, he began reminiscing of the past. The image he was able to see now, and those of the past, were merging together and triggering a faint feeling of longing.

”Woah, woah.”

The Count continued to move forward in a relaxed manner, in order to preserve their strength. The battle may begin the moment they reach their destination. However, contrast to his concerns, there were no sign of Orcs within the town. Only those of which were villagers, hurt or exhausted.

”They've been hit quite hard.”

Luke clicked his tongue. Half the buildings in the town were in ruins, and some were caught on fire. The amount of villagers gathered together amount to no more than 40 people, and there were about 10 hurt soldiers in their surroundings.

”Count Astal!”

Noticing the Count and his knights, the village head ran forth. Even though his feet were hurt, making him unstable, he ran towards the Count. A young one from the village hurried forward to help support the village head, as the village head continued to speak with tears in his eyes.

”Count Astal! You've come! This old man always believed that you would come!”

”I'm sorry I'm late.”

The Count got off his horse, helped support the village head, and continued to console him.

Luke glanced at the village head for a little while, and eventually look at the villagers in the back. The eyes of the young ones, while looking at the Count, were filled with reverence and trust. Feeling their gaze, Luke could do nothing but to form a wry smile.

'Father, you really are…..'

The Count was disqualified to be the family head, since he did not take care of the family. Yet, he was an ideal Lord of his residence to those he governed. He did not exploit his citizens, gave compensation to those who were loyal, even if he had to empty out everything he had, and putting his life on the line, he relentlessly fought for his people.

This was the reason why the civilians looked at the Count with such vigor. In the past, Luke used to look at them with twisted eyes, but now he was able to understand their feelings.

Volkar suddenly spoke.

<just as=”” you've=”” said,=”” it=”” seems=”” like=”” the=”” civilians=”” wors.h.i.+p=”” the=”” count.=””>

”That's right. Excluding the family, everyone else liked my father, and Marvin and I could not tolerate it.”

That's why Luke was able to ignore the value and fame his father had gained, and focused only on fighting.

However, it was going to be different this time. Even just looking at the result of this subjugation, Luke was confident that he would be able to completely alter it to a different conclusion from the past.

<did something=”” like=”” this=”” happen=”” in=”” the=”” past=”” as=”” well?=””>

”I'm not sure on the details, since I did not partic.i.p.ate. I'm able to remember all the battles I personally partic.i.p.ated in, because they were quite an imposing experience. However, those that I did not partic.i.p.ate in………”

At this point in the past, Luke was a little chick that just began learning gangchesul and martial arts from the Count. This led to him being unable to partic.i.p.ate in monster subjugations, and would receive countless hara.s.sment from the Count's wife.

The only thing Luke remembers about this specific subjugation was the approximate result. He did not know the finer details, but he recalled that the Count lost about 20 of his people, resulting in the Count staying home for some time and leaving a heavy atmosphere within the castle. Luke was able to remember this, because the amount of time it took for the situation to settle left an impression on him.

”I'm a.s.suming that the Orcs were much stronger than what my father expected, that or he lost to the enemy's tactics…….”

<orcs aren't=”” smart=”” enough=”” to=”” be=”” able=”” to=”” outwit=”” humans.=””>

”Mm. That's true. Then there's a pretty high chance that there was another variable. Maybe there were more Orcs than what was given in the information we received……”

<or don't=”” you=”” think=”” there=”” may=”” have=”” been=”” an=”” orc=”” shaman=”” amongst=”” them?=””>

”Orc Shaman? Isn't that thing super rare?”

<however, that=”” doesn't=”” guarantee=”” that=”” it=”” wasn't=”” part=”” of=”” this=”” group=”” of=”” orcs,=”” right?=””>

Orc Shamans were individuals that had special abilities and occasionally appeared within a group of Orcs. Generally, Orcs wors.h.i.+ped the spirits in nature with reverence, leading to one of them being able to actually receive power from the spirits. Well known tribes always had at least one Shaman.

Luke had fought with Orc Shamans on 2 occasions in the past. Their abilities were comparable to high ranking magic, and the last one Luke fought, used the power of the spirits to release a potent wind strong enough to topple an Ogre, and destroyed the mercenaries around it.

”I can definitely see how my father lost almost half his men if there really was an Orc Shaman.”

The knights of Count Astal were all people with extraordinary skills. These knights received commands from the mighty Count, and all the weak ones were dead from previous monster subjugations.

To say that almost half of those men were killed by a mere 70 Orcs, while the majority were heavily injured? There really was no other possible explanation except the possibility of an Orc Shaman.

”I'm sure even Sir Collin, who's been with my father on many excursions and acted as his mage, would have been useless against an Orc Shaman.”

Luke stared at the middle aged mage standing near the Count. Luke had once seen the magic of this person in the past, but it couldn't be considered to be great. Collin was handy due to his experience, but his magic fell short significantly from what Luke could remember.

”Sigh, this place always seems to have problems. I wouldn't want this land even if it was given to me.”

”I will. It would have been different if it was me in the past, but I don't have the strength to go against an Orc Shaman right now. Volkar, you need to help me.”

<how so?=””>

”Although you can't use any magic right now, you should be able to locate those with magic near your vicinity right?”

”Exactly. I should first go and tell my father that I would go scout out the area ahead of us. If I am able to tell him in advance, I'm sure father would be able to come up with a plan. What magic rank and how far are you able to sense?”

<basing it=”” off=”” that=”” fellow=”” collin,=”” i=”” should=”” have=”” no=”” problems=”” with=”” up=”” to=”” 2=”” km.=””>

”2 km?”

Luke clicked his tongue. To be able to sense an individual 2kms away, ignoring even the geographic features and pinpointing the individual with magic. Isn't this a completely unfair advantage?

<coexisting with=”” you=”” right=”” now,=”” there=”” is=”” a=”” chance=”” for=”” a=”” possible=”” mistake=”” or=”” error,=”” but=”” that's=”” the=”” minimum=”” that=”” i=”” can=”” do.=””>

”Are you saying that your maximum is even further? Oh dear, does that mean I don't even get to feel any danger?”