Red Star and Dead Star [2]

The distance from the Northern Frontier to the Western Borders of the Empire was vast enough to fit both the Rhodes Kingdom and the Sapfir Kingdom in between and still have some space left over for half of the Nadee Kingdom.

As one of the people who previously prided themselves about being a citizen of the largest and most powerful empire in existence, to Camdyn Grant Glasphire, the distance that he had to travel now was more like a murderous pain.

A week.

Since the moment he recieved the news that his territory was being breached by the beasts from the Artemio Forest through his communication orb, he immediately set out. But, even when he and part of his troops set off at full speed, it still took an entire week to return.

And by the time they arrived, his wife had already been dead for four days.

What was supposed to be a simple beast tide ended up becoming an attack from a legendary beast; a golden griffin.

As the only person in the territory who could contend toe to toe with the beast, the Duchess fought on for three days before driving the beast off with half of it's body nearly torn off.

Though the Duchess herself was no better, having sustained fatal injuries during the fight.

Unfortunately, with the severity of her injuries, none of the present healers under the Goddess of Nature could heal her. The soldiers could only watch as the light in the Duchess's eyes slipped away.

Upon the Duchess's last orders, the soldiers cremated her outside the city's walls, where none of her people could see.

The head steward, who was commanded by the Duchess to investigate all of the outside guests, relayed his findings to the Duke upon his return.

Outside of the two, no one else knew what the steward found but, after the Duchess's ashes were scattered and the mourning period was over, the Duke immediately banned all entry from nobles into his territory and cut off his ties with the Church of Light.

For three days and three nights, the Duke set fire to all establishments related to the Church of Light in his territory. The exact amount of time his wife spent fighting off the Griffin.

And, although the Duke wasted no effort in hunting down the Griffin which had escaped, it had already gone too far and was nowhere to be found.

Ever since that day, the Duke was no longer the same.

Even I, who was watching all this unfold through the eyes of Julius, could see it. Somehow, despite only losing one person, the entire territory felt much emptier.

Who knew that one person could have so much presence that when they're gone, you'd immediately notice it.

Zizizip!

The white flash passed again. And just like before, the image crumbled only to reform once again with a different scenery.

...

"How is Julius's situation?" The Duke asked briskly upon meeting up with the Head Steward on the hallway.

"He is already out of danger, your grace. Fortunately, a three-star healer from the Ministry of Medicine was one attendees and was able to provide aid immediately. He had just departed not long ago." The Head Steward replied concisely. "But-"

Walking a step behind the Duke, the Head Steward paused his words thoughtfully.

"Something doesn't seem right with the situation?" The Duke grunted.

"Indeed so, your grace." The Head Steward nodded slowly. "Supposedly, upon your orders, two or more servants should have been keeping watch of the young lords at this occasion but, somehow, at the time of the accident, no one had realized or done anything until it was almost too late.

Although I had made sure that all servants working in the manor had clean backgrounds before hiring them, it is possible that they may have been bribed after they had started working.

Your grace, I'm afraid we may have fallen into someone's ploy." The Head Steward adjusted the glasses on his nosebridge.

"So to say, even that makeshift Baron's son might have just been a convenient tool but, hopefully, there isn't a hidden hand that's purposely targeting us. But, if there is-"

The Duke's voice turned somber and so did his expression. "My sword is free to dance with them at any time."

"Your grace! You've finally arrived!"

In the large hall where the only sounds that could be heard were the muffled footsteps cushioned by the carpets, the Oracle's voice was particularly prominent.

Barely passing his thirtieth year, the Oracle spoke loudly, standing on top of the stairs while the Duke was still below. If he remembered correctly, it seemed that this Oracle was of common birth.

The Head Steward frowned. How immensely impolite. If the Oracle wasn't specially sent by the Tower of Astrology, that action alone would be liable for punishment.

"Was there anything that you needed, sir Oracle?" The Duke smiled politely, showing none of the irritation that he was really feeling.

"Your grace, the sun had already set. If we don't perform the ceremony soon, there'll not be any chance for your sons to undergo their Awakening!" The Oracle spoke in a rushed manner.

"Oh, I see. Quite a lot of things happened today that it had slipped from my mind." The corner of the Duke's mouth twitched ever so slightly. "It is indeed imperative that we go on with the ceremony immediately after Julius awakens."

"Please leave it to me, your grace. I will see to it that you will be informed as soon as the young lord awakens." The Head Steward bowed, only turning to depart after giving the Oracle a meaningful glance, feeling rather humorous, to the the Oracle's confusion.

"You have my thanks." The Duke nodded curtly.