John's Dilemma

-Eastern Side of the Mountains-

Deep on the eastern side of the mountains, John, Marn, and Karn had deep furrowed eye brows due to the complication they were in. Especially John, with the attack of the wolf pack their expedition went haywire. It was finally morning and there was still no sign of Drake. They all knew Drake had an idea of where the cave was located because he was the one to point it out. It wasn't that far off the trail they forged into the mountains. With morning having already passed by a few hours, John could no longer stand around.

"Hmm...this is bad...we will have to find him. Hopefully he didn't get over taken by the wolves. We still have two days before I have to be back at Feldar for the arrival of the princess. We split up in three directions in which he could have gone. Rullin and Karn will be with me to the west, we will sweep the vicinity around the camp to find a trace of Drake's tracks. Marn if you can handle it, go north, Hugo go south. At sunset tomorrow return here. If we can't find any clues of wolves and Drake's whereabouts we will return to Feldar and collect a bigger search party."

"Got it, but if we don't find him won't Tina be mad?"

Marn's comment couldn't have come at a worse time for John, cold sweat began to form on his back as he imagined his wife who was more scary than a battlefield when angry. He knew Tina personally took care and worried about Drake after she found him in the forest near the estate. For some reason which he couldn't imagine she dearly cared for the boy.

"Wellllll....."

John had no words to refute. Marn didn't have to face her but he did! He just put the thought in the back of his mind and concentrated on what he could do for now.

"Just go, remember, be back here by sunset tomorrow. That gives you two days. If you need to sleep at night, find a cave."

"Tch, he just a weak, poor orphan. People like them die all the time. We should head back. I didn't get paid to be in a search party."

John glared at Rullin with disdain and fury. He has never liked people from the capital as they think themselves higher beings blessed by the heavens.

"Walk back yourself then."

With those mockery filled words John set off. His respective retainers each went their assigned ways.

A little over two hours later John, Karn, and Rullin, who had no battle experince and could only grit his teeth in anger over his predicament, all arrived at the campsite. Small craters from the battle between the Grade S alpha and John, arrows from Karn, and burnt wood from Marn's fireball spells littered the area. A good amount of dead and rotting wolf bodies still lay strewn around the site.

"Search for Drake's footprints Karn."

Karn, being an archer that hunted for his village multiple times before becoming Johns retainer, had excellent tracking skills. He quickly went about as John frowned while his gaze moved around the campsite.

'Usually wolves wouldn't mind eating their own kind if they were killed. They even fight and kill among themselves. It's strange for the bodies to still be here.'

John was getting more and more confused over the situation. Usually the wolves in the mountain will eat anything, especially when they are rich in Aether Energy.

Aether Energy in beast meat has the ability to reinforce mana circuits nurturing them with more energy. Beast meat from higher grades in general usually jump in price exorbitantly because of this fact. Even beasts instinctively know this. It's the way beasts can advance in grades, by continually eating Aether rich beasts, that said beast can increase their strength.

"Sir, I believe I found his trail. It heads east."

"Good, Rullin lets go."

Rullin, who was lounging on a rock not far away, reluctantly got up. John did not care for his problem because Drake's whereabouts was on the forefront his mind. Thoughts about his wife in the back of his mind...never made their presence known.

Karn led the way as they tracked Drake's trail. About half way the tracks turn back west. Karn immediately began to frown contemplating Drake's decision.

"Sir, the tracks switch back west. I do not know why he made such a decision."

"Keep following them."

Karn nodded and led the group back west as they investigated the surrounding area. Rullin was the first to notice the wolf tracks to the side of route they were taking but kept quiet. Not even 5 minutes later Karn noticed it as well.

"Sir, from the size of the footprints to our right, it seems the Grade S alpha or a Grade A wolf was following along. The other footprints indicate at least 4 other wolves."

John didn't let up and they continued on the trail. Finally about 20 minutes later they came upon the same cliff Drake arrived at last night. The gaze of John and Karn swept through the area and upon further inspection Karn had a faint idea of what happened.

"Its seems this is where he stopped as the trail doesn't go further. The footprints of 4 wolves leave the area instead of five. From the looks of the dirt near the cliff a battle occurred. We can assume Drake fell off the cliff...I'm sorry Sir, even I can't track past this."

John attentively listened to Karn's report. John wanted to be optimistic but a human falling from the height he was looking at seemed impossible. Even John didn't think he would come out unscathed. The more he thought about it, the farther his eyebrows curved down. John stayed there for awhile in his thoughts.

"We will look up and down the river, we can't be sure yet."

For the next day and a half John and Karn thoroughly scoured the river line for kilometers not finding anything. The river was still on the eastern side of the mountain but flowed west. Even with their search they couldn't find anything. When it was time to finally return John could let out a deep sigh in regret. He knew his wife was going to burst into a raging blue inferno.

Back at the cave during sunset the group returned. John relayed the findings of their group to Marn and Hugo. Even Hugo began to slightly frown which was rare for the stoic faced man. Hugo, who was usually around the estate most of the day, knew the effect this would have on the mistress of the Tenebris family. Add the Royal Army arriving, she was sure to lose a few years of life.

The group decided to sleep the night through but only Rullin got a good nights sleep. The other 4 had trouble resting. Even though they had known Drake for a few days they all felt he was a good kid and that they let him down. It was their job to protect him but because of the strength of the large wolf pack things went south. John and Hugo especially had a hard time. They put it on themselves to give enough time for the group to escape, however their efforts proved futile and failed.

After arriving at Millers Town a few hours before sunset, they restocked food, grabbed horses provided by Lord Fang and immediately left town. John felt the weight of a mountain descending on his usually broad and strong shoulders. His heart carried the weight of a thousand stones because he knew he was about to deliver bad news to his wife.

After another bad night of rest under a rather cloudy night the group made its way to Feldar. They had planned to ride through the night but because of dense clouds covering the sky the plains became hard to navigate. A bad pothole or large stone could hurt the horses which would have only put them even further back on time. The night was rather brutal as if purposely hindering them from delivering the news.

On the 7th day at noon the group could see Feldar in the distance. Usually this sight would be grand, with the plains dancing to the tune of the wind, Lake Leslie glistening in the sun being bathed in its heat but what granted them was the presence of a large army.

John cursed in his heart because the Royal Army wasn't supposed to arrive until later in the day. John could only chalk it up to the efficient princess and her capability to lead. They rode past scores of men from the army would occasionally glance at the battered expedition group making their way to the city.

John quickly made his way through the streets of Feldar and arrived at the estate. Passing through the gates he could see Tina conversing with a young women with a retinue of 3 men and another women in maids clothing.

"Ah! Here he is your highness."

Tina gestured towards the group slowly making their way through the front garden. As Tina observed the men her brows started to furrow farther and farther in visible anger. Realizing she was still in the presence of a princess and high ranking military men she quickly fixed her appearance. Although on the outside she regained her composure, she was fuming on the inside. Drake was no where to be seen! John had a fake smile which she knew immediately recognized and assumed something bad happened. John turned to the princess and bowed.

"Your highness, Princess Selena, please forgive me for not greeting you when you arrived. I had pla-"

"No need, I knew you were out observing your territory."

John could only bow again. It was a truly a shame for a baron to be missing in his home when royalty arrived.

John quickly observed the group of visitors before him. Princess Selena standing infront of the general and commanders was standing with her back straight full of pride. As it glistened in the sun, her icy blue hair fell down to her lower back stopping right above her perk bottom. Her blue eyes seemed to freeze whatever they look at and always had a hint of pride equal to her stature. She wore a dark blue battle dress stopping above her knees. A pair of black gauntlets and greaves with blue engravings the color of her hair and eyes. Paired along with the same colored breasts plate which was moderate in size, she stood tall around 180cm. She gave off a fierce, chilling look that could make men and women avoid her gaze in fear.

The three men behind her, General Timmothy, and Commanders Vex and Jard stood at attention, straight back and hands to their sides. The commanders were rather large men standing taller than John at 200 cm. They wore a uniform of a black buttoned up cloak, trousers, and boots. General Timmothy was rather short around 170 cm. He wore the same clothes but his coat had trimmings of orange indicating his status.

"Tina, you told me there was six men in the expedition whom would be joining us. Where is the sixth?"

Princess Selena, being as observant as her tactical skills on the battlefield, asked Tina out of curiosity. Although people knew Princess Selena as the Ice Princess of the Proxima Empire she cared for all the men under her, whether it be a general or a recruit, inwardly she was a caring person. Since Tina told her about the expedition but not who went on it other then John himself she was curious as to why there was one missing. In the eyes of everyone there it could be seen as rude lying to royalty.

Tina turned to John with a not so kind smile plastered on her face because she was also wondering where Drake was. John's heart beat which was already racing about facing his wife basically jumped out of his chest. Cold sweat drooled down his forehead and back.

"Uh...yo-your highness, we ran into a problem and lost our sixth member and could not find him."

John would never think of lying to royalty but to soften the blow, at least a little bit, John didn't indicate to Tina that Drake died. However, Tina took the worst as she burst out in anger!

"WHAT!? You lost him!?"