News of the battle!!!

Meanwhile at the Heathrow's mansion, A feast was held to welcome Rose and the others. Everyone were having a great time. The dining hall was filled with laughter and banters.

"Brothers, I was always having an impression that we are all going to take the entrance test together at the university but now I knew how fool I was. You guys had already been accepted into the academy long ago. Only me and Irene had to take tests now." Lilly sighed both with fondness and envy.

"If you feel sad then we will take the entrance test with you ladies, we don't have any problem in that." Williams shrugged.

Lilly shook her heard vigorously looking panicked. "No, no..... I was just stating the fact brother Wil, no need to take the test."

"When are you all starting the journey towards the capital?" Andrew asked.

"In next 17 days uncle Andrew. Master Harry, Roderick and Irene shall also be travelling with us." Ben gave the details.

After dinner they stayed up late into the night talking and playing music.

As usual they started their training early next morning. By the time they came out of the training hall, Irene and her family members were waiting for them in the dining hall.

They all bowed to the Duke and his family respectfully.

Dave burst out laughing, walked forward and hugged Irene happily. Irene got stiffened when Dave hugged her but then relaxed, smiled warmly and hugged him back.

"Girl, pay up. I won the bet. Its been 3 days and you are here." He then looked at the Duke and Samuel with a wicked grin. Both sighed and took out a pouch of gold and putt it on the table.

Roderick was stunned to see this. His father the Duke and his grandfather, both paying up the bet money? What a surreal experience.

"What happened to your eye?" Irene asked Bob, looked at his blackened left eye.

"This ba...., ahm.... this stupid guy poked me while training." He glared pointing a finger at Dave. Who was looking innocently at Irene with puppy eyes and humble demeanor.

Rose and Lilly started laughing, looking at Daves innocent act. Other guys also joined them, even Irene started laughing.

While having breakfast, Roderick noticed that Irene's typically calm and dignified demeanor was absent. Instead, she appeared boyish, energetic, engaged in their banters, and seemed to blend in effortlessly with them.

Fredrick delivered a disturbing news during the breakfast. " The new ruler of the neighboring Blackthorn city, Duncan Fletcher, a vicious man, who killed his own father and all of his brothers to get the power, had his eyes on the Winden region and was now marching with an army towards Winden city.

He had already taken control over the Serpentine pass and the Silvermoor town. The town famous for its Silver and gold mines.

More than a thousand soldiers and hundreds of civilians had lost their lives. Fortunately Duncan was not a complete fool or a barbarian. His soldiers were not rampant in the town and had not damaged the town, its structures or the mines."

"How many soldiers are estimated to be on their way here? And when are they going to be here?" Alan asked.

"They are estimated to be around 10,000 soldiers, out of which there are around 100 mana users. Most are of body enhancement type. But I got news that one has a Fire and one uses thunder attributes. Both of them are too powerful. They are expected to be here within 15 days. I had already instructed the soldiers and sent message to all the guilds explaining the situation" Fredrick explained.

"We can handle the situation, can't we, father?" Roderick asked worriedly.

Fredrick sighed, " That we can lad. We have a good chance of defending and even winning the battel, but I am worried about the loss of lives that is inevitable this time." Fredrick looked genuinely sad.

Need some additional hands your grace? Williams asked the Duke getting a wicked grin out of the other guys.

Fredrick sighed deeply." No need lads, you guys start preparing for the journey. I hope the thing will be sorted out by that time."

"Don't hesitate if you need us your grace." Alan also said.

The Heathrow's and even the girls looked worried. They knew that the boys were capable, but they were talking about a battle, with thousands of soldiers and hundreds of mana users.