Sorrows

The news that a prodigy was residing in the snowy plains made the other towns' mayors delighted. But it only lasted a moment before they heard who it was. When they knew, they had turned their smile upside down.

Although the existence of a prodigy itself was delightful. But the fact that it was from the Chen family. It disturbed them all.

The reason is that the Chen family was already a powerful family. This can be proved by the number of their troops. Their troops have the highest amounts of troops compared to each of the four towns.

Now that the Chen's had the addition of a prodigy, the difference in strength is going to be even further than before.

The town of Weiss was the first to receive the news. The four elders hurriedly held an emergency meeting. That is to address the current issue. The meeting was initiated with the military elder.

"This is an emergency. If the current balance of power were to grow even further, it would spell out disaster."

"Let's think about this properly. How about we calm down first. We need a plan foremost," said the economic elder while calming down the military elder.

"Then what is it do you propose?" asked the religion elder while he looked towards the economic elder.

"Let's see... …how about we embargo them? Cut off a route from theirs," proposed the economic elder.

"THAT WON'T BE ENOUGH! IT WOULD ONLY PROLONG THE INEVITABLE," yelled out the military elder.

A moment of silence filled the room.

"How about you, foreign affairs elder, any plans?" asked the religion elder as he glanced at the foreign affairs elder.

"How about we improve our relationship. Rather than making it worse," proposed the foreign affairs elder.

"No. They had rejected our preaching in their territory. We can only assume that they must be evil," answered the religion elder.

"Let's just hold a meeting with the other three cities and decide then. Of course, we'll be sending Hal, our representative," said the economic elder with his hand below his chin, as he looked down thinking if that was the right move.

As that was all that was happening, the other towns had ideas of their own. For example, when the town of Nirdt received the news, they were hell-bent on having a spar with the Chen family prodigy.

As the mayor got up and was getting ready to leave and head towards the Chen town he was stopped by his minister at the door.

"Sir you can't. Our two towns' relationship isn't as good as in the past," said the minister as he blocked the mayor's way.

"Oh~ and what of it?" asked the mayor who stood in front of him with his tall and brawny figure with a menacing tone.

"If we were to suddenly barge into their town, we'll be seen as hostiles. And that would not be good," answered the minister with a visible drop of sweat falling down the sides of his head.

"You do have a point… then what? I want to fight them," pondered the mayor as he stuck his greatsword to the ground.

"How about we hold a meeting between all the towns. Without the Chen included," proposed the minister.

"Without the Chen?" the mayor asked back.

"Yes, sir, without the Chen. In doing so, we can surprise them," replied the minister as he bowed his head.

"Ok, arrange a meeting between us four," said the mayor as he flicked his hand. As if telling the minister to go and do so immediately.

"On it, sir," replied the minister.

Meanwhile in the town of Eintrak. Upon receiving the news from his spy, the mayor, without any plans of his own, headed straight to Sultru. There, he could consult with their mayor on the matter of the Chen.

When the letter of Eintrak's mayor coming to Sultru arrived at eir doorstep. The mayor of Sultru thought that they might as well invite the other two other cities to Sultru for a briefing on how to handle the Chen.

Fortunately for the mayor of Sultru, the other two mayors had the same plan and were already headed to Sultru.

When all of the key figures from the four towns had arrived, they soon began their conference on how to handle the Chen.

The conference started with the representative of Weiss.

"Now that we're all here. How about we start this conference?"

"First thing first. I only came here because my minister said so. I have no intention to work with you guys. Especially you, the mayor of Sultru," remarked the Nirdt's mayor.

"Oh~? And why is that? My dear Nishbao's patriarch," cheekily asked the mayor of Sultru.

"Your existence itself. It feels as if you're a puppet with no free will," answered the Nirdt's mayor with his burly arms crossed.

A loud clap was then heard from across the room. It was Weiss's representative. He clapped and then said,

"Now then. Let us not argue. We gathered here for one reason, and one reason only. That is about the Chen. More specifically, their prodigy,"

"Then, do you have any plans in mind? In the matter of the prodigy," asked Eintrak's mayor.

"Not particularly. How about you? Nirdt's mayor," asked the Weiss's representative as he glanced towards Nirdt's mayor.

"I don't mind any plan. As long as I get to fight that Chen boy," answered the Nirdt's mayor.

"How about you? Our dear host. The great Sultru's mayor," asked the Weiss's representative with a playful tone.

"I do have one. but I need the full cooperation of you three," answered Sultru's mayor.

"Okay, sure," replied all three mayors in unison.

Then the three other mayors decided to listen to the proposal of the Sultru's mayor. They were all fine with their plan. Even Weiss's representative, who was known to be intelligent, was shocked at how ingenious of a plan it was.

Yet one man was not satisfied with the plan. That was the Nirdt's mayor. He complained if he were to execute this plan, how will he fight the Chen's boy.

"Fine. How about we send someone to kidnap him. Preferably someone who they trust," proposed Sultru's mayor.

"A bit underhanded, but fine, as long as I get to fight with him" responded Nirdt's mayor.

"Okay, so will execute this plan in a month. Exactly on the 37th day of Autumn. Before the date, we each need to prepare thoroughly. understood?" said Sultru's mayor as he looked at all three of the mayors in the room.

"Okay" replied all 3 of the mayors

One day before the planned date, the combined forces of the Nirdt, Weiss, Eintrak, and the Sultru's were all stationed near the entrance to the Chen town.

Arche's father, who was the one who noticed that multiple armies were approaching his city, quickly woke up all the guards.

In doing so, it helped further strengthen the gate. This also boosted the number of men stationed on top of the wall.

The battle drew near. Tensions grew on both sides. The mayor of Nirdt was the first who had anything to say.

"Give up the boy, Damian. This is for your own good!" yelled out Nirdt's mayor on horseback from the ground with two hands around his mouth.

"No way! Also, why are you doing this?!" loudly asked Arche's father, Damian. From atop the wall.

"Personally, I'm here because I'm itching to fight with the youngster," replied Nirdt's mayor.

"Then why are there 6000 men on your side if you're here for duel!?" confusingly asked Damian.

While the two's conversation was held. Arche's mother, Sunny, grabbed the young Arche and evacuated with guards amounting to not even reaching the two digits.

She, the guards and Arche headed towards the sewers. Where there's an evacuation route to the outside. Leading to the northern forest.

Back to the exchange between the Nirdt's mayor and Damian. The Nirdt's replied.

"You know, I do not have a single clue why either. Sultru's mayor was the one who had arranged all of this," Nirdt's mayor replied to Damian.

"SULTRU'S? YOU'RE WORKING FOR THEM NOW?" replied Damian with a litle anger in his confused tone.

Nirdts' scratched his head back and forth before he said.

"I wouldn't say that. It's more like a partnership,"

"A partnership? What kind of deal was it?" inquired Damian.

"I think it was along the line of… kidnapping your child?" replied Nirdt's mayor with a cheeky smile.

"Kindappi- oh no, no, no, no, I must get to them qui- " mumbled Damian before he was interrupted by Eintrak's mayor.

"No, no, Damian. Where do you think you're going? You're staying here to defend the gate. Won't you?"

"You-, Sunny, Arche, I hope you stay safe," prayed Damian with his two hands next to each other.

Meanwhile, as soon as Arche's party entered the sewers, he was met with an unfortunate fate. When they had closed the hatch to the outside, they were met with five masked men and one man within them five.

They emerged from the darkness and to Sunny's surprise, it was her childhood friend, Aidan. Sunny was flabbergasted, shocked as to why he was there. She then asked a simple question,

"Wha- what are you doing here?" asked Sunny in an extremely confused tone.

"What else is there to do except to intercept you here," replied Aidan with a smile on his face.

"Okay, let me rephrase my question, WHY are you here?" once again asked Sunny, now in a calm and no longer flustered tone.

"Hmm, it started when you fell in love with that guy Damian, and then had this brat here. Which thwarted my plans to make you fall in love with me. In which it would make me a candidate for mayor," replied Aidan.

"Is that it…? Seriously, you're doing all this because I chose Damian? Then I won't waste any more time here," Sunny said as she backed away to hide behind the guards.

"Well, those old geezers also promised me mayorship of this town. But, I agree with you. I don't want to waste any more time here. You guys, attack her. Just don't kill the boy," said Aidan while he looked into his pitch-black nails.

Then, the masked men have begun their attack. They aimed their attacks toward Sunny, who was protecting Arche. Noticing the incoming attacks, the guards quickly moved in front of Sunny. Shielding her and Arche.

Taking advantage of the situation, Sunny tried on sneaking to get past Aidan and the masked men. But it was a futile effort.

One of the masked men took notice of her and threw a dagger that was inbound to Arche's foot. Sunny took notice of the dagger. She prevented it from hitting by blocking it with her fragile hand.

Swoosh

There were daggers heading in the two's direction. Sunny tried to pull Arche away. But the pain was too much for her to bear. All she could do now is block the daggers with her body.

Shluk!

Arrays of daggers stabbed Sunny's back.

"Mom! No!" yelled out Arche.

"Shh, shh, shh. I'm fine Arche. Now go! Don't look back and run! I'll be with you soon," said Sunny with what little stamina she had left.

"B-But wh-at about you, mom," stuttered Arche.

"No Arche. Now take your spear and run! Please," Sunny said with a smile on her face, with her body chock full of wounds.

Arche had no other choice. He could only run away as his power was not sufficient to fight groups of men who were trained to fight.