Purging

The main hall of Umbracrest Castle had fallen silent after Gerald's execution, but the echo of that fateful strike reverberated across the domain. Edwin sat upon his father's seat for the first time, his face calm but his mind sharp. The family's banner hung above him, a symbol of his newly consolidated authority. But he knew this was only the beginning. To secure the future of the Umbracrest family, he needed to act decisively, ruthlessly, and strategically.

That evening, Edwin called Lucas to his study. The room was dimly lit by the flickering light of a single oil lamp, casting long shadows across the walls lined with books and maps.

Lucas entered, his expression uncertain. "Brother, I heard whispers about your next move. Is it true? Are we purging the city?"

Edwin's steely gaze met his brother's. "It's not just the city. It's the entire domain. The Black Talon Brigade may have struck the killing blow, but traitors opened the gates. Gerald was only one head of the hydra. There are others, and I will root them out."

Lucas nodded, though hesitation lingered in his eyes. "And what of the knights? The townsfolk? The miners in the mountains? Many are loyal—or at least innocent."

Edwin leaned forward, his tone sharp. "Innocence won't save us, Lucas. Weakness won't save us. If the family is to survive, we must cleanse every shadow, every weak link."

Lucas fell silent, knowing there was no room for debate.

The next morning, mechanical knights marched into Umbracrest City. Under Edwin's orders, they were disguised to appear like human soldiers. Their advanced sensors scanned the streets and buildings, detecting subtle signs of hidden messages, secret gatherings, and falsified ledgers. A list of suspects had already been compiled through weeks of observation by Edwin's mechanical scouts.

The first arrests began at dawn. A merchant was dragged from his store, shouting protests, as the gathered crowd looked on in confusion and fear. Servants were escorted from their posts in the castle, accused of leaking information to rival houses. A few guards, known for their frequent absences and suspicious activities, were disarmed and bound.

In the castle's grand courtyard, Edwin stood before the assembled captives. His mechanical knights flanked him, their gleaming armor reflecting the morning light.

"You stand accused of treason against the Umbracrest family," Edwin declared, his voice ringing with authority. "Confess your crimes now, and your deaths will be swift. Deny them, and I will ensure you suffer as my family has suffered."

Most remained silent, their faces pale with fear. A few shouted their innocence, but Edwin was unmoved. The evidence, gathered by his machines, was irrefutable. One by one, the guilty were executed on the spot, their bodies a grim reminder of Edwin's resolve.

With the purge complete, Edwin turned his attention to rebuilding. He summoned the remaining family knights to the training grounds. The men stood in uneasy silence, their numbers reduced but their loyalty renewed.

"You've seen the weakness of this family," Edwin said, pacing before them. "You've seen the betrayal, the complacency. That ends today. From this moment forward, you will become the shield and sword of the Umbracrest family. I will give you the tools to rise above your limits."

He held up a scroll—a rare cultivation technique passed down through noble bloodlines. The Stellar Ascent Manual promised to elevate even the most average knights to the rank of Gold if followed with discipline and dedication.

"This is not a gift," Edwin continued, his voice cold. "It's a challenge. Prove you are worthy of this family, or step aside."

The knights exchanged glances, their uncertainty replaced by a spark of determination. They bowed as one, pledging their loyalty anew.

In the days that followed, Edwin dispatched his advanced mechanical scouts to the nearby mountains, where the family's mines were located. These automatons, equipped with state-of-the-art sensors, scanned the terrain with precision. The miners, initially wary of the strange machines, watched in awe as the scouts worked tirelessly, analyzing rock formations and mineral veins.

Within days, the scouts discovered something extraordinary: veins of mithrite and aurastone, materials prized for their strength and magical properties. The miners cheered as the news spread, their morale soaring. Edwin knew this discovery would change everything. With these resources, his mechanical army could be expanded, and his family's financial power restored.

In the castle's workshop, Edwin began designing new automatons. His schematics included towering machines capable of mining with unmatched efficiency and combat units that could rival even the kingdom's elite forces.

While the mines were revitalized, Edwin sent his knights to the villages and towns under his domain. Their mission was twofold: enforce order and assess the needs of the people. Under Edwin's directives, spies and corrupt officials were purged from these areas, and the remaining leaders were brought to the castle to swear fealty.

In one of the towns, an elder approached Edwin's knight commander. "Will the young lord truly protect us?" the elder asked, his voice trembling with hope.

The knight, now armed with newfound confidence, replied, "He will not only protect you—he will make Umbracrest stronger than ever before."

Back at the castle, Edwin stood in his workshop, overseeing the construction of his newest project. The Titan-Class Automaton—a massive, heavily armored machine capable of turning the tide of any battle. Beside it, rows of smaller combat units were being assembled, their frames gleaming with newly forged mithrite.

As Edwin inspected the progress, Lucas entered the room. "The mines are thriving, the knights are training, and the domain is secure," Lucas reported. "But there's one question that remains unanswered."

Edwin turned to him, his expression unreadable. "And what is that?"

Lucas hesitated before asking, "What's next, brother?"

A faint smile played on Edwin's lips. "Next? We expand. The Black Talon Brigade, the rival nobles, even the kingdom itself—they all underestimated us. That ends now."