Search Party

Flickers of blue flame twirled around Tina as she began leaking mana, she was furious! Even her usually calm, deep ocean sapphire eyes had flames burning within! Her body shook with visible anger which she no longer tried to control! She personally watched and nursed Drake for a week and a half! Even if the time was short she felt terrible for the boy she found in a near dead like state and took it upon herself to care of him. Even though she was reluctant to let him go on the trip she figured John would at least not let anything happen to him!

"Hugo!"

"Yes madam!"

"Gather 50 soldiers and prepare them for a search party. We head to the mountains tomorrow!"

Tina turned to Princess Selena and bowed deeply.

"Forgive me your highness, but I most go find the boy. I think of him as my one of my son's and can't leave him to defend by himself."

Princess Selena's icy blue eyes gazed at Tina before nodding as she also made her decision.

"Understood, but I will be going with you."

Everyone there especially Tina had wide eyes. They would have never suspected the Princess to do such a thing. The general and commanders were about to dissuade her from what they consider a rash decision but she cut them off before they could say anything.

"Because we failed to establish an outpost and left early, we still have two weeks until we are required to report back to the capital. General Timmothy!"

"Yes your highness?"

"Tomorrow you will head back to the capital. Tell the emperor that I will back by the end of those two weeks and that I've decided to stay in Feldar a little longer."

General Timmothy understood from Princess Selena's words that there was no need to tell the emperor of her going on the search party. Her stay could be chalked up to creating connections, usually a princess would have no need to acquaint herself with a baron family but the Tenebris family is different. Being the largest barony in the empire and close ties to the Byneim family her reasons are justified.

"Understood your highness."

Princess Selena nodded.

"Karla!"

"Yes your highness?"

The lady in the maid uniform who had been hiding her presence until now stepped forward. A sensual and voluptuous women who was still in her prime age of life bowed towards Princess Selena. The maid had her black hair tied up in a bun and as she stood up everyone could see her gray eyes and pink lips. Karla was Princess Selena's only personal maid. Princes and princesses could have as many maids as they wanted and up to 10 personal maids but Princess Selena saw it as counterproductive and pointless as more spying and intrigue could be done through a large amount of maids through bribery and coercion.

"Prepare my horse and equipment. You will be going to, so be prepared. We will leave tomorrow morning at dawn...?"

Princess Selena directed her question towards Tina who was still shocked at Princess Selena's decision.

"Ye-yes, that would be best. We still need to prepare the men and cargo."

Princess Selena nodded softly.

"Hugo you may leave."

Hugo made haste to start gathering troops after being dismissed by Tina. Hugo sent two guards of the estate to deliver the message to troops stationed within the city to gather in front of the estate tomorrow at dawn. Since it is peace time many soldiers were off duty and only the city guard were working. The barony had a rather small army but because of the size of territory the Tenebris were allowed to draft more soldiers than the law permitted.

"Your highness, why don't we all sit down for a cup of tea and listen to John's explanation."

"Good idea."

Princess Selena approved of Tina's proposal and she immediately issued some final orders to the men under her before dismissing them. Princess Selena followed John and Tina into the parlor where Amelia was brewing tea. Once both Amelia and Karla had served tea they stepped to the side as John, Tina, and Princess Selena began their conversation. Once John finished his explanation everyone became quiet.

"This is quite odd, for wolves not to eat their own kind doesn't make sense. Unless something happened to the Alpha the bodies should have been eaten. And for the boy...Drake? It would seem he floated down the river till the end which means he would be on the western side of the mountain."

Tina's eyebrows were digging into her skin, she began to worry this would be harder than she originally thought. Either way it didn't deter her. She wanted to find Drake.

"We searched up and down the river for kilometers but we never were able to pass the mid-way point of the mountains. They are quite vast and hard to cross."

"Hmmm...we will just have to cross it. The seas are rather unforgiving so going by boat is a death sentence. The southwestern point of our lands are constantly being battered by violent and turbulent waters."

Tina figured their best chance was to go to the river and find a point of access to take a boat down river.

"When we arrive at the river, we will build boats and go that way. Mm, that's the best bet to get to the ocean on the other side."

"Where is Hailey?"

Hailey had been missing the entire afternoon and John was curious where she was at such an important time with the princess here. Once Tina had finished sharing her plan John figured it was the best time to ask.

"She is with her tutor from the Byneim family right now."

Tina had brought one of the best tutors from her ducal family to teach Hailey. All children from the Tenebris family had excellent education because of this. Barons usually don't get such opportunities but because Tina was from a duke house she was able to convince her father to let her use some of the tutors from their household.

John merely nodded to Tina happy that their innocent fairy was getting a good education. She was close to finishing school, at the end of their 15th year of age children from noble families are then thrust into the world of nobility. Since Hailey was 15 now she was finishing up her schooling. Tina had blocked most suitors which came from viscounts and even an occasional count. She knew what those men really wanted which was access to the vast resources of the barony and to have Hailey as a third or fourth wife.

"Oh, and John you will stay here this time. I will go myself so someone needs to stay back with Hailey and to watch over the barony."

John could only let a small sigh. At this point he didn't want to argue with Tina. Plus she was a capable mage herself. Being raised and taught by some of the empires finest mages boosted her abilities along with her natural talent. John knew she could defend herself, especially with Princess Selena there.

"It's settled then. Tomorrow I will meet up with you all in the morning."

"Amelia dear, can you show her highness Princess Selena and Karla to their rooms please."

"Yes madam."

Princess Selena, Karla, and Amelia left the parlor while John and Tina stayed behind. Tina was still giving John the cold shoulder which he could only accept. Tina didn't stay longer and left the room before addressing John one more time with her piercing sapphire eyes as if the were a sword forged by sharp waters.

"Don't be late for dinner. I expect you to organize your men for my search party before then."

"Sigh...yes honey..."

John refused to make his wife more furious. He could already feel he was walking on a thin line with a knife ready to cut him and make him fall to his doom.

-Western Side of Hunter Mountain Range 2 and a half days earlier-

Drake had changed his mind and walked south down the beach to look for any kind of caves. He was pleasantly surprised. Within 5 kilometers he was able to find an iron mine and a copper mine. This was excellent news for him.

"Ahhhh...what a long day. An iron mine and a copper mine a few kilometers apart is great luck. Iron can be forged into steel if I can find coal and copper could be used to make bullets with steel tips. Although not the most efficient it should work for early versions. It would be a god send if I could find Zinc to make brass. That would allow me to make material for more durable bullets. Although forging bullets will be difficult I believe it can be done. I still have the delta and river to search, If I can find coal, zinc, and any other resources I can start forging. Although I haven't found any kind of Aether Crystals, whether they are pure or elemental, I wonder if I just didn't recognize them and pass them by."

After rambling to himself as he walked along the beach with the starlight of the sun basking the west side of the mountains in a warm glow, Drake finally reached back to the wolf. Ever since he started feasting on the wolf meat, Drake could feel his body becoming more potent with energy. He didn't know it yet but his body was beginning to change. His scrawny look was no where to be seen as small forms of muscles began to show. After training in the morning and eating the meat it was already eliciting results. The intense vital Aether Energy from the Grade S wolf was nourishing his bodies mana circuits and muscles faster than normal beasts. Grade S beasts were rare so being able to personally eat on one the night before and morning of the current day was a big benefit, especially when he would continue to eat if for the upcoming days.

'Tomorrow I head upstream to see what I can find.'