Zach stepped into his room, closing the door softly behind him. The quiet of his personal space was a stark contrast to the busy streets of Frosthold. After the whirlwind tour, his mind was filled with ideas and observations. His first instinct was to organize everything. There was so much to process, so much to remember.
He sat at his desk, pulling out a fresh piece of parchment and setting his quill in hand. Drawing a large circle in the center of the page, he wrote "Frosthold Learnings" in bold letters. Then, with a deep breath, he began to sketch out a mind map, his thoughts spilling out as quickly as he could write.
First came the Merchant Guild. He noted the efficiency of their system, contrasting it with the disorganized, cramped setup in Ravennest. "Streamlined, centralized," he wrote, drawing arrows connecting various elements—trade permits, tax assessments, dispute resolution.
His mind jumped to the Adventurer's Guild. He recalled the energetic atmosphere, the rows of quests, and the camaraderie between the adventurers. "Ranked system, quests, monster hunting." He jotted down notes about the structure of the guild, how adventurers rose through the ranks and how the guild seemed to be an essential part of Frosthold's economy.
The Craftsmen's Guild was next. Zach drew a line and wrote, "Master craftsmen, noble clientele," underlining the significance of skilled artisans in the city. He had admired the intricate wooden models in the guild, marveling at the attention to detail.
Then, the Alchemist's Guild—strange, pungent, but undeniably important. "Potions, herbs, magic," he noted. He couldn't help but be intrigued by the variety of experiments he'd witnessed. There was so much to learn, and Zach couldn't wait to see if any of it could be applied in Ravennest. He made a mental note to talk to Elias later about experimenting with some of the alchemical ideas.
As he continued, his thoughts turned to the Scholars' Guild. While his feet had been sore by the time they arrived there, Zach had been fascinated by the vast collection of knowledge. "History, magic, secrets." He had felt a pang of longing when he saw books on forgotten lore—books he wished he could dive into if he had more time. But time was something he didn't have much of now.
His pen paused over the Blacksmiths' Guild, and Zach felt a smile tug at his lips. The heat of the forge had been unbearable, but the craftsmanship of the weapons and armor had left him in awe. He made a quick note, "Forging, strength, skill."
As the mind map grew, Zach's thoughts shifted. Frosthold was clearly more advanced than Ravennest in several key areas. If he were to make any lasting changes in Ravennest, he needed to adopt some of these methods. His mind swirled with possibilities.
But there was something else gnawing at him. In just two days, he would leave this place. Ravennest would be waiting, and he had no idea what lay ahead. The challenges of his future life as Vincent's son, the lord of Ravennest, loomed larger than ever. The weight of responsibility pressed on him, heavier than any decision he'd ever had to make.
Zach's gaze shifted to the window, the fading light casting long shadows over the room. Two days. That was all the time he had left here.
A sigh escaped him as he turned back to his mind map, eyes scanning over the ideas he had written down. He could refine Ravennest's systems, improve its guilds, bring more order and efficiency to the town. But then he remember that he is just a 4 year old kid with no pwer. Bringing back his sad memories of being cut by his mother during the meeting about his own game.
The evening was quiet at Frost Mansion, and the usual hustle of guards and servants had died down. Sebastian's footsteps echoed as he walked toward Leo's office, a flicker of unease in his chest. The news he had to discuss was unsettling, and he knew Leo would want to know every detail. He had been summoned, and there was no escaping the weight of the conversation that awaited him.
Sebastian stepped into Leo Frost's office, his eyes sharp as he met the man's gaze. Leo sat behind his desk, arms crossed, his expression serious.
"Sebastian, you already know why I called you."
Sebastian nodded, his voice steady. "The knight."
Leo pulled open a drawer and placed a metal insignia on the desk between them. It gleamed under the candlelight—an unmistakable emblem.
Sebastian's gaze didn't waver. "I saw it during the fight. I just didn't have the time to confirm which noble house it belonged to."
Leo exhaled, rubbing his temple. "It's worse than we thought. That insignia belongs to Lord Varian's household."
Sebastian's fingers tapped the armrest of his chair. "A high-ranking noble involved in human trafficking. This wasn't just some rogue operation."
Leo's expression darkened. "Exactly. Varian is powerful, deeply connected to the merchant guilds. He's been careful, keeping his hands clean. If one of his knights was leading that operation, then this goes deeper than just smuggling or slave trading."
Sebastian's voice was cold. "This could connect to Zach's assassination attempt."
Leo nodded grimly. "That's what I'm thinking. We interrogated the knight, but he refused to talk. He was prepared to die rather than spill anything."
Sebastian's jaw clenched. "So, what's our next move?"
Leo leaned forward. "We keep this quiet. If Varian gets even a hint that one of his men was captured, he'll move fast to erase any traces."
Sebastian scoffed. "Then we make sure he doesn't get that chance."
Leo smirked slightly. "I thought you'd say that. I'll start pulling strings from my side. You handle things in Ravennest. If there's a pattern to these attacks, we need to find it before it's too late."
The moment Sebastian exited the office, Leo leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the desk. His gaze drifted toward the insignia left behind—a reminder that someone had dared to challenge his control over Frosthold.
A sharp knock echoed through the room.
"Enter."
A tall man in a decorated military uniform stepped in, his movements precise and disciplined. His name was Commander Roan, the leader of Frosthold's army.
Leo's expression was unreadable as he studied the man before speaking. "Roan, someone dared to taint my territory with filth. The house of Varian has its hands in this mess."
Roan's brow furrowed. "Varian? That's dangerous ground, Lord Frost. Their main house may be in the royal city, but their branch family still holds influence here."
Leo scoffed. "Influence means nothing if they're buried before they can react." His fingers clenched into a fist. "However, we can't be reckless. Arresting them without solid evidence will bring the main house's wrath."
Roan nodded. "Then what are your orders?"
Leo's eyes sharpened. "Gather your forces discreetly. I want my men ready to move at a moment's notice."
Roan bowed slightly. "Consider it done." He turned to leave but hesitated at the door. "And if they resist?"
Leo's smirk was ice-cold. "Then they'll learn firsthand what it means to defy the ruler of Frosthold."
As Roan left, Leo wasted no time. He reached for a separate communication crystal, his voice turning low and authoritative.
"Vance, it's time."
A moment passed before a distorted voice responded. "I've been waiting for this call."
Leo exhaled, his expression dark. "I want eyes on the entire branch family of Varian. Track their movements, their connections, their weaknesses. If they so much as breathe wrong, I want to know."
"Understood. The intelligence network will begin immediate surveillance."
Leo leaned forward, his fingers lacing together. "Make sure they don't see it coming. If they're linked to this operation, I'll wipe out every last trace of their influence in my land."
The line went silent, and Leo allowed himself a rare moment of contemplation.
"You chose the wrong place to play your games, House Varian."
The next the The bright afternoon sun cast long shadows over the Frosthold courtyard, where Leo Frost playfully sparred with his son, Elias. The boy's laughter echoed as he dashed around, dodging his father's teasing swipes.
"You're too slow, Father! At this rate, even Mia can outrun you!" Elias taunted, grinning.
Leo smirked. "Oh? Then maybe I should"
Before he could finish, a maid approached with precise, measured steps. She lowered her head slightly, her voice barely above a whisper.
"My lord, there is a report."
Leo's playful smirk faded in an instant. His sharp eyes met the maid's for a brief moment before he turned to Elias.
"Go inside and find your mother, Elias. I have something to take care of."
Elias pouted but nodded. "Fine, but next time, I won't go easy on you!"
Leo simply ruffled the boy's hair before striding toward his office. The maid followed in silence, her presence almost fading into the background.
The moment Leo stepped inside, his gaze landed on the letter sealed with the insignia of his intelligence network. Without hesitation, he broke the seal and unfolded the parchment.
As his eyes scanned the words, his expression darkened.
Silence.
He tapped his fingers against the deskslow, calculating.
Then, after a long pause, his lips curled into a knowing smirk.
"So, they finally made their move."
His gaze flickered toward the door.
"Summon Commander Roan to my office. Immediately."
The servant bowed and hurried away.
Leo leaned back in his chair, the report still in hand.
The night was still. A heavy fog hung over Frosthold, concealing the silent figures moving through the streets like wraiths.
At the heart of this operation was Commander Roan, standing atop his black steed, his gaze locked onto the Varian Mansion. A massive estate belonging to one of the most influential noble families in the territory.
Tonight, that influence would shatter.
A scout rushed to his side, whispering urgently.
"Sir, the intelligence was accurate. A hidden storage beneath the mansion. Our informant claims the missing children are kept there."
Roan's expression remained stone-cold. "Then we proceed as planned."
He raised his hand. The signal.
With brutal efficiency, the soldiers moved.
A thunderous boom shook the air as the front gates of the Varian estate were forcefully blown open. The guards barely had time to react before they were subdued, their weapons knocked from their hands as soldiers stormed the courtyard.
Screams echoed within the mansion as armored boots trampled over the polished floors. Maidservants, chefs, even the noble children of the household—all were seized. The once-proud Varian Lord, his robes disheveled, was dragged from his chambers, his voice trembling with fury.
"How dare you! This is an outrage! Under whose authority do you violate my home?!"
Roan stepped forward, his presence suffocating. "By the authority of Lord Leo Frost. Your sins have finally caught up to you, Lord Varian."
The nobleman's eyes flickered with confusion. "Sins? What nonsense! You have no proof!"
Roan's lips curled into a smirk. "Then allow me to enlighten you."
At his command, a group of soldiers stormed towards the mansion's underground storage. The heavy steel door was torn from its hinges, revealing the stench of filth and fear.
The moment the soldiers stepped inside, their torches illuminated dozens of small, trembling figures.
Children. Pale. Malnourished. Shackled.
A heavy silence fell over the estate.
One of the soldiers turned back toward the gathered nobles and servants, his voice shaking with fury.
"Here is your proof."