Following his visit to the smithy, as Nero returned to his manor, and easy feeling after achieving his goal filled him. But, while he passed by the familiar pond, a sudden urge appeared in his heart, making him stop and turn around. Hence, it didn’t take long for the boy to appear before the familiar tombstone, which he hadn’t seen for the whole month because of his busy routine.

After shaking off all the leaves, typical for the fall, Nero sat next to the tombstone and looked at the gray skies.

At first, he kept silent as memories together with his mother flashed across his eyes. The scenes of playing with her, learning from her, getting punishments, eating, and hunting. In short, everything that he remembered about his mother now flashed across his eyes. Her smile, her furrowed brows, her shoulders on which she brought food, and loving gaze with which she always looked at him.

However, as more time passed, the stronger the empty feeling in his heart became. Only now, after many days from that day, Nero started realizing how it was to live without her, his mother, the first and maybe the last person to sacrifice her everything for his sake.

Though such a realization brought immense pain, Nero refused to agree that his mother was just dead. So, Nero stretched his arm and touched her tombstone as tenderly as possible.

“Mother, long time no see. Sorry for coming rare,” said Nero as his mother’s smiling face appeared in front of him. “I have made my first step towards the goal. I am officially Nero Claus, the grandson of your father. I live in your manor, learn and train with your instructors, and might even walk there where you once did.”

“My martial path instructor is Primus. He is strict. His training causes my body to ache days after and makes me reach my limits. But he is also caring and supportive. Every time I approach my limit and think I can’t make another move, he comes and tells me a joke or stories about you. Mother, I never expected you were such a naughty girl in childhood.

Nero spent several hours telling about his new life, his training, lessons, dinners, and other stuff. He tried to put as many details as possible as if his mother was sitting next to him and listening to his story. When he stopped, he ended up telling everything that happened with him to his mother, including his thoughts.

“This will be my first birthday without you and teacher Gustav,” said Nero, as he released a bitter sigh. “I will never again enjoy our usual celebration dinners and teacher’s trinkets he would have prepared.”

Another period of silence descended when he said those words before Nero clenched his fists and a burning resolution appeared in his eyes.

“I need to go, mother. Nero will be fine. I will handle my problems and get stronger. Even though I don’t fully understand some lessons you and the teacher gave me, but your son won’t stay weak. A singular lesson was enough,” said Nero before raising and leaving the tombstone.

...

..

.

The next day.

A figure of the seven-year-old boy was standing in front of the man’s figure, holding a wooden mace and small shield. Right now, the boy’s figure was gasping for air while the man furrowed his brows in dissatisfaction.

“If you trained harder, you would have held out against that girl. Do you realize why you lost against her?” asked Primus as he looked at Nero.

“I was weaker, both physically and energetically. That’s why I lost,” said Nero.

“Yes, but that’s not the main reason,” said Primus, slightly increasing his tone. “Remember what happened right after the start of your battle.”

A certain scene of an attacking girl appeared in his mind when a certain idea struck him.

“Weapon and skills mastery,” said Nero, while Primus nodded in approval.

“Even though she didn’t show it, I was there and saw how she moved. It was the movements of the experienced mace fighter. For every move or thrust you made, she already knew the counter. You lost not only because you lacked strength but also because of the difference in the experience. Even your sudden counterattack failed because she already had the instincts of the warrior. That was a good lesson. Thank that girl the next time you meet,” said Primus.

“How to get such instincts?” asked Nero.

“Hmm... You really want to know that?” asked Nero with a slight smile on his lips while Nero nodded.

“Fight, train, and learn. The more you follow this simple formula and the more dead battles you pass through, the stronger your instincts would become. You are a hunter. You must understand what I am talking about,” said Primus while Nero nodded.

“Instructor, I want to get stronger. Now I see the gap between me and the noble scion. Please, help me,” said Nero, with a resolution in his eyes.

Primus spent a moment looking into his eyes before a smirk appeared on his lips.

“Fine, I will increase the intensity of our training. But don’t cry because of that later on. If you plan to catch up with those children in your age, you better be ready for the immense pain you would suffer as a price,” said Primus, looking at Nero.

“I am ready,” said Nero, raising his wooden sword and adjusting his stance.

A moment and their sparring restarted with a clanking sound which resounded across the training ground.

...

..

.

“So, how do you feel after your first encounter with a typical scion of the noble household?” asked Stein with a slight smile when he finished organizing his material. And he looked at Nero in the study room.

“She was strong,” said Nero, as a certain girl flashed through his eyes.

“Indeed, she was. Eris Atreides, the only daughter of the Atreides household, is a very talented, beautiful, and arrogant young girl. A young thorny rose who can become an heir in her family if she proves herself worthy than her elder brother,” said Stein as he widened his smile.

“Even though she might consider herself dangerous and strong, I would call her harmless, compared to other young scions and potential heirs of the noble households,” said Stein as he moved his glance at Nero.

“What can you tell me about them?” asked Nero, using this chance to get a piece of extra and precious information from his usually untalkative instructor.

“Beware of all of them. Most of them are already monsters who can easily kill an infant with bare hands for their interests. The stronger the household, the more dangerous their prodigies are. If you fought against Melor scion, he wouldn’t act like Eris, whose family is famous for their honor. Melor’s scion would just use the strongest of his attacks to cripple or seriously injure you. Not because he knew about your identity, but to get satisfaction for their distorted feeling of delight. That’s why learn on your mistakes boy, you should know when to retreat and when to bow your head,” said Stein as he narrowed his eyes.

“It’s a time question before Lord will introduce you to other nobles and public. You should decide which tactics and strategy to choose for that incoming moment. We have already passed that on our lessons. Hence, you know all advantages and disadvantages of each pattern of behavior. Though it might cause some problems for you in the future, I would recommend becoming friends with that girl. Believe me, she is the least dangerous towards you among all others.

“When the fateful hour comes, be careful, and don’t forget my lessons,” said Stein as a familiar slight smile appeared on his lips.

It took only a moment for Nero to realize the hidden meaning behind his words.

“Is it our last lesson?” asked Nero.

“For now. I will have to attend to other important duties. Hence, you will self-study and hopefully, I will return to teach you,” said Stein as he looked at Nero.

“I see,” said Nero as he raised from his seat and approached Stein before half-bowing to him.

“Thank you, instructor. I will never forget your lessons,” said Nero while Stein widened his smile, guessing correctly his next words.

“Just survive, boy. No need for gifts. Your survival will be enough for me,” said Stein as he approached Nero and patted him on the shoulder.

“By the way, I know about your incoming birthday. Hence, I spent some pondering what to give you, but now I know the answer. Information will be a good gift,” said Stein as he inclined to Nero’s ear and whispered something.

Nero only narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists when Stein finished speaking.

“You are forewarned and should be forearmed,” said Stein, patting Nero on the shoulder before taking a book. “Now, we will start our next lesson.”

...

..

.

County Melor

Right now, inside the big chamber, the two people lay on the big bed. There were the man and the woman. The man had a muscular body with several scars on it. But he didn’t look like a warrior, but a fox instead. A woman was a beauty. She had the long black hair which the man caressed right now with his left hand while her face was on his chest. There were clothes all over the room and the bed was in mess. But, the two of them ignored that and just enjoyed each other’s company after the recent and passionate process.

“Brunn, dear, when do you plan to marry me?” asked the woman as she caressed the man’s chest and looked into his brown eyes.

“Soon, Sylvi. Just be patient. Father’s plan is almost ready and soon your idiot will become a new baron. A year or two and your child will replace him while we will marry,” said the man as he kissed the woman on her lips.

“But I am already pissed off with him. How long will I have to babysit him?” asked the woman.

“Not long. Soon, you will become a custodian of the last Claus and there will be nothing stopping us from eternal happiness, even my father,” said Brunn Melor as he tightly hugged Sylvana.

“At least that old man will die sooner than my idiot. How will it happen, dear?” asked Sylvana.

“You know the rules. We don’t share such secrets,” said Brunne.

“Really?” asked the woman as she slowly started moving down from his chest, leaving kisses along the way.

“Huh... I still can’t believe how that idiot caught a woman like you,” said Brunne, inclining back in delight before throwing a dissatisfied glance below.

“Fine, it will be an assassin. Are you satisfied now?” asked Brunne before the process continued.

...

..

.

Brunne Melor left his chambers several hours later, leaving a sleeping and tired woman. Passing through several long corridors, he ended up opening a specific door before stepping inside where the certain person was already waiting for him.

“You are late,” said the man without taking his glance off the document in his hands.

“There were difficulties which I had to attend,” said Brunne, taking his seat in the nearby armchair while Count Melor only smiled when he heard him.

“That insatiable slut, right?” asked Count Melor, while Brunne nodded. “Again tried to get some secrets with her shallow skills?”

This time, Brunne released a loud laugh.

“I never expected she would really, believe me, father. How can she even dream about marrying someone from Melor household, father?” asked Brunne, throwing a sincerely confused glance at the man.

“You at least have fun playing with her, right son?” asked Count Melor.

“Indeed, she is very experienced in entertaining and knows how to satisfy a man to a certain degree. But it becomes difficult to hold urges to make a specific thing with her,” said Brunne.

“Don’t hurry, son. She and her idiotic husband are parts of our plan. Retainers serving the Claus family will never bow to anyone outside. Her future son is a necessity, or those lands will forever stay rebellious,” said Count Melor.

“But can that idiot make one?” asked Brunne with a clear doubt on his face while Count Melor smiled.

“Don’t worry. If he fails, you take that responsibility and at least his blood will serve a higher goal,” said Count Melor before widening his smile into a smirk, a gesture followed by his son.

“Why did you call me, father?” asked Brunne.

“Our idiot will soon visit his elder cousin and proclaim his demands. You will accompany him on that journey. At this moment, I have no doubts an old wolf already felt something and will be on guard. So, don’t hold back, make a good provocation, and distract them from the real source of danger,” said Count Melor with a smirk on his lips.

“Don’t worry, father. I will do it,” said Brunne, as he stood up with the same smirk.