Chapter Nine

City of Trênt - House Vjorn's Manor

Two weeks ago

Skye was sorting out the things that he needed for the upcoming journey as his mother entered his room. She just stood there at the corner, looking at her son. Glad to see her child was smiling once again. "Are you excited?"she asked. "For some reasons,yes" Skye answered. He really is excited about joining school for a reason. Maybe because he doesn't have any other friends except for Selena, if she even consider him as a friend. Twelve years in his life and he only has minimal contact with kids his age and that scares him. Skye's smile suddenly turned into a frown. "Why dear?" Ahria asked as she sensed her son's mood change. "What if they think im weird? What if they think im arrogant? A showoff? What if I don't make friends? They will think im super weird because I don't even have a friend" Skye stated. "My son just be yourself and kids will realize how cool you are and will definitely want to be your friend" Ahria offered. "Mother, im not ten, you don't have to babytalk to me. I don't need lots of friend, I just need a couple of true ones"

"But you are my baby, you'll always be my baby. No matter how much you grow"Ahria replied "and as I said be yourself and you'll make friends immediately, right Devourer?"

"Of course" Dejvra agreed readily. "You called Goddess of Wisdom? The next in line atleast"

"Don't get smart with me Devourer" Ahria fought back "You may be binded right now but i'll find answers soon enough"

"Hahaha. Not before your son could. Seems like his godhood is starting to stir inside him" Dejvra laughed.

"Speaking of the truth mother. Why didn't you include me in this research of yours?"

"I didn't want you to concern yourself with trivial matters. You have so much in your hands already"

"Trivial matters? We are talking about my life here, how is it in any way "trivial"? You could have atleast told me I was fated as a Dragon God!"

"Is that what it is?" his mother asked in reply.

"I can't believe you. That's what you're asking right now?" Skye snorted.

"What would you like me to do?" Ahria asked in frustration.

"Be sorry atleast. You were hiding the truth from me. The TRUTH, in all these years" Skye almost shouted.

"What? I thought it was best for you to not know you were a God, so that you atleast get a semblance of a normal life. I did what I thought was best for you" Ahria replied angrily.

"Then think again! My life was everything but NORMAL! I can't go out of the manor like normal kids do. I can't play with the servant's kids like normal kids do. I didn't have a father who carries them in their shoulders for god knows how long like normal kids do. I didn't have a single friend like any other normal kids do. And I can memorize every book I have read unlike any normal kids could. And you think I got a normal life?" Skye asked with a hint of anger in his voice as well. Ahria froze in place with sudden revelation. Silence filled the room only to be interrupted by a sudden knock on the door. "Can I come in?" Cai asked on the other side of the door. "Yes father" came a reply from Skye. As Cai entered the room, he felt the tension in the room. "What's happening?" he asked. No one answered till Skye spoke. "Im sorry mother. I shouldn't have talked to you like that... I just felt angry because you always keep secrets from me. Your past. Who I really am. Now you're researching something about my fate and I don't even got a say on it? How is that even fair?" he reasoned.

"I should be the one apologizing, for all these years I kept you for myself. I was afraid. Afraid of many things. Afraid that i'll be losing you" Ahria stated.

"I understand mother, and the past is in the past. There's only the future we could look forward to" Skye smiled "and please don't hide anything from me in the future"

"I won't" Ahria answered. "Good! Now that you already have reconciled there is some family matters to discuss" Cai blurted out.

"Father, read the atmosphere!" Skye laughed. Soon enough the trio laughed their hearts out as hugs were exchanged.

"So what are the urgent matters we need to discuss?" asked Ahria seriously.

"Right! House Snow is making their moves. It seems like Skye's provocation made them rush their decisions" Cai said with a hint of worry in his voice.

"Any information on their plans?"

"No, they've been secretive about any movements but our scouts discovered they're on to something" Cai replied.

"Is this my fault?"

"No, House Snow's main competition is House Vjorn in fact they know that they're much inferior to us till now. With my cultivation crippled and Vjorns of Dragon weakened they have been eyeing us for a while now" Ahria replied "have we utilized our resources?"

"Yes we have" Cai answered

"Results?"

"Not so good" he answered honestly

"Mother, Father? Do you trust me?" Skye asked. "Of course my son" Cai answered while Ahria just nodded her head.

"I have a plan" Skye said as his green eyes lit up.

"Order!" shouted Cai as all of their bannermen huddled in their Great Hall. All of the men present took their seats as Skye stood up from his seat. "Thank you for answering our call my Lords. I can't even express any words to compensate for your unyielding loyalty to House Vjorn" Skye started "our great Houses stood together at the direst of times and founded the Final Frontier of the North. And today we stand again together because the times are once again dire" Couple of murmurs were heard in the room but soon calmed down and Skye continued "Yes, the rumors are true my Lords. After our House poured our hearts to stop the invasion a year ago. Opportunist began eyeing our position. We, who lost our friends, our families! My Father who almost gave his life to protect the city while other Houses cowered in fear and protected their own. Hundreds of our men fought to death that day to save millions of citizens. And this is how we will be repayed. Betrayal. Now that we suffered losses we are weak. And now House Snow started their move" a couple of gasping sounds were heards as other pounded their tables in anger. Insults came and once again Cai shouted "Order! Let my son finish!". The men calmed down and Cai continued his speech. "I know some of us are angry, disgusted some of us will be a bit irrational and suggest to wipe House Snow entirely. You're not wrong. But that is not how House Vjorn lead the Frontier. We will try to make peace. And if doesn't work, then may Gods have mercy on them. Because we won't" Skye finished.

"Aye" their bannermen shouted as they rose up from their seats.

"Long live House Vjorn! Long live!" the men shouted repeatedly.

* * *

City of Trênt - City Lord's Mansion

A servant of House Snow makes his way to the City Lord's room hastily. He knocked twice and waited for a response. "Come in" the City Lords responded as the servant entered the room. The servant immediately kneeled and said "Lord Kyle, you need to see what's happening outside". "Why? What is happening?" Kyle questioned the servant. "Please my Lord it is utmost important". "Fine" Kyle said angrily as he walked to his courtyard. "Please my Lord we must hurry" the servant asked while bowing his head. Kyle glared at his servant but hurried along. As he reached his courtyard a massive light that covered the entire sky of the city was being emitted by ward from House Vjorn's Manor. It displays a horned dragon sigil. Suddenly a vision akin to a scrying magic filled the light and a room filled with men can be seen. "Order!" shouted one of the men seating at the front table. "Is that Cai?" he asked himself. Then a boy stood up and started talking "Thank you for answering our call my Lords.........."

Kyle made his way to the Great Hall as lots of his House members are already waiting for him. "How did they know were already making moves? We were doing it so stealthily" asked one of the Elders of House Snow. "It doesn't matter! They now know. We must wage war now or we'll lose after they gather the whole City's support" argued the other Elder. "The City Lord has arrived" announced one of the guards. As Kyle entered the room he could feel the tension from the Elders their eyes showed fear while other ones didn't even attend the meeting. The vision didn't just rile up the House Vjorn's allies but weakened their enemies as well. But he didn't become the City Lord without a reason. He calmly took a seat and looked at the Elders. "My Lords, report" he asked. One of the Elders spoke "Half of the major Houses decided to support House Vjorn while half decided to be neutral. None of them wants to support us. Minor Houses considered this as a gamble, a quarter of them supports us but the remaining supports House Vjorn in hopes to earn them a favor".

"Our army still stands stronger right?"

"Not for long my Lord"another Elder spoke "a couple of our soldiers filed resignation. City Guards now stands with House Vjorn. All of the citizen favors them. They also own the Merchant Guild and decided to make any war material ten times the original price while they quadripled the supplies. Our army is still stronger but as I said not for long. I suggest we wage war now"

"Don't be so rash my Lords. Haven't you heard the boy himself they'll make peace. For now we spread news of our innocence. We didn't make any move against the House Vjorn. They are trying to frame us up to remove one of the biggest threat that is the truth. Right my Lords?" he stated calmly.

"Yes my Lord" the Elders answered. Before the meeting can adjourn a servant came in the room. "My Lords, Skye of House Vjorn demands an audience"

"Sooner than expected but let him in"

Skye walked in the bright corridors of the City Lord's mansion. Gold adorned the wooden pillars while luxurious paintings covered the walls. Dozen of intricate vases and aromatic flowers can be seen and smelled here and there. Everything screamed luxurious in the City Lord's Mansion and Skye disliked it. He like the simplistic style of their House manor and everything here was anything but simple. A few more minutes of walking and they reach the City Lord's Great Hall. Kyle Snow was standing in front of the Hall as a couple of men stood behind him. Kyle extended his hand "Lord Skye of House Vjorn". "My Lord, my lords" he bowed after shaking the City Lord's hand. "No guards I see. Brave one I see" Kyle commented. "Is there a reason I need to be accompanied by guards my Lord?" Skye asked mocking his innocence. "None my Lord. The City Lord's mansion is the safest place in Trênt" Kyle offered. "Not safe enough for you a year ago my Lord. I heard you fleed from the City when the meteor descended" Skye provoked. If there was any signs of displeasure with the remark, Kyle manage to hide it. "Rumors, nothing but rumors my Lord" Kyle answered "let's go in I believe we have lots of things to discuss" "That we definitely do, my Lord" Skye replied.

As Skye and Kyle took their seats at the end of the table, Kyle suddenly asked "How old are you my Lord?". "I've just turned twelve this year my Lord" Skye answered. "Oh! I wish my son is as talented as you. When he was your age all he did was play and fool around"

"I get that a lot my Lord. I wish I could play and fool around too". Kyle's smile diminished a bit when he heard the statement. "Shall we proceed to business then?"

"Of course my Lord but before that let me tell you that our House doesn't hold it against you for your actions. If I was in your place i'll probably advice my Father to do the same thing. But you're not me and im not you. We made our choices"

"I see. To business then."

"My Lord as representative of the House Vjorn I advise your House to stand down. Trying to wipe our House is an act of betrayal against one of the founding Houses of City of Trênt. As a compensation you will vanquish your title as City Lord and pass it to my Father. We also demand half of your resources and army. Finally your House will swear an oath of allegiance to our House and will serve as one of our bannermen"

"And if we will not agree to this terms?"

"Im afraid House Snow will be set as an example to anyone who dares to betray House Vjorn"

"And what does that mean"

"It simply means you and your House will cease to exist my Lord" Skye whispered as chills run down the spines of the elders who are listening to the conversation.

"I'm afraid I have to refuse to listen to your counsel my Lord" Kyle mocked.

"I think we have a little bit of misunderstanding here. I was never advising you, I was commanding you" Skye said with a wicked smile on his face.

"Oh! Is that so? And here I thought you were smart for your age but it seems like your delusional too" Kyle remarked "you do know that my army is bigger than what you currently have. I can march down to your manor this very moment and House Vjorn will just be another part of the history"

"Hahahaha, my Lord you already lost. You already lost before the game has begun" Kyle face paled as Skye laughed "Do you really think that im dumb enough to step into enemy territories wihout any guard and expect you to let me leave freely?"Skye asked "Then let me ask you my Lord, do you know what this is?" Skye let a crystal ball roll into the City Lord's side of the table. Kyle looked at the ball and picked it up. "What does a memory crystal have to do anything with this?"

"You still don't get it and here I thought you were smart for your age" Skye mocked Kyle with his own words "Try to look inside" he suggested. Kyle looked at the memory crystal and saw the meeting that was displayed in the sky earlier. Kyle's eyes widened as he realized what was going on. "Yes my Lord, that meeting did not happen a while ago but a week ago. We just got a week headstart against you. As I told you the moment ago , in a game the victor is already decided before it can even begin"Kyle cannot believe what transpired before him. He thought that kid was talented at politics and statistics. But he was not, he was a monster. He couldn't help but laugh at himself, he was just outwitted by a twelve year old.

"How?" Kyle asked.

"I can tell you how, but you have a choice to make first. Surrender or surrender?" Skye asked. "You really want me to say it?" Kyle queried. Skye just tilted his head a bit and raised one of his eyebrows. "Fine I surrender now will you tell me how?" Skye smiled as a spatial rift formed in his side. "Walk with me my Lord" Kyle flinched as he saw the boy create a spatial rift without a chant or gesture. The boy was about to enter the rift when he noticed Kyle was not moving. "Come my Lord, if I wanted you killed, believe me there is nothing anyone can do to stop us now. You wanted to know how, then i'll show you."Skye stated with a smile. Kyle just cleared his throat and braced himself as he entered the rift. When he arrived at the other side he was at a building. Only a long table with a couple of chairs and no noticeable decorations. Simple but elegant. Skye just walked and looked at the glass wall so Kyle did the same. What lies beneath them was the market of Trênt.

"When I was assigned to the City finances, I read all the reports for the market prices. War materials kept rising for some reason so I checked it out. I soon found out that the reason it is rising was because of the denand keeps getting higher. Someone is buying war materials during the City's rehabilitation means one thing. Internal strife. I connected the dots and found out that your House was the one making purchase in fact you even created a Merchant House of your own for that same purpose."

"So what if we made the purchases? That doesn't prove anything"

"When we suffered losses, I anticipated what was coming. You're not the only one eyeing us for some time now but your the only one who made the first move. Mother was preoccupied at the moment while Father is not just fit for politics. So I made my move"

"And that move is?"

"The Merchant's Guild"

"The Merchant's Guild?"

"Same reaction as Mother, same reason why you lost. You underestimated my move. Or maybe I masked it well enough. Anyway do you know what merchants control aside from products?"

"Uhhhmm" Kyle pondered "no" he resigned after a while of thinking.

"Another reason why you lost. If you need information where do buy them?"

Kyle's mouth went agape as he realized a grave mistake he commited.

"Yes, House Byrnn controls the flow of information in the whole City of Trênt. Still underestimating the Guild?" Skye asked then continued when Kyle just stared at him "But with your Merchant House in the way, I can't proceed without leaking any information so I planned on abolishing that House which proved to be easy. That also clouded your judgement and made a slip. When I discovered you made your move, you left me no choice. I promised House Byrnn quarter of your resources in exchange for controlling the flow of information, when they agreed, you already lost half of the war" Skye said "I gathered all of our bannermen and invited loyal Houses to support us in exchange for a favor once we take the City. We hired mercenaries and sellswords till we are confident with head on battle and with the City Guards in our side we smuggled them easy enough."

"Then why do you need that vision?"

"It was a test and a back up plan. A test for you on how you'll react with the sudden information. If you just sit back and tried to calm down the masses with false information, it means your not a madman and that also means you get to live. If you decided to march your army that instant you received the vision it means you'll no longer change, meaning we have to wipe out your whole House"

"What about the back up plan"

"In case we lose the battle, the citizens will know what happen. You'll be the tyrant who killed their hero. You may have the victory for now but you'll suffer later anyway. I'll then return after gaining enough power launch a coup d'etat and wipe you out. Delayed but still a victory"

"So I already lost before I even knew that the game was starting" Kyle muttered to himself.

"You shouldn't blame yourself too much. You see, when I studied history and art of war there is one similarity for all the victors. It was not because they had a superior army nor a powerful expert ,im not saying that it doesn't matter power is still power. But what they all had in common was great minds with an okay army. Your side doesn't have that. Even if I didn't do anything my mother would've crushed you and believe me when I say she isn't the merciful type" Kyle didn't know how to respond. "I understand your ambitions as i've told you earlier. It was your chance to cement your rule on Trênt and no man can't resist the urge" Skye stated.

"Even if Cai becomes City Lord, he doesn't know how to, you said it yourself. Wouldn't it be better if I will rule"

"You do know that my Father could've easily taken the City Lordship during the past decades but didn't bother. Do you know why?" he asked.

"Why?"

"Because he knows it himself, that he is not good with politics and never will he ever be. He has a kind heart. And politics was never for the kind hearted"

"Then what has changed?"

"That was before he married my mother. My father will be the kind hearted City Lord while my mother controls everything from the shadows, in that way I can ensure that Trênt will still stand until I return"

"So even if I didn't do anything you would've still take the City Lordship away from me?"

"I will, but in a nicer manner with a few threats maybe. That's the other reason why I told you to not blame yourself too much. I would eventually take it away from you"

"You have everything planned out from the very beginning didn't you?"

"Maybe, maybe not" Skye offered "now my Lord its time to deal with the spoils of war. We'll have a busy schedule from now on and I will have to leave the city within a week. Let's get over with the hard part" Skye said as he materialized an ice sword "Kyle of House Snow, would you swear an oath of allegiance with House Vjorn?"

"Yes my lord" Kyle said as he materialized his own sword while bending a knee.

"Lets skip the formalities my Lord."Skye assisted Kyle with standing up then whispered to his ear "Then I promise you this, the moment you think of betraying our House once more. I swear to all the Gods that I will make sure each and everyone with the blood of Snow flowing in their veins will cease to exist. But serve us well and I promise to do my best to make your House prosper even more. I owe you half of your resources and half your army. In time I will repay you. But as a gift. I will grant you access to the Library only for you" Kyle paled during the threats but cheered up once Skye added the benefits. He drilled one thing in his head "Never cross House Vjorn again".

"Now my Lord, certain documents and ceremonies can't be bypassed I wish you could help my parents with those but for now you may go home. We both have a long day" Skye said as he created another spatial rift.

"Thank you my Lord" Kyle bowed before entering the rift. "No, my Lord thank you" aaSkye answered with a bow of his own.

Skye sat down as he expended all his essence in making rifts. "You could've let him walk instead" Dejvra commented in his head. "That was necessary for the negotiation. I have to assert that I am not just a man of words but a man of power too" Skye replied.

"Hahaha. A boy called himself a man" the dragon laughed. "Oh shut up Dejvra" Skye smiled "Let's go home and deliver the good news"

* * *

City of Trênt

The sky was filled with clouds as a soft whistling pierced the cold air. Kieran was walking to an inn when he sensed a couple of martial artists following him. "Rats" he thought to himself as he stopped on his path. "I don't know who you are but im telling if you guys won't stop following me this won't end well" he said as he faced the direction of the presence. Hundreds of shadows started making their way to surround Kieran. "Shit! This is bad" he said to himself. The shadows materialized themselves and stared at Kieran. Kieran cannot make the faces of the assailants as their robes hid them quite well."What do you want?" Kieran asked. No response. "If you guys don't mind then i'll go ahead" he said as he started making his way to the crowd. "Seize him" the figure commanded as a couple of experts tried to pin him down. He tried to dodge but failed to do so. "I don't know what your deal is but I don't think I know you so if you will release me, we could just forget this ever happened. Ok?" he said as he struggled from the expert who was cuffing him. "You're actually a dragon, I can't believe it" the figure said. Kieran glared at the man but the man continued "Centuries have past not any sightings of any dragon, why now?" he asked. Kieran stopped struggling then looked at the figure "Your last chance to let me go and I promise you could walk away with your lives" the man just stared at him waiting for the boy to make his move. The boy closed his eyes and when he opened it his eyes massive spiritual fluctuation started gathering. Kieran let his two spiritual rings flare to existence. Silver flames erupted from his body and instantly incinerated the expert restraining him. The remaining experts took cover in their shadowy form. Kieran bolted with all his might as the experts were distracted. "Not so fast" he heard the figure say before he felt massive pain in his chest as he received a direct hit from an expert of the sixtieth realm. His body went flying to the fields. He tumbled a couple of times before his body came to a halt. Kieran groaned in pain "Quick you need to escape we can't handle them in your current state"the elder dragon advised him. "Wise counsel, tell me something I don't know" Kieran replied as he pulled out his dagger. The dagger then grew in size and shifted to a katana. Kieran sheated the katana waiting for any signs of movement. He heard a rustle at his west and as fast as light an expert found himself dead before his brain could even process it. "Now" the dragon said and Kieran ran with all his might to west of his direction hoping to not bump to the another expert. Today was not his lucky day though as a figure materialized himself in front of him. The expert materialized a shadow blade and swung at Kieran's feet. Streaks of golden and silver flame enveloped Kieran as he took an ethereal form and passed through the expert like a ghost. He then materialized himself once more and bolted while the expert was still shocked at the events. The expert was fast to recover and yelled to surround Kieran. Even with Kieran's excellent physique at a young age he couldn't outrun spiritual masters beyond the fortieth realm so Kieran decided to stand his ground. His katana shone brightly as he made a slashing motion any expert who was fifteen feet away from him received a small cut. The experts ignored the cut as they continued to surround him. Kieran then whispered "Ignite"to himself as the experts who received wounds were burnt to crisp. The commander ordered his men to stand down as he closed in with his shadow blade. Kieran met him halfway with his katana as the two clashed their blades together. The two exchanged a couple of blows as Kieran was being slightly pushed back as difference in strength is simply too far. Kieran swiped then slashed his katana while the expert dodged with ease and counter attacked instantaneously. The commander then made a slashing motion and Kieran had no choice but to block with his katana. Kieran's guard was blown away with the hit and received a kick from the man. He gasped for air as his body tumbled in the dirt. Kieran clutched his stomach as he started vomitting blood, his internal organs were badly damaged with one kick. His hair turned to gold and his eyes shone in cosmic radiance as he tried to heal the damage but the expert didn't give him any chance to do so as he rushed forward with his blade once more. Kieran was again forced to block but was still overpowered even in his "golden" form. He tried to retaliate with a swing as his katana's reach suddenly extended but the man expertly parried the sword and countered with a slash. Kieran dodged but received a punch directly at his face. Blood dripped from his nose but Kieran endured the pain and swiped his katana once more and missed not because the man dodged but because Kieran took too much damage and failed to hit his target. The elder dragon knew that Kieran was losing this battle and if he didn't do anything Kieran might die and he cannot let that happen easily. "Kieran we can try merging in your draconic form. Shift now!" the elder dragon commanded in Kieran's mind. "I can't! The law forbids me to reveal my identity in non-draconic settlements" Kieran replied weakly. "The law doesn't apply to you if you're gonna be dead! SHIFT NOW!" the elder dragon shouted in his mind. "Fine but last time we tried merging I almost lost my mind". "I know, its either you die in this guy's blades or die trying to merge with me" the elder dragon replied. The commander would likely finish Kieran with a slash but as he swung his blade to the boy's head, the boy received the blade with bare hands. His eyes widened as Kieran's arms swelled in size and his body was slowly covered by his scales. As Kieran shifted to his draconic form he noticed that his original crimson red scales were now golden when he merged with the elder dragon. Metallic silver crest adorned his head as different runes are embedded in his body. Silvery metal covered a part of his wing as he looked at his assailant and let a loud roar echo in the entire city. "Raaawwwwwrr" the sound permeated on every building in Trênt as it broke every glass in a mile away. He then took off to the skies and focused on one thing. Burn his enemies alive. He opened his mouth and let out a silvery white flame that devoured the fields and decimate any living thing within its radius. Dozen of spiritual masters retreated to their shadow form but even the shadows were burnt to nothingness as the flames made contact with it. The commander however was wise enough to escape after the dragon took off to the skies. The dragon continued to decimate his enemies as he felt a familiar connection tingling in his senses. "You cannot sustain this form for long, focus at the task at hand" the elder dragon lectured as he felt the same sensation. The only thing that could describe the remaining moments was Hell. Nothing could extinguish the flames and anything it makes contact with, does not burn to crisp instead they disappear to nothingness. Nothing could extinguish it until a hail of arrows came and as quick as he unleashed hell, the scenery change to a mystical frozen land. He looked at the direction where the arrows came from. Two miles away stood a boy in dark cloak with a platinum blond hair and green eyes. Something was different from the last time he saw this boy. He stared at the boy for a couple of seconds and the boy gave him a cheeky grin. "Oh! He can make that face too huh" he said to himself as he returned a smile of his own it was not noticeable with his dragon form but he knew the other boy understood with the connection they had.

"Wait for me there! We have a duel to fulfill" he said to no one but received a nod from the boy. Indeed, an epic duel is about to begin.

* * *

"Are you sure you can't delay your travel till your father's Lordship ceremony?" Ahria asked for a hundredth time. "Mother we discussed this a thousand times already. I told you the journey will be a hard one due to the weather. I won't make it in time if i'll delay it. Besides the caravan will leave later. It's too late to change my mind" he explained.

"We know son, its just our obligation to ask as your parents" Cai said as he handed him an interspatial ring "this already has all your needs including the items you bought yesterday. I included a bit of money in there and in case it doesn't suffice or currencies doesn't work in occasion I included some jewelries and items you can trade" Cai explained. Skye looked inside the interspatial ring and was shocked at the size of space it has. It was almost as big as his room, considering his room was big enough to fit one adulat dragon in it. He also discovered a hundred diamond coins, thousand platinum coins and a million gold coins. A diamond coin is equal to a thousand platinum coin while a platinum is worth a thousand gold. A gold is equal to a hundred silver, as silver is equal to a hundred copper coins. A luxurious inn may charge a hundred silver coins for one month of stay while a luxurious meal is at max of five silvers. A normal F rank adventurer's income is up to ten gold coins per month depending on how industrious they are. So his father considering it a bit of gold is an underestimation. Aside from the gold he had a heap of jewelries, precious metals and weapons. Clothes, food and other supply was already accounted for. He can't help but smile as he hugged his father "Thank you father" then hugged his mother too "Thank you mother".

"City Lord, Lady Vjorn.You have the city while im away. Take good care of it" he said while bowing. Ahria wiped a tear and spoke "It is ours until you return safely my Lord". Skye took one last look at his mother and father as he walked out of the manor. "He grows too fast" Cai said while looking at his son make his way to the caravan. "Oh! I forgot to tell him Selena will be attending Winter Wolves too!" Ahria exclaimed.

* * *

Selena looked amused at the shocked face of Skye once he knew that she'll be attending Winter Wolves too. It has been a day of travel and she shared the carriage with the Lord Skye the only son of Cai Vjorn and heir to the City of Trênt. The boy would occasionaly have a conversation with her but most of the time he spends on cultivating. She can't help but be jealous with his talent but she also can't afford to be angry with him especially with his innocent look and cute face. She blushed bright red as the thoughts went through her mind. As Skye didn't even react with her sudden flinching she relaxed and began reading a book. A few hours later and their carriage shook as the coachman tried to calm the horse. Every horse in the caravan was neighing furiously, trying to escape from their reins. Skye and Selena went outside to check whats happening when they heard a draconic roar from the distance. Selena froze in place like any other living things who heard the roar but Skye was different, he was already commanding the caravan while others shiver in fear. "We will rest here and I will scout further ahead to make sure there is no danger. Guards are to stay here to guard the caravan" Skye commanded as he leapt from tree to tree to find where the roar came from. Skye can no longer pinpoint the location of the roar he heard earlier, when he sensed a familiar sensation. He followed his intincts and was surprised to Selena on his tail. As he looked to the horizon a golden dragon flew above the fields decimating the fields below it with its fiery breath. Then suddenly he heard Dejvra whispered in his mind "Crato"