The Regressed Heir of Ravencrest

Marcus remained silent for several moments, his fingers lightly tapping against the wooden desk as he studied Ethan’s calm expression. There was no hesitation in the boy’s eyes, nor even the slightest trace of uncertainty. Whatever request Ethan had just made, he had clearly thought about it long before walking into this office.

"You’re certain?" Marcus finally asked.

Ethan simply nodded.

The commander exhaled softly before leaning back in his chair. "...Very well."

Reaching for a blank authorization document, Marcus quickly wrote several lines across the parchment before pressing his personal seal into the wax. Once finished, he handed the folded document across the desk.

"I’ll have everything prepared immediately."

Ethan accepted the sealed document without looking at its contents and tucked it away. After exchanging a few final words, he offered Marcus a respectful nod before quietly leaving the command office.

Nearly half an hour later, Ethan stepped out of the command headquarters. Whatever Marcus had promised was already waiting for him. After receiving everything along with a sealed letter bearing the Commander’s personal seal, Ethan stored them inside his inventory without a second glance.

Before leaving Northwatch, he made one final trip through the merchant district, purchasing dried rations, fresh water, a thick travelling cloak, and several ordinary supplies that might prove useful during the journey ahead.

Rune curiously watched everything from Ethan’s shoulder until the boy gently lifted him and tucked him inside the inner pocket of the newly purchased travelling cloak. The little cub immediately pushed his head back out, his bright blue eyes filled with obvious dissatisfaction. Ethan couldn’t help but chuckle as he gently rubbed the soft fur between Rune’s ears.

"For now... you’ll have to stay hidden."

Rune let out a quiet whine.

"I know," Ethan said with a faint smile. "But not this time."

He gently pushed Rune back into the pocket before fastening the cloak, leaving only the tips of the little cub’s silver ears visible.

Satisfied, Ethan continued toward Northwatch’s outer gates.

The guards merely glanced at the Adventurer Guild insignia hanging from his belt before allowing him through after a routine inspection.

Beyond the towering walls, the endless forests of the Northern Frontier stretched toward the horizon.

Without another glance behind him, Ethan calmly stepped onto the road leading toward Bloomside.

Hidden among the crowds inside Northwatch, several pairs of eyes quietly watched him leave.

Only after Ethan disappeared beyond the fortress gates did they slowly withdraw from their respective positions.

Nearly an hour later...

Ten black-clad figures gathered once again beneath the dense canopy of an ancient forest overlooking the main road.

Their leader had already arrived.

His bloodshot eyes swept across every scout standing before him.

"What did you learn?"

The silence beneath the ancient trees lingered for a moment before one of the scouts stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"For the past two weeks, the boy rarely left his quarters apart from his daily training," he reported. "This morning, he visited the merchant district before entering the Adventurer Guild."

Another scout continued the report without hesitation. "Following your orders, none of us approached the Guild or the military district. We maintained surveillance from a distance until he reappeared in the outer district several hours later."

A third scout unfolded a rough map before pointing toward the eastern road. "After purchasing travelling supplies, he departed through the eastern gate. We couldn’t determine the contents of his commission, but he’s definitely heading east."

The leader slowly lowered his head, his bloodshot eyes lingering on the rough map spread across the ground. For nearly two weeks he had buried the rage festering inside him, forcing himself to wait until the trail finally led somewhere. Vael had not only been one of Eclipse’s Mage Commanders—he had been the man he had sworn brotherhood with decades ago, someone who had fought beside him through thin and thick.

His fingers slowly tightened until the parchment crumpled in his grasp.

"So..."

"You’ve finally left the protection of Northwatch."

A cold smile gradually spread across his scarred face, though not a trace of warmth reached his eyes.

"Vael..."

he muttered quietly.

"I couldn’t protect you..."

"...but I’ll bury every person connected to your death."

He raised his head and looked at the scouts.

"Maintain your distance. No one attacks without my command."

His gaze shifted toward the eastern forest.

"If fate has brought him out of Northwatch..."

"...then this forest will become his grave."

The leader remained behind for only a few moments before disappearing as well.

Several kilometers ahead...

Ethan continued walking along the forest road without changing his pace.

Towering trees rose on both sides, their branches forming a dense canopy overhead that allowed only scattered rays of sunlight to reach the ground. Apart from the distant cries of birds and the occasional rustling of leaves, the wilderness remained unusually quiet.

"They’re still following."

Rune immediately poked his head out from inside the coat.

A quiet growl escaped the little cub’s throat.

Ethan reached into the pocket and gently rubbed his head.

"Easy...little guy."

"There’ll be plenty of time."

Rune slowly calmed beneath the familiar touch before retreating back into the warmth of the coat.

Ethan’s pace never changed.

Instead of following the main road toward Bloomside, he quietly altered his course, stepping into the denser forests to the east.

Behind him...

Several hidden figures silently changed direction as well.

None of them realized...

Every step they took only carried them farther from Northwatch...

...and deeper into Ethan’s trap.

———

Several thousand kilometers to the east, where the Imperial Highway crossed one of the busiest trade routes of the Northern Frontier, stood Thornhold—the ancestral seat of House Thorn.

Unlike the fading grandeur of Bluemoon Estate, Thornhold radiated prosperity. Crimson banners embroidered with silver thorns hung proudly from towering marble pillars while servants moved briskly through the manor carrying expensive wines and elaborate meals. Even the corridors echoed with activity as knights, messengers, and officials hurried between different wings of the estate.

Yet inside the grand dining hall, no one paid attention to the lavish feast spread across the long ebony table. Maps of the northeastern territories, military ledgers, intelligence reports, and sealed letters occupied nearly every available space. The atmosphere was noticeably lighter than it had been only a week earlier, and quiet laughter occasionally spread among the assembled nobles as they reviewed the latest reports arriving from across the Frontier.

Greyson casually tossed another report onto the table before leaning back in his chair.

"Still chasing miracles?"

Count Randal Vane shook his head after reading another parchment. "Our people inside Bluemoon Estate haven’t noticed anything unusual. Lady Luna continues to believe she has nearly two months before the debt expires. They’re still trying to find merchants willing to lend them money, and several of their remaining knights have taken escort commissions just to support their families."

A low chuckle spread around the table.

"They’re still dreaming," Baron Kyle Vance sneered.

Greyson set the report aside before looking toward the large military map spread across the center of the table.

"The troops?"

Randal unfolded another ledger.

"Three thousand eight hundred have already assembled. The remaining detachments should arrive within the next three or four days. Sir Peter reached Thornhold this morning with the last of his personal retainers."

Greyson slowly nodded, satisfaction evident in his expression.

"Excellent."

Greyson’s smile widened.

"Then House Bluemoon’s fate has already been decided."

He raised his wine glass, looking toward the nobles gathered around him.

"House Bluemoon has spent generations building that trade route."

"Now..."

"...we’ll enjoy the fruits of their labor."

Laughter echoed throughout the hall.

Baron Kyle leaned back comfortably, unable to hide the greed in his eyes.

"Bluewind’s warehouses, merchant contracts, banks... even the mines pledged as collateral."

"Everything becomes ours."

"And Lady Luna..."

"She’s far too beautiful to disappear with a ruined house."

"Once Bluewind falls, she’ll belong to Count Greyson."

The hall erupted into coarse laughter, and not a single person at the table objected.

Greyson’s smile gradually disappeared.

"Continue assembling the army."

"Everything must be ready within four days."

"The moment the last detachments arrive..."

"...we march."

He looked once more at Bluewind marked upon the map.

Greyson’s gaze lingered on Bluewind marked upon the map.

"By the time Lady Luna realizes what’s happening..."

"...our banners will already be flying above her city."