Now, only the knights and security personnel remained in the room.
The atmosphere shifted entirely.
Rudious's tone turned dead serious. "I have received intel. The Cultists — or perhaps another unknown organization — are kidnapping children from different continents and experimenting on them."
Complete silence fell over the room.
A hand went up.
"Speak, Sir Dukwin."
Sir Dukwin — standing beside Sir Squire — asked, "My Lord... will this become like the Human-Corrupted War?"
"I cannot say for certain," Rudious replied. "But they are not creating Corrupted. Whatever they are experimenting with — it is something else entirely."
Whispers broke out. Sir Dukwin sat.
Another man stood. Tall. Sharp. Fit. "Forgive me, My Lord. I am the Chief of Security of Velrend. How can you be certain they are not creating Corrupted? Do you have proof?"
Rudious looked at him steadily. "Here is your answer. Last month, King Solaris personally led an assault on their base and eliminated the remaining members. There were no beasts. No corrupted humans. Nothing." A pause. "Is your doubt cleared?"
"Yes, My Lord." The Chief sat.
The room settled again.
---
Then Sir Jorald — who had been sitting in complete silence — stood.
"As Security Advisor and Knight Master of House Falcon, I have something to add." He looked around the table. "This year, we have selected and trained several exceptionally talented young soldiers — including mages. For those of you from border regions, other counties, the Capital, or the Dukedom — if you are willing to take them, it will benefit both sides."
He sat without waiting for a response.
---
Rudious stood. He began pacing slowly around the table.
"Something large is coming. Whatever intelligence reaches you — bring it here immediately." He stopped. "Our Viscounty now has six Naming Sword Knights. We do not fear war. But the safety of our people comes first. That is why I kept you all back today."
He faced them directly.
"I have ordered new swords and armor. Distribute them according to your power levels before you leave." A pause. "One more thing. I intend to re-establish the Adventure Guild — right here in Velrend. It will take effort from all of you to make it happen."
A voice called out from the middle of the table. "An Alchemist guild? Or a Mercenary guild?"
"Neither," Rudious said. "An Adventure Guild."
Sir Dukwin frowned. "My Lord... a guild like that doesn't exist."
"Not anymore," Rudious said. "But before the Revolution, it existed. And during the Human-Corrupted War — when regular armies were not enough — the Adventure Guild filled the gap. It saved countless lives." He returned to his chair. "We will bring it back."
He looked around the room one final time.
"We are done here. Go enjoy the festival."
---
By now the temperature inside the hall had dropped sharply. Breath plumed visibly in the cold air. Through the high windows, snow had already begun to fall — soft and steady over Velrend.
The knights stood, bowed, and filed out one by one.
Only Rudious and Jorald remained.
Rudious let out a long, heavy breath and stretched. "Have some tea brought in." He glanced at Jorald. "Or if you want to enjoy the town festival, you may go."
"I am fine here, My Lord," Jorald said.
A quiet moment passed. Outside, faint sounds drifted in — music, laughter, the warmth of people celebrating in the cold.
Jorald looked at him. "Everyone has started to truly trust you, My Lord."
"Hmm." Rudious looked toward the frosted window. Snow was falling steadily now.
"As long as this town remains safe —" he said quietly, "— whether they trust me or not doesn't matter."
---
That day, a grand celebration was held across Velrend.
Not a religious holiday — but the anniversary of the town itself. Thirteen years since it had been built from nothing. The snow only made it better. People ate, laughed, and moved through the streets with the ease of people who felt safe.
Then the new year arrived.
The estate burst into activity almost overnight. Supplies were dispatched to the North. Recruitment for the Border Force began immediately. New soldiers arrived in numbers — young, eager, untested.
Drake and Veil rarely went into town anymore. Most of their days were spent on the training grounds. Jorald and the others began laying the groundwork for the new school.
Veil had almost completely moved past the dream. Sometimes a shadow of it lingered at the edge of his mind — but his routine kept him grounded. Wake up. Stay by Drake's side. Train. Eat. Sleep.
Rudious had been worried. But seeing Veil stabilize brought him quiet relief.
---
A month passed.
The biting cold began to ease. The sun returned — pale and thin at first, then a little brighter each day. Spring was approaching.
One morning, the manor was alive with unusual activity. Servants moved quickly through every corridor. Preparations of some kind were clearly underway — for what, neither Drake nor Veil could figure out.
When they woke, they weren't in their room.
Sometime during the night, they had been moved — carefully, without waking them — to the large sofa in the hallway. They sat up slowly, blinking at each other.
They tried asking the passing servants. Everyone was too busy to stop.
Drake grabbed Veil's hand. "Come on. Let's go find Father. He'll know."
They made their way to Rudious's room and stopped outside the heavy door. Veil reached for the handle.
Drake stopped him.
"Not like that." He straightened slightly. Cleared his throat.
*"Ahem... Father, are you inside?"*
A voice came from within. "Yes. Come in."
---
They pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Rudious looked up.
A warm, rare smile broke across his face. He walked over and scooped both boys up into his arms at once.
"Happy Birthday, Drake."
"Thank you, Father!" Both of them said it together — and wrapped their arms around his neck.
---
Just then — a shadow fell across the doorway.
Jorald was standing there. Still. Pale. His face carrying something he hadn't figured out how to say yet.
Rudious caught his eyes over the boys' heads.
The smile faded.
He set them down gently. "Go on. Get washed and dressed. I'll be out soon."
The boys slipped out, still half-smiling, unaware.
Rudious walked to the door.
"Jorald." His voice was quiet. "Why so serious."
Jorald didn't blink. He stood perfectly still and slowly held out a sealed letter.
"My Lord..." His voice was unusually heavy. "What we feared..."
A pause.
"...has happened."
---
**[Chapter 24 — End]**