In the side training courtyard adjoining the massive black walls of Northgard Castle, the sound of clashing wood echoed sharply, piercing the stillness of the cold wind. Elena, Lord Maegor's second daughter, danced across the courtyard like an elegant storm. She wasn't wearing heavy armor, but flexible leather clothes that allowed her to move smoothly.
In front of her, the recruit Baren was panting heavily, sweating profusely despite the freezing weather. He held a wooden training sword, desperately trying to block the continuous flurry of attacks Elena rained down upon him. To her, this was mere child's play.
With a swift, calculated strike, Elena hit Baren's wrist with her wooden sword, making him drop his weapon. Then she pointed the tip of her sword at his throat, freezing him in place.
"Too open in your lower defense, and your footwork is heavy," Elena said in a firm, reprimanding tone, her purple eyes glaring at him seriously. "With this pathetic level, you wouldn't survive for more than a minute if you faced even the lowest-ranking demon."
Baren took a step back, wiping the sweat from his forehead, trying hard to catch his breath: "My lady... you are too fast. I couldn't even read-"
Before he could finish his excuse, a calm, deep, and cold voice echoed through the courtyard, cutting through all the noise: "Show a little mercy to my friend, Elena. It has only been a few days since he got out of the Hell Camp."
Everything in the courtyard stopped. Elena, Baren, and even the knights and guards training nearby turned around. There, at the stone entrance of the courtyard, stood Arian. His snow-white cloak, the symbol of the new elite, fluttered slowly in the northern wind. Although he was still ten years old, his slender physique and his posture as straight as a spear made him look much taller and older than his age.
The guards began whispering softly, their eyes widening in awe mixed with fear. This was the boy who had survived the Frost Forest; they had even heard rumors that he topped his class and crushed the bones of knights older than him. Could it be that this child, formerly an outcast, had become a true knight so quickly?
Baren's eyes widened with childish joy, completely forgetting his fatigue. He ran a few steps toward Arian and said with a broad smile: "Your friend? Did you just say I'm your friend, Arian? I thought you considered me just an annoying human shield!"
Arian completely ignored Baren's excessive enthusiasm, not blinking an eye or changing his strict facial expression. He advanced with slow, regular steps toward Elena, who had lowered her wooden sword and was watching him with intense interest.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" Elena asked, referring to his previous visit to the library. "Was that old book of any use to you?"
Arian stood before her and answered in his calm voice: "Actually, no. I read about the history of Arknar and the four kingdoms, but I was looking for detailed information about the continent of 'Erebus'. The continent from which demons are rumored to have come in the First Great War."
Elena furrowed her brows in deep astonishment. "Erebus?" She repeated the word as if tasting something bitter. "That continent lies at the extreme eastern edge of the world, beyond the Dead Seas. It's more of a myth than a geographical reality, Arian. Most people, even some nobles in the capital, believe it doesn't even exist. And even if there were real information about it, you wouldn't find it in a regular book available in a castle library. Such secrets are monopolized solely by the Royal Crown and the Valerion bloodline."
Elena narrowed her scrutinizing eyes and stepped slightly closer to him: "But... why are you looking for information about such a cursed continent in the first place? Boys your age care about stories of heroes and knights, not the origin of demons."
Arian's features did not change. He looked directly into her eyes and replied with deadly coldness: "Nothing in particular. Just curiosity."
Before Elena could delve deeper into this mystery, the silence of the castle was shattered by the tolling of heavy bronze bells. The main gate bells announced the arrival of important visitors. Eyes turned toward the front courtyard, where Sir Gared, the Captain of the Knights of Northgard, entered riding his massive warhorse, accompanied by elite knights, among whom was "Valen."
The elite knights stationed in the barracks adjoining the Lord's castle were considered the Oswald family's first shield. Their presence there made it easier for Lord Maegor to summon them, acting as a striking force ready for deterrence.
The knights dispersed in the courtyard to tend to their horses, while Gared continued on foot inside to deliver his report to the Lord. At that moment, the eyes of Valen—or rather, Valeria, disguised in a boy's uniform—met Arian's eyes. It was a silent visual encounter between two little monsters; her cold purple gaze clashed with his bottomless black gaze. The look lasted only for a second, then Valen turned with eerie silence and continued her way toward the barracks like a ghost leaving no trace.
Arian returned his gaze to the high castle walls and said in a voice that sounded like he was talking to himself, but was directed at those around him: "I want to leave Northgard. To see other lands. Nothing in this province interests me anymore."
Baren quickly intervened, wiping his wooden sword: "That's impossible, Arian. You know the laws better than I do. The sons of the Oswald family do not leave the borders of the province until they pass the family's special Rite of Adulthood."
Elena nodded in agreement: "He's right... unless..."
Elena stopped, but Arian finished the sentence in a decisive tone that cut off all doubt: "Unless I pass the test. Therefore, I will take the Rite of Adulthood next month along with my brothers."
A heavy shock settled on Elena's face. She took a step back and said sharply: "Arian, have you lost your mind? You are ten years old! Your brothers Derick, Colin, and Jorah will turn fifteen; their bodies are relatively developed, and they have received advanced training. You have five full years to prepare; it is suicide to insert yourself among them now!"
Arian turned, giving her his back, ready to leave.
"I do not wish to waste any more barren time," he said coldly, walking away with his regular, military steps. "I am already prepared for this test."
Elena reached out her hand to stop him, but pulled it back at the last moment.
Baren sighed, leaning on his wooden sword, and looked at Elena, saying in a low voice: "It's no use, my lady. When Arian decides to do something, he will do it without any hesitation, regardless of the consequences. Sometimes... when I talk to him, or look into his eyes, I don't feel like I'm talking to a child or a friend... I feel like I'm talking to an old man, or something like that."
Elena looked at him, his words echoing in her mind. She sighed deeply, her eyes fixed on the white cloak that was beginning to disappear into the shadows of the castle corridors.
***
Meanwhile, on the upper floor of the castle, where the shadows were thicker and awe filled the air. Sir Gared entered the private office of Lord Maegor. The atmosphere was suffocating. The Lord sat behind his massive wooden desk, his cruel, predator-like eyes scanning documents.
Gared bowed with deep respect and stood tall.
"How is the recruitment process going?" Maegor asked in his booming voice that shook the walls, without lifting his eyes from the papers.
Gared replied in a precise military tone: "Four hundred recruits have been enlisted from all over the province and neighboring villages, my lord. They will undergo basic training before being sorted."
Lord Maegor's pen stopped. He slowly raised his head, and that cold gaze pierced Gared. "Four hundred? That is not enough. The movements in the East are increasing; we need more swords that do not tremble."
Lord Maegor leaned back in his chair and interlaced his strong fingers. He fell silent for a moment, then asked in a tone that had softened slightly, but remained terrifying: "I heard rumors coming from Vance's camp, and from the Frost Forest. Rumors about... Arian. Is this true, Gared?"
Gared did not hesitate. As a veteran knight, he respected absolute power alone. "The only thing I will tell you, my lord... is that he is truly a little monster. What he did in the forest goes beyond mere skill; he possesses a pure killing instinct. It seems... your blood runs strongly in him, my Lord."
For the first time in years, a genuine smile formed on Lord Maegor's lips. It was not the smile of an affectionate father, but the smile of a tyrant who saw the perfect instrument of destruction in his potential successor. Maegor stood up and turned toward the large window overlooking the castle courtyard, watching the kingdom that was ruled by power alone.
***
The scene returned to the dark castle corridors, lit by dim torches. Arian was crossing the stone pathways, heading toward his room in the eastern wing. Every servant or guard he encountered on his way stopped immediately, bowed deeply, and pressed their back against the wall until he passed. The way they treated him had completely changed; he was no longer the "outcast," but the silent threat whose anger everyone avoided.
Arian reached the door to his room, but stopped abruptly before touching the handle. There was a girl standing by the wall in the dark, as still as a statue of ice.
It was "Lyanna," Lord Maegor's fourth daughter and Arian's half-sister. A girl around his age, with pale hair and very pale skin. She was known in the castle for being as silent as a ghost; her large eyes scarcely blinked, watching everyone as if she were reading their souls. No one had heard her speak in years.
Arian stood in his place and cast an inspecting look at her, silently wondering the reason for her presence outside his room.
Lyanna raised her head very slowly. Her lifeless eyes met his. Her pale lips parted slowly, and in a very hoarse voice, barely tearing the wall of silence, she whispered a single word:
"Help me..."