Five years have passed since the birth of Aren Dravenheart.
Time had moved swiftly through House Dravenheart. The once silent halls that had
Known for discipline, steel and order now carried laughter, hurried footsteps, and the occasional sound of servants panicking whenever the young master vanished from sight.
For five years, the child had grown beneath the cares of warriors, scholars and nobles alike.
And on this morning, the entire manor was preparing for the day the kingdom would finally see him.
____
The doors to the lord's office stood tall and heavy, carved with the crest of house Dravenheart.
With a soft push, they opened
Morning light poured through the high windows, washing the chamber in gold. shelves of books and ancient records lined the maps of Valtheris and weapons long retired from war. At the center stood a broad desk of black oak, covered in reports, sealed
Letters, and military documents arranged with perfect order.
Behind the desk sat Kael Dravenheart .
He held a parchment in one hand as his sharp gaze moving across every line written upon it. Morning light streamed through the tall windows, and the chamber remained steeped in silence, disturbed only by the faint rustle of paper and the distant sound of the manor awakening beyond doors.
With practiced calm, he set one report aside and reached for another.
Several letters had already passed through his hands that morning, yet this next one drew his attention the most.
Pressesd into the wax seal bore the crest of northern command.
He broke it open and scanned the contents in silence.
The moment his eyes fell upon the first line, the ease in his expression vanished.
His gazed sharpened, as he read the message once.
Then again--
more slowly this time.
When he finally lowered the parchment, the silence in the chamber had become heavy.
".Far beyond Frostmere Ridge, one of the kingdom's outermost garrisons had gone
dark overnight..."
No messenger had been sent.
No distress signal had been raised.
When a patrol was dispatched to investage, they found the fortress standing open beneath snow.
The gates were unbroken.
The walls are untouched.
The armory undisturbed.
There were no signs of battle.
No blood on the stones.
No corpses in the yard.
No tracks leading the way.
And no single soldier remained.
Every man assigned there had vanished without a trace.
Kael set the parchment down with deliberate care.
"..A full garrison."
His finger tapped against the desk.
Slow.
Measured.
Then once more.
"Fifty trained soldiers, armed, fully equipped, and stationed behind stone walls, do not simply disappear into the wind..."
He rose from his chair and walked toward the map mounted across the wall.
His eyes traced the northern frontier.
Frozen passes.
Watchtowers.
Supply roads.
Old battlefield swallowed by snow.
"The north is cruel," he murmured to himself," but it is not some bedtime tale that devours men in the night."
He folded his arms behind his back.
"So this is why they sent the report directly to me."
His tone grew dry, touched with quite sarcasm.
"The generals exhaust their own guesses, the noble's begin to panic, and suddenly they remember my name."
He gave a low scoff.
"How convenient." Yet this was no matter I could simply dismiss..."
If there had been a battle, there would be bodies.
If there had been retreat, there would be tracks.
If there had been betrayal, there would be signs of struggles.
"But there was nothing,"
That was what troubled me the most."
He returned to the desk and picked up the parchment once more, eyes narrowing at each line.
Then he spoke again. quieter than before.
"Either something impossible happened there..."
His hand closed around the report.
"....or someone--or something--wanted it to appear impossible."
Beyond the window the manor grounds were calm, touched by the quiet peace of morning.
But within the office, the air itself had grown heavy.
He exhaled through his nose and set the parchment back among the others.
"So this is the trouble that disturbs them so much that its enough for them to seek me personally.."
His gazed hardened.
"There's asking me to investigate."
A humorless smile touched his lips.
"And they call this a good timing."
"It seems even after all these years..."
His voice turned cold as stell.
"....peace never stays long."
Then--
A knocked sounded at the door..
Not hurried .
Not hesitant.
Measured-like the person behind it already knew they would be allowed inside.
Kael did not lift his gaze from the parchment immediately.
Instead, his fingers tapped once against the desk, slow and deliberate, as if weighing whether the interruption deserve his attention.
Then, without looking up-
"You may enter."
His voice was calm, controlled, carrying quite authority that did not needed to be raised.
The door opened with a soff, deliberate creak.
An elderly man stepped inside, with composed, unhurried grace, his attire was immaculate black and silver, tailored so precisely it seems untouched by time itself. White gloves covered his hands, and his silver hair was comed neatly back. His posture remained straiter than most knight still sworn to service.
This elderly man was cidreck.
For over three decades, he had serve the house Dravenheart - not merely as a butler, but as the silent pillar that held the household together. He had stood behind the lord through many war council and bloodshed, through victory feasts and quite nights alike. Among the servants. He was regarded with absolute respect. Among the knights...with quite caution.
He walked forward at even pace, stopping at the exact distance required by etiquette, before being deeply.
"My Lord, I apologize for disturbing you while you are occupied, but I have come with matters that required your immediate attention."
Kael finally lifted his eyes, his sharp gaze setting on the man.
"If you judge it necessary to interrupt me, then I assume this is not something trivial.
Speak clearly and do not waste words."
The butler straighten smooth, his expression calm but respectful.
"As you instructed, my Lord, the invitation for the young master's fifth birthday celebration have been delivered to every noble house standing throughout Valtheris. The courriers
departed at first light and should reach their destination without delay.."
Kael lean back slightly in his chair, his gaze steady.
"And have any of them show courtesy of responding with the same urgency?.
"Several houses have already sent their replies, My Lord," Cidreck answered without pause. "House Evermont, House Roderic, House Velthorne have each confirmed their attendance. Based on their speed. It is likely that others will follow before the days end.
A faint trace of approval passed through Kael's eyes.
"There are quicker than I expected, though I suppose hesitation is not a luxury most of them can afford."
The butler allowed himself a slight, controlled smile.
"When the House Dravenheart extends invitation, My Lord, even the proudest nobles understand that responding slowly may be interpreted as disrespect."
Kael exhaled quietly, almost amused.
"You would think they are being summoned to war rather than a child's birthday."
There was a brief pause.
Then his gaze sharpened slightly.
"You did not come here only to tell me that nobles are behaving as expected. What else?
Cidreck folded his hands neatly before him.
"In accordance with tradition, my lord, an official invitation was also delivered to the royal palace earlier this morning.."
That made Kael's eyes narrow just slightly.
"And what answer did the royal palace deemed appropriate to send in return."
Cidreck lowered his head with measured respect.
"A personal reply was delivered directly from his Majesty himself, rather than through a court official or intermediary."
Kael's brows lifted, a flicker a genuine interest appearing.
"The king chose to respond personally, That is .....unusual, even for him."
"Indeed my Lord," Cedrick continued. "His Majesty conveyed that neither he or Her Majesty the Queen would miss the opportunity to attend in person, as they wish to meet the heir of House Dravenheart with their own eyes."
Silence settled over the room.
Then--
A low, amused laugh escaped Kael.
"So the old loin has finally decided to leave his den and walk among the crowds."
He rose from his chair and walked toward the tall windows, his gazed drifting over the estate below.
Servants moved in careful-coordination, preparing decorations, carrying silver trays, arranging banners, Knights stood vigilant at every entrance, while the entire manor stirred with purpose.
"This is no longer a simple gathering, Kael said slowly, it has already become a spectacle."
Cidreck's voice followed calmly behind him.
"It is more than mere curiosity that draws them here, My Lord. The presence of the royal family ensures that ever noble house will treat this event with outmost importace."
"I'm well aware of that, Kael replied, his reflection staring back at him through the glass."
"The noble's will come because they are curious," he continued, his tone sharpening. "They want to see what kind of child could be born from my blood and Seraphin's."
He crossed his arms, gaze darkening slightly.
"But the palace... will come because they are cautious. They wish to judge whether that child is something to welcome... or something to fear.."
Cidreck inclined his head slightly.
"Your understanding of their intentions remains as precise as ever, my lord."
Kael turned, his presence filling the room with quite pressure.
"Then let them come," he said, voice steady and absolute. "If the kingdom wishes to witness the future of House Dravenheart, then we will give them something worthy of their attention."
A faint smirk touch his lips .
"And they will remember it long after they leave."
Cidreck bowed deeply.
"As you command, my lord. I will ensure that
everything proceed without flaw.
Kael took a step toward the door---
Then stopped.
Something felt... off.
The silence beyond the office walls lingered too long.
Too still.
Too quit.
He slowly turned his head.
".... The manor has been unusually peaceful this morning." Kael said, his tone lowering with suspicions. "It is quieter than it should be on a day like this."
Cidreck adjusted his glove thoughtfully.
"Now you mention it, my Lord, the absence of noise is... rather noticable. The young master is not known for allowing such calm to persist."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
A realization formed instantly.
"... That child has been silent for too long."
He turned fully toward the butler, gaze sharp.
"Tell me-- has anyone seen Aren since this morning, or has he already found a way to escape every pair of his eyes assigned to watch him?"
Cidreck paused-- just slightly.
".... To my knowledge, my Lord, the young master was last seen within the east wing shortly after sunrise. However... there have been no reports of his whereabouts since then."
Silence.
Then.
Kael sighed.
Long.
Slow.
"... I see."
A hand rose to his temple as if suppressing an inevitable headache.
"Prepare the guards," he said at last, voice steady but resigned." And inform the servants that if anything within this manor has been broken, burned, or mysteriously frozen..."
His gaze turned dangerously calm.
"... They report it immediately."
Cidreck bowed once more, though there was a faintest hint of understanding in his expression.
"As expected... The young master has begun his day early."
Kael closed his eyes briefly.
"... Find him."
Then.. more quietly---
"Before the entire kingdom arrives to witness the aftermath."