Chapter 54: The Duke’s Warning

Chapter 54: The Duke’s Warning

Seeing Bran standing before him, holding a huge black cat and sporting dark circles under his eyes, the Duke felt deeply helpless.

Delegations and caravans constantly tried to probe the Northlands’ situation, openly or secretly. Everyone knew it, but everyone pretended not to know. As long as the bottom line wasn’t crossed, many things were ignored if not caught outright. If the Northlands didn’t want to be completely isolated outside the kingdom’s circle, then some information had to find its way out somehow.

The spies in the caravan planning a night raid on the mountain villa did cross the line. Bran should have reported it to the Duke then, letting him handle it. But, just for a few wizards, Bran had stirred up his brother and sister. One wizard was killed, one was captured, and one disappeared. Then, the Duke and the knights had to step in to cover up his mistakes.

After that, Bran, with unimaginable speed and method, teamed up with Danny to kidnap all the wizards in the caravan. That was going too far. Luckily, the sneak attacks and knockouts were clean and efficient, leaving no evidence behind. The Duke finally believed what his daughter had whispered: this brother of hers was full of bad ideas, always scheming to attack from behind.

“Bran, you need to restrain yourself.”

“Okay.”

“Stop causing trouble for the caravans.”

“Okay.”

“Stay out of mischief.”

“Okay.”

“Call Danny in here.”

“She is my attendant.”

“So tell her to come in!”

“You don’t have the right to command my attendant. If you have something to say, relay it through me.”

“I’ll call her myself.”

“She has the right to refuse your order. She is a Northlander. She follows her oaths. From the day she became my attendant, from the moment right here in the castle’s dining hall when we pledged to live and die together, she completely severed her ties with you.”

“You’re both rebelling!”

“You’d better not go out. It’s not just Danny outside. There are your other attendants, your knights… Confronting you in front of them would only harm your reputation.

Calm down, at least see what we gained.”

Bran tried to placate him. “My sister, you should have noticed these past few days. If she can complete her trial, she will surely become another War God.”

The Duke felt even more helpless. He remembered when he had defied his father as a young man. Was this payback? Just coming a bit too early.

“We have our own wizards too, you know. If you needed them, you could have told me.” The Duke decided to ease the tension.

“I know. But people would die. This wasn’t a simple exchange.” Two balls of starlight appeared like magic in Bran’s hands. “These are the last things two wizards left in this world, better that others die than our own people. Besides, we Northlanders value our own fighting strength more. We don’t put much stock in using wizard abilities. How many of them boast only about the minor physical boost that came with becoming a wizard? After their Awakening, how many times have they actually used the power they gained? Some have probably forgotten what they even Awakened to! Our trials let us gain great power, but they also make us overlook much else.”

The Duke was speechless for a moment. “You should at least show some respect for life.”

“Don’t worry. My goal is only those wizards. And I know what you really wanted when you called me in here. Actually, you could have just asked me directly. All my notes on power improvement and application since my Awakening are right here.” Bran handed over a thick notebook, looking pleased. “It’s a bit messy. Make a copy and remember to give it back soon.”

“Uh, how did you know I wanted this?”

“Because after I defied you, you didn’t slap me outright.” Bran pointed at the Duke’s desk and grinned, a little smugly. He hadn’t forgotten the time the Duke had pinned him over that desk to spank him.

“My sister took the more intuitive little models. I can’t be bothered to make them again. If you want to see, borrow them from her. So… may I go?”

The Duke waved weakly, signaling Bran to get lost.

As Bran reached the door, the Duke called out. “Bran, what would you have done if I had hauled you over the desk to spank you?”

Bran hesitated. Then, he pulled out a round, thick metal disk from behind him, its surface covered with distinct, protruding bumps.

…

Back at the mountain manor, seeing her brother return looking relaxed, Lily wore an expression of disbelief. “He just let you off? That easily?” she pressed.

“It seems you’re unhappy. Are you disappointed I didn’t get beaten?”

“I just feel used. You kidnapped those wizards only for yourself!”

Bran got angry, his voice rising. “It was for us! For here! You got the biggest benefit, yet you barely lifted a finger. Our brother and sister were the most innocent ones in this!”

“Oh, and you know we’re innocent?” Bran heard his brother’s voice call out from behind him.

“Uh, uh…” Caught red-handed, Bran looked awkward. He quickly changed the subject. “What did you brothers want? I mean, find me for?”

“Not for you. Looking for Lily.”

Bran understood. His brothers wanted to spar with their sister. So he slipped away immediately.

…

The Little Dragon Riders, Aiman and Eileen, had come again. Unable to bear his longing, Aiman had shamelessly dragged his sister along as cover to visit the manor.

Bran was annoyed and too lazy to deal with the young dragon riders. He pointed towards the Training Grounds, signaling they should go over there themselves. He was sure his sister’s current level would shatter Aiman’s confidence completely. All Bran wanted was to sit quietly in his rocking chair, holding Huahua for a while.

Eileen didn’t leave. Perhaps she didn’t want to disturb her brother’s date, or maybe for another reason. She simply walked over and sat down naturally beside Bran. Then the two of them sat in silence, lost in their own thoughts.

Finally, Eileen spoke with certainty. “You’re a wizard. This is Bran Manor. It’s your villa. So… the person embedded in the wall… the wizard from the caravan… you devoured him.”

“Not devouring. Assimilation. A phenomenon when wizard Mana clashes.” Bran sighed. “I don’t have the power to consume others. It was accidental, something no one expected.

It showed me a new way to use my ability. Like how a dinner knife is meant for cutting meat and eating, but if you accidentally cut your hand with it, you realise it can kill too.

Are you afraid? I saw how you reacted when you saw the shadow on the wall. I know you felt fear then. But I didn’t expect it to frighten you this much.”

“I always thought you lacked the Northlander wildness. You get along so well with the manor animals; I actually envied you a little. But now… I see you have a natural indifference towards life.” Eileen stared intently at Bran, as if trying to confirm something.

“I’m just accustomed to and ignore certain fears. I never disregard life. I value it, even greatly respect it. But after weighing the options, I don’t shy away from using various means.”

Bran closed his eyes and continued. “You were just scared. You probably heard tales of your fathers’ bloody battles and bravery, but you’ve never truly seen the cruelty hidden behind them.

When you finally felt that despair, you couldn’t take it. So now you want to judge me, to vent your fear. Maybe you knew deep down I wouldn’t really hurt you, that’s why you confronted me like this. You wanted to hide your weakness behind some concept of righteousness or justice. Or anything else that could mask your fear.

But, I’m a Northlander. You are a Dragon Knight. We don’t need those.”

Bran reached over and took Eileen’s hand. She didn’t resist, letting him hold it silently.

The two sat without speaking, rocking their chairs together in quiet unison. At that moment, Bran’s brother and sister returned from the Training Grounds. Seeing the two youngsters sitting peacefully holding hands, they thought it looked quite sweet.