Chapter 3 The Count's Son

Days went by as I trained with the twins, when suddenly one afternoon there came alot of ruckus from everywhere soldiers of the Count were running through the city.

I got dressed en head towards the city center crossing paths with many soldiers whom had a concerned look on their face as they looked in every alley and house. When I arrived at the center I saw Anya, as I greeted Anya she seemed to have the same concerned look in her eyes as the soldiers and so I asked her what was wrong.

With a trembling voice she told me they were looking for the Count's son. Immediately I offered my help with great determination.

What does he look like? I asked.

His name is Mikael

"He is a young boy, 15 years old Black hair but with grey ends.

About 1,70m, Wearing a black vest and camo pants."

She took a moment took breathe.

His element is "Grey Lightning".

He loves exotic fruits, especially blood oranges."

As she looked at me she noticed I was staring at her.

"You really know him very well don't you hmmm," I said grinning from ear to ear.

"I'm his father's headmaid for years now ofcourse I know the young Dreadskull well" She said seriously.

Yet intrigued by the mentioning of grey lightning I wanted to know more of that but Anya said that she would tell me more if we found him.

Okay I said as I started flying through the city looking for the young boy.

After many hours I couldn't find him, almost time to meet up with the twins I rushed to the Shrine. Once there I wanted to tell them what was going on in the city, yet once I opened my mouth they told me they already knew.

Apparently Anya was here before me.

"Well I am helping Anya so if you don't mind I would like to skip tonights training." I said.

They accepted my request and said that the whole city has probably been searched by now, "If you want to find him maybe its time to look outside the city" Maelith said

"We can't go with you because we do not feel safe outside the city, otherwise we would have helped you" Aegrith said.

Thinking that was a great idea of Maelith I thanked both of them and took off to the city walls, picking up speed once outside the city walls it took no time to reach the mountains.

Still seeing the caravans of the traders calmly go on there way was a nice change from the soldiers desperate to find the young boy, as I asked one of them if they had seen a young boy with the description Anya gave me. they looked at me shaking their head dissapointing.

"Sorry young Miss, but if we see him well let the city guards know" he said.

Thanking him for the cooperation I flew away setting my sights on the empty fields and the forrest past the mountains. When I was almost past the mountain I started feeling the cold once again yet this time it was not just the weather above the mountain. The weather was also pretty extreme past the mountains the fields were drowning because of a downpour of rain and in the corner of my eye I saw it, A flash of dark grey lightning.

Deep in the forrest it seemed to have struck down, so I flew there as fast as Iould.

Once there I saw the young boy at the point of collapsing, Surrounded by ferocious animals ready to strike. The young man holding on to his left wrist could never fight against all of them. I grabbed my dagger and divebombed straight down to protect the young boy, at the same time the creatures decided to attack.

before my dagger could hit any creature or their paws could reach us another flash of grey lightning came down and hit everyone.

Suddenly my dagger turned to a pile of rust and the shock itself had definetly hurt me alot.

The animals being hurt alot too still would not budge. Staring angrily at me, an intruder to their next meal. The boy however had fainted and so had no way of defending itself, also his hair was now more grey then black.

And just as I thought there was no way to fight back without risking the boys life it got worse, I smelled and heard more creatures approaching. Quickly I picked up the boy, flew up as fast as I could and tried to make it back as fast as possible. Eventually I had to find a place to land, the mine was not far away anymore. Landing close to the mine the workers noticed me and the boy, Some of them hurrying back to the city, others started taking care of the boy.

I just went to the entrance enjoying the warmth of the torches saying that that was where i was going to shut my eyes for a little while.

Not much later I was woken up by Anya who notified me she had already taken Mikael to his room and had come back to bring me back to the city as well.

As I accepted her help I was put on a horse And brought home.

The next morning I woke up and ate my breakfast, which got interrupted by someone knocking at the door. It was the Count with his personal guard. Inviting me and my mother in person to come and feast tonight at the Castle as I graciously accepted his offer he took his leave and left, saying he will be expecting us at dusk.

Dusk!!! I thought, I have to postpont my next training with the twins again. Later on the day when mom came home I told her about the invitation. She smiled proudly and full of joy.

After that I made my way over to the shrine but it was closed for today, sensing no one inside I went back home. Once we were both dressed in our nicest clothes we made our way to the Castle.

At the main hall we saw Anya waiting for us, she welcomed us inside where the Count and his son awaited us. The young boy's hair back to its original state put me at ease yet he did not seem happy to see me. The Count however was happely to see us, thanking me for saving his only son. After that a delegation of soldiers arrivered Followed by Anya.

Suddenly Aegrith and Maelith jumped out of the delegation, happy to see me.

"Good to see you too shrine maidens." Count Volgar said. After that he explained the was a feast for everyone who had helped to find his son. Asking everybody to join him to the main hall where the trader, blacksmith and all the workers of the mine were already attending this gathering.

At the beginning of the feast, Count Volgar took a moment to thank everyone.

Everyone cheered and started to enjoy the food.

While eating Count Volgar came sitting next to me wanting to know about my aspirations and dreams, so I started telling him of an idea to protect Castle Dreadskull from the war, And ideas how to maybe counter it, about making bases in the mountains. keeping the whole surrounding in check from there.

And so Count Volgar said, " If you make those bases I will station some of my men in each, as long as they have crow outpost.

"We have to be able to know as fast as possible should anything ever come our way"

Count Volgar gave me ten thousand Ori

for the expenses of building the bases and stocking them with supplies. I accepted the offer and felt overjoyed. I was one step closer to achieving my dream.

The next day I made my way towards the city's main gate, going to multiple stores to get a starting amount of supplies. when a soldier handed me a note from the twins asking me to visit the shrine before I left.

And so I made my way towards the shrine.

Once inside the shrine Aegrith and Maelith were happy to see me. Immediately I apologized that this would be the last time we would meet for a long time, and I thanked them for everything. They walked towards me saying in unison that they had a propostion

They told me they would leave the shrine and come with me as long as I could guarantee there safety. Smiling I looked at them, "Guarantering your safety?" "I don't think you know how strong you two are but I will always have your back" I said, looking calmingly at them I explained

"I can not promise anything better to those who are stronger than me"

Smiling with every word I said they accepted. From this moment on we would have each others backs, fight together and flee together. After that we head to the main gate.

where Mikael was waiting for us.

"Thanks for saving me the other day." he said

I smiled at him as in the distance I heard Anya calling out to Mikael. "I'm going to train real hard so I can join you one day" Mikael said with a confident smile. Great I will need strong compagnions when the time comes.

Not long afterwards the promised soldiers to arrived. Fifteen men standing in front of me, ready to leave.

As I stood before them with Maelith and Aegrith, I gave a speach.

"Men, Thank you for being part of this division. We wil become a new first defenseline for our city, as so I will put my trust in each and every one of you.

Lets go!!!" Not being the best at giving speaches, the soldiers appreciated the effort as they cheered me on and started following me.

And so our journey to the other side of the mountain began.