Royal Decree

News of the Pink Snow Battle spread extremely fast.

The Elderwood Household had broken the ceasefire treaty, and failed to declare war before utterly destroying a member of the younger generation of the Moonfall household. Yet, in spite of that, they suffered heavy losses that made the Elderwood family the laughing stock of the Porfield Kingdom.

Everyone could feel that a war was incoming. This time, the Elderwood Household was not facing simple penalties and monetary issues. It was risking annihilation.

In the Ivory Tower, a council of elders and intermediate acolytes had gathered.

"I am sure you have heard the news, but the trial that we had sent to repress the youngest turned out to be accomplished by him. The young boy managed to subdue the intermediate-rank Great Python. None of us was confident in taking such a big beast down, yet he accomplished it as a beginner-rank acolyte, as a sixteen-years-old boy. We can say anything about his parents, but the boy has limitless potential", Elder Helena said

"And yet, the Count Elderwood stole his prey, destroyed his army, annihilated men and women he trained personally...In return, we have done nothing", the Patriarch said in a melancholic voice, "The life of the boy is nothing but tragic...He has been wronged by us in his childhood, and now he is suffering our incompetence in predicting the Elderwood Household movement"

"Sir...You know I am just as angry about this situation as you, but we can't declare war on the Elderwood Household", another elder spoke, "My sources are never wrong, you must know of that, and according to recent claims, the Elderwood Household not only has seen the breakthrough of one of their elder to the peak rank realm, they have also gained the backing of the second prince who has issued a decree where a so-called royal investigation will take place. As strong as the Moonfall Household has become, we are still subjects of the crown, and disobeying a royal decree would cost us retaliation from all other nobles"

The Patriarch bloodlust made it difficult for people to speak up, only leaving elders for the discussion: "Where is the boy?"

An intermediate acolyte from the family, Catherine Moonfall, Drake's cousin, spoke up: "He has disappeared. However, since the Elderwood household said nothing, it is highly unlikely that they have captured him. Thousands of scouts have been dispatched throughout the territory, including dozens of knights with incredible connections within the territory. The Blacksmith Union has hired nearly twenty mercenary corps to protect Frozen City while the lord is away, but they have not seen a trace of Drake either...According to rumours, he had broken through the Grand Knight Realm, which was the main reason why the Elderwood Army was nearly decimated. He has achieved what the main family army could not a decade ago..."

The situation was too horrible for the Moonfall family.

They wanted to repress Drake's growth and independance by giving him a task that even the main branch could not confidently undertake.

However, this mission turned into Drake's downfall.

And now, they could not even take action due to the Second Prince, who had the support of several Grand Knights and the one who was the most likely to become king in the inheritance war.

The Patriarch dismissed the council.

Everyone was uneasy about the coming days...