The Frozen Hunt

The letter from my grandfather arrived just as we finished synthesizing the Purified Blood Potion, a milestone that represented months of meticulous research. This potion, designed to shatter the limits imposed on those without ancestral bloodlines, held the potential to change everything. My first candidate for the infusion would be Tomas, my most trusted knight and captain—an unyielding warrior whose only limitation was his lack of lineage. With this experiment, I aimed to give him what he deserved: the strength to break free from those chains.

However, the potion's power demanded a rare catalyst, and the perfect candidate was the Glacial Wolf Demon—a creature of ancient legend. For more than seven centuries, it had prowled the western fringes of the northern forest. Its icy essence rivaled the strength of a terrestrial knight at his peak, making it the ideal target for the infusion we needed.

Through letters exchanged with my grandfather, the former Duke Alaric, I learned of the relentless war he and Sir Leon were waging on the northern frontier. Their efforts were focused on eradicating the last remnants of the Crescent Moon's organization, a task that demanded every ounce of their experience and strength.

One letter, sealed with the familiar emblem of the Flower family—a sword entwined by two blooming roses—contained grim news. I broke the wax seal with a sense of unease, knowing that each exchange brought increasingly urgent updates.

"The assault on the Crescent Moon's stronghold has been a success. We rooted out their northern operations, but the cost was steep. Sir Leon has taken a grievous wound. Though he will recover, it will take three months before he can resume duty. We will need him whole if we are to pursue the Glacial Wolf. Until then, patience."

I sighed heavily as I folded the letter. Three months felt like an eternity. The solution for Tomas was just within reach, but now I had to wait. The thought frustrated me—every moment felt like a missed opportunity. But the hunt couldn't proceed without Sir Leon. His injury had been severe, and he was essential for what lay ahead.

I set the letter down on the table, and as if sensing my frustration, Morrison—one of my closest friends—leaned forward, his expression curious.

"News from the north?" Morrison asked, reclining slightly, the flicker of his emerald aura dancing subtly around him, like a breeze waiting to become a storm.

"Yeah," I replied, trying to ease the tension in my shoulders. "Leon's out of commission for a few months. No wolf hunt until he's back on his feet."

Morrison raised an eyebrow, a grin forming on his lips. "Three months to prepare, then. Sounds like the perfect time to sharpen our skills."

Beside him, March and Mancil exchanged glances—one eager, the other calculating. March, always brimming with enthusiasm, looked ready to leap into any adventure, while Mancil's sharp mind seemed to weigh every possibility.

"We'll need more than just skills for a beast that old," Mancil warned in his usual calm tone. "The records say it's been roaming those forests since before most noble houses were even founded."

"I know," I replied with determination. "But it's not invincible. If the infusion works, Tomas won't just be strong—he'll be something entirely new."

These words held the weight of our discovery—the understanding of why new bloodlines had stopped emerging among intelligent races. In ancient times, warriors consumed the blood of powerful beasts, seeking to claim their strength. But the risk was immense. Most who attempted it either exploded from the raw power or lost their sanity to madness. Only a few survived the ordeal, and they became the founders of noble families and royal dynasties—the origin of the power that shaped the world today.

This history explained why someone like Randalf Wolf, the only modern knight to achieve terrestrial rank without a noble bloodline, was revered across the Empire. It also illuminated the near-impossible challenge of replicating such feats.

However, my research pointed to a new solution—one that combined the science of my previous life with the magic of this world. By purifying the essence of these beasts, I could harness their power without risking madness. If the infusion succeeded, Tomas would become the first of a new era, free from the constraints of lineage.

But first, we needed the Glacial Wolf—and for that, we needed Sir Leon.

Days passed as I immersed myself in planning. The hunt for the Glacial Wolf loomed like a distant storm, and every detail had to be perfect. The beast was no ordinary creature; its strength rivaled that of a terrestrial knight at full power. Its icy essence could unlock possibilities that no one had dared explore before, but it was a challenge that required patience and precision.