Ambition

Edmund came back with a large tray that contained soup in a bowl, fresh fruits on the side, and a jug of water.

"Here is your dinner my lord." Theo started eating when Edmund was attending him."I have send people to Victor. He is currently hunting in the forest,so he will take some time to come back."

" Good work Edmund." Theo spoke while eating the fruits." Can you give me a briefing about where we are now currently?"

"We are currently in the most northern part of the continent. This is a small hunters village called Raven Cross which is affiliated with the Barony of Black Hollow." Edmund took a pause to check if Theo was catching up .

" It is a dangerous place due to the constant attack of monsters from the Ebon Wood forest in the North. That is why we were preparing to move out to a better city after collecting enough money My lord."

"Did the teleportation spell send us directly to this village?"

" No; my lord. We were teleported on the outskirts of the forest. You were unconscious. Sir Victor navigated the path while protecting us from the monsters and we ended up in Raven Cross."

" Then we took shelter in this Inn. The inn owner is a barbarian woman. She helped us find a witch doctor, who told us that you were in some kind of meditation state. When you were sleeping for more than two weeks, Victor and I were worried . So, we decided to take you to a advance city for treatment after collecting enough money."

Edmund suddenly stopped after hearing hurried footsteps and metallic sounds of armor in the stairs. Two figure entered the room- one of them was Victor and the other person was a middle aged woman in a grey colored dress with a good physique. Her sand blond hair was braided thickly. Theo noticed some intricate tattoos starting from her right ear to the shoulder.

" Thank God, you are awake My lord." Victor spoke with a relief while getting closer to Theo. " Are you feeling alright my lord? I apologize for my sorry state. I was in middle of hunting moon wolves when I got the news." Victor bowed in apology after noticing he was drenched in blood,sweat and dirt.

"Thank you for your hard work Victor. Raise your head". Theo spoke while his eyes were noticing the person who was standing behind Victor.

"My lord, This is Lady Mirella, owner of this black lantern inn". Edmund introduced her after seeing Theo's curiosity." She is the one who gave us a place to stay, helped us find a doctor, and gave victor hunting idea to earn money."

Theo got up from the bed and bowed Infront of the barbarian woman,"Lady Mirella I cannot thank you enough for helping me and my subordinates in this unknown place". Edmund and Victor also followed their lord with a bow,"Thank you lady Mirella for giving us a place to stay while we did not have any money".

" Hey hey, you don't have to bow down." Mirella said with a awkward tomboyish voice." After all you guys also helped me in a ton of ways in the past month".

Theo then turned his attention to Edmund and Victor and bowed down in gratitude," Edmund, Victor I can never repay what you have done for me. You have followed this cursed man while leaving away your good futures. Please accept my gratitude"!

"My lord you don't have to do this. You are our lord after all. We know that you are innocent" Edmund and Victor rushed to hold the bowing Theo.

"Well, well, this is my first time seeing a noble bowing to their subordinates". Mirella chuckled " Maybe you are really that much good as a lord like Edmund and Victor praise you all the time".

"Let me give you guys some private time. I am downstairs. Let me know if you need anything." Mirella quickly got downstairs respecting their privacy.

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"So my lord what you are saying is, that gemstone got absorbed in your body and gave you the power to master the things you learn during the day, while practicing within your dream. That's why you were unconscious for that long time". Victor concluded after listening to Theo's condition.

" Yeah. I think I can become good at anything with it. But my mana core is broken permanently. I can not use mana at all". Theo replied with a upset face.

" Don't worry my lord, we will figure something out in the future. Even if we have to visit the Grand mage in the Country of Azkaban". Edmund reassured Theo was keeping his head down.

" We have collected a good amount of money. Now that you are awake, we can start traveling to The Empire". Victor turn his gaze to Edmund.

" Yes my lord, I have collected some information from the trader that we can go to the Principality Azure Shore in the east where we can find ships to sail across the sea." Edmund added.

Theo lifted his head up and started speaking with a serious tone," Victor, Edmund; I am not thinking of going back".

Edmund andVictor looked confused while Theo continued, "There is some mysteries regarding my mothers death that I am not aware of. Perhaps that is why they even framed me with a false accusation."

Edmund and Victor was listening silently, " I want to gain power. Enough power to trample the Empire. Enough to make them fear me." Theo's brown eyes were burning with rage," That's why I want to settle here. I want to conquer everything in my path . I want to build my own kingdom."

Theo stood up and looked straight in their eyes, " I know this is absurd. But will you follow me?"

For a moment Edmund thought he was seeing Emperor Maximilian in Theodores place. The man who conquered everything from the West to the east, and raised the Bavieran Empire to its prime.

Edmund and Victor immediately kneeled Infront of him in unison, "My liege, We swear in the name of Theodore, we will always be by your side at any circumstances."

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"So Victor, tell me about everything you did for the last 1 month. I want to know how this place works". Theo asked Victor while Crossing his arms.

" Raven Cross is a heaven for monster hunters my lord. The Ebon Wood forest is filled with monsters. But the hunters here are all normal ranked. That is why Monsters infiltrated deep inside the village area. I even got reported that a group of orcs have made a strategical fortress in the edge of northwestern black peak mountains."

"What about the local authority? Are they not concerned about the people living here?"

"I'm afraid no my lord. The whole place is run by a guy named Varkos. Who is a knight of Baron Rotburg. People say he is an elite ranked knight. He controls all the illegal things here."

"If he is really an elite ranked knight, then he is probably the best in the Barony. Why would a baron send his best man here?" Theo asked while looking at Victor.

"I think it is because raven cross is the only pathway that connects the western territories of Vermilion Empire with the Principality of Azure Shore and The Colonial territory of Holy empire Valhalla". Edmund answered Theo's question instead of Victor while bringing out a map from his pocket.

" I bought it from the trader who buys our monster materials. My lord, The Ravenspire

mountain range has stretched from raven cross- Azure Shore - to half of Holy empire Valhalla. So Raven Cross is the only gateway to the western side." Edmund started showing Theodore the map.

"Baron Rotburg uses this place to buy slaves from the eastern countries with the money of monster material trading and tolls from travellers. Rumors has it , he sells these slaves to various parts of the Vermilion Empire while establishing his influence there."

Theo attentively studied the map, " The name 'Ravenspire' is ringing a bell. I think I have heard it somewhere". Edmund immediately replied," This is the infamous cursed duchy of Ravenspire, my lord. And the Barony of Black Hollow is the only habitable zone remaining in this cursed land."

Theo quickly realized the place. This place is so infamous all around the continent that, due to its unholy nature, no one has ever wanted to conquer it.

"How about the peoples here? Do they like how the baron does things?"

"I have heard from Mirella that most of the people living here are those who could not afford to migrate to County of steinwald in the west or to azure shore in the east. Those who remained either joined Varkos or barely surviving by hunting monsters."Edmund added," People who tried to protest end up dead because of how strong the gang is. All the things happening in raven cross is tied to varkos in one way or another."

Victor said," Even Mirella has to pay tribute to the gang.Her brother works as a commander of Varkos.In exchange, Varkos promised not to sell barbarian slaves. So they use their own money to free barbarian slaves from Varkos.

Theo was listening attentively. " Okay I have gotten a basic idea about the place. I will start giving necessary instructions from tomorrow. Now Go and rest for tonight. You both have worked nonstop for the past 1 month."

Victor and Edmund bowed while leaving the room. " Rest well my lord".

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