CHAPTER 161: RETURNING IN TRIUMPH

After a few days of resting, another wave of monsters came to the First Fortress, but unlike the first two waves, this one was composed of weaker monsters.

The Thunderspears and the charging Stellhart knights were all they needed to end the wave without any casualties.

Once that was done, Vardon sent out scouts to see if another would come. So, in the meantime, they rested and feasted as they waited.

Even with the scouts returning to report that they spotted no other monster groups within the area, they still needed to be on high alert.

There were a few times on record that the army left the First Fortress after no other monsters appeared for a few days, and then weeks later, a final wave would appear.

This happened a few times in different years. So it was now standard practice to wait for several weeks after the last wave to see if another would come.

Even now, no one could understand the pattern of the monster waves. They seem to just happen randomly, and for some reason, even though the monsters that appear don’t all come from the north, they always seem to magically appear beyond the gorge.

There were many attempts to see the source of the monster wave, but no one has ever found it.

Of course, Lucen, as a person who in his past life scoured the entire game for lore and content, knew the reason for the monster waves. It is directly linked to the true enemy in the game’s storyline.

As of now, they can’t do anything to stop the source of the monster waves, so Lucen had no choice but to simply do as they always have and simply defend from the monster waves.

***

Weeks had passed, and the First Fortress stayed the same. The scouts came and went, and each time they returned with the same report. No movement beyond the gorge. There were no growls in the night, no tracks in the snow; there was nothing.

The walls that once shook with battle now echoed with the clatter of tools and the laughter of soldiers repairing armor. The smell of blood had long faded, replaced by oil, smoke, and warm broth simmering in iron pots.

They had already gathered the monster materials they could get and sent them back to Ironhold. Of course, not all the materials were sent back, as Robert claimed quite a few materials as his own.

He did not have a proper lab in the First Fortress, so he simply used whatever was available. He would pull Lucen to help him out with creating better potions using the new materials. Due to this, Lucen’s alchemy skill went from novice to intermediate.

Of course, Lucen wasn’t only doing alchemy; he was also continuously training with Sir Thalos. Thrall had also started joining them in training. At first, the young barbarian could not keep up, but after a while, he could finally barely catch up.

Thrall would even sometimes drag Daniel to train, despite his loud protests. Once Sir Thalos spotted him, there was no backing down.

Veronica was the next person to come and train with them, and after that, the other members of Thornefang joined in. Then, the knights of Stellhart, as well as the soldiers of the First Fortress, joined in the training as well.

Even the clerics of different deities started training with them, until finally, the entire people in the First Fortress could be heard training. Surprisingly, Vardon had joined in at some point and was training alongside them.

***

A few more days later, the last scout party came back and gave a similar report as the first groups and said that there were no more movements.

It was now time to go home. The members of Thornefang had already taught the soldiers of the First Fortress how to use the Thunderspears as well as the Arquebuses.

To the surprise of most soldiers in the First Fortress, learning how to use the two weapons was easier than expected. Now all they needed to do was practice to increase their accuracy.

****

The following morning, all of the surviving soldiers gathered. There were so many survivors, much more than any other monster wave that came before.

In the next spring, they would be replaced by a different group. Only a few would remain, like Sir Roderick, who had been defending the First Fortress for many years now.

***

The air that morning was cold but clear. A pale sun rose over the snowfields, painting the walls of the First Fortress in faint gold.

The soldiers stood in ranks before the gate, their armor polished, their banners restored. It was not the grim silence of warriors about to fight, but the steady calm of those who had done their duty and lived.

Duke Vardon Thornehart stood before them, his heavy cloak fluttering in the mountain wind.

"You’ve all done your duty," he began, his voice carrying across the courtyard like a hammer striking steel.

"You stood against the waves of monsters without getting pushed back. Because of your strength, the north still stands. Norvaegard still stands. You have protected our families, their livelihoods, their very homes."

The words were simple, but no one in that fortress needed a grand speech. Every scar, every dented shield, every missing friend had already said enough.

"Those who fell will be remembered," Vardon continued, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. "And those who lived will carry their memory home. I will forever remember the bravery that was shown on the battlefield by the men and women who now dine in the hall of heroes!"

The soldiers struck their chests with their fists, the unified sound echoing through the cold air like thunder.

Vardon turned toward Lucen briefly, just for a moment. It wasn’t a long look, but there was pride, quiet and steady, buried beneath his usual sternness.

"Form the columns," Vardon said, his cloak turning with him. "We march home."

***

The morning sun shone brightly even in the snowy north. It was as if it was there to see them off. The fortress gates creaked open. The great iron chains groaned as light poured through the archway, spilling across the snow.

Horses stamped, wagons creaked, and the long trail of men and women began their march south. Banners of Norvaegard fluttered behind them, carrying the sigil of the Iron Duke and the mark of Thornefang.

Lucen rode near the front, his arquebus resting across his shoulder, and his sword on his back. The air was biting, yet the warmth in his chest wouldn’t fade.

He turned back once, at the fortress that had become both battlefield and home. The walls still bore the marks of monsters and men alike, yet they stood unbroken.

Lucen then looked at the battlements, and he saw the soldiers alongside Sir Roderick waving at them. It was at that moment that he saw faces that shouldn’t be there, smiling and waving with the others.

The members of Thornefang who fell were all waving at them with wide smiles on their faces. Lucen rubbed his eyes and looked again, but the people he saw were no longer there.

Lucen was stunned for a few seconds before he smiled ever so slightly. "Farewell, everyone..." He mumbled to himself.

***

The Iron Duke and the Stellhart Knights once again returned to Ironhold in triumph. The difference this time was that the son of the Iron Duke, Lucen Thornehart, with his Thornefang, came back with them, and it was a glorious victory.

Compared to all the other monster waves, this time only a few men and women had died. It was cause for celebration for most, especially those who live in the North, their pride swelled for being part of the Dukedom of Stellhart.

Of course, it wasn’t just them; many people of Norvaegard were praising the Iron Duke for his continued victories. Thornehart, the shield of Norvaegard, as before and now, remained unbroken.

Still, there were a few who were not pleased by this great victory of the North. Especially those who wanted the four dukes to fall.

***

In a dark room lit only by a few candles, hooded men and women wearing masks had gathered. Their voices had been altered so that one could know who was who. The smell of incense and wax filled the cold air as shadows danced along the walls.

"That boy is becoming a problem." One of them spoke.

"That is true. If he were like the Iron Duke, this wouldn’t be such a headache. But he’s more than just a shield that could be discarded." Another spoke while tapping on the table.

"We must eliminate him before Stellhart grows even more powerful than they are now."

"Do we send assassins?"

"Who would dare assassinate the son of the Iron Duke?"

"You will be surprised by how many would take the job."

"Hmph, are they even competent enough to do the job in the first place?"

"I’m confused. Why are we just talking about assassinating a child? Why don’t we talk about taking the entirety of Stellhart? If we combine our forces and attack at the right time, like for example, during a monster wave. Surely we can take the territory of the Iron Duke for ourselves."

The conversation became even more chaotic after that was said. Many of them agreed to the idea and found that they could create a plan to take the Dukedom of Stellhart.

"But we must act fast. If we wait too long, that child might do something that would make it hard to take Stellhart."

"... I agree mostly about what was said, but what reason do we give to initiate a war against Stellhart?"

"There’s no need to worry about that detail; any reason can be given, and any lie can become the truth for as long as you have enough gold. So, the only thing we need to think about is how to execute this plan. We need to gather our strength first, before making a move."

The last person spoke, and everyone was silent. Despite all of them being anonymous, a few of them could guess who the person sitting at the center of the table was.