CHAPTER 56

  THE HORNS OF THE WAR

  After the trip to Deadlands, a bit of a disagreement with Rudolf, and trying to figure out what Reina really wanted, Hans, who had already earned 1000 credits before volunteering, finally got to submit them and passed his third year with flying colours.

  To get ranked in the annual grades, you had to do well in academics. Since Delimira did well in studying and was the Glory Wars winner, it was clear that she would be the top-ranked third-year. But Hans didn’t really care about being the top-ranked student, especially where powers didn’t clash. He was happy with his result.

  There was still one month remaining for the official annual break, and some third years were still working to pass, accumulating the 1000 credits. Hans, on the other hand, was bothering the fated top-ranked student. “Come on, Deli. Just once. Turn into that thing.”

  “Stop bothering her, buddy.” Chris, as usual, was sandwiched between them. He sought Vanir's aid, who always stuck by Hans despite having final exams approaching.

  However, Vanir, like a blind follower, supported Hans. He wasn't too different from him and didn't worry much about grades, yet surprisingly, he had ranked first last year. And it seemed he would repeat the same this year too, just like her, he also boasted a winning record in the Glory War.

  They were bickering as usual when suddenly a mage student, a fourth-year boy, entered their private room in Griffin’s Nest. “Delimira Winters, Professor Aredhel is asking for you.”

  “Why?” She asked, wondering why this senior of sentinels was gasping.

  “It’s urgent.” The fourth-year pleaded, “Please—”

  “Hey! Winters, you know him.” Hans clasped Delimira’s hand as she stood to follow the boy, “Don’t get me wrong, I have trust issues these days—”

  “I know him, Hans.” Delimira assured while unclasping her hand, “Wanna come?”

  “Sure, it’s not like I’ve something else to do.” Hans stood up and asked Chris to do the same, but he had his own opinion. “I’m not getting a good feeling about this. So I’ll stay out of whatever mess you are going to make.”

  Vanir swiftly rose to his feet. “No, you're staying put, junior. Stick with your own crowd.” Hans matched Vanir's speed, refusing to budge.

  They quickly reached Aredhel’s quarters. Hans had slept there the past night and didn’t know it would be this soon he’d come back.

  “Daughter…” Aredhel paused due to the uninviting guest. She wanted Hans to stay away, but at present, Hans had quite a pull on her life, so she let it pass and ignored him. “You come in, but keep quiet.”

  In the lit hall of their quarters, Delimira and Aredhel sat on the long couch, and in front of them was an expensive communication orb. “Oh gee, I think I shouldn’t be here. This is making me nervous.” His thoughts suddenly halted as the orb lit up.

  “How are you doing, sister?” Eleanor from the other side spoke first.

  “Yikes! It’s their family business. Now it’s awkward…” Hans thought he should quickly sneak out from there, but after Aredhel greeted him back. He heard something that stopped his steps.

  “I think this time you can return home with your head held high, sister. Father motioned for your pardon, and the royal faction accepted it. This is good news. They even agreed to accept your daughter,” said Eleanor.

  “What’s the catch?” Aredhel asked.

  “Nothing. The royal faction needs every able hand. The situation is quite dire on both sides.” Eleanor explained.

  Aredhel ran a big corporation by herself. She was the director of economy in Concordia and a professor too. But it didn’t need a brain like hers to understand what was going on. They wanted her wealth to fund their side. So in plain words, she now had the power to buy back everything that was denied her before.

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  It wasn’t a place for Hans to speak up, so he waited for Aredhel’s response, and she finally spoke up. “It’s quite the offer. Can I sleep on it—”

  “What more do you need to think? You could return home. Mother misses you… and father…well, he has always been stoic. But you could regain your name of Highborn. Your daughter will be Delimira Highborn. She could have her place in Clandor. No one would dare call her a half-blood.”

  “What a hypocrite?” Hans murmured, but it was enough to transmit to the other side, and like him, many were listening to their conversation from there too. “Who is it? Is someone else there, sister?”

  Both Delimira and Aredhel raised their heads towards Hans, and he cursed inside. “Me and my mouth. It was not your place to speak up, damn it.” He rose and moved to their side so he could become visible to the other side.

  “Fancy seeing you, King of Clandor.” Hans chuckled his way in. “Oh, believe me, it is as awkward for me as it is for you. This reminds me. How’s your wife doing? We had some heated moments of pure passion a few days ago. I apologise. I was quite rough. Is she listening too?” Hans knocked the orb, “O Hello, hey, why don’t you guys show yourselves too?”

  Hans gestured Delimira to make him some space to sit over.

  “This is a family matter.” A man of a similar age as Rudolf turned the orb to his side and asked, “Who are you to interfere?”

  “Who me? I’m just a busybody with time to kill. And who are you? Your mother didn’t teach you to give your name first before asking someone else’s—”

  “Father.” Before Hans could make a mess, Aredhel spoke up, “How have you been?”

  “Crap! He is the Highborn duke. The same who slaughtered the Sylvetors to keep them shut.” Hans once again cursed his stupid mouth while the Highborn Duke scoffed at Aredhel, “You’ve no right to call me father. At least not until you prove yourself and send that daughter of yours. If she wants to be recognised as Highborn, she had to learn it first.”

  Before Aredhel could respond, Hans jumped in, “Hey! Duke. I don’t care what your father and daughter cook. Keep Winters out of it, and I’m not asking politely, this will be my final warning.”

  “Aredhel, kick that bastard out of your place first.” The highborn duke demanded, “It seems laying with commoners had turned you into a commoner too—”

  “It’s still better than what you did at Grimgar, isn’t it, Duke Highborn?” Hans interrupted, “Who do you think holds you and your ragtag of royal faction by the nape? Should I just go crazy with what I have and hand it over to Hera? If you don’t want to lose this civil war before it begins, DO.NOT.PROVOKE.ME.”

  There existed no one who could’ve walked free after talking back to the Duke of Highborn, and everyone expected him to fume out as usual, but oddly enough, he was silent, perplexed even. He understood that with a flick of a finger, Hans could turn their ally Grimgar into their enemy and send Hera on the hunt. And when she gets involved, everyone would point their finger at them.

  “See, it’s not so hard to shut your yapping, right?” Hans mocked the Highborn duke, and he took it silently. The worst person to hold his bane already acquired the means. Hans breathed out and aimed his next words at Eleanor, “So, King of Clandor, now shall we have a conversation among equals —Screw the conversation, just listen, it’s Professor’s own choice to go back being the ‘Highborn’ or not. It’s not like I have something on her…” he smirked, clearly saying he did hold something, “In plain words, you touch what’s mine, I’ll burn everything you hold dear.”

  Hans stood up, rubbing his stomach. “Man! I get hungry after threatening someone. Deli, do you have something to eat here?” He gestured for her to follow, and she quietly did as they moved out of vision. Aredhel said in her nonchalant tone, “Give me some time to think this over. Farewell — Click!”

  “What was that about?” She questioned Hans.

  “Which one? I don’t quite remember the things I say in anger.” Hans asked back.

  “The one where you threatened my father, and he just… took it lying down.” Aredhel pointed.

  “Ah, that!” Hans clapped. “Sorry, Professor, you don’t like me much, so you are on a need-to-know basis.”

  This genuinely baffled Aredhel, and it was shown in her face. Delimira, on the other hand, was thinking about what was discussed before Hans started threatening them right and left. She knew it was her mother’s wish to be accepted back in Clandor. “Mother, you should do what your heart wants. I’m okay with anything, but Clandor is not my home, and it will never be so. I’ll stay as Delimira Winters.”

  “Winters, this name has quite a nice ring to it anyway, Deli,” Hans cheered on.

  “And, you.” Delimira widened her eyes in annoyance. “You’ve quite the loose tongue— follow me out.”

  “But I’m really hungry—”

  “I’ll treat you. Just follow me.”

  “Coming.” Hans gathered his overcoat in a hurry and ran out after her. Leaving a bitter taste in Aredhel’s mouth. She also knew the family she was part of before was trying to use her daughter to bind her to the royal faction in the name of accepting her back. She was disappointed, and all she could do was rely on Hans’s position to make them stay away from her daughter.