The blizzard continued its relentless assault on the Morgen Dukedom, the swirling winds howling like restless spirits as snow blanketed the land in a suffocating grip of ice. The sun remained hidden behind dense, grey clouds, leaving the dukedom shrouded in a perpetual twilight. Aria Morgen, the only daughter of Duke Kevin Morgen, stood in her father’s office, her eyes filled with unease. It had been over a day since her father had departed with his knights, intent on uncovering the source of the unnatural storm.
Under normal circumstances, the journey to the secluded mountain pass he intended to investigate would have taken only a few hours, even in inclement weather. But with no word from him or his party, worry gnawed at Aria. She paced the room, the fur-lined edges of her gown brushing against the polished wooden floor. Her mind raced with worst-case scenarios, each more dire than the last.
As her anxiety mounted, she resolved to seek her mother’s help to organize a search party. However, just as she turned toward the door, a commotion erupted outside the estate. She rushed to the window, her breath fogging the cold glass as she peered out. Her heart leapt at the sight of her father trudging up the snow-laden path toward the manor, but relief quickly turned to dread.
Duke Kevin Morgen was covered in bloodstains, his movements heavy with exhaustion. Behind him trailed a diminished group of knights, their numbers alarmingly fewer than when they had departed. Their armor was battered, their faces pale with fatigue and fear.
Aria hurried to the office door just as it creaked open. Kevin stepped inside, his tall frame sagging under the weight of some unspoken burden. Aria’s voice trembled as she approached him. “Father! You’re back!”
Kevin gave a small nod, his face grim, and shut the door behind him. His deep voice was laced with weariness as he said, “I am back... but I bring terrible news.”
Aria’s stomach churned at his tone. “Is it the Conley Empire?” she asked, her voice rising in urgency. “Have they sent an army?”
Kevin’s lips curved into a forced smile, but there was no warmth in his expression. “Far worse,” he replied. He paused, as if choosing his words carefully, then said, “An eight-floor dungeon has appeared in the mountains. It’s pouring out magical beasts. We encountered a herd of orcs and barely managed to wipe them out. More will be coming—and soon.”
Aria’s knees buckled as the weight of his words crashed over her. She gripped the edge of the desk for support, her face pale. “Then... the blizzard...”
Kevin stepped forward and steadied her, his hands firm yet gentle. “It’s the dungeon,” he confirmed. “Most likely, there’s a magical beast at its core altering the weather—something powerful. An ice dragon, perhaps.”
Aria’s breath caught. An ice dragon. The thought alone was enough to send chills racing down her spine. She straightened herself, shaking off her shock as best she could. “We must contact the royal court and the council immediately!” she said, urgency sharpening her tone. “Request aid and dispatch mages to the region!”
Kevin raised a hand to stop her. “Not the royal court,” he said firmly. “Not even the council. We must appeal directly to the imperial court. Only the imperial mages stand a chance against what is to come.”
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Aria blinked, her mind reeling. The decision was bold but fraught with consequences. The Morgen Dukedom sat on the southernmost border of the Kingdom of Estra, dangerously close to the Conley Empire’s territory. News of a dungeon and their request for imperial aid would almost certainly leak, reaching the ears of Conley’s upper echelons. Such a revelation could embolden their rivals to exploit the dukedom’s precarious situation.
After a tense moment of silence, Aria nodded, her resolve hardening. “I’ll begin drafting the letter,” she said. Her voice wavered only slightly, but determination glimmered in her eyes.
Kevin placed a bloodied hand on her shoulder, offering a faint smile. “Good. Make haste, Aria. Every moment counts.”
Jola City, Jola Island Northern Ancornan Seas,
The blazing sun hung low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the bustling of Jola City as the day finally began to cool. Hughes, flanked by a dozen knights and a handful of weathered fishermen, stood near their prepared horses. The air buzzed with last-minute preparations as they made ready to depart for the island's northern coastline.
Alice stood nearby, holding her giggling daughter, Mina, in her arms. She clutched Hughes in a tight embrace, her love and concern evident in the way she lingered. Hughes kissed them both, first Mina’s forehead, then Alice’s. “I’ll be back in a month,” he assured her, his voice steady yet tender. “I’ll make sure her highness doesn’t do anything reckless in the meantime.”
Alice smiled, though worry flickered behind her eyes. “Of course,” she replied softly. She kissed him one last time before stepping back. Mina waved her tiny hands, babbling cheerfully, unaware of the parting. With a final nod of farewell, Hughes mounted his horse. The group, clad in sturdy armor and armed with spears and swords, began their journey, the rhythmic clatter of hooves echoing through the streets as they departed.
High above, Ravenna, watched the scene from her castle balcony. Her jet black hair caught the golden glow of the setting sun as her sharp, thoughtful gaze followed Hughes and his party until they disappeared into the distance.
“Hopefully, they find an ideal location to set up traps for the magical fish beasts,” she murmured. With a stretch and a sigh, she turned away and re-entered her chambers. The room was bathed in warm hues, lined with towering shelves of books and scattered with papers detailing the affairs of the city and the island.
Ravenna seated herself at her desk and opened the Reputation System, she skimmed through the data, her mind already juggling priorities.
John, vice captain of her knights, had left two days ago for the western regions of the island. He was accompanied by some knights and a group of criminals enlisted to mine the limestone. Meanwhile, Hughes was tasked with scouting the northern coastline near the dungeon, aiming to locate an ideal spot to trap and cull the fish magical beasts.
As she scanned her tasks, Ravenna muttered to herself, “Neil should be working on that experimental device I assigned him yesterday.” She glanced at a set of blueprints she had found online while browsing the internet during last night’s meeting. “The militia recruitment is progressing smoothly, but...”
Her brow furrowed as she tapped her pen against the desk. The crime rate in Jola City remained a significant issue. Though the knight’s patrols and newly implemented laws had curbed some of the lawlessness, the six months of unbridled chaos before her arrival had left deep scars. Many residents were still too fearful to walk the streets after dark.
“A city that doesn’t feel safe after nightfall,” she muttered, “is a city that won’t thrive.”
As she mulled over potential solutions to stabilize the crime problem, a sharp, urgent knock resounded from her door. Ravenna rose immediately, her feet clicking against the stone floor as she crossed the room.
When she opened the door, a wide-eyed servant stood before her, breathing heavily.“Your Highness!” the servant blurted, his voice edged with panic. “A ship! A ship is heading toward the island!”
