Life in a new Kingdom

Pacing toward the training grounds, Caleb and Celia drag themselves across the field. In the middle of Eckhart's and Julia's instructions, they notice the adventurers staring at something behind them.

"We're back from our quest!" Caleb shouts with enthusiasm.

"Gahh, did you have to shout out of nowhere? Well, at least let me welcome you back-" Julia turned around to greet them, but she was taken aback when she laid eyes on their figures—covered in dirt, sweat, blood, and torn clothes with bandages wrapped around various limbs and torso. Julia's jaw dropped wide open. Eckhart holds back any questions but snickers as quietly as he can.

"What? Is there something on my face?" Sarcastically, Caleb pretends to feel around his face.

"What the hell happened!? You both come back looking like you escaped a hell-drawn battle."

"It's a long story, and I need a bath here because I am exhausted. Any news with the recruits?"

Standing in the foreground are the six parties grouped into three separate teams. Their eyes don't deceive them as the young Lord of the village standing so proud of his accomplishments. They whisper to one another, asking the obvious. Eckhart stomps his foot, causing the metal boots to clang together, producing a loud metallic sound to gain their focus.

"They have been starting to grasp the essence of their training and teamwork as a group easier in the past few days you have been gone. Julia has been a great help in guiding them to their true potential. Carlo, surprisingly, has done well in raising their spirits and helping any swordsman learn more in-depth sword arts to improve their styles. The only main issue is real battle experience." Eckhart stands tall with his report—a soft smirk across his face.

"Impressive; you guys seem to have progressed much further since your arrival. Starting tomorrow we will have mock battles against each of us starting from now. Every day, we will test and improve your flaws further. Eckhart, when you are done here and dismissed them, please meet me back at the manor. I have something urgent to discuss with you privately. Make sure you bring Mei along for it as well." Caleb turned his back and began to head toward the manor.

"Understood, sir." Eckhart bows his head in response. "You heard him! Let us finish today strong!" Caleb hears the enthusiasm of the adventurers as they focus on their training. Celia wanders close behind him on their way to their home.

Entering the manor, Celia sits down to take a breather. She was sweating profusely from the stress of her current affliction. She takes out a small vile of animal blood that Lukia gave her and pours its contents down her throat. A long sigh of relief escapes her lips. Noticing her discomfort, Caleb presses his hand on her shoulder.

"Try to take it easy; go first and wash up. Clean yourself before lying in bed."

"I'll be fine as long as I don't think about it. Mmm..." The strain is still plentiful with the building lust within her.

"I'll go get Mei; she will aid you. Hopefully, she might know something to reduce the symptoms."

"I don't think she knows much about Demon anatomy; I am afraid.." Celia lets out a chuckle, trying to make light of the situation. She watches as Caleb searches for Mei. A heat wave washes over her during the respite, causing her head to spin.

The issue with prolonged starvation of blood and neglect of the Blood Rite causes a Demon to undergo a state of uncontrollable urges and various stages of illness, fevers, night terrors, and seizures. The change in her body that once happened before is a violent process of constant feeding to satiate the lustful hunger and retain the increase of power. Celia drank her Master's blood, binding her to him much more deeply than he could imagine—an attachment making the current relationship between the two even stronger. The knowledge of the Blood Rite is retained in her memory; Celia ponders what to do. A few minutes pass by until Mei joins Caleb. They approach Celia and discuss with her what they should do.

"Mei, just help me clean myself a bit. If we sit around in our filth like this, I am going to lose it."

"Leave it to me, my Lord; I'll take care of her for now. In the meantime, some letters have arrived since yesterday. I believe they are from Lord Valum and Lord Dunick. I suggest you read them."

"From Father and Brother? Yes, I will read them right away."

"I left them in your room on the table."

"Thank you. You may go now." Mei bows before helping Celia up and walking her to the bath. Caleb takes a deep breath before entering his room. Sitting on the table is a small stack of letters.

Upon looking at them, Caleb saw they were from Lord Valum and Dunick. Caleb wastes no time opening them and proceeds to read them.

"My son, we have engaged with the Empire. I am writing you this letter as a warning that we are in a stalemate. Your bother Dunick has proved himself quite a wonderful son and commander. I only wished I didn't need his help in this war, but to protect you and our family, we will do what we must to defend our home and lives. The war effort dragging this long for months has proved to be taxing for the troops. The Empire has employed a large force of Artifact users into their army, leading to many losses on both our fronts. They don't care if their men are centered along with us; as long as we perish, it is all that matters to their commanders. I fear every day, I might have to make such a sacrifice. But as long as I live, I will fight that decision until I can no longer do so.

I miss seeing you every day in our home. I wonder how much you've grown. It's been a little more than a year since we all left, but from what Eckhart writes, you have proved yourself worthy of being a child of Aris. He has expressed how skillful you have gained with a sword in such a short time. You have room for improvement, but he has given you the most demanding training daily. You should be eleven years old now. You are still far away from being an adult, yet I think you are more mature than I give you credit. Keep growing; grow up into a wonderful man. I look forward to seeing you again. I plan on visiting before your twelfth birthday. Your brother wants to see you as well. I swear, you two are almost inseparable. It will be best if we catch up as much as possible when we see each other.

This brings me to my last reason for this letter. With how this war started, I am afraid I need more manpower and a tactical master of warfare to help guide our knights and infantry to victory. Our forces are both growing and losing in areas we need to push. New recruits only arrive and survive barely a couple of months. A lot of injured have been sent back for treatment and care. I will send a caravan of troops to Saiana and visit you. When we leave, I will have retrieved Eckhart and the knights stationed in Saiana to bolster our army. I don't want to take away your instructor, so I will give you one more year to become as strong as possible.

Until then, make sure you learn as much as you can.

Your Father."

After reading the letter from Valum, Caleb places it back down on the table and looks out the window. A soft breeze of cold air slips past the crack and enters the room. A whirling thought of the future swarms his brain briefly. Before turning his attention to the following letter, there is a knock on the door. It slowly opens, and Mei steps through the archway and addresses Caleb.

"Master, I have cleaned Celia and placed her in her room. I have the bath fresh for you."

"Thank you, Mei. I'll be in momentarily."

"Understood; call upon me if you need anything."

She closed the door, and Caleb set aside the letter on the table. Revealing a couple of unopened letters left on the table.