Chapitre 41: The awakening of monsters
The bolt and the quake spread across the nation, waking monsters that were asleep. Men were attacked in their homes, people were dragged to the seas, and merchants were attacked on the roads. This was the beginning of a new war. A war that was slow and more spread out. They were not ready for this war.
Requests piled over all guilds. The country needed more adventurers and that need was reflected in the huge pile of sheets over Connor's table. Connor toiled day and night, but the papers kept on coming. He decided to present this to the king.
In the morning, he took his bath. He wore a crimson blazer over his grey shirt. He tied a leather belt around his black pants.
Outside the mansion, Snow was saddled and ready to be ridden. He held onto the reins, placed one foot on the stirrup and got on the saddle. He whipped the reins and went to the palace.
He crossed the stone gates and greeted the guards. He guarded his eyes with his hands to stop the sun's gaze. He saw the marble walls of the palace glimmering In the light. Crossing the enormous sandal door, he went to the council.
He noticed that there were new members of the council. He had learned about the cult, but he was too busy to care about it.
"There are reports of Sahuagin, some form of the speared fish monster along the coast of Lakera. There have been reports about ghouls around burial grounds. Beasts living in forests are now more violent. As of now, they are being held down by adventurers but it will be only a matter of time before we can't handle these monsters," a blue-haired scholar said. He looked as if he was in his twenties.
"People have lost crops and houses to these monsters. There is an increase in strain for the treasury for repairing the damages," a brown-haired man said.
The King was in deep thought. He looked around and his eyes met with Connor.
"Come, Connor," the king said. Even though he was smiling, his eyes were grim.
Connor went in front of the king and knelt. The King ordered him to stand and he did it.
"May I speak my grace?" Connor asked bowing.
"You may," the king permitted him.
Connor stood erect and placed his hand on his chest. "My grace, increasing the adventurers is the answer."
"We have enough adventurers. What we need are better soldiers. We should ask the lords from other states to train and send more Mansabdar," a blonde man said frowning.
"It is too expensive. We can spare that when the Lord is gaining strength," the brown-haired man said.
The King and Connor nodded to that answer. "My grace, we will give incentives for adventurers. It will only be one-tenth of what is needed for training a Mansabdar."
"But who in the right mind will want to be an adventurer?" Murmurs came from around.
"Yes, the stigma of being an adventurer will not be gone so easily. But this is the better option right now," Connor said bowing.
The King went back to deep thought and sat on his seat. He raised his head and looked around.
"We will do as Connor proposed. Thorley, do what is needed for securing funds," the king told the brown-haired man.
"Dale, redirect the reports to adventurer guilds and put them as quests," the king told the blue-haired man.
"We are already facing threats from the outside. We will not be broken by the ones from inside," the king said standing up.
Dale and Thorley bowed and went to their offices to do the necessary paperwork.
"The stigma against adventurers will not go away in one or two days. But we will need to do what we can so that people will not scorn them. This will be an order, all able-bodied men from high castes and nobles should serve a minimum of one year as an adventurer," the king's voice echoed across the hall.
Murmurs and disapproving voices came from the council. The blonde man stood up.
"My king, the life of an adventurer is nomad life. He eats and sleeps wherever he wants. It is not something fit for people of our stature," he said.
"Stature will not have any meaning if the whole world burns," the king glared.
"And following suit to this, my grandson will also do his part in the coming year. The council is now dismissed," the king said.
The people went out whispering. Connor left the last. He saddled snow and went to the mansion.
He rode his horse with a heavy mind. He hated his brother for going on adventures but now he had to send his son willingly to danger. Chadwick and Christopher will also need to go. Chadwick will survive, but Christopher was weak. He thought about how Melinda will react to this.
"Preposterous," Melinda roared.
Connor was in his office with Melinda in front of him. He had just told what the king had ordered.
"It came from the king. We can't disobey it," Connor said rubbing his temples.
"And who will protect my kids? You? I already lost a brother because of this stupidity and I am not going to lose my children to that," Melinda's voice echoed through the mansion.
"I plan on sending an adult trainee with them until they are able," Connor said.
"A trainee is just a trainee. I will not be able to trust them," Melinda said waving her hands.
"Not just any trainee. I will be sending Harper."
Melinda's eyes widened. He did not care about the trainees but even she had heard of Harper. A small drop of relief fell into her ocean of anger.
"If something were to happen to my children..."
"You have my word," Connor replied.
On the next day, after the spar with Chadwick, Connor held back Osmond.
"Boy, get ready to leave after ten days to the capital town. You are going to register as an adventurer," Connor said folding his hands.
'Adventure,' Osmond felt excited. He remembered that his eighth name day was in six days but he knew that nobody will care for it. He decided to take this as a gift.
"One more will be coming with you. Come over here," Connor called out.
Osmond turned around and saw a man he didn't care to go with. His face frowned.
It was Riley Locke.
Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
reçu État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone