章 30: A Kingdom at War

This place was not safe. Haldor knew that, despite humans being more united than ever, those magical dangers were everywhere.

In this era where magic, dragons, and incredible creatures like talking polar bears with celestial armor inhabited every part of the north, threats were in every corner. They also needed to protect themselves against the incredible challenges that came with living in such demanding environments.

"Stop, Azazel." Haldor halted his ice dragon at the rear of the castle, where there was a beautiful lake.

This lake was called the Place of Laments. Only the king and heir could inhabit it, as it was reserved for special people.

The kingdom of Frostgard was founded by Viking ancestors who swore loyalty to the Rhoynar. It was created by the ancestor of the current king, Haldor's father, and since then, many wars have been fought against monsters from the depths and the white walkers.

Ancient legends say that these white walkers are sorcerers corrupted by power—those who did not return magic to the lake and were consumed by the eternal evil surrounding them.

"One more problem..." Haldor drew his sword, his gaze now showing a coldness that only a true warrior could display in battle.

At the same time, a bluish energy began to surround him, and when he struck the ground with his right foot, a few drops of water floated, surrounded by power. In that moment, Haldor attacked with his sword, and those drops, which once seemed harmless, shot out at great speed.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The drops of water, which previously couldn't harm anyone, had just shattered rocks as if they were watermelons. This power that Haldor had gained was partly shared by his dragon, who had an incredible connection with him, allowing him to advance so quickly in the arts of sorcery.

Haldor's gaze remained unchanged. Throughout this time, he was the only one who survived the assassins who attacked his family. He was known as the Bloody Heir for his brutal battles against those who sought to kill him.

"Not bad." Haldor got bored easily, even sometimes wondering if there was any point in continuing with the life he was given.

There was nothing that interested him. Those parents he swore to protect had to witness his departure, so he was quite agitated. Now he needed to marry a girl, from his perspective, and this had led to mental exhaustion from thinking about more perspectives.

He liked fantasy, always enjoying belonging to a world where magic and swords intertwined like raindrops, but now that he was in such a place, he didn't feel as enthusiastic.

But when he remembered how he fought tooth and nail to live, the pessimistic thoughts faded away over time.

Having reached a certain repetitive situation in life, knowing he wouldn't be immortal, even if his master Lucian had lived a long time, Haldor focused on developing a city, optimizing all his knowledge in one place.

Moreover, he had created automatic crossbows that were the closest thing to a semi-automatic rifle, improving the army's armament for defense.

His inventions were famous within the army and beyond, with his astonishing constructions all highly praised by the men of the north.

"I'm certainly confused. Will this marriage thing work?" Haldor cast a glance at his dragon, who was like a soulmate.

Azazel, who was lying outside the lake, opened his eyes, snorted, and went back to sleep. His gaze said nothing to Haldor, who remained silent.

From his point of view, there were few things today that could take his life so easily. He didn't know how strong he was within the upper levels of power, but for his age, he was doing well.

But now that he had the chance to go out freely with his father's permission, he could do whatever he wanted.

"One can marry at the age of thirteen; this world is crazy."