Chapter 97
The Rothchester mansion is solely the only place that the duchess preferred to reside in the moment Dane or Daniel came into the duchess's life. She formally asked to be legally separated, as the conditions of her marriage toward Segast Vandros were to secure his lineage, but it was meant to control her and place a restriction on her authority, having a royal bloodline.
Segast Vandros had no choice in the matter, as the king gave the blessing and can cancel the said political union as soon as Daniel comes and is illegally confirmed as her son. The tension between the Vandros family is widely provoked by Segast Vandros's daughters, who continue to live their lives as if they were still related to the Duchess Grace and connected.
The laws of the kingdom of Solnara Cererindu can be overwritten by the king; that is why the merchant kingdom prospered, from being established by constant war, death, and blood. Luckily the founding warlord that created the kingdom had many children, and they were your typical dysfunctional family with power struggles and betrayals. Despite the turmoil within the Vandros family, they still hold significant influence in the kingdom due to their wealth and connections. That caters to their own personal logic and very arrogantly shows they were always on top,
Daniel's background was hard to accept, but many assumed he was talented and skilled, as he was the son of the Duke and Duchess; the two were known for being strong and skilled in combat and magic. Assumptions from all those who are now gossiping about his return were all mixed; the gorgeous forest was similar to all territories in the east. As most forests are home to many monsters and very strong and various different humanoid races like orcs, trolls, ogres, and goblins, it was no surprise that Daniel's return sparked fear and speculation among the kingdom. Some wondered if he had come back to claim his rightful place as heir to the throne, while others feared he may have darker intentions for the kingdom.
Either way, Daniel was silent and reserved; his actions were kind of mysterious and unpredictable, adding to the mystery of his personality. But the staff and personnel working at the Rothchester mansion never reacted negatively, as he was courteous and kind. He was given three more days until he entered the royal academy as a late enrollee.
Duchess Elleena Rothchester knows all this encounter was just a means to an end. But seeing Daniel interact with the staff, she felt a sense of joy, temporarily forgetting this person wasn't her real son…but she could feel her son's presence in him; that's the hardest part. Her powers are deeply connected with spiritual energy, and her emotions were resonating with Daniel's. And the promise she accepted to treat Dane as her real son was something that she can't just ignore.
Daniel also knew that the emotions he was now experiencing were making him more open to expressing normal responses to those who were communicating and interacting with him. Melgil saw and felt this; Daniel, not in his Netherborn persona, was very much a charming and lovable person, and her heart skipped a beat every time Daniel would gesture or smile at her.
Many reporters gathered around at the Duchess Elleena Rothchester mansion hoping to gain insight toward the young lord. On the day of the announcement and confirmation, many reporters came to see him personally, and the reporters were shocked to be openly welcomed by the duchess and the young lord himself.
Daniel accepted the questions and openly answered all of them; this was seen as a peculiar manner, but he even gave a reasonable answer that left the reporters stunned and impressed by his candor and intelligence. The reporters left with a newfound respect for the young lord, eager to share his story with the world. He mentioned he had to fight and scavenge for food. He was attacked constantly and had to rely on help from a race of honorable ogres. For many years he roamed the forest, hoping to get out, but it seems the place was like enchanted, but he added he might just be saying these out of fear in knowing what lies beyond the forest.
Many reporters saw that the young man wasn't afraid to fight and kill to stay alive; what he feared was the realization concerning what his life would be when he got out. The questions were stacking on top of each other, and not knowing any clear answers was the reason he never ventured out. Many reporters and even the staff of the mansion were emotionally invested in the young man's story, wondering if he would ever find peace and closure. The eighteen long years left a violent scar on his heart.
Daniel created this scenario so when the moment comes that he needs to fight, the story he created will be the foundation and reasonable justification for his action. As the day nears its end, the reporter who came now wonders if all the details they gained were something to be shared publicly, and they felt it was a sad and terrifying life to deal with, except for the part where Daniel stood up and showed them what a real survivor looks like, inspiring hope and resilience in others who may be facing similar struggles. His courage and strength in the face of adversity served as a beacon of light for those who had lost their way in the darkness.
As Daniel and the Duchess finally ended the day with a race, the reporters went back and were filled with admiration and respect for Daniel's unwavering spirit. Not knowing it was not all true. But the fact remains Daniel felt a killing aura among the reporters; this was a good sign, meaning the person that orchestrated the young boy's kidnapping and the death of the Duke is still active and seeing his return to be a threat to their plans.
The Duchess also knew about this; while having dinner, Melgil joined them, and because Daniel never liked eating alone anymore, he asked the other maidservant to join them. The head steward, Custodia, was a bit surprised by the request but obliged. As they ate, Daniel couldn't shake the feeling of being monitored. A simple look from the duchess confirmed this. Daniel smiled and continued to eat.
The room he was staying in was connected to Melgil's room; being his personal assistant and guard, nobody would suspect anything if they were seen together frequently. This proximity allowed Melgil to see him and even stay within her sight. Daniel can easily teleport back to Lúthien, but he never did, knowing he just cast his assessment skill and saw numerous small hidden artifacts that were monitoring them.
A simple spell can disable all this, but doing this will alert the enemy; their identities are still unknown. Eradicating them will be easy, but Daniel, consider the implication toward the Duchess's honor and reputation. It was a delicate situation that required careful planning and execution to ensure both their safety and the preservation of Lúthien's image. Daniel knew he had to tread carefully in order to protect both Melgil and the Duchess from any potential harm or scandal.
The following morning reporters that got a chance to interview the young lord came back; they saw the young lord exercising in the open courtyard and even training in martials that they had no idea what they were. They never expected that the young lord was really a good fighter, as his moves were fluid and graceful. This unexpected display of skill and athleticism added another layer of mystery and intrigue to Daniel's already enigmatic persona, leaving the reporters even more curious about his true identity and intentions.
The scars on his body were real and were not made up, as reported; the ability to see the truth confirmed it. Daniel shared in the interview that he grew up alone and had to fight to survive, and he knows nothing about his mother's life, and the scar on his body and his unknown martial skills just confirmed this. Dane, or Daniwel, knows this too well, as a person that craves knowledge by reading books and applying it in his skill in programming and creating a virtual world. It is just a small part of the process; creating an artificial intelligence to assimilate the same reaction of his dead parents was created out of the need to gain control of something he can have.
So Dane knew at the back of his mind that control is just another form of manipulation, a way to shape the world around him to fit his desires. So he might as well use this knowledge to form his own new narrative. Daniel was the talk of the kingdom; many wanted to know more about him. On the third and last day, the Duchess received an unwelcome visitor. These rude people barged in at the mansion gate as if they owned the place and demanded they see the Duchess..
Segast Vandros with five of his hired bodyguards and his eldest daughter, Kehsi, 21 years old, with her so-called knight-in-training boyfriend. These people were your typical arrogant people who believed they were above everyone else and ignored the royal decree that the king dissolve Segast Vandros's marriage, seeing as her real son has returned.
Segast Vandros wanted compensation for the humiliation he gained from the duchess's decision to divorce him and remove any connection from the royal bloodline; Segast Vandros was with his mistress in the north when the decree was signed by the king.
The humiliation that his daughters experienced when they heard about it was immeasurable, as they were left to face the reality that they were no longer nobles on paper. As Segast Vandros's daughters were also studying at the Royal Academy. They were still wealthy and influential, but they were now just ordinary and didn't carry any noble lineage in their name.
The Rochester mansion stands as a self-sufficient, fortified outpost designed for both strategic operations and long-term habitation. Spanning several square kilometers, the base is ringed with perimeter walls built from reinforced alloy and camouflaged with adaptive materials to blend into the landscape.
the separate, sleek, modular housing units arranged in a semicircle. Each unit is equipped with climate control, soundproofing, compact luxury windows, and bedding equipment. The accommodations were all luxury amenities designed to provide maximum comfort for the staff and personnel working for the Duchess.
And the vast land where the mansion is situated opens to a communal courtyard garden where plants from multiple ecosystems are cultivated for both aesthetics and a farming area for self-sufficiency. This place was created to give the staff a sense of privacy in their lives. Even serving in the Duke's household, they were treated equally, and most of them were retired warriors that served under the Duke when he was on active duty in the past.
The vast walled land has been created by the Duke to serve as a stronghold and training facility. ,
In case he passed away in battle. As the young lord finished his training, many of the staff that were former hunters and skilled fighters were exhausted, as the young lord started early in the morning, and the sun was still high when the last personnel fell unconscious on the training floor. And because the area was protected by a barrier, those who were prying over the training could not see anything.
But seeing the exhausted and worn-out facial expressions as they walked out in utter defeat was too shocking to believe. These staff were retired elites from the battlefront; they couldn't believe the 6-foot-tall young man was able to overwhelm each of them with remarkable proficiency and accurate attacks. The attack patterns Daniel gave were combinations of different martial arts that his parents trained him in in the past.
All 40 of the staff that were veteran warriors were outsped, outskilled, and outstrategized by this young man, who seemed to possess an innate talent for combat. It was a humbling experience for the retired elites to be so decisively defeated by someone so young and seemingly unassuming.
The young lord was being watched by his mother and was also shocked not because of his skill but because of the manner in which he reacted to each of his attacks toward the staff that he was sparring with. He can see that he was just using his raw physical abilities and not relying on any mana energy. It was clear that this young man had a natural gift for combat that surpassed even the most seasoned warriors. He wasn't showing any emotion when facing his enemies.
The duchess knew he was the netherborn and had enough power to decimate the kingdom, but the way he controlled his attacks was beyond normal. Each strike was calculated, and the force he exerted was precise, indicating a level of skill and control that was unmatched. The duchess realized that this young man could be the being that could shake the foundation of the land they are living in.
Any powerful force can destroy a city or even an entire country, but even with all this power, without proper control, it can also affect the user, as power also corrupts and eventually kills the host. Many powerful warriors that eradicated hundreds of lives have died from their own power. Many great battle mages succumbed to this and foolishly ended their lives, powerful rulers, even the Duchess's own grandfather, who laid the foundation of the merchant kingdom.
She was an excellent fighter herself, but watching the spar was an eye-opener for her. Melgil, seated next to her, just clapped her hands and cheered on in a low tone. The head steward, Custodia, was speechless and mentally took notes as the young lord gave out attack strikes that were coordinated, and the movements were not able to be anticipated, as he could punch and simultaneously deliver an elbow drop and a spinning kick, and each attack wasn't delivered half-heartedly; the action was intended to kill, but before his attacks connected, he would pull back and cut the impact damage by more than 90 percent.
As they all saw and felt the force, every time Daniel would punch and slightly adjust the trajectory of the strike,the training ground floor and wall, even the pillars, took the impact and were all damaged from his movements and even his footwork.
The 10-meter by 10-meter three-step sparring solid concrete floor was cracked and chipped in multiple places, with the once smooth surface now marred by the force of Daniel's strikes. The sound of impact echoed throughout the training floor, leaving everyone in awe of his control and precision.
After the dust settled and Daniel received a towel from Melgil, the Duchess wanted to see the limit of his ability; this was more about curiosity and knowing the person that made his staff tired and beaten. The spar she saw was one-sided, as Daniel's sparring partners were using their mana until they were completely drained, leaving Daniel standing victorious and unscathed. The Duchess was impressed by his skill and awakened her warrior side within.
So the Duchess asked his son if he still wished to spar. Daniel nodded in agreement, and with that simple gesture, Duchess Elleena Rothchester walked up to the training arena wearing her daily clothing attire. She asked Custodia to bring out her preferred weapon. The head steward opened a dimensional storage box and took out two daggers and gave them to her. Daniel gave the tower back to Melgil and politely thanked her. The staff personnel showed interest in seeing their master in action again; she asked Custodia to deactivate the barrier artifact that was around the training ground.
Head steward Custodia wanted to reach out, but Duchess Elleena Rothchester told her that she wanted to showthose prying eyes and spies what to expect. Custodia nodded in agreement.
"As the head steward removed the barrier hiding the training ground, Duchess Elleena Rothchester firmly gripped her daggers while Daniel was still wearing the sparring gauntlets.
"My son, let's show them a proper spar."
"and no holding back."
With a gentleman's and warrior's bow, Daniel agrees, "Yes, my mother, as you command.."
Melgil casually walked down and returned back toward her seat and was eager to see what his beloved can really do while facing a level 40 Hero Rank hunter.
Her stance was low, tiger-like, twin daggers reversed in her grip blades curved, obsidian black with a faint violet sheen from enchantments long past.
"Last chance to back out," she said, smirking with eyes that had seen wars and assassins crumble.
Daniel cracked his neck.
"Let's dance, Mother."
The concrete arena trembled with an electric tension, an oppressive silence heavy as thunderclouds hanging over the Rochester estate's expansive training ground. The sunlight brushed gently along the half-surrounding walls, casting elongated shadows over the broken floor bearing the faint, dried scars of countless epic duels that stretched across decades. Up to the point it was used that day,
At the heart of this arena stood Duchess Elleena Rothchester, a figure of both elegance and ferocity, enveloped in a striking black and crimson combat suit. Her twin daggers, Ardent Fang and Moonpiercer, hummed with a potent energy, the mana within them crackling in eagerness of the battle ahead. Once a celebrated Hero-Class Hunter, Elleena wielded her blades with unparalleled skill, though today she faced a tough opponent: her own son, Daniel.
Daniel, a lean and athletic 19-year-old, stood opposite his mother, exuding a relaxed confidence that belied the intensity of the moment. Clad only in wrappings around his forearms and armored boots, he bore a distinctive black gauntlet on his right hand—a testament to his formidable training and potential. The gauntlet, forged from steel and dragonbone, seems durable but doesn't show any signs he was using mana,
As Elleena commanded Melgil to speak the word for the duel to begin, the atmosphere shifted dramatically; every molecule in the arena seemed to hold its breath. The word "begin" echoed like the sharp detonation of a gunshot, splitting the stillness and marking the commencement of a clash destined to resonate through the very fabric of their legacies.
In a blink, the duel erupted into chaos, and the Flashing Dance commenced. Elleena disappeared in an instant, her form replaced by a ripple in the air as she surged behind Daniel. Her daggers arced downwards in a deadly assault, but Daniel anticipated her move, his movements fluid and swift as he pivoted out of harm's way, the gauntlet clashing fiercely against Moonpiercer.
What followed was a dazzling exchange of strikes, Elleena's blades glittering like stars in the night while Daniel flowed between attacks with the grace of a dancer yet the precision of a seasoned warrior. Each clash of steel resounded with the echo of their training, a symphony of movement and magic punctuating the arena as both combatants tested the limits of their abilities.
As the duel escalated, tension crackled in the air like the overcharged mana swirling around them. Elleena, sensing the need to elevate the stakes, unleashed a torrent of magical energy. Vortexes of crimson light spiraled around her, manifesting in dazzling displays of her Bloodline Art. Shadows of herself sprang forth, enforcing her every strike with a myriad of phantom blades, each infused with lethal magic.
Yet Daniel remained unfazed, his eyes fixed on the ground as he navigated the barrage with a calm demeanor. Every swing he avoided sharpened his focus, suggesting an innate understanding of the battle unfolding before him, a kind of sixth sense that triumphed even against his mother's formidable magic.
Lastly, in a moment that seemed almost surreal, he slipped through the magic-laden storm and into Elleena's personal space with blinding speed, delivering a decisive strike that left his mother momentarily disarmed and her pride thoroughly humbled.
The arena lay still for a heartbeat, breath caught in their throats as the stakes of the battle shifted. "Checkmate," Daniel declared, the gauntlet resting lightly against her collarbone. With those two simple words, the weight of the fight crushed down on Elleena, shattering both her defenses and her expectations. In that moment of vulnerability, she found her proclaimed son, whom she now knows accepted, was truly above her;
The façade they had so carefully constructed was a masterpiece of misdirection. To the world, he was Dane, her quiet, unassuming son, a young man she publicly sheltered and privately worried over. But in the crushing grip of an enemy's power, as her own strength failed her, that entire reality shattered.
The boy she knew vanished, and in his place stood Daniel, a being wreathed in an aura of chilling, ancient power. It wasn't just strength; it was an absolute authority that radiated from his Netherborn self, a presence that made the air heavy and still. In that moment of her own utter vulnerability, watching him dismantle a threat that she gave with all her strength skill and experience as a warrior with contemptuous ease, she finally understood. The child she had proclaimed as her own, the one she believed she was protecting, was, and had always been, a power truly and fundamentally above her.
With a mix of admiration and surprise, she acknowledged the truth: he was not merely her son in the eyes of the kingdom anymore, but she saw him as a conqueror in the making, molded by pressure and silence, poised to carve his path in a tower of relentless combat and magical duels. In their shared history, a new chapter had begun.