I was daydreaming while travelling through the Deadwood Forest until my senses picked up several First Circle monsters closing in on us. Without missing a beat, I let out a growl that echoed through the underbrush. The creatures paused, then fled deeper into the trees, and by the time we exited, I could see the famous Tidewater City.
I heard the place has survived against many monster waves and other attacks.
''Your Highness,'' Evangeline's voice came from behind me, dragging me back to reality.
I turned to face her as we passed by several farms. She tilted her head slightly. ''Did you recently break through to First Circle?''
When hearing that, I grimaced, then gave a small nod. ''Yeah. Spent most of my life acting like an idiot. Finally decided to change,'' I summoned my claw and smiled, showing my sharp teeth, ''this is the beginning of actually getting strong.''
Her brows lifted. ''Then how are you this fast? First Circle warriors aren't supposed to move like that.''
I shrugged. ''You know how it normally takes over a year for someone to reach High First Circle?''
Evangeline nodded. ''Thirteen months for me. Longer for Second and Third.''
''I don't rank up the normal way,'' I said. ''I consume hearts, absorb pure mana directly into my well. It fills more slowly than the usual method. Probably will take me twice as long, maybe more.''
Her eyes widened, mirroring the same shock I'd seen in the others. Sahara spoke next, voice low and sceptical. ''Doesn't that make you weaker?''
''No,'' a confident glint sparked in my pale blue eyes. ''Because right now I can fight and beat anything up to Low Second Circle. That's why I sent Selene after the Mountain Ape and took the Wild Orcs myself.''
Sahara's dark green eyes lit with sudden interest. ''So you've got superhuman strength and speed already?''
''Exactly,'' I let a faint smile tug at my lips. ''And it's only going to get better from here.''
Evangeline frowned, piecing it together. ''Then… two years to reach High First Circle?''
I shook my head. ''No. Time doesn't work like that for me. It depends entirely on how many hearts and Mana Cores I consume.''
Garrick spoke up as he appeared beside me, looking out of breath and panicked. ''My Prince! Stop wandering off, I was talking to Marcus when you vanished from the fort.''
Selene, Sahara, Asmara, and Evangeline giggled at the older man's worry, but I waved him off with a confident expression. ''I need to get used to my role, old man. Plus, I can't always have bodyguards around me. Especially whenever I need to feed.''
Garrick shivered at my sharp-toothed smile that made him go pale, making the women laugh even more as Evangeline commented. ''Aren't those uncomfortable, Your Highness?''
''They're normal to me now,'' I answered, lifting my hand and summoning one claw. ''The teeth and claws are a part of me. They feel like they've always been there.''
''This will cause chaos throughout the nobility,'' Garrick said, sighing. ''How can we secure alliances when you're not even human anymore?''
When I heard this, I burst out laughing, then pointed at Selene. ''Rothvayne.''
I shifted my finger to Sahara, then Asmara. ''Veyra. Dunthera.''
Finally, I gestured toward Evangeline. ''And now an Ashwood has joined the fold. That makes four daughters of the five great houses loyal to me.''
Sahara's dark green eyes sparkled with mischief. ''What if you married us, my prince?''
The words landed like a thrown dagger. Selene and Evangeline whipped their heads toward the green-skinned woman, faces flashing with sudden panic. Asmara merely raised an eyebrow. I turned to Garrick and let out a low chuckle. ''Then I'd have married into four of the most powerful families in Verona, locked them in as unbreakable allies, and gained four beautiful women to love me. Sounds like I'd be winning at life, wouldn't it, old man?''
Sahara threw her head back and roared with belly laughter. Selene quickly looked away, cheeks darkening as she refused to meet my gaze. Asmara's lips curled into a smug, self-satisfied smirk. Evangeline, though, lit up with a bright, unguarded smile. She shook her head, still beaming.
''So you don't look down on the Ashwoods?'' she asked softly. ''Like most Veronian nobles do?''
I blinked, genuinely puzzled. ''Why would I?''
The confusion must have shown plainly on my face, because her smile only widened. I tilted my head, still genuinely baffled by the question. ''If anything, your house has already earned more of my respect than most.''
Evangeline's pale blue eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering across her face. I went on, keeping my tone matter-of-fact. ''I've only been focused for a year and a half, but even I've heard the stories and seen the proof. Your family holds the marches without complaint, keeps the border forts supplied when half the nobility would rather feast in the capital, and your father's name still carries weight with the crown's commanders even if he's a Count.''
I remember reading about most Veronian noble houses during my training, and I certainly knew who the Ashwoods were. I shook my head and continued. ''No scandals, no grasping for titles they haven't bled for. That kind of loyalty and quiet competence stands out when many houses are busy counting their gold and their excuses.''
My gaze settled on her again, softer this time. ''And you…'' I said, letting a charming smile spread across my face. ''I've only known you a short while, but I've already seen enough. Beautiful, obviously, but it's more than that. You're ambitious in the best way. Most mages wouldn't use Magic Missile or Mana Shield, but you've perfected them.''
I couldn't help but imagine what she could do in the Bleakmarch. I shook my head and continued. ''You don't just have power, you use it with purpose and discipline. That's rare and worth respecting.''
Evangeline's lavender ponytail gave a quick, involuntary bounce as she ducked her head. A flush crept up her neck and across her cheeks. Her half-elf ears turned bright red and twitched once, then again, completely giving her away. She bit her lip, clearly trying not to smile, but the happiness was impossible to hide.
It lit up her whole face. Her fingers twisted nervously; she didn't quite know what to do with the unexpected praise. I couldn't help grinning before teasing her. ''Your ears are practically glowing, Eve. No hiding that.''
Sahara let out another rich burst of laughter. ''She's finished. Those ears are a dead giveaway, look at them!''
Selene still refused to meet anyone's eyes, though the corner of her mouth kept twitching. Asmara leaned back, arms crossed, wearing that same smirk. Evangeline finally lifted her chin, cheeks still rosy, ears still traitorously red. Her voice came out soft but steady. ''You… really think that? About me?''
''Every word,'' I said simply. ''I don't waste praise. House Ashwood has my respect. And you,'' I gave her a knowing look, ''You've definitely caught my attention."
Her ponytail bounced one last time as she looked away, but this time she couldn't quite stop the smile from spreading across her face. Before anyone could talk, the hunger suddenly emerged, forcing me to stop my horse. The column came to a halt as Selene finally got serious, putting her helmet on alongside Asmara.
''What's wrong, Your Highness?'' Garrick asked, glancing around us.
''I need to feed, and there's a Goblin camp not far from here,'' I revealed behind gritted teeth.
After that, I turned to Sahara. ''Come with me, the rest of you stay here.''
''I think it's a bad idea, prince,'' Garrick said as he climbed off his horse.
''We'll be fine,'' I reassured. ''I need to eat, and I'm not speaking of normal food.''
Following that, Sahara and I trekked up a nearby hill and noticed the Deadwoods in the distance. A road sat nearby, and that was our route into the Bleakmarch. It looked rundown, causing me to sigh in frustration. When the Orc heard this, she turned to me. ''What's wrong, prince?''
''We need the Legionnaires to build a road while we march,'' I revealed, coming to the grim conclusion. ''We'll make sure it's guarded all the time and will be our lifeline to the Strategic Base we leave here.''
''What are these bases you mentioned? I'm curious,'' Sahara asked, leaning on her massive war axe.
''A Strategic Base is constructed within Verona itself,'' he explained. ''It's where we channel supplies and recruits to the Operational Base, which sits on the border at Widow's Pass. From there, we establish Tactical Bases as we advance. Once we move forward, some of these will be converted into supply depots, ensuring our logistics remain secure deep within Bleakmarch.''
The older woman scrunched her face in confusion, which I found oddly endearing, and shook her head. ''Why so much focus on supplies? We can mow down our enemies and crush them beneath our power.''
I laughed, shaking my head at the thought. ''A battle is won by soldiers, but a war is won through logistics, Sahara. An army with full bellies, steady wages, and a safe place to rest will fight better than any force on Aldoria.''
After that, Sahara and I pushed forward, the terrain growing rougher as we left the farms behind. Dead branches crunched underfoot, and the air carried the faint stench of rot and smoke from distant fires. The trees in the Deadwoods were thick and gnarled, their twisted roots snaking across the ground like living veins.
''Feels like this place doesn't want visitors,'' Sahara muttered, scanning the underbrush.
Her grip on the axe tightened as she walked beside me. ''Not just visitors,'' I said, letting a low growl rumble from my chest, ''predators.''
Ahead, I could see the faint glow of torches flickering through the trees, the telltale signs of activity. Their crude village sat in a hollow, partially hidden by the underbrush. The goblins had fashioned crude huts from logs and scavenged metal, smoke curling lazily into the sky from a dozen small fires.
From here, it was clear they weren't expecting anyone, or at least anyone capable of standing against them. ''Stay sharp,'' I warned. ''They'll notice us if we're careless. Goblins may be weak individually, but they fight in packs and rely on ambushes.''
Sahara grinned, letting her axe rest on her shoulder. ''I like ambushes. Makes the fight more fun.''
I couldn't help but smirk. ''You'll have your fun, but remember, this isn't a game. I need the hearts to eat. We do this cleanly and efficiently.''
We moved silently, crouching low as the village drew closer. I focused on my Mana Well, feeling it hum with anticipation. The hunger was a constant reminder of why I had to keep pushing forward. My claws itched for action, my teeth for blood. Through the dense foliage, I could make out movement.
Goblins patrolling the perimeter, armed with jagged blades and wooden shields. Dozens of them, their chatter high-pitched and shrill, oblivious to our presence. ''Do you see them?'' Sahara whispered.
''Yeah,'' I murmured, claws flexing. ''And they won't see us for long.''
I gestured for her to go left while I took the right. Together, we circled closer, using the shadows and twisted roots as cover. My claws brushed against the undergrowth, slicing through thin branches. With each step, my senses sharpened, tracking the goblins' movements, their patrol patterns, and the gaps in their defences.
When we were close enough, I let out a low growl, barely audible, but enough to stir unease. It froze mid-step, their shrill chatter stopping abruptly. One of them tilted its head, sniffing the air, and I felt the tension spike. Then I moved. In a blur, I struck the nearest patrol, my claws ripping through its crude shield and tearing through armour.
The scream that followed was drowned out by the chaos that erupted instantly. Sahara was a whirlwind, swinging her axe with brutal precision, cutting down anyone who came too close. ''Spread out!'' I ordered, my voice sharp. ''Take their leaders first. I want their hearts intact.''
They scattered in panic, but their village was too small, too exposed. Within moments, the Wild Goblins were in utter chaos, flames licking the edges of the huts, the remaining creatures either fled into the forest or attempted to fight, and failing spectacularly. When the dust settled, I wiped a trickle of blood from my claw and surveyed the scene.
My Mana Well pulsed faintly, hungry for more, but for now, I had enough. The village lay in ruins, the goblins either dead or running. Sahara leaned on her axe, breathing heavily, a wild grin on her face. ''That was… satisfying. I like working with you, Prince.''
I gave her a small smile, claws retracting. ''Good. You'll need to get used to it. The Bleakmarch is just the beginning.''
I glanced toward the remaining paths through the Deadwoods, knowing the real challenge was only just ahead. Somewhere beyond these trees, bigger prey waited, and my hunger would not be sated by goblins alone.