“Very well, I understand.” Val nodded.
Alfred, still nursing the sting of his bruised ego and aching cheek, interjected sharply, “I absolutely refuse to partake in such a perilous, savage trial!”
Marshall’s icy gaze swiveled back to him, “Then, Alfred Montmorency, you’re free to turn back and return to your home. There’s no chain holding you here.”
‘If I had any say in this, I would have never set foot in this barbaric place!’ Alfred seethed internally, the fear of Marshall’s wrath preventing the words from spilling out of his mouth.
Alfred Montmorency was the youngest son of Lord Montmorency, who controlled one of the hundred strongholds established in the kingdom’s outer region.
Alfred gew up being spoiled by his entire family because he was the youngest.
This privileged upbringing led him to a life of hedonism, a life in which he constantly pursued pleasure and squandered his family’s fortune on frivolous luxuries, gambling, and visits to brothels where he would spend weeks trapped between the legs of women working in brothels.
Moreover, he enjoyed throwing around the Montmorency name to assert dominance over others, taking advantage of the fear and respect associated with his lineage to oppress those less fortunate. 𝒩𝑂𝗏𝗅xt.𝓒𝓞𝑀
Not to mention, his arrogance was matched only by his lack of compassion as he often used his power to bully and exploit those weaker and less fortunate than him.
Although constant complaints and scandals were caused by Alfred’s actions, Lord Montmorency didn’t take any action to reprimand his most precious son. He waited in the hope that his youngest would eventually mature and assume his responsibilities. However, as the years passed, it became clear that Alfred was not going to change his ways willingly.
Alfred’s reckless behavior eventually led him to offending someone with a powerful background.
This mistake cost the Montmorency family significantly, both in terms of reputation and wealth. Lord Montmorency was forced to lower his head, apologize and pay a hefty sum to appease the offended party.
This incident became the breaking point for Lord Montmorency.
Unable to tolerate his son’s actions any longer, Lord Montmorency exiled Alfred to the Northern Frontier.
The only condition under which Alfred could return home was by earning the right to enter the Upper Haven.
Lord Montmorency hoped that the harsh realities of the frontier would force Alfred to mature and set him straight so that he can finally live up to the name of Montmorency. However, Alfred perceived his father’s actions as an undeserved punishment.
Nevertheless, he had no choice but to work hard and fulfill his father’s condition. Otherwise, he would have to spend the rest of his life in this barbaric place.
“I’m not a pussy. I’ll take part in this trial by fire and prove that I deserve to live among you northeners.”
The thought of a lifetime of exile in the Frontier was far more terrifying than hunting in the Verdent Deepwood. Thus, he reluctantly agreed to participate in the trial.
“What’s the nature of these targets?” Val asked.
“Each of you will receive a token,” Marshall explained. “The creature engraved on the token would be your target. It might be a beast, a zombie, or something else entirely. The creatures will vary in strength. But remember, the northern frontier is not a place for the faint of heart. Your target will be a formidable challenge.”
Eliana’s brows furrowed in worry. “What if one is unable to complete the task?”
“Failure to return within the time limit or without the trophy is an automatic disqualification. You will not be granted entry into the Lower City. If you decide to attempt the trial again, you’ll have to wait for the next cycle,” Marshall said.
Marshall turned to a large wooden crate set beside him.
It was an aged, hefty thing with reinforced iron corners, each edge weathered and bearing the unique marks of countless voyages.
He lifted the lid, revealing hundreds of tokens nestled within, each uniquely engraved with the images of beasts and zombies.
Marshall began to distribute these tokens but he didn’t do it blindly. In his possession was a cursed artifact that allowed him to perceive the levels of bloodline users, making their invisible power visible to his eyes. With this, he gauged their strength and thus gave them an equally challenging task. After all, the trials were not meant to be an execution but a test of mettle.
Upon reaching Val and Eliana, Marshall paused for a moment, his eyes scanning the two. His cursed artifact illuminated their power for him.
He saw Eliana’s glowing at level 1, while Val’s was more powerful, registering at level 2.
His hands moved through the tokens in the crate with an uncanny precision, as he searched for a suitable task for them. After a moment of consideration, he carefully selected the tokens that he deemed suitable for the pair.
“Take these,” Marshall said to the two as he handed each of them their respective tokens.
Val received a token with an image of a swift-footed Icefang Lynx.
Eliana, on the other hand, got a token with an image of a Grizzlehide Boar.
“As of this moment, the trial begins,” Marshall announced, his booming voice echoing through the crowd gathered in the station. “You have 24 hours to complete it. I hope to see all of you back here with your trophies within that time. Good luck.”
Eliana stared at the token in her hand, her heart sinking as worry etched deep lines on her youthful face. As a holy priest, her skills were focused on healing and shielding. She could also overwhelm evil creatures like zombies with her holy power.
However, she lacked the offensive abilities that could harm beasts.
Physically, she was stronger than the average person, but she knew that she was not well-equipped to combat a beast.
“What do I do?” she murmured, her eyes flicking towards the Grizzlehide Boar engraved on her token. “I lack the means to defeat even a low-level beast.”
“Don’t worry, Eliana. I’ll help you.” Val, who had been observing her quietly, offered a reassuring smile.
The reason behind Val’s quick assurance was more calculated than simple companionship. He intended to keep Eliana by his side and continue observing her. Once he was satisfied with her performance, he planned to reveal that he was the person her God had sent her to the Northern Frontier to serve in order to make her serve him and tend to his every need.
Eliana felt less worried and a big shocked, hearing Val’s words.
“You will?” she asked him as she looked at him with a expression that was a mix of surprise and relief.
“Of course, Eliana,” Val replied to her. “I won’t abandon a friend in need. We’re friends, right?”
After a moment’s hesitation, a small smile curved Eliana’s lips. She stared at him with a gentle gaze, and she nodded, “Yes, Brother Val. After what we’ve been through, we are friends indeed.”
She gripped her token tighter, her determination renewed. She felt confident to face the trial by fire with her friend by her side!