The Dreamer's POV

"I am Luke, and I'm in service to Duke Theo."

"Oh oh oh!" The duke exclaimed and chuckled.

"Dramatic, just like Sarah." He said.

'If the need arises then of course, no better way to leave an impression.'

"You seem rather mundane, but I suppose you hide it quite well." He commented.

I raised my head and simply stood at attention by Theo.

The lords had their little feast and then began conversing amongst themselves. Theo seemed to be doing quite well with the look on his face.

'It seems like he's going to be okay.'

The two nobles then decided to go on a sightseeing, Lord Markus Gloria wanted to see the repairs that Sarah spoke of.

'Sarah, tch… I hope he doesn't bring her up again, I don't need anyone rousing Theo's suspicion. Yes.'

I had stayed behind, as that was in line with what a butler ought to do. Drius had gone with Theo however and I was confident he was safe, not to mention my imperial knights that lurked around.

I couldn't quite communicate with them over distance, but I could feel a sense of what they felt.

"Hmmm!" My eyes shot out in surprise, this wasn't about Theo, thankfully so, it was Black, and it seemed like it was in trouble.

I had had Black return to watch the gates for possible spies and just to support the guards, the thing never tires so best I use it as much as I can.

It had found something, tried to fight it, but it was losing, and badly from the looks of things.

I activated <greater teleportation>, and I disappeared from the mansion in a flicker of blue light.

Trees and bushes replaced the concrete walls, and hard soil was in place of a wooden floor.

There, right ahead of a bush was Black, and what looked to be…

'A dark spawn.' It was like darkness taking a humanoid form.

The thing struck Black down, hitting it with punches like it had a grudge with my minion.

I brought up my trusty rock <Advanced Grand Rock>, the two unaware of my presence, or perhaps just the Dark spawn. If I could pinpoint where Black was, chances are that it could tell where I was too.

I coated my Grand Rock with the darkness element and sent it hurling to the dark spawn.

It wailed as the rock struck, arching its back in pain.

Black sent a jab straight to where it seemed like its neck and it yelped, and like nothing had happened, it swiftly rescinded itself, morphing away.

'I am not going to let you get away.'

The dark spawn moved like a swift smoke, phasing through bushes and even trees, it looked back and the red eyes fixed in what I presume to be its head widened.

It was afraid of me, it must know something.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Three of my trusty rocks wafted in the air and came down like thunder at the creature, but it was agile, and like water–bending and twisting itself to avoid every blow, and unfortunately it was good at that.

Even with <Turbo>, we were at equal speed, and it had a head start, not to mention that it barely needed to avoid obstacles while I did.

My eyes glowed a slight amber light as I tried appraising it, yet nothing but <Dark Spawn> came up again.

I realized that I quite enjoyed chasing my prey, especially when they put up quite the effort.

'Yes! Run! Run!'

A glint of hope must have been in its eyes for having evaded me for so long, but unfortunately for it, one of my rocks found its way to its back and it was thrown off course, tumbling over the soil and then crashing by a tree.

It turned out phasing through objects was a conscious effort, not a passive innate ability.

I immediately sent my rocks at it, and they struck in a booming barrage, sparks shimmering from their onslaught until nothing was left.

I felt a little bit of relief seeing as it was gone, but it seemed like this city was getting unfavourable unwanted attention once more, I didn't like that in the least, and this time, they did not seem to be from rankers or nobles.

"My lord." Black stormed forward, bowing.

"I am greatly sorry for not subjugating the enemy."

I raised up my hand, interjecting.

"What now?"

I then decided to check on the guards, and emphasized on the need to be vigilant, and though they seem to be doing quite alright, there were many forces at play to which they are not privy to, great forces.

Activating <greater teleportation>, I arrived at the scenery I had left, surrounded once more by concrete walls.

The dull environment of pampered nobles, this wasn't for me. I needed to look out for more.

'I have done more than enough, I'll leave soon after the ball.'

Not long after, the two dukes approached the mansion, and the sun was beginning to retract its light.

I welcomed them in, and dinner though rather early was set on dining for them.

"You've got the best people in the Kingdom Theo, very resilient bunch. I'll be glad to have you lease some of them to me, there's this squabble I need to deal with."

"My army?" Theo blurted, surprised.

We had rebuilt the region's army since the attacks, the Lyma region was going to be vulnerable to no one, even to his imperial majesty, and day by day, the numbers kept on growing fueled by the new pride fostered from reclaiming their hope, and Theo taking his spot and achieving so much had inspired the people.

"Yes, I wanted to bring it up while we enjoyed the city, but I felt it wasn't proper to bring such serious matters on the road where curious ears are present. Even here…" the lord paused, and looked at both I and Drius.

Theo raised his right hand in opposition to whatever Markus Gloria had to say about us. Everyone knew what he meant, and the envoy not sharing the dine with them confirmed so, he wanted us to leave.

"No, I trust these men as I did my father. They will listen to whatever you have to say."

"Hmmm…" Lord Markus Gloria leaned forward, as if pondering on what to say or rather asking for some words to back his fears up, but his Commander didn't speak, and he sighed, resigning.

"I had a feeling you were going to insist on this. I guess it's only rightfully so that you do. Well, the thing is that extremist factions are on the rise these days, the King himself is quite shaken, for there was a failed assassination directed at him, there was your city's destruction, and also news about foreign looking people much stronger causing trouble around the continent. I fear a war is coming soon and I want to recruit people from your end. You know my people, mercantile lot, the dreams of a knight and battle victory doesn't entice them, doesn't speak to them. We are only safe because we are protected by others."

His chief commander coughed as if he refuted that statement, and perhaps he did.

That didn't matter however, but what he said about foreign people wreaking havoc, and the king almost getting assassinated surprised me, the two might not be connected, but I wasn't going to bet on that, I have sat on the bench for too long, it was time I went back to playing a part in this world, it was why I was called here.

Theo interrupted my train of thoughts, blurting out words like a child.

I suppose he was still a child in many ways.

"A war? To recruit people? And the king a target of assassination."

Lord Markus raised his hand, swinging a finger.

"You shouldn't yell such sensitive information b-bo.. Lord Theo. Yes, the king was a target of assassination, but fortunately they knew not of the might of the king's hands. Aloof bunch." Markus said proudly.

"One of my sons is a king hand you know, gives me quite a number of pecks." He laughed and then drank a jar of wine.

'Makes him even more important, and quite pompous.'

"I see." Theo said, taking the new information in.

"It happened on the night of your city attack as well, perhaps they are connected. Such bold acts occuring on a night must be."

"I think so too, Lord Markus. Has none come for you?"

Markus looked to his chief commander and then shook his head.

"Hmmm… Whatever the case may be, we must build up our men. I have known of your dependency on your neighbor's strength, and the Lyma region is the most populated part of the kingdom, we would be glad to help you protect your domain for fitting trade pacts."

"Of course."

The two continued talking of trade, precious minerals, thieving bandits and mundane politicking that Theo seemed to be interested in. He had seemed like a boy a few minutes ago, and now he was like an old man with great intellect.

'After the ball.' I thought once again.