A rare opportunity had presented itself—Duskwind Barony, a territory once thriving but left in ruin by a corrupt baron under Everhart County’s control, had been confiscated. Rin saw it as more than a chance. It was his first step toward true leadership.
That evening, in his father’s study, Rin stood before Edwin von Everhart. The imposing man sat behind an ornate desk, his gaze piercing and unwavering as he studied his son.
“Father, I want to be the acting baron of Duskwind,” Rin declared, his voice steady, but a fire burned in his golden eyes.
Edwin’s expression remained unreadable, but the faint narrowing of his eyes betrayed his thoughts. “You’re still too young to take such a responsibility, Rin.”
Rin didn’t flinch. He stepped closer, his gaze unwavering.
“If I can’t manage a single barony,” he said quietly, but with undeniable conviction, “how can I ever manage a county in the future?”
A heavy silence filled the room. Edwin leaned back, his fingers tapping the armrest in thought. His sharp mind weighed the risks—but in Rin’s eyes, he saw something he couldn’t ignore. Ambition. Resolve, and a hunger to shape his own destiny.
“Four days a week,” Edwin finally said, his tone firm. “I’ll assign two mages of 2nd Awakening, three knights of 3rd Awakening, and both Lucien and Elysia will accompany you.” His gaze hardened. “If you fail, Rin… I will take back control.”
Rin’s lips curled into a confident grin.
“Of course, Father.”
A Mother’s Worry
That night, Rin lay in his mother’s embrace. Seraphina von Everhart held him close, her touch warm yet laced with silent worry. She brushed her fingers gently through his hair, her emerald eyes clouded with concern.
“Is it really necessary for you leave so soon Rin?” Her voice was soft, almost pleading.
Rin, sensing her unease, smiled playfully and poked her cheek.
“Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll take care of myself.” His eyes twinkled with mischief. “How could I possibly stay away too long from my beautiful mother?”
Seraphina’s cheeks flushed as she tapped his forehead lightly.
“You naughty boy,” she murmured, her lips curving into a faint smile, but her embrace tightened as if she was afraid to let him go.
Rin chuckled softly, savoring the rare moment of affection. But as sleep claimed him, his mind was already in Duskwind.
Departure to Duskwind Barony
The next morning, the Everhart family wagon stood ready—a grand yet heavily fortified carriage, polished to perfection.
Rin stood before the teleportation gate, his parents by his side.
Seraphina’s eyes glistened as she cupped his face. “Stay safe, Rin.”
“I’ll return soon, Mother.” He hugged her, feeling her warmth one last time.
Edwin’s gaze was steady. “Make me proud.”
“I won’t disappoint you, Father.”
Nearby, Lucien and his father, Head Butler Alfred, exchanged a rare moment of silence. Alfred adjusted Lucien’s collar, his usual sternness softening. “Don’t let him out of your sight.”
Lucien nodded. “I won’t, Father.”
Elysia stood with her teacher, Head Maid Kaulin, who placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“Serve him well, Elysia,” Kaulin murmured.
“I will, Teacher,” Elysia promised softly.
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The knights and mages saluted their comrades.
The knights and mages stood nearby, their expressions resolute. A veteran knight stepped forward, his voice calm but heavy with trust.
“Lead us well, my lord.”
Rin took one final glance back.
The weight of their trust settled on his shoulders, but he embraced it with quiet determination.
“Let’s go,” he murmured, stepping forward—with duty, trust, and resolve in his heart.
Inside the wagon, Lucien and Elysia sat by his side, their expressions calm but alert. Opposite them were two mages of 2nd Awakening and three knights of 3rd Awakening, their armor gleaming in the morning light.
As the wagon began its journey, Rin glanced at Lucien.
“Why are we using a wagon? Wouldn’t the teleportation gate be faster?”
Lucien adjusted his glasses, his expression composed.
“Teleportation gates are efficient, young master, but they only take us to Duskwind’s gate. The baron’s mansion is still five miles from there.” He paused. “We’ll need the wagon for the remainder of the journey.”
Rin tapped his fingers against the leather seat, thoughtful.
Teleportation gates… a source of noble power and wealth.
The Teleportation Gate – A Noble’s Control
Teleportation gates were the veins that connected Dominara, facilitating swift travel across vast distances. But such power came at a price.
- 100 small mana stones per person.
- 30 medium mana stones for a large wagon.
(A commoner only earned 500 small mana stones a year… No wonder nobles monopolized transportation.)
Rin’s mind clicked, filing this information away.
Another piece of the puzzle.
Arrival at Duskwind Barony – A Land in Ruin
As the gate’s magic dissipated, revealing Duskwind Barony, a wave of decay greeted them. Rin’s eyes narrowed as he took in the desolation.
- The roads were cracked and uneven, as though neglected for years.
- Buildings leaned precariously, their walls scarred by time and negligence.
- The air reeked of rot and desperation, with barely a soul in sight.
Lucien’s jaw clenched, his eyes scanning the ruined landscape. “This place is in ruins.”
Elysia’s voice was barely above a whisper. “It’s… nothing like Everhart County.”
But Rin’s gaze was sharp, his mind already calculating.
“This…” he murmured, a glint of determination flashing in his eyes, “Duskwind… my first challenge.”
Duskwind Manor – A Small Beginning
The baron’s mansion was smaller, a shadow of Everhart’s grand estate, but its foundations were sturdy. As the wagon halted before the gates, Rin stepped out, his gaze sweeping across the neglected courtyard.
“Not bad,” he murmured. “This will do.”
But Duskwind’s true test was yet to come.
The Orphanage – A Testament to Neglect
The next morning, Rin’s day began with reports.
Lucien stood by his side, listing the state of affairs with practiced efficiency.
“Brimwood, Stonebrook, and Willowshade villages require immediate attention. The Duskwind Forest harbors unchecked dangers. The Adventurer’s Guild branch is barely functional.” His voice dipped, his expression grim. “And the orphanage…”
Rin’s brow furrowed. “The orphanage?”
Lucien’s jaw tightened. “The previous baron cut its funding. The children are starving.” He hesitated, then spoke softly. “Some… have already died.”
Silence.
Rin’s grip on his quill tightened until his knuckles turned white.
"Not far from the Baron’s mansion in Brimwood Village stood a modest orphanage, The orphanage was a shell of what it once was.
- The walls were cracked, the roof sagged, and the scent of mold clung to the air.
- The floor creaked under their steps as they entered, echoing through the hollow corridors.
- Children, frail and hollow-eyed, huddled together in corners, their gazes dull and lifeless.
Lucien’s expression was unreadable, but Elysia’s hands trembled slightly as she clutched the basket of fruits they had brought.
A woman, Madam Elira, emerged—a woman in her late thirties with lines of exhaustion etched into her features, but her eyes… her eyes still held a flicker of hope.
“Lord Everhart, I—” Her voice trembled as she bowed, but before she could finish, a frail young girl stepped forward.
Her clothes hung loosely on her small frame, her legs trembling with weakness. Her eyes, however, spoke of a hunger that went beyond food—a hunger for salvation.
Her gaze fell on the fruit basket in Elysia’s hands. Her lips quivered.
“P-Please…” Her voice was barely a whisper. “Can… can we have some of that?”
Her eyes—so hollow, yet filled with desperation—pierced Rin’s heart.
A Noble’s Promise
Silence.
Lucien stiffened. Elysia’s eyes shimmered with unspoken sorrow. The knights exchanged uneasy glances. But Rin…
Rin knelt.
He placed a hand gently on the girl’s head, his expression unreadable—but his golden eyes burned with quiet fury.
“Take it,” he said softly, his voice carrying a weight that filled the room. “All of it.”
As the children devoured the fruits, Rin’s gaze swept across the orphanage. His mind was already calculating, analyzing… changing the future.
“You won’t suffer anymore,” he murmured, a quiet promise laced with unyielding resolve.
Madam Elira’s eyes widened, a flicker of renewed hope breaking through her exhaustion.
In that moment, Duskwind’s fate had been rewritten.