Chapter 102: Son of Lancelot & Persephone (1)

*Territory of the Magic Clan*

The wind of the eastern plains making the tall grasses ripple.

Daemon rode at the front and behind him, a hundred knights of the Winter House advanced.

Daemon cast a glance over his shoulder and could not help but feel a pang in his heart.

‘ I am not like Kristian or my father… I have no idea how to command an army… ‘ he thought. This hundred men represented only a meager tenth of the total power of the Winter family, a house once glorious that had never ceased to decline since the disappearance of Persephone El Dagon.

He reproached himself for having spent so many years playing the irresponsible kid, letting his inheritance crumble.

“Even if I do not have the qualities of a leader, I must do my best… it is the first step to becoming a knight of the Round Table as my father was.” he murmured to himself, tightening his grip on the reins.

Suddenly, a sound of hurried galloping rose on his right. A scout of the Sword Clan was heading toward him at full speed.

Daemon pulled on the reins to slow his mount, signaling his troop to do the same…

” Lord Daemon ! ” exclaimed the man as he reached his height.

Daemon turned his head toward him, his expression remaining calm despite the nervousness. ” What is it ? Speak.”

” It seems that the battle between the Elemental House of Fire and Lord Kristian is raging about five hundred meters ahead of us. The plain is already saturated with chi. ” reported the scout pointing the direction. ” What should we do, milord ? “

‘ War… this is not the time to chicken out ! ‘ Daemon reassured himself inwardly.

” Good… are there no other variables nearby ? “

” Lord Kristian is crushing them completely… ” replied the scout with admiration. Kal BlackFire, the son of Wade who became the chief after the assassination of his father, clearly wants to take advantage of the situation to get revenge. but our heir is too powerful for him… for the moment, we have found nothing else suspicious on our left flank and- “

Before the man could finish his sentence, a piercing whistle tore through the air.

Instinctively, his body moved with a serpentine fluidity.Daemon projected himself backward in a backflip.

A massive arrow, imbued with an aura of wind, crossed the space at a prodigious speed… The projectile struck Daemon’s horse and sliced it clean through.

” So powerful ! “

” This arrow was reinforced by wind magic !? ” shouted the captain of the swordsmen, drawing his sword. ” Protect Lord Daemon !”

The wind then began to blow much more fiercely, transforming into blades of air that cut the leaves of the surrounding canopy.

‘ Shit… the Elemental House of Wind intercepted us to prevent us from joining Kristian… ‘ Daemon understood as he clenched his teeth.

‘ It seems that Liam has truly allied with the Spear Clan against the Elemental House of Water and its allies.’

” Do not worry about me ! Protect yourselves ! ” ordered Daemon.

In a fraction of a second, a new volley of hundreds of arrows, all carried by violent air currents, descended upon them from the heights.

He projected himself forward, his blade tracing rapid arcs of circle to deflect the first arrows. All around him, the cries of the men and the neighing of the horses began to fill the plain…

*POV:

Jack,

Veteran Swordsman of the Winter House*

At forty-five years old, I have seen enough battles to know that war never boils down to victories or defeats. It is made of choices, of sacrifices of those who lead the troops.

I have served under two chiefs, and I have understood this reality.

When I was a young knight, freshly out of the shadow of my father who had served the patriarch Sigmund Dagon, I believed that bravery was measured by the number of enemies defeated. But Lloyd Lancelot Dagon taught me that true strength resided elsewhere.

I remember our first battle together. The enemy archers overlooked us. As I prepared to charge, Lancelot raised his hand.

” Wait, Let me first evaluate their position. “

He had advanced alone, dodging the arrows while gauging their origins.

When he finally gave the order to attack, we knew exactly where to strike. Their shots had become disorganized, their morale shaken by the audacity of our commander. We won that battle with only three lightly wounded.

” On a battlefield, he often said, if there must be wounded, the commander must be the first. “

And he did it, always. He took the greatest risks, absorbed the most violent blows, protected his soldiers. Under his banner, the Winter House had become the strongest of the Sword Clan.

We would all have given our lives for Lancelot. For he had taught us that one survives only by protecting one another and by limiting collateral victims.

Yet, I must admit, a part of me, the impatient young man that I was, sometimes felt useless. Lancelot was an army composed of a single man.

His strategy, his presence on the battlefield, his ability to inspire… everything seemed so perfect that we, his swordsmen, were sometimes only spectators in the battles.

Then after his death, came Persephone, I had heard rumors before meeting her. After all she was called the Deviless. The one who had conquered the heart of the greatest swordsman of Hundun.

I could not understand. How could a man so good, so benevolent, have fallen in love with a woman who seemed to be his absolute opposite ?

She was never at the front. She did not know strategy at least, not the one we understood. She did not even stand at the side of her troops.

She contented herself with sending her orders.

I recall that day as if it were yesterday. We were returning from an operation against a criminal organization. Mika, my friend, one of the most promising knights of our generation, had lost the use of his right arm.

Persephone entered the barracks.

Her eyes scanned the room, counting the wounded, evaluating the damage. Her face remained perfectly impassive.

” With only one of the bases, you are so exhausted ? ” Her voice was icy and as usual without emotion. ” So pathetic. At least, there were no serious wounded. “