Chapter 88

Adrian did not know that. Breakstone Kingdom was supposedly next to a giant race's kingdom, but he didn't know that giants had that much influence over the royal family of Breakstone. Can Breakstone Kingdom still be considered aHhuman-ruled kingdom?

“What are giants, exactly?” he couldn’t help but ask.

Lord Corvus settled his spear on his shoulders and gestured with his chin to a nearby bench.

“What have you heard and read about them?” Lord Corvus asked as they settled on the bench. Dexton positioned himself at a distance that kept a close eye on his lord while remaining far enough away not to overhear.

“That they're tall, their skin is as hard as a bear's hide, they have three times the strength of men, and they like stones...?” Adrian said, now realizing he had barely read any stories or fables about them, at most, tales that probably weren't real or close to the truth.

“Close enough.” Lord Corvus gestured to a servant. Adrian thought the man was bringing water, only for him to bring wine and cups instead, which Adrian welcomed.

“Giants are about 3 meters tall...” Lord Corvus spoke, taking a large gulp of his wine before he continued. “They aren’t as productive in mercantilism as humans, nor as refined as elves, and definitely not as good at smithing as the dwarves. But they make up for it with a strength that can crush a skull with one hand, a lifespan that’s over twice that of humans, and their skill with carving stone to build the best defensive structures.”

“Carving stone?” Adrian repeated. Compared to the rest, that was a little odd.

“Yes, giants are also called as the essence of stone and mountains. Do you know how they supposedly came about?”

Adrian shook his head, taking a sip of his wine.

“From stones, up in the mountains of the north. Lightning hit the mountains, the earth trembled, and then the stones around it moved. Slowly, over the course of a thousand years, the stone took the form of what we now call giants.” Lord Corvus told the story, and it seemed he liked sharing his knowledge on such matters.

“So, as for the stones they like carving... I haven’t been to the Breakstone royal family's castle, that would be suicide, given the enmity between our kingdoms but along our border, in a certain area, lies an old relic of the giants. Controlled by Breakstone as part of their border defense, a grand castle stands there. Larger than the one in our capital, even...” Lord Corvus paused, turning to Adrian with slightly narrowed eyes. “You have been to the capital, haven’t you?”

“I unfortunately haven't visited it yet.” There was no real urgency to visit, nor had he been commanded to, so he hadn't gone. But he did plan to visit in the future. Maybe when Alex had grown a bit.

“Maybe that’s a good thing. A man with your skill and potential... you're best off visiting the north.” Lord Corvus smiled slightly.

Adrian's lip twitched. The north was known as the forefront of the conflict with Breakstone, a place where lords and knights preferred battle to the grace and dancing of the capital and the south... At least that is what he heard so indeed, if he had to choose between the two, it would be the north.

“The castle, called Duskgate, has a grandeur almost no human castle can compare with, not to mention, it is almost impenetrable. It's why, even if we gain an advantage, as long as that castle stands, they'll eventually fight back.” Lord Corvus had a servant pour him another cup. “You see, the world is full of extraordinary things...” 

His eyes flitted toward Adrian without fully turning to face him. “Only people who have seen little of the world get surprised. You have something different about you, Lord Harrow. What it is, I don’t know, nor do I plan to badger you... but it just makes you more interesting than the others, that's all.”

Adrian couldn’t help but be in a little awe of Lord Corvus's open mind and easy acceptance of things. If only the prince and princess were as open-minded as he was.

“Lord Corvus is a man of broad vision.” Adrian could only offer.

Lord Corvus chuckled. It was then that another servant approached them, carrying a fine leather pouch bigger than his fist, the tinkling of coins ringing out from inside.

Instead of approaching his master, the servant came up to Adrian and presented the pouch.

“For you, for stepping up during the hunt. Take it…” Lord Corvus added, catching Adrian's hesitant look.

Adrian had no choice but to accept. It felt heavy, likely containing more than a hundred coins, and given Lord Corvus's status, they were probably gold.

“Lord Corvus is truly full of admirable qualities.” Adrian praised.

Lord Corvus simply snorted. “Spare me the flattery. I receive more than enough of it already.”

“Of course.” They conversed for a few minutes more before Adrian turned to leave.

“And Lord Harrow...”

Adrian stopped and turned back to Lord Corvus, whose posture radiated confidence and whose eyes burned with a fierce fighting spirit. “I will get my emblem back in the future, and then I'll take yours. Be ready for that day, Lord Harrow.”

Seeing that, a surge of competitive spirit sparked inside Adrian as well. Smiling at the lord, he responded, “I look forward to it.”

Adrian handed the pouch to Dexton to deliver to his room, as it wasn't an appropriate time to sit and count the coins inside. He spent the better part of the afternoon mingling with various lords and ladies.

Lord Bronsone, Lord Hardinge, and Lord Sean joined them at one point, just in time for Adrian to ask if they could travel back together. The trio easily agreed, as the idea had already been on their minds. 

Traveling with thousands of pounds in currency alongside fewer than twenty fighters made them an easy target for bandits to swarm with superior numbers. With the addition of the three lords' guards, however, the journey back would be as secured as it can be.

“Hey, isn't that the champion of the joust?”

“That's Lord Harrow...”

Adrian, accompanied by a small entourage of lords and ladies, was slowly exploring the town again. As the conversation shifted to lighter topics, he was able to pay more attention to his surroundings. Most commoners gave them a wide berth, bowing as they passed, but much of their attention remained fixed on Adrian, whispering, smiling, and casting grateful looks his way.

He wondered why until he remembered the horde attack and how he had stayed behind until everyone was safely inside the walls. Then, of course, there was that incident involving Lord Cedric and Lord Thomas. 

And if the title wasn’t a scheme from the other nobles, then the indomitable title attached his name came from them.

He noticed a group of children whispering at the entrance of an alley. When they realized he was looking, they pulled back out of sight before immediately peeking back out. Adrian chuckled and waved at them.

The children gasped in surprise before hastily waving back, practically cheering.

It was then that a group of people pushing a cart passed along the road. A child was sitting atop the load, flanked by a rough-looking man.

The child looked familiar. Then, one of the men pushing the cart turned, his eyes widening as he spotted Adrian. “Lord Harrow!”

Adrian's group slowed, turning toward them. He recognized the men as well, especially the father and the child on the cart.

The father whispered something in the child's ear. The child’s eyes went wide, and moments later, both father and child were bowing deeply to him. The rest of their companions quickly followed suit.

“That’s Lord Harrow!”

“He defended the people from the monsters...”

“The young lord indomitable?” 

Attention turned even more toward them, towards him, and soon people were smiling at him until one of the men practically cheered. Whatever the reason, from his tone, it might not have even been about his help during the monster horde, he cheered all the same.

Before long, the rest of the people joined in, cheering for him in a way that felt completely inconceivable and unbelievable.

“Haha..” Laughter bubbled up through his chest, and soon Adrian was waving broadly at them, laughing, a carefree laugh he hadn't been able to enjoy in a very long time.

The lords and ladies with him watched the scene with incredulity, yet with a faint sense of awe at the devotion Lord Harrow commanded. 

Rumors would soon spread about how much the common folk loved him, and how he was only ever truly happy when surrounded by the common folk.

--

Adrian had felt briefly liberated while exploring the town, even in company, but that feeling evaporated the moment he was summoned to the presence of Lord Oscar Attareus, brother to the king.

Thankfully, the questioning was surprisingly brief. Lord Oscar asked only fleetingly about the elves, already well-informed on the matter, before pivoting to another topic.

“His Grace, Prince Cale?”

“Indeed. He has been pleading with my brother to allow him to pursue his ambitions at sea... mainly despite the risks, the resources required, and the doubts surrounding it. But with someone like you under his command, you could prove invaluable to him.”

Adrian remained silent, unsure of where Lord Oscar was heading with this.

“Yet there is another risk, Lord Harrow. You went underground, you witnessed what lies beneath. Do you reckon these... dark things will pose a threat at sea?”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed. Based on what he now understood of the corruption, if it originated deep underground and rose, it would infect the creatures above. But what if it took root in the ocean?

On land, the land races could combat it, much like how they had dealt with the darkness born from that strange stone. But at sea...

There was the Serena race, an intelligent species, friendly enough but their numbers paled in comparison to the races of the land. If they were easily overwhelmed, and if the corruption went unchecked in the deep, untamed ocean...

Wouldn't that make the sea the most dangerous place of all?