Chapter 143: The Ice Dragon’s Generosity

Command Barracks, Inner Fortress

Long after the fortress had fallen silent, the magical lamp in Marcus’s office was still glowing.

He sat behind his desk, his armor finally removed and set aside. Beneath it, his body told the story of the battle. Bruises covered his arms and ribs, and dried blood still clung to his skin in places where he hadn’t bothered to wash it away. Most of the outer wounds had already begun to close, but the internal injuries from the dragon’s blows were entirely another matter. Every breath sent a dull ache through his chest, and every so often, a sharp pain reminded him of the brutality of the battle that had taken place. Yet Marcus didn’t pay it any attention.

A sheet of parchment lay in front of him, already half filled. His hand trembled slightly as he wrote, but he didn’t stop. Line by line, he recorded everything that had happened during the Tide: the abnormal scout reports, the unprecedented scale of the tide, the battle itself, the corrupted Ice Dragon, the Abyssal Pact member behind the events, and the demon who had orchestrated everything, including their plans. He also documented Ethan’s actions throughout the battle, from rescuing the soldiers trapped at the breach to recognising the corruption that had ensnared the Ice Dragon and ultimately freeing it with the mysterious energy he possessed. Finally, he detailed the measures being taken to handle the aftermath and Ethan’s current condition.

As he closed his eyes, his thoughts briefly turned to Adrian and Elena, wondering how they would react to everything he had written.

Finally, he set the pen down, leaned back, and let out a slow breath.

Then his gaze fell on the space ring resting beside the report. It was the compensation Mythralis had given him.

He hadn’t had a moment to look at it since then, as he’d had other matters to handle. Picking it up, he immediately recognised that the ring itself was Legendary grade and stood at the peak of it’s rank. But the draconic magic woven into it was something else entirely, and he could only wonder what other effects it might hold.

Unlike lower-grade space rings, which could be plundered if they were lost or fell into the wrong hands, Legendary-grade rings were built differently. Beyond their storage capabilities, they contained powerful defensive arrays that protected their contents. Once bound by blood, a ring could no longer be opened by another person unless they possessed extraordinary arcane knowledge, a level of mastery that even Archmages and Mage Kings would struggle to attain.

Their method of access was equally unusual. Rather than retrieving each item individually, the owner could send a thread of Intent or will into the ring and perceive its contents directly, as though everything were laid out before their eyes.

He quickly let a drop of his blood fall onto the ring. It glowed for a second as the runes surrounding it stirred. Realising that the binding was complete, Marcus inserted a thread of his will into it.

The moment he saw what lay inside, his eyes widened.

Rare herbs filled one corner of the space, many of them so scarce that Marcus had only ever encountered them in ancient records. No matter how much one was willing to pay, obtaining even a single specimen would be extraordinarily difficult. Beside them stood stacks of ancient magical tomes, their covers inscribed with draconic runes and their pages holding knowledge of magic that human mages could only dream of studying. Beyond them lay countless other treasures and mountains of gold coins, enough to fill several vaults. There was little doubt that this was a hoard the Ice Dragon had accumulated over countless years.

Marcus stared at it for a long moment.

Even if he counted every loss Northwatch had suffered, every damaged wall and every coin spent on the Tide, this was dozens of times more.

She is far more generous than I thought…

Apart from their immense pride, there was one other trait dragons were notorious for: their greed for treasure. Yet the Ice Dragon had given away a part of her hoard without hesitation.

His attention then shifted to the small object that had accompanied the ring, still enveloped in a faint silver glow. His composure faltered for a brief moment, and he quickly covered it again before setting it carefully aside. He had already decided what to do with it.

For now, there was something more important.

Marcus drew another sheet of paper toward him and began to write again.

Every soldier, mage, and mercenary who had fought in the Beast Tide would receive fifty gold coins and a Rare-grade elixir. In addition, each would be permitted to choose one art from the Northwatch treasury that was a grade higher than their current one, whether a cultivation art, a movement technique, a body-strengthening technique, or another form of combat technique.

The units that had slain the greatest number of beasts would receive Epic-grade elixirs as an additional reward. Each Black Raven captain would also be granted an Epic-grade elixir and a hundred gold coins.

Finally, he added a separate order concerning the Adventurer Guild. In recognition of its contribution during the Tide, the guild would receive thirty percent of the income generated by the sale of beast cores and other materials.

Only when everything was done did Marcus finally put down the pen.

Outside the window, the sky had already begun to lighten.

———

That morning, three figures arrived at the guest house.

Aisha looked up as the door opened, exhaustion evident on her face. The moment Marcus stepped inside, she rose to her feet, mana gathering at her fingertips.

“Mar- You…” Her words faltered as she noticed Evelyn and Van following behind him. She swallowed the rest of her reprimand, forcing herself to regain her composure.

“Lady Evelyn… Sir Van.”

Marcus nodded to her. He had known she would be angry. But his eyes had already gone past her, toward Ethan.

The frost covering Ethan’s body had receded almost imperceptibly. Rune lay beside him and lifted his head as they approached, his blue eyes moving from one face to the next before settling back down.

Marcus stopped beside him, remaining silent for a long moment. Ethan’s deeper wounds were still visible beneath the frost, but many of the smaller ones had already closed, and his face had regained some of its colour. The sight eased a little of the weight pressing against Marcus’s chest.

Behind him, Van stood frozen in the doorway.

“Commander…” Van said in a low voice. “What happened to the Young Master?”

Marcus didn’t answer right away. He glanced at Van, then at Aisha, who was watching him with the same question in her eyes.

“Sit down,” he said finally. “Both of you.”

Marcus told them everything.

Aisha’s hand rose to her mouth as she listened. By the time Marcus finished, all the colour had drained from her face, but at the same time, her eyes swelled with pride as she glanced at Ethan.

Van remained silent, his thoughts returning to the battlements: the Young Master asking him for protection, blood streaming from his eyes, and the black sword tearing across the sky. He had known that Ethan was attempting something, but he hadn’t understood just how much had rested on that moment, or that Ethan had ultimately prevented a disaster whose consequences could have extended far beyond the battlefield.

Aisha let out a long, shaky breath.

Evelyn remained silent through it all, standing a little apart from the others, her eyes never leaving the boy.

When the room had grown quiet again, Marcus turned to Van. He took a sealed envelope from inside his coat and held it out, the Ravencrest crest pressed into the wax.

“Deliver this to the Lord,” Marcus said.

Van took the envelope carefully, as though it weighed far more than it should.

“Yes, Commander.”

He looked at Ethan one last time, his jaw tight. Then he bowed deeply, to Marcus, and to the boy who couldn’t see it.

“I’ll be back soon.”

Then he turned and left.

———

A few days later…

Ravencrest Estate

Morning light poured through the tall windows of the dining hall, falling across the table where the family sat for breakfast.

Adrian sat at the head of the table, quietly going through a letter while he ate. Beside him, Elena poured tea, her eyes moving every so often to the two girls seated across from her.

Amelia had barely touched her food.

“Mother,” she began, setting her spoon down with determination. “Brother’s birthday is coming soon.”

Elena smiled slightly. She already knew exactly where this was going. “So…?”

“Then let me go to Northwatch with Sister Sarah!” Amelia immediately pleaded. “Please, Mother. She’s going anyway, isn’t she? I can travel with her and be there for Brother’s birthday.”

Sarah lowered her cup and glanced at Elena. She had asked permission to travel north so she could stay by Ethan’s side and look after him, and Elena had agreed. She hadn’t expected Amelia to discover her plans so quickly.

“Amelia,” Elena said gently. “Sarah isn’t going there to play… she’s going there to train alongside Ethan.”

“I won’t get in the way! I’ll stay with Sister Sarah the whole time and come back after his birthday. Right, right… Sister Sarah?”

Sarah gave her a small, helpless smile, but wisely said nothing.

“No,” Elena said firmly.

Amelia puffed out her cheeks and turned to Adrian, her eyes wide and pleading. “Father…”

Adrian lowered his letter. He looked at his daughter for a long moment, then at Elena, who gave him a look that clearly said don’t you dare.

He let out a quiet sigh.

“I- I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

Amelia slumped back in her chair, utterly defeated. Sarah patted her hand under the table, trying to cheer her up.

“You can send your gift with Sarah,” Elena said, her voice softening. “I’m sure your brother will be happy with that.”

Before Amelia could reply, the doors to the dining hall opened.

A steward stepped inside and bowed deeply.

“My Lord. Sir Van has arrived from Northwatch.”

The room fell silent.

Adrian and Elena exchanged a glance, and for a brief moment, the warmth in the room was replaced by something else entirely.