Albus recalled his sword and stood still, his gaze cold as it settled on Karos. “Last time at the Glacial Abyss, you got away,” he said calmly. “That won’t happen again this time.”
Karos’ face was drained of color. All his earlier arrogance vanished as he staggered back, panic taking over.
“Retreat! Fall back now!” he shouted. The Jornell family forces broke instantly, Yscattering in disarray as they fled into the night. Albus didn’t pursue them. He just stood there and watched until they disappeared out of sight.
“Why didn’t you kill them?” Scarlet asked in confusion. He glanced at Dustin. Seeing him nod, he spoke calmly.
“Let them go back and report. The Jornell family’s true experts haven’t appeared yet. Killing a few lackeys now would only put them on guard.”
Blanche walked toward Dustin and gave a respectful nod. “Mr. Rhys, we arrived late.”
He shook his head with a faint smile. “No. You came at the right time. Thank you for stepping in.”
A faint blush appeared on her face as she replied softly, “It’s nothing. You’ve helped our family before, so we should repay that favor.”
Grace sheathed her sword and stepped forward. “Ms. Frost, you came at the right time. But how did you know we were in trouble here?”
Blanche answered calmly, “We noticed members of the Jornell family gathering secretly in the marketplace earlier, so we suspected they might be planning something against you. We followed them quietly, and it turns out they had indeed set an ambush.”
“Good thing you showed up,” Adam said with a sigh. “Otherwise, tonight could’ve gone very wrong.”
The group moved quickly to clear the battlefield and tend to the wounded. Even with the Frost family arriving in time, the Sovereign Aegis had lost eight men, and no one had escaped injury. The stormcraft used by the Jornell family was brutally effective, leaving wounds that were difficult to treat.
Dustin worked without pause, moving from one injured man to the next, while Scarlet assisted him. As she watched him, focused and composed, a complicated feeling stirred in her chest. His cultivation was sealed, yet when it mattered most, he was always the one holding everything together.
She asked softly after a moment, “Why is the Jornell family targeting us? We don’t have any grudges against them.”
He didn’t look up as he replied in an even tone, “It’s because of the Frost family. They’re mortal enemies with the Jornells, and we chose to help them. That makes us their allies in Jornell’s eyes. On top of that, Grace is a royal princess. Anyone backing Sir Mosey’s claim to the throne will see us as a threat.”
He paused briefly before continuing, “Up here in Mount Aethermoor, it’s not about grudges but about interests. You can’t count on anyone. Enemies become allies, and allies can turn on you just as fast. Keep that in mind.”
Scarlet nodded slowly, lost in thought. By the time they were done clearing the battlefield, night had fully fallen. The group withdrew to the marketplace to regroup. At Grace’s invitation, the Frost siblings temporarily joined forces with them.
On the other side of the marketplace inside the Quinton family’s tent, Evander listened quietly as a subordinate delivered his report.
“…The Jornell family’s ambush failed. The Frost family stepped in, and Grace’s group made it out unharmed.”
Evander gave a nod and dismissed him. Elowen, sitting beside her brother, asked, ” If Grace becomes entangled with the Frost family, will it affect our plans?”
“Affect our plan? No. If anything, it works in our favor,” he replied with a faint smile.
“Let them fight. Whether it’s the Jornell family, the Frost family, or Grace, they’re all pieces on the board. The more chaotic the pieces become, the easier it is for the one playing the game to see the full picture.
Evander turned his gaze toward the night sky beyond the tent, a glint of something unreadable passing through his eyes.
“The real trial of Mount Aethermoor hasn’t even begun,” he said. News of the Jornell family’s failed ambush spread quickly through the marketplace.
Some took quiet satisfaction in the news, others whispered among themselves, but most began to reassess Grace’s group. Anyone who could work with the Frost family and walk away intact from a Jornell ambush was no longer to be taken lightly.
Over the next few days, the atmosphere within the marketplace grew increasingly tense. The Quinton family, which had previously paid them little attention, began watching more closely.
Anders visited more often, his attitude noticeably more attentive. But Grace remained measured and distant, never allowing him to grow too familiar.
“That Anders definitely isn’t here with good intentions,” Scarlet said to Dustin in private. “Every time he shows up, his eyes are everywhere, like he’s trying to size us up.”
He smiled faintly and replied, “Of course, he is. He’s trying to figure out how strong we are, how close we are to the Frost family, and see whether we might be worth recruiting.”
“In his dreams.” Scarlet scoffed. “I don’t trust people like him.”
“You’re right not to,” Dustin said calmly. ” But he’s still useful. Through him, we can keep an eye on the Quinton family.”
