At first, there was no news from Ian for two months.

Latour comforted himself. ’How can matters of the Wizard World be measured by the standards of the Mortal World?’

’My son must be busy. Perhaps he’s in seclusion, or maybe on a mission.’

Three months, four months, half a year... and still no word.

The stewards fell silent, but the worry and doubt in their eyes were impossible to hide.

Rumors began to circulate in the domain. They said the Count’s youngest son had died in the Wizard War. They said the Marcus Family no longer had a Wizard to back them. They said the Magic Stone Ore was due for a new owner.

Marquis Holden was the first to test the waters.

He sent men to "pass by" Black Stone Canyon, where they clashed with the miners and injured three.

Latour personally led his guards there, using his power as a Great Knight and his status as a Count to bring the situation under control.

But Marquis Holden was just a pawn; the real sharks were waiting in the wings.

The shadow of the Kingdom’s Minister of Finance loomed in the background, and merchant guilds from neighboring countries also wanted a piece of the pie.

Magic Stones had limited use in the Mortal World, but they were still the rarest of resources. They could be traded for gold coins, for favors, for everything the nobility desired.

"Father." The study door was pushed open, and his eldest son, Vincent, walked in.

Vincent was twenty and had already taken over some of the domain’s affairs.

He resembled his mother, with blond hair, blue eyes, and a straight, tall posture.

His skill as a Knight made him stand out among his peers, but his eyes held a weariness he couldn’t hide.

"Another letter from Holden?" Vincent asked.

"Yes." Latour tossed the letter onto the desk. "He wants a reply within ten days."

"We can’t agree to it," Vincent said, his voice tense.

"If we hand over the ore, the family’s annual income will drop by a third. Besides... what if Ian comes back and needs Magic Stones?"

Latour looked at his son.

"Vincent," he said slowly, "what if Ian doesn’t come back?"

The study fell silent for a few moments.

"He will. He has to come back," Vincent said, though his voice lacked conviction.

Latour stood up and walked to the window.

Beyond the window lay the castle’s inner courtyard. Guards patrolled the grounds, and handmaidens carrying trays crossed the corridors. Everything still appeared normal.

But he knew that beyond the walls, the jackals had already bared their fangs.

"Holden’s guards advanced another ten miles north yesterday," Latour said.

"The merchant caravans from Baihe City are deliberately bypassing our tax posts. Word has come from the Royal Capital that the Minister of Finance is ’very interested’ in Black Stone Canyon."

He turned to face Vincent. "They’re waiting for the day we finally break."

"We can call for reinforcements," Vincent said. "We have marriage ties with several Counts to the west..."

"It’s useless," Latour cut him off.

"Without a Wizard to back us, those alliances are just paper. Everyone now believes Ian is either dead or crippled."

In the eyes of the nobility, a family without a Wizard was a plump piece of meat ripe for the carving.

Vincent clenched his fists.

"Then we’ll defend it to the last man," he said. "The domain guard has five hundred men, and the castle is stocked with provisions. We can hold out for half a year."

"And after that?" Latour asked.

Vincent couldn’t answer.

The door opened again. Countess Ainoya entered, holding a tray with tea and pastries.

Her face was pale, but her bearing was as dignified as ever.

"You two, please don’t always speak of such grim matters."

She placed the tray on the desk and forced a smile. "Have some tea first."

Latour held her hand and felt her trembling slightly.

"Mother, please don’t worry," Vincent said.

"How can I not?" Ainoya’s voice caught in her throat.

"Ian... we haven’t had word from him for a year. That boy has always been a handful, but every time he wrote, he’d say he was working hard and tell us not to worry. But now..."

Her words trailed off.

Latour’s gaze dimmed as he gently patted her on the back.

A commotion erupted outside the window.

Vincent went to the window, and his expression changed. "It’s Holden’s men! They’re at the main gate!"

Latour let go of his wife and strode to the window.

In the open area outside the castle gate stood three carriages and some twenty mounted guards.

At their head was a lavishly dressed, middle-aged man negotiating with the gatekeepers.

"Holden’s steward," Vincent said through gritted teeth. "He dares to show his face here!"

"Of course he does." Latour turned and took his sword from the wall.

"Without a Wizard, the title of Count is nothing but a sheet of paper to them. Vincent, assemble the guard. Ainoya, return to your room and stay there."

"Father..."

"Go, now!"

Vincent ran out.

Ainoya gripped Latour’s arm. "Be careful. Don’t be rash. They’re just here to apply pressure..."

"I know." Latour gently pried her hand away. "But there are some lines we cannot cross."

He left the study and descended the stairs.

The servants in the corridor lowered their heads as he passed, but the panic in their eyes was plain to see.

They could all sense it: the Marcus Family was on the verge of collapse.

At the gate, Holden’s steward, Richard, watched Latour approach with a polite yet arrogant smile.

"Count Marcus, a good day to you." He gave a slight bow, so shallow it was almost imperceptible.

"Steward Richard. What brings you here?"

Latour’s hand rested on the hilt of his sword, the aura of a Great Knight faintly emanating from him.

"My lord Marquis sent me to discuss the matter of Black Stone Canyon with you again."

Richard said, "His Lordship understands the difficulty you face in maintaining the mine, and is willing to offer ten thousand gold coins to purchase the mining rights.

"That price is enough to cover your family’s expenses for a decade."

Ten thousand gold coins.

Latour almost laughed out loud. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Leaving aside the Magic Stones, that mine yielded over a thousand gold coins’ worth of other raw minerals each month. After purification, its value was even greater.

Ten thousand gold coins. This was daylight robbery.

"Not for sale," he said.

Richard’s smile faded slightly. "My Lord Count, I urge you to reconsider. These are unstable times. Guarding such a mine is not necessarily a good thing. Besides..."

He paused, his voice dropping lower. "I hear your younger son at Shadow Moon Tower has been out of contact for quite some time, yes?

"The Wizard World is a dangerous place. It’s not uncommon for young people to run into... accidents."

Latour’s fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword.

"Say that again."

The atmosphere grew taut in an instant.

The Marcus Family’s guards put their hands on their weapons, and Holden’s guards took a step forward.

Richard took half a step back, but his smile didn’t change.

"I am merely stating a fact, my Lord Count. Without a Wizard’s backing, some things simply cannot be protected. His Lordship the Marquis is offering a friendly reminder. You shouldn’t misunderstand his intentions."

"Friendly?" Vincent strode over from the side, flanked by two dozen guards.

He moved to stand in front of his father. "Blocking our gate with twenty guards—you call that friendly?"

"It’s for our protection," Richard said. "The roads are unsafe, after all."

He glanced at the sky. "Let’s do this, my Lord Count. I will give you five days to consider.

"In five days, you can either accept the ten thousand gold coins, or... His Lordship the Marquis may come to ’visit’ you personally."

The words were a naked threat.

Latour stared at him and bit out a single word: "Out."

Richard’s smile vanished. He gave a perfunctory bow and turned back to his carriage.

The convoy departed slowly, kicking up a trail of dust.

Vincent let out a sigh of relief, but Latour’s expression only grew graver.

"In five days... Holden will make his move," he said.

"Father, what do we do?"

Latour was silent for a long moment before finally saying, "Have everyone prepare."

He turned back to the castle, his steps heavy.

Ainoya was waiting for him at the top of the stairs, her eyes red-rimmed. Latour went to her and held her in his arms.

"Ian will come back."

He murmured, though whether he was trying to convince her or himself, he wasn’t sure.

"What if he doesn’t come back?"

"Then..." Latour’s voice was quiet. "We will have to think about the family as a whole."

He released his wife, walked back to the study alone, and shut the door.

He pulled open the bottom drawer of his desk. Inside lay a copy of a contract, already drafted and bearing a wax seal, but still unsigned.

It was the ’final offer,’ delivered in secret by an agent of the Minister of Finance.

Its terms were even harsher than Marquis Holden’s—amounting to little more than plunder—but it promised the family could retain its title and a shred of dignity.

Latour’s fingers lightly traced the cool surface of the parchment.

As the head of the family, his primary duty was to preserve the family and continue the bloodline.

Fighting to the bitter end, sacrificing the entire family for a single mine—that was the act of a fool, not a nobleman.

Signing it would allow the family to survive, however precariously, but he would never be able to face his ancestors.

And he would certainly never be able to face the son who might still be out there, fighting for his life.

’I’ll wait for news from one more caravan trip...’ he told himself, his voice hoarse as he closed the drawer.

’If there’s still no word from Ian by then...’

He didn’t finish the thought, but a look of profound exhaustion and grim resolve flashed in his eyes.

His instincts as a nobleman told him that for the survival of the family, personal principles and dignity must sometimes be sacrificed.

Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened.

Far, far away, beyond the clouds, a giant Raven burst through the cloud cover, flying toward this very land.

The young man on its back opened his eyes.

He saw the coastline. He saw the familiar silhouette of the mountains. He saw...

...the blue banner flying over the castle.

Ian stood up.

"We’re here," he said.

Gaga let out a long cry, wings spread wide, and dived toward the land below.