Chapter 14: Chpter 13 – Bastard Son Of God Balus

35 YEARS AGO, ROSEVIND TERRITORY

An exhausted 10 years old kid and a bloody 20 years old nordic warrior are leaning with their backs against a big rock at the edge of a battlefield covered in corpses, wounded soldiers and blood.

"Haha... we made it, Cebalus... didn't think the enemy was this strong... we were this close to losing our lives..." the kid says, as he's heavily catching his breath.

"You were reckless." the northman says with a flat tone.

"Heh... you followed me... remember? I could just put the blame on you!" the 10 years old Ferdinand Rosevind says with a mischievous smile.

"If you're scared, fine." the northman is not a man of very words.

"I'm not scared of a wooping. He's my father, what else is he gonna do? Plus, I've been grounded before and it doesnt work on me, as you have just seen with your own eyes. Hehe!" the kid says, as he recovered his breath.

"I've remembered who I am..." Cebalus says after which he remains silent.

"Ok, so don't you want to share that with me or what? By the Gods, Cebalus, it won't hurt if you were to be a little bit more talkative. This big stone is more communicative than you are!"

"I meant to ask this before... "

"Ask what? Ask me then!" the kid snaps at him, because he helds his words as something precious.

"Why do you call me that way?"

"Why do I call you Cebalus? You only talk like a normal person when we share stories about the world. You're surprisingly interested in the outside world for a northman... Your spirit is free and cannot be contained, you thirst for adventure. Your free will remids me of the nature of God Balus. You're like a bastard son of God Balus!"

"My name is Ragnar..."

"Forget it, I lost interest in your story! You can tell me later. We need to gather the wounded soldiers who can still move and retreat. We can't stay too much over here. I will inject some of my mana into your body to rush your healing process, then we'll move out!" the kid interrupts him.

"No need, I feel like I'm about to advance in Rank." the introverted northman doesn't elaborate any further, since the kid cut him off.

"That's great, Cebalus! You do that, while I comb the battlefield for survivors!"

"I told you my name is Ragnar." he thinks the kid should at least remember his name.

"To others you might be Ragnar, but I dont know any Ragnar. To me you'll always be Cebalus. And you know what, Cebalus? Me and you are not that much different." young Ferdinand says as he gets up on his feet.

"We're worlds apart..."

"Say, when this is all over... you and me... why don't we go see if your speculation is right?"

"I take that back, you're as moronic as I am, kid."

"Hahaha! Is that a yes?"

The man acts like he didn't hear what the kid said.

"Bastard son of God Balus? Cheeky little kid..." Cebalus says to himselfs as he gets into the lotus position, gathering mana for his breakthough, ignoring the cheeky kid. 

***

ROSEVIND TERRITORY, NORTH-EAST REGION, CEAVA CITY

"Sir Cebalus!" one of his soldiers interrupts Cebalus' reminiscence.

*Swoosh* *Shoows* *Slash*

"Yes?" the bald man stops his training, after a few more moves.

"We recieved big news from the Rosevind Mansion, through the Blinking Crystal. Enemies have invaded..."

"What? Where are they?" the fifty-something bald northman realeases a menacing 9 Rank pressure.

"Sir Jacob and Sir Stones have already taken care of them."

"Good!" Cebalus tensed expression gets relaxed.

"But... Governer Stones fell in battle, Sir!"

"Is it certain?" the North-East Commander says, without being as worked up as before, but his eyes radiate a cold and deadly glint.

"Yes. They even recovered the body."

"Who was it?"

"I wasn't told, Sir. But it seems Sir Jacob captured one of the invaders. He requested your presence at the Rosevind Mansion as soon as possible."

"Ok, you're dismissed!"

"Yes Sir!"

"Damn it, Ferdinand! Like father like son, it seems. Trouble is your family's crest..." Cebalus says to himself as he vanishes from his place and reappears further ahead.

*Swush* *Swush* *Swush*

He runs at a faster pace, leaving only after images behind.

***

ROSEVIND TERRITORY, ROSEVIND MANSION

"This way, Sir Cebalus." Guard Captain Barney guides him towards a big waiting room.

There a curly haired woman, in her early thirties, is holding a baby in her arms while sitting on a big sofa. Her appearence is the same as the woman who was recieved by Al Kaprafi in Oran, except she's dressed a little bit different. She's wearing a black cap on her head and black shoes with golden heels and bottoms. The long red jacket, secured with a black belt over her waist, donning over her red t-shirt and red pants makes her look like a bloomed red rose. She is the main body of Patricia, the South-East Regional Commander.

"I greet the Family Lord!" Cebalus kneels on one knee in front of her, while bowing his head towards the baby in her hands.

The baby's big eyes look like he's aware of his surrounding, but his sentient look fades away as he burps.

*Burp*

Patricia laughs. Cebalus smiles while raising his head.

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The baby starts crying, as if he was embarased.

*Uwaaa, uwaaa!*

"There, there, Little Lord! Don't cry, this scary guy is your loyal retainer. He didn't meant to scare you." she says as she rocks the baby to calm him down.

Cebalus makes a "I didn't do nothing" face, but he stays silent.

"Hahaha! He just ate. Don't worry, he'll fall asleep soon on a full belly." Matilda, the nanny, says as she witnessed the scene while entering the room with her own son in her arms.

Cebalus gets up back on his feet.

"Are you done with your preparations?" Patricia asks.

"Yes. I packed everything we need. Captain Barney took the luggage to the carriage." she replies.

"Ok. Then we're ready to go. Let's move!" Patricia says as she gets up from the couch, holding young Andrew Rosevind in her arms.

"Where are we going?" Cebalus asks, as they walk out of the room.

He figured out his role is to act as a bodyguard for the Young Lord, but knowing more details will help him know what to look out for and plan a better route for the following journey.

"Jacob wants us to excort the Young Lord to Backheel City. The Rosevind Mansion is no longer safe. The Great Blackheel Wall and all the experts watching over Mulong will make a double layer of protection for our Liege. That's what he told me." Patricia responds.

"Good choice, that way me and you can still tend to our posts." Cebalus agrees with Jacobs decision.

"Dammit! So that's way! I thought I will get to spend more time with the little guy, but he plans to send me back afterwards. He's too vicious!" Patricia laments looking at the baby's face.

"Don't worry, Lady Patricia. I'm sure there will be plenty of time for visits." Matilda consoles her.

"And who's gonna watch over the South-East Region?" but the northman makes sure she stays with her feet on the ground.

"There's lots of strong people on my side. I could just place someone else in charge." the curly haired woman throws up a tantrum.

"Will it kill you to be more responsable?" Cebalus says, tired of her shenanigans.

"You're too stuck up, old man. You're more cranky than Granpa Mulong. Poor Hilda, she had to grew up with such uptight family!"

"Hard times need drastic mesures!" Cebalus vein almost pops off when the subject of his daughter comes out.

"Don't mind him, Young Lord. None of these geezers know how to have fun!" Patricia says to the baby in her arms.

They exit the Mansion while Patricia bickers with Mulong. Usually the nordic warrior is more silent, but she reminds him of his own daughter. He misses his daughter, Erhilda, who is currently away from home. Even if he doesn't express it, that can be seen from the way he sometimes breaks character and this is one of those times.

The three adults and the two babies finally enter the carriage, after Cebalus had a short talk with Barney over the rute they should take. The carriage moves foward escorted by the Guard Captain and the Rosevind Mansion's guards.

Cebalus slides one of the curtains aside, looking at the fading Rosevind Mansion in the background. This is not the first time the Rosevind Mansion has been left desolate and he knows it very well, since he's been with the Rosevind Family more than any other retainer currently alive.

The time he spent with the Rosevind Family changed him completly over the years, he's no longer the tacit yet excited young warrior he once was. But one thing has remained the same from the very first time he stepped foot inside the Rosevind Territory: the nordic warrior has alwasy been in the first line on the battlefield. And that thing will not change now that the Family is going through another crisis.

***

ROSEVIND TERRITORY, SOUTH-WEST REGION, BACKHEEL CITY

Mulong is hosting Jacob, the butler of the Rosevind Family, and the other two remaining Regional Commanders, Cebalus and Patricia. They've been sitting in the main hall of the Backheel City Mansion, as Mulong and Jacob shared the information they got with the other two.

"Wait, wait, wait! Too many things are happening at once and I'm this close to having a headache!" Patricia says as she holds her head with both hands.

"The world won't stop just 'cause some naughty brat wants some free time!" Mulong rolls his eyes at her.

"Come on, grandpa, cut me some slack..." she whines.

"Don't call me grandpa!" Mulong snaps at her, losing his calm demeanor.

She often has that effect on Mulong and Ceblaus, as both of them know her since she was young and had to put up with her shenanigans quite a few times, expecially the old man Mulong. Cherry on top, she got Erhilda under her wing and spoiled her out of the strict parenting the two had in mind for their kin. Now Erhilda is walking around with "the same attitude this curly-haired devil has, like they're twin sisters", as Mulong would say.

"But it's good to know that it won't be long before Erhilda will be the granddaughter of the Spokeman of the Nordic Societies Alliance!" Patricia says, full of pride.

"She's strong, but it won't be that easy." Cebalus has no doubt about the hardship his daughter will face in the upcoming event that will shake the whole world.

"Come on, you guys don't believe in her at all. I know she can do it! Wanna bet on it?" Patricia smirks, as she can't help being up to no good.

"Be more serious, brat! We don't have the time to play around!" Mulong's blood pressure is sky high.

"Hmph!" Patrica pouts.

"I'm more curious about the intruder.  You said he's a native of the Krat Family's Territory?" Cebalus asks.

"Yes." the previously silent Jacob responds, as he puts his tea cup on the table.

"Good to know." the nordic says, with a meaningful look.

"You too? Don't do anything foolish, Cebalus. Act your age, you're not a brat like her. We can't afford any mishap." Mulong advises.

"We'll slap them back anyways, when the right time comes. They already made a foolish mistake to send this Jackal our way. Now we found out their secret and we can exploit it. I plan to go visit the Royal Family, after we'll be done with the funeral." the butler says.

"You plan to share what Arpagos is up to and ask for the King's intervention?" Patricia asks.

"Not quite. That stuff stays between us. The King doesn't need to know all of it yet. There's no reason to alert Arpagos and make them act out. Not before we get Mulong to research more about how the Empire managed to manufacture these artificial high rank Knights. Plus, I need to know where the King stands before any of that." Jacob elaborates.

"I say you shouldn't expect much. They won't go against Arpagos for our sake." Patricia adds, as even she knows that would be too much of an ask.

"He won't wage war from us, but the least he can do is to politically support us. After all, based on mine and Jacob's conclusion, most likely the Empire's goal was to kidnap the Young Lord and influence him enough to become an Arpagos pawn. If they get their claws on a Lord of one of the Six Families, they could directly meddle into the affairs of the Rasmus Kingdom. I'm sure the King would not appreciate that at all." Mulong clarifies the situation for Patricia.

"First thing first. What shall do we do with Stones' spot? Stones' son is neither big nor strong enough to shoulder the responsabilities of a Regional Commander. Plus, the position is hereditary, as Ferdinand decided." the butler prioritise the inside issue over the outside ones.

"I might have an idea for that." Mulong says.

"I can help with that." Cebalus adds.

TO BE CONTINUED

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