Reborn: Demon's Heritage

8-1

After the first attack, more reports started to come in though they were about much smaller skirmishes along the border. It seemed that sending the extra troops to reinforce the border made the other nobles a little more cautious. Emelia continued to send requests to the king to intervene, but so far they had been ignored as was expected. The only reason that Emelia even bothered with it was for protocol.

While Emelia continued to deal with the nobles and their concerns, Ash spent almost all of his time studying war and speaking with knights. What little time he had outside of the war room was spent working on the fort with the new knight recruits.

With Ash’s large mana pool, he was able to increase the building speed a lot while still reducing the overall cost since he was able to do the work of three earth mages on his own. Even with Ash’s help and tripling the work force, it would still be months before the land was completely cleared, let alone before the real work on the fort could be started. That was one of the reasons that every night Ash exhausted his MP trying to get as much as he could done with the time he had.

It wasn’t until seven weeks after the initial report of an incursion that Emelia’s spies sent the news that she dreaded the most. The duchies were gathering a large force and were planning to attack within the month. She knew that it was bound to happen, but she had hoped deep down that they never fully committed. It wasn’t because she was just afraid for her people, but because Ash had insisted on joining the front lines of the battle. Emelia knew that Ash was strong, but history was littered with strong warriors who fell in battle from a lucky strike.

Once the news came in about the large forces gathered, Emelia tried to talk Ash into taking a post at one of the many forts, but Ash had refused. The truth was that even at the forts, he would encounter danger, but once the commander surrendered the fort, everyone inside was then taken prisoners and none could be killed under the laws of war. Instead, Ash decided to join the advance party which would put him at the forefront of the war. Emelia wished she had more time, but as it was, Ash was planning to leave in two days.

When Ash woke, he looked over to find Shina staring at him with a sad look in her eyes. “Master,” Shina said in a pleading tone.

“No Shina,” Ash said in a stern tone. “I have told you that you cannot go with me. I need you here to look after the others.”

Shina looked down and let out of a soft whimper but didn’t say anything more. She had been trying to Talk Ash into letting her go with him for over a week, but he had flatly refused. He even went so far as to order her not to ask again. Since she couldn’t ask directly, for the past few days she had simply called his name while pouting.

Shina was not the only one who was not looking forward to his leaving. Yuki had cried for two days straight when he told her and Milly had been unusually clingy to him over the past few days.

After getting dressed, Ash quickly headed down the stairs and to his small study as he waited to be notified that breakfast was ready. Not long after, Allice came into the room, her face still showing some of the lines from her pillow. “Morning Master,” Allice said with a slight yawn.

“Allice, you are up early,” Ash said looking at the sleepy girl.

“I need to wake up when master does so that I don’t cause him trouble in the future,” Allice replied happily. She was probably one of the few people in the manor who was happy. She was getting to go with him when he left. Ash didn’t want to take anyone, but he had been informed by not only Emelia but a few of the knights as well that all nobles brought at least one attendant. Ash didn’t think the front line was a place for such things, but he had rolled his eyes and agreed. At first he was planning to take one of the older woman that worked under Gilda, but Allice had fought against him head on and her arguments had left him with little choice about bringing her with him.

“What is the plan today Master?” Allice asked with large eyes.

“Everything is already packed and the horses are ready so today will be used to spend time with everyone. After lunch we will go over to Emelia’s and spend the night there. Once the sun rises we will have to meet up with Count Erin,” Ash replied as he took the small glass of water Allice handed him.

“Understood Master,” Allice said with a slight bow.

Ever since Allice had won her argument and Ash had agreed to take her along, she had changed her attitude greatly. Most the time she acted like a normal young girl. In a lot of ways she acted the way Ash thought a younger sister might act, but now she acted just like a miniature Gilda, though not yet as proficient in anticipating his needs.

After everyone had woken, breakfast was served. Most the time it was served as soon as Ash woke but today was special. It was the last day he would be spending with his new family for a long time so he had ordered for it to be served only when everyone was ready and could eat.

Just after he finished eating and sat down his fork, Ash looked around to see everyone with a sad looks on their faces. Ash was slightly amazed that they would care so much that he was leaving. After he had taken control of the manor from its previous owner, they had showed no emotion over the change. Thinking back, their attitude toward him had changed greatly. At first they were cold and acted like machines, but now they smiled warmly and talked openly with him.

“Master,” Milly said, looking up at him from her place on his lap.

“Yes Milly,” Ash replied, placing his head on her head as he ruffled her soft hair.

“Milly doesn’t want Master to leave,” Milly said with slightly wet eyes.

“I don’t want to leave either Milly,” Ash said with a weak smile. “Sometimes we have to do what we don’t want to. It is part of growing up.”

“Then Milly doesn’t want to grow up,” Milly said, clinging to him tightly.

A warm feeling spread through Ash’s chest as he looked down at the little panther child who not long ago was afraid of him.

After breakfast Ash didn’t seclude himself in his study as he did most the time when he was at home. Instead, he walked around the manor talking with the different slaves and spending some time with each of them. The whole day Milly followed close behind him, her little hand often clutching to the edge of his robe. Ash kept looking back at her and smiling every time he saw the firm determination on her face.

Soon it was time for midday meal. About half way through the meal, Ash looked up to see Yuki staring at him and gave her a weak smile and suddenly she started to cry. Yuki set off a chain reaction and soon Shina was crying as well as a number of the other slaves.

Milly jumped from her seat on Ash’s lap and walked over to the Yuki and lightly patted her leg. “Don’t cry…Don’t cry, Master is strong. Nothing can beat him,” Milly said over and over.

Watching as Milly got the other two to stop crying, Ash nearly burst into tears himself. Pushing his seat back, Ash stood and bowed. “It’s time for me to go,” Ash said as he steeled himself. He wanted to say more, but nothing he could think of seemed right. In the end, all he could do now was bow one more time before quickly leaving the room.

Gilda met him in the hallway along with Allice before he had made it to the stairs and handed him his travel pack. Ash never noticed them leaving the dining room and was slightly surprised to see them standing before him. Before he could say anything, Gilda wrapped Ash in a warm motherly hum. “Stay safe Master,” She said, her voice catching a little.

“I will,” Ash said weakly as he took the bag from her hands. “Keep everyone here safe as well.”

Gilda nodded with tear filled eyes but didn’t respond. Looking back toward where he had left everyone, Ash took a deep breath and then walked out of the door his feet moving almost at a run. It wasn’t until he reached the market district that Ash looked back again to see that his house was no long in sight. Allice was a few feet behind him, breathing hard as she tried to keep up.

“Allice, you will need to start training if you really want to stay with me,” Ash said as he looked at the young woman’s reddened face. Pulling one of the party stones from his inventory, he handed it to her. “I know you are not much of a fighter, but you need to gain a little strength so I don’t have to worry about you,” Ash said passing her the stone.

“I will work hard master,” Allice said, taking the stone as if it were a precious gift.

As he walked through the streets, heading toward Emelia’s manor, Ash felt a huge pressure pushing down on him. Over the past few weeks he had truly started to see how much the people around him cared about him. However, that didn’t weaken his resolve, but strengthened it. Now more than ever, he felt the call to fight for those he loved but still the weight of their feelings bared down on his soul. As Ash thought about it, he found it odd.

When he reached the manor gates, Ash was greeted with a slight nod from the guard and was quickly let in. Before Ash could take five steps into the garden, he was nearly tackled by a slightly red eyed Emelia. She didn’t say anything, just held him tightly.

Looking down at Emelia, Ash felt slightly bad. A few days before he and Emelia had a large fight, not just about him going to fight but about his decision to fight on the front lines. When he had left, she had still been mad. As he had approached the gates, he had slightly feared they would replay the same arguments they had almost every time they had met for the past week. Now looking down at his young wife, all those thoughts fled from his mind.

“Shall we go inside?” Ash asked as he ran his hand along Emelia’s cheek. Emelia looked up at him a nodded her head.

Allice tried to follow Ash and Emelia as they walked to the study, but she was intercepted by one of the maids and taken away. Allice called for Ash to help, but he just chuckled lightly as she was carted away.

Once they were inside the study, Ash and Emelia sat on the long sofa. Well, Ash sat while Emelia laid down on the sofa as she nestled up against Ash with her head on his shoulder.

“You will stay safe won’t you?” Emelia asked after a long period of silence.

“I will do my best,” Ash said as he rubbed his hand along her back.

Emelia quickly sat up, giving him a stern look. “I don’t want your best, I want you to promise me that you will come back. I don’t care if you lose both arms and legs and have to crawl back on your belly. Just as long as you come back to me,” Emelia said as large tears started to form in her eyes.

“I promise that as long as I still draw breath, I will return,” Ash said pulling Emelia close.

It wasn’t the answer that Emelia had wanted, but she didn’t fight as Ash pulled her in close and kissed her deeply. The war had been her choice in a way, but she had never wished for Ash himself to fight. A part of her knew that he wouldn’t just sit around while others fought battles in his name, but she had silently hoped that she could keep him from the worst of it. She had often heard her father talk about the small battles he had fought in and what they had done to him. He had often said that no man comes out of a battle unharmed. He might walk free of injury, but battles leave their mark on a man’s soul as sure as a sword does on flesh.

The more Emelia thought about the coming war, the more her imagination started to produce images of a beaten and battered Ash. Shutting her eyes tightly, Emelia took a deep breath and hugged Ash tighter until she could her the bones in his chest popping.

Ash and Emelia spent the rest of the day in the study, not even leaving for supper. Little was said as they lay intertwined, simply enjoying each other’s company. Ash spent the time reading while Emelia spent the whole time simply watching Ash. Every so often Ash would look over to her and ask what she was thinking, but Emelia would just shake her head and say that it was a secret.

Their meal was simple. In fact it was only cabbage, beans, and a single piece of meat. Looking down at his plate, Ash couldn’t help but ask if there was some meaning behind the meal.

“Yes…It is the traditional meal one eats before leaving for battle,” Emelia responded with a sad look on her face. “The winter cabbage is to remind you that even in the harshest weather, life can grow. The beans are a traditional meal for luck, and the liver is to give you strength. I had the men hunt a wild bear for the liver since it is the strongest animal around here.”

“Thank you,” Ash said as a warm feeling spread through his chest. The cabbage was slightly sweet and the beans had a nice bite of heat to them. It was the liver that Ash had trouble eating. It had a metallic taste and the aroma coming off it was rather stout, but when he looked at his wife Ash forced himself to finish every last bite.

“Tring.”

[You have received the title “First Knight.” When this title is equipped you will receive +10 to strength and +10 to endurance.]

“Tring.”

[You have been awarded a rare title all stats are increased by +2 permanently.]

When the screen popped up as soon as he finished his meal Ash was more than slightly surprised and let out a light gasp. “What is it?” Emelia asked with a concerned look on her face.

“I was just surprised that I got a title,” Ash replied, smiling as he equipped the new title.

“You got a new title?” Emelia asked her face brightening. “What is it?”

“First Knight,” Ash said as he read the description again.