Supreme Warlady Elena Burnstock strode forward as the staff of the Burnstock estate kneeled in her presence, not even daring to look at her. My half brothers, including the heir to the Burnstock name and Duhcy, and other family members of the Burnstock estate bowed deeply. They didn’t dare look at her directly, least they invite her attention and possible ire. Duke Burnstock bowed slightly as well but met her gaze without fear. Finally, there was me, the Supreme Warlady’s only child, eight years old, almost nine, and unnaturally smart for my age.
My skill tutor, Damian would tell me that I should bow in her presence, even as her son since it was a matter of etiquette in a public setting. As one of the rare humans over level 150, who held the title of Supreme Legend, she represented the peak of humanity in our never-ending conflicts with the other races, ourselves, and in exploring the world spanning dungeon beneath us. My father, who was only a level 63 noble, would tell me to be polite no matter what. Since she could kill me with just the merest glance, even though I knew she would never do such a thing.
But I ignored their suggestions and followed my instincts. “Mother!” I shouted with a smile and raced over and gave her waist a hug. She froze for a split second before gently patting me on the back. Even through her casual thin leather and plate armor, she felt immovable.
“It is good to see you my son,” she said, her voice soft yet it had a slight rumble. Like a mountain ready to fall and crush anything in its path. But I couldn’t help but hear the care behind it. I hadn’t seen my mother in over a year, ever since she left to crush the kingdom of Crownsmith and its entire army. After a couple more seconds, I let go. I wanted to hold onto her forever.
While I didn’t have many specific memories of her, what I did remember, was a kind smiling woman, who loved to chase me around the estate with a laugh. Without her here, everything felt colder, more distant.
“Sorry, but I missed you,” I replied. Ever since I unlocked my status at the age of eight, I was excited to learn more and push my skills to new heights. But my skill tutor, Damian insisted he would only stick to what was planned without her direct approval. No one would dare go against the wishes of my mother, unless they wanted to invoke her ire.
“It is alright. We shall temper you in fire and blood soon enough. For now, I am weary from battle and travel. I will dine with my husband and son tonight,” she declared. The other children and the first wife of the Duke didn’t dare make a single objection. I wasn’t in the line of inheritance anyways, so I had been mostly removed from the noble and family affairs.
The more powerful one became, the harder it was to have children. That was why most noble women married young to have two or three children before leveling to fight off the ravages of age by increasing their Vitality stat.
My mother married Duke Darren Burnstock for two reasons that I knew of. His ridiculous amounts of money and a safe place for me to grow up in. Even with her strength and wealth, my mother was limited in various other ways that weren’t related to fighting. My father was rumored to be richer than the King of our nation of Terander, controlling the most fertile farmland and the biggest trade city in the Kingdom, which was also named Burnstock and was a day’s ride away by enchanted carriage.
All that money went into paying alchemists and specialized mages to assist in my mother conceiving. It was not wrong to say that my life had cost more than the yearly income, not profit, of the entire Duchy.
Even now, there was a team of elite guards surrounding the entire estate. Protecting me and the rest of the Burnstock family. But if one of them died, unlike me, my mother would not go on a rampage. That was why I had always tried to be dutiful, so as not to cause trouble. Unfortunately, things were going to get complicated after the incident a month ago.
My father married Supreme Warlady Elena Burnstock for two reasons. Her insane killing ability as a spellsword over level 150 and her deterrence factor by declaring his home, her home. The problem with having all that wealth was that other people wanted it. The neighboring duchies, the King, the other nations, all eyed the province of Burnstock for its wealth.
My mother had stayed with me for the first seven years of my life after I had been born, ensuring my safety. Once she was sure that I wouldn’t die from a scratch and the neighboring Kingdom began making trouble, she acted. She crushed the neighboring kingdom of Crownsmith, killing their King, a lot of nobles, and most of their army in the past year.
Now the entire country was on fire and thousands were dying from the chaos as other nations and nobles took advantage of her decapitation strike. But that also meant no one wanted to attack the Duchy of Burnstock at the moment or sometime in the near future. The warning had been sent. While I knew that my mother had repaid the debt she owed my father, she would remain here to raise me and while acting as a deterrent until I reached adulthood. But my future depended on what she decided, for now. No one could influence my mother, except for herself.
“It is good to see you well. You made quite an impression on the kingdom of Crownsmith and its nobility. I don’t think they will ever forget your name,” my father said.
“They won’t forget or forgive what I have done. But they never liked you Burnstocks to begin with,” she replied. While she took up her husband’s name with their marriage, she considered herself independent. My father had explained all of this to me a few days ago to make sure I understood the political facts regarding both of my parents to reduce the risk of any confusion or misunderstanding.
Adulthood was considered to be 16 for humans, twice the age as when we got access to our status. But there was a certain degree of responsibility and expectations when someone turned 8 and gained access to their status.
I might be young, but I knew I was the most blessed child to be born or close enough that I would be on the top of any list. It was rare, incredibly rare, for anyone over level 150 to have a child, let alone with another person with a level in their 60s. Most high level individuals were focused on gaining greater strength and a higher level, trying to outrace death itself.
“Hah, well they can shut up for the next couple of decades at the very least. Peace and quiet. That is what I prefer,” my father replied. I wanted to roll my eyes at that after what my mother had done, but it would have been incredibly rude. My father arranged the sale of weapons and supplies through his territory while taking in refugees to settle more farmland in his territory. I wasn’t completely ignorant, and I heard things during family meals. While he might act nice, a person was not a level 63 noble for their kindness or generosity, but it would be rude to point such things out in public.
“We also need to talk about Justin. There was an incident a month ago,” my father said and winced at this. My mother’s gaze immediately snapped towards me.
“I am okay, but it is concerning, um, I am not hurt,” I replied quietly. She didn’t say anything for several seconds as the tension greatly increased.
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“We shall discuss the issue later. If my son has been harmed in any way, you will have much to answer for Darren. I entrusted his safety to you while I was absent. Squires, attend me,” she said, and her three Squires followed after her as she strode away to her private quarters that had been set up in the mansion. A nervous head butler quickly escorting her. Everyone slowly got up from their kneeling or bowing position.
“You are lucky your mother loves you,” my father said while glancing back towards my mother entering the mansion.
“I know,” I replied. Her love was the most precious thing in the world. I could almost feel a bit of jealousy coming from my half siblings. But that was to be expected. Having Supreme Warlady Elena as a mother meant no one with any sanity would dare lay a hand on me and my future was assured. But it would be rude and insulting to use her name for trivial things. While she was my mother, I was my own person. Unfortunately that didn’t stop the crazy people who were determined to strike against her through me.
I returned to my room where I got changed into my dinner outfit. A servant was standing nearby ready to assist me, but my Tutor Damian had insisted my mother wanted me to do things myself, especially personal tasks involving my body. The servant was allowed to make sure everything was straightened and on properly before I left my room though.
The clothes were tight, showing an exceptional fit and a high degree of wealth. The same with vibrant colors, which also denoted wealth, in red and light brown, the two primary colors of House Burnstock.
I was the first to arrive for dinner, which was expected, since I was the youngest to be attending of the three of us. My father arrived next, a few minutes early. He looked me over and gave me a nod. My mother arrived precisely on time. She was wearing simple armor, but even if it was a bit rude for a meal, no one would dare point that out and my mother wouldn’t care.
We all took our seats. If my mother wasn’t a Supreme Legend with a higher level, my father should have helped her sit. But since she was at a higher level, such an action would be considered demeaning, not chivalrous. All that etiquette training I had been forced to endure over the last three and a half years had taken over my thoughts. The fact it was one of my highest leveled tier 1 skills was a bit annoying. I would rather focus on more exciting skills than Eldarin Etiquette.
Servants brought out food. No one spoke since it was a bit of a tricky situation. Technically my mother should be the first to speak, due to her higher social standing. But this was my father’s estate. One could say there was unknown ground being pioneered by them in terms of etiquette tonight.
I didn’t remember what they had done in the past. I don’t think we ever had dinner with just the three of us, but I couldn’t be sure. My memories from before I got my status unlocked were a bit hazy and difficult to remember.
They might be even trying to level up their skills now that I thought about it. I made sure I followed all the rules of dining while I tried to figure out who should speak first. That was when I realized, this was technically an informal meal due to it just being the three of us.
After we had a first course of light soup, I decided to speak up. Either I would gain a lot of levels on my etiquette skill or horribly embarrass myself. At least the tension would be broken. “Mother, do you think the sword is better or magic as a spellsword?” I asked.
She lowered her wine glass and got a thoughtful look on her face. “I want to say both. They complement each other quite well. Though the lower levels and grinding up the skills is quite exhausting. I would say the sword for singular strong opponents and magic for large groups or an enemy with strong physical resistance,” she answered. The tension had been broken as she turned towards my father.
“Now tell me what happened,” she said while staring intently at my father. He waved a hand. All the servants left the dining room and shut the doors.
“A legend of unknown background infiltrated the estate. They managed to put their hands on Justin. They were discovered and my guards forced them to retreat. Five elite guards died during the confrontation, from poison. Healer Castelle looked carefully checked our son. He was given an unknown tier 6 cursed skill,” my father said.
“What skill?” my mother asked in a very quiet tone. I felt quite a bit of fear that she might explode at any moment.
“Experience Siphon.”
“And you let that happen?” she asked.
“I didn’t let it happen, but we are not well equipped to counter a legend. Even with all the extra I have spent hiring elites, you know as well as I do, that the unknown is the most dangerous. Five elite guards perished, that is no small matter,” my father countered.
“This is unacceptable. I left this estate to deal with the neighboring nation, and you let this happen Darren. Give me one good reason, I shouldn’t crush your head and kill everyone-“
“Mom, I am fine. Can’t we deal with it another way?” I asked nervously. Interrupting her was very rude, but I didn’t want things to escalate. I was alive, despite how scary that event had been. She paused as her murderous aura retracted. She turned her head to look at me.
“Yes, my son. I will speak to your father and Healer Castelle later. Now, let us talk of other things. I have talked with your Tutor, Damian, and he told me you started weapon training with the guard captain of the estate?” I had stopped the worst from happening, but it was only a postponement.
“Yes, mostly the sword and shield, but I have gotten tier one skills in other weapons. He said it was based on the instructions you left?” I asked.
“He took some liberties, but we will review your skills later. Weapon skills, really Darren? I wanted him to focus on more mental skills at the start,” she said while looking at my father. Both of them were pretending now to get along for my sake. Even without a social skill, I could tell they were being completely fake in speaking to each other for my benefit.
“He kept insisting and I consulted with the skill tutor and used my judgement. It is something you mentioned so Tutor Damian approved it,” my father replied. He rang a bell resting on the table, and the servants reentered the dining room.
“Hmm. I will make a final judgement myself after reviewing his stats and skills. Any noble issues I should be worried about?” my mother asked as the second course of dinner was served. A light salad with dressing and nuts.
“No. My other children know not to make trouble with Justin and that he isn’t in the line of succession after what happened previously. As for larger issues, the King made a bit of a fuss over what you did, but I sent a couple chests of gold his way and he stopped complaining,” my father said.
“Good. I would prefer not to be caught up in other issues for the foreseeable future. It would displease me,” my mother said, and my father nodded before taking a sip of his wine. I just had orange juice to drink. Thɪs chapter is updated by novel·fire·net
“Don’t worry, I like it peaceful and quiet. If it wasn’t for Crownsmith funding bandits and staging their armies close to the border, I wouldn’t have asked you to intervene. But you took your time,” he replied.
“They weren’t weak. I had to kill two legends they employed and then hunt down their top nobility. Slaughtering them all. Otherwise, I would have to go back in a decade. Now it will take at least a quarter of a century, probably longer since their other neighbors are making trouble for them. It will be a long time before they can think about your lands,” she said. That matched what my father had told me already about the situation.
“Well, let me propose a toast. While we might not have married for love, I am grateful to you. Supreme Warlady Elena,” my father said and raised his glass. I quickly raised my glass as well to show my support for his words. My mother picked up her glass, showing her acceptance of the toast and then we all drank.
“You beat two legends?” I asked my mother. Legend was the term used for people over level 100 who had received a tier 5 class.
“Yes. It was a hard fight. Legend Bowmaster Herold Eagleeye and Legend Armored Bulwurk Bastion Teron. They fought with honor and skill. But there is a reason I hold the superior title of Supreme to those weak legends. It denotes that I have gone past level 150 and stand above other legends,” she replied. I knew that already, but I wasn’t about to correct my mother.
“Also, your mother earned the title of Warlady, since she has ended wars singlehandedly, not for being a spellsword, even if I think that is more impressive of your accomplishments, they gave it to her for reaching the Last Bastion on her own,” my father said and my mother shook her head slightly with a frown.
“A title I dislike, but one is given a title by other legends not by picking one out yourself. I would have preferred the title of Spellblade or Farmer of Monsters, but it is what it is,” my mother replied.