The Lord of Harrowfield

“Are you really 16?”

“I am, Lord Winthrope.”

“It seems the Lord of Harrowfield has been gifted quite a physique.” Earl Dexter Winthrope said.

Adrian couldn’t blame the man. Adrian was only 16, but he stood as tall than some of the adults. His figure was well-trained, while he wasn’t overly buff, his hardened muscles couldn’t be hidden by a simple robe.

Yet undeniably, his face couldn’t hide how young he was, without any scars at all.

“I have heard of the young Lord of Harrowfield who fought more than most during Prince Cale’s goal.”

“I only did as a loyal servant to the crown would” Adrian said. He couldn’t remember how many humble words he had already spoken.

The Earl, with his soft brown hair, laughed. They were currently in a hall where the Earl sat on the only seat while Adrian stood before him.

Lord Winthrope, who was older than Adrian, likely in his late twenties, continued, “I know my uncle personally told me you were quite a fighter. Do you think you will achieve great results at my tourney?”

It seemed a polite way to make conversation rather than a genuine inquiry into Adrian's skills or whether he would achieve great results at his tourney.

Adrian was about to offer more humble words, but he grew tired of the act. “I will make sure my journey here won't be a disappointment.” he said instead.

The Earl laughed. “That’s the spirit! Unfortunately, Prince Cale isn't coming, but I heard the royal family will send an appropriate representative.”

“I look forward to their arrival.”

They exchanged a few more words before Adrian was dismissed, much to his relief. When he exited the hall, he encountered two people, or rather, two people and their entourages. One of them was familiar.

“Lord Harrow?” Said Sir Wyatt, whom Adrian had worked with a year ago.

“Sir Wyatt, good to see you. I’ve just arrived,” Adrian said, though his eyes couldn’t help but flit toward the person beside the knight.

The man was a good two or three inches taller than him. What was most striking was his long black hair, dark eyes, and his all-black fashion. On the man's chest was a sigil…

The head of a raven with red eyes. Adrian knows it.

It was the sigil of the Earl of Ravenspire.

‘Despite being a noble, I’m practically at the bottom of the barrel here…’ Adrian thought dryly seeing that.

“Lord Corvus, this is the Baron of Harrowfield I told you about, Lord Adrian Harrow. Lord Harrow, this is the heir of Ravenspire, Corvus Night,” Sir Wyatt introduced them.

Adrian bowed. “It is my honor to meet the heir of Ravenspire.”

“They call you the Butcher of Laluga?” Lord Corvus asked.

Adrian was taken aback. He had been called by that title, but he typically only heard it during his time at the Prince’s port city, and he didn’t like it. He never thought the moniker would spread this far. He glanced at Sir Wyatt, suspecting the knight was the source, and hoped it wouldn't spread any further.

“People have called me such, but I personally don’t favor the title.” Adrian said.

Lord Corvus raised an eyebrow. His eyes were sharp, and he radiated an aura of being solid despite his carefree posture. “Why? Think being the 'butcher of Laluga' isn’t a good enough title?”

“That’s not it.” Adrian shook his head, pondering his answer. “I would rather have a title for saving and protecting lives than butchering them. Besides, I did it all in the name of the Prince, so the Prince should get the praise.” He quickly added the latter in case the heir found some problems in his words.

“Heeh... really?” Lord Corvus drawled. Adrian had a feeling the man could see his devotion wasn’t actually that strong.

“Lord Harrow is a fierce but noble lord indeed.” Sir Wyatt said, his tone more perfunctory than genuine.

“I heard of your fights and that you're only 16? Yet already so tall and looking so strong...” Lord Corvus commented, scanning him. “I’ve fought bigger and stronger men but tell me, what competitions will you participate in, Lord Harrow?”

“Jousting and melee, and maybe the final surprise challenge later.”

“Both of them? Quite bold, are you confident in getting a good result?” Lord Corvus grinned and asked.

Adrian considered this. “I’ll do my best during the melee...”

“Oh? And the jousting?” Lord Corvus prompted, sensing something in his tone.

Adrian’s smile widened slightly. “In jousting, I plan on winning.”

He might not be the best fighter in the melee, unless it was a fight to the death, of course, and while he had become good enough to occasionally beat Sir Cordell, he knew he wasn't the greatest fighter here.

But jousting? If there was one thing he was completely confident in, it was his ability to stay up, no matter how many times he was hit.

---

Adrian’s meeting with Sir Wyatt and Lord Corvus was brief. Lord Corvus laughed at Adrian's confident declaration, giving him a look of intrigued anticipation before departing to meet the Earl.

Adrian and Dexton were about to return to their room before heading out to visit the town, but a servant stopped them. Apparently, another lord wished to meet him.

Adrian wondered why he was being summoned. As he stood before the door, he noted the banner hanging beside it, a hound standing over a small hill.

Thanks to the lessons on heraldry and nobility that his steward had hammered into his head over the past year, he recognized it immediately as the sigil of Baron Westly. His territory lay east of Creviceton, just above the lands of Viscount Ironmere. However, Adrian didn't know who the current head of the family was.

The door opened, and Adrian was ushered inside. The suite featured a small receiving area for guests, much like his own. There, he found a middle-aged man with a plump stomach. Beside him sat a younger man who bore a striking resemblance to his father, and a young woman who looked grumpy before quickly schooling her expression into something more neutral.

The middle-aged man stood up. “Lord Harrow? I am the Baron of Westly, Jon Eaton. This is my son, Wes, and my daughter, Lily.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you and your children, Lord Eaton,” Adrian replied. He nodded to the siblings, who seemed to be around his age.

Though unlike Adrian, they lacked his large, healthy physique, Wes, in particular, was dealing with a face full of pimples. It was a problem Adrian’s gift spared him from, as it seemed to kept him healthy and whole whenever he used it.

“Please, sit.” Lord Eaton gestured, and Adrian took a seat.

“How do you find your accommodations so far?” Lord Eaton asked.

The conversation began with idle small talk, but Adrian eventually steered the topic toward the monster surges. Lord Eaton was more than happy to share what he knew. He explained that the surges typically occurred at cave entrances and fissures around Creviceton. The largest surges, numbering in the hundreds, occurred in areas controlled by the Earl and the Viscount of Ironmere. Over a thousand soldiers were stationed at the fortresses there to keep the monsters from breaking through.

Of course, given the size of the region, some monsters inevitably escaped. There were also numerous unguarded holes and caves from which they emerged.

While the massive underground surges had quieted, Lord Eaton noted that a dozen or so creatures still surfaced across the land every week, making the area around Creviceton and even Ironwall dangerous for those traveling without protection.

“I’ve heard the stories and read the books.” Adrian mused, “but what drives these monsters so deep underground to suddenly emerge? How do they even survive down there?”

This question had been on his mind for a while. The best answer he’d received was that the monsters weren't natural creatures, because they didn't belong on the surface, the underground became their habitat.

“Hm…” Lord Eaton sipped his wine, gathering his thoughts. “Do you know the stories of how these monsters are born? Why they look like normal beasts, yet twisted?”

Adrian hesitated. “Dark magic?”

The idea of magic being real still felt far-fetched to him. He preferred logical explanations, but he couldn't forget a creature he’d killed months ago, a strange, spider-like bat. It wasn’t strong, but it was deeply unnatural and intimidating. He couldn't see how such a thing could exist through natural means.

Lord Eaton nodded. “One of our old family books says these monsters are drawn to ancient dark magic deep beneath the earth. It is through this magic that they are able to multiply.”

Adrian took this in before blurting out, “Then why are they coming out?”

Lord Eaton smiled. “You ask the right questions, Lord Harrow, despite being so young you have a keen mind. Though I must say, I still find it hard to believe your age, given your size.”

Adrian offered a practiced smile. He could feel Wes’s doubtful gaze on him, while Lily seemed bored, though she occasionally scanned him with discreet curiosity.

“I get that a lot.”

Lord Eaton chuckled. “And the answer is...” He spread his arms wide. “We don’t know.”

Adrian was taken aback, causing Lord Eaton to laugh out loud.

“The truth is, we don't know why they suddenly emerge. Some say they’ve become overpopulated, others say the underground caves are collapsing, forcing them out. And some…”

Lord Eaton paused. His expression turned serious, though a faint, grim smile remained on his face.

“Some say the dark magic is slowly spreading, driving the monsters out of their holes and towards the surface.”