Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 87: Arrival at the Ashen Castle

CH87 Arrival at the Ashen Castle

***

”You don’t need to worry. All hostiles have been put down,” Jared said. Then added, ”This domain will have a new lord by morning.”

Alex merely nodded.

He pushed himself upright. Jared moved to assist him, but the boy waved him off.

Alex’s eyes swept over the two remaining knights, lingering momentarily, then—without a word—he dragged his aching body out of the alley and back into the inn.

There, he collapsed onto his bed.

Fen, who had been sleeping soundly, was startled awake by the sharp scent of his master’s blood.

Alex took a moment to reassure the wolf cub before retreating into the Sanctuary. Inside, he downed several potions without hesitation.

Despite Jared’s words, Alex had learnt a valuable lesson tonight: never entrust your life to someone else.

There was no one who valued his life more than he did.

He split his consciousness in two—one part directing his mana to accelerate the potions’ effects, the other ready to react to another ambush.

...That ambush never came.

Two days later, and five high-grade Enclave potions later—costing a total of 2,500 gold coins—Alex had fully recovered. The group resumed their journey as if nothing had happened.

What surprised Jared most was that Alex didn’t ask a single question.

Not about who orchestrated the assassination attempt.

Not about the traitor knight’s allegiance.

Not even about the viscount’s role in the affair.

But Jared didn’t know Alex didn’t need to ask. The answers were already plain to see.

They’d been ambushed within the territory of a noble under Earl Drake Fury’s influence.

One of the attackers had been a knight serving in the Earl’s own army.

The city’s patrol guard had failed to show up until the next morning—as if deliberately ordered to stay away.

It was obvious: the battle to determine the next heir had begun.

Without a formal revocation of Alex’s status by the Earl, his siblings had no legitimate path to inheritance—unless he was dead.

The vassals and retainers had clearly aligned themselves with another of the Earl’s children. Given Alex’s former reputation, it wasn’t surprising they preferred he not return.

The assassination was undoubtedly orchestrated by a faction backing one of those contenders. The traitorous knight and the viscount were likely aligned with that same faction.

Yet oddly, none of it truly bothered Alex.

Not the ambush. Not the betrayal. Not the attempt on his life.

He had been prepared for it.

He had read enough novels about noble intrigues to know the patterns, the betrayals, the ambitions.

This was normal.

No, what truly unsettled Alex was something else entirely:

That the traitorous knight had dared to attack the very person he was sworn to protect, in clear view of his fellow knights.

That the viscount had permitted an assassination attempt on his liege’s son within his own domain.

There were only two explanations:

Either the knight and the viscount were fanatical zealots of the opposing faction—which Alex highly doubted.

Or... they genuinely believed that if the assassination succeeded, there would be no consequences.

’I know the Fury family respects strength and everyone thinks I’m weak... but to think that grants them carte blanche to kill me is...’

That was a chilling realisation.

If there was truly no deterrent to killing him—no consequence for his murder and/or assassination—just to prevent him from claiming his rightful position as heir, then it meant trouble lay ahead.

Lethal trouble.

Earl Drake’s words from five years ago resurfaced, burning themselves back into his mind:

”...You are also unfortunate to be a Fury, because if you do not obtain strength and power, only hell awaits you in every corner.”

—

”While you are my first son—my heir apparent—you are not my only child. Our family is built on strength and power. Compared to your siblings, your personal strength is weak—far too weak. Your prestige within the family, after your awakening ceremony, is next to non-existent. Your siblings are waiting like hawks, ready to strike at any moment to take your position from you.”

—

”Your ruby eyes mark your heritage. Your failure shames it. People will expect great things of you—and if you disappoint them... you’ll die.”

---

As always, the Earl’s words that day hadn’t been a mere warning—they had been akin to a prophecy.

A grim, brutal prophecy of the future awaiting Alex.

But in that bleak forecast also lay the solution. It had always been simple... and cruel.

---

”...If you want to keep your status, your wealth... your life, then gain power. Not just ordinary power, but overwhelming power. Power so vast that no one—no hostile race, no noble, not even your siblings—dares challenge it!”

---

Alex’s eyes flashed.

He had accepted the truth: he wasn’t returning to a warm, welcoming family.

’If that’s how you want to play it... very well. I will play your game. But by the time I’m done, I’ll trample you all so far beneath my feet you’ll never raise your heads again.’

---

Jared, Alex, Fen (still in cub form), and the two knights finally caught up with the three scouts who had gone ahead.

The party crossed into the lands of Earl Fury, and three days later, Ashen Castle came into view.

Jared led the group through Ashen City, heading straight for the massive castle that loomed at its heart.

Upon arrival, a familiar middle-aged man stood at the front of the castle lawn—stern and proud, with an uncanny resemblance to Alex.

Jared and the knights dismounted immediately, dropping to one knee in unison.

”My liege, we have brought Master Alex,” Jared announced.

”Hmm... Thank you for your hard work,” Earl Drake Fury replied curtly.

His gaze swept over Alex, lingering for a moment as if measuring him anew.

”Good,” the Earl nodded. ”It looks like the boy who left years ago returned a proper man. Now, we can forge you into a Fury warrior.”

With that, he turned and walked toward the castle doors, where a line of butlers and maids stood waiting with robotic reverence.

Alex’s lips twitched faintly.

He hadn’t expected a hug. Or warmth. But still...

”What are you waiting for?” The Earl’s voice rang out. ”Come along. We have much to do.”

Alex exhaled softly, shaking his head inwardly.

”Yes, Father,” he replied, falling in step behind the man.

As he entered the castle grounds, his eyes scanned the butler, the maids, the guards—all bowing their heads in stiff formality.

But beneath the surface, he could see it.

There was no respect in their eyes.

He hadn’t returned to a warm home.

He had arrived on a battlefield.

And everyone in it was a potential enemy.

A strange grin crept across Alex’s lips as a flicker of madness flashed through his gaze.

’Very well... Let the games begin.’

***