Chapter 451

Emperor P.O.V.

“So Xavier is finally coming back and he is bringing what amounts to an army?.” My grandson said as we all ate dinner around the table. 

“Best make sure you don’t challenge him again.” His sister Denisa teased him.

“I know better than that now.” Despite how humiliating it was to lose to someone who was two years younger, that loss to Xavier did Sandor a lot of good. 

“I’m more interested in the two slaves the young duke bought.” I say as I look towards my advisor. “What did you find out about them?”

“Two beastkin, a seven year old monkey type boy and a six year old lizard type girl.” the advisor answered and he pulled out a report from him spacial storage. “Both were malnourished but tall for their age.” 

“Why would he buy malnourished slaves?” My granddaughter asked. 

“Easier to build loyalty.” My wife explained. “They wouldn’t be slaves when they cross over into Gryndor, much easier to gain the loyalty of a child who wasn’t properly fed by making sure they always have enough to eat.” 

“Not just that, but they both seemed to have gained some rare skills due to their less than ideal conditions.” the advisor added. “The boy gained [Regeneration], the girl…” 

“What is it?” Sandor asked as he notices my advisor go silent as his eyes scan the document.

“The slaver didn’t keep a good enough eye on his slaves.” Roger tsked his tongue. “Missed a skill the girl developed before he sold her, an Epic skill.” 

“A slave with an epic skill? That should have been pretty obvious, especially at that age, was it mana related?” my wife asked just as intrigued as I was now.

“No, it related to her bestial heritage.” Roger answered as he continued to scan the report, his frown growing the further he got. “One of her eyes adapted to hunt in darkness, [Heat Vision], her right eye doesn’t see colors any more but rather how hot or cold something is.” 

“Hunt in the darkness?” Sandor asked. 

Roger was so focused on getting through the report now that he flippantly answered. “Their store room wasn’t all that great, she would hunt and eat mice and rats at night to compensate for the lack of food.” I could see all of us lose our appetite at the thought of eating raw rat or mouse.  

All it took was me clearing my throat and Roger broke out of his focused reading giving all of us his full attention once more. Much as I appreciated Rogers' talents, his lack of social skills was the reason I didn’t allow his presence in open court.

“My apologies.” he quickly caught on to his mistake. “Both slaves also picked up [Sense Mana] on the road to the capital with the help of Duke Hearthbound as well as Lady Manashaper.” 

“Anything else?” I asked, trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice. Those beasts, gods curse them, why do they deserve such an easy access to mana.

“Both of the salves had crafting skills.” Roger said. “The girl picked up leatherworking from trying to make herself a blanket from the skin of the rats she…” he stopped himself before finishing. “The boy [Mining] from being rented out to mine some rock from a nearby quarry.” 

“They both sound like combat slaves, why bother paying extra for ones with professions.” Denisa asked.

“He wants to train them as delving crafters just like he is.” I share my own thoughts on the matter as an answer. “He is a talented alchemist, from what my son said he reacted badly to seeing the results of his work on the slave market and bought the two of them the day after. Might want to raise them as atonement and mold them after himself.” 

“That cursed training method.” Sandor grumbled. 

“Don’t feel too bad about it.” I chastised him. “It is the reason you have a chance to become Emperor.” 

I warned my son about having children when he was so young and why that would be a mistake. Thankfully Sandor and Denisa were still low level enough to take advantage of the dungeon craze that was about to follow in the wake of Ajax’s own delving spree. With the added Vitality of them would still live long enough to take the throne when their father steps down. 

“How strong do you think Ajax is?” My youngest son Zilfallon asked, finally joining the conversation as he stopped eating. He was the only one whose appetite wasn’t affected in the slightest at the previous mention of eating rats.

At only a hundred and fifty years old my son had grown powerful enough to call himself an elite soldier. He wasn’t a prodigy by any stretch but with the amount of resources he had access to and his dedication he was actually a better fighter than Solderon despite the fifty year age gap.

“Hard to say.” I truly didn’t know how powerful Ajax was now, I looked forward to seeing him so I could judge that very thing for myself. 

“What do you think, uncle Roger?” Zilfallon asked. 

“I don’t know but if I had to guess I would say he is stronger than your older brother.” Roger and Zilfallon had always gotten along well, it was probably because Roger had become my advisor around the time Zilfallon was born. Roger was well aware of his lack of social skills even back then and had looked to ingratiate himself by bonding with my son, becoming uncle Roger.

“WHAT?!” Sandor stood up so fast his chair fell over backwards. “You think he’s stronger than father?” 

He regained his composure as one of the guards quickly lifted the chair and he sat back down. “I know better than to think I can compare but he is still younger than me, how could you say he is stronger than father.” 

“Well we know that Arianwyn, the elven princess is around level eighty and she is a genius of her generation who developed a Domain.” Much as I disliked those haughty pointy eared tree lovers I couldn’t disagree with Rogers assessment. “Despite her Bond helping her she still lost in the tournament.” 

“My father could also beat her, even if he isn’t a dedicated fighter like uncle Zilfallon.” Denisa said as she placed her had to calm down her older brother. It was these interactions between the two of them that made me think Denisa would make for a better successor to Solderon than Sandor. He was simply too hot headed. 

“True as that may be, Duke Hearthbound has to have gained I would say more than five hundred Stats since he won that duel.” Roger’s defended his assessment.

I could see Roger’s words shocked not only Denise and Sandor but also Zilfallon. It was easy to forget that between Deepwood and Sylvanthal Ajax had delved ten dungeons, even if we assume he never pushed past the level one hundred barrier that would still mean he cleared fifty five floors and I would be willing to be a large amount he cleared at least the level one hundred and ten floors as well. Fifty five floors would mean four hundred and forty stats, add another 10% from potions and that is a four hundred and eighty four stats without a single level up.

“Such incredible growth.” Zilfallon murmured as his eyes lost focus. I knew this was a hard time for him, he had always loved fighting, though he enjoyed fighting humanoids more than beasts. 

Zilfallon had come to accept from an early age that while he didn’t have the talent to be the best he could make up for some of that with hard work and the amount of resources he had as an imperial prince. I’ve seen him be jealous of others' talent before but this was the first time I saw him jealous of someone else's opportunities.

“Do you think he would duel me?” Zilfallon asked. 

“I very much doubt it.” My wife said as she shook her head no. “He was almost a recluse last time he was here and I expect Gryndor will want to leave as soon as possible.” 

I didn’t blame them for that, it was simply the smart move. Despite my decision not to take action I still had two different plans ready in case I decided it was best that the three future champions, Annabeth Goldmancer, Alexis Manashaper and Xavier Gryndor needed to die along with the most talented human in recorded history Ajax Hearthbound.

“Roger, double security while they are here.” I said as I thought more about it. 

“I have already done so, Your Majesty.” Roger said. “As you have commanded.” 

“Increase it again.” I said. “I can’t help but think those beasts are going to try something.” I’ve always thought that those half animal abominations were up to something in that desert of theirs, the appearance of Ajax had to have at least messed up some of their plans and I didn’t want them to take advantage of this trip to have Gryndor attack us while removing what could be the best chance at humans taking over all the kingdoms.

I will have to see if Denise has a chance to marry into the Hearthbound family, maybe now that he has grown a little and become a Duke he will be open to multiple wives. Need to be careful not to push it too hard and offend him however. They arrive tomorrow after all.