Chapter 5: The Venator Order
One week. It had been seven days since the "Alexius" woke up, and the mood of the palace had changed that no one has noticed.
Morning light slipped through the thick velvet curtains, drawing golden lines across the stone floor. Alexius was already awake, lying still as he slowly moved mana through his body — a basic meditation to raise his max MP and improve his control.
"Your Highness," a female voice called out soft and melodic, "It is time."
Alexius sat up. Standing by his bedside was a vision that would have made any noble in the capital drool with envy.
Her name is Aelrue Silverwind. High Elf from the Elven kingdom of Sea of Forests. The former pride of the Silver-wind ClanShe was tall and slender, with skin like porcelain and hair the colour of pale moonlight that flowed down to her waist. Her long, pointed ears twitched when she heard him move. She wore the Royal Household's black-and-white maid uniform, but on her it looked more like a princess in disguise than simple work clothes. The fabric pulled a little at her shoulders—, from tight, trained muscle and her full graceful figure.
His left hand was still bandaged, but the pain had subsided to a dull ache thanks to the Constitution boost.
"Good morning, Aelrue," Alexius said, rubbing away dizziness from his eyes.
His left hand was still bandaged, the pain had subsided thanks to the Constitution boost.
she poured water into a basin for him.
"The bath is drawn, My Lord. Breakfast is smoked river trout and herbal bread. Vane sent a message: the 'delivery' arrived at the basement an hour ago."
Alexius stood, allowing her to help him with his morning robe. Despite her delicate appearance, she is efficient in doing her job.
'Inspect,'
[Name: Aelrue Silverwind] [Race: High Elf] [Class: Arcane Ranger / Maid] [Level: 24] [HP: 1,800 / 1,800] [MP: 800 / 800] [Affiliation: The Venator Order of Leo(Leader of Forest Elves)] [Loyalty: 100% ] [Innate Skills:] – Hunter (Rank A): +30% Accuracy and Stealth in natural or urban environments. – Dual Elemental Affinity (Wind/Water): Rare genetic trait. [Trauma:] – Survivor's Guilt: Mental stability is fragile. Driven by an obsessive need to be useful to her savior. – Hatred of Empire: +50% Damage against Imperial targets.
When Elias tried to place her in the training grounds with other elves full-time—where her skills belonged—she refused without hesitation. She, insisted on serving as the Prince's personal attendant.
"He fed us when we were starving,"
"He broke our chains when we had no strength to break them ourselves."
"He gave us weapons, yes… but more than that, he gave us purpose when we were lost."
"He saved my people from suffering. For that, I owe him my life. I will be his shield, and I will be his sword. As long as I draw breath, no harm will reach him."
Thus another Blood-Bound Oath was formed — yet the XP he gained from it was negligible again.
"How are the others?" Alexius asked as he washed his face.
Aelrue's graceful smile disappeared.
"They are… adapting,"
"The pain is still there, Your Highness. It hasn't faded and It never will."
"Before, our sorrow only drowned us you gave us a purpose… now it sharpens us."
"The grief that once broke us has turned into — a hunger for justice… a need for blood."
Her smile returned, and her ears twitched softly again.
After a quick breakfast, Alexius didn't go to the library. He took the servant's passage, led by Aelrue and followed by the invisible presence of Elias, down to the "East Wing."
Originally, this area was meant for the heir apparent and a set of wine cellars and storage rooms connected to the Nightwatch tunnels. By tradition, the heir could only move in after coming of age at sixteen.
Alexius never reached that point.
His mother, Princess Consort Lyra, lived with him in the Central Wing alongside the Grand Prince. She passed away before he turned nine way before coming of age.
Alexius had continued living in the Central Wing, as tradition demanded until 17. But when court politics grew dangerous, the King moved him to the royal mansion in the noble district "for study." At least, that was the official reason.
His past self had understood only one thing:
He thought his father had abandoned him.
It was only after his father fell gravely ill and lost consciousness that Alexius learned the truth. His grandfather — the Marquess of the South, Custos de Meridiem, Guardian of the Southern Region — had briefly returned to the capital before heading south again to deal with rising unrest in the region. Before leaving, he informed Alexius everything and brought official appointment for the only child of Grand Prince, as the Prince Regent by the Noble Council.
Only then did Alexius finally begin to understand what had been happening behind the scenes. The nobles urged him to return to the Central Wing, but he refused. He believed his father would wake one day, and he would not take the Grand Prince's place.
Instead, he chose the East Wing — the quarters meant for the heir apparent, a place that had never been used until now.
He didn't know the East Wing was secretly used for Nightwatch operations. Only after he moved in did Elias reveal the truth — the hidden purpose of this Wing, and the foundations his mother had quietly built for Leo's survival.
...
Now, he is inside one of the tunnels.
The smell of sweat, sawdust, and ozone filled the air.
Alexius entered the room. With the dim torchlight, dozens of elves were moving.
They wore plain gray tunics that almost blended into the stone walls. To the left, Nightwatch agents — veterans marked by years of shadow wars — taught the elves how to kill with knives, garrotes, and poisons. To the right, the elves practiced magic.
"Impressive," Alexius noted.
The Elves of the Sea of Forests were naturally gifted. Every single one of them possessed the [Hunter] innate skill, making them masters of tracking, stealth, and archery.
But what made this terrifying was the magic.
Most elves were born with a single elemental affinity—usually Earth or Wind.
He saw, An Earth-affinity elf was practicing molding the stone floor to trip a dummy target and a Wind-affinity elf was learning to silence their footsteps to absolute zero.
"The children work the hardest," Aelrue said standing beside Alexius.
Alexius looked to the far corner. There, a group of elven children, some no older than ten, were throwing throwing-knives at wooden targets. They are burning with a passion far too old for their small bodies.
"They should be playing at their age," Alexius said feeling guilty.
"Don't be sorry, My Lord. They have no childhood left, My Lord," Aelrue said, her body trembling with anger she struggled to contain.
"The Empire stole it from them… and Baron Zhestokiy crushed whatever was left.""
Her fingers dug into the railing until the wood creaked.
"My village… the Silver-wind Clan… we lived quietly. We traded herbs with the border towns. We trusted people."
Her breath shook.
"But the Baron wanted 'exotic goods' for his friend."
Alexius watched her closely. She had never spoken of this before.
"One day, they came at night," she whispered.
"Led by a man in black armor. His presence felt like a serpent sneaking in ready to devour its prey."
She swallowed hard.
"My father was our Clan Guardian. He was the strongest hunter in our Clan. A warrior everyone respected."
she felt fear.
"But against that man… he was nothing."
She forced down a sob and straightened her back, as if refusing to break again.
"The Sword Master killed him with a single stroke. As if he were brushing aside a leaf, crushing a bud."
"They took us. They… used the others. They violated women killed elders and torture the men and children ."
Alexius felt his chest tighten.
"Because of my bloodline — my Dual Affinity — I was labeled 'High Grade.' Too valuable to be touched. They said I was a gift for his lord's friend, Duke Vetus. A perfect trophy to gift."
Alexius's hand clenched.
"That Sword Master," he asked controlling his rage, "do you know his name?"
Aelrue shook her head.
"No name. But he wore a crest — a red serpent eating its own tail."
She paused, hatred flickering behind her eyes.
"But his soldiers whispered a title in their language…"
She met Alexius's gaze.
"They called him Der Gnadenlose."
"The Merciless."
The Ouroboros.
Alexius stored the information in his mind. That wasn't a normal Imperial crest, the Blacked double headed Eagle. It was something different. A mercenary group? A secret sect? I will have to investigate this.
"You are safe here, Aelrue," Alexius petting her shoulder,
"And you will have your justice. Vane wants the Baron. You can have the Sword Master....and I will crush the Empire."
Aelrue looked at him, her eyes shining with tears. She fell to one knee and bowed her head.
"I am your sword, My Lord. Point me at the enemy, and I will not stop until I am dead."
"I promise I will fulfil your wish."
.....
Thus Alexius continue to train his body together with Aelrue, until evening.
Name: Vanator Order Current Strength: 100 Elves (77 Adult, 23 Child) Average level: 15 Affiliation: Prince Regent Alexius Demetrios Leo (Blood Oath) Loyalty: 95% Commander: Aelrue Silverwind (Lvl 24, Arcane Ranger) Dual Elemental Affinity (Wind/Water). Acts as Alexius's personal attendant. Headquarter: The Crypterium (East Wing,Grand Place of Leo) Co-op with Nightwatch agents. Training Progress: 20% Basic knife skills, stealth, and elemental control. Key Traits: Vengeance Imperium: doubled attack damage when targeting Imperial. Fanatic Loyalty: double the success rate of Prince Regent's Leo assigned missions. (All hail the Prince Leo, death to Kalian Empire.) System Alert! Main Quests: Completed! The founding of first personal Army and first intelligent network, Venator order, Night-watch. Reward: Xp 50000 Status points 20 Level up! Level: 37>>40
(Continue....)