The Kingmaker System-Chapter 55 - 54. Remains Of Someone’s Hope (1)

Ethan was fidgeting while I stood calmly with a smile in front of Davian in his study.

"What do you want?" Davian asked as none of us spoke.

I nudged Ethan’s side and he flinched.

"Y-Your Grace, Sir Ocean has a request."

I looked at Ethan as Davian’s eyes shifted to me. I knew Ethan wouldn’t be able to say it.

"I wish to investigate the Third Wall, Your Grace." I announced making Davian stare at me for a moment.

"Why?"

"The investigation of the whereabouts of the previous Grand Duke and Duchess is necessary, I wish to restart the investigation which was halted and find them. If they are alive then we might find some clues as of where they might be or... find their remains."

I was careful with my words as it was a sensitive matter. Davian averted his eyes and was silent for a moment before he spoke up.

"It’s been six months for that incident, Sir Ocean and there might be no clues left now."

"Hope is the strength that God has given us for the times when everything is lost." I said with a smile and Davian’s eyes met mine.

I could see the hope and anticipation swirling in those amethyst orbs but I was scared to see that hope. I wasn’t sure myself that Alarice and Dahlia were alive or not so, giving hope was as good as asking him to throw himself into the abyss.

Davian was quiet for a long minute before he spoke in a low voice, "I’ll allow it."

He looked at Ethan and instructed, "Arrange everything that Sir Ocean asks of and start investigation of the explosion of Third Wall and... to search for those who were lost in the blizzard."

"Yes, Your Grace."

"Thank you, Your Grace."

After we stepped out of Davian’s study I turned to Ethan who instantly bowed ninety degrees before me.

"Please forgive me! I couldn’t bring up the matter of Third Wall in front of His Grace, it is a really sensitive matter for me to mention!" He apologized.

I patted his shoulder and he looked up at me I could see my smile reflecting in his eyes. I would stay miles away from anyone who could smile like that.

Ethan gulped as I spoke, "So, from now I can ask you of anything that I would need for the investigation, right?"

"Ah... Yes..."

"All right then, so, my first requirement is..."

Ethan listened to my instructions quite well before he nodded obediently and walked away.

I returned to my room only in time to find a raven bird on the table in my room, it started flapping its wings as I entered and I closed the door before walking over to it.

This raven was a messenger from Raven Heart guild, Kyrell had been in touch with me since the time I had told him to investigate a few things for me. He had been consistent in reporting and quite precise.

I picked up a piece of bread that was on the tray in my room and fed it to the bird while slowly unlatching the message that was wrapped around its leg.

I unfurled the piece of paper and read the contents.

"3rd day of 12th month of 637th Imperial Year, Midnight, St. Alban’s Chapel."

I looked at the raven who was eyeing me with its cold, beady eyes and smiled as I gently brushed my fingers over his head and his feathery back.

"Thank you, little friend." I smiled making the raven caw.

I carried it to the balcony and placed it down on the railing from where it unfurled its large wings and flew off.

I turned my attention back to the small note after the bird had disappeared from my gaze. I still had three days before this thing so, I could work on investigation of Third Wall in the meanwhile.

The next day, I stood in front of a small squad of knights with Ethan beside me.

"You asked me to bring those who survived the incident of the previous Lord’s disappearance so, I brought all of those whom I could get."

"They’re not all?" I asked.

"Yes, well, most of them were severely injured and couldn’t join order of knights again so, they settled in the town and I couldn’t bring them. These are the ones who returned and are willing to help."

I wasn’t disappointed but I still needed more information on precisely what happened that day. If I miss even a single bit of crucial information then, I might have to start everything from the beginning.

"I get it, I’ll start with these people first then." I announced.

"I suppose you missed one, Lord Liswith." I turned to see the person who wasn’t a part of the group.

"Sir Adler!" Ethan gasped, "Why are you out here? You’re injured and need rest!"

Sir Adler had gotten hurt on the day the Thompson’s came at Frosthail castle and I had taken a day off of the expedition.

Lyall had reported to me that a shifter bear had attacked them and Sir Adler fought him alone and nearly lost his leg in the process. I looked at the cast that was wrapped around his right leg and the crutches that were supporting him.

He was out of commission for around two to three months till his leg healed but even after that I wondered if he would still be able to walk around like he used to or fight with the same caliber.

[Defender of Divine Glory suggests you to be compassionate if you worry about him.]

"In simple words, you want me to heal his leg and what? Tell the world that I’m a healing mage so, that everyone would try to get their grubby hands on me to heal their illnesses? No, thanks."

There was no other healing mage in this world or at least the one that the world knew of except for the stories that said that the Dragon was specialised in Healing as well.

It would backfire the moment people knew that I was a Healing mage. The royal family would also do anything they could to have my power.

I had read enough stories to know that I shouldn’t show my valuable cards frivolously.

Besides, even if Adler was not taken back into the Knightage he could find something else to do. There was always a second option, even for the ones who thought they’d lost everything. The important factor was that the person needed to change their perspective and accept what was coming even if it was taking time.

"I wish to lend a hand in this investigation as well." Sir Adler spoke up making me pay my attention on him.

"But Sir Adler, you need rest for recuperation." Sir Garett who was in the group said.

"Yes, your injury wasn’t a small one." Sir Ford added.

"We’ll do our best in assisting Sir Ocean to finally uncover the truth so, please stay put." Sir Henders said.

The knights seemed worried but Sir Adler didn’t seem to be paying attention to them as he turned and looked at me. His blue eyes were brimming with steely determination, it was as if he was giving me the silent message that if I dared to keep him away from the investigation then he might flip on me.

"I suppose Sir Adler can be of use since I need every bit of information from that time."

Sir Adler’s eyes went a bit wide for a second before they looked relieved.

"I’ll help in any way possible."

"But, Sir Ocean-"

"It’s fine, Lord Ethan. I’ll make sure that Sir Adler doesn’t get injured to worsens his injury." I assured Ethan who looked worried.

He sighed and agreed in the end leaving me with the group of seven knights including Sir Adler.

"First of all, I’ll need every bit of information from you, anything that you could remember will do. We’ll head to the Third Wall after I’ve done gathering the records of the witnesses."

"Pardon me, Sir Ocean. But we had already told everything and it is recorded."

"I know, I’ve read all the accounts but anything else that you had missed or failed to recall at that time night pop up so, I want you all to repeat it once more for me. I want to be as thorough as possible."

The knights exchanged a glance before they agreed to do it.

For the next two days, I went through the testimonies of the knights and even visited those people who lived in the town and gathered their accounts as well.

There were snippets of the new information from them as I had expected but the rest was all the same.

The incident that took place six months ago had resulted from an explosion at the Third Wall, nobody was able to figure out the cause of the explosion except for Grand Duke Alarice but before he could tell anyone he was gone. I had a suspicion that there was a second explosion on the mountain when they were following the tracks of the perpetrator.

The avalanche could happen because of the blizzard that was blowing that day but there were also chances of an explosion since it happened once. But I couldn’t figure out the reason for it.

Grand Duke Alarice had a lot of enemies but who could go till the point of risking the Empire’s safety just to kill him?

The clock was ticking but I wasn’t sure if someone’s life was on line or was I only going to recover the remains of someone’s hope from that icy mountain.