Conquering His Cold Heart

Frost and Anya entered the medical centre where many soldiers and adventurers were currently getting treatment. Healers of the viscounty and those that came with the frost wolf battalion and royal knight's battalion were scuttling back and forth, tending to the overflow of patients.

Gilianna, the foremost healing authority under Hamon's command was no longer in charge, instead a middle-aged man with a clean-shaven look was running the show. He was part of the healing corps following General Anya and held greater authority than Gilianna despite being several years younger.

He personally tended to Hamon, Maggie, Vaccos and Douglas along with his trusted deputy as they were in the most critical condition and of the highest authority.

A great deal of sweat was on the man's brow as holy light spread from his hands and was gently infused into the patients, slowly and carefully reconnecting their shattered limbs, muscles and even organs. He had his work cut out for him.

"Joseph how are they doing?" Anya asked the moment she came in, her tone full of authority. Joseph stopped channelling his healing magic and turned to face her with an obvious frown.

"They should be fine by the time I'm done however I can't promise a complete recovery, only with the addition of special herbs and high-quality medicines would such an outcome be possible." Joseph replied with confidence, sure of his skills.

Anya frowned at his words before letting out a small sigh and shaking her head.

"Get them healed first, I'll see what I can do about the herbs, we may have some in stock back in the capital." Anya knew about her battalion's budget as well as the reserve stock of medicines they kept in their barrack's vault. She wasn't that confident that they'd have enough for everyone. Thankfully however they'd likely get a substantial bonus for succeeding against the stampede. freewebnσvel.cøm

The emperor wasn't stingy with his rewards.

Joseph nodded his head before turning back to his work, he was currently treating Maggie who was in the worst condition.

"G…Gen…. General" Douglas who had regained consciousness thanks to some of Joseph's treatment forced himself to an upright sitting position and greeted General Anya with weary eyes. His lips however started to curl upwards the moment he saw Frost. His heart felt warm upon seeing the young in a healthy condition.

"Lord Viscount, apologies for arriving so late." Anya crossed her arm across her chest and slightly bowed with respect towards Douglas. She held the man in high regard, a noble that was indifferent to status and always placed himself at the forefront of danger. Willingly sacrificing himself for the prosperity of his citizens.

"You and your citizens fought well, holding back such enemies for as long as you did is an achievement that will be remembered for centuries to come, the emperor will surely praise the valiant spirit of the Furano people." Anya spoke eloquently and from the heart.

A peak B-rank Demon along with multiple B-ranks were assaulting the walls, a truly frightening force far greater that what they'd usually handle. If they hadn't arrived when they did the town of Furano, the bastion that guarded the entrance to the glacial mountains would have been razed with not a single survivor.

"Hahahaha you flatter us too much General, without the aid of you and General Warik we would have surely been erased, sucked into that demon's hellscape to be tortured indefinitely." Douglas appreciated Anya's kind words but knew the truth of the matter. After saying his piece Douglas's eyes drifted to Frost who was standing by General Anya's side.

He could see that Frost sported a few injuries but nothing major, a simple health potion or even time would easily rectify them. His once noble looking white robes were now blood red and infused with a deathly aura thanks to the hundreds of monsters perhaps even thousands he'd slain on the battlefield. He looked like a valiant warrior, a master of war returning after a hard won victory.

He could see an arrogance or rather an unwavering confidence in the young man's eyes. The smile on his lips grew until it reached his ears, a giddy feeling warming his heart.

"It's over isn't it?" He asked almost playfully.

Frost smiled wildly in response before nodding his head, the war was over, they were victorious.

"Hahahahahahahaah cough cough…. Marvellous…. we won…. we survived in the end." Douglas laughed out loud without any restraint which aggravated his wounds causing him to cough violently, spurting out dollops of blood. A serendipitous look then appeared on his old, wounded face before hot tears rolled down his cheeks. They had won, Furano was now safe.

An unimaginable weight was thus lifted from his shoulders causing him to feel weightless and fuzzy, a moment later thanks to the loss of tension Douglas drifted back to sleep, a smile still on his lips.

"He must have forced himself to awaken and remain so until he heard the news, a great man Douglas Furano." Anya bowed even lower before quietly checking up on the rest of her soldiers, letting the Viscount sleep.

Frost gazed at the smile on Douglas's face before shaking his head and leaving him to his rest. He to checked on the soldiers, greeting many that he recognised. His and Anya's presence helped lift the mood in the medical centre, news of a final victory was always uplifting to hear.

Eventually however a meeting was called for the people of authority, all who were able to attend were summoned, and proxies used for those who couldn't.

Frost being one of the strongest fighters, a key warrior during the defence that inspired the local soldiers as well as friend of the ruling nobles was of course in attendance. He sat next to Leo who was there in place of his father. Luna and Jaina were also there, standing in for their father's as all three were currently with Joseph receiving intensive care.

Even Cassandra and Calder were in attendance given that they were in charge of civilian and resource management during the martial law.

Cassandra's eyes were puffy and red, clearly, she had been crying recently. She almost burst into tears again upon seeing Frost, she wrapped in a tight embrace and thanked the Gods that he was safe and sound. Frost could feel her heartfelt concern and couldn't help but be moved.

At the head of the meeting table was a man perhaps in his late twenties of early thirties with golden hair and decent looks, the crown prince of the Northrend empire. By his side were General Anya and General Warik empowering the man's natural magnetism.

Frost glanced briefly towards the crown prince and only learned who he was once Leo informed him.

'So this is the crown prince, the one set to inherit the Northrend empire….he doesn't seem like much.' Frost didn't think much of the human prince. His station meant nothing to him and from what he could gleam talent wise he wasn't anything special thus he continued to chat with those he was close to instead of being awed like many others.

"Everyone please be silent." General Warik stood up and announced with a voice tinged with aura, instantly stopping the chatter amongst those present before granting the floor to the man next to him.

"Thank you General Warik." The crown prince first thanked General Warik with a warm expression before looking at all those present.

"First off I'll introduce myself, Crown prince of the Northrend empire, Randolph Northrend at your service." A few awes and ahhs suffused amongst the people present who weren't sure of his status, many then bowed in response or curtsied before replying "we greet the crown prince". Frost merely nodded since he was not beholden to the empire nor felt that his status was any lower than Randolph's.

General Warik sent a glare Frost's way for his disrespect but stopped after remembering his status.

"I'd like to first congratulate the people of Furano and the branch of the frost wolf battalion for lasting as long as they did against superior forces, you've all done the empire proud in this war." Some soldiers teared up at that statement, their sacrifices feeling validated.

"Though we arrived and successfully routed the enemies' top echelon, without you holding the fort there would have been nothing to save, you have mine and my father's upmost gratitude." Cassandra, Leo and those who resided in Furano bowed in response and thanked the crown prince generously for his words.

Richard smiled upon hearing their fawning and flattering. "This generation's monster stampede is now officially over, and peace will once again return to the prosperous Viscounty. Soldiers will continue to be stationed here for another few weeks to deal with any fractured waves but other than that regular life should resume over the next few days.

Those who bravely sacrificed themselves during the war will be added to memorandum of heroes so as to never be forgotten while those that achieved great merits will be honoured by the royal family, gifted lavish rewards and perhaps even granted medals of honour." Such promises eased the minds of many soldiers and adventurers while also sparking interest within others.

Frost especially was quite interested in the so called lavish rewards.

The crown prince then went on the discuss with those present the steps to be carried out over the next few days such as the handling of materials, payments, pulling out of the military as well funerals etcetera. Such a meeting though not exactly inspiring nor that interesting allowed the clout of war to be extinguished.

Regular life was set to return and with the level of the stampede great levels of profit were sure to flow into the coffers of the territory. The merchants could barely stop drooling as they imagined the amount of money to be made off of the thousands of monster corpses. Furano would certainly see a great boon to its economy in the foreseeable future. Calder and Cassandra would certainly see to that.