Rebirth Of The Duke's Daughter

Chapter 57

"Well, to be straightforward," ZH began, his tone measured and serious, "Mila may have made contact with her next beast. She's still young and needs time to recover, but we don't have all the details yet. We'll have to wait for her to tell us everything about what happened. For now, all we can do is be patient, but I suspect that the Mana Hunters might be involved in this as well." He paused, concern etched on his face. ZH didn't know for certain if his suspicions were correct, but the thought of Mila facing any trouble, whether now or in the future, weighed heavily on him.

"Mana Hunters?" Emmett's voice broke the silence, his expression thoughtful. He was familiar with the group by name but had never encountered them directly. His primary duty had always been to protect his young lady, ever since he met her at a tender age. If fate hadn't brought him to her, he might never have met Sara, and their relationship would not have blossomed as it had. "Has this been an ongoing issue in this kingdom, or has it gotten worse recently?" Emmett asked, his concern growing. He had heard rumors of the Mana Hunters' nefarious activities, especially their targeting of nobles born with mana, but he had never been directly involved.

Aiken nodded in agreement, acknowledging Emmett's concerns. "Yes, the Mana Hunters have been appearing more frequently, not just here but in other kingdoms as well. Their numbers have increased, and they've been operating unchecked for far too long. Do you have any information or clues about them?" Aiken's voice was steady, but there was an undercurrent of urgency. He needed every bit of information he could get about these dangerous individuals who were gathering mana for their own greedy purposes.

"We haven't encountered them personally," Emmett replied, his brow furrowed in thought, "but I've heard of similar cases in the Mireraweth kingdom. Unfortunately, the emperor there doesn't seem to take the threat seriously. He believes that those born with mana will always have the upper hand, so he's not concerned. But things can change. The Mana Hunters could shift the balance of power and alter the course of history with their actions. Their true goal is unclear, but it seems they may be trying to build a civilization where they're no longer looked down upon by the nobility." Emmett shared what he knew, though he admitted much of it was based on rumors and speculation.

ZH listened intently, impressed by Emmett's insights. "I can see why Mila trusts you so much," he said, his expression softening. It wasn't often that ZH praised others, but he recognized Emmett's value in this situation. "Let's make sure we get along in the future." He smiled, knowing that these words might cause trouble if Duke Reynard, Mila's father, ever heard them. The Duke was fiercely protective of his daughter, and ZH could easily imagine the man's wrath if he thought someone was getting too close to her.

In his mind, Emmett could almost see the Duke's reaction—his anger, his intimidating presence filling the room, ready to confront anyone he thought might be a threat to his beloved daughter. The thought made Emmett uneasy, but he knew that ZH wasn't someone to be underestimated either. 'You have no idea how terrifying the Duke can be if he finds out you've been in contact with his treasured daughter,' Emmett thought, dreading the tense atmosphere that would undoubtedly arise if that day ever came.

"I would like us all to discuss something important involving the Mana Hunters," Aiken began, his voice steady but with a note of urgency. "I'm not asking any of you to join the upcoming war, but I do want to hear your opinions and thoughts about the Mana Hunters. They seem to be an even bigger issue now." His tone was serious, emphasizing the need for full cooperation. Aiken knew that if they were to stop the Mana Hunters before the war started in three years, they needed to act now.

***

"Where am I?" Mila murmured as she looked around, her vision still slightly blurred. She blinked several times, trying to focus and make sense of her surroundings. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the strange place she found herself in.