"Clank, Clank, Clank" The sound of metal followed me as we slowly trekked the small forested hill
"Sigh, so much for a peaceful morning" I grumbled, as we trekked on this dense forest
In hindsight, I did summon a Knight and multiple soldiers also clad in armor, maybe I should have expected this.
"Only a few more kilometers, until we reach the bandit castle, sigh, if only I had enough mana to resummon you after I uncast the summoning spell" I grumbled as I tried hard to march
Some might say my mood from earlier changed too easily, from someone so hopeful to now being a yapping and annoyed brat.
What can I say, having no sleep and stress can do that.
But then again, please don't mind my manners, let me introduce myself properly.
Born as the fourth son, but also the seventh out of the eight children of the ducal family.
I, Philip Burlas, son of Arnold Burlas the Grand Duke of the Duchy of Pravetta, present to you my current mishap.
Now some may say that as a son of the Grand Duke, I migth have an advantage in life, or I might have a golden spoon even, I mean with a family as rich and powerful as mine, of course we might have access to every expensive thing there is.
Quite an easy life they say.
But hey, here's what I can tell them
HORSESH*T!
Ahem, apologies for the language.
For you see, to be a noble in this world, it means you have to be powerful and skillful to face any terror in this planet, may it be man or monstrosities.
You don't have it easy, for in fact a weak noble, is nothing but a cannonfodder to be sacrificed in times of crisis, and believe it or not, the weaker you are, you have it way worse than most of the soldiers in civilians under your rule, for even they have skills and magic at their disposal too.
In short, a weak noble, is just the same as a horsefly, flying around horseshit eating it along the way.
Ahem, pardon the image
Now why I grumble about this, well it's because...
Yes, you guessed it correctly, I'm one of those horseflies.
"Halt!" I ordered my skeleton troops, as I finally saw the stronghold of the bandits
"That's a big damn fortress" I grumbled as I looked at the fortress just way ahead of us
The fortress was located at the top of the hill, although it looked old and dilapidated, the wall fortifications still looked formidable, it has a segment that cave in, but it was covered by wood planks obviously placed there by the occupying bandits.
"So that's the old stone fortress of my territory" I stated, as I observed the fortress
Yes, you have heard it correctly, my teritorry.
Even though as young as I am, seventeen in fact.
I was given a title and teritorry by my father the Grand Duke, a title and teritorry just like any nobility, with my own land, people, and domain.
Am I a spoiled brat, like what I said earlier, here I can tell you.
That's so far from the reality.
You see, all of his children was given a teritorry to rule and govern, it was a contest per se to see who is the better candidate to be the next Grand Duke.
Some might say it's odd, and shouldn't it be given to the eldest son. But we'll, in this world, in our world Tera where monsters, elves, dwarves, seafolk, forestfolk, beastfolk, dragons, demons, and all sorts of curiosities and monstrosities you can find exists.
This is a world goverened by the strong and the effective.
A feudal world ruled by meritocracy and capability, it had to be, for its the reason we have all survived.
And as such, as a Lord with a lot of titles, vassals, and teritorry, my father Grand Duke Arnold had to prepare the best heir to rule and protect his lands and people.
But then again, like any normal parent maybe, he does have his golden children and favourites.
And sadly, I grumble here talking to myself as if I'm presenting to an audience, smiling begrudgingly as I know, I was not one of those favourites
I dont want to sound like a pitiful boy wanting to gain sympathy, but I just want to face reality.
Because, admittedly, I'm not as powerful as my siblings, heck I'm only a bit powerful as an ordinary spellsword.
A noble destined to be a foot soldier as they call me.
Combined with the fact that admittedly, before I got into this situation, I was still a lazy idiot with no passion and filled with bitterness towards my siblings.
Yes, like the characters in some of fantasy novels I have read before.
The side character, or the bosses lackey before thats meant to be beaten up before the hero goes to fight the big baddy.
Some may say it's a bit of self depricating, but as compared to my talented siblings, it may as well be self actualization at this point.
Set to rule a small unremarkable barony, plagued with monsters and bandits, while my siblings were set to rule their own duchies and marquisates.
Anyway, enough bitterness, and besides things are a bit different now.
"Well, I might not have real human troops available at disposal at the moment, but at least I have a bit power I can use, albeit a bit cursed" Laughing at my own predicament I stood ready to attack.