As soon as he came into the room his father shouted out before he could speak” well-done son you are here, I want to introduce you to someone this is Mr. Jones, Viscount Carey’s chief butler”.

As he heard this he could see the reason for his father fidgetiness, the viscount’s prowess was well known throughout the whole empire, anything that was connected to him was feared and respected because he had both personal and political power, he was the pillar through which the third prince could contest the throne and also it was because of his genius that the war had been salvaged

“Good day Mr. James, it’s a pleasure to meet you I have had so much about you and your work for the empire, I must say Mr. James that your genius is very much appreciated” my alchemist said that even though the recipe was made up of tier one spiritual herbs and tier one spiritual mineral but the intricacy of the way it was combined together has caused a qualitative change in its effect, it was just genius,”.mr Jones said as he and James shook hands.

“thank you, Mr. Jones, for the compliment it was just luck,” James said while wondering what Mr. Jones was looking for him because Mr. Jones mostly never left viscount Carey side except on official business. So he couldn’t help but wonder the reason that he came to see as it meant that he had a message for him from Viscount Carey and he couldn’t help but wonder, as even though he had invented the nihility drug it was not of much importance to someone at the viscount’s level.

“You are welcome Mr. James,” he said while unfurling a scroll, while the two guards behind him, brought forward a chest.

“ I am here under the order of viscount Carey to confer unto you the title of a tier two scholar for your service to the empire and also you shall be given the sum of three thousand black gold, your work for the empire and the Raindragon clan are well appreciated” Mr. Jones read out of the scroll.

When James heard, this he immediately bowed and received the edict with a palpating heart, because the title of a scholar was one of his short term goals, but because of the war, he was side-tracked. Once you became a titled scholar of the empire, you would be given free rein of the imperial library according to your tier, the resource would also be provided for you.

This was one of, the three ways to gain status and resources in the empire, the three being through the battlefield, being born into nobility and scholastic deed and it could be said to be the hardest way to do so as the other two were fairly easy, as you could just naturally be born into a noble family and a chance encounter could make someone a hero on the battlefield but to be a scholar was a truly hard and tedious affair and most spent their life without achieving it

James getting promoted to tier two scholar was a momentous new as there were six different levels. First the apprentice tier, which was where most of the scholars are, then the tier one to five scholars.

“Thank you, sir, I am honored by the grace the viscount had shown me, “he said while still bowing.

“I am here to give the title deeds of a manor in fransescott to you this is a personal gift from the viscount”, he threw a scroll at James then nodded to sir Eric “I will be on my way then, sir Eric goodbye and a good day to you” while getting ready to leave

“You are very welcome Mr. Jones, we are more than happy to host you in our humble abode and we do hope you would drop by again soon “sir Eric also got up from his seat preparing to walk him out he turned to James and whispered.

“You can go now James I have some personal matters to discuss with Mr. Jones here” a worried and solemn look on his face

“yes father,” James said while trying to hide a puzzled look from his face as soon as he went out he held his ears to the door and tried to eavesdrop on their conversation

“Is our war situation really that bad “he heard a voice which sounded like Sir Eric?

“yes the wars is not really going that well for us we have better quality commanders and soldiers than them but it is as if they have an innumerable number of troops” sigh “this is turning into a war of attrition which we would clearly lose, we have already killed two hundred and fifty solider and they don’t seem fazed at all” Mr. Jones voice could be heard with a sense of defeat to it.

“what how can that be even by the lowest estimate is to say that two hundred and fifty peaks houtian experts are dead since when are cultivators this easy to create in this island “ a surprised shout could be heard.

“No, they are death soldiers which were created from the inheritance which they found. it was through this inheritance that they got the weapons which helped them defeat the yellow and southern wind alliance with such speed, we got information from our spies that for the creation of this army they allowed the secret of the inheritance they got to be made public, you should know this is not a simple war from the way it is going”.

“yes, I can see some anomalies from the way the war is being fought,” James said admitting his suspicions “can you tell me the reason for the war if it is not a problem?”

“I can’t tell you the reason but this is a war which would decide the fate of the island and a very fortuitous event if you perform brilliantly in it, but it could also destroy which was why most of the major clans and the imperial family did not send their elites because they are preparing themselves and this war was not really in our favor”,

“You shouldn’t have been told this but because of the appreciation the viscount has for you, so take care of yourself and goodbye “sounds of footstep could be heard walking to the exit as soon as James heard this he turned and ran to his room while musing about what he heard,

The next few weeks were like the lull before, the thunderstorm the war was at a temporary standstill, even the snow empires fervent assault had almost slowed to a standstill but a static charge could be felt all around the camp everyone from the generals to the errand boys could feel that the direction of this battle would be decided soon the battle which would decide their future was coming and everyone was waiting with fear, trepidation, and excitements in their hearts, on the third day of the third week the war finally started