The guards of the Castermere family stood in awe watching as the spar that ensued before them in the training ground.

Usually they would disperse after their training but this morning, after their training was finished they had ended up lingering behind to watch a spectacle.

"Don’t hesitate while attacking."

Swing.

"Guard your left side more."

Whoosh.

"I can still read you clearly."

Lysanne and Drac were training in the ground or more like Drac was training Lysanne.

He was holding up a sword while she was wielding a spear. Their blows clashed with the metal catching sparks and Drac hadn’t once appeared like he was exhausted even after they had been going on for three hours with only two breaks.

"Miss is doing better than before." The captain of the guards, Evales noticed.

"You think? I think she’s just going a little harder because she’s angry." Another guard named, Richard added.

"Whatever it is, but unlike the sword, she’s doing well with a spear." James commented.

"Indeed..." Evales hummed, "usually she was set on the sword but now she is far more fluid with the spear."

"How did Mr Rayburn even figured that spear would be the best weapon for her?" Richard wondered.

"That usually comes from years of training." James added.

"So, that’s where he is." The guards turned their heads and flinched as they saw Eric standing in the same line, leaning his shoulder against the stone doorway watching the duo sparring.

"Your Highness." The guards bowed and he waved his hand.

"It’s fine," he smiled before watching his friend.

The guards slowly relaxed and Eric mumbled.

"He usually never interacts this much with outsiders."

"Pardon?" Richard blurted.

Eric glanced at them before turning his eyes back on Drac, "How do I say this..."

Eric recalled the time when he was around the kids of Eldarf and then during the Trials. He was at home with anyone who was close to Ocean but the ones who weren’t Drac wouldn’t even acknowledge their existence. His aloof nature was always blamed but Eric wondered if it was because he was a Dragon and had only decided to be devoted to Ocean.

"He’s an introverted person who’s never gotten close to anyone but a few people, so, him actually being close to Miss Lysanne and the Young Masters here is good to watch."

Evales smiled faintly, "Same goes for our Young Miss... She also doesn’t have many friends but she at least seems happy now."

The spar went on until Lysanne collapsed of exhaustion and Eric walked towards the duo.

Drac gave her his hand and pulled her up to her feet.

"Your stamina is well, you just need more practice with the spear." He told her before he looked at Eric.

"Your Highness." He bowed and Lysanne also tried to curtsy but after straining her body too much, her knees buckled.

She was about to fall face first but she felt a hot, muscled arm wrap around her waist nearly carrying her off.

Eric watched as Drac held the Young Miss of Castermere easily up as if he were carrying a sack of potatoes.

He sighed, "That’s not the way to hold a lady, Drac."

"She was falling." Drac simply spoke before he left go of Lysanne who steadied herself with flushed face.

"I’m sorry, Your Highness."

Eric smiled, "It’s fine. You must not have had your breakfast yet, right? You must’nt starve yourself for long."

Lysanne glanced at Eric for a moment. The last time they were in the library he had promised her that he would try and fix the bad blood between Lowmere and Hillford.

"All right." She said and he nodded.

She gave a nod to Drac before she walked away.

"Since when do you give private lessons to the noble ladies?" Eric asked.

Drac looked at him, "I don’t. She seemed to be having a hard time with a sword and wanted to learn combat so, I asked her to switch with the light weight spear. Because of her light body and physique..."

Eric placed his hand on his friend’s shoulder and sighed, "All right, I understand."

Drac tilted his head slightly before Eric patted his back.

"Go get washed up and see me at the entrance. We’re going out to the river." Eric said.

Drac nodded before he walked away, Eric looked at the bright and clear sky before giving a smile.

After an hour, Drac, Eric along with the guards of Castermere and the supervising panel were trotting towards the river Casmere.

Eric had two agendas in mind for the day, first was to inspect the river thoroughly as much as the time allowed and then head back at Castermere to think of a way to fix the issues between Lowmere and Hillford.

Eric got down from his horse as soon as they were close to the banks and he and Drac along with the guards walked closer. Eric stood on the dry ground for a bit watching the thin stream.

The soil near the banks was hardened, pale and flaking, it wasn’t the kind that had simply "seen less rain" or "drought." It had been starved.

Eric crouched down, pressing his fingers into the dirt. It broke apart too easily.

He hummed before he rubbed the soil between his fingers, "This isn’t only about low rainfall or the drought."

Drac remained silent beside him. The townspeople from Lowmere had also started gathering watching the Prince’s envoy and were standing on the road watching him.

"What’s he doing?"

"Hey, quit pushing."

"Let me see too!"

They were watching but they couldn’t contain their curiosity.

"Your Highness? What are you doing?" One of the men asked.

Eric turned his head and looked at the gathered audience.

"Inspecting the river to find a solution." He answered.

"Then... can you fix it?" Another man asked.

Eric glanced back at the river before he appeared to be pondering about something, he walked along the bank slowly, eyes following the current.

"Notice how it narrows there?" He pointed towards a bend upstream.

"Doesn’t the floor look compressed?"

The people craned their heads watching where he was pointing.

"Yes, that’s true but, it’s also because of the drought we had last summer." One of the men spoke.

"I doubt it." Eric said, "Even with the drought the river wouldn’t become this thin."

"Then what do you think has happened?" An elderly man asked.

"It must be the Hillford people again!"

"Yes, they can’t just see us happy."

Though these things were whispered among the people, Eric could see that his further deduction might damage things. But with all that he had learned and what he was seeing, he couldn’t hide it.

"Have you dredged it?" Eric asked the people.

The people exchanged looks and even the guards appeared to do the same.

"No, Your Highness. We lack manpower." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Eric stood upright and turned towards the guards.

"Let’s head upstream," he ordered calmly, "I want to check the river’s flow there."

"Yes, Your Highness." Evales bowed.

Eric and Drac walked up towards the solid ground and then got on their horses.

"Your Highness, can you really fix this problem?" One of the elderly men asked.

Eric smiled, "I’ll try my best, even if I fail, I’ll have Marquis Ocean send help."

The people looked at each other and Eric kicked the sides of the horse before they all started upstream.

Eric glanced at the Castermere guards who were trailing behind him before he looked at Drac.

"Drac," Drac looked at Eric.

Drac glanced at him and Eric dropped his voice to a whisper knowing full well his Dragon senses would still help him listen.

"I have a theory for the Hillford so, when I tell you, take the Castermere guards and head back."

Drac tilted his head but then he gave him a nod.

The envoy reached the Hillford and Eric watched as how the people bowed to him with smiles but as soon as he passed he noticed them glaring at the Castermere guards.

"This will be a little harder than I imagined." He mumbled to himself.

After that Eric followed the river’s bend before he noticed the woods and also how the people had gathered blocking the path towards that path.

"There’s one." He noted and then glanced at Drac.

"Drac?" Eric called, "Please go and check the fields around the other side for me. Mr Evales, can you accompany Drac?"

Evales was taken aback as Eric suddenly dropped this assignment on them.

"Ah, yes...?" He answered and Drac turned.

"Get me the data about the soil and the yield and meet me directly at the Castermere mansion. I’ll finish my work on this side and get back."

"Yes, Your Highness." Drac said before he glanced at the Castermere guards and then nodded to them before heading off towards the wooden bridge.

"Let’s go." He hollered and the guards reluctantly followed.

Eric watched them all leave and the supervising panel members who were witnessing it all watched as the smile dropped from his face and he turned his neutral gaze on the people.

"Move." He ordered.

The people flinched and one of them quickly said, "Y-Your Highness, there are no fields on this side, it’s just wilderness."

"Yes, it will be a huge detour for you." Another added.

"You should head over this path, that’s how you will-" another was saying pointing upstream when Eric narrowed his eyes.

"You don’t need to lie to me." He spoke in a cold voice.

The people stood still and the supervising panel watched with curiosity as Eric appeared unlike his usual amicable self.

"I’m not condemning you for this but, it’s useless to try and hide it from me." Eric announced.

"Your Highness, what do you mean?" Hasik asked.

Eric didn’t move his eyes from the people as he spoke, "If you want me to solve your problems, you will have to trust me and step aside."

The people glanced at each other before they slowly parted and Eric moved ahead.

Just a few meters ahead and he saw another stream which stunned the supervising panel.

"What’s this?!" One of them gasped.

Eric sighed, "This isn’t the only one, there must be more in other directions. We need to inspect them before sundown today."