The Oliver's dismay, James insisted that he wear the sling for at least a month. Oliver knew he would heal faster than a month, but the young medic was too hot-headed, and Oliver acquiesced.  Oliver noted internally never to anger the young man again.

His training was limited to secret sessions at night and watching the soldiers during the day.  However, he found himself staying the study with Timothy more often than not. 

Timothy was hesitant to have Oliver help with any of the paperwork, but after a week, he gave Oliver some tasks.  By the month's end, Oliver could take over most of the estate's management with ease and confidence.

When observing the soldiers, he took the time to give them pointers and perfect their form. His attitude won the soldiers over quickly because they could recognize and respect another warrior. Because they did not live in the capital, they were not entirely tainted by the scurrilous rumors of the aristocrats, and they determined someone's worth based on their actions. They soon sought after Oliver and soaked up every word he said.

One month turned to six months, and Oliver had thoroughly won over the Wynter household and servants.  Everyone treated him with the utmost respect but appreciated that he did not act like an overlord and treated everyone equally.  

The dining hall was only used once for his birthday when the manor celebrated his coming-of-age. However, after that, it collected dust because Oliver spent his meals with the servants or the soldiers. 

He also did not remain idle. He would help with the management, train the soldiers, and teach Ian different war strategies.  He would often travel to the nearby villages and build rapport with them.  Although the capital held great disdain for Oliver, the north believed him to be a reliable leader and respected him greatly.

He also didn't neglect his family and would send them letters. He felt deep trepidation at first because he could still recall the empty feeling of never receiving a reply from them from his previous life. When he received his first response, he retreated to his room to calm his turbulent emotions. 

He was battle-worn and sustained countless injuries, but the most vicious wounds were the ones that scarred his soul. The kind-hearted letter signed by his mother started to heal those unseen wounds.

Sampson remained in the cellar of the estate the entire time.  Oliver had extracted enough information to confirm that Tomin sought his death.  However, he knew that behind Tomin was Piers.  He would not rest easy until his ex-fiance was dead.

However, he did not need to worry about it for the time being.  Winter was quickly approaching, and the air was getting much colder. Snow would soon fall, and any traveling would be postponed, which included potential assassins.

They would also intercept the letters directed to Sampson, inquiring about the progress of the assassination.  They would send vague replies, signing it with Sampson's name, and bought some time.

Oliver continued to correspond with The Raven, receiving news about the other kingdoms, so he was aware of the current world affairs and his old friends. Savvi and Gallio were training to take on their designated roles in the kingdoms, so they didn't have an opportunity to travel outside their realms.  

He also received a little information about Rucrea, but his heart sank a little deeper with each letter. Draco's name never appeared. 

He tried to remind himself that it was natural that he couldn't receive much information about Rucrea and its people. This was a land of mystery, as was their kingdom. Not many ventured that far north because natural borders guarded it. One could only enter Rucrea by sea or from the south. However, the northern seas were violent and covered in ice, while the south forced travelers to cross the treacherous Asksno Peaks.

Rucrea was the land of ice and dragons, ruled by the Lyrell family, who bore dragon blood. The current king had never shown his face to the public, and no one even dared whisper his name. He was only known as King Lyrell, the Dragon King. Although he was young when he inherited the throne, he proved his worth and expanded trade routes and resources, ushering in a prosperous era. 

Because of the esoteric nature of the king, there were many rumors about him. Some claimed he cared little for his title as king and would run around the continent posing as a minor Lyrell lord. Others insisted he detested all other realms and lived as a hermit in his castle. Not many had seen this king, including his own subjects. Although he was practically invisible, his influence was overwhelming. 

Oliver typically cared little about the rumors because he knew how unreliable they were. However, he felt a deep anxiety stir inside him as he recalled one rumor from his previous life.

The king had a little sister, but she disappeared long ago while traveling to the Cenotaphs. It was suspected that the Ravagers had taken her, but she was never recovered. The young king blamed himself. The Lyrell family entered a dark period as he retreated into his palace and never emerged again, leaving the Rucrean kingdom unbalanced. It was the prelude to their ruin. When the Ravagers invaded and laid waste to Rucrea, his body was never recovered, and the world assumed he had died. 

Oliver was in his study, leaning against the desk while reading the latest news about Rucrea.  He pursed his lips as he read through the report multiple times. A young girl of the Lyrell family was taken while traveling to the Cenotaphs. A fierce search was underway, but the kingdom was shaken.

Only he knew that the missing child was the little princess, and her disappearance would become a breaking point for Rucrea. 

He had made changes to his life, but he wondered if he could change the fate of the Rucrean royal family. Perhaps things can be different.

Oliver was shaken from his thoughts when his study door opened, and a group of men walked in and saluted.

"Boss." They greeted him together.

Oliver sighed.  He had told them repeatedly to stop calling him 'Lord'.  It was nearly successful, except Max and Morris continuously called him 'boss'. The rest of the soldiers noticed and followed suit.

Oliver waved his hand and looked down at the map. During these six months, Max and Morris had found traces of a possible hideout for the Ravagers, so Oliver was rallying Ian and the officers to determine how to handle the situation.

Oliver placed several markers down alongside the Asksno Peaks. "Ravagers appear primarily around these areas and then disappear without a trace... In the south, Duke Holt was dealing with bandits using caves hidden in Camwood Cavern, so I suspect we are encountering the same issue.  What if there are caves within the mountains? Caves so deep that they stretch into Rucrea."

The men fell silent.  Ian rubbed his chin. "This is plausible."

Oliver smirked. "Then I think we change the game and become hunters."

He started to point out his theories on the map and how to approach specific locations for an optimal attack.  The officers became excitable because they had only been reactive against the Ravagers.  This was the first time they could attack.

Oliver turned towards Timothy.   "What are your thoughts?"

Timothy had grown very fond of Oliver and saw him as family. "Very good."

"Let's prepare several men for each officer to lead. We will use stealth and surprise to bring these fuckers down," Oliver said, but he didn't dismiss his men.  His mind was still heavy with Rucrea's current affairs.

He tapped the table lightly with his finger. "I have another mission for you while you are out."

The men were confused but remained silent, ready to receive their orders.

"Thoroughly check the camps of these Ravagers.  If there is a small girl, your priority is to rescue her and ensure her safety," Oliver ordered.

"Boss? Who is this girl?" Ian asked.

Oliver sighed. "If we save her, we will be helping our neighbors in the north."

"Rucrea?" The officers all murmured when they heard this. Because of their dragon heritage, there was always a sense of awe when they were mentioned. The men of Wynter admired the strong warriors in the north.

"Then that is all I have right now.  Lets us prepare and leave with the sunrise tomorrow morning." Oliver said with a distant voice. He was still holding on to the note about the little girl. For some reason, he felt uneasy about this missing child.  Everything inside of him told him that he needed to find her.

The men filed out of the room and started to gather their troops.  Oliver had called his old traveling group: Mark, Sal, James, Sarah, Max, and Morris.  They had already anticipated what Oliver was planning and were looking forward to the attack.

They prepared light gear and thick cloaks as the sun rose the next day.  Although the cold did not affect him like it used to, Oliver still wrapped himself in furs and covered the lower half of his face with a cloth.  He secured the gloves on his hand and climbed to Boreas' back.  The stallion stomped the ground with anticipation, eager to leave the confines of the estate.

They spent many nights in the wilderness, following tracks to find any semblance of a hideout.  The snow had started to fall, and they had a more challenging time locating and following tracks.  The longer it took, the more agitated Oliver became. He was anxious about the Ravagers and the missing girl, fearing they would be too late to save her. 

While scouting, Max and Morris found a possible Ravager camp. They led Oliver and his group through the foothills and dismounted their horses. 

The small party looked over a cliffside, and they all felt elated. They found a group of Ravagers in the middle of a small valley that was hidden from view from the main path.  There was a cave opening in the mountainside, which served as their shelter.

A battered group of Ravagers limped to the camp, dragging a figure behind them.

"So few of you returned?" One Ravager asked. "Over fifty men had left, but only a dozen return?"

One of the injured men cursed. "This Rucrean guard was too strong. Half of us died just trying to weaken him. The others died when we finally took away his spear. We were lucky this time."

"He won't wake up?"

"Not for a while. The poison is doing its job."

"Bring the girl. Let's see if this is the guard she has mentioned."

Oliver was clenching his fists tightly as they disappeared into the cave.  Moments later, he heard a child yelling and threatening the men dragging her out. But when she saw the captured man in the clearing, she cried and ran towards him. 

She clung on to the Rucrean guard and glared back at the Ravagers. "Let him go!"

Oliver couldn't wait any longer and started rapidly climbing down the cliff's side. His comrades called out to him, wondering why he was being so reckless, but all of his reasoning had dissipated when he saw those two figures. He couldn't let them die.

Despite falling snow, he made his way to ground level with little difficulty and hid behind the treeline.  He pulled out his two swords, and his jaw tightened in anger when he saw the Ravagers hit the small child.  

He rushed out, his footsteps soundless in the snow. The first Ravager he approached had no idea what happened but only felt a sting against his neck before he died.  The Ravagers fell silent as a few more were killed at Oliver's hand. He was dressed in all white, and his light silver hair fluttered behind him, making the Ravagers believe a phantom had invaded their camp. 

Oliver moved between his enemies until he reached the little girl.  He covered her eyes as he sliced down another man near her.

"I'm going to need you to close your eyes, little one." He said gently. The girl sniffed and nodded.  

He took off his cloak and covered both her and the unconscious man. "Stay with him, and I'll get you both out of here soon."

The girl kept her eyes closed and clung to the clothes of Rucrean as Oliver continued to cut down his enemies.  Luckily his group joined him and started eliminating the Ravagers.

The unconscious man opened his heavy eyes after sensing that the girl was next to him.  He watched as the man with silver hair expertly maneuvered around his opponents.  His face was covered, but his violet eyes were piercing.  Frost rippled from his blades, making his appearance ethereal. 

The Ravagers thought they were fighting a terrifying phantom, but the Rucrean thought Oliver resembled the moonlight dancing across the snow.  A small smile pulled at his lips as the world turned dark again.

Oliver didn't notice the Rucrean and whistled for his horse.  Boreas was intelligent and knew when Oliver was calling him.  It took a few breaths before his horse appeared before him.  

He went back to the little girl. "We're going to leave now."

He grabbed the man and draped him on the back of Boreas.  Then he picked up the little girl, making she was holding on tightly, and climbed up behind the Rucrean on Boreas. 

Oliver turned back to his men, who were finishing off the last of the Ravager stragglers. "He's poisoned, so I will go to the cabin first.  Meet up with the others for another attack." 

His men saluted to show their understanding and took off. 

Oliver dug his heels into Boreas, and they took off.  Oliver pressed the horse to move swiftly through the dense woods.  He breathed a sigh of relief when he finally saw the small building come into view. It was a safe house that he built during his six months in Wynter.  

He jumped off Boreas and opened the barn door, leading the horse inside.  It was an enclosed barn to protect his horses from possible Cinderwolves attacks.

When he entered, he helped the little girl down and then struggled to carry the man.  He brought them both inside the cabin.  It was a small shelter with one bedroom, a kitchen, and a sitting room.

He brought the girl and man to the small bedroom and laid the man on the bed.  He took off the scarf covering his face and kneeled in front of the girl with a small smile. "Are you injured anywhere?"

She took off the cloak and pointed to her shoulder. He rolled up her sleeve and saw the deep cut; however, it was no longer bleeding.

"That must hurt.  Can you hang on a little longer while I check his wounds?" He nodded toward the unconscious man.

She nodded.

He gently patted her head, led her to the bathroom, and filled the bathtub with water.  He checked the heating stones under the tub and ensured the water was warm. "Wash up here while I check on your guard. Be careful of your wound and try not to get it wet."

He wrapped her shoulder quickly to avoid the moisture and left her with a towel and an old shirt.  He then made his way back to the man. 

He took off the man's hood and finally glanced at his face. However, his hands faltered. The Rucrean was extremely handsome, someone who could steal your breath.  He was tall and built, with raven black hair braided behind him.  His face seemed to be carved from marble with high cheekbones. His sharp jawline invited Oliver's eyes to trail down and admire his exposed neck. 

Oliver flushed as he started to remove the man's cloak and shirt.  He felt that he was doing something inappropriate. He tried to focus on the wounds, but his eyes betrayed him when he finally removed the man's shirt and revealed his powerful chest.  He wanted to appreciate every muscle and line but broke himself from his befuddled state with a shuddering breath.

No man should be built this tempting.

Oliver shook his head and focused on the task at hand.  He grabbed a cloth, dipped it in a water basin, then carefully wiped off the blood that stained the man's body.  The wounds started to reveal themselves, making Oliver frown.  They were egregious.

There was one wound that sat low on his stomach that was turning the veins black around it.  It was where he was poisoned.  He had to hover over the main's waist, and his face turned hot because of his position. He pressed his fingers against the wound and then smelled the tainted blood. He released a grateful breath because he could remove the toxins.  He pressed his lips to the wound and sucked out the poison, spitting the blood into another basin.

When he felt he had removed the poison, he grabbed his sewing kit and stitched up the more severe wounds.  He examined the man's body and found nothing else that concerned him.  He then wrapped up the wounds. He was glad that little girl didn't have to see how damaged her guard's body was. 

As he was covering him with a blanket, the little girl came out of the bathroom in the oversized shirt. He could see some hesitation in her bright red eyes.

"Your guard is going to be fine."  He motioned her over, and she awkwardly shuffled towards him. "Can I see your wound again?"

She pulled down the shoulder of the shirt, and Oliver sighed when he saw it.  "I'm going to clean this up real quick."

She bit her lip and closed her eyes before she stiffly nodded.  Oliver disinfected the wound and wrapped it back up quickly. He then grabbed a small white flower sitting on the windowsill and placed it in her hands. 

"This is a special flower that you can eat. Not only does it help with the pain, but it's also sweet."

The girl shyly ate the flower and smiled when the sweetness hit her tongue. 

There wasn't much space on the bed because of the Rucrean man, so he gathered thick furs and placed them in front of the bedroom's fireplace. He picked her up, put her on the makeshift bed, and draped a blanket on her.

"My name is Oliver. If you need me, call out to me," he said with a comforting smile. "Sleep a little for now. I'll be in the other room."

He said as he patted her head, and his eyes lingered on the man for a moment before he left the room.