After the prince of Sweden proclaimed war on the country of Norway both the kingdoms were preparing for the war. It wasn't lost to anyone in the two kingdoms that things will be very serious and if they weren't careful it will lead to their downfall. The royal family of Norway, the Ascheberg's had already started preparing the moment they sent the letter knowing that the prideful prince would wage war on them. Many of the knights were called from both the kingdom to prepare for the war as neither royal family wanted to lose to the other, cause it is now a matter of pride to them.

As for Lucas himself, since the war was considered in his plans he wasn't that surprised. Instead he has also started making his own preparations for the war. There are quite a few perks for having the maturity and intelligence of a 20 year old from birth. He could easily pick out the things he wanted to do since he was a child and has gained tremendously from it. He is quite sure that he is one of the most skilled swordsmen in the two kingdoms and is one of the few who knows how to utilise magic.

So imagine his surprise when he got a letter from the palace to become the second in command of one of the four commanders of the army of Norway. Usually a noble would not take such a direct role and would be at a place far away from the actual fighting. His parents were obviously worried and concerned for him since he is their only son and they didn't want him to die fighting in the war. Of course, since it is from the palace so it is the same as being ordered by the royal family to fight in the war.

Lucas however wasn't deterred by it as he has been mentally preparing himself ever since he thought the war might happen. He was also informed that the army will be ready for war in a week and it is estimated that the Swedish army will be ready at the same time as well. After he received confirmation of the war he had immersed himself in his martial arts training and magic. He knew that there would be some mages in both the kingdoms so him knowing magic will be in his best interests.

He also met with the merchant two days after the proclamation of war and the merchant seemed to have made quite the profit with the start of the war. Lucas had also used this opportunity to tell him to gather necessary supplies to give to the army and the common folk during the war. As a businessman, Alvis was well aware about what Lucas was talking about and agreed with him. Which is the reason he had already stocked himself on necessary supplies beforehand and Lucas also gave him some of the produce from his territory so they can profit from it.

"So under which commander are you son?" Lucas's father Leif asked him as he entered his room.

"I'm told in this letter that I'm under commander Andvaranaut." Lucas informed his father as he looked at the letter in his hand.

"Ah, he is the second oldest commander if I'm not mistaken. He is famed to be great with his spear and is said to have the same level of skill as your teacher Gustav." Leif said to him.

"If that's the case then it will be worth working under him. Though I still don't understand why they made me the second in command. I'm only 17." Lucas thought out loud.

"It might be because you have skill in the arts of the blade. Not many noble children of your generation and the younger generations. They must've thought having a skilled swordsman in the army's ranks will help immensely. Especially since your opponent used enchanted armor." Leif said to his son.

"I suppose. Is there anything else you wanted to say to me father. I was about to go out of the mansion for sometime." Lucas said to him.

"Just be careful during the war. Your mother and I would be very happy if you could be with us." Leif said to his son with eyes of worry.

"I will father." Lucas said to him with a smile.

Leif nodded and left the room. Lucas then got dressed and left the mansion, he didn't take the carriage as he exited the mansion and went through the gates. After getting a fair distance from the mansion and making sure that no one was watching him he used his magic to teleport out of the place.

He then reached a place which was filled with at least 20 boys. 10 of them were 15 to 16 years old, 6 of them were at 17 to 18 and lastly 4 of them were 19. They were kids he had taken of the streets. Lucas founded an orphanage under his name when he was 14. There weren't many orphans as many children who were in the streets would be caught and used my nobles for human trafficking. Males are more abundant and females are very hard to see. Lucas had managed to track down some of the human traffickers and had gotten them caught by giving anonymous tips to his father.

The 20 males in front of him were some of the kids he had taken in after he started the orphanage. After they were taken in he gave all the children necessary education and self defence classes. After that he picked out the ones from them who were good in combat and gave them extensive training himself. Due to him taking them in since they were young boys they were of course greatful to him for it. He used it as a way to gain their loyalty as he made them swear loyalty to him.

Due to wanting to repay him for his hospitality the boys went through their training and grew into fine warriors. Lucas had also made sure to spend time with the boys and took care of them which caused them to trust in him greatly. And while it was his plan to manipulate them into becoming his loyal warriors he has grown to care and cherish them.

"What have you got Beta?" Lucas asked the 19 year old boy in front of them.

He didn't have a good enough naming sense so he just opted to give them names from his past life which to be honest wasn't good as well.

As for the boy Beta himself, he is a bit shorter than Lucas. He has dirty blonde hair and green eyes and almost pale skin. He was lean and built and was quite the handsome man. Beta stood in front of Lucas with a serious face when he was called.

"Master Lucas, it is as you have guessed, the rock formations in the cave aren't natural. The artifact you gave us glowed when we had entered the cave when something like that shouldn't be possible." Beta said to him in a respectful.

"Hmm, so my suspicion about sometime trying to incite war is correct huh. Do you know who is responsible for it?" Lucas asked him.

"No. But we do have a little information, a rumour but it could be believable." Beta said to him.

"What is it?" Lucas asked as he is obviously curious.

Beta told him the information which caused Lucas to have a surprised face before he gained an interested one.

"Well, that is interesting." Lucas said as he rubbed his chin at the newfound information.