Winter had begun losing its dominance.
Not because the season had weakened.
But because Frostbound Coast had changed.
The territory that once seemed abandoned by civilization now radiated life.
Glowing roads stretched across frozen lands like veins of light.
Magic street lamps illuminated highways even during the darkest nights.
Heating plants spread warmth throughout settlements.
Trade caravans traveled day and night without fear.
New districts rose from snow-covered fields.
Construction never stopped.
Commerce never stopped.
Growth never stopped.
Most importantly.
Money never stopped flowing.
Inside the Frostbound Coast Central Bank.
Gold entered the vaults daily.
Silver entered hourly.
Investments arrived continuously from every corner of the Empire.
Merchants invested.
Nobles invested.
Organizations invested.
Mage Towers invested.
Guilds invested.
Even people who had never seen Frostbound Coast personally invested.
Because they trusted one thing.
Kel Rosenfeld.
The young Count sat inside his office.
Stacks of reports covered his desk.
Project reports.
Financial reports.
Population reports.
Exploration reports.
Construction reports.
One after another.
The reports all showed success.
And yet.
Kel was frowning.
His silver eyes remained fixed upon a single sheet of paper.
Not because something was wrong.
Because everything was going right.
And that worried him.
More than failure.
Much more than failure.
Success created complacency.
Complacency created corruption.
Corruption created decay.
Decay destroyed nations.
Kel understood that better than most rulers.
A kingdom rarely collapsed from enemy attacks.
Most kingdoms collapsed because they rotted from within.
His fingers slowly tapped the table.
The office remained silent.
Then.
He made a decision.
"Summon them."
The servant bowed.
"As you command, My Lord."
Hours later.
Three men entered the meeting room.
Three knights.
Three newly promoted Master Rank swordsmen.
The same three who had fought Lyra.
The same three who had broken through their limits during that battle.
Each possessed different appearances.
Different personalities.
Different strengths.
Yet all three shared one thing.
Absolute loyalty.
The heavy doors closed behind them.
The room became silent.
Candles burned softly.
Snow tapped gently against the windows.
Kel sat at the head of the table.
The three knights knelt.
"My Lord."
Kel nodded.
"Rise."
They obeyed immediately.
Their armor reflected the candlelight.
None spoke.
Because all three understood.
If Kel personally summoned them.
Then something important was about to happen.
Something very important.
Kel slowly folded his hands.
Then spoke.
"The projects are progressing."
The knights nodded.
"The investments are increasing."
They nodded again.
"The population is growing."
Another nod.
Kel's gaze sharpened.
"And that is exactly why I called you here."
The three exchanged glances.
Confusion appeared.
One knight cautiously asked.
"My Lord?"
Kel stood.
Walking toward the large map covering an entire wall.
The map displayed Frostbound Coast.
Roads.
Cities.
Ports.
Construction zones.
Future districts.
Military installations.
Everything.
Kel stared at the map.
Then spoke quietly.
"When a territory is weak."
Another.
"It fears external threats."
Another.
"When a territory becomes strong."
Another.
"It must fear internal threats."
Silence.
The room became serious.
The three Master Knights listened carefully.
Kel continued.
"Bandits can be killed."
Another.
"Monsters can be exterminated."
Another.
"Invaders can be defeated."
Another.
"But corruption."
His voice became colder.
"Corruption spreads silently."
Another.
"It hides."
Another.
"It grows."
Another.
"And eventually."
His silver eyes narrowed.
"It destroys everything."
The temperature inside the room seemed to drop.
The three knights instinctively straightened their backs.
They could hear it.
Kel's hatred.
Not hatred toward people.
Hatred toward stagnation.
Hatred toward decay.
Hatred toward corruption.
Kel turned around.
Then spoke words that would change Frostbound Coast forever.
"I am creating three Knight Orders."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The three knights froze.
Kel continued.
"The first Order."
He pointed toward the map.
"Will become the face of Frostbound Coast."
Another.
"They will defend our borders."
Another.
"They will respond to monster attacks."
Another.
"They will assist citizens."
Another.
"They will conduct military operations when necessary."
Another.
"They will be visible."
Another.
"They will represent justice."
The knights nodded slowly.
That sounded reasonable.
A military order.
Straightforward.
Then Kel continued.
"The second Order."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
His voice lowered.
"They will exist within the administration."
Another.
"They will investigate corruption."
Another.
"They will eliminate internal rot."
Another.
"They will observe every department."
Another.
"Every official."
Another.
"Every noble."
Another.
"Every merchant."
The room became colder.
The knights exchanged glances.
One finally asked.
"My Lord."
Kel looked at him.
The knight swallowed.
"Even us?"
Kel answered immediately.
"Especially you."
Silence.
The answer struck harder than expected.
Kel's expression remained calm.
"The moment anyone becomes immune to accountability."
Another.
"Corruption begins."
The knight lowered his head.
Understood.
Completely understood.
Then.
Kel spoke again.
"The third Order."
Even before he finished.
The atmosphere shifted.
Darkened.
Something dangerous entered his voice.
Something ancient.
"The third Order will operate in the shadows."
Silence.
No one interrupted.
No one dared.
"They will gather intelligence."
Another.
"They will monitor threats."
Another.
"They will infiltrate hostile organizations."
Another.
"They will become Frostbound Coast's eyes and ears."
Another.
"And if necessary."
His gaze sharpened.
"They will become its executioners."
The room became deathly quiet.
Even the candle flames seemed still.
The three knights suddenly understood.
This was not a normal military reform.
Kel wasn't building an army.
He was building a system.
A self-correcting system.
A structure designed to survive even after he was gone.
One knight finally spoke.
"My Lord..."
Kel nodded.
"Speak."
The knight hesitated.
Then asked.
"Why tell us this?"
Kel smiled slightly.
A very small smile.
Because that question was exactly what he expected.
Then he answered.
"Because you three will lead them."
Silence exploded.
The three knights stared.
Completely stunned.
One almost forgot how to breathe.
Another blinked repeatedly.
The third simply froze.
"My Lord..."
Kel walked forward.
Stopping before them.
"You three became Masters."
Another.
"You broke through your limits."
Another.
"You understand leadership."
Another.
"You understand responsibility."
Another.
"And most importantly."
His eyes became sharp.
"You understand sacrifice."
The room remained silent.
The three knights felt their hearts pounding.
This wasn't a promotion.
This was history.
Kel continued.
"The First Order."
He looked toward the tallest knight.
"You will lead it."
The knight immediately knelt.
"My Lord!"
Kel nodded.
"You will shape its identity."
Another.
"Choose its traditions."
Another.
"Choose its standards."
Another.
"Build it."
The knight's hands trembled.
Not from fear.
From pride.
Then Kel turned toward the second knight.
"The Second Order is yours."
The knight stiffened.
His expression immediately became serious.
Because he understood the burden.
No glory.
No recognition.
No public praise.
Only responsibility.
Kel continued.
"You will investigate everyone."
Another.
"Without exceptions."
Another.
"Without favoritism."
Another.
"Without fear."
The knight lowered his head.
"I understand."
Then Kel faced the third knight.
The room somehow became darker.
"The Third Order belongs to you."
The knight remained silent.
Listening.
Carefully.
Kel continued.
"Nobody will know your existence."
Another.
"Nobody will praise you."
Another.
"Nobody will thank you."
Another.
"You will work in shadows."
Another.
"And if necessary."
His silver eyes became terrifyingly calm.
"You will execute traitors."
The knight felt chills.
Not because he feared the task.
Because Kel said it so naturally.
As though discussing weather.
The knight knelt.
"I understand."
Kel nodded.
Then walked back toward the map.
For several moments.
Nobody spoke.
Finally.
One knight asked quietly.
"My Lord."
Kel looked over.
"What shall these Orders be called?"
The Count smiled.
A genuine smile this time.
"That."
Another.
"Is your responsibility."
The knights blinked.
Kel continued.
"You will shape them."
Another.
"You will name them."
Another.
"You will build them."
Another.
"Because if I create everything."
Another.
"They will become mine."
Another.
"If you create them."
Another.
"They will become yours."
The three knights understood immediately.
Kel wasn't creating followers.
He was creating leaders.
The realization hit harder than any battlefield strike.
Then suddenly.
A familiar voice echoed inside Kel's mind.
Seiren.
"You're creating secret organizations now?"
Kel remained expressionless.
"Yes."
"You are fifteen."
"Yes."
"Most fifteen-year-olds chase butterflies."
"That sounds inefficient."
A long silence followed.
Then Seiren sighed.
A deep sigh.
"One day I'm going to throw you into a lake."
"You already live in a lake."
Another silence.
"...I dislike how difficult it is to argue with you."
Kel ignored her.
Returning his attention to the knights.
The three men were still processing everything.
The future.
The responsibility.
The trust.
The sheer scale of what had been handed to them.
Finally.
The first knight stepped forward.
"My Lord."
Kel nodded.
"We will not disappoint you."
The second knight followed.
"We will protect Frostbound Coast."
The third knight bowed deeply.
"Even from shadows."
Kel looked at them.
For a moment.
The room became quiet.
Then he simply said.
"I know."
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
Because trust did not require speeches.
And as snow continued falling beyond the windows.
Three future legends walked out of the room.
Carrying responsibilities that would shape the destiny of Frostbound Coast.
One would become its shield.
One would become its balance.
One would become its shadow.
And though the Empire remained unaware.
Another cornerstone had just been placed beneath the foundation of Frostbound Coast.
A foundation not built merely upon wealth.
Not built merely upon power.
But built upon systems designed to endure.
Long after kingdoms rose.
Long after kingdoms fell.
Long after history itself forgot the names of those who created them.