Supreme Ruler: Reincarnated as the Emperor's Bastard Son

Ashoka got ready for the departure from tempest manor along with Sudhatta.

It was their 10th birthday and probably there will not be any celebration since they had a very long journey ahead of them.

"How is your training going on blondy?"

It has been a very long time since Ashoka had a normal conversation with Sudhatta, maybe due to them living in different rooms in the training hall, they seldom talked with each other.

And due to Ashoka's busy training schedule, he got even less time to spare.

As Sudhatta was also undergoing his own training regime, it become even hard for them to see each other.

"I'm doing my best..wait...! I told you to not call me that"

Sudhatta whined, belatedly realizing that his younger brother was still calling him by a pet name.

"Anyway, let's spar when we take a break, I want to see if you have improved or not"

"Don't ignore what I just said"

Despite his complaining, Ashoka ignored him saying just what he wanted.

They both boarded the steel carriage with their nanny Hema.

Since it was not permitted, there was no one other than some knights of the tempest manor and Alberad to send them off.

Cain was noticeable even among them because he was the only one with eyes full of tears among the knights bowing to them.

"See you later kids"

Alberad was also waving at them with a broad smile.

They stood there till the silhouette of the carriage disappeared and only when they could no longer see the carriage did they move back in.

"I hope you can lead a happy life, my prince"

Cain bowed deeply before leaving for his duty.

***

Ashoka and Sudhatta's days at the tempest manor were accompanied by constant rain. However, once the carriage escorting them descended the mountain and reached the bottom, the scenery was white.

It was the Ujjain province's first snowfall. Moreover, a heavy snowfall. Within hours, the snow had piled up to knee level.

Due to this pure white landscape, the carriage had to slow down its pace. The knights Ram and Karan got off and began to sweep the snow in their way with their swords.

"We should take refuge in a village nearby and wait for it to stop snowing. Even if we were to reach the capital without stopping, we wouldn't be able to use the transfer gate due to the snow."

"You're right. We've got no choice."

Although this was Ashoka's first time seeing snow in a long while, he wasn't particularly excited about it due to their grave circumstances.

A carriage advancing slowly, and a snowfall that seems to be attempting to swallow the entire world whole.

"Whoa....(>.<)!"

But someone else was too excited.

It was of course, Sudhatta.

Unlike Ashoka, he was just a 10-year-old kid and it was his first time seeing snow.

There was no way he wouldn't be excited to play with the snow.

Ashoka sighed seeing his excited brother and started flipping through his notes in order to kill time, They were the notes he made after reading the <Supreme darkness manipulation> technique.

There was still many things that he didn't understand in that, so he was trying his best to understand it completely.

Anyway it was a good way to kill time rather than wasting his time excited at the snow like certain someone...

Everything was going well till now, so well that Ashoka doubted for a second if was real.

And as if to scream at his thought.

Swoosh!

Neiiiigh!

Suddenly, the two horses pulling the carriage screamed out in horror.

The 3rd circle magic spell 'Icicle Shot' had pierced the horses' flanks. The carriage shook as if it were about to flip over, and in the next second, the coachman was killed by the same spell.

Blood spilled over the white snow shing under the half moon.

"We're being attacked! Please stay inside the carriage, Princes!"

"It's an attack!"

Ram and Karan shouted out loud. Immediately, Hema covered Ashoka and Sudhatta with her body and observed the situation outside.

Her hands were warm as she hugged both of them.

The usual gentle and kind gaze was nowhere to be seen. Her eyes appeared to be burning with rage as she showed fierce killing intent.

"We'll be alright. You have me and two 7-star guardian knights to protect you. No need to worry, my princes."

A calm and relaxed voice.

Ashoka had never seen Hema behave like this.

It meant the situation was serious.

"There are around 20 assassins. They seem to be composed of magicians and knights, but we cannot eliminate the possibility that they have archers with them. I have yet to determine whether there are 7-star or higher enemies."

Hema reported her own observations of the situation to the young princes.

The nannies hired by the royals to look over the prince and princess were all 7-star or higher warriors.

Before long, Hema's weapon—a short dagger—revealed itself from within her sleeve and gave off a sharp glow.

'What a mess. An attack as soon as we left the tempest manor? Who are they?'

Although Hema was trying to reassure them, he was far more composed than the nanny was.

Maybe due to the effect of <Heart of steel>, Ashoka didn't panic and calmly assessed their suituation.

Sudhatta was seemed scared of the sudden attack and was covering behind Hema.

Ashoka just looked at his for a brief movement before turning his attention to Hema.

Including Hema, they had three 7-star combatants by their side protecting them.

And if the worst was to come, the secrete guardians assigned by the elders would came to their rescue.

So Ashoka wasn't concerned about their survival.

'If they're willing to attack us knowing that we belong to the royal family, then these attackers aren't nobodies. Since the knights couldn't detect them beforehand, there must be at least a 6-star magician amongst them.'

Ashoka was calmly evaluating the situation outside.

'The carriage wasn't attacked after those first few spells, and I can hear weapons clashing in the distance. In other words, the enemies were hiding in the distance, and Ram and Karan went after them to counter… attack?'

As his thought process reached that conclusion, Ashoka realized that something was wrong.

"Hema."

He called out in urgency.

---***---