The next day the party was free to do what it wished for as long as it was done on the palace ground. Eyes clearly held to their every move as they await a reply from the Creyestesia.
The grand duke still sits in the dining room, the served breakfast recently finished. He reads the reports given to him by the council of Norka. Learning more about the conflict and the already transpired transgressions.
"Why do I have to accompany you throughout the day again?" Sol asks, reading the reports given to him by the grand duke.
"It's because you're the only one inexperienced in the game that follows."
"The game?"
"Indeed, the game… You can also refer to it as "Dancing in the shadows" or "The backwater wars." Depending on the region and the purpose."
"I firmly believe that we're not on the same page."
"That's why you're staying next to me."
Servants enter the room, swiftly bowing before they empty the table. Rushing out with the used cutlery and returning with a well-crafted cup of wine, the emblem of a man with a snake's tongue intricately carved into the cup. The wine is poured in front of Dalbert Estian, the servants giving him another polite bow before they walk over to Sol.
"Could you leave the perimeter for a few moments, sir?" One of the servants asks, The grand duke responds before Sol can.
"Remember what I've asked of you... Go."
Seeing his employer's insistence, Sol leaves the room with the servants. Guards closed the door behind them, seemingly with the intent to keep it closed for some time. Sol politely follows the servants for a bit before giving an excuse and splitting off. With a firm walk, he walks into the first shadow he can. Using it to transport himself back to the dining room.
In a distant corner, Sol sits, covered by his dark aura. The emerald-colored eyes look at the table, the grand duke now accompanied by another. Kykarth Kasten sits next to the grand duke, both drinking wine from their own marvelously sculpted cups.
"Personally I find the verdict to have been… Unnecessarily harsh. Everyone makes mistakes, one cannot properly live without them. But it was to be expected by Hedara's judgment." The representative of the nobility says, eating and drinking more out of an act to start this conversation rather than an actual need for it.
"You were not for the punishment?" Dalbert Estian asks back, his voice lacking any intrigue or emotion.
"Not to such an extent. I would've asked for monetary compensation… But to command aide from a noble. Truly they know no boundaries these days. It's the same in Ararazi, a bunch of chaos-loving fools. If men like you did not exist then the world would've been burned twice over."
"I'm a no good example of a leader. She was right to be upset."
"Right or wrong doesn't matter. You are of higher birth, you are authority… If people start to ignore these basic principles… May Asariel have mercy."
"Then how come an elf is the headmaster of justice? If It's not too unfitting to ask?"
"A very good question… A very good one… One that not many know the answer to… If there even is a valid response." Kykarth Kasten responds seemingly looking around without a care. The old noble clearly has experience in these types of situations. "She's done her duty admirably, but I believe that there are limits to one's… tolerance."
"I will keep your disposition in mind." The grand duke, Dalbert Estian responds as both cups are finished.
"It was a pleasure."
Kykarth Kasten stands up and leaves the dining room. Leaving the grand duke to sit alone.
"Are you there?" He asks out loud looking around slowly.
"I am." Sol responds as he walks out of the shadow in the corner as soon as the grand duke's eyes had already passed. He sits on the chair on the chair opposite where Kykarth Kasten sat.
"That is the game. True decisions are not made in the open but behind closed doors. It's the same anywhere with even a shred of power. The adventuring guild, mercenaries, Drearoth, the merchants, and politics all cut from the same cloth… Perhaps not the scholars… Perhaps."
"How will you act?"
"I won't act… Ousting Hedara would be ruinous in the long run. Kykarth would make sure that someone of his bidding joined the council. Shifting the power balance in his hands."
The emerald eyes shift from the door to the grand duke, spreading his dark aura in the room before he speaks.
"Was this everything you wanted me to see? I don't truly see the reason."
"They won't solely be clamoring for me." The grand duke responds as Sol controls some darkness. Forming mana created spikes from the ground as it pierces something in another corner of the room. Falling black feathers and dripping blood fall from the dead bird as it's unable to escape the sudden attack.
"My apologies, I thought I felt some eyes on us." Sol says as he dispels the dark magic, having slain an innocent creature.
"Were you certain that you felt something?"
"Pretty certain, a sudden faint shimmer of magic… I thought perhaps it could have been someone listening."
"And your first reaction was to create spears of magical essence and impale them?"
Sol stands up and walks over to the dead crow, inspecting it closely. Looking for any runes or engravings. An even harder task as the spears made a mess of the body. Finding nothing noteworthy, he uses a minuscule amount of fire magic to burn the corpse. The grand duke simply watches Sol's actions and whims. Until a question comes out of the noble's mouth.
"Who taught you magic?"
"Multiple people have taught me."
"Can you tell me their names? Your advancement in darkness magic is something that I'm unfamiliar with. Your teachers must be pretty high up the social leader, considering their arcane knowledge."
"Some were… Can I go now?" Sol answers the question with a minimal amount of information before shutting it down with another question. Dalbert Estian not unfamiliar with such a circumstance simply nods.
"Watch out, Sol." The grand duke says before Sol manages to close the door.