Amongst the five who appeared four were men with another woman amongst them, each of them was dressed in their finest garments with the one similarity amongst all six present being the signet rings they wore upon their right index fingers.
"A problem you say" Orson's voice resounded through the courtyard, he was a bald man with a full grey beard that hinted at his age. He wore robes made from luxurious velvet, set in a deep, burgundy.
Aside the golden signet ring upon his index finger, he bore three more rings. Each of them having rare gemstones cast in them. The bands of these rings were inscribed with alchemical formulas and arrays, serving as both adornment and a testament to their alchemical knowledge.
Focusing his blue eyes on Matilda he continued, "last we heard from you, you were heading to Rusvil to retrieve the boy. So what happened now, did the cultist succeed?"
Orson did little to hide the mockery behind his words, "Not exactly, the cultist were eliminated. With even Ezra Blackthorn being captured... however with his mind being what it is now, I don't really know if he can truly be called alive."
"You have the boy then?" Orson questioned once more the eagerness and anticipation in his voice all to clear to the Magisters present.
"As I said once I began this meeting, there is a problem".
At Matilda's words, Orson's grip on the arms of his throne tightened as he made to lean forward. "Enough!" Raphael's baritone voice cut in and caused the two to turn to the man who leaned back in his throne, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
Raphael looked to be in his early thirties, he was dressed in a finely crafted auburn tunic made of silk. The tunic was clearly tailored to fit his frame perfectly, with intricate embroidery or embellishments adorning the sleeves and hem.
His long black hair was pulled back in to a man bun, his sun tan skinned was completely flawless, with nary an imperfection to be found on his face. All this led to him possessing a beauty that was so perfect it was inhuman, his green eyes flickered between Matilda and Orson as he continued.
"Matilda called us here because there is problem that concerns us I assume, but with the two of you threatening to go at each other. We could remain here for centuries and get nothing done, now I for one, would not enjoy spending the next century here listening to the two of you squabbling like children"
"What he means is, we would very much appreciate it if Matilda could tell us the reason for this impromptu meaning." Chaaya who sat at Raphael's side spoke to calm the rising tension as she placed her hand upon Raphael's hand, her dark brown eyes staring at the Matilda and Orson.
Upon receiving her gaze Orson clicked his tongue and looked away, Matilda however continued to look at Chaaya. Her braids framed her face in such a way that contributed the aura of innocence she always projected, however that aura contrasted with the revealing clothes she wore.
Every dress she wore always seemed to skirt around the line of what would be considered indecent.
"Hm. As I said earlier we were able to take down the members of the Scarlett church responsible for the kidnaping, however one of them managed to escape our encirclement, with the boy. We have the entirety of Rusvil on lockdown and hence we are more than confident to find them. However, what prompted this meeting was the arrival of a Gladius."
At the mention of the Gladius, the lax posture in the magisters present disappeared as even Paxton an old man who cared for naught but his alchemical projects, started to pay attention to Matilda's words.
"Upon questioning him it would seem, the crown regions have placed a request. Alongside Ezra's words about the child before his capture, I am starting to feel as though you understated the true importance of this child Orson. So please enlighten us, why is this boy so special?"
All eyes were trained on Orson as each of the Magisters present had the same question in mind, "that child is of Talbot blood, and a child of a great house, a royal house to boot. His importance is a matter of fact."
The silence of the other magisters, made it clear that none believed in Orson's words.
"Did you manage to procure the designation of this Gladius?" Vernon a man who was entirely plain in appearance and mostly enjoyed remaining in the shadows, asked Matilda drawing attention to himself.
"C class from what I could find out"
"Then I don't believe we have much to worry about, to the star folk, C class are in the same league as yellow robed alchemists to us. If this child was something they were really after they would have certainly deployed at least a B class or even an A class Gladius." Vernon's words were in the same disarming and persuasive tone he always spoke in.
Matilda had never trusted Vernon's words and she most certainly did not now, however she realized Orson had no intention to tell the truth. With Paxton already retreating back into his mind, and the tired expressions upon Raphael and Chaaya's face.
Matilda decided to put her case to rest, at least for now.
"If that is all, then I believe this meeting has come to an end" Raphael's baritone voice broke the shell of the silence that had formed, before he disappeared in a bright flash. Chaaya and Paxton soon followed after, with Orson disappearing in the next moment.
Vernon however did not disappear immediately but smiled at her, "Best of luck in your search Matilda, and if you ever need any help remember I'm one call away". He disappeared as well leaving Matilda alone on her throne as he stewed in her thoughts for a few minutes before disappearing in a flash as well.