This subtle shift went unnoticed by all except Bairon, who was currently modifying the "Ice Blast" Magic Circuit.
When the transformation was complete, Bairon raised his hand once more.
In less than a second, the icicle extended by a swift 4 meters.
A deathly silence pervaded the dueling arena.
Everyone stared, their gazes transfixed.
Beyond the mind-boggling spell that allowed the icicle to grow, there was the sight of Lawrence, impaled through the heart, suspended in mid-air by the very same icicle.
Drops of red blood trailed down his blue magus robe, staining the sandy floor of the arena.
Bairon... won?
William felt as though his mind was being whipped by a rapidly spinning ship's rudder.
Even Matthew was taken aback.
While intuition was one thing, seeing it play out in reality was another level of disbelief.
The suspended Lawrence suddenly twitched, coughing up blood.
"Lawrence!" Rueel charged into the dueling ground, employing Levitation to rescue his son.
"Chief Steward, do you intend to join the fray? I would be quite delighted to extend our duel," Bairon said, his eyes icy cold.
After all, Rueel also played a part in what happened to Evelyn.
The audience erupted in whispers and murmurs.
The magus duel system is inherently unfair, allowing the strong to bully the weak.
Yet, in its own way, it's the fairest of all, for the magus guild forbids any external intervention once a duel begins.
Rueel's face twisted with fury.
To challenge Bairon in a duel now seemed improbable.
The inexplicable manner in which Bairon had just extended the icicle made it clear that even if Rueel entered the fray, victory wasn't guaranteed.
Suddenly, an idea struck him.
With a sneer, he proclaimed, "Bairon, the spell you used wasn't learned from the Magus Tower. I now suspect you're in league with the Dark Magus! By the authority vested in me as the Chief Steward of the Magus Tower, I declare that you are to be immediately investigated!"
"That's shameless!" William murmured under his breath.
Indeed, a magus stationed year-round at the Shadeveil Mountains guarding the ancient gates might feasibly collude with a Dark Magus, whether out of greed or bribery.
Thus, an inquiry into such a magus wouldn't be out of place.
However, Rueel's decision to call for an investigation right when Bairon was on the cusp of victory was transparently opportunistic.
"So, who will be the one to investigate me?" Bairon retorted, a hint of mockery in his tone.
"All magi of the Magus Tower, hear me! Bairon's resistance to the investigation is evidence of his collusion with the Dark Magus! Attack him at once!" Rueel commanded loudly.
The magi in attendance exchanged uneasy glances, with none daring to make a move.
Just as Rueel was about to chastise them vociferously, a stern voice echoed throughout the arena, silencing him.
"What do you think you're doing?"
All eyes turned in the direction of the voice.
Approaching was a young girl riding a Berserker Bear hybrid mount.
Trailing behind her was an elder figure dressed in a red magus robe, a knight's sword hanging from his waist, and a gaze sharp enough to cut through the thickest armor.
A red magus robe - a Master Magus!
But what truly stunned the crowd was the emblem adorning the girl's chest: a badge of the White Tower.
This was none other than Ajani·Phillip.
William, alongside other notable figures from Sailport, quickly made their way into the arena, coming before the girl and bowing respectfully.
"William·Jona, Speaker of the Sailport Citizen Council, welcomes your arrival, Son of the White Tower!"
"Sailport welcomes you, Miss!"
"The Magus Tower greets you, my Lord!"
...
Rueel, upon laying eyes on Ajani, cried out as if he'd just spotted his salvation, "Son of the White Tower! Your arrival is timely. We have a spy here, dispatched by the Dark Magus. His power is overwhelming, and the Magus Tower needs your assistance!"
Ajani inquired, "Dark Magus? Where?"
"There, Bairon!" Rueel pointed accusatorily.
"You are mistaken. He is a Battle Magus with the Red Bloodline," Ajani calmly corrected.
"Red Bloodline?" Rueel expressed his bewilderment, "Miss, you must be mistaken. My son Lawrence is the one with the Red Bloodline."
Ajani cast a derisive glance at the wounded Lawrence cradled in Rueel's arms, a mocking smile playing at her lips.
"You've been deceived. He's merely an ordinary Intermediate Magus. The true bearer of the Red Bloodline is... Bairon."
The magi, councilors, and merchants of Sailport were dumbfounded.
"We've been duped?" William exclaimed in disbelief.
"Yes, we have been," Matthew nodded, his face somber.
It was hard to gauge the nature of this girl who bore the "Son of the White Tower" emblem, but she at least held more credibility than the greedy and self-serving Chief Steward.
"No, this can't be!" Rueel shouted in denial.
"I too found it peculiar," Ajani said dismissively, "How could a small place like Sailport awaken two individuals with the Red Bloodline at once? It turns out one of them is a charlatan."
Then, turning to Bairon with a sincere expression, she apologized, "I'm sorry for being late. I was caught up with some urgent matters."
The faces of William, Matthew, and Rueel registered complete shock. Bairon actually knew the Son of the White Tower?!
"Doesn't matter," Bairon responded nonchalantly.
A hint of irritation flashed across Ajani's face; it was the second time Bairon had shown such indifference towards her.
"Considering I was at fault this time, I'll forgive you," Ajani huffed coldly.
Her fury then shifted to the disoriented Rueel, "You, as the Chief Steward of this city's Magus Tower, nearly suppressed a young magus with the Red Bloodline, all for the sake of your illegitimate child."
"Lord Rueel," she continued, wielding the oversight powers granted to her as the Son of the White Tower, Ajani·Phillip, "I hereby strip you of your position, effective immediately, and demand you await trial!"
Rueel collapsed, utterly defeated.
"Remove any spell equipment from Rueel and take him to the Magus Tower dungeons," Ajani ordered.
"Yes, Your Excellency!" A few green-robed magi stepped forward, dragging Rueel away without resistance.
With both the Son of the White Tower and a master-class red-robed Battle Magus present, Rueel didn't dare to resist.
"Miss Phillip," William began with a fawning tone, "if you have the time, I'd like to extend an invitation on behalf of the city's Citizens' Council for dinner. We wish to make a good impression."
Rueel's deception had angered him, but right now, impressing the Son of the White Tower was paramount.
After all, she was one of the few in the entire Provincial Alliance!
Such esteemed figures rarely visited small towns like Sailport.
"Son of the White Tower," Matthew hastily interjected, stepping forward with a deep bow, "on behalf of the Church of Light, I welcome you."
To the Church, the Son of the White Tower was akin to their Holy Child, warranting the highest of honors.
Ajani responded with a mysterious smirk, "Spare me the formalities. I'll be here for a while, and I'll surely be paying my respects to all in due time."
Matthew and William exchanged glances, both puzzled by her words.
And then, suddenly...
A raspy voice suddenly echoed from behind. William spun around to see Lawrence, standing shakily with his back to everyone. "Isn't he dead?" William exclaimed in surprise.
"Bairon... Bairon..." Lawrence croaked.
"I'm here," Bairon responded.
In a sudden, unsettling motion, Lawrence's head whipped around to face Bairon.
His eyes were a deep, inky black.
Even more horrifying was the fact that only his head had turned, twisted a full 180 degrees without moving the rest of his body.
"Be careful, a Dark Magus!" Matthew warned urgently.
The councillors and merchants scattered in a panic.
The magi stepped back, fingers brushing their magus rings, readying for battle.
"Bairon... you destroyed me..." Lawrence's mouth opened, releasing a dark mist as he spoke.
"So, what if I did?" Bairon lifted his hand, calling out, "Ice Blast!"
Two diamond-shaped ice spikes surged up from the ground beneath Lawrence at an angle.
In just half a second, they rose two meters, lifting Lawrence into the air, where he hung lifeless.
"What impeccable Mindergy control," Ajani remarked in admiration, then turned her gaze to Bairon, "You seemed to have known in advance that his soul was corrupted by the Dark Magus?"
"He gave himself away with his ramblings," Bairon shrugged.
"During my time on duty in the Shadeveil Mountains, I encountered a similar situation. That man had his consciousness taken by a Dark Magus using a forbidden spell, and he killed two of his unsuspecting companions."
The red-robed magus stared intently at the two ice spikes, lost in thought.
"Your talents might not just be limited to the Red Bloodline. Ever considered advancing your studies at the White Tower? I could write you a recommendation," Ajani offered.
She seemed uninterested in delving into when Lawrence had fallen victim to the forbidden arts of the Dark Magus, shifting her focus to recruiting Bairon on behalf of the White Tower.
The White Tower was a place that every Battle Magus dreamed of.
Talents beyond the Red Bloodline?
Both Matthew and William felt a tightness in their chests.
"I'll pass. I'm planning on leaving the magus guild," Bairon declined crisply.
"No!" William cried out instinctively.
"Um, Bairon," Matthew interjected, casting aside any reservations about the presence of the Son of White Tower, "Would you consider joining the Church of Light?"
While the Church primarily consisted of Chanting Magi, it wouldn't refuse the inclusion of a Battle Magus, especially one as talented as Bairon.
A realization then struck Matthew, causing his eyes to widen.
"You're seeking a place to treat Miss Evelyn's Greyscale, aren't you? Our Church of Light's main cathedral might have a solution!"