Returning to 75 Barrel Alley, Bairon didn't rush to open the wooden box.
Instead, he headed to his study and sat at his desk, carving a walnut while sorting through the day's revelations.
Firstly, it was not surprising that the Church of Light had reached out.
Born in the North, with their main cathedral and most of their followers in the North, they were perpetually scrutinized and viewed with suspicion in San Sorus.
The task of finding Donovan was clearly a confidential quest, and as the recipient, Bairon was an excellent collaborator.
His needs were straightforward.
San Sorus was still an unfamiliar city to him, a city with which he had not yet formed any emotional attachment.
Cooperating with the Church, therefore, carried no significant psychological burden for Bairon.
However, a small issue troubled him.
There seemed to be a palpable tension between Saint Thane Cathedral and Rustwater Count.
Or perhaps, had the Church of Light fallen out with the Kingdom in the North, the Pangboton Kingdom?
His eyes narrowing thoughtfully, Bairon set the freshly carved walnut and carving knife aside on the table.
Rising to his feet, he walked into the kitchen and washed his hands with cold well water.
Most Battle Magi positioned the last construct point of their Magic Circuit between their fingers, facilitating quicker spellcasting.
For a Battle Magus, hands were an essential tool of war.
Washing his hands, Bairon instinctively lifted his gaze.
Then, through the transparent kitchen window, he saw a carriage pull up outside his home.
A young woman, slender-lipped with golden hair and wearing a black veil, disembarked from the carriage.
Bairon's mouth slightly opened in astonishment.
The young woman approached the gate and knocked.
Subsequently, she seemed to sense something, tilting her head just enough to catch sight of Bairon, who was observing her through the kitchen window and across the small courtyard.
A few seconds of silence unfolded between them.
Wiping his hands dry on a coarse cloth, Bairon exited the room and opened the courtyard gate.
"Hello, I'm Elizabeth Howard," the young woman said, performing a magus bow and then introducing herself.
She wore a green magus robe adorned with five white rings at the cuffs.
"Hello, Bairon Stewart. Please come in," Bairon stepped aside, inviting his guest into the sitting room.
"What would you like to drink, Miss Howard?" Bairon asked calmly.
"Tea. Red tea, if you have it," Elizabeth responded.
Bairon steeped two cups, one for her and one for himself.
They sat across from each other, Elizabeth still veiled, revealing only the delicate, alabaster lower half of her face.
"When I returned home, Aunt Leona said you had visited, but you didn't leave any contact information or an address. I also asked my teacher Barbara, but she didn't know either," Elizabeth began.
"I apologize for the oversight," Bairon said, before asking, "So how did you find your way here?"
"Not far from the academy, I saw the two ladies who were with you the day you visited my home. They were playing flutes on the side of the street," Elizabeth replied.
Ah, so that's why Seasoft had described her new job as "discovery," Bairon thought to himself.
"We had a conversation, and Miss Seasoft provided me with your address," Elizabeth continued.
That sounded like something Seasoft would do, Bairon thought, rubbing his forehead in mild exasperation.
"We need to talk," Elizabeth added.
"Is this about the exam the day after tomorrow?" Bairon inquired.
"Yes, it's imperative that I gain entry this time. Professor Barbara recommended you to me," Elizabeth said, her eyes lingering on Bairon's gray magus robe.
Though she harbored some reservations, her trust in Barbara kept her from voicing them.
"I assure you that I can guide you through the exam, but I have a condition," Bairon spoke, "Tell me what you know about how Mrs. Howard cured Greyscale."
Though he had obtained a relic from the late Mrs. Howard, Bairon saw no harm in gathering more clues.
As for Anthony's proposition to capture Donovan in exchange for a healing opportunity from the Church of Light, Bairon took it seriously, but it was obviously not something that could be accomplished quickly.
"When you visited for the second time, I began to grasp the real purpose behind your trips to my grandmother's house. I do have some information," Elizabeth said.
"That's good to hear," Bairon sighed in relief.
A momentary silence filled the air.
"Are you sure you can help me pass the exam? It might be somewhat challenging," Elizabeth posed.
"What kind of challenge are we talking about?" Bairon inquired, taking a sip of his red tea.
"I possess a Legacy Treasure," she declared.
"Excuse me?" Bairon blinked, clearly puzzled. Only a fool would flaunt owning a Legacy Treasure, but Miss Howard was no fool. Therefore, Bairon waited for her to elaborate.
"It's currently housed in the White Tower. According to the pact my ancestors made with the tower, the treasure is to be passed down to me when I come of age."
"But as you can see, my magus level doesn't warrant possessing such a Legacy Treasure. It's both a shield and a curse for me, which is why I need to find a sanctuary before I come of age," she continued.
"Either marry a man who can protect me, or find an organization that can safeguard both the Legacy Treasure and myself," Elizabeth said.
Bairon's mouth hung open momentarily.
No wonder the maid Leona had suspected him of using underhanded tactics to woo Elizabeth—no magus could resist the allure of a Legacy Treasure, especially when offered alongside a beautiful young lady.
"Can't it remain stored in the White Tower?" Bairon asked.
The question was rhetorical; he knew the answer had to be 'no,' or else Elizabeth wouldn't be so distressed. Still, he was curious about the details.
"I've tried asking them, even offering a sum of gold coins for its continued safekeeping, but the White Tower refuses," Elizabeth paused, her voice tinged with self-doubt. "The Legacy Treasure seems to be rather special, and they seem to loathe it."
A despised Legacy Treasure?
Interesting. Bairon resolved to consult Seasoft for her opinion when she returned.
"So, your plan is to gain entry into a magus academy?" Bairon pressed.
"Yes, the academy is obligated to protect its students and their assets," Elizabeth spoke with a hint of insecurity.
Bairon refrained from commenting.
His understanding of the magus academies was limited.
Besides, if even the revered White Tower had a distaste for the treasure, the odds of an academy welcoming it seemed slim.
"I'll be of age come next spring. Since the academy only admits students in the fall, the day after tomorrow will be my last chance!" Elizabeth lowered her head, her hands clenched into fists. She seemed resolved, yet lacking in confidence.
"How many times have you taken the exam?" Bairon inquired.
"Ten times. I've been trying since my Mana Bloodline awoke. But someone's been sabotaging me covertly, ensuring I don't pass," Elizabeth said, fuming.
She was seventeen this year.
That meant someone had been targeting her since she was seven.
A sympathetic gaze softened Bairon's features. "You'll pass this time," he assured her.
Elizabeth's eyes were drawn once more to the gray robe that hung from Bairon's frame, its hue signifying an apprentice magus.
It filled her with worry. But in the end, she chose to put her trust in Barbara.
"Then, Mr. Stewart, let's discuss the specifics of the upcoming exam," Elizabeth suggested.
"Isn't the content of the exam supposed to be confidential?" Bairon expressed his surprise.
"I purchased the information for ten thousand gold coins," Elizabeth replied.
She's truly wealthy.
Bairon caught his breath.
"This year, the team exam takes place at Roaring Mountain. The objective is to hunt half-Spellbeasts. The more you hunt, the higher your eligibility to become a student at the academy," Elizabeth elaborated.
"What do you mean by 'half-Spellbeasts'?" Bairon questioned.
"You don't even know that?" Elizabeth looked astonished.
"I'm only familiar with Spellbeasts," Bairon said, taking a sip of his red tea.
He had hunted a few Spellbeasts while guarding the ancient gates in the Shadeveil Mountains, but unfortunately, he hadn't found any mana cores and found the meat generally unpalatable—nothing like poultry.
Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth explained, "Roaring Mountain is home to a breed of wild boar known as 'ragegrunts.' In their usual state, they're just ordinary wild boars. But when threatened, they enter a frenzied state and become Spellbeasts capable of casting spells."
It sounded like Spellbeasts with unstable bloodlines. Bairon pondered for a moment before nodding, "I understand now."
"Besides hunting 'ragegrunts,' we'll also have to be cautious of attacks from other examinees," Elizabeth's tone grew solemn.
It was the other examinees who posed the greatest obstacle to her passing the exam.
Taking another sip of his red tea, Bairon asked, "What levels of magi were the ones who prevented you from passing the exam last year?"