While Alik grumbled internally, Kishiar invited the old mage and his apprentice to take a seat. Yuder stood behind Kishiar, acting as his assistant. Though Yuder's face was now cleaner, his attire remained unkempt, yet Kishiar seemed unconcerned with his subordinate's appearance.
Was this an expression of the Duke's confidence, or a silent warning to Thais and Alik, implying that even basic courtesies were unnecessary? Alik's mind raced with questions.
It was Thais who broke the silence first.
"I am grateful, Your Grace, that you personally greet an old man who arrived uninvited. I am Thais Yulman, a mage from the Pearl Tower. This is my unruly apprentice, Alik Pelgin."
"I am Alik Pelgin, also a mage of the Pearl Tower," Alik quickly added, bowing slightly.
Kishiar acknowledged their greetings with a graceful nod before gesturing towards Yuder.
"This is Yuder Aile, my assistant. I understand that you have encountered him before at the palace. Given that we meet again today, it seems there must be a deeper connection at play."
In reality, Kishiar had been secretly observing them while in disguise, though the two mages were unaware of this fact.
"Indeed, Your Grace. If it weren't for Sir Aile, I would not have made it here today. I didn't get the chance to properly express my gratitude before. Thank you, Sir Aile."
"I simply did what was necessary," Yuder replied calmly.
Alik, surprised by Yuder's identity, observing him more closely. It was impossible to guess the young man's significance based on appearance alone. Holding a position typically reserved for those with far more experience, and already possessing a family name, Yuder clearly had earned his standing. His confidence before nobles was justified.
'Considering he knocked out that knight, Kiolle, so effortlessly, he's no ordinary person. It's rare to see anyone outside the Pearl Tower wield attribute magic so swiftly and effortlessly. Are there more people of this caliber here, or is Yuder Aile just exceptional?'
Alik studied Yuder's pale face. The cold, unreadable expression and shadowed eyes might have been intimidating, but remembering how he had saved him and his master, Alik couldn't help but feel a sense of goodwill.
"Thais Yulman. I've heard your name before. You're a well-known elder of the Pearl Tower, primarily focused on research. May I ask why you've come here, concealing your name and identity?"
"If you know of me, Your Grace, haven't you already guessed my purpose?" Thais stroked his long beard with a serene smile.
"I've heard that you've managed to acquire something that no one else has been able to obtain in two years. As a researcher of magic, how could I resist coming when I heard the news? I am here to see it."
"So, the rumors have spread," Kishiar said with a faint smile. "But don't you think they're a bit exaggerated? I wonder how such tales reached the Pearl Tower."
"Does it matter how they reached us? The fame of both you and the Cavalry has spread across the continent. Naturally, word will spread. Isn't there a saying that a tongue is the hardest weapon to control?"
Thais's rhetoric was clever. While he made no secret of his desire to examine the Red Stone, he downplayed the issue of how he obtained the information, as if it were of no consequence.
A trace of coldness spread across Kishiar's smiling face, as if he had detected something.
"His Majesty the Emperor values sincerity above all else when embarking on significant tasks. I'm not sure it was wise of you to come here, evading his sight."
"Commander," Thais began, his tone calm but insistent, "even if everything else has been exaggerated, the Red Stone truly did disappear from its original place, did it not? Initially, I intended to meet His Majesty, but when I learned that he had long stopped receiving even foreign envoys, I thought it better to grasp at straws than to wait aimlessly. Anyone would think the same, don't you agree?"
As Kishiar remained silent, Thais seemed to gain confidence, speaking more openly.
"I do not wish to boast, but I have devoted my life to study, earning the title of elder. There is no one else on this continent more suited to thoroughly investigate the Red Stone. All I ask is the opportunity to examine it, even just once, to uncover what lies hidden within. Please, do not doubt my intentions. Whoever sent me is irrelevant. If necessary, I will even write a vow."
"..."
"Commander, surely you also need someone capable of thoroughly examining the stone? Isn't that why we're having this conversation?"
'He came here with full confidence,' Yuder thought quietly as he observed the exchange.
'Thais Yulman must have known that neither the Emperor nor Kishiar would fully trust the court mages. He likely came, certain that his expertise would be needed. Believing his skills to be the best, he acted boldly.'
If the Emperor and Kishiar truly wished to control the Red Stone, Yuder reasoned, the most logical choice would be to accept Thais's offer. The old mage presented a tempting proposal: overlook everything else and let him handle the research. Now, it was up to Kishiar to respond.
"Well, as a matter of fact," Kishiar began, "His Majesty once remarked that it might be better to destroy the stone outright rather than allow it to threaten the peace of the entire continent. And as we all know, an investigation isn't necessary to carry out destruction."
"Are you suggesting... it was retrieved for destruction?" Thais's expression shifted subtly.
"Haha. I never said it had been retrieved for certain. But if it has, it could very well be for that purpose."
Various thoughts flickered in the old mage's mind.
Was Kishiar's confidence an indication that the Emperor's side had already conducted some investigation? Had they determined that the stone's power was insignificant? Or was Kishiar simply trying to unsettle him?
Thais scrutinized Kishiar's face closely, trying to read his intentions. Yet, the man's relaxed smile betrayed nothing. Still, when Kishiar spoke of destruction, there was an undeniable sincerity to his words.
'The Empire wouldn't want upheaval... They might indeed prefer to destroy the stone unless they deemed its power worth the risk. It's a believable possibility,'
But even if the stone contained no remarkable power, Thais Yulman still desired to study it. Although the Pearl Tower had ordered him to retrieve the stone, his personal ambition was to monopolize the opportunity for research.
He had come here believing his opponents would be the ones left with regrets, but now it seemed he was the one who felt uncertain.
After a brief hesitation, Thais spoke again.
"The House of the Four Dukes... Perhaps they might have a better solution than destruction."
It was a veiled hint. It implied that among the four ducal houses, someone had leaked information about the Red Stone to the Pearl Tower and Thais Yulman.
'Or perhaps, it was all of them.'
While Yuder observed Thais Yulman carefully playing his cards, Kishiar lightly tapped his crossed knee with his finger.
"A better solution, you say? Do you believe that?"
It was a brief question, as though asking Yulman to choose between the Emperor and the four ducal houses. But Yulman perceived another layer of meaning hidden within.
After a brief pause, a smile crept onto the old mage's face.
"Oh dear. I am merely an old mage. Did I not mention that I have no interest in such weighty matters?"
Kishiar's tapping finger stilled.
"That's unfortunate. I was hoping to glean some wisdom from a learned elder."
With those words, he turned to Yuder, his smile subtly different from before.
"Yuder, please prepare guest quarters for our two visitors."
"Understood. Shall I request the oath from Sir Nathan?"
'You're always so quick to catch on.' Kishiar, pleased, gave a light tap to Yuder's gloved hand before rising from his seat.
"Heavens... I have no idea what just happened," Alik groaned as they entered the guest room Yuder had prepared. "Would you believe me if I said the conversation between the Duke and Master was harder to understand than an introductory magic textbook? I still have chills."
Alik shivered and threw himself onto the bed. He didn't want to think about the subtle, invisible blades that must have been exchanged during the conversation.
All he vividly recalled was signing the oath with trembling hands under the terrifying smile of Duke Peletta, followed by Yuder's courteous offer to transfer their belongings from the palace.
"Well, at least we know where we're going now. Isn't that a relief?"
"What's so good about that? Why were the rumors about Duke Peletta so different from what we saw?"
Alik shuddered as he remembered Kishiar. The Duke's smile when he casually questioned Thais at the end had been far more frightening than any anger his master had ever shown.
"A young, untamed beast hiding its claws is not unusual in history," Thais said calmly. "As long as we don't provoke it, it will leave us in peace. We just need to complete our examination of the Red Stone. So be careful with your words, Alik."
"Do we really have to go through all of this just to do some research...?"
"If it bothers you that much, you can always return to the tower."
"Ah, damn it…"
Alik let out a heavy sigh, gazing out the window of the guest room.
'Does the Red Stone really exist here? It's hard to believe...'