This time, even the young man beside Raman's expression changed. Just then, Wesley, who had regained consciousness, angrily exclaimed, "You all know the vast difference in strength between us and the Magos Frontier Army of Kedun City, yet you still expect us to fulfill such conditions?"
Raman ignored him, remaining silent as he focused on Charmion. Charmion slightly lowered his head, his eyes fixed on the ground, saying nothing.
Roderick looked at Charmion with concern, but saw only his quiet contemplation. Turning back to Raman, he noticed the young man wearing a puzzled expression, clearly unaware of the situation beforehand.
A strange silence enveloped the hall, and eventually, all eyes turned to the man in the black robe.
Charmion seemed to sense the collective gaze and shifted slightly, yet he remained silent. It was evident that he was deeply engrossed in thought.
After a long while, Raman let out a soft chuckle, saying, "Well, it seems I have brought you considerable confusion. However, my earlier proposal was made with your future in Nasda in mind. If you align yourself with Nasda, given our families' decades of friendship, I will definitely look out for you. But if you harbor any thoughts for your future, I believe my previous suggestion is a very good approach. The decision is yours to make!"
Raman paused before continuing, "We are within Magos territory, and I cannot linger here for long." He gestured toward the young man behind him, saying, "This is my eldest son, Karlping. He is familiar with the local geography and may be of assistance to you. I will have him stay here to help."
Charmion stood up, executed a deep bow, and said earnestly, "Thank you, Uncle. I hope for your continuous support in the future."
Raman smiled lightly, waving his hand dismissively. "You and I share a profound bond; there is no need for formalities."
***
After bidding farewell to Charmion and the others, Raman made his way toward the city gates, accompanied by Karlping. Halfway there, Karlping could not contain his curiosity and asked, "Father, are you truly considering having Charmion attack Kedun City?"
Raman replied calmly, "What do you think?"
Karlping responded immediately, "That's impossible!"
Raman gazed into the distance at the towering Longshan Mountain range, his expression impassive. "I know; it is indeed an impossible task."
Karlping was taken aback. "Then why do you…?"
Raman interjected, "The current strength of the Nasda Empire, both in national power and military might, far exceeds that of previous generations. Moreover, His Majesty Baz is both wise and formidable, surrounded by renowned generals. At this moment, if someone were to align themselves with His Majesty Baz, what kind of treatment do you think they would receive?"
Karlping paused, and before he could respond, Raman continued, "In my view, if someone is beneficial to Nasda, His Majesty Baz would surely accept them sincerely. However, if one seeks to rise rapidly, it may prove exceedingly difficult. Yousu spent his life feeling unfulfilled, and I do not wish to see his son end up similarly. Unfortunately, the current situation is quite challenging. I have toiled over this problem, pondering countless possibilities for his future, yet all I arrived at was this impossible condition."
Karlping fell silent, deep in thought.
Raman sighed and added, "However, if a person were to perish, all would be lost. I owe Yousu much from the past and will not let his only son face any undue risks. I have known Toran for many years and understand his capabilities well. Charmion, in a solitary city, will never be able to contend with him. You must stay close to him, and if the situation becomes dire, swiftly lead him to the secret path in the Longshan Mountains to join our forces.
If he still harbors ambition, I will gradually assist him in the future."
Karlping nodded, remaining silent. Yet, within his heart, a question lingered: if the situation were truly as impossible as his father described, why would he still voice it, leading Charmion to ponder deeply? There was even the potential that Charmion might, in pursuit of his future, risk everything, even his very life!
***
The night was deep and quiet.
A thin veil of clouds adorned the sky, revealing only a smattering of stars. Yet the round moon, casting a pale yellow light, illuminated the ground. Charmion stood alone in the garden of the grand mansion, gazing at the bright moon and lost in silent reflection.
All around was still; even the smallest insects seemed afraid to make a sound. In this dark night, his solitude felt even more profound.
Darkness enveloped him, dancing gently, gradually consuming him.
He maintained his stance for a long time.
Suddenly, a faint roar echoed in the distance, causing Charmion to frown slightly. He pondered for a moment before walking toward the source of the sound.
In a secluded area of the mansion, two soldiers stood guard outside a wooden shack. The door to the shack was tightly locked, with only a small window high above the ground faintly emitting the sound of heavy breathing.
Soldier A remarked, "It's so cold; what bad luck. We were assigned to guard this monster."
Soldier B replied, "Exactly, while the rest of the brothers are sound asleep, we have to keep an eye on this creature that hasn't tired after a day of fighting."
Soldier A nodded, "Yeah. Speaking of which, that monster is quite formidable. Look at John and Black, such big men, yet they were tossed aside by him like small chicks."
Soldier B added, "True, but don't you think that man in the black robe is even more terrifying? He only moved his hand, and that monster just went limp."
Soldier A shushed him, "What are you trying to do?! Do you dare to speak ill of the Dark Mage? You want to die?"
Soldier B stuck out his tongue and said, "I didn't say anything bad, and I don't believe Lord Charmion is the demon from the legends. However, even if I trust him completely and would fight for him, I still wouldn't dare to get close…"
At that moment, he suddenly noticed that his companion had fallen silent, his eyes fixed straight ahead. "What's wrong with you? What are you looking at? Haha, have you seen a ghost or something…"
A chill swept over him, abruptly silencing his words. The darkness in the distance seemed to come alive, growing more intense against the night sky. An unseen yet palpable cold slowly advanced in the autumn evening.
The darkness resembled a gentle woman or a loyal subordinate, surrounding the man of the shadowy realm, pushing back the light and occupying its own space.
Charmion stood before the soldiers, quietly fixed in place.
The bright moon hung high, illuminating the sky.
Yet here, only darkness remained.
Both soldiers suddenly felt a dryness in their mouths and a bitterness lingered on their tongues, their hearts racing alarmingly loud in their chests.
Charmion glanced toward the wooden shack, listening to the inhuman sounds coming from within. "You two can go back; I will keep watch here," he said.
Soldier A forced a nervous smile, about to say something, but felt a pull on his arm. He glanced over to see his companion looking at him. They exchanged a worried glance, both aware of each other's pale faces.
The two soldiers departed, passing by Charmion with an air of reverence and fear.