Her words made Arlon freeze, his thoughts grinding to a halt. Slowly, he turned to look at her, his calm expression hiding the unease rising inside him. "Not an awakener?" he repeated, feigning ignorance. "What makes you say that?"
Alice tilted her head, confused by his reaction. "It's not something ordinary people can do. Activating a mana stone requires a certain finesse that only awakeners can master easily. But in your case... It's probably because of the Sky Soul power. Even without awakening, it gives you the ability to connect with mana."
But I had already mastered it before I got Ace,
Arlon's grip tightened slightly on the stones. He forced a small smile. "I see... so mages like you can tell who's an awakener and who isn't?"
Alice nodded without hesitation. "It's instinct for mages—we can always sense who's awakened and who isn't."
Arlon's thoughts spiraled. If that's true, then Dimitri must have known all along. The original Arlon Throndsen's pretense of awakening couldn't have fooled someone like him.
This realization sent a chill down his spine. Dimitri, loyal to a fault, had always served the original Arlon without question. But why? Why would he remain loyal to someone who had been deceiving the world about his fake ability?
Arlon's thoughts spiraled deeper. Could that be why Dimitri vanished when Arlon became the heir to the family? Did he know something that made him leave—or was his disappearance part of some larger plan?
Alice interrupted his thoughts, oblivious to the storm brewing in his mind. "It's incredible, though," she said, leaning closer to inspect the glowing mana stone. "You make it look so simple. Maybe you'll be the first to figure out how to restore a used mana stone."
Arlon gave a distracted nod, his focus still on the puzzle Dimitri's loyalty posed. If Dimitri knew the truth, then he's far more calculating than I gave him credit for. And if he stayed loyal despite that knowledge... what's his real goal?
The glow from the mana stone flickered slightly as Arlon's concentration wavered. He quickly steadied himself, pushing his doubts aside for now. There was too much to do, and the mystery of Dimitri's actions would have to wait.
"Well," he said, breaking the silence. "Let's see if I can figure out this mana stone restoration theory. I've got nothing to lose by trying."
Alice smiled, her faith in him evident. "If anyone can figure it out, it's you."
But as Arlon turned his attention back to the mana stones, a lingering unease remained in the back of his mind—a shadow of doubt that refused to fade.
Dimitri's loyalty, the original Arlon's secrets, and the strange gaps in the story's history... I'll need answers. And he intended to find them.
Just then, Dimitri returned, carrying a tray laden with an assortment of snacks and a fresh pot of tea. He placed the tray on the table with his usual precision, his demeanor unruffled.
"Lady Alice," he said with a slight bow, "your brother Anthony is looking for you. He said it's important."
Alice's eyes widened slightly, and she quickly gathered her things. "I should go then. Thank you for letting me know, Sir Dimitri." She turned to Arlon with a smile. "Good luck with your experiments,I'll see you later."
Arlon gave her a small nod. "Take care."
With a quick wave, Alice left the room, leaving Arlon alone with Dimitri.
Arlon picked up the cup of black tea Dimitri had poured for him, his expression neutral as he stared at the dark liquid. He took a measured sip, suppressing the grimace that threatened to surface.
This tea again,he thought, the familiar taste lingering on his tongue.
He didn't hate it as much as he initially had, but it wasn't growing on him either. Still, enduring it had become part of his routine. Just like enduring this act.
Setting the cup back on the saucer, he straightened in his chair and fixed his gaze on Dimitri, who stood by the side of the room, ever the composed butler.
"Dimitri," Arlon began, his tone calm but carrying an unmistakable weight, "you've always known, haven't you?"
Dimitri's green eyes flickered with a faint trace of recognition, though his expression remained stoic. "Known what, my lord?"
"That I've been pretending to be an awakener," Arlon said bluntly, leaning back slightly as he picked up the tea cup again. "How long have you known? And how long do you plan to keep quiet about it?"
The room fell silent, save for the faint sound of the tea swirling in the cup as Arlon took another sip, his calm demeanor a sharp contrast to the weight of his words.
Dimitri didn't respond immediately. Instead, he adjusted his glasses with a deliberate motion, his gaze steady and unreadable.
"You're unusually bold today, my lord," Dimitri remarked, his smooth voice betraying no surprise. "It's rare for you to broach such… delicate topics so openly.
Arlon set the cup down with a quiet clink. "I'm not in the mood for games, Dimitri. You've served me long enough to know everything about me. So, tell me—how long have you known, and why haven't you said anything?"
Dimitri's lips curved into the faintest smile, though it wasn't one of amusement. "If I may be honest, my lord, I've known from the beginning."
Arlon raised an eyebrow but didn't seem surprised. "From the beginning, you say?"
"Yes," Dimitri said with a slight incline of his head. "It wasn't difficult to discern. After all, an awakener's aura is unmistakable, and yours has always been... absent."
Arlon tapped his fingers lightly against the table, processing the confirmation. "And yet, you've stayed loyal. Why? Surely someone like you would have had plenty of opportunities to expose me—or to leave entirely."
Dimitri's expression shifted, a faint glimmer of something unspoken crossing his sharp gaze. "Loyalty isn't always tied to truth, my lord. Sometimes, it's rooted in belief—in the potential of someone, or the vision they may yet realize. That's why I stayed."
"..."
Arlon studied him carefully, his calm facade unbroken, though his mind was anything but. Belief in potential? Or something else entirely? What are you really hiding, Dimitri?
"I see," Arlon said finally, picking up the tea cup once more. "But I'll warn you, Dimitri—I don't intend to keep this charade up forever. There will come a time when the truth will need to come out. And when that happens..."
"You will have my support," Dimitri interjected smoothly, his tone unwavering. "As always."
Arlon stared at him for a long moment before taking another sip of tea. He hated the taste, but this time, it seemed easier to bear.
"Good," Arlon said at last, setting the cup down. "Let's keep it that way."
Dimitri inclined his head once more, his composed demeanor intact. "Of course, my lord."
As the silence settled between them, Arlon couldn't shake the feeling that Dimitri's loyalty ran deeper than he'd admitted—and that there were layers to this man's motives he had yet to uncover.
As the afternoon sun cast a warm glow across the villa, Arlon invited Lawrence, Alice, Anthony, and the young wolf boy Eric into a spacious sitting room.
The room was filled with comfortable chairs and a low table with refreshments, creating a peaceful atmosphere amid the recent chaos. Lawrence, Alice, and Anthony took their seats, already sensing the weight of what Arlon was about to say.
Once they had settled, Arlon took a deep breath and began, "I'll be heading back to the Grand Duchy tomorrow. The Duchess has summoned me to attend a meeting with the noble families who support our house. I'll likely be away for three days."
Alice and Anthony nodded thoughtfully, glancing at each other. Arlon leaned forward, his gaze moving from each of them to Eric, who sat close to Alice, looking up at Arlon with quiet excitement.
"I wanted to know what your plans are. Will you stay here, or do you have other intentions?"
Though he appeared calm on the surface, Arlon's thoughts churned beneath—the Duchess's summons, Dimitri's calculated loyalty, and the mystery of his borrowed power… all demanded answers.
Alice spoke up first. "Actually, we'd like to bring Eric back to his home," she said, giving the wolf boy a gentle smile. "He remembers where his village is, and he's been eager to return."
Arlon nodded, recalling the disturbing events he'd read about in the original novel. He had assumed the Pry members kidnapped wolf children for a dark ritual, using their blood to empower the Moon Mage. But seeing the reality, with the mage outright killing the children, left Arlon wondering if there was more to the story than he understood.
Why was the Moon Mage only killing them? Was he fulfilling a direct order rather than following some ritualistic purpose?
Shaking off his unease, Arlon met Alice's gaze. "It's strange," he admitted. "I thought their intentions were to sacrifice blood to strengthen their power. But if he was just... slaughtering them, that's a different kind of evil." He shook his head. "Well, I'll help you however I can. We'll travel together back to the Grand Duchy, and from there, you can take Eric home."
Hearing this, Eric's ears perked up, and his golden eyes gleamed with hope. "Really? I get to go home?".His voice trembled with excitement, and he bowed deeply to Arlon. "Thank you, Master Arlon. I'll never forget this!."
While the trio chatted with Eric, Arlon turned to Lawrence, and the two of them began discussing the village's reconstruction efforts.
Lawrence's gratitude was clear. "I'm in your debt for what you've done. The village and everyone in it owes you."
As the conversation continued, Lawrence suddenly leaned forward, his voice warm with gratitude.
"Master Arlon," Lawrence said suddenly, his voice earnest. "I can't thank you enough for everything you've done."
Arlon nearly choked on his tea, coughing as he set the cup down. Master Arlon? Since when does he call me that? His eyes flicked to Lawrence, half-expecting a smirk, but all he saw was sincerity. What's next—bowing and calling me 'Your Grace'?"
Where did that come from? Arlon thought, caught off guard. Did he hear Alice or Eric calling me that? Or was he just trying to be polite?.
He had noticed that Lawrence is acting weird when he found out who Arlon is, could be that he was still struggling on how to address me.
He felt a strange rush of both amusement and discomfort at the title. Master Arlon... I could get used to that, I suppose, he mused, though the thought was quickly followed by an inward chuckle.
Quickly, he shrugged it off and returned Lawrence's gratitude with a slight nod, trying to maintain his usual poise.
"There's no need to thank me, Lawrence. I should be thanking you for your trust, even though I haven't been completely honest about who I am."
Lawrence's understanding gaze softened. "You don't have to explain. Trust is earned through actions, and you've proven yourself time and time again."
Taking a deep breath, Lawrence continued, "If you're willing, though, I could use your help with something bigger. I need to understand the Pry members and their organization, the Celestia Clan. They're dangerous, and I can't fight them alone."
Arlon considered his request. He had intended to lay low, avoiding the path of conflict and intrigue. But he knew well enough that the Celestia Clan's influence ran deep and far. If left unchecked, their pursuit of dark power would threaten everything and everyone.
The only way to secure peace is to confront them head-on, he realized. If I don't cut the head off this organization, they'll only keep spreading, like a plague across the land.
He looked at Lawrence and gave a determined nod. "You have my word. If I uncover any information about the Celestia Clan, I'll let you know."
Inwardly, Arlon felt an odd frustration. In the novel, the Celestia Clan was portrayed as a shadowy organization bent on reviving their god to unleash ruin upon the world. But beyond that, he knew little.
If I knew more, I could truly end this, he thought, clenching his fist. I could bring peace and live quietly.