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The moment they passed through the gates, a young male servant in white robes approached. His sleeves were trimmed with yellow embroidery, and the back of his robes bore the family's emblem: a golden blade piercing the sun vertically. This attire was standard for both male and female servants of the Dawnblade estate.
Lowering his head quickly, the servant raised his hands in greeting as he addressed the two women.
"Young Miss, Elder Yselda, welcome. A meeting is currently underway, please proceed to the conference room."
He hesitated briefly, then raised his head just enough to steal a quick glance before continuing, "Should I guide the esteemed guest to an empty room, or will he accompany you?"
Yselda acknowledged the servant's greeting with a nod, her gaze commanding and firm.
"Sir Kael, please follow attendant Ron to one of the guest chambers" she instructed in a tone that carried a hint of respect.
Ron's eyes widened slightly. The typically cold and indifferent elder addressing someone with such deference was a rare sight. His initial doubts about the guest, made by the man's disheveled appearance and tattered robes vanished.
Whoever this stranger is, his status is clearly extraordinary!
"Esteemed guest, please follow me." Ron said, his voice meek from nervousness. He understood well the consequences of offending someone held in such regard, especially by Yselda.
The two women moved ahead with purpose, their strides quick and decisive. Behind them, Storm, Aurelia's companion, followed dutifully as they made their way to report to the matriarch and the gathered elders.
The tension in the estate was only natural. After all, the strange phenomenon they had witnessed earlier left no doubt: a powerful and unknown entity was right outside their territory. Preparations for battle were already underway, with the elite troops standing at the courtyard ready to fight at a moment's notice.
The massive doors of the main hall were opened from within by two women in matching white servant robes. Their movements were fluid and practiced as they revealed a grand hall.
Intricately designed chandeliers adorned with gold and silver hung from above, while valuable artifacts lined the walls between paintings. A luxurious red carpet ran down the center of the hallway, bordered by pristine white tiles.
Ron led Kael through the hall, unsure if he should help the blind man. Kael walked with his hands clasped behind his back, his pure white eyes taking in the surroundings as though admiring them. Despite his lack of conventional sight, he followed unerringly, his movements calm and deliberate, giving Ron a feeling of relief, since the man could in fact see.
After a series of turns, they arrived at a guest chamber. Ron opened the door and gestured for Kael to enter.
"Esteemed guest, this will be your room. Would you like me to show you around?" Ron asked, eager to assist by pointing out the room's features—the bed, closet, and bathroom.
Kael shook his head slightly. "That won't be necessary. Thank you."
Expecting such an answer, Ron bowed and exited, closing the door behind him. As he walked away, he exhaled a shaky breath.
("In this world, seeing without one's eyes is not uncommon after all.") he thought, recalling various methods used by the blind to navigate. The most well-known was Mana Sight, an ability to perceive the flow of mana within a small radius, a rank three (3) spell. It was often used in combat to detect traps or deception. Ron was confident Kael possessed such an ability, as he had refused any assistance yet moved effortlessly.
Inside the room, Kael's expression changed. His silver-white brows furrowed slightly as he walked to a sofa and began removing his damaged black robes, his emaciated body showing. Beneath, his skin revealed deep red cracks resembling shattered glass. As he moved, small flakes resembling dust fell from the fissures on his body. At the center of his chest and back, the crimson cracks were most prominent, pulsing faintly with each breath.
He sat cross-legged on the ground next to the sofa in his undergarments, closing his eyes. After a few breaths, his calm demeanor returned as he murmured, "Less time than expected."
Opening his eyes, he examined his forearm. The red cracks glowed briefly, their pulsation mimicking the rhythm of blood coursing through veins. But this was no natural phenomenon.
These scars were most similar to a condition called reverse mana flow, where one's mana moved against its intended path. Commonly referred to also as mana deviation, it most commonly resulted to unconsciousness and if help and treatment were delayed for even a small time frame, it would lead to death. Only a rare few could resist its effects unaided, relying on sheer skill and luck.
Kael closed his eyes once more, his breathing steady and deliberate. Minutes passed in stillness before a faint smile spread across his lips. He tilted his head back, his expression contemplative.
"Even now, I can barely sense it, let alone absorb it. This helplessness... how familiar." he muttered, his voice heavy with memories.
Standing slowly, Kael moved toward the bathroom. His gaze fell on a magic device within the marble tub, curiosity filling his milky eyes.
"A device that stores and releases water at will with a simple shift of a handle. How convenient." he remarked, after quickly deducing its purpose.
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After a brief shower and a change of clothes, Kael's transformation was striking. His sickly aura persisted, but his fresh and stylish black robes and neatly tied silver-white hair gave him a refined appearance. The ghastly contrast of his pale and fatigued appearance and pure white eyes against the dark fabric created an almost otherworldly image. His cracked skin was now hidden beneath the clean garments, as the deep red cracks did not extend to the end of his limbs and head.
A knock at the door came right after he finished changing into his new robe, which was slightly more intricate and youthful compared to his previous monotone one. Ron stood outside, his demeanor polite but slightly tense.
"Esteemed guest, your presence is requested in the conference room. Do you need additional time to prepare?"
Kael was already walking toward the door. "No need. Lead the way." he replied as he opened it, with Ron's eyes widening at his change in appearance.
They traversed the estate once more, arriving at an imposing ironwood door. The wood, harvested from ironbark trees, was prized for its incredible durability and weight, rivaling even some metals. The door creaked slightly as it opened, revealing a grand oval table crafted from the same material. Ornate candlesticks and silk tablecloths adorned its surface, while tapestries and other decorations covered the walls. At the far end of the room, a clean but unlit fireplace added to the dignified atmosphere.
Seated at the table were several elders and officials, each emanating an air of authority. At the head of the table stood Liora Dawnblade, the matriarch. Her shoulders adorned a cape made from wolf pelt, and her hands were covered with brown gloves. Under her cape she wore leather armor-like clothing, concealing her feminine figure and impressive curves.
"Sir Kael, please come in and take a seat," she said, her commanding voice softened by sincerity. She gestured to an empty chair near her own, a significant honor for an unknown guest.
Kael stepped forward, lowering his waist and clasping his hands in greeting.
"Lady Matriarch, it is an honor." he said in a casual tone.
As he walked to his seat, the matriarch's attention returned to the assembled group.
"Then, as discussed, the two elders will leave to explain the situation to the public." she commanded with her mellow but authoritative voice.
Kael sat down as the two elders turned to leave, observing the people at the table. To his left, closest to Liora, was Yselda, who nodded at him. On his right, a few chairs back, was Aurelia, nervously waving.
The table had four other people.
Roderic, the tall, pale head physician of the Dawnblades, known for his healing magic and compassion.
Thorne, the treasurer, casually playing with a coin, focused on finances in his head rather than Kael.
Tess, an elderly woman with gray hair, a cane, and a reputation for unmatched skills. She once held the title of Greatest Alchemist in the central continent.
Vek, one of the men who stood up to leave, a strong and imposing military commander, whose scars and impressive physique reflected his battle experience.
Alden, the public affairs elder, was the second elder who was moving out of the room, an advisor on non-combat matters.
Sebastian, the archivist with a smile and similar features to Kael, save for his older appearance, sat between Alden's empty chair and Aurelia.
Kael's attention shifted to Lyssara, standing by the matriarch, a stern figure whose identity was a mystery even to Aurelia, the daughter of Liora.
Kael was able to recognize the people in the room as he inquired about such information from Aurelia as they were exiting the [Forest of Disasters].
The room fell silent as Liora addressed him directly.
"Then, Sir Kael, let us not waste time. Who are you?"
Kael's lips curved into a small smile as he met her gaze.
"Of course." he replied smoothly.
The room's atmosphere grew heavier as every eye turned toward him, awaiting his response.
"My name is Kael Alaric." His voice was steady, yet the simplicity of his introduction only deepened the tension.
Liora, naturally, was not only trying to find out his name, but also his purpose and even his ties to the phenomenon in the [Forest].
"My identity however is not important." he said after pausing for a brief moment. Kael's eyes showed a hint of fierceness as he continued.
"You have made things rather difficult after borrowing an item from the mana lake." he explained.
Liora's thoughts were a mess after hearing these words; this matter was confidential and only known by a select few.
With only a subtle change in her expression, Liora was trying to gauge the depth of his knowledge on the matter.
"Can you explain in more detail?" she sublty asked, peaking the interest of the people in the room.
"A white devil attacked a year ago, after you got an item that should not leave the inner layer of the forest." he spoke with confidence about the destruction that occured a year ago.
Previously, Aurelia had tried to skip past the event as she was answering his barrage of questions, but she did explain most things with sincerety.
Upon hearing this, everyone's face turned stiff, as if holding back grief and contempt. The matriarch sitting on the throne-like chair was only the temporary family head, the wife of the recently deseased patriarch. To mention the disaster as if talking about everyday gossip, this was blatant disrespect!
Kael ignored the change in the atmosphere around him, with his usual mild expression changing to one of seriousness.
"After receiving such great treatment, i will repay you in full. However, you first need to give back the horn-" he paused once again to recover his serene look. "This is a show of trust, i hope you won't refuse." he exclaimed with a domineering tone, leaving no room for arguing.
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