Before Halvorne could finish his apology, the entrance arch threw a long shadow across the floor.
The doors hadn’t opened loudly. But the group that ca through them had a way of making space rearrange itself around their presence.
A young man at the front was the first thing everyone noticed.
Not because he was imposing, but because he looked exactly like the sort of person this world kept producing to remind everyone else of their place.
Blonde hair, blue eyes, a nobleman’s jaw, and a tunic of deep cobalt trimd in silver that probably cost more than the average monthly wage.
Behind him, a woman kept half a pace to his right. Young—perhaps under 20.
Her hands were folded, eyes scanning the room. She wore a crimson robe, but it did nothing to hide her pretty face—fiery red hair, piercing red eyes, and a gaze that was impossible to forget.
Sothing about the way she held herself was more interesting than her companion.
If Alicia’s beauty was deceptively innocent, this woman was its opposite—like a blazing bonfire: alluring and tempting, but certain to burn anyone who got too close.
The third figure was the one Rain’s eyes stayed on.
Old. White-haired. His robes were black stitched through with deep red—the sa combination he recognized from Elisa.
This one, however, was of far higher quality.
Every seam sat cleanly. Fabric held a faint sheen, and embroidery along his collar was dense—signifying rank, not decoration.
In his right hand, a staff of dark wood was capped with a black crystal.
The blonde young man’s gaze swept the hall, landed on Halvorne, then moved left—
And stopped on Alicia.
For a second, nothing happened.
Then he smiled. It was not an unpleasant smile, but it carried faint hostility.
"High Priestess Alicia," he stepped forward, one hand resting at his lapel.
"What a surprise. Or maybe not—I’ve heard about your little... mishap at the cathedral. Truly unfortunate that heretics managed to ruin your sanctum."
The hall went very silent.
Halvorne stopped breathing.
Even the clerk nearest the door found sothing urgent to study on her desk.
The Church and the rulers of this land had never been on good terms, but they rarely acted so boldly in public.
People began to wonder what gave the governor’s son such confidence.
Regardless of his status, he was speaking directly to High Priestess Alicia—a being who could end him with a re flick of her fingers.
Though weaker outside her sanctum, anyone below Grand Master rank with enough sense would still flee at the sight of her.
Alicia did not react. Not imdiately. She let the words settle into the room the way you let sothing foul settle before you decided how to clean it.
She actually knew him personally. He tried to court her, but she rejected him, finding him far too boring.
"Erick. You’re right. It was unfortunate. But accidents like this happen—especially when the city’s defenses are a joke," she let her voice carry so everyone could hear.
"What did you expect? An incompetent governor running things and an idiot son who can’t keep his mouth shut, tearing down an already pathetic reputation."
Erick smile held, but sothing behind it recalculated.
Alicia wasn’t finished.
"An attack on the Church inside your father’s jurisdiction." She let that sit for a breath.
"In the Capital, that would be grounds for a formal inquiry. Dereliction of sacred duty, they call it. I imagine the Archbishop would be very interested to hear how thoroughly the governor’s office failed to prevent it."
She smiled—small, precise, and without any warmth whatsoever.
"But of course, I’m sure your father has already drafted his letter of apology to . I simply haven’t received it yet."
The silence that followed was a different kind than before.
Erick’s jaw didn’t move, but it was clear he was losing the battle of words.
The woman behind him had not moved. But Rain caught the faint shift in her expression. Not surprise. Sothing closer to reassessnt.
Their gazes t, and when he smiled, she looked away.
Rain kept his face neutral and looked at nothing in particular.
Erick cleared his throat. "That isn’t what I ant—"
"I know exactly what you ant." Alicia had already turned back toward the guild master.
"Our seats. Today. Two. Consider it the governor’s way of apologizing for being useless."
Erick’s composure cracked. "You—"
He stopped and drew a deep, steadying breath.
"We are also traveling to the Capital." His voice climbed just enough to reach her.
"And before you dismiss us like we’re so insects you’ve grown bored of—" He stepped forward, past the invisible line of comfortable distance. "You should consider exactly who you’re dismissing."
Alicia kept on ignoring him.
Erick’s jaw set. He half-turned and gestured.
"This is Rhean Magnus." The na ca out like a card placed on a table. "Granddaughter of Magic Emperor Henry Magnus. The strongest wizard on the continent."
The room reacted before Alicia did. No one even dared to breathe too loudly.
Henry Magnus was not a na that required explanation. He was less a person than a geological feature. A fixed point that the rest of the continent’s power structure quietly oriented itself around.
Erick wasn’t finished.
"She’s been personally invited by the Royal Family—the youngest in three decades to receive a direct summons to beco a Royal Mage." He lifted his chin.
"And given who she is, the tower arranged appropriate security." He gestured toward the old man.
"Grand Master Aldric. Warlock."
He let out a satisfied smirk.
"So, before you wave us aside like we’re inconveniences—I’d like to see you explain to the Magic Emperor why you delayed his granddaughter’s arrival at the capital."
Erick let the silence work for him. For once, he earned it.
Alicia finally turned. Even soone like her couldn’t stay quiet after hearing such an introduction.
Her gaze fell on Rea Magnus. The young woman t her head on and didn’t flinch, which Rain found interesting.
Their eyes narrowed, and sparks might as well have been flying between them.
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