The scent of spiritually-charged herbs filled the air as I carefully tended to my garden. These weren't ordinary plants but rare dicinal ingredients I'd been cultivating with painstaking care for months. Each leaf, each stem contained energy that could save lives—or end them in the right formulation.
A commotion at the front gate broke my concentration.
"Master Knight!" The servant's voice carried an edge of concern. "Conrad Thornton has returned, and he's brought guests—important ones!"
I straightened up, brushing soil from my hands. Conrad returning so soon after our eting at the Blue Star Inn was unexpected. Even more surprising was that he'd brought others directly to my ho without warning.
"Show them to the reception room," I instructed. "I'll be there shortly."
After quickly washing my hands and changing into more presentable attire, I made my way to greet my uninvited visitors. As I approached the reception room, I could already hear voices—one familiar, two unknown, and all speaking with the unmistakable confidence of powerful n.
Conrad rose imdiately when I entered. Two strangers remained seated, evaluating with barely concealed disdain.
"Master Knight," Conrad said with unusual formality, "may I present Burton Griffin of Griffin Valley and Dirk Buchanan of Stonewater City. They've expressed interest in discussing the matter we spoke about earlier."
I smiled politely, masking my irritation at their unannounced arrival. "Welco to my humble ho, gentlen."
Burton Griffin, a powerfully built man with streaks of gray in his dark hair, barely acknowledged my greeting with a slight nod. His companion, Dirk Buchanan, younger and leaner with a permanent sneer etched onto his face, didn't bother hiding his contempt.
"So this is the famous King of Eldoria," Burton said, his voice dripping with skepticism. "I expected soone more... impressive."
I maintained my composure. "Appearances can be deceiving. Please, have so tea."
Eamon Greene entered silently with a tray of steaming cups, placing them before each guest. Neither of our visitors touched their cups.
"Let's dispense with pleasantries," Dirk cut in. "Conrad claims you're essential to any alliance concerning the Divine dicine. I see nothing special here."
Conrad cleared his throat nervously. "Master Knight has demonstrated remarkable abilities. His knowledge of alchemy alone makes him—"
"What's your cultivation level?" Burton interrupted, addressing directly.
I t his gaze steadily. "I'm currently at the Sixth-rank Inner Strength Master."
The pronouncent was t with barely suppressed laughter from both n. Conrad's face paled.
"Sixth-rank?" Dirk repeated incredulously. "Conrad, you brought us to et a Sixth-rank cultivator? We're both Mighty Realm masters!"
"The King of Eldoria is rely an Inner Strength cultivator?" Burton shook his head in disbelief. "No wonder this region produces nothing of value."
I sipped my tea calmly. "Cultivation rank isn't everything."
"Only those without power say such things," Burton scoffed. "The Divine dicine requires strength to obtain. What can you possibly contribute with such pitiful cultivation?"
Conrad jumped in desperately. "Master Knight's dical skills are unparalleled! He's created pills that—"
"An alchemist?" Dirk cut him off again. "We have dozens. The Ashworth family employs over thirty master alchemists, each commanding armies of assistants."
I placed my cup down gently. "If you've already decided I have nothing to offer, I wonder why you ca at all."
Burton leaned forward. "Curiosity. Conrad wouldn't stop praising your abilities. We wanted to see this miracle worker for ourselves."
"And now that you have?" I asked.
"We're leaving," Dirk stated flatly. "This was a waste of ti."
I nodded. "Then we're in agreent. I have no interest in cooperating with you either."
The room fell silent. Conrad looked as if he might faint.
Burton's eyes narrowed dangerously. "What did you just say?"
"I said I'm not interested in an alliance," I repeated calmly. "Not with n who judge solely by appearances and dismiss potential allies before understanding their true value."
Dirk's face contorted with rage. "You dare speak to us like that? Do you know who we are?"
"I know exactly who you are," I replied. "The question is whether you know who I am."
Burton stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. "I know enough. You're a nobody playing at importance, hiding behind rumors and exaggerated tales."
Conrad rose quickly. "Masters, please. I'm sure we can—"
"Silence!" Burton snapped. "You vouched for this man, Conrad. Your judgnt is now suspect."
I remained seated, unmoved by their display. "If we have nothing further to discuss, I have plants that require my attention."
Burton's face darkened with fury. "You dismiss us? For plants?"
"At least the plants are productive," I countered.
What happened next occurred in a blur of motion. Burton's arm shot out, a pulse of energy crackling from his palm aid directly at my head. It was a casual attack by his standards—ant to humiliate, not kill.
But Conrad leaped between us.
The blast struck him squarely in the chest. The impact sent him crashing into the wall behind , leaving a spiderweb of cracks in the plaster. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he collapsed to the floor. My Virtual Library Empire (*) thanks you for reading at the source.
Across the room, Eamon Greene dropped to his knees, vomiting blood—the spiritual backlash from Conrad's injury affecting him as well.
"Conrad!" I rushed to his side, quickly assessing the damage. His ridians were severely damaged, internal organs bruised. Not imdiately fatal, but serious.
Burton lowered his hand, seemingly untroubled by what he'd done. "Fool. He shouldn't have interfered."
Dirk was already walking toward the door. "Let's go. We've wasted enough ti in this backwater."
I looked up from Conrad's unconscious form, my eyes tracking the two n as they casually prepared to leave my ho after attacking my ally and damaging my property.
"Did I say you could go?" My voice cut through the room like ice.
Both n paused, turning back with expressions of disbelief.
"You hurt my friend, destroyed my house, and you think you can just walk away like that?" I rose slowly to my feet, a cold fury settling in my chest.
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