Chapter 205: A Fun Night

Even as the duke's oppressive aura threatened to crush any resolve, Thorian maintained his composure.

"It was not my intention to deceive you, my lord," Thorian said carefully. "I simply hesitated to divulge all information to someone unrelated to the matters at hand. In these uncertain times, discretion seemed prudent."

The duke scoffed. "You revealed too much the moment you mentioned the letter. Still, your caution was not misplaced. God knows how many vultures circle, waiting to exploit any weakness."

The duke finally relented, his suffocating presence dissipating and allowing Thorian to breathe freely. Yet his piercing gaze remained fixed on the mage. "Now speak, and ensure you tell the whole truth and nothing but."

"Yes, my lord," Thorian nodded. "After the incident and the guards' hasty departure, I sensed something amiss and decided to trail them."

"How did you manage that without detection?" the duke interjected. "You're a mage, not some shadow-skulking assassin."

"I had assistance from a friend skilled in such arts," Thorian replied evenly. "His ability allows him to traverse shadows. We used this to follow the guards undetected."

"Hmm, shadow manipulation," the duke mused, stroking his beard. "You'll have to introduce me to this useful friend of yours later."

"As you wish, my lord," Thorian said with a slight bow before continuing. "As we tracked the guards, it became clear their path led nowhere near the cathedral where they were to bring the dying Elian. Our suspicions were confirmed when they rendezvoused with a silver-haired man in a shadowy alley."

"Silver hair, you say?" The duke's eyebrow arched. "What else can you tell me of this masked figure?"

"My eyes possess a unique ability, my lord," Thorian said, activating his Elemental Sight. "They perceive the hues of mana and aura in all living beings. This masked man's aura shimmered with a distinct silver light."

"Quite the precious gift you have," the duke's lips curled into a grin. "Tell me then, what color is my aura?"

"A deep crimson, my lord," Thorian answered without hesitation. "Like the essence of a fire dragon soaring through storm-wracked skies."

The duke's face remained impassive for a moment before he erupted into hearty laughter. "I see. Your tale rings true enough. The silver hair is telling, but that aura... it's the unmistakable mark of the Aethergolds." Composing himself, the duke drew a deep breath. "No need to finish the rest. I can surmise what transpired and how you acquired the letter. Now, hand it over."

Nodding, Thorian presented the missive to the duke.

As he examined the letter, the duke's expression grew grave. After a thorough perusal, he fixed Thorian with a stern look. "You may take your leave for now. I'll summon you when your expertise is required."

Though Thorian burned with curiosity about the letter's encrypted contents, he knew better than to press further. The duke's wariness was evident, and any insistence would only deepen his suspicions.

With a respectful bow, Thorian took his leave, escorted from the palace by the watchful guards.

  *

As the door closed behind Thorian, the duke leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowed in thought. A moment of silence passed before a hidden panel in the wall slid open, revealing a concealed passageway. From the shadows emerged a lean, middle-aged man with sharp features and piercing green eyes.

"What do you make of this, Cedric?" the duke asked without turning.

Cedric, the duke's right-hand man, stepped into the room. He was of average height, but his presence seemed to fill the space. His salt-and-pepper hair was neatly combed back, and he wore a simple but elegant dark tunic that complemented his slender frame.

"The boy's story is intriguing, my lord," Cedric replied, his voice smooth and measured. “But I wouldn’t trust him so easily. This could be a ploy from a third party to ignite the flames of war between our two families while they quitely reap the benefits.”

“Indeed,” The duke nodded with a smile before showing the letter. “But it is not the boy’s words that I trust, it’s the content of this letter. The seal was imbued by the marquis’s aura, so there is no possibility for it to be a fake one. The letter clearly states that the Aethergolds are in cahoots with the rebels of the north.”

Cedric’s eyebrows shot up at the reveal. “Then shouldn’t we request an audience with his majesty as soon as possible?”

“And what would that decrepit old man do?” The duke sighed. “The moment he is informed, the flames of war will ravage the country north to south. That is not an advantageous situation for any of us.”

Cedric stayed silent for a moment before asking, “Then what should be our course of action, my lord?”

“This matter will need to be dealt with tactfully. Before striking at the Aethergolds, we need to clean up our own house first, then we can begin our preparations,” The duke instructed.

“I understand, my lord. I will have my hawks stalk everyone in the house, from the generals to the stable boys,” Cedric lightly bowed before inquiring with a cautious tone. “But what about that boy, Alan?”

“Leave him alone for now, I will call for him when he is needed later,” the duke shook his head before a grin played on his lips. “I’m more interested in his assassin friend. That shadow teleportation ability of his could prove very useful.”

Cedric nodded at his lords words, “Then should I go and test him, see where his loyalties lie?”

“Do that for me,” the duke smiled. “And once you are sure that he is not an enemy, sharpen him properly. He could be the dagger with which we stab the Aethergolds.”

  *

[Floor Quest Partially Completed:

Uncover the mysteries surrounding the attack on Elian Valtor (Completed).

• Secure the letter that was entrusted to Elian Valtor (Completed).

• Find the mastermind behind his death (Completed).]

As the notification flashed before his eyes, Thorian exhaled deeply, relief washing over him. The past week had been a crucible of stress, but the quest that had brought him so much anxiety was finally complete.

Nox and Vigil must have received the same alert. Tonight, we can feast without a shadow hanging over us.

His business at Silverwater Palace concluded, Thorian made his way to the outer gate where his two comrades waited patiently.

"You did it, Thorian! You really did it!" Nox exclaimed, rushing forward to embrace him. Thorian froze, momentarily stunned by the enthusiasm of the older man's bear hug before relaxing into the warmth of the moment. The sight of the elderly Nox embracing the younger Thorian with childlike joy was truly a spectacle to behold.

"I never doubted your success, my lord," Vigil said with a slight bow as Thorian extricated himself from Nox's grip. "But pray tell, how was your audience with the duke?"

Thorian recounted the day's events while his companions listened, rapt with attention.

"That bastard duke," Nox snarled, teeth clenched. "How dare he threaten you like that?"

Thorian's lips curved into a wan smile. "It's to be expected, given his position. He needed to ensure I wasn't some spy sent to sow chaos. In any case, that's how it transpired. Now, we need only complete our second quest to be done with this floor."

"About that," Vigil said, scratching his head, "I've already finished mine. My task was to prove my worth to the church and become a full member of my order. I accomplished it by tending to the sick in the slums each day."

"Lucky you," Nox said with a wry grin. "I still have a crucial mission tomorrow before I can call myself a full-fledged member of the assassins' guild."

"Then we're both tardy," Thorian laughed heartily. "Tomorrow, I must pass the test to become a senior apprentice at the mage court. With luck, I'll catch the eye of one of those tower masters and secure a position as their disciple. That should open more doors for us in the floors to come."

"Luck?" Nox looked at Thorian incredulously before bursting into laughter. "They would be the lucky ones, honored to have you as a disciple!"

“You underestimate the tower masters too much,” Thorian shook his head, chuckling.

In high spirits, the group made their way to their frequented tavern. As they savored their drinks, a man stood and announced, "Congratulations to the boss! His daughter has found a fiancé!"

At his declaration, the tavern erupted into action. Patrons rose in unison as if rehearsed, clearing tables to form a ring in the center. Bards walked in, striking up merry tunes as men and women, young and old, began to dance amidst sharp whistles and hearty laughter.

Nox's eyes sparkled like stars at the sight. "Thorian, we have to join them!"

Thorian's face froze at Nox's request. His first instinct was to refuse, but before he could voice his objection, Vigil intervened.

"Nox, what are you saying? Thorian is our lord."

"And who says a lord can't have fun?" Nox retorted. "Especially after completing such a grueling mission."

Thorian's thoughts churned in turmoil. He had his dignity as a king to maintain, but Nox was his most trusted comrade and truest friend. Suddenly, he recalled Nox's bewildered look when he'd first been healed by Vigil and Amelia's tear. Nox had barely recognized him after his evolution.

If I keep these walls up and push everyone away, this life will mirror the trajectory of my last...

As this realization crystallized, Thorian's doubts evaporated. He stood, declaring with newfound resolve, "You're right. A lord can also have his fun."

Vigil's confusion at Thorian's words quickly melted into a resigned smile. "If that is your wish, my lord."

"Let's show these people how to really dance," Thorian grinned, meeting Nox's gaze.

"Yeah, we'll do just that," Nox laughed, leaping into the ring. From the moment he joined, he blended seamlessly with the dancers as if he'd been doing it his entire life.

I spoke with such confidence, but how do I dance like this? It's nothing like a formal ball.

The wild rhythm of the folk dance was entirely foreign to Thorian, despite all his sophistication. He attempted to mimic the movements of those around him, but his efforts were awkward and off-beat.

Nox burst into hearty laughter at the sight. "It seems there are things even you aren't naturally talented at."

"If you have time to laugh, why don't you help me?" Thorian retorted, a hint of frustration in his voice.

"Your problem is simple," Nox declared. "You're not dancing well because you're afraid to look stupid, but that's the whole point—the dance is meant to be silly. You have to accept its stupidity to be good at it."

Thorian was flabbergasted. "Words came out of your mouth, but they made no sense."

Nox immediately erupted in laughter again. "All I'm saying is that you need to clear your mind and go with the flow. Just listen to the music and don't think about anything else."

Thorian hesitated before finally letting his inhibitions slip away. The movements began to come naturally, and even though some were still awkward, they no longer hindered his flow.

"There you go, that's more like it!" Nox shouted encouragement as he danced before him.

Now it feels like he's the teacher and I'm the student.

While Thorian felt a twinge of discomfort at this sudden role reversal, he couldn't deny that a part of him relished it. And so, the two continued dancing for hours without tiring. Whether it was due to their inherently high physical stats or simply the effect of the alcohol, Thorian neither knew nor cared. The only thing that mattered was that he was having fun.