Machinist of Mana Chapter 111 Delivering the News

“Greetings,” Ignus said, meeting us at the entryway to the duke's palace. He didn't look particularly pleased.

“Good day, before we continue, could you please ask your men to lower their weapons.”

Behind the leader of the duke's investigative squad stood a full squadron of men, all angry looking, all pointing various rifles in the direction of my companion. Behind them were men who could only be magically empowered soldiers, looking no less unhappy about the whole situation.

“I do hope you understand why that's not going to happen young Percival. Though I'm quite curious as to why you brought this... individual, here.”

“My name is Sasha, and I'm not here to fight you,” she assured. “A number of us disagree with the current attack and would like to discuss... well what we can do.”

He sighed, scratching his head. “You've put me in a bit of a bind here you see. I'm willing to hear you out miss, but you'll have to surrender to us. Do that and it will certainly help.”

That was not a promise of any sort, but Sasha didn't seem to care, surrendering to them with a simple nod.

“There are things we need to talk about urgently,” she said as men moved forward to surround her.

“Indeed, let me show the young lord here to his family and I'll be right with you.”

A pair of men took the goblin by the arms and led her not inside the palace, but to the side. That set off alarm bells in my head, but I held my tongue for now, not wanting to make things worse.

“With me,” Ignus said, turning and heading into the building.

As we moved inside I turned to him, frowning. “If you're going to have her shot you could've at least dropped the deception.”

Without braking his stride the man answered. “I'm not, at least not yet. I really do want to hear what she has to say, but that one is the priest is she not? Do you know the damage a priest can do? Have you ever seen it first hand? I have, and let me tell you boy that even if she is genuine and the duke accepts I won't be letting her anywhere near him.”

Kaylee had said nothing so far, trying to fade into the background like she'd been taught, but that seemed to make her stir.

“You shouldn't speak to him like that,” she objected.

“Miss, while I understand you might find some kinship with this boy who saved you I have a job to do. So I would ask you to keep out of it.” He then turned to me. “Now, I don't suppose you know what caused that explosion earlier?”

“I have suspicions, but not confirmation. I would speak to his Grace is possible, for there is much that I need to tell him and it is urgent.”

Ignus regarded me for a few moments, his steps still leading us through the lushly carpeted halls. We'd made it past the entryway now and into the castle proper, bits of art starting to appear here and there. I didn't know this place exactly, but it was clear we were getting deeper into the duke's domain.

“Normally I'd hesitate to allow that, but seeing as you brought us a potentially willing source of information, and have proven yourself useful time and again, I'll ask him.”

“Thank you, Sasha had a few things to say and my father gave us a letter. He seemed insistent that it make it to the duke's hands.”

“I don't suppose you know what it says?”

“No, the seal is unbroken.”

He led us on, and as we cross into a hallway that had small windows on one side I heard a series of shots. A quick look through the glass confirmed what I suspected. Several goblins had made there way here, charging towards the building as if to continue their rampage in the castle. Soldiers had dispatched them with extreme prejudice, a mixture of spells, bullets and armed men ready to meet the assault from every side.

My sister looked out, but quickly turned for the bodies. Perhaps it bothered her, it really should have. I'd become almost numb to it, having seen death after death in this world, but her? No, Kaylee had never seen one of those things ripped to shreds, and they were very human. It was as natural as anything for her to be bothered by it, anyone should be.

“It's okay,” I told her as gently as I could, patting her shoulder.

“No it's horrid, but it will be okay,” she replied.

Soon enough we'd reached the office Id found myself in before. With a look that told us we'd regret it if we moved Ignus slipped inside. As he did I could hear voices talking, reports being given. When the door shut though it all went away, some magical effect enforcing privacy it seemed, but limited in some way.

Moments passed, and my sister and I smiled at each other. Both of us were stuck here, waiting. I didn't like it, not in the least, but she didn't seem as bothered. Had this been how she felt all the time, stuck on the outside while other, more powerful people made decisions she'd have to live with?

“How are you?” I asked.

“I'm... odd, I think something is going on with my eyes.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, there are... weird shapes and colors all over the place, around people sometimes, and I feel sort of... odd? I'm not really sure how to describe it.”

“Shapes and colors?”

“Yes, you're surrounded by bubbles. Isn't that strange?”

That was an aura, my aura. I'd met my fair share of casters over my lifetime and that was always how they'd described it, odd bubbles, a rather unique-looking aura if there was one. That in and of itself wasn't too strange though, as everyone was a little different.

“Um... how about your mana?” I asked.

“It's fine.”

“Even after all that magic you did?”

She thought, then blinked and looked down at her hand. With a look of concentration that made her brows get an adorable little furrow in them she brought up a pointer finger and made a tiny flame dance around it.

“It doesn't feel like I'm even using it, how odd.”

“You've unlocked you magic, at least I think you have,” I informed her then, almost laughing. “You're a wizard Kaylee.”

“What?” Her confusion at the weird wording made her lose concentration, the little fire winking out. However I could see her eyes growing as it began to register.

“Don't worry about it.”

It was about this time that Ignus returned, motioning us in. He wasn't alone, Duke Noct had several men and women with him, all surrounded by papers.

“I'm told you have a letter for me?” he asked without preamble.

I quickly pulled it from my coat, passing the sealed envelope over. “Father said to give it to you, you'd know what to do. While I have you the goblin you took into custody and one of her fellows told us of some disturbing plans...”

“It's the paperwork for legitimizing a girl named Kaylee,” the older man said. “Signed and sealed, important to be sure, but unrelated.”

There was a small gasp behind me, this having apparently been one shock too many for my younger half-sister, who almost dropped, knees shaking.

“One moment,” I said as I helped her to a nearby couch.

“Miss Kaylee, or rather Lady Kaylee I presume?” he asked.

“Yes,” she answered squeakily. “Your Grace.”

“Lovely, but not what we need.”

“Sorry, the girl you took into custody, she and another were telling us that their leader means to go to the capitol, to dig himself into the underground there.”

The soundproofing enchantment was only one way, and I wasn't the only one to hear the series of explosions as I spoke, causing panic through the room.