Requeim of Reverence

JAMES EMPORIO - MEETING WITH THE GENERALS

The vast meeting table reminded me of the legendary roundtable from King Veyron's era. I stood behind General Vincent, while General Klieve sat beside him. We had arrived nearly four hours ago, yet the meeting had yet to begin—His Highness had been occupied elsewhere. But now—

The generals rose from their chairs as the King entered, his mere footsteps sending shivers down my spine. Though his appearance might suggest otherwise, his overwhelming mana reserves were enough to make my skin prickle.

Thanks to my ability as a Recon-Type wielder, I could sense the flow of mana within one's body.

With a wave of the King's hand, everyone silently took their seats. At the table, each general had at least a Major or Colonel accompanying them. The only exceptions were us—Lieutenant Yaz and myself.

The King settled on his throne, flipping through a stack of documents before scoffing. "What is this, General Wolfgang? Care to explain?"

The commander of Tritine's largest platoon stepped forward, clearing his throat before speaking. "Our intel unit has uncovered undeniable evidence regarding the disappearance of Noble Landlord Vestiron. The documents also indicate that his sudden vanishing is linked to the recent price hikes—more specifically, illegal smuggling operations in the northern part of the city."

A general from across the table scoffed, "Or perhaps he was simply taken hostage by a group of bandits. Nobles traveling on the outskirts being kidnapped is hardly news. Nonsense."

General Wolfgang smirked before continuing. "The next document disproves that theory. Please, turn the page."

As everyone flipped through their documents, a heavy silence filled the room. Some of the generals widened their eyes in shock, while others remained composed. The King, however, remained eerily expressionless.

"Eukaphrotians? People from the Eastern Continent have been spotted in the city? But why?" I barely caught General Vincent's hushed murmur, his voice laced with horror.

And as if to intensify the tension, General Wolfgang added, "To think they managed to enter the city despite the Mana Concentration Barrier..."

General Klieve immediately objected. "Why would Eukaphrote send men here? Aren't we on good terms with them?"

Wolfgang merely gave a knowing smile before shifting his gaze to the King. Following his lead, every pair of eyes in the room turned toward the monarch—who, to my astonishment, was sweating nervously but ever composed.

"Impossible," the King stammered. "They've broken the treaty. W-We have no time for discussions! Notify all barracks immediately! Secure the city perimeters! Search every street, every dungeon—leave nothing unchecked!".

And then, with a final, damning statement, Wolfgang concluded, "Their arrival could only mean that someone from within our own ranks opened the gates for them. And I can think of only one man capable of doing that—Vestiron himself. As a noble, he had authority over certain parts of the Mana Shield. He sold his share—his dignity—to the Eukaphrotians!"

The meeting had taken a dangerous turn. Vestiron was Audel's mentor. If things escalated, they would undoubtedly interrogate Audel.

I clenched my fists in fury, my mana surging involuntarily—until a firm hand steadied me. General Vincent.

Looking at me with a mix of pity and restraint, he gave a quiet command. "Lieutenant. Get working." Then, in a hushed whisper, he added, "Your time will come… when you'll be able to voice your opinions. Until then, focus on the task at hand."

Mary Emporio - Boltaire Mansion

Two hours had passed since I arrived here. Seated at my desk, I tried to focus on my homework. The mansion was massive, nothing like our old, rundown apartment. They even had mana-powered lanterns—far more efficient than candles.

Letting out a sigh, I kept writing. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't concentrate. Something was off. I didn't know what—oh, wait. Now I get it. I'm too worried about my brother.

I'm worried he might sneak into Lady Boltaire's bedroom in the middle of the night, get caught, and end up in serious trouble. And if that happened, we'd both be outcasted. Just like that, everything would be over.

…Okay, maybe not that.

But in all seriousness, what really worried me was the current situation. Mr. Vestiron may have been a stranger to me, but he was my brother's mentor. I couldn't help but pity him. And the worst part? There was nothing I could say to comfort him. Not like he'd listen to me anyway. He still sees me as a kid.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed in the corridor.

I got up, walked to the door, and peeked outside. I spotted the maids' shadows at the far end of the hall. What was going on? Either way, my curiosity got the better of me.

Suppressing my mana as much as possible, I followed them. They led me to an unexpected sight—the pool.

My brother.

"Mr. Audel, it's freezing outside. Miss Uriel has ordered you to—"

"It's just a nighttime bath. Part of my training. Tell her to oil her own machine."

Through the window, I saw him alone in the water. Without even looking my way, he spoke.

"Thinking of joining, Mary? It's four degrees, by the way. Not pleasant."

"Shut up, you perv," I shot back.

And suddenly, it all made sense. I always wondered where he went at night and why he returned so refreshed. To think he'd been bathing—

A figure appeared beside me. Lady Boltaire herself.

Before I could bow, she pushed open the window, letting the icy wind rush in. Then, stepping outside, she asked,

"Are you trying to run from your revelations?"

Revelations? Wait, what? Did I hear that right? The wind was too strong. Did she mean relations? Hold on—this was all happening way too fast.

"I'm not running away," Audel answered. Then he stood, wrapping a towel around his waist.

I was used to seeing his chiseled form, but I never expected him to be so shameless about it. With all those scars, you'd think he'd have a little modesty—especially in front of a lady!

He stretched a little, then walked past Lady Boltaire. "I'll meditate now. Don't disturb for a while."

She nodded, completely unfazed. Not even the sight of a half-naked man could shake her composure.