The inn had grown unusually quiet. At the outside, Luminos City still breathed with its usual rhythm.
The carriage wheels rolled along the stone streets, the nobles bought out many to their likings, and the distant bells echoed from the towers that were scattered across the district. Yet, inside the small room where Luke and Alicia spoke, the air felt heavy with the secrets.
Luke leaned back against his chair and exhaled slowly.
"I never imagined there would be these many dangers hidden around us," he said with a troubled sigh, "If what you said is true, the cult must be stopped immediately. Does the kingdom know about it?"
Alicia did not answer at once.
She lowered her gaze to the wooden table between them. The magic lamp hummed softly, casting the trembling shadows across her calm expression.
"I don't know," she replied at last, "Perhaps, they already know or perhaps, they know nothing at all."
Luke frowned, "That sounds dangerous…"
"It is…" Alicia said quietly, "And that's exactly why the matter cannot be spread carelessly."
She raised her eyes and looked directly at him, "Luke, listen carefully... No matter what you discover about the cult, do not tell anyone. Not to your friends, not to your family, and not even to other knights."
Her voice was calm but the seriousness behind it was unmistakable.
Luke straightened unconsciously, "I understand…"
He placed his hand over his chest, "As a knight, I swear I will keep this secret. I will not reveal anything unless Baston himself orders me to."
A faint chuckle escaped Alicia's lips, "I suppose I can trust a knight's pride."
Luke scratched his cheek awkwardly before another thought surfaced in his mind.
"But there's something I don't understand," he wondered, "Why does Baston insist on keeping everything hidden? If he informed the authorities or gathered the support, wouldn't it be easier to eliminate the cult?"
Alicia slowly shook her head, "You're thinking too simply. The cult isn't just a small group hiding in the shadows. Its roots are deep, deeper than we can see."
She paused briefly before adding in a lower voice, "Just look at what happened with your uncle."
Luke's expression stiffened, noticing the greater implication about what the cult could affect.
"If someone like him could cooperate with a dark wizard, then it means the others could be involved as well."
The implication settled heavily in the room. Just with one statement, it could spread the chaos in the kingdom.
"There may be nobles, officials, merchants, and even knights who secretly serve the cult. They're hiding, watching, and waiting."
Luke's jaw tightened, "Eventually, if we expose the cult too early…"
"They will disappear…" Alicia finished calmly, "They will hide deeper than ever before."
She leaned back slightly, "And worse, the cult could take advantage of the chaos. If the accusations begin spreading without the proof, they might manipulate the situation to create a conflict among the nobles or even within the kingdom itself."
Luke slowly nodded, "I see…"
His voice carried a quiet realization, "If that happens, the cult wouldn't even need to fight. The kingdom would tear itself apart."
"Exactly…"
The silence lingered between them. The magic lamp hummed again. Its light was bending slightly as if it was reacting to an unseen draft.
Luke folded his arms thoughtfully, "In the end, the only thing we can do now is watch carefully."
"Yes…" Alicia said, "We may not see everything but people always leave traces behind. There will be always one careless action and one misplaced word. Eventually, those clues will lead somewhere."
"And when they do, we will know where to strike."
Several minutes passed as the conversation continued.
They discussed possible connections, suspicious incidents, and fragments of rumors that were circulating through Luminos City. What began as a simple exchange gradually evolved into a quiet investigation between the two of them.
Luke even started suggesting some possible methods to prevent infiltration within the knight families. If Alicia had not been pressed for the time, he would have continued discussing the matter for more hours.
After everything that had happened with his uncle, Luke felt a deep unease lingering inside his chest.
He didn't know whether the other members of his family had already walked down the same dark path. If possible, he wanted to stop such a tragedy before it could happen again.
Eventually, Alicia stood up, "I should go now..."
Luke blinked, pulled back from his thoughts, "Already? Are you in a hurry?"
"Yes…" she hesitated briefly before adding, "If you want to learn more about the cult, you should speak with Panto."
Luke tilted his head, "Panto?"
"He was once one of their victims," Alicia explained, "Baston saved him not long ago."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, "But I'm not sure if the cult has completely stopped watching him."
Luke's expression hardened, "I understand. I'll find him."
He stood up, "Wait here for a moment. I'll call Baston and let him know you're leaving."
However, Alicia immediately shook her head, "No need..."
She walked toward the door, "Baston just completed a dangerous mission. He's probably exhausted..."
Luke hesitated but eventually nodded, "Alright..."
Alicia gave a small smile before leaving the room yet as Luke watched her walk down the corridor, he felt something strange.
Earlier, when she spoke about the cult, her eyes had been filled with sharp focus and determination. But now, a faint sadness seemed to linger in her expression. It was subtle and almost impossible to notice.
Luke frowned slightly since he didn't know why she looked that way. Even stranger, when she spoke about confronting the danger, there had been a strange excitement in her voice as if she felt alive when facing the unknown.
He shook his head. Maybe, he was imagining things.
Meanwhile, Alicia and her family quietly left the inn. None of them spoke and the atmosphere between them was solemn.
Luke watched their figures disappear down the street. As an outsider, he could only hope nothing unfortunate was waiting for them.
*****
The Xavierius family did not use their magic carriage. Instead, they walked to their destination secretly.
The emblem of their noble house was too recognizable. If someone noticed their carriage that was heading toward Tasco's barracks, it might attract unnecessary attention.
In the end, they chose the simplest method by moving through the city like many ordinary travelers. Step by step, they arrived at their destination.
The barracks stood at the edge of a quieter area. Compared to the crowded streets of Luminos City, the surrounding place felt almost deserted.
As soon as they approached the entrance, they saw the shadows of two men. Surely, the two people had been waiting. One was Tasco and the old knight sat quietly with his arms crossed.
The other man had a round face, broad cheeks, and slightly awkward posture. It was the same person from the magical recording that Tasco had previously sent.
His name should be Sebastian, the man who might restore the lost glory of the Xavierius family.
"Ah, our guests have arrived!" Tasco appeared with a wide smile, "Come, come! Let me introduce you properly."
He pulled the slightly fat man forward enthusiastically, "This is Sebastian, the man I told you about."
Angus nodded politely, "My name is Angus. This is Lord Harry Xavierius, the head of our family. And this is his daughter… Alicia."
Sebastian bowed slightly, "My name is Sebastian. It is an honor to meet all of you. If I say anything improper, please forgive my lack of manners."
Harry waved his hand casually, "It's fine… There's no need to worry."
Even though so, both he and Angus studied the man carefully.
Sebastian's clothing was respectable but his demeanor lacked the refined elegance typical of noble families. If they had to guess, he was probably only a wealthy merchant.
In Luminos City, those were the only two possibilities for someone dressed like him. Either he was a noble or a merchant. Sebastian clearly didn't behave like a noble.
Still, that wasn't important. What mattered was something else entirely.
Everyone entered Tasco's residence inside the barracks. The interior had been carefully arranged.
Several comfortable chairs and sofas faced one another across a low wooden table. The seating arrangement seemed almost deliberate.
On one side, Tasco and Sebastian sat. On the other side, Harry, Angus, and Alicia sat. To ease the atmosphere, Tasco began recounting how he first met Sebastian.
He spoke enthusiastically about how the fat man insisted on training under him despite repeated refusals.
He described Sebastian's determination, his persistence, and how he eventually managed to learn a technique called Wind Breaker.
Of course, the story omitted certain details. Specifically, the sparring match and the broken bones. Sebastian had strongly requested that part remain secret and Tasco agreed.
After all, it wasn't important to the current discussion.
As the old knight continued talking, Sebastian silently observed the scene. In his mind, the entire situation resembled something oddly familiar.
"This feels like an arranged marriage negotiation…" he thought.
Tasco spoke like an overly enthusiastic matchmaker while Sebastian sat awkwardly like a groom that was being evaluated. And across from him sat the bride and her family.
He almost sighed considering his own situation. Still, he had already expected this outcome.
When he learned Alicia was coming to Luminos City, he immediately understood what the Xavierius family intended.
For them, this meeting was more than a simple conversation. It was a transaction to gain what they needed to achieve their glory back.
While Tasco spoke, Harry and Angus carefully watched Sebastian. They analyzed his posture, his reactions, and even the way he spoke. They needed to ensure he was trustworthy.
They had to be sure Sebastian was not greedy, not manipulative, and certainly not a scoundrel who would take advantage of their desperate situation. After all, they were about to entrust something extremely valuable to him.
Finally, Harry spoke, "Sir Sebastian, may I ask what your plans are after your time here concludes?"
Sebastian rubbed his chin, "I'm not entirely sure. Sometimes, I travel around the land. Adventuring outside the cities feels peaceful."
Angus leaned forward slightly, "Do you not work?"
"Well… I do have some businesses in a few towns..." Sebastian shrugged, "I've earned enough money to live comfortably."
He smiled faintly, "So I thought, why not pursue the dream I had when I was younger?"
Harry raised an eyebrow, "A dream?"
"I always wanted to become a knight…" Sebastian looked almost embarrassed, "But my family circumstances didn't allow it back then."
He folded his hands together, "Now that I have the resources, I finally have the chance to pursue it. Such hobby complements greatly with my adventuring."
Harry nodded slowly, "I see..."
To him, Sebastian appeared to be exactly what he hoped for. A hardworking merchant with ambition but not with excessive greed.
Alicia remained silent during the conversation. Her gaze occasionally drifted toward Sebastian while her expression remained calm.
Sebastian, however, silently admired his own performance. It was really not bad. The fabricated background sounded surprisingly believable.
Eventually, Harry cleared his throat, "Sir Sebastian, I believe you already understand why we requested this meeting."
Sebastian looked directly at him, "Yes…"
Harry continued, "In the past, our family possessed the Gale attribute."
His voice carried a trace of pride that was mixed with regret, "However, none of the younger generation has inherited it."
Sebastian remained silent and Harry leaned forward.
"But now, you possess the ability that we have been searching for," he gestured toward Alicia, "So we would like to make an offer..."
Sebastian's expression became serious, "What kind of offer?"
"You would marry my daughter…"
The room fell silent since it was already expected. The problem was what would be the next steps.
"If you join the Xavierius family," Harry continued, "We will grant you land, wealth, and resources."
"You may govern your territory however you see fit. Additionally, we will invest our family's support to help you advance as a knight."
He paused, "How does that sound?"
Sebastian didn't answer immediately. Harry and Angus felt their hearts tightened. If Sebastian refused, they didn't know what else they could offer.
Meanwhile, Alicia sat quietly. Her fate had already been decided. Even if she disliked it, she understood the responsibility that she carried as a member of the Xavierius family.
Finally, Sebastian spoke, "Is the marriage absolutely necessary?"
Harry nodded, "The Gale attribute spreads through bloodline after all."
Sebastian fell silent again then suddenly, he told something out of nowhere, "May I speak with your daughter privately?"
Everyone looked surprised. Harry exchanged a glance with Angus before nodding.
"Very well..."
Soon, the room emptied. Only Sebastian and Alicia remained. The silence that followed felt strangely heavy.
For the first time, Alicia felt nervous. The small room suddenly felt smaller. Her heartbeat quickened.
What did he want to ask?
Several minutes passed before Sebastian finally spoke, "Your name is Alicia, correct?"
"Yes..."
Sebastian looked directly into her eyes, "Then, answer me honestly."
His voice was calm but firm, "Do you truly want to marry a stranger?"
Alicia opened her mouth, "Of course, I…"
The words stopped and her throat felt tight. For many years, she had prepared herself for this moment.
For the sake of her family and for the restoration of their lost glory, she dared to sacrifice much of her time and body. But deep inside, her heart resisted.
Why must she bear this burden alone?
Why was she chosen?
There were many young members in the family yet the responsibility had fallen entirely on her shoulders.
Life had never been fair.
She had known that since the childhood. Still, a small voice within her heart refused to accept it. Slowly, she lifted her head. Her eyes were no longer uncertain.
"I apologize for my rudeness…" she took a steady breath, "But I do not agree with this marriage."