Inside the spacious carriage cabin, Lorien Caldwell and his newest member, Aeliana Dewlight, sat facing each other in silence. Both were dressed in extravagantly luxurious formal noble attire.
Lorien wore a midnight-blue tailcoat embroidered with silver thread, while Aeliana looked elegant yet slightly awkward draped in a dark silk gown that accentuated her racial beauty.
Breaking the tense silence accompanied by the rhythmic clatter of the carriage, Lorien looked at Aeliana with a guilty expression.
"Forgive me, Aeliana," Lorien spoke softly, breaking the quiet. "Because of my affairs, you have to go through the trouble of accompanying me to this dinner party right after your guild exam."
Aeliana smiled gently. Her emerald eyes radiated an innocence that heavily contrasted with the dark, ambitious aura of her leader.
"It is quite alright, Lorien," the Elf replied in an innocent tone. "This is a direct invitation from the Mayor of Wealden. Naturally, I am happy to attend it as a part of House Caldwell."
Hearing the naivety of his new member, who had yet to comprehend the cruelty of human machinations, Lorien let out a long sigh. He massaged his temples slowly.
"Well... I truly hope tonight is merely a standard dinner banquet to welcome your arrival," Lorien muttered with a skepticism he couldn't quite conceal.
Aeliana, who did not understand the political pressure and behind-the-scenes power plays of Wealden, merely tilted her head with a confused expression.
Lorien looked away, staring out the carriage window at the rapidly passing streetlamps. His jaw clenched. His teeth ground together softly.
In his head, he kept replaying the reports from his spies: the Wealden Tower Master, Zareth Caldris, as well as the Astora family, were already aware of Aeliana's Hero-tier Talent.
His instincts told him that this dinner party at the Mayor's residence would not be an ordinary meal. It was a negotiation table, or perhaps a political battlefield.
In his heart, Lorien cursed whoever had destroyed his plans to lock down the information this afternoon.
Greedy adventurer bastards... Lorien monologued internally, his gaze projecting a thick killing intent. Whoever you are that dared to leak this news and sell me out to the nobles... I will hunt you down and kill you with my own two hands.
The horse-drawn carriage finally slowed and stopped on the gravel courtyard of the Wealden Mayor's mansion. The carriage door was opened by an elderly male servant wearing a neat suit.
"Welcome, Lord Lorien and Lady Aeliana," the servant greeted while bowing respectfully, gesturing for them to step down. "Lord Wealden and the other honorable guests are already awaiting your arrival inside."
Lorien Caldwell stepped down first, radiating the charm of a high-class noble knight. He extended his hand, helping Aeliana down from the carriage.
The Elven mage looked absolutely stunning tonight; her dark silk gown paired beautifully with her flowing blonde hair, drawing stolen glances of admiration from several guards on duty.
The two walked side-by-side past the marble pillars and entered the mansion's main hall.
At the threshold of the double doors, the Mayor of Wealden was already standing, awaiting their arrival. The middle-aged man in formal blue attire welcomed his guests with a warm smile.
"Ah, Lord Lorien! It is a profound honor that you could attend," the Mayor greeted, spreading his arms amicably. "Once again, congratulations on the success of your northern expedition. I hear those brilliant achievements will soon push you to the threshold of the Mithril Adventurer rank. This city is proud to host your party."
"You praise me too much, Lord Mayor," Lorien replied, shaking the man's hand with an equal measure of authority.
The Mayor's gaze then shifted, staring intently at the figure beside Lorien. His eyes glinted with deep calculation. "And this must be the new member who is the talk of the town. Elven beauty truly never disappoints. You look absolutely captivating tonight, Lady Aeliana."
Aeliana, still naive and unaccustomed to the double meanings hidden within human noble pleasantries, merely returned the flattery with a gentle smile and a polite nod.
She entirely failed to catch the evaluating gaze, one akin to a merchant appraising a highly valuable commodity.
Seeing how quickly the Mayor had invited and assembled the influential figures of Wealden for this sudden dinner party, Lorien smirked faintly. His eyes projected a concealed disgust.
"Your intelligence network is apparently highly efficient, Mayor," Lorien remarked in a smooth yet piercing tone. "News spreads faster than a gust of wind in your city."
The Mayor chuckled softly, attempting to elegantly sidestep the accusation. "Merely a small anticipatory measure, Lord Lorien. Maintaining the peace and prosperity of this city is my top priority. We must welcome and secure valuable assets properly, must we not?"
Lorien leaned in slightly, replying in a low tone laden with threat. "Of course. That is precisely why House Caldwell has dispatched 'assistance' to this city, to ensure our assets remain safe from overly greedy parties."
Hearing the name of a Ducal noble family from the Capital invoked as a show of force, the Mayor's smile twitched for a split second. A genuine tension flashed in his eyes before he managed to regain his composure. He cleared his throat softly, then turned his body to make way.
"Please, come inside and enjoy the banquet," the Mayor invited.
The mansion hall felt warm, filled with the strains of classical music from musicians in the corner of the room. The clinking of crystal glasses filled with red wine chimed through the air.
However, beneath that grandeur, the air felt heavy with the evaluating stares of assembled aristocrats, wealthy merchants, and faction leaders, all whispering to one another as they watched Lorien and Aeliana walk in.
Not long after Lorien took a glass of wine from a passing servant's tray, a plump man hurried over to him from the crowd. It was Thorne, the Wealden Adventurer Guild Master who had processed Aeliana's registration that afternoon.
Thorne's face was no longer adorned with a friendly laugh. The man looked incredibly tense, his neck dripping with cold sweat despite the cool temperature of the hall.
Thorne glanced left and right vigilantly, then leaned his body close to Lorien.
"Lord Lorien," Thorne whispered in horror, his voice trembling as he suppressed his panic. "The situation is dire. All of them... they already know about Lady Aeliana's Talent."
Lorien did not respond with words. He merely took a slow sip of his wine, then turned his head. His eyes narrowed sharply, staring at Thorne's face like an eagle ready to tear its prey apart.
Lorien knew full well that the rapid dissemination of this information couldn't possibly have come from just the adventurers. Someone from within the Guild's own internal staff must have profited by selling the news at lightning speed.
A freezing killing intent slowly exuded from Lorien's body, suppressing the air around the Guild Master.
"It seems some adventurers in Wealden have begun growing far too bold in courting danger," Lorien hissed icily, every syllable radiating a very real threat of death.
Receiving that silent warning, Thorne's face instantly went ashen. The plump man swallowed hard. He immediately bowed his head deeply, avoiding Lorien's gaze.
"I-I understand, My Lord," Thorne stammered, his sweat dripping even faster. "I swear I will hunt down that rat. And for tonight... I will fully support your position."
Amidst the tension the Guild Master was desperately trying to hide, an opulently dressed elderly nobleman walked over. It was Earl Astora.
At his side, Caspian Astora marched with his chest puffed out proudly. The young man deliberately positioned his body so the crystal chandelier light would reflect perfectly off the metal badge on his left chest—the Three-Circle Mage Emblem he had just acquired that afternoon.
Seeing the old noble approaching, Lorien bowed his head slightly, offering a perfectly measured formal greeting. "It is an honor to meet you tonight, Your Grace, Earl Astora."
Earl Astora halted his steps. The silver-haired man replied with a faint smile that concealed a multitude of calculations. "Ah, Lorien Caldwell. I have indeed been waiting for you."
As if unwilling to lose the spotlight after his father's exchange of greetings, Caspian took the initiative. The arrogant young man stepped forward. He grabbed the Elf's right hand, brazenly kissed the back of it, and stared at Aeliana with a flirtatious smile.
"The beauty of the Silverleaf Forest is apparently not mere hearsay," Caspian flirted with excessive confidence. "However, a gem as beautiful as you should sit upon a throne in a comfortable palace, not be forced to wallow in dust and blood with a band of adventurers."
Aeliana, who had spent the majority of her life in the forest and was unaccustomed to the aggressive etiquette of human nobles, gasped slightly. Her cheeks flushed, more from awkwardness and confusion than being flattered by the cheesy pickup line.
Seeing his new member treated inappropriately right in front of his eyes, Lorien's face turned frigid.
With a movement that was incredibly gentle yet possessed undeniable firmness, he pulled Aeliana's hand back from Caspian's grasp. Lorien took one tactical step forward, positioning his back as a shield between Aeliana and Young Master Astora.
Feeling his ego bruised by the public rejection, Caspian's face hardened. He clicked his tongue cynically, staring at Lorien with profound disgust.
"Do not act so highly of yourself, Lorien," Caspian mocked openly. "An adventurer, no matter how high the rank of their metal plate, is ultimately nothing but a lapdog for us nobles."
The insult was sharp, but Lorien was not provoked to anger. As a veteran of political intrigue, the leader of The Gilded Falcons merely replied with a relaxed, elegant smile.
Lorien's composure created a lethal contrast, making Caspian look like nothing more than a petulant child throwing a tantrum because his toy had been snatched away.
Realizing his son was beginning to look foolish and losing his dignity, Earl Astora was forced to clear his throat softly. "Caspian, mind your words in front of the Mayor's guests," the Earl reprimanded. However, his tone was flat and lacked emphasis, merely a formal reprimand to maintain appearances.
The minor altercation that was beginning to heat up was abruptly cut short.
The heavy creak of the mansion's main doors being pushed wide open sucked the attention of the entire room. The classical music from the corner of the hall slowly died down, replaced by a suffocating silence.
Zareth Caldris, the Wealden Tower Master, stepped inside.
His presence carried an invisible gravity that instantly suppressed the air within the room. Every noble present, without exception—including the Mayor and Earl Astora—simultaneously bowed their heads in deep reverence to welcome the ruler of the magic tower.
However, the Tower Master's next move was entirely unexpected. Ignoring the greetings and the rows of bowing nobles around him, Zareth walked straight through the parting crowd.
His shoes clicked against the marble floor in a rhythmic cadence until he stopped directly in front of Aeliana and Lorien.
With a fatherly smile that appeared incredibly warm, Zareth reached into the pocket of his luxurious magic robe and pulled out a small velvet box. He opened the box slowly.
Resting on the fabric cushion was a silver pendant with a blue gem in the center, radiating a soothing pulse of magical aura.
"A small gift for our future hero," Zareth said in a gentle tone that echoed clearly amidst the silent hall. "Imbued within it is a high-tier protective spell that will guard your every step, Lady Aeliana."
The presentation of that gift caused everyone in the room to hold their breath.
The implicit meaning behind Zareth's action was tremendously heavy.
Publicly and without hesitation, the Tower Master had just validated the rumors regarding Aeliana's Hero-tier Talent. That action instantly skyrocketed the Elf's value to the absolute highest tier, while simultaneously painting a massive target on the naive girl's back.
At the exact same time, through his fatherly smile, Zareth's gaze shifted to lock onto Lorien's eyes, delivering an undeniable political message:
The Magic Tower wants her, and you will not be able to protect her.