Meanwhile, there was another silhouette in the palace who was also looking at the vista of buildings. However, his back appeared melancholic and nostalgic as if a part of him was lost, somewhere up above the swirling clouds. Even in a room full of bright lights, he appeared to have burrowed himself deep into the shadows.

Master Iuwein, the prime advisor of House Aeron, always had this illusion. No matter how he was surrounded by hundreds of people, the loneliness seemed to have made a pact with his soul. Most people thought he was aloof, someone who disdained everyone; for he was a royal. The kings ought to be like this, they said. However, Master Luwein knew that there was something more to him, more than the royal blood that represented him. Something they were not qualified to know.

"You came," King Aeron said.

A helpless smile appeared on Master Luwein's face. "Your Majesty, the worries of today's incident have left me deeply troubled about the future. I didn't have a choice but to intrude upon your private chambers." He bowed his head slightly to reveal a shiny bald head.

King Aeron turned around ever so lightly, and said, "No need for all that, Master Luwein. You know that."

"Indeed I do," Master Luwein replied as he raised his head to level a gaze at those deep gray eyes. "But, a king's privacy must be honored. An old man's small apology does nothing to amend the crimes but brings peace of mind upon the breach of it."

At that, King Aeron slowly shook his head, and walked towards the desk. The pitch-black Imperial token sat grimly over the pale-brown wood. "What do you think about this?"

"It's a beautiful black token, made through a unique imperial forging method. It has many benefits. The civilians of Aeron would respect you as the mighty mage who killed evil. The title would also pass down to the heirs of the next generations. A beautiful black token indeed," Master Luwein replied with a respectful sarcasm.

"I never knew you could joke too. Or perhaps, are you upset, Master Luwein?" King Aeron gently traced his fingers on the dark token. The pale white made a strange contrast with the dark.

"Your Majesty, don't tease this old man. You already know this is not a simple title. It's a token of chaos and catastrophe. The Imperial family has stitched a treacherous plot to weaken the Aeron House. Moreover, the other Great Houses might have already made an alliance against us." The more he spoke the more anxious he got.

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“Then what would you suggest? Reject it?”

Master Luwein fell silent at that question. He knew the trap was intricately planned without a single flaw. If King Aeron had outright rejected the title bestowed by the majesty himself, it might have angered him. The pride of the emperor could not be challenged. It would just put them in a worse position.

More importantly, the rejection would have seriously affected the reputation of House Aeron. At last, the title had too much importance in the hearts of people. It might have seriously affected their prestige and business across the entire Artidus.

For a moment, only the intruding wind whistled through the white curtains along the bed. The voice of swaying papers mixed along with it, making a strange symphony.

King Aeron accepted the silent reply, and turned around to open a drawer, and took out a parchment. Putting it beside a small hill of papers stacked one above another, he grabbed a quill pen which seemed to be made up of a beautiful translucent feather of some avian demonic beast with an ice element affinity.

Then, he dipped it into a red ink, and started writing with powerful strokes.

Master Luwein kept silent and looked at his graceful back. Every single action of King Aeron had a powerful rhythm to it. The worries he carried with him seemed insignificant at the moment.

After a minute or so, King Aeron’s dancing hands stopped, and he took out an ancient seal from his pocket.

Looking at the seal that was almost gleaming with brilliant lights, a chill went down the spine of Master Luwein. The seal was made up of a majestic shield. Even though a shield signified defense, there was a bloody aura enveloping the ancient artifact.

It was the insignia of the strongest ground force of one of the four Great Houses of the Empire Artidus. The one which had no equal. The pride and honor of the House Aeron. The Aegis Legion.

Despite the long years of his service in the House Aeron, Master Luwein had never seen the seal being used before. It was said that this seal had only been used for three times during the past centuries. Each time it was taken out, a huge change happened in the Empire Artidus.

Moreover, under the command of King Aeron, it was at the peak of its power. He could not imagine the catastrophe it could bring.

When he heard about his decision to deploy the Aegis Legion during the assembly, he just laughed thinking that it was some kind of plan to fool the Imperial Envoy. He had a lot of doubts but he could only wait for King Aeron to speak first.

Suddenly, he sensed a terrifying mana fluctuations around the room, and quickly looked up to find an astonishing scene.

As soon as King Aeron stamped the ancient seal on the parchment, miniscule yet complicated runes imprinted itself on it. Then, everything returned to normal as if it was just an illusion.

He saw King Aeron stand up from his seat.

Finally he could not help but ask, “My king, is there really a need for this? Have things already reached this point?”

“I don’t know, Master Luwein. I hope not. I hope it is just my illusion.” King Aeron’s gaze once again swept towards the wide sky. “However, the bad feeling gets stronger and stronger each day.”

“Pardon my aging wisdom, but wouldn’t deploying Aegis Legion outside our territory be dangerous?”

“They have worked too long as Aegis. Or shield. Now, they shall be our sharpest swords.” The weak and lonely aura that stuck around him like a perfume disappeared. There was a solemnness in his tone and gesture, befitting to a king. “Now, listen to my command!”

Accompanied by a loud sound, Master Luwein kneeled down on the ground. His body was trembling from the anticipation of the next words.

‘The Aegis Legion… I am afraid that a big storm is about to erupt in the Empire Artidus. No, the flames might be vast enough to engulf the entire Siara Continent.’

He bowed deeply, and the old slumbering blood in his body boiled with excitement.