Chapter 81: Wisp of Intrigue

The third floor of the Country Forge restaurant buzzed with activity. Its expansive dining hall was framed by dark wooden beams that stretched across the high ceiling. Mounted on the walls were the formidable heads of various mana-beasts, their fierce expressions frozen in time.

Chefs stationed along the walls worked diligently, grilling an array of meats on open flames. The air was rich with the aromas of charred meat and earthy spices.

At the heart of the private hall, a long table groaned under the weight of a lavish feast: glistening roasted meats, mountains of vibrant vegetables, and baskets overflowing with freshly baked bread. The guests seated around it were engaged in animated conversations, their laughter and lively exchanges filling the air.

At the table's far end, Crelos, with his awkward brown hair greased back, maintained a strained smile, internally remarking on the quality of the meal, 'At least the food is good.'

As his gaze swept the room, filled with unfamiliar faces, he found himself the unwilling center of attention, continuously prodded with questions about his renowned potential, 'If one more person asks me to meet their daughter, I might just claim I'm castrated.'

Beside him, his master's larger frame was draped in a convincing display of mirth. Crelos barely suppressed an eye roll at the facade. His attention drifted towards the head of the table, a sigh escaping him, 'If only you knew...your own flesh and blood...'

At the center of all eyes, the fat Akleman and his young bride-to-be radiated joy, their laughter painting their faces a merry shade of red. They seemed utterly absorbed in each other, the embodiment of blissful ignorance to the undercurrents swirling around them.

His smile fixed, Crelos wrestled internally, 'Is this what the real world is? Brother betraying brother?' The thoughts churned, turning the feast before him to ash in his mouth. 'Can I really go through with this? But there’s no ascension without their aid. There’s simply no other way.'

Ding! Ding! Ding! The clinking of a spoon against glass cut through the buzz of conversation as Akleman stood at the head of the table, his deep blue aura swelling with each chime. "My friends and loved ones! A moment please!" he boomed, commanding the room’s attention with ease. As the chatter died down, he continued, "Thank you. Today, we gather to celebrate mine and Sealia's engagement—a day I began to fear might never come."

Turning to his fiancée, his demeanor softened, the warmth of genuine joy spreading across his features. "A whim, a simple, life-changing whim brought us here. Who could have imagined that altering my travel plans to visit Solomon would lead me here?"

Reaching into his waistcoat, Akleman drew out a simple wooden box, his voice warm, "When I first laid eyes on you, I never imagined..."

As Akleman's speech flowed on, Crelos’s attention waned, his thoughts spiraling inward, 'How can I follow through with this? The whole reason I started down this path was to prevent outcomes like this. If only I had Warwick’s resolve—'

His mental turmoil halted abruptly as an intense aura burst forth from the box Akleman had just opened, snapping Crelos's attention back to the present. "...and so, just as you have stolen my heart, I too have procured Gaia's Heart, setting it within this pendant, so you may always know that nothing holds more value than my love for you."

As the crowd stood to celebrate, pressing towards the couple with effusive praise, Crelos rose too, jostled from behind and pushed towards the wall. 'Nothing but dogs scrambling for scraps,' he thought bitterly.

Disgusted by the fawning crowd, and more so by his own part in it, Crelos headed for the stairs, craving a gulp of fresh air. That's when he noticed something peculiar at the top of the stairs—a small blue wisp of flames weaving through the entryway.

His brow furrowed as he tried to track the elusive wisp, careful not to lose sight of it in the bustling room.

His pursuit was abruptly interrupted by a heavy hand clamping down on his shoulder. "Stop dawdling. We're here to support the groom, so act like it," Brundy’s voice rumbled low and firm, pulling Crelos back toward the bridal couple.

"Wait, I think I—" Crelos's protest was cut short as he caught a glimpse of the wisp disappearing down the stairs.

"Stop your gibbering or you'll be sorting financial logs for a week!" Brundy hissed, giving a sharp tug to emphasize his point.

Crelos reluctantly turned away from the stairs, his mind still trailing the blue wisp as he faced the newly engaged couple. His attempt at congratulations were awkward and stilted, "I am very...happy for you two. Today is special, but, uh, tomorrow never holds... that's not right."

A sharp smack on the back of his head from his master corrected his course. Crelos quickly bowed, his words tumbling out, "I apologize! Social gatherings aren't my strong suit, but I truly wish you both a bright and joyful future!"

Both Akleman and Sealia chuckled warmly, the water knight clapping Crelos on the shoulder, "We can't excel at everything, young man—something your master could stand to remember!"

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Solomon's smile broadened at his brother's jest, his voice jovial yet pointed, "Mediocre was never my calling, brother. You might consider applying yourself a bit more, lest your bride worry for your well-being." He playfully patted his brother's midsection, a twinkle of mirth in his eyes visible even from the corners.

Sealia's laughter filled the air, her voice warm and familial, "You two," she said, shaking her head, "I only hope our future children share the bond you brothers have."

As the night unfolded, Crelos found himself trapped in an ongoing act, his mask of composure barely hiding his inner turmoil. With each toast and laughter that filled the air, he forced a smile, engaging in conversations while his thoughts wandered. The longer the evening dragged on, the heavier the facade weighed on him. Every time he glanced at Sealia, who was radiant with dreams of a bright future, a deeper sense of disgust gnawed at him.

As laughter echoed around him, the shadows seemed to stretch longer, and the festive atmosphere felt increasingly surreal, intensifying the knots twisting in his stomach.

"Inceptor Crelos, are you all right? You're looking rather pale."

The robust woman next to him jolted Crelos from his reverie. Mopping the sweat from his brow, he managed a strained smile, "Yes, I think I've overindulged a bit. Please excuse me." He turned to his master, "I need to step outside for a moment."

Solomon, with a casual smile, waved him off, "Of course, I did tell you to go easy on the drink."

Crelos stood and made his way to the stairs. As he started to descend, Brundy's stern voice echoed in his mind, 'Pull yourself together! Don’t make me regret bringing you, apprentice.'

Pausing briefly, Crelos replied silently, 'Understood, Master. It must be the food.' With a heavy step, he continued down, leaving the echoing laughter and festivities behind.

Stepping onto the second floor, Crelos paused, his eyes closing briefly as he let out a deep sigh. The tension momentarily lifted. When his gaze reopened, it sharpened, focusing toward the center of the floor. 'The old man!'

Something flickered at the edge of his vision—there, by the same elderly man with a stark white beard, accompanied by two blonde men, a small, blue wisp of fire mana trotted alongside the elder. Crelos's stare hardened as he observed them making their way downstairs.

His expression contorted with suspicion. 'Was he spying on us? But what would he be looking for, it was merely a dinner...wait, could he be after the diamond?' Anger surged within him, his breathing quickened. 'What more must she endure?'

----

Outside the restaurant, Haku's thoughts slipped into Darius's mind. 'I think he looked at me. That's impossible, right?'

Darius's frown deepened as he walked, his voice low in his mind. 'In this world, anything's possible. And since he's following us, it's highly likely he did see you.'

"That young mage seems to have taken an interest in us. Should we see what he wants?" Marcus murmured, keeping pace beside Darius.

Darius pondered for a moment before smiling slightly. "Just ignore him for now. Let's see what he’s up to first."

As they continued, Percy, stifling a large yawn, caught up. "I think there's someone following us."

Darius rolled his eyes, briefly explaining the situation, as they walked towards the Kinneman house. The figure still trailing them, made clumsy attempts at stealth, drawing unwanted attention from passersby.

Sighing, Darius couldn't suppress a chuckle at Crelos's poorly concealed attempts, 'This needs handling sooner rather than later.' He turned to Marcus and Percy, "Why don't you two head back? I think I'll stick around and have a little chat with our friend."

Marcus raised an eyebrow and stroked his mustache thoughtfully. "Just be careful, and don't take it too far."

"You sure you don't need me, boss?" Percy asked, his eyes wide with concern.

Before Darius could respond, Haku's irritated voice hissed from below, "He told you to go home, so go home."

Percy, flaring his wind aura, retorted with a burp, "I didn’t ask you, puppy."

"Pup—!" Haku, in his ghost-form, bristled at the comment.

Stepping forward, Darius intervened firmly, 'Enough.'

Haku's ears drooped as he reluctantly pulled back, his mouth still ominously close to Percy’s leg.

"Go home. You'll need to rest, tomorrow we start training to prepare your body," Darius instructed firmly, turning to Marcus with a slight bow, "Thank you for the meal."

Marcus responded with a hearty laugh, clapping his son on the back as they began walking home.

Haku's excitement was palpable as he looked up at Darius, 'What are we going to do about the mage?'

'First, we'll test if he can actually see you. There is an alley up ahead, let's split up there and see who he follows,' settling his hands behind his back, he walked forward, drawing a deep breath of the cool night air.

'Well, if he isn't following me, why would he follow you? You think he can see through your artifact?' Haku kept pace beside Darius, frequently glancing back at Crelos who was awkwardly trying to remain unseen, ducking behind a barrel far too small to conceal him or twisting behind a stall with his robes still clearly visible. 'Is he a runt?' Haku thought to himself.

'I doubt he can see through the artifact, but then again, anything's possible,' Darius smiled lightly, his stride carrying a hint of amusement.

Catching the subtle joy in Darius's expression, Haku tilted his head, puzzled. 'Why do you seem so pleased?'

'Because,' Darius grinned, looking ahead, 'if he can indeed see through my disguise or your Ghost-form, it presents an opportunity to discover something new, perhaps a technique he would be willing to part with.'

'Willing...hmm.' Shaking his head, Haku dismissed his misgivings and began to smile himself, his tail wagging in anticipation.

'The alley eventually ends at a wall. Go down there, and if he follows, wait there. We'll see what he's up to without drawing attention,' Darius instructed, pausing to seemingly admire the surroundings.

'And if he attacks?'

'He won't, but if it comes to that, leave any action to me. No attacking unless I give the word,' Darius responded firmly, his eyes scanning the area. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Haku's wisp attempt to swat a stone, passing through it in a visible huff as he floated off down the alley.

Extending his Arcane Gaze, Darius noted Crelos extending his neck a little, his eyes flicking towards where Haku had vanished. To capture Crelos’s attention fully, Darius coughed lightly and strolled past the alley entrance.

He kept a vigilant watch from above with his Arcane Gaze as Crelos crept forward, then hesitating at the alley's mouth, seemingly conflicted, before making up his mind to follow Haku. 'He can actually see him! I have to know how.'

Meanwhile, Haku observed from the shadows as Crelos awkwardly moved in and out of the streetlight, making a spectacle of himself. With a resigned sigh, Haku muttered to himself, 'Humans...why must they be so odd?'

As Crelos closed within five meters of Haku, he stopped, his aura flaring visibly as he drew his wand and aimed it forward. "Come out! I can see you!"

"I woul—" Darius began, his voice booming right behind Crelos, startling him into action. "Brúchtaigh!"

Before Darius or Haku could react, a burst of blinding light and fire exploded from Crelos’s robes, sending flames cascading in all directions.

The alley instantly turned into a tunnel of fire. Outside, a couple walked by the entrance, oblivious to the chaos within as the flames surged against an invisible barrier, never escaping the alley’s confines.

Now sprawled on his back near the alley entrance, Darius coughed, his youthful features exposed as the unexpected attack disrupted his Brooch of the Star-Baron. "Good thing I had a barrier and an illusion array set up."

Brushing himself off, Darius spung to his feet, his gaze locked on Crelos who, with his back pressed against the alley wall, looked panicked. His panicked expression then shifted to one of confusion and recognition. "...Darius?"

Haku, shaking off the debris from his fur, looked up, slightly singed but unharmed, "Can we kill him now?"

Refocusing his gaze on Haku, still in his Ember-Fox form, Crelos's expression twisted further. "Wait. You're that Ember-Fox from back then... you can talk?!" Shaking his head, he suddenly aimed his wand back at Darius, breathing heavily. "You’re supposed to be dead, what's going on?!"

Darius stepped forward, hands raised in a calming gesture. "Well, as you can see, I’m very much alive. And I’d like to keep it that way, for both of us. So, do me a favor before my little brother over there loses patience and chews your face off. Put your wand down, and let’s talk."

Crelos wavered, 'little brother?' his gaze shifting between Darius and Haku, slowly, his expression softened into resignation as he sighed. Lowering his wand—but not stowing it away—he cleared his throat, "I see no reason why we shouldn’t talk."