“You look so cool,” Hecate said as Iris entered the main hall, Winny floating beside her on a Purple Construct. Diantha had also combed her hair into a low ponytail, so her hair was not a mess for the cat to sleep on. Diantha had returned to get dressed for the evening as well.

While having her hair combed, Iris had a long and mostly one-sided conversation on whether or not Diantha’s public image was important. She had not much to say, except she did not know how Noble’s power worked, and she received an explanation. Now, Iris could only accept that image was as important as strength. She also gained an understanding of how nobility in the empire worked.

It worked mostly on presumed strength rather than the true. The Broken Empire, Laks, was so big that there were 9 Kingdom-sized States in it, and Gracia was one such State. Every State was mostly free to do as they pleased, but when there was a Hearing in the Court of Laks, every Nobie would have to be present.

In the court of Ira, the Emperor’s strength was absolute. What he spoke was truth, what he did was reality, and what he dreamt was Divine Revelation.

A noble’s, like Diantha’s, strength in that court was what the Emperor thought it was. If he thought Diantha was weak, she was, and the weight of her words in court would fall deaf to his ears. If he thought she was strong, she would have a say in all the matters that affected the empire.

No one could challenge the Emperor’s authority. The imperial army had enough level 2 mages that even ten thousand Level 5s would die of pure exhaustion. The empire had not been invaded externally in the last hundred years due to the Imperial Might.

Tomorrow morning, every newspaper in the Empire would have one of two headlines: Either “The Grand Duchess's Hidden Vassal” or “Lady Lancaster Begs a Mercenary to Save Herself.” Which headline was printed would change her strength, her power, and the peace of her city. It was a risk that she was taking by allowing Iris to participate on her behalf.

Diantha had asked Iris to present herself as one of her Vassals, equal to Hecate and Felix. Iris also learned that Felix’s father was a General in the Imperial Legion, though he had been posted in Gracia for the past few years at her request.

"Thank you, Hella. You look cool too," Iris replied, attempting to sound more like a High-Level Mage, but it wasn't working. Iris found Hecate sounding more mature than her, and it was extremely saddening. Why did her voice have to be stuck ten years in the past? Not to mention, Hecate was almost a head taller than her, and she barely reached Felix’s chest, making her feel like a child.

Hecate laughed, and even Felix chuckled, trying to cover his mouth. “You sound so weird,”

Iris didn't respond. Her focus shifted to Lady Ilona. “Greetings, Lady Ilona,” she said.

“Iris,” Ilona said, noticing Winny, “Are you going to keep your familiar like that?”

Iris nodded. She couldn't think of any other way. Diantha had suggested letting one of the maids take care of her, but Iris had refused. Having a Non-Mage, and an Unknown one at that, take care of Winny didn't sit right with her.

“Hmm… I can look after her. I'm not going to the Opening Ceremony. We will meet at the Coliseum.”

After dinner in the castle, all three houses would make an entrance in the Coliseum for the opening of the Trinity Festival, which lasted a week and ended on the full moon with the finale of the tournament.

Winny floated toward Ilona, who picked her up. “Aren't you a fascinating creature?” she said, staring into her eyes. Iris also noticed a cute lizard-like creature on the sofa beside Ilona, lazily lying down and staring at her. Hecate was her first thought as she saw it.

“Finally decided to notice the most handsome and reliable man of the house,” Hecate said, picking up the lizard and jumping toward her. “This is Ley, my familiar.”

Hecate almost shoved Ley in her face, and its round fiery eyes blinked at her. “It's cute,” Iris said as she patted him. Ley let out a cute sound.

“Hey! Don't insult him. He's a proud and mighty dragon, not some cute dog.” Hecate looked at Ley. “Aren't you?” Ley nodded hurriedly, almost afraid.

He was not a mighty dragon but a little newborn. Familiars usually grew with their masters. Usually, when the master reached Level 5 and the familiar had consumed a hundred souls, they would reach maturity. Winny would have too, but her curse barred her from this. Now, Iris didn't know if she would reach maturity after being released from the curse.

"Make good friends with Winny, okay?" Ley nodded in joy. Hecate dropped him on the cushion and turned. "Let’s go," she said, lacking enthusiasm.

"Are we going in a carriage?" Iris asked in horror, dreading the idea of being in that slow-moving contraption again.

"Of course, we are!" Hecate grabbed her hand. "And this time, you don't have a choice."

Iris could only groan as Hecate dragged her to the carriage. It was even bigger than the one in the morning, enough to fit dozens of humans. Iris imagined it would be even slower.

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The carriage departed, and Iris noticed that Felix was wearing a similar suit, minus all the floral designs, and had three blue stripes. Was he a water element?

Hecate, on the other hand, wore a witch's clothing, along with a long pointy hat. She seemed to love her oversized hat, which fell off her head as she climbed into the carriage. Hecate tried to grab it, but her feet slipped, and she dove face-first into the hard floor. Iris used her string to catch her before Hecate reached the floor and pulled her inside.

Hecate and Iris sat on one side, with Felix on the other. Iris marvelled at the absurdity of its facilities. First, it was air-conditioned; second, the seats were more comfortable than the inn's beds. Third, there was enough space in the back for her to lie down. That was the normal part of the carriage. The absurdity was the way mana converged inside the carriage, forming a natural elemental fountain, something only elemental spirits were capable of creating. Here, mana exhaustion would heal much faster than in the outside world.

Iris didn't even realize the carriage had started moving until Hecate spoke. Felix hadn't said anything, just staring at her. Iris felt self-conscious about it but decided he might have something to say and left it at that. Hecate, on the other hand, was incapable of that much internal dialogue and went straight for the head, spitting out her thoughts without care for Felix.

"Felix, you're awfully quiet and staring at Iris like a creep. If this is your way of trying to court her, then Lord Jeremiah would be repulsively disappointed in you." And she made a face as if saw a man shitting on the other. Jeremiah was Felix's father, who was famous for wooing one too many ladies. They said there were five ladies who decided to go to war to become his partner, and only Felix's mother came out alive.

Felix's shoulders slumped and shook as he tried not to let his anger take over him. Finally, he cleared his throat and spoke in a collected manner. “There is no such thing, Miss Hecate. I'm merely shocked at Lady Diantha's statement by giving her this suit.”

"Huh," Hecate's eyes narrowed at Felix as if she wanted to say something but chose not to. She then looked at Iris's suit again. After a deep one-second inspection, she said, "Heh, it does look similar to your father’s suit."

Iris thought that this was Diantha's way of saying she was her vassal. Iris wasn't against that notion; with their earlier conversation, it was clear that it had all been a ruse. Diantha had not asked Iris to become one of her vassals.

Felix continued, "Not just that, if we go by ceremonial clothes, if Lord Jeremiah stood next to her, he would appear to be one station below her. And nowhere in Gracia's records have I read about someone who was given a coat with stripes matching their element; it has always been blue."

“Why blue?” Hecate questioned before Iris had the chance to do so.

“That’s what represents Grace Lancaster’s strength. It is a mystery; I don’t know much about it, but a change of colours has never happened before. This is Lady Diantha’s choice. The blue flower on the collar is only given to the closest and most trusted vassal of Lancaster. By that, I mean Lady Diantha's most trusted people—only three people are currently allowed to wear them.”

“Hey! You're reading too much fiction; it's not that deep. And if you think I and you are not Lady Diantha's most trusted people, then you've gone mad. These are just ceremonial clothing.”

Iris agreed. She was not a fool to believe that Lancaster trusted her more than she did. Or perhaps Lancaster trusted her even less. Iris could see her kindness, but what did Diantha see? Nothing more than a monster capable of destruction. She was just a paid mercenary. Nothing more.

Soon, the conversation drifted to another topic, Iris's title.

“Iris, you have a title?” Hecate asked.

“It’s Lightning Lord,” Iris said simply, having gotten used to the title, she had forgotten how heavy it sounded.

“Wow, that is so grand. Does that mean you're ready to become level seven?” Hecate asked, she was almost jumping on her seat. Almost—because Iris had tied her to the seat after she jumped the first time and hit her head on the ceiling.

“I’m not sure. I became Level 6 along with the title,” Iris replied. It was an unusual thing.

Usually, a mage gets the title for the first time at Level 4 when they are ready to ascend to Level 5, and the same is repeated for every level above it. The title changes with each Level. The title usually relates to the user's mindset, past, and probable future. She had received the title of Slaughterer at Level 5, and after a month or so, she became Level 6.

Iris at least knew this was only part of the information. She lacked knowledge relating to the title. She would not live long enough to become Lightning Lord; she was sure the system knew, so why was this title given to her? She would most likely die before ascending to the next level. Iris did not even know if there existed a Level 7 or something else entirely. Not to mention, her Rank was Lord, so the title was at least affected by it.

Rank was what every Wanderer in the Labyrinth had, and as they consumed the soul of a higher rank, they would ascend to that rank. She consumed the Arch Soul of Laydell, and she became a Lord, of the same rank as Laydell himself.

“That so? I will ask my master about that… She told me the Title is like a badge given to honour students to tell them they’re doing better than others. And the name of the title is what the teacher expects you to become…” Hecate paused, her eyes widening, “That means, you will become Lightning Lord!!… but when? No, how did you receive the title just by ascending; that’s like skipping a grade or something, or what? Gaah!! My head hurts… Let’s ask my master.” Iris could tell Hecate was done with that topic.

“What is your title, Hecate?” Hecate’s face lost colour. She scooted backwards, only a little, caught in a web she was.

“I… don’t have one,” Hecate lied, turning away her red face.

Felix smiled; he finally had a chance to take revenge. “Her Title is Raven; Hella abhors it. And the whole of Gracia knows about it. It’s about time you accept the name and wear it on your sleeve proudly.”

“I will wait till you get the title of buttlicker, then repeat those words to your face.” Hecate seemed ready to jump at him.

“Why do you not like the title?”

“Raven!! It’s freaking Raven; I should be Phoenix or something. You have a title like Lightning Lord; you won’t understand.”

Iris smiled in pain; her title at Level 4 was Self-Serving as Winny had sacrificed to revive her.