POV: Rudolpho Alami

We sat in Lestul's chamber near the top of the fort. When I looked out the window I could pretty much see the entirety of the path that led here starting from the part of some forest I could see in the distance. There was this distinct feeling of power I had whenever I sat in any of the chairs in this stuffed room. In one corner was the large double bed, next to it was the wardrobe, positioned so its back pointed towards the bed's long side and the walls themselves were almost entirely hidden behind shelves filled with books and scrolls and other kinds of documents, the only break in the shelve was for the windows and the large wooden door.

Lestul sat at his desk, which was positioned to point away from the window it was placed before so the dim light that came in from outside shone onto his back. His black metal armour was placed on an armour stand in another corner, blocking access to a few scrolls on the shelf behind it. He was currently writing something down on a piece of paper.

That was when the door opened. Elsa entered the room, wearing her robe but having left behind her spirits and the contraption she usually wore on her back.

"Good, you're here," Lestul said as he put away the piece of paper.

"I am," Elsa answered as she sat down on the bed, leaning against the wardrobe.

"Well, what do you two think about the new volunteers?" Lestul asked.

"Very promising, the ones that had arrived a week ago are very promising. None have incredible mana but that is nothing a few training sessions and lessons in sorcery can't fix," Elsa said.

"So you want to turn them all into sorcerers?" Lestul asked, looking annoyed by the fact that he couldn't look at his sisters face.

"Well a lot of them seem to be unable to awaken any magic marks so that's the only way we can have them make use of their mana reserves unless you want to have them go dungeon diving but we all know how that turned out last time," Elsa said, getting a little snarky at the end.

"Oh please, it's not my fault King Gilgamesh decided to show up randomly in that fucking dungeon," Lestul said, getting a little angry. "Even after we had reserved it..." he whispered afterwards.

"Yeah, yeah," Elsa responded. "Now for your report Rudolpho."

I coughed into my fist and began talking.

"Yes, I have few actually promising volunteers... well, one, in fact. His name is Altair Oberon Lyrius, a wood elf, three magic marks, massive amounts of mana and he is experienced in combat, but you already know all that," I said, noticing that Lestul had that man's file out the entire time.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"Yes, he is promising indeed..." Lestul said. "But something bothers me... he is suspicious, not remembering his parent's names and such."

"He did seem like he went through a lot in the past, told me he lost his parents early and all that. If one thing is certain it's that he's definitely not quite right in the head," I stated.

"Don't say that, he's just a boy... no, man, but still," Elsa said.

"You're talking about him like that even after he disrespected you?" Lestul asked, one eyebrow raised. "Since when have you started to disregard your reputation as the strict mistress of the capital?"

"Oh shut it, there is something about him that makes me want to get on his good side, it's just a hunch but I think he might be our ticket to power within the church," Elsa said. "Your report stated that he was able to fight against this... Ilaria, or whatever her name was, the member of Pergament, right?" She looked at me.

"Yes, it did seem like he was at least able to withstand her attacks to some extend. That would mean that he could hold his own against a weaker caller at this point and if he got lucky maybe even beat them, although I'm not quite certain about that entirely," I said.

"Interesting, you might be right. If we give that one the right directions... you should definitely try and get him to open up to you or someone we can trust, get him to trust them," Lestul said.

"Hmm... that sounds difficult, the only person he has talked to since arriving were the employees and that one volunteer... what was her name again... right, Ivory. But it doesn't seem like he is interested in pursuing a friendship with her," Elsa said.

"Then find someone else, I'm not letting away such a chance for our family to rise back through the rankings!" Lestul said.

I sighed.

I could never understand this hunger for fame and power these two siblings had, it seemed almost arbitrary to me... but to each their own I guessed.

"Oh, before I forget," Lestul said. "What about the prisoner, Ilaria?"

"Right, she had yet to reveal anything we don't know. Just keeps talking about her master, Dion and stuff like that. She did mention something interesting tho. That wrath has returned, whatever that means," I said.

"Wrath is back? I'll have someone look into that..." Lestul said.

"Is that all?" Elsa asked, one eyebrow raised.

"For now, although she keeps saying things no one can understand, it seems like she can speak languages we don't even know about," I said.

"Tch. Sometimes I truly envy those that have blessings like master comprehension..." Elsa said quietly, still leaning against the back of the wardrobe.

"Yes, but we have already sent a message to a language specialist, maybe he can analyze the recordings we made," I said.

"Alright then, I'll leave that matter to you and your men Rudolpho," Lestul said.

I nodded.

"Of course," I said.

"Now that we have talked about those things, how is our current project going?" Lestul asked after a few moments of silence.

"It's going great, besides the fact that we have yet to find anything. I don't know where the idea to dig into the skull through the teeth came from but I'd like to punch whoever had it," Elsa said.

"I agree," I added. "The progress is slow but according to those present they have actually found the vein that our contact has told us we would find."

"Well, that is good," Lestul said, sounding a little happy.

Elsa on the other hand rolled her eyes.

"Is that all you wanted to talk about?" I asked.

"Yes, both of you are dismissed," Lestul said.

Elsa jumped up at the moment he stopped talking, nodded at him, then at me, and left the room in a hurry. I also got up, said my goodbyes and left the room. Elsa had already disappeared. With nothing else to do, I went to my room which was close by.