Selena waited a good few minutes after the two boys left. When she was sure they were out of earshot, she reached under her desk and opened up one of the cabinets. There, she lifted a wooden board, revealing a hidden compartment with a rune carved into it. With a gentle tap, the rune lit up, and a soft hum permeated the room. Soon, that hum disappeared. She then reached for the communication stashed and set it gently on the desk.

"Did you hear everything, Geroth?"

"Yeah," he said, his voice sounding solemn. "To think those two experienced that in a short amount of time... No one should be unfortunate enough to go through their struggles. My heart bleeds for those young men."

Selena nodded. "I agree, Geroth. Those two possess the toughest minds I've ever seen for someone so young. Honestly, it's frightening how composed they are. They battled against beasts, lizardmen, and even a village filled with Scourge members. It was a good idea to assign Zephyr to watch over Tyrus in secret and monitor his actions. If something were to happen to him..."

"Selena," Geroth interrupted firmly. "The others, except for Zephyr, might not realize it, but I have an inkling of what you might be planning. However, I must be the first to warn you: you are playing a dangerous game here. Changing the exam's contents at the last minute to test the young man was a gamble."

"There were several opportunities for an overseer to intervene. For instance, when a crocodile clung onto his leg, or when that Jericho guy nearly pierced his skull, and when they confronted the dark sorcerer face-to-face. You expect too much from that young man, and I in good conscious cannot let you continue."

Selena smiled as she responded, "This is why I chose Zephyr instead. You have a soft heart and would have interfered to protect him. To nurture a seed into a mighty tree, the right conditions are crucial. Water alone won't suffice; it needs nutrients, light, and soil. Tyrus, and even Igneal, are those seeds, and I'm the firm guiding hand that will propel them forward. If no one else will step up, then I will be the one that builds the foundation. After all, without a good foundation, how can a house stand?"

"Selena..."

"Geroth, there's no need to worry. I've done everything I could for the boy. From this point forward, it's up to him to choose his own path. My role now is simply to offer occasional guidance, if necessary."

"What do you intend to do now?" he asked.

"As the branch leader, I will continue to attend to my usual duties. With Tyrus—and my nephew—now explorers and possibly attending an academy, there seems to be no other pressing matters. However, if Fiona happens to request a favor from me again, I will gladly oblige. It's quite endearing to see her get all flustered when she asks me for things. But let's shift the focus away from me; how about you?"

There was a moment of silence from the person on the other end. "...I will inform His Majesty about the alarming news. The arrival of a malevolent sorcerer, who is also a black tiger from the neighboring kingdom, in Lethos territory, and the subsequent chaos near the Wasteful Wetlands will undoubtedly provoke a response from the emperor. I fear this will be regarded as an act of war and serve as the decisive blow to what little diplomacy Lethos and the Beastfolk Kingdom held."

As I thought, Selena mused. She and a collection of others been aware of the ongoing hostility between Lethos and the Beastfolk Kingdom, and she had expected the worst. The appearance of a black tiger on Lethos soil without permission was akin to setting fire to the Imperial Capital. To make matters worse, they had even broken the non-aggression pact between the two countries.

For years, Emperor Johan and King Murus were on good terms to where their countries happily obliged in trading resources with one another. Mountains ran rampant in Lethos, so it was rich in gems and precious metals, while the Beastfolk Kingdom had a surplus of fertile farmland and lumber.

Each country benefitted from each other, and they held no qualms as they freely exchanged their goods. It was appalling the relationship had been strained when King Murus amassed troops on the eastern border just last year, cutting off communications with Lethos. The Imperial Palace believes that King Murus was preparing for war, but for what reason? Their motives were unknown, but most at the palace believe the Beastfolk were looking to conquer more lands, and they had their sights set on Lethos, their biggest threat.

However, that'd be too straightforward, wouldn't it?

"I'm afraid I have to go now," Sir Geroth said. "There is much to discuss with the other royal knights. Also, regarding the artifact in Tyrus's possession, you should know it is my duty to confiscate the relic."

Selena yawned and said, "Right, you said he refused to relinquish it. Where is the harm in letting him hold onto it? It poses no danger, far as I'm aware. One moment there was corruption in the air, but the artifact sucked it all up, correct? Doesn't sound dangerous to me."

"If it's containing the corrupted mana, then there is a possibility it will explode, causing another Draknir's Folly."

"Ah, but this is an artifact, not your run-of-the-mill item you can grab at a store. Artifacts are far more powerful than you can imagine, Geroth. If you're worried about His Majesty seeking the boy out, then why not concoct a story? Oh, and do make sure to abstain from mentioning Tyrus, but Igneal instead. He'd appreciate that."

"Selena, I cannot lie to His Imperial—"

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"You'll do it? Thank you, Geroth. Bye~"

Tapping on the communications tool, she severed the connection between the two. Exhaling a sigh, she leaned back in her chair. There were countless variables that could go awry, but she had to remain hopeful. Only Sthito held the knowledge of how their destinies would unfold. What she did know was that she had done everything within her power for Tyrus and Igneal. It was now their responsibility to make the most of the arrangements she had made for them.

Selena then stored the tool, got up, and made her way over to the window. Outside, the city bustled with life. Carriages were driven down the stone paths and vendors advertised their wares toward the passing pedestrians. The children laughed and played as they ran through the crowds, oblivious to the complexities of life. Explorers exited the building, preparing to complete their contracts or simply wanting to relax.

It was a shame that such a scene could forever disappear if Lethos and the Beastfolk Kingdom went to war. Given that Valis was the capital and where the emperor resided, it would no doubt be a city most coveted. The smiling faces of children would turn into those of despair, and the buildings as white as pearls reduced to smoldering husks. An outcome as such was not only unfathomable, but possible as well. Everything she worked toward would crumble like a child stomping on ant piles.

"How would Ethia react to the news? Askalid and the Shaire Kingdom?" Selena mumbled.

She observed Fiona and Igneal walking out together, accompanied by Tyrus. The siblings engaged in a lively conversation, with Fiona displaying a fiery demeanor while Igneal appeared smug. Meanwhile, Tyrus followed along with a vacant expression, seemingly unaffected by his surroundings, his mind clearly preoccupied with something else.

Selena let out a soft chuckle. "I truly hope that the three of you will be able to get along well. It's much better to foster solidarity instead of animosity. Enemies only bring problems, but allies bring strength. Maybe you'll learn a few things from each other and shed away your weaknesses."

In regard to Tyrus, Selena was certain about one thing: he was going through Skaura. While her understanding of black tiger customs was limited, she grasped the essence of the process. If he was indeed undergoing the trial, then keeping him close was the optimal choice, regardless of what lay ahead. Persuading Igneal to take part in the exams had proven to be the correct decision, and now the young Lockhart was entertained by Tyrus. Perhaps now, the realization of the outcome she had envisioned would finally come to fruition.

Selena watched as the three kids merged with the strolling crowd, disappearing from sight. She returned to her desk and began reading a stack of papers with a smiling lingering on her face.

***

Sulroth donned the black mask as the shadows lapping around him ceased. Once he stopped the spell, the shadows around him vanished and his surroundings became clear.

Perched atop a bell, he found himself stranded on a roof with a distinctive dome shape and many holes. Stretching out before him was a desolate landscape, once a bustling fishing village. The shacks had been reduced to mere piles of charred wood and ashes, their smoke swirling through the air. The bridges that had once linked the various platforms were either broken or consumed by fire. A repugnant smell clogged the fresh air, while the ground was scattered with the lifeless bodies of humans and lizardmen.

A senseless slaughter between inferiors.

Sulroth leaped off the bell and sailed through the air, falling through a hole in the roof. He landed inside a dilapidated building, his feet making a splashing sound as they sank into a pool of blood. There were corpses inside as well, yet much fewer than the outside. On their faces were bandages meant to conceal their identities. What a fruitless endeavor, amounting to nothing in the end.

He stepped over the corpses and made his way toward the center of the wide room, navigating around barrels and stools. Sulroth stopped when he approached the table, and his eyes landed on the magical tool. With a wave of his hand, a black blade materialized, its length stretching from the top of his head to his hips. He stabbed downward, puncturing through the wooden table. The magical tool shattered, and a puff of mana swirled through the air. Sulroth's blade retracted, disappearing into the shadows.

"The bodies left behind be will not be in vain," Sulroth said. "Thanks to that royal knight, my forces are in need of replenishing."

Sulroth glanced around and his gaze fell upon a lifeless body situated apart from the rest. Intrigued, he approached and lowered himself into a crouched position for a closer examination. The sight before him revealed a man with a disfiguring scar etched across his cheek, splayed out on the ground with a pool of crimson beneath him. From what Sulroth could recall, this man was named Jericho and one of Sezor's aides. He was one of two responsible for releasing the mind-controlled Beastfolk into the Wasteful Wetlands and informing Sezor of his progress.

Upon closer examination, a small wound on his chest where the heart was located caught his attention. It was a fatal blow, a dagger or a sword through the heart. It couldn't have been the branch leader or Sir Geroth that killed the man. Selena wasn't the type to carry around a blade. And because the wound was small, Sir Geroth's sword was too big to be responsible. Zephyr would've suffocated the man with a flick of his finger.

"Maybe one of the applicants? Or possibly the lizardmen?"

Thinking about the matter made little sense, so he brushed the notion aside. Sulroth raised his arm and hovered his hand over the corpse. Inky tendrils burst from his fingers, wrapping around the body as it sunk into the ground. As the tendrils receded, the corpse disappeared. Getting up, he walked over to the other corpses and did the same until there was nothing left. Afterward, he would do the same for the fresh bodies waiting for him outside.

Alongside replenishing his forces, he had accomplished what he sought to do in the Wasteful Wetlands. Three humans that held considerable power in Lethos had seen his face and witnessed his actions. Naturally, that royal knight would run home to his master and report to what happened. As such, they'd believe that a black tiger had infiltrated their territory, causing havoc. With the seeds of hostility and distrust blooming, the next stage of the plan would come into play.

Nearby, a loud crash rang out, and the ground trembled as another piece of the roof crumbled. Soon, a gust of wind blew past him. Dusting himself off, he stared at the hole, and thoughts of that Dem-human drifted into his mind.

"It hasn't been long, but that brat has grown much stronger," he mumbled. "Back then, I haven't noticed him spying because of his abysmally weak mana signatures, but that has changed. He truly is that woman's son. If it wasn't for her, Murus would've dealt with him already..."

Sulroth casually shrugged and made his way towards the front entrance. It was high time to get in touch with Master Raroan once more to share the good news. However, there was another matter that had been on his mind for quite some time, demanding his immediate attention.

As soon as Sulroth stepped out into the smoke-riddled platform, he turned his head to the left and met the gaze of a man in robes and a shawl levitation nearby.

"About damn time, Zephyr. I was wondering when you'd show up."