Cypher emerged slowly from the manor half a day later. Before him, on the grounds outside the manor, stood both forces. On the left, Lent and his soldiers were bloody and bruised. While on the right, Gastors Wizards fared no better. However, behind them all, Cypher could see Lord Fayaldin accompanied by several other nobles. All of them Cypher had met in Dungor during the celebration of Gaizeal's defeat.

He squinted his eyes as he saw their smug gazes and he didn't fail to notice that each of the other nobles had brought with them a small force of their own, in Cypher's eyes that only served to validate one of his concerns. However, he wanted to wait and be absolutely sure before he made his move.

He scanned the newly arrived forces and saw that they only consisted of Rank-One and Two Conductors mixed with humans in the body's third rank. This was nothing he couldn't handle if it came to that, especially since he still wore the armor of the Ark Cradle.

Lord Fayaldin stepped forward with a wide smile on his face and greeted Cypher. "Well done, my boy! You really lived up to your title of Hero of Dungor! Is my vault secured?" The other nobles smiled with even more smug superiority before him. Had they already forgotten that it was Cypher who put an end to Gaizeal and his dreaded reign of terror?

Cypher raised a hand and nodded, "Indeed Lord Fayaldin! Your vault is secured. The man in charge of this group of brigands has been dealt with, and the manor is ready to be reclaimed!" Cypher said as he pointed towards Gastor’s forces.

Fayaldin sneered and clasped his hands together. "Very good! You've more than earned your reward! Come, stand by my side and together we can retrieve your payment!"

Cypher smiled this time and shook his head. "Actually I wanted to talk to you about that. You see, I opened the vault and what I found inside was quite… well, surprising to say the least."

Lord Fayaldin froze at those words and his right eyebrow twitched. "W-why would you do such a thing? I thought we had an agreement. Surely you can see how this is an act of bad faith. I... I trust you didn't take anything?"

Cypher squinted his eyes a bit more and sighed. "You act as though there isn't anything wrong with the contents of the vault. Would you care to share it with those gathered here? Or should I spill the beans in your stead?"

At this, Fayaldin dropped all pretense of cordial conduct, and a dirty scowl spread across his face. "You would do well to remain out of matters that do not concern you. I think you're forgetting your place young Cypher. You are not a nobleman. It is time for you to step aside and listen to those of higher standing. Now, you will execute these thieves for tainting my estate. They have earned their punishment, and I will see justice done! Afterward, you will come to my side, and we will speak of this matter no more."

Cypher sighed again and took a few steps forward after Fayaldin finished speaking. "See, that's just the thing. I don't believe you have any right to speak of justice after what you've been up to Lord Fayaldin. You've been quite the naughty noble, haven't you? Plotting a coup d'etat? Torturing Wizards for intel against those who would prevent such a coup... really the list seems to go on, doesn't it?"

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Fayaldin almost burst into a mad tirade of angry speech, but quickly composed himself. Lent, on the other hand, strode forward and looked angrily at Cypher. "How dare you accuse the Lord of such a thing! He has done nothing but show his subjects kindness! How could he possibly be a part of something as treasonous as a Coup d'etat?"

Cypher looked down at Lent and nodded. He had hoped that the Vice-guardsman wasn't a part of this. Indeed, as he used his mental waves to examine Lent's mind, he saw layers of enchantments wrapped around the man's consciousness and as he extended the scope of his examinations to the other men in Lent's battalion he saw much of the same thing.

He waved his hand and blasted the man with a wave of mental energy. Cypher could feel the spells wrapped around Lent's mind shatter under his pressure. They clearly hadn't been cast by someone with decent experience.

Cypher's mental wave moved over the entire host of Lent's forces, and a similar event happened to them as well. Each of those who felt the release of their minds gripped their heads and fell to their knees. For some, it was a harrowing experience. Some had done horrible things while under the influence of the mind-altering spells Fayaldin had placed on them.

Others were less distressed and able to cope with the few things they had done that went against their nature. However, all of them soon turned an angry gaze towards the lord as he sat upon his horse in the distance. Fayaldin didn't seem to care at all as they glared at him, and instead, he simply continued to stare at Cypher.

Rage could be seen bubbling beneath the surface despite his efforts to conceal it from those present. Cypher's gaze wandered over the other gathered nobles. To no surprise, none of them seemed shocked at the revelation that Fayaldin was the core of a traitorous Coup.

Lent turned to face Fayaldin and drew his claymore, "How could you do this? How dare you go against the Matriarch! You will hang for this Fayaldin! All of you will!" It seemed as though the jig was up. The plan had been revealed to Fayaldin's forces, and with their memories of their involvement restored, they were out for blood. Gastor's Conductors seemed to sigh in relief, and they too turned to face the nobles, battle intent burning in their eyes.

Cypher's suspicions had been confirmed, and he turned to his back and waved for someone to join him. From inside the manor, Gastor appeared wielding a new Zweihander. This one was more magnificent looking than the previous one, but it lacked the earlier one's enchantments.

Fayaldin's anger broke then, and he angrily shouted at Cypher, "So you've decided to cast your lot with these heathens have you? You commoners are all the same! Unable to see the bigger picture! The Matriarch's reign leaves nobles like us out to dry! All this spreading of wealth makes us look weak in comparison to the other nations around us!"

"How long can we retain our sovereignty when powerful Wizards like Gaizeal roam the earth? Must we be forced to rely on those from other nations to protect us and drive those monsters from our lands? You're all fools! I can see that I've been too lenient on all of you! Now I plan to rectify that mistake. You will all die here today! The force I've brought with me will make quick work of you!"

"As for you, Hero of Dungor, you will be slain as well! Don't think that I didn't prepare something special just for you! Your companion, the old man is my prisoner! If you don't wish to see, him die you will take your own life here and now! I'll not have you interfering in my plan!"

Cypher could only burst into laughter as Fayaldin finished speaking, and the lords and ladies all turned to look at one another in confusion. Had the boy gone mad?