There was a moment of stunned silence following his offer. Damien had expected it and placidly waited until the Branderi delegates worked out he was serious.
His own men struggled to keep their composure despite being alerted in advance.
It was a big deal, what he was offering. Pure Casting was a specialty of Haylich, developed only a few years ago, and no one else had managed to work it out. Many had tried, but the results were abysmal without fully understanding its underlying theory.
And everyone wanted to get their hands on it. Not because it was a game-changer during normal times. It was well understood that Pure Casting would be roughly equivalent to the common schools unless one mastered it to a high degree. But against the Void, it was the difference between life and death. And the Void wasn’t the only threat that resisted most spells.
Damien was sure the Hammerfest warmages would sell their firstborn to get their hands on it, if only because of the advantage it would grant them in their push south, where the Silent Peaks prevented most magic from actualizing.
Many efforts had been made to steal the secret, and incredible wealth had been offered to those few who could reliably use it.
None had taken the offer. King Vasily had been wise enough to order Lady Jean to teach it only to those members of the nobility who had passed extremely stringent loyalty tests. And even then, without the girl who had made it all possible, only a cursory understanding was possible.
But now things had changed. Lady Jean had been ordered to teach more people—young scions of noble houses— and while the Revolutionary Council didn’t believe they would spread the knowledge, the more people knew about something, the easier it was to leak.
There is also the fact that the more people know about it, the less will die when the Void next shows its ugly mug. Leonard said it’s only worth something now and that holding onto it is like holding onto sand. Sooner or later, it will slip away from our fingers.
“Has someone else cracked it, then?” An aged voice broke the silence.
“That’s not the case, as far as we are aware. Many have tried, but they lack knowledge of the fundamentals.” Damien replied calmly. He knew Etinus would be interested but hadn’t expected him to break the farce yet.
“Don’t try to take us for a ride, boy. I’ll know immediately if something is fishy.” Staring down a Champion was not something Damien relished, but as the tension in the room reached its peak, another presence made itself known.
Visibility faded away as a passing cloud covered the sun. Open windows banged close without a gust of wind. Pupils dilated in fear. The sudden shift in the room’s atmosphere was so intense Damien felt a bead of sweat drip down his back. The Branderi diplomats, already tense from the audacious offer, now found themselves plunged into a deepening gloom. The light seemed to drain from the room, replaced by thick, oppressive shadows that pressed down upon their souls.
Etinus immediately reacted, standing up as his own aura surged in response. The air around him shimmered with power, his blue-white mana clashing with the new presence. Such was the overwhelming strength he brought to bear that Damien wouldn’t be surprised if the entire city could feel it. Though he doubted Lady Amelia would allow such a disruption.
Through it all, Damien remained still, a faint smile playing on his lips as if he were a mere spectator, amused at an intense play. He had expected Amelia to make an appearance—she had a knack for dramatic entrances—but even he hadn’t anticipated the intensity of her arrival.
The Branderi diplomats began to tremble, their faces ghostly white as the weight of the two powerful auras pressed down on them. Sweat beaded on their foreheads, and a few seemed on the verge of fainting. The room was filled with strained breathing, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.
Then, just as the pressure became almost unbearable, it broke.
Etinus’s laughter echoed through the room, a deep, booming sound that startled everyone. He slapped a hand on the table, his aura receding as he grinned at the source of the darkness. “Well now, lass, you’ve got spirit! It’s been a while since I had to be the one to back down. Any longer, and we would have had casualties.”
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Amelia stepped fully into the room, also pulling back her presence. The light returned as if drawn to her, casting her in a soft, ethereal glow. Her beauty was breathtaking, a combination of delicate features and an undeniable power that left the Branderi delegates momentarily speechless.
Her dress, a deep, purplish black that was hard to look away from, contrasted sharply with her pale skin. She didn’t wear any ostentatious jewelry or finery that might have been expected of someone in her position. Instead, she was simplicity itself—except for the aura of sheer, overwhelming power that clung to her like a second skin. “We have paladins capable of casting [Resurrection] if that ever happens.” She replied, drawing a disbelieving chuckle from Etinus’ granddaughter. The girl didn’t say anything, though Damien made a note that she had weathered the pressure much better than men three times her age.
With a small, almost imperceptible gesture, Amelia conjured a chair from the shadows that lingered at the edges of the room. It was elegant, made of a dark material that almost flowed as it solidified into shape and appeared beside Damien.
She took a seat gracefully, lifting her chin in that familiar, imperious way of hers, and looked directly at him. “Proceed.”
Damien almost rolled his eyes but caught himself. Instead, he gave her a polite nod. “Thank you for passing by, Lady Amelia. Your presence is always a comfort.”
She didn’t respond, only smiled slightly, a gesture that could have been genuine or mocking—it was always hard to tell with her. She made no move to leave, however, clearly intending to stay.
Etinus guffawed again, clearly amused by the interaction.
The Branderi delegates were still trying to regain their composure, some discreetly dabbing their foreheads with handkerchiefs. The sudden lightness in the room after the intense mana clash was almost disorienting, and they had to stifle gasps as they took in Amelia’s appearance. Even the most seasoned among them couldn’t hide their admiration or awe at her beauty and presence.
“Are we so isolated that no one would come running after that?” Yullen asked after taking a deep breath, though he deliberately kept his gaze away from his superior.
“Of course, our privacy is assured. We wouldn’t want prying eyes to learn of the terms of our agreement.” Damien intervened before Amelia could stir the pot more. He appreciated her save, as he still wasn’t strong enough to stand up to an angry Champion, but her disregard for diplomacy could be troublesome.
He leaned forward slightly, calm and unruffled despite the tension that had filled the room moments before. “As I mentioned earlier, the offer of Pure Casting is still on the table. However, we hope it’s clear that the Revolution means business. We are serious about forming a mutually beneficial agreement, but we will not be treated as a junior member just because of how young we are as a nation.”
Yullen exchanged a glance with Etinus, whose cover as a simple delegate had been thoroughly blown. The Archmage seemed unfazed by the events, sharp eyes still gleaming with interest. Yullen cleared his throat. “We are indeed interested in this offer, provided that Archmage Etinus can confirm the knowledge,” he said, his tone respectful but firm. “Given the... unique nature of Pure Casting, we would require a demonstration or some verification before any formal agreements are signed.”
Damien nodded. “That can be arranged, though I assure you the knowledge is as described. Our conditions are simple: we require enchantment materials that Brander can easily provide, such as deep sea minerals and wasteland bones. There are also rarer items we seek, though we are flexible on the specifics.”
The Branderi delegates murmured among themselves, weighing the demands. Etinus stroked his chin thoughtfully, his gaze drifting toward Amelia, who remained silent and watchful. Her presence seemed to act as a buffer, preventing the Branderi from using intimidation tactics of their own.
Yullen looked back at Damien calculatingly. “The common materials you ask for are within our means to provide. However, the rarer items you seek— of which only the Abyssal Orchids and Infernal Ore we have available for sale in significant enough numbers—are more difficult to come by. They are not only rare but also highly coveted by our own mages and artisans.”
Damien expected the pushback. He was prepared to drive a hard bargain. “We understand their value, which is why we’re even willing to offer Pure Casting in exchange. However, we are open to discussing the specifics of the quantities and the timing of deliveries. We are not asking for an immediate flood of these resources but rather a steady supply over time.” His goal was to build a lasting relationship, after all. A quick buck might have made the Branderi more eager, but it wouldn’t help down the line. And Damien fully intended for the Revolution to last.
Etinus interrupted then, having come to a decision. “You drive a hard bargain, young man. But I respect that. How about this—we agree to supply the common materials in the quantities you request in exchange for a moderate flow of food and mana crystals. However, for the rarer items, we will provide a smaller initial batch, with further shipments contingent on the results of our mutual cooperation. This would ensure trust on both sides and allow us to assess the true value of this Pure Casting.”
Damien considered the offer carefully. It wasn’t ideal, but it was a reasonable compromise. The Revolution needed those materials, especially as their food and mana crystals production was beginning to hit its stride and would soon turn into a surplus. However, they also needed to establish a foothold in these negotiations without appearing desperate. “That’s acceptable,” he said finally. “But in return, we would require assurances that the materials will be delivered without delay. Any breach of this agreement would result in the immediate cessation of our end of the deal and of the knowledge exchange.”
While the bulk of the deal was worked out, the details still needed some haggling. The two sides continued negotiating, with the Branderi delegation pushing for more favorable terms regarding prices and quantity while Damien remained steadfast in his offer. Amelia’s silent presence loomed over the talks, constantly reminding all of the Revolution’s power. Eventually, an agreement was forged—one that didn’t leave anyone entirely happy but also didn’t upset either side enough to walk away.
The final terms were straightforward. Brander would supply the common enchantment materials immediately, with the first batch of Abyssal Orchids and Infernal Ore arriving within the next month. In exchange, the Revolution would take Lamberta Etinus as a ward and have her learn the intricacies of Pure Casting under Archmage Jean Franklin.
As the talks concluded for the day and the delegation prepared to leave, Etinus remained seated, his eyes lingering on Damien. “I’d like to meet with your Grand Marshal,” he said casually as if requesting a chat over tea.
Damien’s expression remained neutral, though inwardly, he was cautious. Leonard had said this would likely happen, especially after Amelia showed up, but he couldn’t just accept. “I will see if it’s possible,” he replied diplomatically. “The Grand Marshal’s schedule is quite demanding, but I will convey your request.”
Etinus smiled as if he knew something Damien didn’t. “I’m looking forward to it.”