Since Rifi had nowhere else to go, and Rudeus had kindly offered him a place to stay, he accepted the invitation with quiet gratitude.

Helena and Rudeus prepared a sleeping bag for him, placing it by the living room window at Rifi's request. The soft glow of the starlight filtering through the window seemed to offer him a strange comfort. After spending so long in the isolation of a cave, over a year, the open sky was a sight he hadn't realized he craved.

Though the city's lights dimmed the stars, Rifi had a way of clearing the haze with just a touch of mana. Yet, even with the stars twinkling overhead, the persistent hum of city life reached him, muffled though it was by walls and windows. Despite the distractions, sleep came swiftly. For the first time in days, Rifi sank into a deep, dreamless rest—a welcome reprieve from the thoughts that had plagued him since his master's disappearance.

Rifi slept soundly through the night, so deeply that even the quiet rustlings of Helena preparing breakfast in the morning, didn't stir him. It wasn't until Rudeus, with his usual obnoxiously loud yawns and thudding footsteps, wandered into the room that Rifi finally woke.

"Morning," Rifi mumbled, half-amused by the fact that Rudeus' son hadn't been jarred awake by the ruckus.

"Morning, Rifi," Rudeus replied with a grin. "Slept well on that bag?"

"Like a baby. Better than I'm used to, honestly," Rifi admitted.

"Glad to hear it. Come on, breakfast is ready," Rudeus said, waving him over.

Rifi folded the sleeping bag neatly, not wanting to seem rude, and joined the others at the table. Breakfast was simple but delicious—eggs cooked to perfection by Helena's skilled hands. To Rifi, the best part was the absence of fish. He detested the taste of it, something words couldn't quite convey.

As they ate, the conversation drifted to more serious matters. Rudeus had already spoken briefly with Rifi about what was next. They would keep the details of his recent events hidden, and Rudeus had agreed to vouch for him when necessary. It would make things easier as they navigated the bureaucracy of the city's bureaucracy.

After breakfast, they didn't linger. Helena busied herself with cleaning up while Rudeus and Rifi readied to leave, the little one still fast asleep through it all. Their destination was the local mage in charge of Rudeus' unit—a red-core mage like Rifi, by the name of Arthur.

Though a capable spellbound mage, Arthur didn't have the authority to contract red-core mages as he reavealed to them upon their meeting. This task was reserved for someone much higher in rank, namely the City Lord.

Arthur, eager to help, offered to arrange a meeting with the City Lord. There was a personal motivation behind his eagerness—the commission he would earn for 'discovering' a red-core talent like Rifi. Of course, Rudeus would see a portion of that commission, something that made Rifi feel slightly better. At least in some indirect way, he was helping his friend.

Their business with Arthur didn't take long, and soon Rudeus had to part ways, reminded of his duties by Arthur's not-so-subtle hints. Before leaving, Rudeus made sure to invite Rifi to dinner that evening, a gesture that was appreciated more than words could express.

Rifi and Arthur continued on their way to the heart of the city, where the military administrative buildings were located. The headquarters where the City Lord worked was close by—a fortress-like building with a training arena attached, high walls surrounding it to ensure the safety of the area or perhaps to conceal what went on inside. Arthur, ever the chatterbox, filled Rifi in on every detail as they approached.

The entrance to the HQ was imposing, but Arthur barely paused, nodding to the guards as he continued talking about the building's history. They passed through the grand gates and into the reception area, where Arthur finally fell silent.

"You'll have to wait here, Rifi," Arthur said. "It won't be long, and either I or someone else will fetch you when the City Lord is ready."

Arthur spoke briefly with the receptionist before hurrying up the stairs, leaving Rifi alone to wait. Rifi let his eyes wander, taking in the sight of the garden just beyond the entrance. He couldn't help but smirk to himself.

'I've learned more about this building in five minutes than I've learned about mana in three years,' he mused, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. Arthur certainly had a way with words, though his enthusiasm was almost overwhelming.

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Before Rifi could dwell on his thoughts too long, Arthur returned, practically bounding down the stairs.

"Good news, Rifi. The City Lord is available. We can go right in."

They climbed the stairs together, Arthur unusually quiet. His previous excitement seemed to have vanished as they approached a heavy door on the second floor.

"This is where I leave you," Arthur said, gesturing to the door. "The City Lord is waiting inside."

Rifi hesitated, a sudden chill crawling down his spine. Was something amiss? His mind raced with paranoid thoughts, but he quickly dismissed them. 'Don't overthink this,' he reminded himself, taking a deep breath before stepping forward.

The room beyond the door was large, with a grand desk at the far end and an oversized chair positioned near a window that overlooked the training grounds. Shelves filled with books lined one wall, while a massive painting of the city adorned another. In the center, two plush couches flanked a low table, and on them sat two mages, both watching him with unsettling intensity.

The City Lord stood by the window, his back to the room. As Rifi took a tentative step forward, a crushing weight of mana suddenly filled the space. The pressure was suffocating, and Rifi had to immediately circulate his own mana just to remain standing. His body tensed, eyes glowing red as his battle sense kicked in, instinctively trying to counter the oppressive force.

The pressure came from all three mages. Though Rifi could feel his mana pushing back, it wasn't enough to fully resist them. His mind raced, searching for his next move. Just as he prepared to act, the pressure slowly eased, and the City Lord turned to face him.

"Heh, welcome, Rifi. Apologies for the little test. My advisors insisted," the City Lord said, his tone surprisingly light. "Please, come in. Do you prefer tea or coffee?"

The tension in the room lessened, though Rifi remained wary. "Thank you, City Lord," he replied cautiously. "The test was unexpected, but I'm not one to complain. Nothing for me, thank you."

The City Lord smiled, the wrinkles around his eyes deepening. Despite his age, there was a youthful energy about him, as though time had touched his face but left his spirit untouched. "I'm glad you've taken it in stride. These two are my trusted advisors, Helvia and Felix. They have served me well for many years. Trust, you see, is a rare and precious thing these days. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Yes," Rifi replied earnestly. "Trust is indeed important."

The City Lord studied him for a moment, his expression soft but unreadable. "Very good. Now, to the point. We are all rather curious. A red-core mage, appearing almost out of nowhere, only a year and a half after your awakening? Forgive my bluntness, Rifi, but are you entangled with one of the great clans?"

"No, I am..." as Rifi was about to add something, he was interupted.

Helvia, who had been silently observing, interjected sharply. "Lies."

Felix made a disapproving sound.

Suddenly, the oppressive pressure returned, weighing down the room as the City Lord's face twisted in clear anger.

"I see now. You couldn't even wait for an old man like me to pass away naturally. No, you've chosen to make your move, openly seizing power. But you won't leave this place alive..." His voice dripped with accusation, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

"Please, calm down. Let me explain," Rifi interjected quickly, sensing that the situation was spiraling out of control.

"What is there to explain?" the City Lord snapped, his fury uncontained. "You were sent here to infiltrate us!"

"You have it all wrong," Rifi said, his voice steady but laced with urgency. "The only connection I have with them is that they slaughtered my family. The only thing I seek from them is revenge."

At this, both the City Lord and Felix turned their eyes to Helvia. She remained focused on Rifi, her gaze unblinking and intense. After a moment of silence, she spoke, her tone matter-of-fact.

"He speaks the truth."

The City Lord's expression shifted, confusion replacing the anger that had contorted his face moments before. "Then how do you explain your sudden leap in magic cultivation?" he asked, his voice softer now but still tinged with suspicion.

Rifi's mind raced. By now, it was clear that Helvia had some way of discerning truth from lies. He knew he had to tread carefully.

"All I can tell you is that I stumbled upon a treasure, inheritance if you will and gained some knowledge from it." His words were carefully chosen, for though it was not the whole truth, it was still truthful enough. The mana vein he had discovered was indeed a treasure, and the knowledge he had gained… well, that was a story for another time.

Helvia gave a slight nod, confirming his honesty, and the City Lord's expression softened further.

"That makes sense," the City Lord conceded. "An inheritance left behind by a mage could certainly explain your rapid rise in cultivation."

"Yes, but I must ask for your discretion," Rifi added, his voice lowering. "The fewer people who know about it, the safer I'll be. I cannot share more, and I hope you'll understand."

The City Lord's features relaxed into a thoughtful expression. After a pause, he nodded. "Of course. Your secret is safe with us. We would never put our newest battlemage in harm's way. That is—if you still wish to join us, and if the information we have on you is accurate?"

He extended his hand to Rifi, his once-stern face now brightened with a genuine smile.

"It would be an honor, sir. And yes, I specialize in close combat, so battlemage would be fitting." Rifi replied, standing up and shaking the City Lord's hand firmly.

With that, the heavy tension in the room dissipated completely. Helvia and Felix both eased, retracting the mana pressure they had been exerting. The room felt lighter, and a sense of normalcy returned.

The City Lord gave a satisfied nod. "We still have a few matters to discuss, but first, allow me to officially congratulate you on your appointment as the Battlemage of Hepestus. It is an honor bestowed upon only a select few."

Felix stepped forward, clapping Rifi on the shoulder with a smirk. "Congratulations, kid. Don't screw it up."

Helvia, ever the picture of decorum, inclined her head slightly. "Congratulations, Battlemage Rifi."