Fire Mage

Chapter 711: Real Faces

As Charles and Runeth were escorted to different locations, the chamber fell into deep silence again.

"Charles Nightwind is still alive... Didn't you say he died while fighting some Mage from Iron Kingdom?" Patriarch Diego glanced at Elder Luna and asked.

"That's what we found in the report that came from Undergrove. What should I do with him now, Lord Diego?" Luna asked.

"Keep him in the jail for two more days and then let him out. With his current strength, he can't do anything against us." Patriarch Diego's words stunned everyone.

"We are letting him live? What if he finds out that we are the one who killed his father?" The bald Elder named Michael asked.

"Charles isn't the problem. But that man named Runeth is. Even though he had stayed behind Charles all the time, I didn't even notice him being a pseudo-legendary Mystic. Until that man leaves, we shouldn't touch Charles." Patriarch Diego said solemnly.

"Why don't we summon all the Mages from our Magic Tower and kill him with full strength?" Elder Michael asked.

Unlike the other Guardian Houses, the Nightwind Family's strength lies in the Magic Tower built next to the mansion.

"As long as you say a word, we can mobilize all the Mages of our family and bombard the house with powerful spells. I don't think he can survive the attack of our Magic Tower." Michael said with a confident tone.

"You don't understand what I'm worried about." Patriarch took a deep breath and spoke.

"When Luna attacked Charles using her wisdom power, he didn't even lift his finger and shattered her force like nothing. I have never seen someone from the Rank-5 realm doing this and dominating the opponent." As he spoke, he looked at Elder Luna and asked her opinion.

Elder Luna went silent for a moment and spoke after some hesitation.

"Although I felt like I was standing equally against him and even wanted to oppress him using force, my gut feeling suddenly stopped me. No, it's more like a woman's instinct. If I had attacked him head-on, I might have lost my life. That was the feeling I felt for a moment."

Taking a deep breath, she again continued.

"He is most likely the Ancient Mage we heard about in the past. Although his strength seems to have regressed, he is definitely capable of battling multiple Mystics of the same rank, Michael. On the other hand, Patriarch and I are normal Class Gem Mystics and aren't confident enough to battle him. And it's always better to study our opponent before acting."

"She is right. So, you shouldn't try provoking Runeth and get into any fight."

"Yes, My Lord." Elder Michael nodded his head and went silent.

Meanwhile, Patriarch Diego turned his gaze towards Ekemir and asked.

"Jasper, send a letter to the House of Truelords and seek their advice about the current situation. Now that I think about it, did any good news come from the explorers who entered the Star Tombs Dungeon?"

"From what I've heard, Elder Seer Daisy prophesied an oracle stating that the Truelords Exploration team might have faced misfortune. If this oracle became real, it would cause a huge commotion all over the kingdom." Ekemir, under the disguise of Jasper, responded.

"Haa, I expected a similar situation. I bet there will be a big change in this kingdom soon. It might be time for us to rise and increase our Rank to Duke. As long as we make some significant achievement, we can manipulate Travis to show favoritism and increase the ranking of our household!"

The Patriarch released a profound exhale, his weariness evident in the heavy sigh that escaped his lips. Shifting his focus, he directed his gaze toward another elder within the assembly.

This Elder, seemingly in the twilight of his seventh decade, bore the distinctive marks of time etched upon his countenance. Long strands of white hair cascaded down his shoulders, complemented by an equally impressive white beard that framed his weathered face. Deep lines and creases marked his skin, narrating tales of a lifetime of experiences. Almond-shaped eyes, carrying the weight of wisdom, peered out from beneath the veil of age, revealing the depth of his insights.

Despite the years that had sculpted his appearance, the Elder possessed a lean and enduring physique, a testament to the resilience forged over time. Draped in a simple white robe, he exuded an air of fatigue as if the burdens of the years had settled upon his shoulders.

"What is the current situation in the Royal Palace, Kyle? I heard that Travis is acting strange after being crowned as a King. The reason we put him as a puppet king is mainly because of him being a dumb child. But if he dares to act recklessly and cause unnecessary mess, warn him that the House of Guardians will take back the luxury he enjoys."

The Patriarch's utterance bore a weight of solemnity as he cast a gaze upon the fifth Elder.

The fifth Elder emerged as a man entrenched in his forties, a stalwart figure with a physique that bespoke a life of physical rigor. His robust build, characterized by broad shoulders and a muscular frame, suggested a strength honed through years of disciplined endeavors. A crown of short, jet-black hair adorned his head, complementing the intensity of his pure black eyes, which seemed to harbor a depth of experience and wisdom. Standing tall, he commanded attention with a stature that affirmed his presence in the assembly.

The contours of his face formed a distinct triangle, a testament to the sharp angles that defined his features. Clad in a large black surcoat that enveloped his white shirt, he exuded an air of authority and purpose. While positioned right next to his seat, a broadsword stood as a symbol and an extension of his martial prowess.

"Baker, your job is to stay next to that man named Runeth and keep him in check until the Truelords respond. I hope they will dispatch a Legend Rank powerhouse to kill him, so stay vigilant until then."

"Yes, Lord Diego." The man named Baker hurriedly responded.

"Elder Luna, how is the progress going about cracking the Ringer Demi plane's Array? That is the last area Eddie visited before returning and disappearing completely. That bastard knew I would cover for his legacy and decided to seal it completely!" A hint of anger appeared in his eyes.

"After centuries of anticipation, I discovered a brilliant individual within my own family. I invested all my resources in Harry, sending him to the Wisdom Church to acquire their esoteric skills and find the 'key codes' needed to dismantle the array of the demi plane. But that bastard gave the secret key code to the Raven family before dying at my own hands. If not for that old moron coming here voluntarily and trying to make a deal to free his family members from the dream curse, I would still be thinking of how to deal with this mess. Just when I thought I had already eliminated all the people close to Harry, Charles suddenly appeared here like a ghost." His frustration was visible in his tone.

Meanwhile, Elder Luna let out a deep sigh and spoke.

"Unfortunately, we can't crack the array without the help of a Rune Master or a high-ranking member of Wisdom Church, My Lord. From the interrogation I did on Oswald with Elder Jasper's help, I found out that Harry indeed gave the key codes to Oswald before his death and shared some more secrets. Although the Dream Curse we put on his family members weakens his will considerably, he is still clinging on to some hope."

"That should be that Lightning Mage Rachel. She has been targeting our household for the past fifteen years and even used her influence to disrupt our businesses. She knew Oswald got caught and is being held in the underground prison and is doing everything to get him out. Even two weeks ago, Curran Family Elder told me to not be too harsh on Oswald and release him sooner." Patriarch said while gritting his teeth in anger.

"As long as he loses the final hope, he will break down completely and allow Elder Jasper to enter his Inner World." Elder Luna paused for a moment and made a bold suggestion.

"Why shouldn't we invite that Mage and imprison her in the name of investigation?"

"Her aunt is a Legendary Powerhouse of Life Church, Elder Luna. If we do something stupid like imprisoning her, the whole household might disappear in a day." Patriarch's words made everyone in the chamber widen their eyes.

"I never knew that woman has such a powerful background." Elder Luna instantly erased the thinking of capturing her and started to think of an alternative way.

At that moment, the Elder named Kyle suggested another idea.

"What about Charles? What if we use Charles to break down Oswald's hope completely? After all, Charles is Oswald's grandson and Eve's only son. What will happen if we torture Charles in front of his eyes? I don't think he will hold on to that secret any longer and might spill everything on his own."

"But if that Mage Runeth finds out we are torturing his only student, he might go on a rampage," the Patriarch said worriedly.

"We aren't going to kill Charles, My Lord. After two days of torture, we can just heal him using a potion and let him out of the prison. Moreover, we have Elder Jasper to alter his memories. So, there will be nothing for us to worry about." Kyle's suggestion made the Patriarch think deeply.

"Haa, be it then. Elder Luna and Jasper will go to the Underground Prison immediately and start working on this matter. I want to see some good results in the next two days."

Upon hearing the Patriarch's approval, Elder Luna and Elder Jasper stood up from their seats and nodded in agreement.

"We'll leave right away." Saying so, both hurriedly walked out of the chamber and started walking in the long corridor directly connected to the underground prison.

Meanwhile, Patriarch Diego also dispersed the meeting quietly.

...𝗳𝐫𝗲𝗲𝐰𝗲𝐛𝐧𝐨𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝐨𝐦