I was being dragged away by the knights, who had suddenly changed their demeanor at the lord's command.
"It seems those who dined with me have turned against me at the lord's word."
Philip, the deputy commander, glanced at the carriage I was in. He was known for his intense hatred towards mages.
"Don't worry, Zed."
"Take care of Liu and Lisa."
Torres offered to accompany me, but I declined. It was better to face Fernando alone, considering the situation.
As an Arahan, I had to maintain a proper attitude, especially since Bahl and Arahan were sworn enemies.
Fernando's intentions were unclear, but I had to be cautious.
The Bahl estate was familiar from the game. The main building was seven stories tall, with each floor having high ceilings.
Philip led me to the reception hall on the fifth floor, where Fernando awaited.
"Wait here."
It seemed I was to meet him in the reception hall rather than his office.
Suddenly, the entire floor shook like an earthquake. A powerful voice echoed from behind me.
"The first Arahan to set foot in Bahl's estate is you."
I tried to turn around, but my body wouldn't move.
It wasn't due to magic; if it were, my trait would have reacted.
Fernando was a Sword Master beyond the 10th circle, one of only two in the empire.
His presence was overwhelming, making it hard to breathe.
"Ah, calm down."
I composed myself, trying not to show weakness.
Fernando sat in a high chair, looking down at me.
"…."
The pressure from his gaze was immense, but I stood firm.
"Sit down. We can't keep our guest standing."
Fernando's voice was warm, but I could sense a test.
I sat down, and a servant brought tea.
"Minar tea, isn't it? I've heard it's grown in Bahl."
"Yes, it is."
"The significance of this tea?"
"I don't know."
Fernando noticed my brief confusion.
"It's a sign of goodwill."
I corrected my expression, but Fernando had already caught the momentary lapse.
"Thoughtful, aren't you? I brought you here out of personal curiosity. Don't worry unnecessarily."
"I see."
Fernando asked about the slave trader incident, wondering if I had acted before knowing the Emperor's decree.
"I heard about it later."
"Why did you act without waiting for the decree?"
I chose my words carefully, knowing the response could affect the outcome.
"I acted because it was against human decency."
"Decency?"
"It's what separates humans from beasts."
Fernando's eyes sparkled with interest.
"Is that a personal conviction or a sense of morality?"
"It's closer to conscience."
Fernando seemed to believe me, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern.
"Black Knights must have known you were here."
Fernando's words hinted at a deeper understanding of the situation.
I remained calm, aware that my presence here made me more vulnerable.
Fernando invited me to stay overnight and join him for breakfast the next day.
As I left the reception hall, Philip awaited me, his expression still hostile.
"Good luck, Arahan."
Philip's words were laced with malice.
"You heard the conversation? Saying luck was good is inappropriate."
Philip revealed his hatred for mages, stemming from losing family in the Great Demon War twenty years ago.
"I understand your feelings, but hating all mages isn't right."
"Shut up! Say one more word, and I'll cut out your tongue and offer it to the ancestral shrine!"
I shrugged and followed the servant.
Fernando's presence was daunting, but I had faced greater challenges.
Upon arriving at the guest quarters, I found a lavish spread of food.
It seemed Fernando had taken a liking to me.
As I sat down to eat, I noticed a strange, white card on the table.
"What the...?"
It was a Magic Card, which shouldn't be here.
I quickly checked the surroundings, but the servants were nowhere to be seen.
However, I felt like I was being watched.
I returned to the table, picked up the card, and infused it with magic.
The blank card now bore the symbol of Black Flames.
On the back was written: Magic Card 0.
Return or Abort.
It seemed Arahan was calling me again.