Tower Master Veritas stared at Levi as though the young lord before him had overturned centuries of magical understanding.
"And you harbor Fire and Darkness mana..."
"...As though the two were never meant to oppose one another."
He let out a quiet sigh.
"...You truly are impossible, Lord Ravenholt."
A heavy silence followed.
Even the ever-composed Marquis Theodore found himself studying Levi with renewed curiosity.
The five nobles exchanged uncertain glances.
One finally cleared his throat.
"...Tower Master."
"Surely you're exaggerating."
Veritas slowly shook his head.
"I wish I were."
"I have spent over forty years studying mana."
"I have examined prodigies."
"I have taught geniuses."
"I have witnessed mages whom history would remember."
He looked directly at Levi.
"...Never once have I questioned everything I knew."
"Until today."
Another noble frowned.
"...Then what is he?"
Veritas was quiet for a long moment.
"He is something impossible, that I know."
Those words struck the group harder than any lengthy explanation could have.
The Tower Master...
The greatest authority on magic in the kingdom...
Didn't know.
He turned his attention back to Levi.
"Tell me honestly."
"Were you born this way?"
Levi hesitated.
"...I think so, but maybe not."
Veritas caught that hesitation immediately.
"So..."
"It changed."
Levi gave a small nod.
"...It did."
The old mage didn't press further.
Whatever had caused such a transformation...
Levi clearly wasn't prepared to speak of it.
Nor was Veritas certain he wanted the answer.
Some mysteries...
Were better approached with patience.
The Tower Master folded his arms.
"Then allow me to offer you one piece of advice."
Levi met his gaze.
"Never reveal the full extent of your mana to anyone."
The surrounding nobles looked toward Veritas.
He continued calmly.
"Knowledge is power."
"And in your case..."
"So is ignorance."
"The fewer people who understand what you truly are..."
"...The safer you will be."
Levi remained silent.
He had already learned that lesson once.
Corvin Noctis had seen only a fraction...
Yet even that had nearly changed the course of the battle.
If the world learned everything...
He couldn't imagine what would follow.
Veritas gave a slow nod.
"...Good."
"It seems you're already wise enough to understand."
Only then did Theodore allow himself a faint smile.
"Now..."
He looked toward the five nobles.
"I believe formal introductions are in order."
The tense atmosphere finally eased.
One by one...
The nobles stepped forward.
With the matter finally laid to rest, Theodore gave a satisfied nod.
"Now then..."
"I believe proper introductions are in order."
Tower Master Veritas quietly stepped back into line, his expression returning to its usual composed state.
The noble standing closest to him stepped forward.
A man with silver streaks running through his dark hair offered a respectful bow.
"Marquis Cedric Hawthorne."
"I oversee the kingdom's commerce and trade."
He smiled politely.
"I've heard much of Ravenholt's recent prosperity."
"It is an honor to finally meet the man behind it."
Levi returned the gesture.
"The honor is mine, Marquis."
Another man followed.
Broad-shouldered and dressed in deep forest green, he carried himself with the confidence of someone accustomed to overseeing great works.
"Marquis Aldren Voss."
"I am responsible for the kingdom's roads, bridges, and fortifications."
His lips curled into a faint smile.
"Ravenholt's reconstruction has been... quite the topic among us."
"I hope to see it with my own eyes someday."
"You would be more than welcome," Levi replied.
The third noble, a woman with an air of elegance and quiet authority, stepped forward.
She inclined her head gracefully.
"Lady Beatrice Ashcroft."
"I represent the Crown in matters of diplomacy."
She regarded Levi thoughtfully.
"A lord who values both strength and compassion is a rare sight."
"I look forward to working with you in the future."
"The feeling is mutual."
Finally...
The last noble approached.
His posture was straight despite the silver in his hair.
Years of experience were evident in the calm confidence with which he spoke.
"Count Roland Evermere."
"The kingdom's Chief Royal Magistrate."
He folded his hands before him.
"I have read many reports concerning Ravenholt."
He smiled faintly.
"I'm pleased to discover they were not exaggerated."
Levi bowed once more.
"I'll do my utmost not to disappoint."
The four nobles shared approving looks.
Theodore quietly observed the exchange before allowing himself a faint smile.
"It would seem..."
"My confidence in introducing you was not misplaced."
Levi smiled sheepishly.
"I appreciate the compliment."
"Though you may be giving me too much credit."
One after another...
The nobles extended their hands.
Levi accepted each handshake with the same quiet respect he had shown since arriving.
Marquis Cedric was the first to speak.
"Should Ravenholt ever require assistance in establishing new trade routes..."
"My door will always remain open."
Marquis Aldren gave a firm nod.
"And should you seek craftsmen, architects, or engineers..."
"Simply send word."
"I'd be more than willing to lend you the kingdom's finest."
Lady Beatrice smiled warmly.
"I do hope this is not the last time we meet, Lord Ravenholt."
"I have a feeling Ravenholt's name will soon be heard far beyond our borders."
Count Roland folded his hands behind his back.
"And if ever you find yourself burdened by matters of law..."
"You needn't navigate them alone."
Levi looked at each of them in turn.
"...Thank you."
"I'll be sure to remember your kindness."
Cedric chuckled.
"Kindness?"
"I wouldn't call it that."
Levi tilted his head.
The Marquis' smile widened ever so slightly.
"We've all served His Majesty for many years."
"We know talent when we see it."
"And while His Majesty has never once instructed us to aid you..."
He glanced briefly toward the King across the ballroom before returning his gaze to Levi.
"...None of us require such an order."
Aldren nodded in agreement.
"The King has won battles without relying on us."
"Our duties lie elsewhere."
"Building."
"Governing."
"Preparing the kingdom for the generations to come."
Lady Beatrice added softly,
"And from what we've heard..."
"...You've been doing exactly that in Ravenholt."
Count Roland's stern expression eased into a faint smile.
"A lord who earns the loyalty of his people."
"A warrior capable of standing against monsters."
"And a man humble enough to laugh at praise."
He gave Levi a respectful nod.
"If the kingdom is to entrust its future to the next generation..."
"I would much rather it be someone like you."
Silence lingered for a brief moment.
Levi found himself at a loss for words.
Theodore observed the exchange quietly before allowing himself the faintest smile.
"It would seem..."
"My judgment was not misplaced."
The five nobles shared a knowing look.
They had not extended their hands because Levi was favored by the Crown.
Nor because he had become close to the royal family.
They did so because, in the young Lord of Ravenholt, they saw something worth believing in.
Not merely a capable noble...
But a man who, one day...
Might become one of the kingdom's greatest pillars.
Roland asked,
"Suppose a poor harvest forces you to choose."
"Lower taxes..."
"...or refill your treasury?"
The other nobles became quiet.
Levi smiled calmly.
"Lower the taxes."
the answer came without hesitation.
"If my people are forced to choose between paying me and feeding their families..."
"Then ive already failed as their Lord."
he folded his hands behind his back.
"If someone must bear the burden..."
"...let it be my treasury."
Silence followed.
Roland studied him carefully.
"...A noble answer."
"But not one without consequence."
Levi met the Count's gaze.
"I know."
"If I empty my treasury..."
"There may come a day when I can no longer rebuild villages."
"I may be unable to pay my soldiers."
"Or compensate the craftsmen who dedicate their lives to Ravenholt."
He let out a quiet breath.
"I understand that."
"Yet..."
"If my people cannot even afford their next meal..."
"Then those things lose their meaning."
"They cannot rebuild tomorrow..."
"...If they starve today."
The surrounding nobles exchanged glances.
Marquis Cedric slowly nodded.
"A reasonable sentiment."
"Commerce only flourishes when people have enough to spend."
"A starving merchant earns nothing."
"A starving farmer harvests nothing."
"A starving kingdom pays no taxes."
Marquis Aldren folded his arms.
"I've seen villages abandoned because their lords demanded coin they simply didn't possess."
"Roads crumbled."
"Bridges collapsed."
"Not because there were no engineers..."
"But because there were no people left to use them."
Lady Beatrice smiled faintly.
"You speak as though your people are family."
Levi looked at her without hesitation.
"They are."
The answer came so naturally that it caught several of the nobles off guard.
"My title exists because of them."
"My castle stands because of them."
"My name carries weight because of them."
"If I cannot shoulder their burdens..."
"...Then I have no right to ask them to shoulder mine."
Another silence settled over the group.
This time...
It was one of understanding.
Roland's stern expression gradually softened.
"I asked that question expecting an idealistic answer."
He gave a faint chuckle.
"Instead..."
"You answered like a lord."
Levi blinked.
"I simply answered honestly."
"And that,"
Roland replied,
"is precisely why your answer carries weight."
The Count clasped his hands behind his back.
"Compassion without foresight is ruin."
"Foresight without compassion breeds resentment."
"You appear to understand both."
Marquis Cedric smiled.
"I daresay Ravenholt is fortunate."
"So are we."
Levi tilted his head.
Cedric gestured toward the others.
"The kingdom is entering a new era."
"Many of us have served His Majesty for decades."
"Our generation will not remain forever."
"Eventually..."
"Our responsibilities will pass to younger hands."
His smile widened.
"It is comforting to know one of those hands belongs to someone who understands what it means to govern."
Theodore, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, finally spoke.
"I told you."
"Lord Ravenholt possesses something difficult to teach."
The nobles turned toward him.
"Wisdom?"
Aldren guessed.
Theodore shook his head.
"No."
"The ability to remember why power exists in the first place."
His eyes drifted toward Levi.
"To protect."
Not to rule.
Not to command.
To protect.
For a brief moment...
No one spoke.
Then Cedric stepped forward once more and extended his hand.
"Lord Ravenholt."
"I look forward to working alongside you."
One after another...
The others followed.
Not out of obligation.
Not because the King had commanded it.
But because, standing before them, they no longer saw merely the young Lord of Ravenholt.
They saw a man worthy of helping shape the kingdom's future.