Shouting for the Archmage
"I, I...!"
"What the hell is this?!"
The guards, utterly unprepared for Vulcan's sudden outburst, came rushing over in a noisy swarm. They didn't dare launch a reckless attack, but soldiers took up positions at every window of the Lord's Castle, ready to strike back if he pulled any funny business. Servants residing in the castle poked their heads out here and there, peering at the commotion.
This should have gotten his attention.
It was a seriously dangerous gamble. If Alter had truly refused the meeting and Vulcan went through with this stunt, it could've sparked his fury.
But without something like this, the odds of even seeing him were next to zero. No choice.
Still, Vulcan was certain. The guard hadn't relayed the message to Alter this time either. It wasn't mere guesswork or intuition. The instant the guard turned to head inside, Vulcan had activated Dragon Eye and tracked his every move. The bastard had faked entering, then slipped off to the side. He lingered there a moment before coming back out to lie straight to Vulcan's face.
Mokri's orders, not Alter's.
He'd probably contacted Mokri, passing along word that someone bearing Hainel's letter had shown up. That brazen confidence meant Mokri was covering for him.
Vulcan had name-dropped his honorary baron's title, but mage tower lords commanded at least count-level status by default. If things went south, Mokri had likely promised to smooth it over and steered Vulcan his way.
Relations with Life's Mage Tower might take a hit, but linking up with Alter means no one will dare act out. Every tower lord fears him. Worst case, I can team up with the other towers.
This stunt might sour ties with Life's Mage Tower and Mokri himself. But Alter had plenty of disciples he didn't get along with, and a single word from him could settle any mess regardless of who was involved. No big deal.
"Al! Te! Er! Nim!!"
No response from Alter yet, but Vulcan belted it out at the top of his lungs through the megaphone, dead set on it. The guards yelled something back, but with no direct interference, he kept hollering Alter's name.
Srrrrk—
"Bind."
"?!"
Trouble hit Vulcan moments later. Not him directly, but the base of the one-pyeong tower he clung to. Massive wooden vines erupted from below, coiling upward to ensnare it.
"Grab."
Crack—
Craaaack—
The next command made the tower shudder perilously. Bind was just a basic forest spell, but the mana surging through it was no joke. Vines thick enough to be called demon wood clamped down hard, cracking the structure like it might collapse any second.
Mokri...
Pinning the culprit was easy. A figure on the ground blatantly swung a staff. With power like that from a casual flick—enough to overwhelm in seconds—few could pull it off.
"Damn. Air Walk..."
This would send him plummeting, forcing him down. Vulcan bit his lip, prepping to invoke the Wind God's power.
He figured he'd linger in the air a bit longer and shout for Alter some more.
—Behind you.
"Stop."
Plop plop plop—
Then, a presence stirred behind him. Mokri? An ambush? He whipped around in panic, but first, the vines threatening the tower withered away. Not just fading—they were outright killed off by some force.
"?!"
"Master..."
Alter. He'd arrived, floating midair as if under a flight spell.
"Daring to cause a ruckus right in front of my castle? Bold of you, Mokri."
"W-Well, I was just passing by and saw someone stirring up trouble..."
Alter's gaze, haughty as if surveying mere insects, left the mighty Mokri floundering. Like a frog before a snake, facing its natural predator.
"You dare talk back to me now? Grown awfully cheeky when I wasn't looking."
"...No, sir. My apologies."
"I'll drop by soon. Let's see how much you've improved. Disappoint me... and prepare yourself."
That single line settled everything. Mokri fell silent, head bowed, not daring eye contact, and slunk away like a whipped dog. His ploy to block Vulcan from Alter had failed spectacularly.
"Vulcan the Baron, eh? Let's hear your business. If it's some trifling matter that sparked all this chaos, you'll need to prepare yourself too."
"Of course."
"Then come inside."
Just like that, the area cleared in a flash. Vulcan received a formal invitation from Alter, and the guard who'd tried to fake him out went pale as a ghost.
"Who did you say now?"
"Hainel asked me to deliver it."
"That boy?"
Inside Alter's office on his invitation, Vulcan could speak freely without interruptions. He delivered Hainel's letter as planned.
So he was pissed? That was a lie too?
A crack appeared in Alter's icy expression. Not anger, though. Hainel had run off in the night, supposedly enraging him—what was the real story? Alter's face actually softened in a way Vulcan had never seen.
"Yes. He hid that he was your disciple out of concern it'd burden you, but the matter's grave enough to seek your aid. But... weren't you angry with Hainel? The guard said you were furious—no letter, no meeting."
"I said no meeting? Me?"
"That's what I heard..."
Vulcan had a rough read on the situation, but he casually brought up the guard to press the issue. Not just revenge on the guy, but to squeeze Mokri too. With their bad blood already boiling over into direct confrontation, might as well tie him down proper.
"I'll handle that. So, what's the business? If that boy's calling on me, it must be no small thing."
Alter's face hardened again. No need to push further—their fate was sealed.
"Details are in the letter. I'll explain after you read it."
"Fine, let's see it."
Rather than spill everything upfront, Vulcan suggested reading first, then filling gaps. It'd speed things up and avoid misunderstandings. Alter nodded without objection, tearing open the seal.
His briefly softening expression locked right back up. As Hainel had mentioned, demon world entities hiding on the continent in human guise was one of Alter's key concerns. And now they'd shown their hand. The plot hadn't fully launched—they'd been sniffed out early—but the mere fact they were scheming made it dire. Temples would riot over less.
"...So he remembered my words. Just like him."
Yet somehow, Alter seemed more pleased that Hainel hadn't forgotten his teachings than weighed down by the heavy intel.
"But too soft. A bit more training, and he wouldn't have fallen to trash like that."
Then his eyes sharpened, reverting to the fearsome master his disciples dreaded.
"I'll need a full rundown."
Letter done, Alter demanded details from Vulcan. No need to hold back—nothing to lie about, and earning his trust was key. Vulcan laid it all out: what the bastard wanted, how he'd taken him down, what he'd demanded after locking up Hainel. Alter listened intently, fingers steepled.
He showed mild surprise at Vulcan knowing ancient goblin tongue, but bigger matters took precedence. He pondered briefly.
"Best if I check it myself."
Then he shot to his feet. A casual wave, and his staff from across the room flew into his hand. Impossible to fathom the technique, yet he did it as naturally as breathing. Made him seem like the true lord of magic, dragon or not.
Unlike certain someones.
—What?! Comparing that parlor trick to my magic?!
Tud bristled at the brief thought, but with no firsthand dragon magic to counter, Vulcan let it slide.
Thud.
Alter slammed the staff's tip down. Layered magic circles etched themselves into being, priming a spell.
"Rezina Territory, right? Coming along?"
"Pardon? Oh, yes!"
"Then let's go."
Vwoooom!
Vulcan hurried to his side. Alter struck the staff again. Overwhelming mana surged, swallowing them both.
Insane...
Long-range teleport. The kind needing multiple mages, mana stones, and a full circle—Alter pulled it off in two motions. Vulcan was floored. He'd known the guy was strong, but not this level. He'd half-expected a quick scroll rip.
Stealthy travel?
Pre-set teleport scrolls weren't cheap, but pocket change for Alter. Still, casting manually screamed urgency—and discretion.
Anyway, Vulcan and Alter arrived in Rezina Territory in a blink. No need for a second cast; Hainel had holed up in the Lord's Castle post-incident, skipping the Night Forest revisit.
Instead, the castle flipped out.
"Ah, Count Alter?"
Lord Rezina Baron came scrambling at his appearance. A notable noble himself, but a low-rank one next to the kingdom's mightiest.
"Fetch Hainel. You, out."
"Right away. I'll keep everyone clear—talk freely."
The grand mage and noble claimed the office like it was his. He sent the lord for Hainel personally and barred all access. Not that anyone could eavesdrop past Alter's senses anyway.
"Master..."
Hainel arrived soon after. Despite castle luxuries, dark circles hung under his eyes—clearly, he'd kept researching nonstop since Vulcan left.
"Run off like that, and look at you now."
"My apologies. Your unworthy disciple stained your name."
"Indeed. For one of my students to get nabbed by lowly scum— the world will mock us."
But Alter's demeanor toward him was worlds from the letter's chill. No real anger; a cold mask hid subtle warmth. Proof? Any other disciple—even a tower lord—beaten up elsewhere would've gotten far worse.
"First, show me what you've uncovered. Knowing you, you wouldn't call me lightly."
Scolding done, Alter prioritized Hainel's findings over further reprimand. He'd heard the incident basics from Vulcan, but Hainel wouldn't have idled—time for his intel and analysis.
Rare for him. He trusted his own computations, knowledge, and insight over others' half-baked reports.
"Yes. I've brought all my gathered data."
Hainel lived up to it. Vulcan wondered what more he could've dug up, but Hainel arrived arms full of his post-departure work, spreading it out for a briefing.
—Not bad.
Yeah. When'd he compile all this...
The content even impressed Tud. Linking local events to continent-wide rumors and ancient tomes, he'd spun countless hypotheses. Not one ironclad theory, but a web of plausible branches—coherent, worth investigating.
"Good. Enough for now. I'll hear the rest there."
Briefing wrapped; Hainel's brief excitement—like a kid showing off a toy—faded to gloom as reality hit.
"Prepared for consequences? You've worked hard, but payback awaits back home."
"...Yes."
So the runaway faced capture upon reunion. Bizarre when others slaved for a glance from him, but everyone had their reasons.
"Before that, visit the incident site. Vulcan Baron, was it? Mind guiding us?"
"Yes."
As Hainel prepped to leave, Alter proposed Vulcan tag along to the Night Forest—ancient goblin hideout—with him. Officially a guide, but someone like Alter could trace mana waves solo. Calling Vulcan meant talk was coming.
Guessed as much, so sure.
Vulcan agreed readily. His goal from the start: chain quest off the main scenario. No new prompt yet—time to chat more, snag it.
Bonus: build connections.
With aims aligned, Alter and Vulcan headed to the Night Forest.