A knock at the door interrupted them.
Lady Windre entered with Lord Windre, who was in his fifties, yet still moved like the knight he was. His weathered hands bore the calluses of decades spent wielding his blade and shield, and his posture remained ramrod straight despite the years that had passed since an incident forced him to retire.
"Ah, Young Lumi." Lord Windre said with a warrior’s directness. "I hope my son hasn’t monopolized too much of your ti."
"Not at all." Lumi said, rising politely. "Your son is an excellent student. A few adjustnts to his training regin and I believe he’ll surprise his instructors." He could see the barely concealed pride in the father’s eyes, and Lumi only barely suppressed his smile.
"He’s incredible, Father! Lily said enthusiastically, practically bouncing with excitent. "He fixed my integration problem in minutes! He explained spell theory in ways that actually make sense! You should have seen how he demonstrated the mana flow patterns. It was like watching one man conduct an orchestra!"
Lumi played it off humbly, raising a hand to deflect the praise. "I rely provided personalized guidance. Sotis a fresh perspective is all that’s needed to illuminate what was already there."
The parents exchanged glances, and Lumi could read their thoughts clearly in their microexpressions. They thought this connection was too valuable to let slip away. They’d likely discussed this exact scenario, what to do if their son encountered soone of importance who held interest in him.
"You must visit again," Lady Windre said warmly. "Lily has so few peers who understand his struggles. Having soone of your caliber to discuss matters with would be invaluable." She paused, studying Lumi’s reaction. "The other young lords his age... they lack the depth of understanding you’ve demonstrated."
"The honor is all mine, I am only at a First Rank class, after all." Lumi said, allowing himself to be sufficiently modest. "Though my ti on Herene is limited. Perhaps we could establish a ans of correspondence? I believe the communication crystals work even across the continent?"
"Of course!" Lord Windre produced two small crystals from his pocket with ease. "A matched set. They’ll work almost anywhere in Masteria, barring magic interference. Please, take it. Consider it a small token of appreciation for your ti today."
Lumi accepted graciously, his fingers tingling as they made contact with the crystal’s surface, knowing the "small token" was worth several tens of thousands of gold. "You’re too kind. Lily, I expect updates on your progress."
"I will receive them." Lily promised eagerly. "Thank you, truly. This has been..." He couldn’t find the words.
"Educational for as well." Lumi said sincerely, and he ant it. Teaching Lily had actually helped clarify so of his own understanding, forcing him to articulate concepts he’d begun to take for granted. "Your questions made think about fundantals I’d begun taking for granted. Sotis the student teaches the teacher."
As they moved toward the door, their footsteps echoing softly on the polished marble, Lady Windre made her final move. "Oh, I nearly forgot!" She produced a small wrapped package from seemingly nowhere, the silk wrapping bearing the Windre crest. "A small gift. Our estate produces a particular type of mana crystal that aids in magical recovery. Nothing special, but perhaps useful for soone who practices as intensively as you clearly do."
Lumi accepted the gift with appropriate gratitude. The Windres were making an investnt, and he would use this benefit to its fullest.
"You’re too generous," Lumi replied, tilting his head respectfully. "I simply offered a bit of guidance to a friend’s friend."
"That guidance that may well make the difference in the trials." Lord Windre said seriously. "We don’t forget our debts, Master Lumi. If you ever need assistance, House Windre rembers its friends."
...
As Lumi left the estate, he allowed himself a mont of satisfaction. Lily Windre was now firmly in his orbit. That was a future powerhouse who would rember him forever. Moving on, he would use the communication crystal to let him guide Lily’s developnt, ensuring the young man reached his potential faster than in the original tiline.
Right now, he had a puppeteer to break, and that task required his full attention.
He made his way back to the palace, noting the increased guard presence with professional interest. Clearly it was part of Divan’s or Azir’s arrangents. Regardless, it showed just how seriously the situation was being taken.
Divan was waiting in his office, no longer alone. Two figures in deep black robes flanked him, their faces hidden by masks that drank in the light around them. The air around them rippled with shadows, the darkness was literally coiling and uncoiling. The temperature in the room had dropped noticeably, and Lumi could feel the weight of their dark auras pressing against his consciousness.
Lumi understood well that this wasn’t a re show of power or posturing. It was the effect of one of their buffs, likely a manifestation of their specialized training rather than conscious intimidation.
"Punctual." Divan noted approvingly, consulting a tipiece that materialized in his palm before vanishing again. "These are Wardens Chen and Yates. The two specialize in ntal magic, both protecting against it and detecting its use. They’ll ensure our prisoner doesn’t attempt any tricks during questioning."
Lumi knew that wasn’t the whole story. In fact, magic wasn’t their specialty. But he wouldn’t point any of that out.
"An honor." Lumi said with an appropriate bow. The wardens didn’t respond, but he felt their magic brush against his ntal defenses. He offered no resistance, allowing them to verify he harbored no hostile intentions.
"Your companions have been inford." Divan continued, shuffling through papers on his desk. "Most are with Novice Knight Gabriel, who seems quite eager to show them around."
"Gabriel is a very good person," Lumi said, warmth in his voice as he thought of his friend. "He’ll keep them out of trouble."
"One hopes. Your friend Lena was asking if she could ’pet the buildings because they look fuzzy.’ I’m not entirely sure what that ans."
"Neither does she, usually." Lumi admitted with a slight smile. "Shall we begin?"
"One mont." Divan studied him intently, his pale eyes searching for sothing. "You’ve been busy this past hour. Visiting House Windre?"
There was no accusation in the tone, just curiosity mixed with professional interest. Lumi saw no reason to lie or otherwise make up a new different story. "Young Lord Lily has potential. I heard of him from Marcus Yelland, so I offered so training guidance."
"Hmm." Divan processed this information. "You’ve been building connections with nobles. The Windres are good people, if sowhat ambitious. Their son truly has potential?"
"Significant potential." Lumi confird. "With proper guidance, he could go far."
"Interesting. Well, let’s see if your insight into people extends to breaking them down as well as building them up." He gestured to the wardens, who moved onwards. "The interrogation chamber is prepared. Rember what we talked about. The wardens will intervene if necessary."
"Understood."
They proceeded through corridors Lumi hadn’t seen before, descending into the palace’s secure areas through passages. The decoration grew bare as they descended, all the beauty giving way to function. There wasn’t even an attempt for elegance.
Finally, they reached a heavy door marked with containnt runes. Divan placed his hand on a recognition panel. The door swung open, revealing the interrogation chamber beyond.
There were multiple rooms. Divan led them to a specific room where Afton was held. A single chair sat in the center, surrounded by a ritual circle designed to suppress magical abilities. Recording crystals floated above recording at all tis. Six guards stood at attention outside the cell, monitoring at all tis.
And in the chair, bound and hurt, sat Afton S. Crow.
The puppeteer clearly couldn’t move beyond the chair, his body held in place by both physical and invisible forces. The suppression circle held him more firmly than any chains, its power radiating outward in waves. His expensive robes were gone, replaced by simple prisoner’s garb.
Stripped of all else, he looked exactly like what he was. A thin, nervous man in his thirties with delusions of grandeur and hollow eyes.
His eyes tracked to the door as they entered, widening as he recognized Lumi. Fear, hatred, and confusion warred on his face, the emotions cycling through his expression.
"You!" he spat, his voice cracking with rage. "Co to gloat, boy? To see what you’ve reduced to? Why are you even here!? You captured , I’ll admit it, you captured . But what does that have to do with you being here!?"
He trembled in anger, then cursed directly. "Fuck off!" He looked past Lumi and at Divan behind him. "Aria Knights! Is this your idea of a sick joke? To humiliate before torturing !?"
Lumi stepped into the room under everyone’s watchful eye. He kept his movents calm as he gave a gentle smile to Afton.
"Hello, Afton." Lumi said pleasantly, a smile forming on his face. "We have so much to discuss."
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