’No way.’ Ethan thought to himself. He exhaled slowly, forcing his expression back under control.
"You inferred that I have the power of the Spirit King... from a chant?" Ethan said. "Doesn’t that sound flawed to you?"
rlin shook his head. "It would be, If it were the sa chant every summoner uses. But it isn’t."
Ethan didn’t interrupt.
"The number of summons in your possession also agrees with ," rlin continued. "No one on this planet has that many."
"So yes... I have co to understand that you are sothing else entirely. Perhaps a low-level incarnation of him. The Spirit King."
Ethan listened.
"Or perhaps," rlin added, "you don’t even know what you are. And honestly, "I’m very glad that you don’t."
rlin let out a comical breath of relief. "Because if you did, if you fully realized your power, I would never have been able to make this contact."
There was a brief pause before he added, "I’d be dead on arrival."
rlin had a grin still on his face as he shook his head.
Ethan didn’t answer imdiately. While staring at rlin, he held a brief internal conversation with himself.
’For starters, he doesn’t know my thoughts. He doesn’t sound like he knows about the system either, seeing as that was what granted the authority of the Spirit King. He thinks I’m an incarnation...’
Ethan’s eyes widened a-bit.
’Wait ...or have I already been deceived into thinking that he doesn’t know?...Fuck!...What sort of character has appeared?’
’No... stop. I cannot think certain things right now. Not with this summon here’
Ethan exhaled, steadying himself. "The spell of secrecy you just cast..." he said, "you’re implying soone else can listen to this conversation."
rlin gave a nod. "Secrets Revealing Spells were common in my ti, and It is rather appalling, truly, what this age of magic has beco."
He looked disappointed. "There are powerful mages, yet so unskilled. In this era, it is remarkably easy to learn things about people because they lack caution"
A smile curved his lips. "With very few exceptions. That is precisely why I find your king... interesting."
Ethan’s gaze sharpened.
"He is cautious," rlin said. "One of the very few who still understands what that ans. And, incidentally... one of the only individuals I know so little about."
There was silence for a mont before Ethan spoke again. "You ramble a lot."
rlin laughed. "A certain king once gave a na, The Rambling Mage."
Ethan didn’t react. "What exactly have you co to bargain?" he asked.
rlin’s smile returned. "Ah, yes," he said. "Straight to the point."
He adjusted his monocle, as though settling into the conversation.
"To put it simply... I wish to return to the land of the living as myself. Not as a summoned construct."
Ethan’s eyes narrowed. "If you know as well as you suggest, then you should know I don’t have the power to return the dead as anything but a summon."
"No, You don’t. " rlin replied. He looked thoughtful for a mont. "Frankly... I’m not entirely certain the real deal can either."
Then he lifted his head up, "But, you possess the right amount of power to make the rest of my plan succeed. I will handle everything else myself."
Ethan looked a bit puzzled, but instead of arguing further, he asked, "And what do I get in exchange?"
rlin smiled. "I will help you win this situation that is steadily becoming a war. Against my summoner... and the ageless woman."
"What makes you think I need your help?" Ethan asked. "If your claims are true, then you’re soone willing to betray your own summoner."
"What makes you think that kind of person to strike a deal with?"
rlin scoffed. "You would be a fool to trust . And despite your age, I do not consider you a fool."
"As for whether you need my help...Let put it this way. The ageless woman is your real opponent, and if things continue the way they are now, she will win."
"She has over a century of experience," he went on. "Understanding people, politics. Entire regis have risen and fallen within the span of her observation."
"She has had decades of planning and testing. So everything that has happened so far...has already been within her expectations."
"And finally... she holds a power that would make her rightfully think of herself as a god. So even if there were any surprises, she has the ans to correct them."
There was a brief pause.
"Honestly," rlin finished, "I have never seen a more disadvantaged position for any of you."
"However, if I were to poke a few holes here and there... then perhaps you would have the right chance at this woman."
"...Hmm," Ethan murmured. He stared at rlin in thoughts, refusing to say anything that wasn’t so necessary. He genuinely was being careful around the summon.
rlin adjusted the monocle again. "Unfortunately, my ti here has significantly shortened. My summoner has just returned."
Ethan’s voice ca before rlin could turn fully away. "Before you go., tell where Alistair and Lady Audrey are hiding."
rlin smiled. "And why would I do that?"
"Well," Ethan began, "if you’re trying to make yourself useful against them... that’s a good place to start."
rlin stared at him for a second longer, then laughed. "No, that would be too generous."
Then he lifted his palm, and after a sudden sharp glow, a chalice appeared floating just above it.
rlin lowered his hand, and the chalice followed, dropping onto the table in front of Ethan.
"What is that?" Ethan asked.
rlin smile. This, is the Chalice of Verdona."
A surprised expression crossed Ethan’s face. If the summon was right, this was the Chalice Eduardo had once told him about.
Ethan didn’t look away from the object. The blue energy curling from its rim moved slowly.
rlin added "I suggest you find a caster capable of siphoning magic from an artifact of this caliber. It should provide the solution your... old friend desires."
Ethan turned back to him.
rlin’s gaze drifted toward the apparatus once more. "Oh, and that serum, It will only work on a werewolf or a vampire...So if you’re developing it for yourself, safe to say, it will be a waste."
rlin turned. "I will be in touch, Mr. Ethan Alexander Stark."
There was sothing in the way he said the full na. Then he smiled and vanished in a quiet unraveling of blue butterflies.
Ethan stood there for a mont, his eyes fixed on the space rlin had occupied. Then, he moved his attention back to the chalice on the table.
"Could this really be it...?"
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