As sounds of cheering ring out once more outside, Gregory takes his eyes off of the sweltering smoke rising high above a bonfire placed in the center of a paved patio. Through the first few days of the event Gregory had constantly been communicating and making relations with as many Nobles as he could, the luxury that Viran could not afford at the moment. So far he had proceeded with whatever Spion had ordered him to, but Gregory felt abysmal at the looks he would receive time and time again.

...It was evident that most of the Nobles and their children had heard the rumors.

Even so Gregory tried his hardest in putting up the best front he could muster and to simply push the negative feelings that were threatening to arise, but luckily enough for him it seems his pretense was convincing enough since he had been very popular throughout the banquet.

Looking around quickly Gregory finally sees his teacher Spion and before leaving he quickly ends the conversations that he had been pulled into suddenly. As he walks towards Spion with a glass in hand Gregory tries his hardest to properly greet any Nobles he passes without then being roped into a conversation with them… He wasn’t very successful.

“You do know it took you a full 20 minutes to actually get to me right?” Spion spoke informally.

“I apologize for that but it was you who told me to be as cordial as I could…” Gregory defended himself. “I just had trouble ending the conversations with those old bastards. They asked me questions and were basically probing be about whether or not the rumors were true”

“Well you can’t blame them too much since the rumors are true… You did beat Viran half to death when I told you to keep yourself in check.” Spion shook his head.

Hearing this Gregory’s eyes light up as he recounts the past. “Yeah I really hit him good he barely fought back too! After that I’m not sure I even care about him anymore!”

As these words are spoken Gregory feels a chill as he is stared at by Spion’s cold and dead looking eyes. His pupils had an eerie blackness to them that frightened even Gregory at that point, a hoarse voice exits out of Spion a second later.

“HA! You’re really letting me down Gregory. Do you really think this is only gonna end with him being hurt only a little bit?” Spion laughed in a disgusting and condescending manner. The laugh invertebrates in his throat making it sound more like a growl than a laugh.

“W-wait why are you saying it like that? What do you mean by that Spion? I-I only ever wanted to hurt him…” Gregory said as his throat quivered in a frightened manner.

“No, no, no.” Spion said with a harsh tone before switching into a lighter voice. “I mentioned killing him and you agreed, so I will do just that. It’s the best answer to your problems with him.”

Gregory’s brain went under meltdown at that moment. He could not remember back so far into the past, back to when his heart had been under the firm grip of an insanity that still held control until now. Gregory’s fingernails quickly began to scratch against one another in an anxious frenzy; perhaps he really had agreed to kill Viran that night… But the pain and jealousy he had felt before had liquified tremendously ever since the beating he gave Viran. Gregory wasn’t sure what to say to the toothy grin Spion showed him at that point.

“Listen, Gregory my boy, the problem with Viran won’t end with you only hurting him. I know you mentioned somewhere before where you wished for him to be your subordinate in administration or some stupid shit… But I’ve seen the boy and he won’t relent to that, nor will he forgive you.” Spion said.

“But… It was just a game of chess. Why should I let you kill him because of something that trivial?” Gregory’s voice went through one ear and out the other as Spion continued.

“Killing him is the only option you have left. Now imagine this, because of your existence you’ve already destroyed your past family’s lives. Baron Axrid doesn’t even bother showing up here and instead sends his son Cline to the meeting, I mean it must be embarrassing for the guy.” Spion chuckles while shaking his head. “But that’s not even it! If your Father is prepared to kill you simply because you are the product of his deceased wife’s infidelity what could Viran do? For Viran you tried being a good friend for him and yet through your own childishness, inferiority, and jealousy you already betrayed him and beat him half to death. At least before your arrival he was naive to his terrible situation- yet you were the one that brought it to life and made it so much worse.”

Gregory’s fingernails repeatedly thrash together, breaking skin and blood begins to leak out of his thumb. Through the swarm of emotions swarming through him he had unknowingly used mana to peel skin off of his thumb. Yet he remained unaware, and instead began to murmur words Spion is barely able to discern.

“Is… Is he really here? C-Cline is here?” Gregory murmured.

“Yes he is here, yet he has been avoiding you for the past days already. I don’t think it would be a good idea to see him at all.” Said Spion as he continued to put a more mocking tone into his voice. “I mean, you were the one that destroyed the loving family he once knew. What a great big brother you are. Who knows, maybe he regrets saving your life when his Father tried to skewer you, he may even be aiming to take your life even as we speak.”

Gregory hates the words Spion has been using until now. Gregory still did not see Robert Idicium as his own Father, and yet he has been forced to call him so because that is what is expected of him. Gregory still felt Cline and Baron Axrid to be his true family… Yet those words struck deep within him. Maybe Cline really was hoping for his demise, Gregory was the existence that tore apart the family only months prior.

“A-are you sure you can really kill him.” Gregory said as he made up his mind. To the young boy only Spion would be able to convince him this easily, Spion was like a pillar he could lean on at times. A true pillar that would even help you kill a young boy over a loss game of chess.

“Yes of course. Though because of some of your actions I have had to replan many things, but depending on the outcome of this meeting it should be easy to get Viran out of the estate to kill him.” Spion said with a wide grin. “We wouldn’t even need to do most of the work, the Nobles here will be in our stead.”

“What? How could you possibly do something like that?” Gregory asked with an incredulous expression.

“Hush, child. Embren is coming.” Spion says as he leads Gregory further away from the banquet.

In the distance numerous Nobles could be seen leaving the large residence building. Three hours earlier most of the Nobles had left their heirs and guards here to attend a meeting within a great hall, the Nobles that were left outside and unaware of matters could only hold a deep anger and inferiority towards the Nobles that were called to the meeting.

These Nobles though knew deep down that they couldn’t attend. Many of the Nobles left out of loop were Nobles under the banner of different Eminent Houses and those whose loyalty was questioned severely.

Though some of the innocent Nobles were unaware as to why they weren’t let in.

Among the Nobles that left the residence was Lord Idicium and of course Embren. Following closely behind Lord Idicium was an aged man with a haggard head of hair that sported a pristine white color. Embren himself was dressed in light clothing that bore little resemblance to the flaunty clothes the Nobles were flaunting to display their wealth, it was clear he was severely destitute compared to the Nobles around him.

Gregory’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Embren. The expression on Embren’s face was not what he had expected at all, it was one filled with an anxiousness and some lingering fear. Embren’s tunic already had some of its buttons already opened as he fanned himself.

‘What the hell happened in that meeting?’ Gregory thought in disbelief.

Contrary to Gregory Spion had a toothy grin displayed onto his face, he was deeply excited about what Embren would tell him. Although Spion himself couldn’t attend the meeting, he believed he could sufficiently trust in Embren’s observation of what had happened.

Best case scenario for Spion was that a fight had broken out between the Lord and the Nobles. The Nobles themselves had already begun doubting Lord Idicium heavily for his recent actions, no Noble would take kindly to their Lord sleeping with a married woman. Not only that, but there were also the exaggerated rumors that had floated around detailing how Lord Idicium was responsible for the near death experience of Viran.

Spion already had some inkling of the trouble that was brewing in the Empire through his own work contacts, he once was a famous mercenary in his past of course. Spion also knew that Lord Idicium would not have any leeway in dodging the calamity that was approaching, and joining directly into the trouble was something none of the Southern Nobles wished upon. Afterall, they were already focused on expanding the Southern border into the wilderness and very soon they would be given the chance to expand the border greatly increasing their own power.

As Embren finally reached Spion and Gregory, his mouth opened multiple times and closed multiple times as well. This went on for some time until he is finally able to utter some words.

“Baron Ohrid tried to strike Count De Met… Lord Idicium personally stepped in to defend him.” Embren said in a shallow voice.

What he felt in there, what he had witnessed personally was something incredible. He had witnessed the innate gift of his Lord, and he was still deeply shaken up by it. Embren closely looked upon Gregory because of what he had seen just earlier, there was a chance the boy in front of him also possessed the very same gift…

“Well why would Baron Ohrid do something like that? I know not many like him because of his personality but he doesn’t strike me as the impulsive type.” Gregory said as Spion nods his head in agreement.

“Well… We were told that…'' Embren held his breath until finally spitting out what he had been mulling over since the meeting ended. “We’ll be declaring war on the Mountain Lords to the East, and we’ll be sending troops alongside Margrave Zora’s troops.”

These words only served to grow the smile that was implanted on the face of Spion.