One of the Colors, the highest of their positions, Noir, stood behind Lucas. His sharp eyes left no room for debate or questions. Not a sound was heard as the strongest mage present finally spoke up after all this time.
Lucas felt free from Robert's command, but didn't dare stand back up to face the God behind him. Then again, a single mistake could be the end for him. He had to convince this monster in human skin that he was on their side in any way possible.
Slowly getting up, he turned to face the man. His mere presence gave away that Lucas stood no chance even if there were a thousand of him here. The God didn't ask any question, yet Lucas felt obligated to say something, anything, that would alleviate some of the pressure he was giving off.
"I...I.. I studied magic in Frigus, my lord," not saying anything else, his low and small voice reached everyone's ears. It was the perfect excuse, as almost every academy in Frigus taught their students about Dark magic. Lucas couldn't remember the last time he felt so weak and incapable of even speaking.
"I sense Darkness inside your body," Noir didn't care where he learned the spells, to him, there was Darkness inside Lucas, meaning his core must've been tainted. He wouldn't have that.
"I a-assure you, m-my lord, my core is completely Light!", Lucas tried to raise his voice, to make it seem like he was speaking the truth, but it only made him even more suspicious. Having a core of complete Light was a rarity that should make him special and coveted, yet the dark eyes of Noir made it seem like nothing. Robert's mind was racing to figure out what to say, but in front of that man, he dared not make a sound.
"Light?", Noir questioned before grabbing Lucas' left shoulder, his iron grip felt like it was unmovable. Lucas trembled slightly before Noir ripped his arm and collarbone straight off. Lucas didn't dare make a sound, as the blood dripped to the ground. Biting his lip, Lucas felt a burning sensation through his body, yet he stayed as quiet as possible.
The sounds rather came from the onlookers who were surprised by the sudden move. They hurried to lower their voice to not upset the monstrous mage.
"Prove it. Heal your arm," Noir stared daggers into Lucas as he looked at the wound and the fluctuations in his core. Lucas initially wanted to hurry and prove his abilities, but he couldn't fall for such a simple trick. He was only able to notice it thanks to the voice in his mind.
"I can't use magic because of these shackles, lord," lifting his other arm, the shackles were still grasping his other hand. If he instantly healed his wounds and proved his abilities, he would've revealed one of his own trump cards.
Noir took a single glance at the shackles before ripping his other arm off with a single smooth movement. Blood spattered all over the carpet below him, pooling into a sanguine puddle.
The throbbing pain running through his body was excruciating, but Lucas forced a smile on his pained face, "Thank you, my lord."
Letting his core run at the fastest he possibly could, the stumps on his chest quickly grew bone back. Muscles followed soon after, clinging around the bone, a slimy substance facilitated the fast regrowth of his arms as it evaporated in the air with a foul stench.
Still, Lucas regrew his arms back in mere seconds, a feat not easily replicated, many were impressed and believed his core to be made from Light, since only talent in that field would give result in such a rapid regeneration.
Even so, Lucas knew to stay quiet. For while the other were acknowledging his skills, Noir didn't change his demeanor in the slightest. A mage appeared next to the monstrous man and whispered something in his ear. Even with his heightened senses, he couldn't make the words out.
Without a word, Noir turned around and left the ballroom. A few mages joined him, most of an extremely high Rank. With the powerhouses gone, the people seemed to have gained some breathing room as small conversations picked up again. It didn't take long before the music started up again and people tried to brush the incident off.
Lucas was freed from his restraints and the biggest threat left, but he felt his life flash before his eyes. Noir didn't believe his performance in the slightest and he knew it. The guards had almost pissed their pants when Noir stepped up. Seeing their captive now completely free, the escorts didn't know what to do.
Luckily, their commander came to the ballroom to fetch them. "Men, The Demonic Cult is launching a large scale assault on our cities all over the country. We've been called to aid the nearest city."
The big man spoke without hesitation, without questioning why Lucas was standing in a pool of his own blood and why there were severed arms lying around. This wasn't the place to question it. Seeing the new visitor free and about, the commander spoke up.
"Did the Saint approve his presence?"
The guards didn't know what to say, but had to speak the truth. "They were friends, but he wasn't ordered to go to Sabaoth by him."
The commander frowned, the new Saint barely had any mages he could call friends, let alone someone who gave off so much bloodlust. The others didn't perceive it, but the commander felt it deep within his bones. The moment Lucas stepped out of that portal, he felt the presence of a monster.
"That's correct, I ordered him to go to Sabaoth, not the Saint, but I also told him to use the Saint's name whenever needed. He was just following my orders," Robert had recovered in the time given, taking advantage of the dead air to twist the scenario to his side.
The commander took a second to think it through, he was a Rank 4 mage with connections to the nobles and the Saint, both of which considered him a friend. He could be considered free from punishment, but there was no need to inform the person in question.
"Due to circumstances, we cannot wait for a trial to see what your punishment will be. So I will declare you, Lucas, will serve in the Holy Army for 3 battles to drive the Demonic Cult back. Through this, you will prove your allegiance."
Lucas didn't even get a chance to think or debate as Robert hurried to agree with the man. "It will be done. Lucas will serve as your pawn for three battles in return for his freedom."
"Good, then you will join us south at the city of Salvation in half a day's time. Don't be late," with that, the hulk of a man left with his guards in tow. Finally having a moment to himself, Lucas wanted to open his mouth before Robert aptly closed it. "Don't speak here. We'll go to my place first."
Grabbing his severed arms with him, Lucas left the ball, Robert bade goodbye to his acquaintances and after a few handshakes, they were finally in a carriage driving back to his mansion. Lucas finally had time to slack a sigh of relief, one that came from deep within him. Robert aided him in his walk to the carriage, as while the pain from his torn arms still echoed in his body, it was his mind that truly felt the pain from being so close to Noir.
While the man didn't make any moves, Lucas felt his silent anger and destructive power reverberate through his mind. Images of himself being cut up and killed played nonstop as he stood so close. He needed a minute before regaining his posture. On the ride, Lucas was given the necessary space to calm down. Eventually, he broke the silence.
"Looks like you changed quite a bit Robert, I didn't expect you to stand up for me. Thank you."
"Hah! To think there would be a day you would thank me. Lucas, I know we departed on some pretty bad terms, but I don't hate you for your choices. My father was an absolute fool that left his title of baron hollow and meaningless. If anything, I should thank you for killing him and giving me a story to garner the sympathy of my fellow peers."
"So you told people about what happened?"
"Not exactly, just that a murderous mage had burned my house and family down, making me escape with my most trusted servant. Of course, I tend to exaggerate when telling the story," he had a large smile on his face.
"But enough about me, I'm more curious about what happened to you, Lucas, or do you go by Conrad now as well?"
"No. That was a name I used when I was weak. When I was going up against some nobles."
"I see, the Bluefire Academy, correct? I heard you got targeted by the Bailey family after winning that competition. Are you still being hunted?"
"Most likely. But I don't think they'll bother with me any longer. Last time they saw me, I was Rank 2."
Conrad shook his head, "Looks like you don't know how nobles think yet. They will come after you, and they'll be in for quite a surprise, hahaha," laughing the worries away, Robert looked outside the window of the carriage.
"Things have shifted since you last were here," Robert was about to speak, to explain something to Lucas, but he interjected, "Robert," Lucas stared at him with a serious look.
"Why are you helping me?", to Lucas, Robert was a dangerous variable since he held full control over him due to the contract. There was no way for him to disobey, so Lucas would look for a way to kill him in one way or another if he wanted to be free. He didn't want to enact such a plan, but formulating one wasn't hard.
"Lucas. I know what Venion did to you. This is simply me repaying my debt."
'A true mage would've taken advantage of the situation.'
'Be fucking lucky he isn't, dumbass!'
"Normally, I should force you to serve me and make full use of your powers. But I'm a fair person. We will keep this contract active, but only to give you a cover story for when you need it."
"Why?", Lucas truly didn't understand why Robert was bothering with helping so much. He was kind, too kind, for a reason he couldn't understand.
"Hahaha, oh Lucas. I'm not going to do this for no reason at all. I'm still going to request some help from you, but in return, I'll make sure you don't get caught by the Church."
"So they are that hard on Darkness magic?"
"No, not if you have the funds and have made enough donations. Otherwise, yes, any bum or random civilian that dares to use it will be executed. So keep it under wraps for now. Knowing you, you'll have some other spells to help out."
Lucas smirked a bit, sure, he had other spells, but his strongest ones were always centered around that single element. He would have to adapt to his environment again, but he was more than used to it.
'Our nightmares evolve.'
'And so must we.'
"To get back on track, the Holy Kingdom has been extremely aggressive as of late. Even my position was in danger for some time due to my father's antics. But the recent wars have culled a lot of people."
"So they're focusing on defense?"
"Yes, casualties don't matter, since they'll be healed to their prime, but there have been a lot of dead. Considering the results, things are still going fine though. The only war that's still active is the one with Frigus."
"What do you mean, there were multiple wars?"
"Of course, The Holy Kingdom is big, plenty of sacrifices available. The goal this time was to get rid of Sabaoth, the world of Demons, Cryon, the world of Ice Dwarfs, and the remnants of the forces were going to be used to subdue Frigus. Since it's the only country on Aurora that allows Darkness, they need to be put down."
"You're telling me that a single country destroyed two planets?"
"Easily. Aurora is a lot bigger than you think. Sabaoth and Cryon fit inside it with ease. And we're talking about the Holy Kingdom here. Even the poorest mogul with a Rank can be promoted to soldier with enough artifacts. You wouldn't believe the ages they're allowing inside the army as well."
Lucas couldn't comprehend it. Even if The Holy Kingdom was big and had plenty of people living inside it, not every single human became a mage. It was simple. "That still doesn't explain the difference. Even with a large population, those numbers wouldn't be possible. And if they're a mage, they'll have work."
"Hohoho, perhaps in Frigus, but things are different here Lucas. Here, the people who can't use magic are the odd ones out. Can you imagine it? Only the strongest go to an academy, the others just do normal work on the fields or in stores. The total combat power of The Holy Kingdom is frightening."
Having trouble believing it, Lucas shelved the issue for now as he had bigger things to worry about.
---
Walking through the hall, Noir received frightened bows left and right. People instantly stopped in place and bend their backs for him, not that he ever asked for it. They were just too intimidated.
Noir found the joy in it in the beginning, feeling respected, but lately he found it a hassle. There was no-one around him that would talk normally to him, except his closest allies and his Goddess.
Not halting his steps in the slightest, someone joined by his side. "Sir, I believe you let that boy go too easily."
"Vert, I don't have a lot time to waste on your speculations. Why did you think I was wrong in my decision?"
"No! No, I- I didn't mean that you were wrong, sir!", panic rose from her heart as her face flushed red. She was supposed to be a great aid to him, not someone who critiqued him so.
"I was trying to say that if he was a Light Core and considering his powers, he should be around middle Rank 4, his regenerative powers should be stronger," Vert wasn't on the level of The Lady of Light when it came to Light magic, then again, nobody was. Still, among the Colors, she was one of the stronger ones when it came to healing magic.
She was no stranger to medicine and had created tons of pills and vaccines not too long ago at his request. All of them were sold in mass, she didn't know who, but that wasn't for her to know in the first place.
"You lack insight, Vert," his low, accusatory tone set her straight in an instant. Were it not for the long time she had lived and her bond with the man besides her, she would've caved.
"He has only recently stepped into his Rank, his body was still adapting."
Thousands of pages about the human body flashed through her mind, her theories and practical knowledge about the Ranks and magic flooded her Mental Sphere. In less than a split second, she double checked everything she knew about the transition between Ranks and had to comment on her findings.
"But sir, the transition between Rank 3 and 4 does indeed increase the body density, but that process should only take a few weeks while the person is in an unconscious state."
"Besides insight, it seems you also lack knowledge. No single human is born or lives equal, death is the only thing that is equal for all. His body has been altered by experimentation to a level that it has only been seen twice before."
Vert fell silent as he critiqued her again. His low, almost annoyed, tone truly hit her in her heart, yet she didn't back down. No, she couldn't. If she dared to back down, it would only show she lacked the capabilities of following him.
Sadly, before she could even speak up, someone else had joined them. He was a tall man with very broad shoulders. The long brown bear on his chin and shaved head made him look like a strangely tall dwarf.
"His body has been enhanced by my experiments from when I was young. I didn't know that my Trials in the Underground were still active, but he's achieved the best result I could make at the time."
Vert felt like he stole her spotlight, it wasn't for him to do so, but considering his connection to the boy, it was only natural he wanted to discuss it with their leader. "Marron, it's rude to interrupt our conversation. I was talking to Noir, and I was going to say that his body did seem strange, and it's not because of his build."
"Vert, I talk when I want to, and I can tell you that while I was young back then, I put in a lot of effort into making those Trials. He probably has one of the strongest bodies among his Rank. I can promise you that."
While they bickered, Noir raised his voice slightly, "Silence."