Shirou sat in the quiet room, eyes fixed on the golden coin resting in his palm. The engraved "V" shimmered faintly in the dim light. "So I was right," he muttered.
He slipped the coin into his pocket and stood up. At that moment, the door opened and a guard stepped in.
"Follow me," the guard said.
"Where to now?" Shirou asked.
"To heal you. Then you're free to go. If you don't want healing, you can leave now."
"Healing, huh," Shirou replied, his tone unreadable as he stared at the guard. The man flinched slightly and broke eye contact.
"Follow," the guard said again, turning around quickly. "What the hell is wrong with this kid?" he muttered under his breath.
Shirou followed silently, his eyes drifting over the interior of the building as they walked. They arrived at a wide room lined with several beds, all of them empty. A few people, both men and women, stood by the tables in uniforms.
The guard approached one of the women and spoke to her in a low voice. Shirou stayed back, eyes scanning the empty beds.
"Makes sense," he thought. "If healing magic is this efficient, no one needs to stay long."
The woman approached and gestured to one of the beds. "Take a seat."
Shirou sat without protest. Three other healers gathered around him. They raised their hands, forming a faintly glowing circle of mana around him. He felt warmth wash over his body, the pain in his chest dulling. His wounds began to close.
In less than two minutes, the pain was gone. Shirou peeled away the remaining bandages, revealing smooth, unblemished skin.
He looked at the healers. Their faces were pale, with sweat on their brows. "So healing this way drains their mana that much... even with four people."
"You're good to go," one of the healers said, her voice tired.
Shirou nodded, got up, and left the room.
----
Shirou now stood in front of the tallest building in all of Velgrath, the Highlord's tower. Majestic and towering, its shadow stretched over half the plaza.
Two guards flanked the entrance.
As Shirou approached, one of them stepped forward. "State your purpose."
Shirou pulled the golden coin from his pocket and handed it over.
The guard examined it, then nodded. "You may enter. Present this at the front desk."
Inside, the front lobby was spacious. A man in uniform stood behind a sleek wooden counter.
Shirou handed him the coin.
The man examined it closely, then looked up. "May I have your name?"
"Shirou."
He nodded, placing the coin into a drawer before gesturing to the chair across from him.
"Please wait over there. I'll inform the Highlord."
Shirou sat and waited. About twenty minutes passed before another uniformed man arrived.
"Follow me. The Highlord is ready."
Shirou followed the man into a lift-like structure. It rose silently until they reached the top floor.
The man pointed down the hallway. "That door."
Shirou walked down the hall. As he neared the door, it opened automatically. Inside was a spacious office with shelves full of books and scrolls. At the far end sat a grand desk, behind which Highlord Cedric waited.
Shirou stepped inside and took the seat across from him.
"I thought you wouldn't come," Cedric said.
"I had no reason not to," Shirou replied calmly.
Cedric leaned forward slightly. "I'm truly sorry for what happened to your friends."
Shirou chuckled under his breath. There was no amusement in it.
He looked at Cedric. "How do the people know the coin holds your mana?"
Cedric looked at Shirou, silent for a moment. Then he opened a drawer, pulled out a golden coin, and held it up for him to see.
Shirou's eyes narrowed, it was the same type of coin, except this one lacked the V symbol.
"You are right," Cedric said calmly. "People can sense the mana within these coins, but no one's been able to distinguish them well enough to identify them as mine."
He paused, then infused the coin with mana. Instantly, a glowing V shimmered into view on its surface.
"They're designed so that when my mana flows through them, the symbol appears. No one can replicate it perfectly."
He set the coin down and gave a faint smile.
"And don't ask me how it works. I didn't make them."
"And if someone steals it?"
"The mana only lasts for thirty days. Less, if I choose to shorten the time."
Shirou nodded. "So let me get this straight. You want me to keep your secret. And in return, you offer me a spot in the Sovereign Order."
Cedric gave a small smile. "That's one way to look at it. Though I would've recommended you anyway. I just thought you were only an early adept."
Shirou looked directly at him. "What would've happened if I had told Liam about the beast underground? You would've killed me, right?"
Cedric paused. "Most likely. But I trusted that it wouldn't come to that."
He continued, "Why did you stay silent?"
"I had nothing to gain from revealing it. And I knew you weren't the one who sent the Crimson Eclipse to kill them. I'm angry at you… But I'm not foolish enough to hold a grudge against someone who didn't plan this."
Cedric leaned back. "Do you know why I worked with Lucus?"
"Money. Power. Greed."
"Money and power, yes. But not greed. Still, the right word would be position."
Shirou raised an eyebrow. "Position? You mean being Highlord?"
"Exactly," Cedric replied. "If I didn't act, I risked losing my position. And if you've spoken to Liam, then you know about the Crimson Eclipse. Their motives are unknown, but what I do know is this—they've infiltrated Lucariaus's officials."
Shirou narrowed his eyes. "Infiltrated?"
Cedric nodded gravely. "Yes. I don't know how high up it goes, but it's real. That's why I needed to secure my place. And that's why I want someone like you in the Sovereign Order."
Silence hung between them for a moment.
Shirou finally spoke. "What if I refuse?"
Cedric smiled faintly. "That's your choice. But with the way things are moving, you'll get involved regardless. Better to be prepared."
Shirou didn't respond. He could feel it, a storm was coming.