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22.7% Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos / Chapter 532: Performance

Chapitre 532: Performance

For nearly an hour, Alosrin sat in his carriage ruminating over matters before turning his attention to Pram and saying, "You, you like to pride yourself on your intelligence, what do you make of this situations?" Other than her physical similarities to Riveria, the thing that had initially drawn Alosrin to Pram was that she had started to become well-known amongst the plebian society. He had intended to recruit her regardless but, after seeing her hair and disposition, Alosrin had become deeply interested in her because he had a unique preference for dealing with 'strong' and 'intelligent' women. Knowing she was working so hard to protect her family always brought a smile to his face whenever he made her do degrading acts. Unfortunately for her, her little sister had the same hair color and Alosrin didn't plan to let her remain outside his grasp unless he could get his hands on Riveria within the next few years.

Hearing Alosrin addressing her, Pram showed an expression of distaste and apathy before saying, "The Elven Kingdom has no real power or influence within Orario, thus there is no reason for them to express any concerns over the actions you would take against them. Even if they offend you greatly, the Elven Kingdom will not march on the City and there is no way the City Officials would hand over Vahn Mason. The title of 'Sage' was requested and bestowed to him by Riveria, not something he had tried to obtain for himself. It is very likely he doesn't hold the title in high regards, so there is little chance they will compromise after you offended his servants. Judging by how they were dressed, and the quality of their arms, they were obviously highly regarded by Vahn Mason and it is likely you've offended him by-" Before she could finish her words, Alosrin backhanded Pram and scowled at her. She always knew how to rile him up but this was one of the reasons he enjoyed tormenting her so much. Her contempt and disdain made his desire to bend her to his will even stronger and it was always funny seeing how she would shame herself just to 'protect' others...

Pram wiped the blood away from her nose and returned to her normal cold expression as she sat silently on the floor of the carriage. She considered Alosrin to be an idiot for behaving like they were in the heart of the Elven Kingdom without taking into account their actual position. Like most High Elves, this was one of the first times he had actually left the 'comforts' of the forest so his deeply rooted bias and egotistic nature was out in full force. If he encountered a Beast Human within the forest, they would likely bow low to him in order to avoid a harsh punishment. Here, however, Beast Humans had the same status as every other race, something that seemed to be beyond his rationale entirely.

Alosrin continued to stare out the window with clear frustration written on his face as he waited an additional ten minutes. After hearing Pram's words, Alosrin believed that Vahn didn't actually care about the Sage title at all and, considering that Riveria hadn't shown up to 'greet' him, he felt enraged and embarrassed. Even if she disdained him, they were still betrothed to each other and their engagement had already gone on for far too long. As the Elven society was highly patriarchal, he felt incredibly offended by the fact that she had failed in her 'obligations' to him. Thinking that she was looking down on him, Alosrin slammed his hand against the carriage door and knocked it up with a start.

With a cold expression on his face, Alosrin flicked his sleeves before standing tall with them behind his back and nodding to his Father's loyal retainer, Keelan. The Commander, Keelan, nodded his head before slamming his gloved fist against the barrier as if he were knocking. Much like Alosrin, he couldn't believe they had been 'mistreated' to such an extent and he wanted to take the matter directly to the Master of the two 'arrogant' servant girls. However, shortly after he knocked against the barrier, two familiar figures appeared and Keelan felt his rage begin to boil up inside of him as they 'casually' walked over.

Maemi and Emiru had been waiting inside the foyer discussing matters with Loki as she communicated through several different scrolls all at the same time. Many of the other girls were loitering around the area as well, including Ais who was polishing her [Gram] with a complacent expression on her face. They had all heard the report given by Maemi and Emiru, so the majority of the girls present were already in an alert status and prepared to mobilize at a moments notice. Their enemies were primarily Magic-Knights, which meant a fast response was necessary if they wanted to avoid a large amount of collateral damage. Though the barrier could hold up for a while, a continuous barrage of magic would break through, potentially endangering the weaker residents of the Manor.

Once they reached the gate, showing absolutely no regard to the ire contained in the expressions of the guards, the twins asked in a 'polite' tone, "Do you wish to meet with our Master~?" Instead of addressing Alosrin as an 'Envoy', they simply referred to him as 'you' when asking the question. Alosrin took a deep breath through his nose and exhaled before showing a 'kind' smile and saying, "I have journeyed for nearly forty days to reach this point, so I would at least like to meet with the purported 'Sage' before I return. Never say I am not magnanimous, as I will overlook your indiscretions this time in lieu of completing my duty. Take me to your Master, though I will ask that my attendants and the Command of my guard accompany me."

Maemi and Emiru looked to each other and tilted their heads, causing the vein in Alosrin's temple to throb, before they nodded and said, "Very well, you 'may' bring up to four people with you." Emiru pulled out a tab and tapped it four times before storing it away. The barrier of the gate fluctuated slightly, allowed Alosrin, Keelan, Sierra, and Pram to enter. There was no need to bring a fourth person, and the Lieutenant was necessary to keep order within the unit while they awaited the return of Alosrin. However, when they entered through the barrier, Keelan began to unsheathed his sword as Maemi and Emiru immediately jumped back and brandished their halberds. Just as he was about to step forward, Alosrin held up his hand and showed a 'friendly' smile as he said, "Keelan, that is unnecessary. We can't let 'simple' servant girls bother us, after all, it's not their fault their intelligence is lacking. Now, little kittens, why don't you lead me to your 'esteemed' Master~?"

In one smooth motion, Maemi and Emiru restored their stance before gesturing toward the residence at the eastern side of the Manor. Knowing they weren't going to be entering the Hearth Manor itself, Alosrin furrowed his brows before returning to his smiling expression and saying, "Lead the way..." Though they did, in fact, begin leading the way, the twins did something strange that baffled the gathered Elves. With absolute 'confidence' in her movements, Emiru kept her face towards them as she backstepped in pace with Maemi. They weren't foolish enough to trust their backs to people that just tried to attack them so Maemi watched the front while Emiru watched their back. Sharing their sight had been something they worked on a lot over the last month so they could do things that would seem impossible to most people.

Alosrin's interest in the two girls increased marginally but he decided they weren't worth his efforts unless Vahn was the 'typical' weak-minded human. If he saw weakness in the boy, Alosrin would pressure him to the point that the only 'compromise' Vahn could make would be to 'gift' the two girls to him as compensation. Even if he didn't care about the title of Sage, he had to consider the power Alosrin had with the 'backing' of the Elven Kingdom. Unless Riveria had 'betrayed' him and provided Vahn with information about their home, he should be able to fool the 'simple-minded' human boy. One of the pieces of information he had stated that Vahn was only 15, young even by human standards, so Alosrin didn't take him seriously at all.

Once they reached the 'small' residence, Alosrin noticed that the actual construction of the building was very high-quality and he humored the idea that it was a special building that consolidated the wealth of the Hestia Familia as a pretense. He even imagined the interior of the larger Manor being completely barren since the outer appearance, though large, wasn't as impressive as the smaller building. Snorting through his nose, Alosrin stepped through the double-doors that had been opened by the twins and walking into the 'lavish' interior of the Guest Residence. He remarked in his mind that Vahn must have been a boy that played at being powerful by hiding behind a pretense. It was more likely that Riveria herself had found the solution to the Elven infertility issue and just wanted to promote someone else to avoid having to return to the Elven Kingdom temporarily...

The moment Alosrin entered the larger room, he looked around the area and immediately locked his on Riveria as a possessive glint passed through them. However, his eyes were drawn away from her shortly thereafter when he saw the other green-haired beauty nearby. For a brief moment, Alosrin felt at a loss because the feeling he got from the beautiful woman was unlike anything he had ever experienced. As if he had no control over his own body, Alosrin inhaled the flowery fragrance permeating through the room and briefly reminisced his first time with his handmaiden. She had been his first love and had treated him well ever since he was a young boy. If she hadn't 'betrayed' him, Alosrin felt like he could have been happy with her at his side...

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Alosrin gave another glance at the strange woman and saw the pointed green ears, the scales on her hands and feet, and the large pair of wings behind her back. There was a powerful aura of nature elements radiating from her body and Alosrin felt like she were a spirit that had decided to show favor to the Hestia Familia. Though she was arguably more beautiful than even Riveria, Alosrin pulled his eyes away from her and looked toward the other two people present. He could see a woman that radiated a divine aura, obviously a goddess, while a young boy that he couldn't really feel any power from at all sat at her side. Seeing the 'child' that should be the 'Sage', Vahn Mason, Alosrin snorted once again because of Riveria's obvious plot to avoid returning to the forest for a few more years.

As they had never met, Alosrin had no way of knowing that Vahn had actually altered his form to appear much younger than he actually was. Instead of the 173cm he had been walking around with lately, Vahn was now only 150cm tall and was only slightly taller than the 140cm Hestia. He also made his skin look somewhat pale compared to the healthy tan he usually had and he was wearing simple clothing with an 'innocent' smile on his face as he said, "Emiru, Maemi, thank you for bringing our guest to meet me. I was beginning to think we would be waiting all afternoon, hahahaha~" Vahn intentionally worded things to make it sound like Alosrin had been inconveniencing them instead of the other way around. This also had a double meaning of sorts, because it allowed Alosrin to try and take the high ground to remark on the matter...

Taking the bait, Alosrin smiled in an arrogant manner as he said, "Well, there were other matters that required my attention so I couldn't arrive sooner. Had you come to greet us properly, we could have dealt with matters directly. You'll have to forgive me for making you wait, Vahn Mason, as it was not my intention to do so...Ah, where are my manners..." Alosrin showed an impeccable bow and said, "Greetings, as I'm certain Riveria has informed you, my name is Alosrin Els Lainu, Envoy of the Elven Kingdom and first-born son of Alfred Els Lainu, Duke of the West..." Seeing Alosrin's display of etiquette, Vahn honestly 'applauded' the act and said, "You have impressive manners, Envoy Alosrin~! I'm afraid my own may back lacking, so please show me some leniency..."

Vahn 'jumped' up from the sofa and returned a 'sloppy' bow of his own as he said, "Greetings, my name is Vahn Mason, Sage Aldrnari and Captain of the Hestia Familia~!" Vahn had a large smile on his face as he gestured between Hestia and Terra, saying, "This is my goddess, Hestia-sama, and my tamed monster, Terra. You've already met the twins, Maemi and Emiru, and this is my close friend and colleague, Riveria~!" Hestia flinched slightly when Vahn addressed her with 'sama', but she still managed to keep her expression from breaking down as she sipped at her tea and said, "Welcome to the Hestia Familia's 'Guest Residence'."

Alosrin watched Vahn's 'attempt' at etiquette and scoffed internally as he absentmindedly listened to the introductions. Hearing Vahn introducing the 'spirit' behind him as his 'tamed monster' caused Alosrin's brows to raise but he kept his words for the time being since it was rude to interrupt a goddess. The Elves had an intrinsic respect for Gods and Spirits, so he wouldn't interrupt her unless they had come to loggerheads with each other. Since it seemed that the only person of 'concern' at this small meeting would be Riveria herself, Alosrin began to wonder how best to take advantage of this situation...

A few seconds after Hestia's words finished, silence took over the room that caused Alosrin to frown slightly as he asked, "Riveria, you can't show simple courtesies to your husband? I came all this way to meet you, surely you can greet me properly..." Hearing Alosrin address her, Riveria looked over with a plain expression on her face and said, "You can here to 'validate' Vahn's title as 'Sage', that is it. I have no interest in pandering to a fool that wasted everyone's time by playing around in his carriage with young girls..." Though she didn't truly disdain Sierra and Pram, Riveria turned cold eyes to the two girls that made the smaller Elf tremble. As for Sierra, however, her eyes widened slightly because she had quickly recognized what was going on. She didn't know how things would play out, but it was obvious that they were 'playing' Alosrin for the fool he is.

Having already expected Riveria's cold behavior, Alosrin didn't show any concern for her words as he walked over and sat down on the opposite sofa. He noticed everything within the room was very expensive, especially the table and ceramic tea set that was set out. It irked him that there was a second pot of tea on his side, but he simply looked to Pram and said, "Pram..." before coming to a stop and eyeing the two girls flanking the doors. A somewhat sadistic smile appeared on his face as he turned to Vahn and said, "Your servants are rather eye-catching, but their education is severely lacking. The managed to offend my entire entourage with their actions, so you should discipline them properly, Vahn Mason."

Vahn showed a 'confused' expression as if he didn't understand what Alosrin was saying at all. He looked toward Maemi and Emiru to see their small smiles before shaking his head and saying, "That doesn't sound like Maemi and Emirus at all, so I'm afraid I can't believe your words so easily Envoy Alosrin. If they truly did offend you, I'll apologize as their behalf but I must also correct a misconception you seem to have made. Though they have willingly taken to the role of maids, neither girl is a 'servant' and they are actually important members of my family. If they offended you, I must infer that they had reason to act in that manner, so please forgive their indiscretion as I believe it is a difference in culture that had caused the misunderstanding~."

Alosrin's smile had grown marginally when he heard that Vahn would apologize on their behalf, but his words got stuck in his throat when Vahn 'explained' his misconception. If they weren't actually servants, there wasn't really any way he could get the girls to serve him without pressing the situation and forcing Vahn into a corner. However, Alosrin could tell from Vahn's disposition and how he structured his words he wasn't the 'simple' boy he had thought him to be. It was obvious he had a modicum of intelligence, which made sense if Riveria was trying to pull one over on the Elven Kingdom. If she wanted Vahn to be her patsy and represent her, he would obviously need some degree of intelligence of the facade would be seen through too easily...

Deciding the let the matter with the offending twins slide for the time being, Alosrin adopted a more natural smile and said, "As you're aware, I came here to confirm whether or not you are deserving of the title of Sage. Though my fiancee's opinion is highly regarded in Elven society, and it is within her right to confer the title, it must be officiated by the Elven Kingdom to become a permanant title. If I find the reality of your accomplishments unequal to the claims made, I'll have no choice but to strip it from you. However, as you seem to be an intelligent young boy, there is always hope you will be able to earn it in the future. I have been tasked to evaluate your character and, if it is noble and in line with the Elven Kingdom's interests, we have decided to allow your presence within the Elven Kingdom as the first human within nearly a thousand years."

In an annoyingly similar manner as the two girls, Vahn cocked his head to the side with a blank expression before saying, "I have no intention of ever leaving Orario, at least not for any long period of time. This place is my home, and I will continue striving towards a future that benefits everyone, not just the Elves." Alosrin wasn't too surprised by Vahn's words because he believed Riveria had 'primed' him to stay such things. Seeing how she was remaining silent while focusing most of her attention on Vahn made Alosrin absolutely sure he was just a puppet of Riveria's. She might treat him as her genuine protege and student, but Vahn seemed like nothing but a righteous idiot spewing platitudes. What was the point of seeking benefits for everyone when the only competent races in the world were the Elves and the Dwarves? Without explaining why, Alosrin shook his head and looked at Vahn with 'pity' contained within his gaze.

Seeing the way Alosrin looked at him, Vahn couldn't help but comment internally, ("Sis, this person is so far gone that he actually takes pity on me for trying to help everyone...?") Though he didn't actually expect an answer, a surprisingly 'angry' voice sounded in his head, saying, (*He is a fool that had never grown beyond his family and the authority he borrowed from others. Please, if you do end up dueling this idiot, give him a punch in his smug face for me. I can't stand the way he looks at you...*) Vahn's eyes opened partially in shock, causing Alosrin to think that he had felt 'rightfully' embarrassed after realizing the folly of his words.

Deciding that Vahn wasn't really worth talking to, Alosrin decided to guide the conversation forward as he sipped at his own tea and asked, "What evidence do you have to prove your claims? Other than the fertility issue with the Elves, I've heard the rumors that you even found a solution that allowed goddesses to get pregnant? I'd like to see with my own eyes proof of your claims before we move forward with other discussions. Surely, you have prepared something verifiable and haven't made baseless claims just to garner fame for yourself~?" Though he was speaking to Vahn, Alosrin had his eyes fixed on Riveria as a slight sneer appeared on his face.

Instead of Riveria answering, however, it was Vahn who pulled out a large stack of documents that detailed many aspects of his research into High Elves and Elven physiology. Alosrin squinted his eyes because he realized the documents had appeared out of thin air, meaning Vahn likely had access to the rare storage magic that was coveted by many. He started to realize there was more to the boy than meets the eye and understood why Riveria had taken him under her wing. Seeing the documents, however, Alosrin squinted his eyes as he tried to pick one up from the table. Before he was able to do so, the documents disappeared once again, confirming that Vahn indeed had storage magic. The confusing thing was that he was able to use it without chanting at all...

Vahn looked confusedly between Alosrin and Riveria, causing Alosrin to also look toward her as she calmly explained, "Without a proper exchange of benefits, there is no reason for Vahn to turn over his research to the Elven Kingdom. I have also taken a vow not to speak about the information either, so my own notes are safely kept away from prying eyes..." Alosrin felt his temples twitch as a serious expression appeared on his face and he said, "This is completely unacceptable, Riveria! We have already allowed you to confer to him the title of 'Sage', something a 'human' has never been allowed to possess. What other compensation are you trying to-" A thought suddenly passed through Alosrin's mind and his expression became cold as he asked, "Are you trying to avoid marrying me by holding the solution to our people's greatest problem as 'ransom'? I never thought you were such a crass and shameless woman..."

After Alosrin's words fell, there was silence within the room as everyone showed serious expressions on their faces. The only exception was Riveria, who remained entirely unflustered as she said, "Our people tout themselves as the most intelligent and capable of the races, but we can degrade ourselves to the point where we want to 'steal' the research of a young human boy? It isn't my information to hold hostage, I'll even swear a vow upon it if it pleases yo-" Before Riveria could finish, Vahn's expression made a transition from being calm and amicable into one of absolute seriousness with a hint of scorn as he said, "Riveria, you don't have to make concessions with this man. If he wishes to throw around accusations, allow him to do so at his leisure...hmph!"

Hearing Vhan's outburst, Alosrin looked at him with an expression of disgust before an incomparably sour look appeared on his face when Riveria responded in an almost 'submissive' manner, "Yes, I will take your words to heart...Master." It felt like all the nerves in his body had been exposed to the air as a seething rage built up in his heart. He hadn't expected Riveria to put on an act to this extent and, even though he 'knew' she was trying to goad him on, Alosrin could feel nothing but hatred and contempt for this 'frail' and 'weak' human boy. Even if he was intelligent and had rare magic, having the audacity to 'allow' himself to be addressed as Master by Riveria, even if it was just an act, was the most reprehensible thing Alosrin could imagine. Humans were simply a 'baseline' race without any exceptional features other than the fact they reproduced like animals. High Elves were several orders of magnitude superior to them so Alosrin couldn't tolerate this 'affront' to their people...

(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Alosrin's Depravity','Act I : The Setup','The Undying Rage of the Ignorant')

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Chapitre 533: Confrontation

Through gritted teeth, Alosrin looked to Riveria and asked, "What is this farce, Riveria...?" Instead of answering his question, however, Riveria just maintained an unperturbed expression and remained silent. Earning greater ire from Alosrin, the person to answer was Vahn, saying plainly, "Riveria had agreed to become my apprentice in the past, officially accepting me as her Master so that we can proceed in our research together." At this point, both Alosrin and Keelan both had dark expressions on their faces until Alosrin's suddenly changed into a grin and he said, "I see what game you're trying to play, I see, I see...hahahaha~!"

As if he had experienced a great epiphany, Alosrin looked to Riveria with a reproachful gaze and said, "To think you would go to such great lengths to avoid your 'responsibilities. Everyone back home lauds you as some great Mage, the pride of the High Elves, but you're really just a coward that couldn't accept their status. You would shame our entire race by pretending to apprentice yourself to a human child? What a farce..." Contrary to his expectations, Vahn didn't seem perturbed by his words at all, even though there was a fierce look persisting in his eyes.

At this point, Alosrin had already fallen into their entrapment and there were only a few steps before he would completely fall as a result of his own hubris. Vahn had been keeping his domain at bay, but now he slowly started increasing the pressure in the room as he coldly stated, "How peculiar...to have reached your age without ever having developed the insight to see through to the truth of a matter. Do you truly believe Riveria is putting on a show of being my apprentice? That must mean you intend to discredit my accomplishments as well...curious that you would come all this was on the 'pretense' of validating my accomplishments just to 'steal' the results of my research. And you believe I'm supposed to be 'grateful' to receive such a title? Well, I was when Riveria gave it to me, but I have no interest in playing games with the Elven Kingdom. You may return to your King and explain to him why you have failed your entire species by offending the Sage Aldrnari..."

Alosrin had wanted to rebuke Vahn for speaking 'out of turn', but he felt a strong pressure around his body every time he tried to open his mouth. He was confused since, even though he knew the pressure was coming from the boy in front of him, he couldn't sense anything at all. Vahn had previously identified how Riveria was able to sense his domain, primarily being that she could see the change in the elemental energies under his control. However, if he simply decided not to control the elemental energies at all, Vahn found that he could completely conceal his domain from others. Alosrin was likely misconstruing the feeling as 'animosity', which could also take on a tangible form when it is concentrated enough. Typically, such an occurrence only took place when there was a powerful grudge between warriors, but Alosrin had no understanding of Vahn's true capabilities.

When he had finished speaking, Vahn eased up the pressure and allowed Alosrin to gnash his teeth and say, "Your title of 'Sage' has been invalidated! I'll make sure the entire continent knows you're just playing at-" Vahn turned to Hestia and smiled before saying, "It looks like this buffoon has forgotten his manners, Hestia-sama. Please return to the Manor so you don't have to waste your time listening to his baseless drivel..." As he helped Hestia stand, Vahn sent a contemptuous look at Alosrin and said, "I'll continue to call myself as Sage Aldrnari, as I've grown rather fond of the title. Feel free to do as you please, as the truth of the matter will come to the light regardless of your efforts. Truth is a curious thing, you see, as it resonates deeply with people and can easily tear through lies and deceit when it is known~" Vahn used a lecturing tone like he was speaking to a child and gestured to Maemi and Emiru to escort Hestia.

Alosrin was in a rage but his thoughts were racing as he tried to make sense of the situation that was unfolding before him. He 'knew' this was Riveria's plot, but he couldn't think of a manner to regain control of the situation. Though he wanted to teach Vahn a lesson, Riveria was inarguably stronger than both he and Keelan. They may be able to get an advantage in a two-versus-one, but it was 'rumored' that Vahn was a Level 4 as well and there was no way of knowing what he kept in his storage magic dimension. Space magic was a tricky element and there was no telling what other skills Vahn had at his disposal. His only chance would be to try and remove Vahn from the equation and...

As if another epiphany had hit him, Alosrin watched as the two 'hateful' beasts began escorting the goddess. They passed by the 'monster' standing in the back and exchanged smiles with each other before walking toward a door at the back of the room. With a sly expression and mocking smile on his face, Alosrin said, "I'll give you a chance to prove yourself, even without allowing me to see your research. You claim that the 'truth' will come out naturally, but I cam here to verify the claims directly. To manage such feats at a young age shows you are quite prodigious..." For a brief moment, Alosrin's expression turned sour before transitioning back as he continued, "You even managed to make one of the most prolific Mages on the continent your disciple. I wonder if someone of your caliber would do me the honor of a demonstration~?"

Vahn arched his brow with a confused expression and asked, "What kind of demonstration? Why should I have any interest in your proposals after the disrespectful behavior you have shown. Riveria's status is much higher than your's, yet she refers to me as Master...what worth do you have for me to demonstrate my skills for you?" Hearing Vahn mention how Riveria addresses him, Alosrin felt like his blood pressure had skyrocketed. It took several long seconds for him to calm down and say, "I wouldn't think someone with the title of 'Sage' would be so inflexible...though, perhaps it is not Riveria who is the coward, but the fool she calls her Ma...'Master'." Alosrin put a lot of inflection on the word as if it were a curse that would cause Vahn's skin to peel.

As if he were very upset by Alosrin's words, Vahn frowned deeply and said, "You never mentioned what kind of demonstration you wanted to see. Speak, fool, I'm not afraid to show you how vast the world is compared to the small world that has warped your mind to such an extent!" Alosrin felt like every word Vahn spoke was the greatest insult he had ever suffered in his entire 99 years of life. He originally just wanted to shame Vahn and bring this farce to an end, but now he planned to cripple the boy for his endless slights against his betters. Thinking of Vahn's pathetic figure helped Alosrin calm down a lot as he said, "It's simple, we'll have a short duel using magic to see who the more capable Mage is."

Vahn gave Alosrin an incredulous look and asked, "You really want to duel me...you? Perhaps you should rethink this, or maybe get your little friend there to fight in your stead. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you can't use magic at all, but you don't really strike me as a 'competent' Mage..." For several seconds, Alosrin's mind had completely short-circuited at Vahn's words and he felt like he had transcended all other emotions and become the embodiment of icy rage. Rather than simply cripple him, Alosrin became resolved to kill Vahn if he was presented with the opportunity. Since he hadn't made the method public, it would also allow him to 'expose' Vahn for the fraud he was after the 'cure' for his people died with him. If Riveria truly knew the method, she would undoubtedly expose it herself one day, vow or not, so it was the best possible solution for the current situation.

Believing Vahn to be an overconfident child, Alosrin's smile turned especially cruel because he had seen the 'worry' in the eyes of Vahn's monster. He had never seen such a beautiful and exotic humanoid monster before and the aura she radiated reminded him of the Sacred Trees back in the forest. Alosrin even speculated she was the real 'solution' to the Elven Fertility issue so, if he were able to take her back to the Kingdom, he would be lauded as a hero. He might even get enough supporting to become the next Elven King if he played his cards right. Riveria would then be forced to become his Queen, no, his concubine. She had tested his patience far too much at this point and the only outcome for her would be beneath his feet, firmly situated where she 'belongs'...

After considering the matter, Alosrin said, "Your confidence is unbecoming...but I will allow you to pretend as much as you want...unless, of course, you're willing to make things more interesting by accepting a wager?" As if he couldn't wait to start, Vahn impatiently asked, "What kind of wager!? Money!? Materials!? I'll show you that I'm not some child you can insult as you please!" Vahn felt very awkward putting on this kind of act, but it was made a lot easier by the genuine rage he felt for this idiot in front of him. If not for the fact they were trying to leverage the situation in their favor, Vahn would have already beaten this fool to a pulp and sent him running back to the Elven Kingdom cradling his broken magic staff.

Alosrin's face became serious as a cold glint passed through his eyes, saying, "I would have wagered my two servants against your's, but it seems you treat animals as your family. Instead, I will wager one of my servants against your little pet..." Seeing him look in her direction, Terra showed her characteristic smile and said, "I am not some pet that can be battered so cheaply. Do you really think an Elven servant-girl, barely scraping at the bottom of Level 3, is equal in Value to a True Dragon near the peak of Level 4? My Master is correct, you are quite the hack~." Terra hadn't spoken throughout the entire conversation so her words were a surprise to Alosrin who had trouble speaking for a moment. He hadn't know which Level she was at, only that she had a very powerful aura. Hearing her claim to be a True Dragon at Level 4, Alosrin felt like he had just hit the jackpot since her elemental affinity was related to nature. If they 'cultivated' her properly, she would be a veritable mine of rare materials that could make him one of the wealthiest High Elves in the entire Kingdom.

With a 'grim' expression and a 'celebratory' look in his eyes, Alosrin nodded his head and said, "It seems the terms are indeed unfair...however, other than some paltry ornaments, I have only brought the two servants with me. Fortunately, unlike those undisciplined brats, my servants have been 'properly' trained and would even fetch a high price in the market. I believe two Level 3 pure-blooded Elves are more than a fair exchange for a single 'monster'...unless you are some kind of monster sympathizer and believe the lives of Elves to be beneath such 'creatures'?" As if he had been highly offended by Alosrin's words, Vahn gnashed his teeth and let his anger radiate from his body as he said, "Fine! I accept! Let's get this over with...!"

Though he was pleased that Alosrin had fallen for their bait completely, Vahn couldn't tolerate the way he kept berating the people he cared about. If he hadn't given the conditions soon, Vahn felt like he was about to send the arrogant High Elf flying, repercussions be damned. If this event had taken place similarly in the Divination, Vahn could understand why he had been unable to compromise with the Elven Kingdom until things had gotten out of hand. Knowing they gave rise to fools like this confounded him greatly and he wanted to smack the man that had raised such an incompetent and abrasive son.

Alosrin smiled as if he had already won the duel and said in a snide tone, "Let's make a vow so that, not saying you're dishonorable and untrustworthy, you are unable to go back on your promise." Vahn waved his hand dismissively and said in a mocking tone, "I'd rather not, as you'll probably whine and say I cheated you when you want to renege on your own word. I can barely believe someone like you can use magic at all, so I won't treat this matter too seriously. Come, let's get this over with..." Hearing Vahn treating him like an incompetent fool, Alosrin realized his earlier illusion of transcending anger was just him reaching the base of a tall mountain.

A strange urge to laugh welled up inside of Alosrin and his pupils shrank into small beads as he looked at Vahn as if he were the corpse of his most hated enemy. He was so angry that his voice broke slightly as he said, "I swear on my pride as a High Elf, a descendant of Nord, and my honor as the son of Duke Alfred Els Lainu, I will not renege on my promise to the pretender, Vahn Mason!" Without waiting for Vahn to make a vow of his own, Alosrin flicked his mantle and turned on his heels as he walked outside. As if he were challenging Vahn's earlier eagerness, his movements were swift and decisive as he clutched his own staff to the point his knuckles had turned white.

Keelan glared at Vahn with an expression filled with disdain as he said, "Pathetic human fool...you don't even have enough sense to realize you dug your own grave. Come, it's time to experience humiliation beyond your imagination..." Though he knew Alosrin wasn't the most capable Mage amongst High Elves, he was still one of the 'supreme beings' and Keelan knew how many resources his Master, Alfred, had invested on him. He also had ritual magic and a powerful magical staff at his disposal so Keelan believed that there was no way that Alosrin would lose. If Vahn tried to play a trick, he intended to cut him down himself and, if necessary, sacrifice his life as a criminal and traitor if it meant protecting his Master's progeny.

After leaving biting words, Keelan made his way toward the door after urging Sierra and Pram to move by kicking the smaller Elf with his hard metal sabatons. Vahn's mind turned cold after he witnessed this yet, instead of lashing out, he became very calm as he walked forward with both hands behind his back. He actually agreed with one thing that Keelan had said, the fact that he would be witnessing humiliation...except that it wasn't beyond his imagination and that the target was very different than the arrogant Elf intended. He sent a look to Riveria and saw her encouraging nod before walking toward where, not his opponent, but the 'fool' who believed himself a worthy 'enemy'...

Alosrin had already opened up a fair distance in preparation for the duel and Vahn squinted his eyes slightly after realizing that the idiot wanted to fight in the front courtyard. It didn't really make much of a difference, but damaging an area that could be seen from passersby was probably another method the arrogant High Elf had thought to embarrass him. Fortunately, Vahn didn't plan to allow things to get to the point where damage was done to the Manor and its surroundings. Without any hesitation, almost as if he were showing up to teach a class, Vahn walked with his arms behind his back and stopped around 100m away from Alosrin's position.

They hadn't designated a referee for their duel so it was left to both Riveria and Keelan to observe from the sidelines at opposite ends of the 'battlefield'. The moment they were in position, Alosrin shouted, "Let's see the strength of a 'Sage' pretender!" as he produced a small green 'wand' and waved it toward Vahn. Vahn furrowed his brows slightly before waving his hand and cutting through the invisible blade of wind that had come directly toward his neck. Alosrin had already started chanting after sending the surprise attack, likely meant to buy time or get a lucky hit, but Vahn didn't mind as his aquamarine green eyes turned a pale blue with his activation of [Eyes of Truth].

Riveria had already informed Vahn about all of Alosrin's magic so he was able to tell that the High Elf was using a spell called [Ignis Infernus], a fire elemental magic that could create large fireballs that homed in on their target. Vahn analyzed the spell structure before using his domain to 'erase' two of the defined verses as he waited for the chant to complete. The fact that Alosrin decided to use long-chat magic in a fight against someone known for their speed made Vahn question if the man had any knowledge of him at all. It seemed like he had been more focused on Riveria than his actual duty, or there was no way he would have tried such an attack from the beginning of the fight...

Seeing that Vahn was 'waiting' for his attack, Alosrin felt a great deal of scorn well up inside him because he hated being looked down on more than anything. Vahn was acting like he was high and mighty, completely unphased by the swarm of mana being converged in front of him. Alosrin wanted to wipe the calm from his smug little face so he focused his mind to ensure that his chant was a success. He had expected Vahn to charge him at first, as it was difficult to believe a human was competent in magic, so he set up various mines on the ground after quickly leaving the building earlier. Now it was beginning to look like he had wasted his efforts since he had managed to complete his chant, ensuring Vahn's defeat...

Five massive fireballs appeared around Alosrin's body as a cruel smile appeared on his face and he shouted, "Ignis Infernus~!" at the top of his lungs. However, even after several seconds passed, the five fireballs just 'wiggled' around in the air as they slowly drifted away. Vahn had removed the part of the magic circle that controlled the movement vector of the fireballs and also erased the homing component. Though he was able to complete the spell, the only thing Alosrin had managed to do was create five fireballs around his body that were slowly 'baking' him. Vahn raised his brow in confusion and asked, "I waited for your attack just to see you whiff your own spell? Is it supposed to be some kind of defensive magic?"

As they were never meant to exist for long, the fireballs eventually started to disperse because the final alteration Vahn had made was to their explosive property. Instead of 'explode', he changed it to 'slowly dissipate' to ensure there wouldn't be any damage to the grounds. Alosrin had an incredulous expression on his face as he watched the fireballs he had painstakingly conjured dissipate into hot air. Vahn's words dealt a blow directly to his mind while his own failure caused a bit of fear to rise up inside of him. He had wanted to kill Vahn in a single strike so he had pumped a large quantity of mana into the spell after investing another portion on the mines within the ground. Without Vahn taking a single step, or firing off a single spell, he had already used up more than 40% of his reserves...

Vahn shook his head with 'disappointment' written on his face as he said, "This is why I told you not to overestimate your own capabilities. Without a calm head and, at the very least, a marginal amount of competence, you shouldn't be trying to become a Mage. It's obvious you haven't trained much at all...what a waste of, what, ninety years?" Alosrin took several deep breaths and began chanting, "Spirit of Fire, Lord of Purgatory, Relea-" before Vahn completely disappeared without showing any signs of movement. Though he had expected it somewhat, Alosrin's eyes widened greatly after realizing Vahn had 'teleportation' magic. It seemed that his mastery of space magic was enough to qualify him as a capable mage...but Alosrin knew it would take a tremendous amount of mana if he wanted to keep using it.

If he used [Shundo] to its limits, it did take a fair amount of mana but it was less than 1/1100th of Vahn's mana pool. For a short distance of 100m, it took next to nothing at all and, by the time he had reappeared in front of Alosrin, his mana had already started to recover as his pores absorbed the elemental energy from the air. This time, Alosrin jumped back quickly as an invisible figure parted from the robe of his body and tried to strike at Vahn. Just as he had done before, Vahn swiped his hand to disperse the defensive cyclone that had emerged from the robe. He didn't give chase and instead reached out his hand and cautioned, "Wait, watch where you're stepping!" as Alosrin stepped on one of his own mines, which Vahn had repositioned around him previously.

Alosrin's eyes widened greatly as he tucked his body and rolled to the side in an effort to evade his own trap. He had set them all over the battlefield, but he didn't recall setting one in the direction he had jumped to. Though he couldn't figure out how they were doing it, Alosrin realized Vahn or Riveria must have been doing something to interrupt his magic. He had never heard of being able to move someone else's magic mines before, but Alosrin refused to believe he had made a mistake. From the side, however, Keelan had been watching the duel with an incredulous expression on his face as he muttered, "Was the Young-Master truly this incompetent...? A lavish lifestyle has spoiled him and completely crippled his combat senses..."

Realizing there was a real chance that Alosrin would lose, Keelan looked toward Sierra and Pram only to see the supposed 'True Dragon' standing near them. Knowing she was Level 4 didn't ease his mind any, as he likely wouldn't be able to strike down the two girls before Riveria and the True Dragon interfered. His only chance was to look for an opening when Vahn dropped his guard and try to surprise attack him. Though his speed couldn't rival Vahn's 'teleportation', Keelan was confident he could get the jump on the young boy when his mana was exhausted. The only thing he could do for now was to tighten his grip on the hilt of his sword and wait for the opportunity to present itself...

(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Sage, huh? I think I'll keep it~','Just according to keikaku...','The 'Honor' of the Elves')

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