บท 30: Chapter 30: Elder Elder Sister

Placing the cup down, Isaac left the heaving Joel and the maids behind and moved toward the main castle of the Count von Athenus estate. The stone tiles below tapped loud and the trees all around rustled at his presence as the young man made his way past them all.

Knights and guards of the estate ran into him, all of them bowing. It had become a hassle long back to tell them all to do their own thing, which was one of the reasons why he had made his own house far away.

As the young wizard stepped inside the main palace, laden with purple wallpapers and golden chandeliers, he left behind the paintings in his path and—

—The length of this place was another huge annoyance for the young man. Would one have seen these palaces they would have been the same, they were huge and wasteful.

At long last, Isaac finally reached the study on the second floor. Isaac didn't even want to meet her anymore after traversing the path, but knocked on the door since not doing so would be yet more annoying.

"Lord Elder Elder Sister, it is I."

The door swung open on its own as a young girl in a suit led him inside. Isaac acknowledged his elder elder sister's aide with a nod.

Sitting there at the table with the light of the sun behind her back, was a woman with hair a dark shade of blue and black, her eyes shining with a tinge of gold. Were Isaac's beauty akin to a sculpture, then hers was a painting.

The slight, haughty grin on her lips and the tiny yet accentuated lift of her brows filled her face with emotion and authority. Her grace as unbridled as her status and her cunning befit.

"You're here. My younger younger brother."

Isaac bowed and spoke. "This humble wizard greets the lord and the scion of the count of Athenus. You look as bright as the sun and as wise as the sages today too. Charming, ten on ten."

"Did you just dare quantify my looks on a scale darling younger younger brother?"

"Not at all, I was talking about the flowers behind you. You must have misheard."

"Misheard charming?"

"I misspoke then."

"You misspoke hibiscus' as charming?"

"How may I help you today, my dearest elder elder sister?" Isaac almost raised his head when his sister tapped the table with a firm hand. The man lowered his head yet once more and swore revenge in his heart.

"That Joel sure places strange words in your head. Regardless," she sighed. "Sherry, be a dear and hand that edict to him."

The aide, Sherry, walked over to Isaac and handed him a scroll marked with the seal of the emperor.

Isaac accepted it and unfurled the edict right away. A slight hint of his mana poured into the scroll and words appeared on the front of the page.

Isaac, naturally, skipped the fluff.

[Send the Mage of Milleniums to the Ruins discovered in Kara Veria along with the Expedition Party]

"I see, you want me to introduce you to some man named Mage of Milleniums? Tough, sister, last I heard he died."

"I won't go as far as killing you, my dear brother."

"No truly, I know no one with this name."

"It is your name."

"I have retired."

"You are going nonetheless. Not like you inherited the title truly, did you?"

Isaac sighed.

His hands clenched the scroll, sending wrinkles on their surface.

"Sister, I am a mere researcher."

"Brother, how long do you plan to run from yourself?" Isabella von Episteme Athenus stared her younger brother in the eye, her unwavering gaze urging him on. "I ask not of you to make a name, or to fight, or to win, to help, grow strong… I only ask of you, to learn. To face yourself with courage. Whatever happened previously was never your fault."

"Sister—"

Isabella got of her seat and walked over to Isaac. She held the scroll in her own hands and spoke.

"Isaac. Lose, be weak, but do not stop. You would be no better than the dead when you stop."

A rip spread through the room as she tore the Imperial Edict through the center. Sherry gasped while Isaac's eyes spread farther they had yet.

"Your title be damned. Go and learn, brother."

"Sister…"

"There will also be the prime adventurer party of the empire."

"That…"

"And that scummy bitch from the Kaisers. That knight, Kristine. Check."

"I'll go."

"Excuse me?"

"I'll go. I'll leave right now. See you soon."