"Hero Kael, are you sure you will be leaving? I assure you, our city has a lot to offer. The people here will love it if yo—"
"As much as we would like to stay, I need to return and continue my training. This test made me realize that I still have a lot to learn."
He explained politely.
Aria and the other two women who heard his words rolled their eyes.
He realized that from this test?
None of them could see any possible way anyone else could have done a better job in the test. Honestly, if it were up to them, they would evaluate Kael's performance as absolute perfection.
It was indeed up to them.
Yes, they weren't supposed to say this, but together with being Kael's allies in this test, they were also his evaluators.
After the test, they were supposed to personally report to Marshal Therian and rate the Hero's performance. The women had made up their minds to make sure everyone in the kingdom learned about how truly exceptional the Hero really was.
The three of them were extremely excited to return, to the point where even Aria, who usually would never wish to leave this city—especially when the City Lord himself was catering to them—wanted to leave.
Suddenly, Kael called out, and a shadowy figure appeared in front of him.
"There is no point in hiding anymore. Join us."
Kieran bowed his head.
"I'll prepare a mount for Lord Kieran."
Sylas spoke as he ordered his servant to prepare everything. Kael nodded in gratitude, and 30 minutes later, after saying his goodbyes to the City Lord and his family, Kael finally left the city.
From Mistvale City, the capital was only 13 hours away. Adding two stops, it took them 15 hours to reach the capital, and by 9 at night, Kael was in his room.
He jumped on his bed, tired.
It wasn't the carriage ride that was tiring; it was all the needless formalities he had to go through when he returned.
He called out, wanting to see his children, but,
'Father, someone's coming.'
Kael frowned, and a minute later, he heard a knock.
Kael opened the door, and seeing the Court Mage, he smiled.
"Missed me so much that you couldn't wait to see me?"
"Just wanted to confirm if you were dead or not."
The woman spoke as she walked into the room as if she owned the place. Kael didn't mind it either and laughed as he closed the doors.
Then, once he turned towards Elira, he noticed seven circles that had formed in front of her palm. She was activating a spell.
His expression changed, and he quickly prepared himself for anything that was about to happen, then suddenly, he noticed a translucent, almost transparent barrier forming around them.
"It is cute that you think you can do anything against me if I wanted to harm you."
Elira laughed, her playful eyes staring at the Hero.
"Don't think too much. I am just making sure no one's eavesdropping."
Kael, on the other hand, didn't seem to like the situation very much. He was already on edge after everything Tobias told him and what happened in the Infernal Crucible and the woman's actions confused him even further.
Then suddenly, Elira handed him a painting.
Kael frowned, he had no clue what she was thinking, however, when his eyes fell on the painting, or the portrait Elira gave him, his expression changed.
It was a portrait of a woman Kael recognized instantly.
The woman he saw in the vision.
In the portrait, the woman seemed much happier, wearing much better clothes and having a cleaner face compared to the dirt-covered one Kael saw in the vision, but even then, he recognized her almost unnatural beauty in an instant.
"Lavinia Dragonborn."
Elira mentioned a name.
This, however, didn't ease Kael's confusion; it made it worse.
"It is the name of the person you have been trying to look into."
The Court Mage smiled.
"What do you mean? I have no clue who she is."
Kael narrowed his eyes. Elira, however, just chuckled.
"Let's skip the formalities, Kael. You should know me enough by now to know that your tricks will not work on me."
Elira chuckled, looking into Kael's eyes.
"I remember how you asked me about purple hair and purple eyes back then.
The way you have been scouring through the library, reading books related to Drakthar royalty—that hasn't gone unnoticed either.
It is as if you are trying to find someone."
The mage's smile then widened.
"And you only find those who aren't here."
Kael's expression changed when he heard those words.
Elira walked towards his bed and sat down.
"For a long time, I thought I was overthinking it. After all, you were only summoned here two few weeks ago; you barely have time to fend for yourself. What would you possibly know about anything? But…
Your reaction to that painting today gave you away."
Elira turned towards Kael again and,
"You recognized her, didn't you?"
"I was just taken aback by how beautiful she is."
Kael answered, and Elira nodded.
"Makes sense. You won't be the first one to think that.
She was once known to be the most beautiful woman in all Nerathis. It is very natural to be attracted to her, but…
If that was the case,
Why was your first reaction to my words 'I have no clue who she is' instead of asking more about the beautiful woman you just saw?
You were being quite defensive, almost as if you were trying to hide something."
Kael, however, just blankly stared at the mage and,
"Woman, I have no clue what you are on about.
Your words don't even make sense."
Elira tilted her head, then suddenly, she just shrugged and patted the spot next to her.
I have a story I wish to tell you.
A story you might find very interesting."