"Gods, finally some civilization..." Wanni muttered as they entered the bustling streets of Karmen City.
It had been nearly a day since Commander Naset single-handedly obliterated an entire cult army. Few had witnessed the attack—most cultists were dead before anyone could react—but those who did were stunned. Naset had vanished for mere minutes and returned with what looked like a lifelike statue of a woman.
Cassian, who had seen Naset’s "freezing" ability—though it felt more like time itself had stopped—knew it wasn’t just a statue. It was a living woman, frozen in time. But why bring her back? If she was a cultist, what information could she possibly offer about the cult’s plans?
When Cassian asked Naset about the frozen woman while collecting his reward, Naset brushed it off. "Don’t worry about her," he said dismissively. Cassian let it go, distracted by the reward—a fire-type mana crystal, which caught him by surprise.
Cassian was still far from his next breakthrough, having not completed the mana rotations needed for another seal. There was time to gather the materials, and this fire-type mana crystal would be useful for it, but the quantity—just under a hundred grams—was far short of the kilogram he required, along with five hearts of three-star monsters. Those he could hunt anytime, but the mana crystals? That would take time.
Now, as he finally reached Karmen City’s castle, Cassian prepared to meet the earl and begin his true mission: gathering intel to uncover which high-ranking member of the Karmen family—or another official—might have been replaced by a cult clone.
Gazing out the carriage window, Cassian saw Karmen City’s bustling streets, but his eyes caught the beggars and ragged children darting about, begging or snatching food from shop shelves. The sight stirred memories of his own childhood, when he was one of those kids.
Though he’d risen far from that life in mere months, the scene made him think of Master Russel. Most slum children grew into untrustworthy, hardened souls, but Russel had let Cassian hold onto his childhood innocence. That ended with Russel’s death, when the system bound Cassian to Lady Katherine’s service, forcing him to mature quickly—and he had.
"What’re you thinking about, Cassian?" Lumine asked, her precise, delicate tone bringing a smile to his face.
"Just old times," he replied, his gaze shifting to the castle ahead, adorned with blue flags bearing the golden Endless Knot, symbolizing karma. Karmen City’s ancestors, it was said, were monks turned warriors, then nobles.
Nowadays, no one would mistake the Karmen family for monks—nothing about them hinted at karma, despite their name. From what Cassian had heard along the way, the current earl likely didn’t even believe in karma anymore.
"So, you think the earl will greet us personally, or is he still sore about us coming?" Cassian asked. Lumine, looking thoughtful, replied, "Hard to say. As Magesteria’s neighbor, Karmen City does good business with us, so it’d be problematic if he doesn’t. After the war, his territory still needs that trade to thrive."
"Yeah," Wanni chimed in, "most goods from our city’s ports to the Andharta Kingdom’s mainland pass through here, making their territory pretty profitable."
Robert nodded, adding, "She’s right. I came here with my parents years ago. Merchants from the mainland sell everything they’ve got at discounts just to empty their carriages and load up with as much from Magesteria as they can."
"Why don’t they do that in Magesteria?" Theon asked, puzzled.
"Well, there they’d have to sell even cheaper," Wanni explained. "Magesteria’s a hub for materials—everything’s priced lower thanks to the city’s management keeping greedy merchants in check with strict regulations." Cassian, surprised, took it in, his knowledge of business as limited as a fish’s grasp of flying.
"Look, we’re about to enter the castle!" Althea exclaimed, eyes wide with excitement. "I’ve never been inside one!" The massive doors swung open, admitting Magesteria’s army caravan, which had drawn curious stares from onlookers as it rolled through the city center.
As everyone, weary from travel, gazed at the castle up close, Cassian spotted a blue-haired man radiating arrogance, flanked by a few equally haughty figures on horseback, exchanging words with Commander Naset. Cassian recognized him as the current earl, Xavier Kiew Karmen.
Cassian wanted a closer look to determine if Xavier was a cult clone, but it wouldn’t be that simple. From the earl’s lofty demeanor, talking down to a fellow Seventh Circle Warrior like Naset, a mere First Circle Warrior like Cassian wouldn’t even get a chance to greet him.
Ignoring the earl’s haughty exchange with Naset, Cassian kept his focus as Earl Xavier Kiew Karmen finally permitted the Magesterian caravan to enter the castle. As they passed through the towering gates, Cassian noticed another blue-haired man approaching Commander Naset, this one devoid of arrogance. His demeanor was warm, almost deferential, as he greeted the commander with a firm handshake and a respectful nod. Cassian guessed this was the earl’s younger brother, likely the one who had requested Magesteria’s reinforcements to bolster Karmen City’s defenses against the cult.
Wanni, also watching the exchange between Commander Naset and the earl’s brother, whispered, "So that’s the one who asked for help?"
"Seems like it," Cassian nodded, growing bored of observing the distant conversation he couldn’t hear. He turned his gaze to the castle, joining the others in taking it in. It was magnificent—massive yet cold and foreboding, with soldiers stationed every few meters along its imposing structure. Unlike other castles perched on strategic mountains or remote locations, this one stood at the heart of Karmen City, the tallest building around. Its curved ceilings and grey stone facade were stark, adorned only with the blue flags bearing the Endless Knot, devoid of any other color.
As Cassian and Wanni marveled at the castle’s stark grandeur, the group was ushered through the towering gates into a vast courtyard. The air was heavy with the clank of armored boots and the murmur of servants scurrying about. Commander Naset and the earl’s brother led the way, their conversation now a low hum, still out of earshot. Cassian’s eyes darted around, taking in the high walls lined with archers and the faint glow of mana-infused runes etched into the stonework—defensive wards, no doubt, meant to deter cultist attacks.