The time for dessert has come. A small bowl of Crème Br?lée and honeyed berries sits on everyone's pte. Following the end of introduction by Nichos, Queen Catalina decided to put a stop on the talking and proceed to indulge herself on the served sweet goodness so that all would follow. Hence, everyone is enjoying the delicacy, even some of them - namely Ron and Nio, are making a lot of excited noises that left Nichos sighing.

  After they are done eating, and the wine is out, they continue the talk.

  "It's about time, Lord Grand Envoy."

  Queen Catalina turns her attention on Nichos once more. This time there is no smile, only serious eyes and concerned brow. Nichos nodded and adjusted his monocle once more.

  "Me and my companions, we are the ones sent by the emperor for the investigation and pursuit of Randia. As per the 3rd Grand Summit Covenant, we are both obliged to share our findings and permitted to ask for aid to all the thirteen sovereigns."

  "Is it gold that you need?"

  "Gold is undeniably a necessity. However, we have something more important in mind. We would like to welcome the Valette twins into our party."

  Henry Valette and Henrietta Valette, the third in line of the Valette House. Despite their young age at the mid-twenties, they are undoubtedly skilled in fighting. Nevertheless, there are other stronger fighters in Rosmayne than the two. Even the queen has to take a while to remember the names since they aren't the most renowned in the chivalric realm.

  "Ah . . . Henry and Henrietta, the children of Lord Patrick Valette. But why? Certainly, there are more celebrated names amongst our knights," the queen csps her fingers.

  "Just like the ones you see before you, I desire to be surrounded only with trustworthy fellows. Surely you can very well rete to this personal preference, Your Majesty."

  The way Nichos gnced at the queen's adherents who are sitting at the opposite side of the dining table was taken as a gesture of challenge. They noticed that Nichos is striking back at the queen's previous provocation. He intends to make a remark that he too, knows that the queen's court has its own sort of troubles.

  "As you have stated previously, Lord Envoy, you are obliged to share your findings. Now that you have enjoyed your fill on our finest cuisine, don't you think it would be more appropriate for you also to put on some treat on the table before asking for more?"

  Lady Marielle, Countess of Anessa, replied to Nichos. As an ardent follower of the queen, she will not see such a gesture towards the monarch of Rosmayne. Now, she is keen on putting Nichos on his pce.

  "My, my Lady Marielle. Forgive me for I was bested by my own excitement for a moment. Then please tell me, what do you wish to know about?"

  "The hero, Randia, of course. You shall tell us of his identity. Speak to us of his power and every other little details about him that you know," Lord Gervais added.

  Nichos raised his gss low, proposing a white peace to the queen. Queen Catalina welcomes the invitation by raising her gss high and drinks it silently. The others followed suit, signifying a new chapter for the talk.

  "Some of the things that I will tell you, might already be written in books. I apologize if it gets redundant."

  Nichos took off his monocle let it hangs on his neck.

  "Asmar and Randia were believed to be born in Enster, a small town in the north-west of Aramia. They are brothers of different mother. Asmar was five months older than Randia. Their father was a bandit who raped their mothers to pregnancy. He was caught during a failed raid and sent to the gallows not long after. No other records can be found about his origin, he was just a lowlife with no ties to any notable predecessor."

  "The two brothers looked exceptionally simir, but they actually never met each other until they are six years old. During the Siege of Argestan, the townspeople evacuated to the west, and that was how they meet each other on the refugee camp."

  "Realizing that they can no longer go back to their hometown, the refugees decided to build a new settlement within the highnd of Urstine mountain ranges. Thus, a vilge called Aderia was formed. That was the pce that the two spend most of their youths, which is why it's more common for us to hear Asmar and Randia of Aderia rather than Asmar and Randia of Enster."

  "In that highnd, the two quickly bonded and became best friend. They found out the truth about the past of their mothers when they were 12 years old, and they grew even closer, eventually became brothers."

  When Nichos wanted to continue, Lord Gervais raised his hand to pause the story.

  "What proof do you have of this story of yours?"

  "Lord Gervais. Only a few people who were close to the heroes are still alive. Especially the ones as close as Lord Nichos. Let us take his word as it is for now. I believe his motivation is pure."

  After the queen's expnation, Lord Gervais simply nodded and rests his back to his chair. He trusts his queen's judgement despite his general stance of discontent towards Aramia. Hence, he allowed Nichos to continue.

  "Starting to work from young age, Asmar worked as a stonemason, while Randia was a gssworker. They are quite famous in their vilge for being strong youngsters, and the vilgers depended a lot on them. However, one day, Aderia was raided by the Aramians during Emperor Ether Aramid's conquest of the Urs, and it became the turning point of their lives."

  "They are gravely injured and Asmar went into a coma. Luckily, they were helped by a mysterious man through a strange ritual. Some survivors of the raid said that he was a wandering sage with weird eyes. His right eye is completely white in color, while the other is completely bck. They were sent to a pce that only the sage knows, and they were never the same upon returning to the vilge. Master Bryan O'Brien refers that day as the Day of Awakening."

  "At one time, Asmar told me that Randia used to be different. His hair used to be golden blonde just like his brother's, but then it turned white after the Day of Awakening. He also used to be more cheerful and comical although he remained as stubborn and decisive as ever. Asmar believed that he was overwhelmed with trauma and that he was so sorry for him, but even until now, I can't shake the feeling that there is something more to it."

  It's the first time for everyone in the room to hear that. Randia is very famous for his callous decision and cold-harsh judgement. He personally beheaded three of their own closest companions who he deemed as betrayers. Two of them were females. It's unimaginable for everyone in the dining table that the very same person in question to even smile let alone being comical.

  "As for his power . . . I recall you had an unusual storm a few months ago?"

  "Yes, we did."

  "Was there any report of wild animals acting strange for the following days?"

  The queen and her adherents talk with each other. Her dy-in-waiting, Ellis, who was also present, is busy opening her thick notes. Until finally, it looks like she found what she was looking for. She then hands her finding to the queen for her to read.

  ". . . Yes, there was. There were numerous vicious attacks from wildlife to outskirt vilges reported. Bears, boars, jackals, and even lynxes. Thank the goddess there were no fatalities."

  "Then, it's definitely him."

  Nichos takes another drink; this time he asks for no permission and have it his way. The queen doesn't seem offended in the slightest. Perhaps because she is still young and too absorbed to his story to be offended over some trivial code of courtesy.

  "As far as I remember, Randia cannot use any magic. However, he has three powers in his disposal. First, is his natural talent at martial arts. He is untouchable with his spear that even Grandmaster Muneshige of Sankoku-shu creates a school dedicated in learning all of his moves. Moreover, his titanic strength can only be equaled by the commander of the Red Walker legion."

  "Geovatus . . . ," Lord Gervais mumbled.

  "Second, his Magnum Opus, Lyudra."

  "So, Lady Setra was telling the truth after all?" Lady Marielle talks to Ellis, in which she responded with a nod.

  "Lyudra possess terrifying power but also with a great side-effect. It literally allows Randia to channel the power of the sky into himself, allowing him to be in a god-like state. However, that very power is so great that it burns Randia from inside-out and also disrupt the bance of meta in the vicinity. The wildlife, shocked by the unnatural surge of meta tends to undergo rapid-evolutionary adaptation, resulting in frenzy or even cdogenesis. Thanks to this phenomenon, schors can also deduct simir pattern of cause and effect in some ruins of lost civilization."

  Nichos donned his monocle again.

  "I personally had only seen him using it twice, and I don't wish to see more."

  "Can you track him down then?"

  To answer the queen's question, Nichos turns his attention to Nio. He is giving a hint for her to expin the subject for everyone in his pce.

  "Y-Your Majesty, if I may?"

  "Yes, of course young dy."

  "Meta is raw, highly votile, and not personalized. It's so much harder to track than Anima. Yet, Nio thinks it's still possible to do if Nio can inspect the pce no longer than 7 days after the any incident involving meta. I-I-In which makes it impossible by now, so it's possible but impossible, but can be possible if it's not impossible! A-Ah . . . Nio doesn't know what Nio is saying . . . Nio is so sorry!"

  "Nio. Thank you for expining."

  The flustered Nio looked at Nichos as he calls for her with a proud smile. Nio covers her face and nods in embarrassment.

  "I see. Well, that's a pity. If only you had arrived earlier, things would've been much easier," Lord Gervais sighed.

  "Third . . . ." Nichos continues.

  .

  .

  .

  "Randia has two pets."

  "Pets? Like cats and dogs?" The queen confused.

  "Tamed beasts or familiars, some would say. It's the same thing for me. All in all, they are peculiar fellows who are contracted to him."

  "You talked as if they were humans," said Lady Marielle.

  "Is that so? Maybe it's because pying with them was rather fun for me. I have quite fond memories of them."

  "So, what or who are these pets of his?" asked the queen again.

  "Minerva."

  "Yes, my lord."

  Minerva rubs her rings and a squirrel came forth. It makes a gesture of worshipping Minerva repeatedly bowing up and down.

  "This is my familiar, Dingo. He is a magical squirrel from Dayaman isnd of the Great Archipego that my father gave me as a birthday present. He has quite a long lifespan compared to the others of the same family. He also perfectly understands my words although he cannot speak. For example . . . "

  "Dingo, go and greet Lady Ellis."

  The squirrel quickly run towards Ellis and did the same worshipping gesture as she did to Minerva. Ellis who is usually calm and collected, is unable to hide her excitement. Her eyes are glittering, and her finger unknowingly moved on its own to rub the belly of the squirrel."

  "*Kuk* *Kuk* *Kuk* *Hiss*" the squirrel id on his back pretending to be dead.

  "A-Ah! I don't mean to-"

  "Hahah. Don't worry, Lady Ellis. He is just pying with you by pretending. Come on, Dingo. Stop making trouble and get back here."

  The squirrel immediately jumps and goes back to its master and dispersed into the ring. Seeing this, the others are ughing, and the mood is becoming warmer and more rexed for everyone.

  "Do you cast any special magic to put Dingo into your ring?" Queen Catalina is intrigued.

  "No, the ring was commissioned from the nd of Yeon. As far as I know, they are the only ones who is adept in this peculiar magic. I only need to pour my Anima to it, and it's automatically activated."

  After that, Nichos and the others can see that the queen and his adherents talking to their servants. It's clear to see that they are very interested in Minerva's treasure and wanted one for themselves.

  "Very well, please continue, Lord Nichos."

  Nichos nodded.

  "As I have said, Randia has two pets. One, is a Heralean great wolf named Stel who can communicate with people with Ana."

  "Telepathy?! Impossible!"

  They all make a ruckus listening to what Nichos said. That is because even to his companions, this is the first time they heard anything about this, except for Minerva.

  "The other one . . . ."

  When Nichos continues his expnation, the room is gradually becoming quiet again. They are becoming more and more eager to hear the next interesting absurdity Nichos has to say.

  "The other one is a talking frog with colorful personality. We call him Master Jojo."