"Master! I have missed you dearly!" Byron burst as soon as Kyran's voice sounded in his head.
His outburst immediately piqued the interest of the people around him, especially Lauren and Olivia. Both looked at him curiously, wanting to listen in and figure out their conversation.
On the other hand, Silas heaved a sigh of relief.
A couple of hours ago, after dealing with the Aureole's spy and the surprise assault from the noble families behind them, they rendezvoused with the rest of the Aureole's forces and went directly to Meliora.
There was still a distance away to Meliora from Autumn Reach, but Lauren used an ancient relic. Thus, they arrived very quickly.
The ancient relic was one of Aureole's hidden treasures. It was called Anuae, a relic that summoned a door akin to a portal, which led to a place the user thought of.
The Anuae could not be used by anyone except the leader of the Aureole. Thus, Lauren was the only one who could use it. This relic was also why Haylee wanted to control the Aureole faction. With such a relic, they could easily go to places without using too many resources, like when creating transmission or transportation arrays.
Lauren deemed it unwise to appear directly in Meliora because most noble families that attacked them lived there. They also had yet to grasp the full situation. If they went there, they would only become easy prey.
Considering this point, they agreed to connect the door somewhere inconspicuous and close to the Regis Estate.
Byron suggested an old base of the Blue Lotus, which was located at an abandoned building near a forest close to the Regis Estate.
Silas volunteered to pass the door first and check the place. But Olivia thought otherwise and insisted on going first.
In the end, Lauren suggested the two go together, avoiding further discussions of why the other party should go first.
When Olivia and Silas passed through the door, however, they were greeted by a group of Master mages. Judging by their green uniforms and a few wearing red ones, the two recognized them as soldiers of the Royal Army.
Silas alerted Byron at once while Olivia launched a preemptive attack.
After receiving Silas's message, Byron informed Lauren, and she ordered a few Aureole elites to assist Olivia.
But when these people arrived, Olivia had already taken down the enemies. Silas also helped, but since he was a newly promoted Master mage, he could only use his magic to restrain the enemies while Olivia finished them.
It was because of this incident that they were able to understand how grave the situation really was.
Lauren and Oliva initially thought the 'war' was only beginning. But, after confirming the mages they fought were soldiers stationed at the empire's borders, they realized that the war had already escalated and was likely entering the final phase.
Byron and Silas tried to contact Kyran. However, they did not receive any response even after a few minutes. Thus, they decided to go with Lauren and Olivia's decision to push forward.
Along the way, they met with more noble families or army soldiers. But with Lauren at the helm and Olivia in the rear, they were unstoppable.
Soon they arrived a few meters away from the Regis Estate's Outer Walls and saw the veil that enveloped the whole place.
Byron and Silas wondered if this veil was why they did not receive Kyran's response.
Since they needed to know the situation inside the estate, Lauren decided to dispatch a group of five elites to scout ahead. But first, they had to deal with the veil.
This was the situation at their end when Byron received a telepathic call from Kyran.
Although Byron exclaimed his reply, Kyran still heard him, and his face darkened at once.
'...'
In the end, he ignored Byron's enthusiasm and said, 'The people with you, are they from Aureole?'
Because Kyran was not using his magic sense, he could only vaguely sense several auras with Byron. Still, he recognized Silas and Olivia and guessed the rest of the people with them were from Aureole.
Before Kyran sensed Olivia's aura, he wondered if Byron had confessed the truth about him to the Blue Lotus leader and had them dispatch their forces. However, he rejected the idea at once because he knew Byron would never disclose his identity unless he consented.
Nevertheless, Kyran still asked because there was no telling if the people with them were from other forces.
[Yes, master. The Aureole faction agreed to side with you!]
This time, Byron did not exclaim his reply and responded telepathically.
Kyran could not help but raise his brows in amusement after hearing Byron's confirmation. He did not expect their visit to the north would result in having the Aureole take their side.
'Tell me what happened,' he told Byron.
[Of course!]
For the next few minutes, Byron relayed what had happened to him and Silas after meeting with Olivia. He also told Kyran about the surprise attack and how most of the enemies they fought then were part of different noble families in the empire.
Kyran only listened in silence. He did not expect Layla to also guessed he was after the Aureole's cooperation.
Then again, the surprise attack might also be a coincidence. After all, Layla did not know about his deal with Olivia. Nor was she aware of Byron and Silas's movements.
From Byron's side, Lauren, Olivia, Silas, and the rest of the leaders from the Aureole faction were watching Byron curiously.
Although Byron was responding to Kyran telepathically, he was moving animatedly. Thus, they could more or less guess the things he was 'telling' his 'master.'
If this was done by another person, Lauren— no, actually, it would have been Olivia— would have seen this act as disrespectful.
However, knowing Kyran's temper and since they already proved Byron and Silas's intentions while they were forced to fight alongside each other, Lauren, Olivia, and even the rest of the Aureole members did not mind Byron's act.
As a matter of fact, they found his animated movements amusing.
'Don't enter the estate,' Kyran told Byron as soon as he finished his narration.
Byron's face twisted in agony at once.
[W-Why master? Do you not need my assistance? I know my level is still low, but I have improved! I am already close to advancing to the High Master!]
Kyran could not help but sigh in exasperation at Byron's antics. While he appreciated the latter's enthusiasm, he sometimes overreacts.
Nevertheless, instead of responding to Byron's wails, Kyran told him what to do, 'You mentioned getting into fights before arriving at your current position. I want you to continue doing this, and while you guys are at it, destroy any transportation arrays you find.'
Byron's eyes widened as he realized what Kyran was telling him.
[You mean... more of those people will come because of those arrays?]
'Yes. Zephyr is already looking for these arrays, but it will take him too long to destroy them if he moves alone.'
Byron nodded his head enthusiastically.
[I get it now, master. You are not telling me to enter the estate because you find me useless but because you rely on me to complete such an important task and assist little Zephyr!]
Kyran decided not to respond to Byron's claims. Instead, he said, 'Be careful you might encounter one of the Archmagus under the Crown Princess's command. Tell Olivia and the rest of the Aureole about them.
'When you encounter them, tell me at once. I will have Bas and Mera go to your position and assist.'
[Don't worry, master. I am confident Lady Olivia and Lady Lauren can handle those guys themselves.]
'Did you not hear what I said? They are Archmagus.'
Kyran paused after recalling that Byron might not be familiar with the other levels of mages above a Magus. Although he already told him, along with the rest of his Sigils, about how there were far more powerful mages out there, he probably did not grasp the severity of it.
[I heard you loud and clear, master. I will definitely inform you when we meet them. But I still think Lady Olivia and Lady Lauren can handle them just fine.]
Kyran did not bother with him any more and sent a telepathic message to Silas.
'Silas, I need you to look after Byron.'
Silas's pupils constricted after hearing Kyran's voice in his head. Since he did not know how to respond, he only listened silently.
On the other hand, Byron started to tell Lauren and Olivia what Kyran had told him. At the same time, Silas listened to Kyran's instructions.
"My master has spoken," Byron said with a serious expression.
Lauren and Olivia could not help but look at him with an odd expression. After all, he was acting all excited and even moving around animatedly just a few minutes ago, and now he was looking all serious.
"We don't have to enter the estate at this moment. Instead, he has tasked us with a very important mission," he paused dramatically before continuing, "And that is to eliminate the Archmagus under the Crown Princess's command."
Silas's face darkened.
"That is obviously not what he said!" He exclaimed.
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