Apocalypse Online: Regression of SSS-Class Summoner

Chapter 130: Lord Cassian

Max entered Lord Cassian’s office and finally met him.

He has average height with a lean build, probably maintained through decades of disciplined practice rather than physical training.

His silver-white hair was worn neatly to the shoulders, and his pale blue eyes were conveyed his calm, observant expression.

He wore layered robes in muted shades of ivory, navy, and silver embroidered with subtle elemental motifs, not expressing an extravagant noble ornamentation.

He carried a ceremonial staff crafted from white ash wood, but from the mana fluctuation, it appeared more as a symbol of office than a necessity.

When Max gazed at him, he felt like he was staring at the old version of Archmage Arlen in his sixties.

When Lord Cassian saw him, he immediately stood up and came to greet Max by shaking his hand with a smile.

He said, "I’m Lord Cassian Mireth, Arlen’s father."

Max nodded. "I’m Max, your son’s apprentice. I feel ashamed to face you, to be honest."

Lord Cassian shook his head and chuckled. "You should not. I’m honestly delighted to meet you. Arlen, my son, didn’t die in vain."

Max smiled. At this moment, the steward left, leaving Lord Cassian to lead Max to the table.

There was already a tea pot and tea cups prepared by the steward.

Lord Cassian personally poured a tea on Max’s tea cup.

Lord Cassian said, "This is a ten-year old Silverleaf Tea, a signature tea of the Mirefall.

Though you might have tasted it before with the Commander, I assured you the one I provide is better than those."

Max smiled and nodded. He drank the tea and the mild sweetness melted in his tongue.

He couldn’t help but close his eyes, inhaling the delicate floral aroma.

Lord Cassian smiled. "I’m glad that you liked it."

Max finished the tea in one gulp and wiped the remains on his lips.

He said, "Truly, better than those I’ve tried before. The mild sweetness greatly complemented with the very little bitterness. The soft herbal finish truly nailed it."

Lord Cassian was astonished. "Such a deep understanding of the Silverleaf Tea from a single taste.

You should be a skilled cook, am I right?"

Max chuckled. "You truly are observant, Lord Cassian."

Lord Cassian giggled. "The pleasure is mine."

He drank the teacup and closed his eyes, letting his mind adrift.

When he was finished and put down the cup, he opened his eyes and Max didn’t hesitate anymore.

He asked, "I’m curious to know why Master Arlen introduced himself as an Archmage in the village rather than Grand Runsmith."

Lord Cassian’s eyes widened.

He glanced at Max and blink innocently.

Suddenly, he exploded into the hoot of laughter, hiding the tears forming in his eyes from his elation.

After a while, he sighed. "To be honest, I only heard it when his remains was handed over to us with a letter. When I read the letter addressing Arlen as an Archmage, I didn’t know how to react.

You know, before Arlen was discovered to be a genius, I doted on him sincerely.

He is the mother of the first woman I deeply loved. I lost her when I received Arlen.

Hence, I perhaps spoiled Arlen during his growth.

His interest on runes came from his childhood when I used to gift him toys augmented with runes that made it possible to move even in the air.

Of course, I was exasperated when he decided to be a rune mage rather than an elementalist mage.

He can already have everything and yet he is so spoiled that he did not even listen to me.

In the end, I could only give him what he wanted."

Lord Cassian poured his tea cup another tea, drank them, and continued.

"I spent a lot of gold coins to convince a Grand Runesmith to accept my son as his successor.

Thankfully, my son, Arlen, showed an exceptional talent in runes, so he immediately soared."

Lord Cassian bitterly smiled. "But, due to his love for runes, he didn’t know how to treat people.

There was even an incident, in the name of killing demons he hated, that he used a human as his test subject for his rune experimentation.

I was enraged and thus sent him to the village at the border of the Empire.

I just want him to learn how to value people.

Who knows? Those who died from his rune experimentation also had family and that single individual might be able to help a human awaken his class and killed a lot more demons than his justification for his cruel—"

Lord Cassian couldn’t continue his words and sighed.

He turned his head and glanced at the large windows, overlooking the cemetery of House Mireth.

It always reminded him that at some point, he would rest in that very place.

He must contribute enough that he could live eternally.

He glanced at Arlen’s tombstone and smiled.

"Perhaps, the reason he is calling himself as an Archmage is simply because I had told him once how I wanted him to become an elementalist mage.

An elementalist mage’s third class was Archmage.

While the rune mage’s third class was the Grand Runesmith.

But still, I don’t know what comes to his mind.

That child only care about runes.

I truly hope his runes were able to help humanity to kill more demons."

His voice trailed off from the last sentence.

Suddenly, a memory of Arlen playing with his toys—one a hero with a sword and the other was a demon with a massive sword fighting with each other.

Arlen played the toys so well that the battle was dramatic, causing Lord Cassian himself to be invested to watch.

Arlen controlled the hero to kill the demon after manipulating the runes planted into them, exhilarating him.

He ran to his father and shouted, "Father! He killed the demon! He killed the very demon who injured mother!"

Lord Cassian smiled.

Max stared at his smile and silently sighed.

Lord Cassian is truly devastated.

Max waited in long silence, letting Lord Cassian to reminiscent as long as he could.

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