Luca's heart skipped a beat. The very first thing these mages discussed was the Count's disappearance.
Bjorn continued, nodding toward the thin man called Moth.
"Tell them what you told me, Moth."
Moth nodded once and began speaking in a flat, steady voice. His mask was a grotesque carving of an insect's face, down to the smallest details one couldn't easily observe. It had an unsettling magical effect that made him want to look away.
'An artifact?' Luca thought, just as Moth began.
"I heard from some of my sources that a mage's body was found in the forest a few kilometers from here two days ago. He had been attempting a demon summoning ritual, but they believe he died before the demon could be called.
This happened around the same time I suddenly lost contact with Hollow, who usually responds to my correspondences quickly."
A heavy silence settled over the group. Luca couldn't tell what they were thinking, but relief quietly welled in his chest.
Hush scratched at her hair and became the first to break the quiet.
"How are we sure it's him? Carinthia holds more than fifty thousand people on its own. For all we know it could be a mage none of us know."
Moth shook his head, slow but firm.
"It's not. As you all know, Hollow was rather secretive, but he and I maintained a somewhat decent relationship. Just weeks before, he started asking for my knowledge on demon summoning ceremonies."
Bjorn gave a single confirming nod.
"It's true. Things have been calm lately. Hollow's death is the only mage death in recent times, and the Inquisition is paying special attention."
"Why?" someone asked.
"Because a mage did it."
The words brought an even heavier silence. Nobody seemed eager to be the next one to speak.
Bjorn eventually cleared his throat. "Let's shelve the matter for now. That's all we knew anyway. There are more pressing matters to discuss."
Luca was grateful for the shift in topic. These weren't ordinary men and women. If they had any divination spells, would they discover he was the one responsible for Hollow's death?
He didn't want to gamble on that. He kept quiet, masking his nerves, and acted aloof.
"I need materials for a new potion I'm making," one of the others said. "Is there any chance you possess these or know where I could find them?"
"I have information on the location of a low-level defense artifact," another said.
The room shifted into a strange rhythm, almost like a market. Information, resources, and requests traded back and forth freely.
Of course, when things grew too sensitive, they promised to send the details through secret channels instead.
Luca listened while turning thoughts over in his head. How could he make requests without sounding like a novice? Would anyone be able to recognize that his needs came from Hollow's group of spells?
In the end, he decided they wouldn't.
'Moth described him as secretive. Even in his personal journal Count D'escoli only mentioned things in broad strokes, never anything specific enough to point back at him.'
Just as Luca reached that conclusion, Bjorn looked at him with respect.
"Sir Burning Man, is there anything you'd like to add?"
The words jolted Luca out of his reverie.
"Hmmm. I've been performing some alterations on a few spells, so I require specific catalysts. They are Stormglass, Starmetal Dust, and a Sky Tyrant's feather. If any of you know where they're sold or possess any of them, please inform me. I will pay."
The reaction was immediate.
'Altering spells? He's truly a high mage!'
To them, Luca's claim carried enormous weight. Altering spells wasn't something low-rank mages could dream of doing, and none of the initiates or rank 1s present had such knowledge.
Miss Raven was the first to respond, almost rushing her words.
"I don't currently possess any of those, but I do know where to get a Sky Tyrant's feather! Shall I say it aloud here?"
"You may," Luca said calmly.
"Well, Sky Tyrants don't live in this region. They usually stay in the mountain ranges. But nobles love their beautiful silver feathers and often capture the eggs, raising them until they hatch. For example, the Venton House. They keep several Sky Tyrants trained in their bestiary."
Luca blinked. It was so easy to obtain?
"Uhm, I may be able to get that for you," Hush spoke suddenly.
Luca's gaze lingered on her. After a few seconds, a realization struck him.
'Is it the young miss?'
But they looked nothing alike.
A spell, maybe?
He resisted the urge to grin. Too convenient.
"How much will it cost?"
"Oh, don't worry about that. I'll provide it for free. I'm sure no one would notice a few feathers missing. We can discuss how you'll receive it later."
"Sure."
If Hush truly was Erina, he couldn't imagine what her reaction would be if she knew he was the one.
"I can get the Starmetal Dust, lad," Bjorn added, his tone steady and confident.
Luca found himself warming slightly to the man. They shared a common ancestry, after all.
"Good."
That left only–
"The Stormglass. I can get it," Moth interrupted immediately. He stared at Luca with an intense look.
And with that, all three catalysts were accounted for. It was far easier than Luca had expected, though he wasn't about to complain. Mage gatherings were proving to be extremely useful, and this was only one of three the Count had attended.
The discussion carried on for several more minutes. They traded information, settled details, and set future arrangements before deciding to end the gathering.
Luca was more than happy to leave. He had gained information, allies, and the promise of catalysts for the spells he intended to use.
"Thank you for joining us, Sir Burning Man. We'll get the catalysts to you as soon as possible."
Luca gave a simple nod before excusing himself.
He slipped into the shadows as he always did, moving through the dark unseen. Yet halfway down a narrow passage, a sharp instinct pricked at him.
'Someone is following me.'
He turned swiftly and froze.
Moth's disturbing mask loomed only a few meters away, its grotesque insect carving staring back at him.
"I know you killed Hollow, Burning Man."