Perugius's Point of View
I watched the boy leave and let out the sigh I had been holding back.
I leaned back in my throne, allowing the silence of the Chaos Breaker to envelop the hall once more. Sylvaril, who had remained as motionless as a statue to my right, shifted barely a millimeter—just enough to catch my change in mood.
"My Lord…" she murmured in her ethereal voice, "why have you allowed a demon to enter the fortress?
I narrowed my eyes, fixing my gaze on the door through which Arthur had vanished moments ago.
"Because I do not wish to have any conflict with him," I replied frankly.
"Even if it is difficult for me to admit, Arthur is the best help we have to defeat Laplace.."
He has inherited the best of the Dragon Race: a perfect combination of ferocity and discipline—qualities his father never possessed. I am convinced that if he continues to train in this manner, he may eventually surpass me.
"I would even go as far as to say," I continued, rhythmically tapping the armrest of the throne, "that he is already capable of facing the seventh of the Seven Great Powers and seizing his rank."
Sylvaril remained silent as she processed my words. The seventh rank, held by North God Kalman III, was not a rival to be taken lightly. However, Arthur possessed something the others did not: a capacity for evolution that bordered on the absurd.
Everyone in this hall has witnessed it. Every technique I have taught him, every spell, he absorbs in a matter of days. In the duels he has fought against my familiars, I have to send more of them each time to make it challenging for him.
His growth has been extraordinary.
Sylvaril nodded slowly, and behind her mask, her eyes shone with a new understanding.
"And tell me? How is he progressing with his Gravity Magic training?" I asked curiously.
"He can already levitate a heavy crate without any problem, my Lord," Sylvaril replied.
"And to think I taught him that only a few days ago..." I muttered to myself, a faint, imperceptible smile touching my lips. "Very well, you may go now to receive the guests."
Sylvaril gave a deep bow and departed, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
.....
Roxy's Point of View
Present
"Hold onto this." After confirming I could enter, Arumanfi handed me a sort of baton. I watched the others and noticed they were each given an identical one.
It was a gold cylinder about 20 cm long, with intricate patterns engraved on its surface and magic crystals embedded at both ends. "Is this a magic item?" I wondered as I weighed it in my hand.
"Just stay still. Lord Perugius will use teleportation magic to bring you there," Arumanfi explained.
"So something that convenient actually exists?" Rudeus commented, amazed. "I thought humans couldn't be summoned."
"No, this is simply teleportation magic," Arumanfi replied matter-of-factly.
"Does everyone have theirs?" Rudeus asked, and we all nodded.
In an instant, Arumanfi disappeared. I assumed he went to inform Perugius that the preparations were ready.
"This is so exciting," Ariel said, exchanging jokes with Sylphy. Luke, at her side, wore an ironic smile, but I... I only felt a pang of panic. I was about to meet a relative of Arthur's, and not just any relative.
Then, I felt the baton begin to heat up. Without warning, I felt a sensation of suction, as if the object were absorbing me. In a blink, my feet touched solid ground.
We appeared atop a massive magic circle carved into an impeccable marble floor, with water bubbling gently from all sides.
Observing the details, I noticed nuances similar to the magic circles Arthur had installed around our house. I looked up and the breath caught in my throat: a colossal castle stood before us.
"So this is where Arthur has been coming all this time." Even his garden was splendid; Aisha would love it here.
Looking back, beyond a golden fence that bordered the circle, I saw a landscape as beautiful as it was terrifying: an infinite sea of clouds stretched out beneath us. Cliff and Luke stood stunned, their mouths hanging wide open.
Ariel, with her eyes wide, gazed at the vastness of the sky.
It was a breathtaking sight.
Sylphy, for her part, seemed afraid of the height and clung tightly to Rudeus's arm.
Then, a familiar voice sounded behind us.
"Enjoying the view, are you?"
Turning around, I saw Arthur. He stood with his arms crossed, smiling with that confidence that always brought me peace. But he wasn't alone. Beside him, as still as a statue, stood a woman who looked like she had stepped out of a legend
Her hair, a blonde so pale it was almost white, fell like curtains over her shoulders, and her face was hidden behind a white bird-shaped mask.
She wore an immaculate white dress and held a magic staff with an opaque, dark stone—evidently a piece of priceless value.
However, what was exceptional wasn't her clothes or her staff. My gaze locked onto her back: from it sprouted a pair of jet-black wings.
"Celestial Race...?" I thought.
Then she bowed toward us.
"Welcome. It is an honor to have you visit," she said. "I am Lord Perugius's first familiar, Sylvaril of the Void. Please, allow me to guide you inside the Chaos Breaker."
Luke, who stood a step ahead of Ariel, stepped forward to respond to the greeting with noble elegance.
"I am the guardian knight of the second princess of the Kingdom of Asura, Luke Notos Greyrat. It is an honor to be in your presence; we shall be under your care," he declared, bowing. "And she is the second princess of the Kingdom of Asura, Ariel Anemoi Asura."
At Luke's introduction, Ariel slightly lifted the hem of her skirt and performed a perfect bow, worthy of royalty. Cliff and Zanoba, caught up in the solemnity of the moment, also introduced themselves respectfully.
It was my turn. I felt the nerves rushing through my body, but I kept my composure.
"I am Arthur's partner. I am also a King-tier Water Mage; my name is Roxy Migurdia," I said, bowing.
The winged woman stared at me for an interminable moment. Her eyes, behind the mask, seemed to evaluate me from head to toe. After what felt like an eternity, she finally nodded.
"It is an honor to meet you," she said curtly.
She exchanged a few brief words with Nanahoshi
"Then, without further interruptions, follow me."
She turned around and began to walk.
In that moment, I felt a familiar warmth. Arthur approached my side and took my hand firmly, intertwining his fingers with mine. He looked at me with that spark of amusement that always managed to calm me down.
"Excited to see what's inside the floating fortress?" he asked me in a whisper.
Arthur didn't wait for me to answer. With a light tug on my hand, he urged me to walk with him, right behind the imposing figure of Sylvaril.
The rest of the group followed at a short distance; I could hear Rudeus talking with Sylphy and Zanoba talking enthusiastically about the architecture of the place, while Nanahoshi walked behind us.
"Don't let Sylvaril intimidate you," Arthur continued in a low voice, leaning toward my ear so only I could hear. "She's... strict with the rules, but she's a good person at heart. She's just doing her duty."
"Arthur..." I whispered, squeezing his hand tightly as my nerves increased with every step. "Lord Perugius... he really hates me, doesn't he? Because I'm a Migurd."
Arthur stopped for a second, forcing me to look at him. His golden eyes looked back at me.
"Don't worry about that. He doesn't hate you personally," he said softly. "He hates others from the past... it's just that, for now, he's directing his anger toward everyone of the same race out of mere stubbornness. But I won't let that affect you. You're with me, Roxy."
His words were like a balm. Although I knew the meeting would be difficult, the warmth of his hand and the security in his voice gave me the courage to move forward.
...
Arthur's Point of View
I hope this calms her down. When I took her hand a moment ago, I could feel she was tense, and I don't blame her; facing Perugius's aura isn't something just anyone is prepared for.
"I'm so jealous..." Ariel's voice sounded at my side, laced with a mix of amusement and melancholy.
Behind her, Luke followed closely, his arms crossed and a slanted smile he couldn't quite hide.
"Princess…" he murmured, "this isn't the time for unnecessary comments."
Ariel ignored the remark and looked directly at me.
"I didn't mean it in a bad way," she added. "I just thought it's very obvious when someone truly trusts another person."
Roxy, walking by my side, lowered her gaze slightly, visibly embarrassed, though she didn't let go of my hand. I felt her grip become a bit firmer.
"It's nothing special," I replied calmly. "I'm just doing what I consider natural."
Ariel smiled mischievously, but before she could add anything, a shout interrupted the conversation. Everyone turned in that direction—it was Zanoba. Sylvaril turned around in evident confusion.
"Is there a problem?" she asked.
"W-well! Where is Lord Maxwell currently?" Zanoba exclaimed, looking with trembling enthusiasm toward a particular corner.
I really had no idea what he was looking at, but his excitement was overflowing. Sylvaril responded calmly.
"Lord Maxwell, the Dark Dragon King, wanders the world. If he is still alive, he is likely still wandering somewhere."
"I see... he is an incredible person... however, still..." Zanoba murmured, trying to contain himself.
"May we continue?" Sylvaril interrupted.
"Oh, yes. I am very sorry. It was just too beautiful to pass by," Zanoba apologized.
"Once you enter the castle, you will see many magnificent works. We will be delighted to satisfy your requirements," Sylvaril concluded, resuming the march.
"He's quite enthusiastic, don't you think, Roxy?" I whispered. "I think too much," she replied with a small smile.
As we passed through one of the doors, I noticed small white particles floating around Sylphy. Sylvaril stopped in her tracks and stared intently at Sylphy and Rudeus. The atmosphere became heavy instantly, and Rudeus tensed up.
"Is there a problem?" he asked. "It is nothing in particular; there are a good number of people on Earth like you," she said before launching a piercing question: "However, might I ask you two something? Hitogami... have you heard that name?"
Rudeus looked at me instantly, a reaction that didn't escape Sylvaril, who shifted her gaze toward me. Roxy looked at me confused, feeling that I had missed telling her something important.
"Yes, we know him. And we have quite a few problems with him," I said, taking responsibility for the answer. "And you haven't said anything about that to Lord Perugius?" she questioned. "I was hoping to tell him later, but I see it's no longer possible to hide the matter..."
Sylvaril weighed my words during a few seconds of absolute silence. "I will tell him after the visit," she finally decided. "Thank you," I said sincerely.
After a few more minutes of walking, we reached the imposing doors of the audience chamber. Sylvaril stood in front of the door and gave us a final warning.
"Although Lord Perugius is very generous, please behave appropriately," she said, looking especially at the boys.
Ariel approached me, a bit worried. "Hey, Arthur, is it okay to present ourselves like this in travel clothes?" "Well, he doesn't care about that sort of thing," I assured her. "Ah, I see... but we can still leave our coats."
Sylvaril, who was listening, nodded. "Of course, please come this way."
It took about nine minutes for everyone to get ready. I waited leaning against a wall, watching the door. Roxy approached me, adjusting her outfit.
"How do I look? Am I presentable?" she asked timidly. "You look great, Roxy. Perfect."
Ariel appeared shortly after, looking completely different than when she arrived, far more regal. "Sorry for the wait," she said with the elegance of a future queen.
"Then, step forward..." Sylvaril said, pushing open the heavy doors.
The massive oak and gold doors opened without a single creak, revealing the vastness of the audience hall.
We walked in formation, with Sylvaril leading the way. I could feel Roxy holding her breath beside me. At the end of the carpet, seated on his white throne, Perugius Dola waited.
We stopped at a prudent distance. Sylvaril stepped aside and bowed her head.
"My Lord, I have brought the guests," she announced.
Perugius didn't respond immediately. His gaze swept over Nanahoshi, stopped for a second on Rudeus, and finally descended to our joined hands. I noticed a slight twitch in his eyebrow—a sign of annoyance
He returned his gaze to the group and stood tall with an overwhelming presence.
"I am the Armored Dragon King, Perugius Dola," he introduced himself, his voice echoing off the marble walls.
Instantly, everyone bowed with deep respect, including Roxy. I was the only one who remained in the same position, holding his gaze; I was no longer a simple student, and he knew it.
"It has been a long time, Lord Perugius," Nanahoshi said with a bow. "Just as I promised, I have returned."
"Arthur has already given me the details," he responded, crossing his arms. "So, you have managed to summon something from your world."
"Yes, but I don't know if the result is up to your expectations," she admitted cautiously.
"Results... knowledge is the eternal quest of the Dragon Race. If you have succeeded, I will fulfill my part and teach you the summoning magic of this world."
Nanahoshi nodded, visibly relieved. However, Perugius's tone shifted to something more severe.
"And by the way, although Arthur had already warned me... why have you brought so many people?"
"They were the ones who helped me perform the experiment," Nanahoshi explained quickly. "And as a reward, they wished to meet the legendary Lord Perugius in person."
"I see..."
Ariel, taking advantage of the gap in the conversation, stepped forward with her characteristic elegance.
"I am Ariel Anemoi Asura, Second Princess of the Kingdom of Asura. It is an honor to finally meet you in person, Your Majesty."
"Ariel Anemoi Asura, eh?" Perugius sighed loudly, a sound laden with disdain. "I am aware of your situation. Refusing to admit defeat after losing that unpleasant battle for the throne, going as far as trying to get everyone around you involved in that disaster... you are that stupid princess, aren't you?"
Luke raised his head indignantly, but Ariel remained unshakable. Although she maintained a soft smile and eye contact, I could tell a cold sweat was running down her face. Perugius was crushing her political rhythm without the slightest effort.
"By coming here, do you expect me to give you a hand?" he asked her directly.
"No, I only wanted to meet the famous hero in person," Ariel replied, trying to regain control.
"Your scheme is obvious, Ariel Anemoi Asura," Perugius sentenced, before turning his attention toward Rudeus. "And you? You are..."
"Uh, yes... Nice to meet you. I am Rudeus Greyrat," Rudy said, placing his hand over his chest and bowing.
"Rudeus Greyrat..." Perugius murmured. "Bringing you here took a bit of effort, since your mana strangely matches the frequency of Laplace."
Rudy tensed. I knew what he was referring to: the Laplace Factor. Perugius continued, mentioning that he had heard rumors about a certain Rudeus who managed to injure Orsted's hand. He gave him a piece of advice—not to get overconfident just because he had managed such a feat.
Finally, silence fell over the hall once more. Perugius turned his head slowly, fixing his gaze directly in my direction... specifically, at the woman clinging to my arm.
"And now... you," he said, his eyes locking onto Roxy.
To be continued...