Aster and Valorant stepped down from the carriage and looked toward the estate's entrance.
Standing before the door was an elderly man whose hair and beard had long since turned white. The passage of years had etched deep wrinkles into his face. He wore elegant attire befitting a household steward.
As they approached, the steward spoke:
"Welcome. One of the Seven Sages—Sir Valorant. Duke Alaris is expecting you. My name is Gustav. I am the steward of this estate."
Placing a hand over his chest, he bowed slightly.
Valorant glanced once at the mansion, then looked back at Gustav with faint disappointment.
"Did the duke not come out personally to welcome us?"
Gustav tilted his head apologetically.
"My apologies that His Grace did not greet you at the door. The duke is currently unwell."
Hearing this, Aster looked at his master with a thoughtful gaze.
'I didn't realize Master was someone of such high standing.'
And he was right.
Summoning one of the Seven Sages to one's doorstep was not something just anyone could do.
"Lead us to the duke," Valorant said.
Gustav gestured toward the door and guided them inside.
As Aster followed behind his master, something caught his attention.
Between the two grand staircases leading to the second floor—split symmetrically from the entrance—hung a portrait on the wall.
It was placed so openly that it could be seen from nearly any angle in the hall.
The portrait depicted a man in his forties or fifties, wearing formal black attire. His hair was pitch black, and his posture exuded authority.
'That must be Duke Alaris.'
Indeed, it was—though from several years earlier.
Aster continued following his master, turning wherever Valorant turned. As he took in the lavish interior, he repeatedly wiped the sweat from his forehead, trying to steady his trembling legs.
His wealth allergy had flared up again.
Ahead, Gustav and Valorant conversed.
"Flame Sage, may I ask a question?" Gustav said politely.
"Go ahead," Valorant replied.
"Who is the child beside you?"
Valorant answered simply and without hesitation.
"My disciple."
Gustav turned his head to look at the boy walking behind them.
"Please forgive my rudeness. Is your disciple blind?"
"No," Valorant replied, looking at him in surprise.
"Then why does he walk like that?"
Indeed, Aster was moving down the corridor as if he were blind—keeping close to the wall, his steps awkward and nearly tripping over one another.
But it wasn't the mansion's grandeur causing this. It was something else entirely—his thoughts.
'How much money must it have taken to build a place like this? Even a single painting here probably costs more than I could earn in my entire life. I need to be careful not to break anything.'
Seeing his disciple's condition, Valorant pressed a hand to his forehead and said,
"Don't fall behind."
Hearing this, Aster straightened up slightly and forced himself to walk properly, though his discomfort hadn't fully faded.
Soon after, Gustav led them into a room.
It was spacious—large enough to fit Aster's old home entirely inside it.
The moment he entered, his eyes were drawn to the sofas made of rare, expensive animal hides and red oak wood, arranged neatly around a central table.
Sunlight filtering through the windows made the room even more beautiful.
"Please wait here. With your permission, I will inform His Grace," Gustav said, then left the room.
As soon as he was gone, Valorant walked over and sat on one of the sofas. He looked at his disciple, who remained standing.
"Sit."
Aster shook his head.
"N-no!"
"Don't be afraid. Relax."
At his master's words, the young Elestar sat beside him, though his nervousness still hadn't disappeared.
Before long, Gustav returned.
"Duke Alaris is ready to receive you."
Valorant stood and looked at his disciple.
"Aster, stay here. Don't touch anything."
Aster nodded quickly.
***
Valorant left the room with Gustav.
"This way," the steward said, leading him up to the second floor.
They stopped before a door at the end of the corridor. Gustav opened it.
All the windows inside were covered by heavy curtains, blocking even the faintest trace of light.
A sharp, unpleasant odor immediately reached Valorant's nose. He nearly covered it with his hand—but stopped himself.
As he entered, his eyes fell upon a bed surrounded by draped cloth.
The smell came from there.
Suddenly, a weak, hoarse voice spoke from within.
"My old friend… Valorant. Is that you?"
"Yes. It's me," Valorant replied, stepping closer.
He drew aside one of the curtains and looked at the man lying there.
On the bed lay an elderly man, perhaps in his sixties or seventies—his body drained of strength by time itself.
"I apologize for not greeting you at the door. And for speaking to you like this, in such a state," the duke said weakly.
"It's fine," Valorant replied.
Duke Alaris slowly turned his head, his dim eyes focusing on one of the Seven Sages.
"I hear you're doing well."
Gustav brought a chair and placed it beside the bed. Valorant sat down.
"Better than you, at least."
"Don't say that. My current condition wouldn't please anyone—except my enemies," the duke said, clearing his throat.
"I also heard you took in a disciple. Gustav told me."
Valorant glanced back once.
"Yes. His name is Aster."
"If he managed to persuade you to become his master, then he must possess something special."
The Seven Sage slowly closed his eyes and nodded.
"Young people like that are what keep our nation at peace."
Valorant didn't wish to drag things out and asked directly,
"Why did you summon me?"
"As you can see, my condition is grave," the duke replied, breaking into a harsh cough.
"My life is nearing its end. You can tell just by looking at me."
Valorant's gaze fell on the duke's fingers, which had begun to darken.
"At most… one month. Is that right?"
"As always, you see far too much at a glance," Duke Alaris said, adjusting himself on the bed.
"I will die soon. I've already decided who will inherit my wealth and who will succeed me. I ask that you escort that person to a certain place."
"Who is it that I must escort?"
***
After Valorant and Gustav left the room, Aster remained alone in the spacious chamber, sitting atop an expensive sofa and enjoying the quiet.
'Now I understand why this sofa is so expensive,' he thought, running a hand across it.
It felt as though it gently massaged the back of whoever sat on it. Aster, too, found himself relaxing.
Suddenly, he felt as if someone were watching him.
Not only watching—but he could hear the rhythm of that person's breathing.
He turned his head toward the doorway.
There, partially hidden behind the door, stood a girl about his age. She had long, soft hair, doll-like wide eyes, and a beautiful face. She wore a long black dress.
And she was watching him.