Tylor took a step forward and eyed Volt.
Volt looked half-amused. His face revealed little emotion as he repeated a single word: "Vanevold."
A slight, weak smile appeared on his face as he calmly examined Tylor. "Vanevold... it has been some time."
Tylor stood beside Alaric. "Yeah. It's been a long time since the Crown was humbled in the Northern Sector."
Volt's eyes narrowed slightly. "Perhaps it has also been a long time since the Lord Regent last visited the Southern Sector."
The air grew heavy instantly.
Tylor was suddenly in front of Volt, only an inch away. A blackish-red blade hung beside Volt's neck.
Surprisingly, Volt did not panic. He stood there without a sign of fear. "Your Lumen Siphon cannot stop me."
Alaric's mouth hung open in shock.
He looked at the two 'threats' in front of him, and the only question in his mind was: What is a Lumen Siphon? Just please they don't fight like a madman
Colorless particles flowed out from beneath the strap covering Volt's eye.
The particles moved and began to take shape.
Tylor immediately backed away. A huge, double-edged spear formed in Volt's hand—a colorless Lumen Siphon.
Alaric didn't stay to watch. He immediately ran upstairs to where his butler, Kale, was likely waiting.
As soon as Alaric entered the room, he saw Kale sitting on the floor, shivering quietly.
Before Kale could react, Alaric began, "Kale, jump out the window. Things are about to go very wrong."
"Is—" Kale started.
Alaric cut him off, locking eyes with him. "Just do as I say."
Alaric didn't wait. He ran toward the second-floor storeroom and swung the door open.
The room was dusty and windowless; small insects crawled about, producing indistinct sounds. Alaric didn't notice or care.
He rushed toward several stacked coal boxes.
He opened one, finding two thick brown ropes inside. Grabbing them, he ran back to Kale.
The butler was still standing there, staring out the window.
Kale turned and saw Alaric breathing heavily. Alaric threw a rope to him without a word and ran back downstairs.
Both Tylor and Volt were standing in their original places as if time had stopped.
They hadn't moved an inch, which surprised Alaric again.
Both knew that whoever attack first will cause a war between Northern and Southern Sector.
All Sectors were a part of Argon city but in ground reality they don't really care about other sectors.
Vanevold were not allowed to enter southern sector as they were like an ruler in Northern sector where nations army train.
In a way there was a cold war going between Northern and Southern Sector or we can say Between Lord Regent and Crown and if anyone of them attack first this cold war will become a literal civil war.
when Alaric finally reached the bottom floor, he looked at the door and his heart stopped because the crown was coming in from the front door.
****
Kale was outside the house, breathing heavily. "Finally," he sighed silently.
People were walking around wearing trench coats; a few wore trousers and a unique type of shirt locally known as a 'Gyrm.' Only high-profile businessmen were permitted to wear Gyrms.
Some kids were wearing torn brown shirts and were selling sweet & sour bread.
Kale looked at them with pity because he knew this only meant one thing - Child Slave.
Kale checked his pocket, finding only three copper pounds and one silver-circled gold coin.
He walked toward a group of wagon and carriage drivers who were gossiping.
One man wore a black cap with a huge stick logo violet in colour, indicating he was a worker from the Eastern Sector but this meant he had the permission to work in the western sector.
Kale joined them. The others noticed him but didn't seem to care, yet Kale was in a hurry.
The bald man leaned forward and spoke in an almost-whisper. "Do you know... His Highness has come to the house nearby?"
Kale's eyes widened. "What? Whose house? Why?"
"Eh? I don't know, man. His Highness has his reasons. But Lord Volt is also there, so it must be something important. I also heard Mr. Xyle was at the cathedral when something happened."
****
Ascilis stood between Tylor and Volt.
Both men remained as still as statues. Tylor was the first to react; he released his Lumen Siphon and walked toward Alaric.
He leaned forward and whispered, "If the Crown asks you anything about the incident at the cathedral, don't say too much. Stick to the point and act like a victim."
Alaric nodded in agreement. He walked past Tylor, bent down, and bowed deeply to Ascilis.
Ascilis ignored him and glared at Tylor. "Heir of the Regent, what are you doing in the Western Sector?"
Tylor smiled weakly. "Ascilis, you are forgetting something."
For the first time since the conversation began, Volt looked shocked—Tylor had addressed the Crown by his name!
Ascilis walked forward until he was only inches from Tylor. "Tylor, don't you think you are speaking too much?"
"No." It was not Tylor who spoke, but Alaric.
Ascilis looked at Alaric and scoffed. "Tylor, I don't care to stay here. Let's talk elsewhere—somewhere like my palace."
Tylor whispered into Alaric's ear, "You may be intelligent in business, but you are an idiot. Do you think you're the protagonist of this world? Opposing the Crown without any political power... at this point, I'm going with him."
Alaric opened his mouth to speak, but Tylor continued. "I have prepared something in your room. I didn't hide it well; you'll find it easily. It will allow you to become an Arcanist.
If my calculations are right, you won't even have to enter your mind realm."
Alaric mumbled, "But what about our deal? I'm a man of my word. And why don't I have to go to my mind realm?"
"We will talk about your past very soon. As for the rest, as I mentioned before, you can already use a conduit partially. There is a ninety-nine percent chance you won't need the mind realm."
Tylor finally walked past Ascilis and Volt. At the exit, he turned around. "Aren't we going to your palace, Ascilis?"
"A wise choice." Ascilis followed Tylor, then turned back to look at Volt. "Volt, it is your turn to continue the conversation about the cathedral with him."
Volt and Alaric bowed at the same time.
Volt turned toward Alaric. "Before I begin our conversation regarding the actions of Vanevold, I am sure you know about the conduit."
What? How? Alaric thought to himself.
Volt waited for a moment, but when Alaric didn't reply, he continued. " Your silence Confirms it To be honest, I'm not interested in that part it's time to start our 'happy' conversation."