Baston had no idea that far away from Tasco's training yard, the name of Sebastian had already begun to stir quiet waves.
At that very moment, the fat man was still sitting alone in a small room near the barracks. His attention was entirely focused on something else.
Sebastian's identity was very sensitive at the moment.
For the next few days, Baston knew he had to be careful to move with such identity.
The name Sebastian had worked well enough as a disguise so far but Luminos City was not a place where the secrets could remain hidden forever.
It was a city where the merchants whispered some information over the wine, the mercenaries traded some rumors for the money, and the nobles quietly purchased such knowledge from the shadowy organizations.
A careless mistake could easily expose him. Sebastian leaned back against the wooden chair and stared at the ceiling.
"I should probably stay here a few more days…" he thought.
Tasco's training was useful and the old knight didn't seem like someone who would ask many unnecessary questions. More importantly, the place provided something that he rarely enjoyed in recent weeks.
It was a moment of peace.
He did not realize that, at this exact moment, far away in another city, a powerful man was staring at a magical recording of him with the expressions that were filled with shock.
*****
Inside a quiet chamber of the Xavierius residence, a small magical device emitted a faint blue glow. Angus stood before it with his eyes that was burning with excitement.
He had received the message from Tasco only a short while ago. The old knight's words alone had been shocking enough but Angus knew that the old knight was not the type to exaggerate.
Still, this matter was too important to rely on such words alone. That was why Tasco had sent the proof.
Angus activated the device and a projection of moving light appeared in the air. The recording soon began to play and a video was soon revealed.
"This is incredible…"
His voice trembled because on the projection, a familiar scene unfolded.
It was the courtyard of Tasco's barracks where a wooden training dummy stood quietly in the center. In front of it, a slightly round figure named Sebastian was holding a sword.
The fat man slowly lifted the weapon.
At first, nothing seemed remarkable. His posture was rough and his movements lacked the elegance. Any trained knight could easily point out a dozen of flaws in his stance.
Yet, Angus's eyes never left the projection since he knew the man was very important for his family. He watched carefully before it happened.
A thin current of wind gathered around Sebastian's sword. It was faint and it was barely visible, but to someone from the Xavierius family, the mana was unmistakable.
A swirling flow of compressed wind formed briefly around the weapon before the man swung the sword forward.
The wind burst outward and the wooden dummy shuddered as if it was struck by an invisible force. The clean cut happened and the recording soon ended shortly afterward.
The silence filled the room before Angus stood frozen for several seconds.
"It's real…" he whispered hoarsely and his hands trembled slightly, "That… that is Gale aura…"
His breathing grew heavier, "Our family… our family might finally regain its lost glory…"
Without wasting another second, Angus grabbed the device and hurried toward the inner chambers of the mansion.
This matter could not wait. Only one person had the authority to decide what to do next. It was Harry Xavierius, the head of the family.
*****
In the meantime, Harry Xavierius was reviewing the documents when the door suddenly burst open. The old man looked up in surprise because Angus rushed inside without even knocking.
The old man frowned immediately.
"What is wrong with you?" he asked sharply, "Why are you in such a hurry? You didn't even knock…"
"Sorry…" Angus said quickly, barely catching his breath, "There's no time to explain. You must watch this."
He placed the magic device on the table. Harry raised an eyebrow but he activated the projection anyway. Even though there were few unanswered questions, he believed there was a strong reason for this.
The video playing soon began. At first, he watched with mild confusion regarding a fat man who was training with a sword. There was nothing special about him.
He almost asked Angus whether this was some kind of joke. Bu then, the wind gathered and the moment the Gale aura appeared, his body stiffened.
His eyes widened and the calm expression on his face vanished instantly. The old patriarch slowly rose from his chair.
"This…" his voice dropped to a whisper, "Who is this man…?"
Angus stepped forward, "His name is Sebastian."
Harry's eyes remained locked on the fading projection, "Why does he possess Gale element?"
That question carried far more weight than it seemed.
Within the Xavierius family, the Gale element was not simply another magical attribute. It was their lost inheritance.
It was a power that once made their family feared across the kingdom yet that power had disappeared from many generations ago until now.
Angus spoke carefully, "From what I know, Sebastian is just an amateur knight. He seems completely unaware of how rare his talent is."
Harry frowned, "Unaware?"
"Yes... According to someone I know, even when someone mentioned the danger surrounding the Gale element, he didn't seem concerned."
"Strange…" Harry folded his arms, "And you're certain he has no connection to other noble families? Even though he has such attribute inside him?"
"As far as I know, no…" Angus replied, "Someone has been observing him closely. There are no signs anyone who was backing him."
Harry was silent and his gaze grew deeper, "Who told you all this?"
"Tasco…"
The name immediately caught Harry's attention, "The old knight from the fort?"
"Yes..." Angus nodded, "He's living in Luminos City now and Sebastian is currently training at his barracks."
Harry slowly leaned back in his chair. The memories soon surfaced in his mind. Tasco was a stubborn knight with a temper as rough as the iron but he was also a man with unwavering pride.
Many years ago, when he had been abandoned by the nobles that he once served, the Xavierius family had helped him during a difficult time. It had not been a calculated move since it was simply an act of support. After all, such knight was very rare in the kingdom.
Harry smiled faintly, "It seems that old man still remembers his debts."
Angus nodded, "Tasco said Sebastian is just a paying customer. He charges him one hundred thousand pounds for his special advanced training."
Harry snorted, "That old man is still a shameless profiteer…"
"Well…" Angus said awkwardly, "Luminos City isn't exactly cheap to live so there's no other way."
Harry nodded slowly before his expression turned serious again, "We need to meet with this Sebastian as soon as possible."
Angus had expected those words, "I've already contacted Tasco. He'll try to keep Sebastian at the barracks for a few days."
"Good…" Harry stood up, "Prepare the carriage..."
*****
Not long after, a luxurious magic carriage left the Xavierius estate with only a few trusted guards who accompanied it.
Harry had already given the instructions to the elders of the family to manage the matters during his absence.
This journey had to remain a secret. If another noble family discovered the existence of a Gale element user, the consequences would be unpredictable.
Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was tense. Harry stared out the window while Angus sat across from him.
After a long silence, Harry finally spoke, "Tell me, Angus. What does this Sebastian want?"
Angus hesitated, "That… I'm not sure…"
Harry's eyes narrowed, "If we want him to support our family, we must understand his desires first."
Angus thought for a moment, "We could offer him wealth… Land as well…"
Harry shook his head immediately, "That won't be enough."
Angus frowned, "Why not?"
"Because there are many richer families than us," Harry's voice carried a quiet certainty, "If the wealth is all he wants, another noble house will eventually take him from us."
Angus fell silent and Harry exhaled slowly, "There's only one method that guarantees such loyalty…"
Angus's expression darkened, "You can't mean…"
Harry looked directly at him, "Yes…"
Angus slammed his hand on the seat, "No..."
Harry remained calm, "There's no other way..."
"Of course there is!" Angus snapped, "Have you even thought about Alicia, your own daughter?"
Harry did not reply immediately and Angus's voice grew harsher, "She's your daughter. You never spend time with her and you never praise her. You're always busy with the family matters."
Angus clenched his fists, "And now, you want to marry her off to a stranger? To a fat man she's never even met?"
"ANGUS!" the carriage fell silent and Harry's voice became heavy, "I am the head of this family..."
Everything he said next came slowly, "If I must bear the sin for this decision, I will bear it."
Angus looked away bitterly and Harry continued, "This isn't about my personal wishes. It's about the survival of Xavierius."
He lowered his gaze slightly, "If sacrificing my own life could restore our lost power, I would do it without hesitation."
Angus did not respond and Harry sighed quietly, "But I am just an old man... I do not have any expected talent for the next generation."
Angus clenched his teeth, "There are other girls in the family..."
"I know..." Harry closed his eyes briefly, "But, Alicia is the most talented among them."
That was the truth neither of them could deny. For many years, the Xavierius family had invested enormous resources into magical research.
The special instruments had been developed to measure magical aptitude. It was not just about raw power but it was more about the elemental compatibility as well.
Among all the younger generation, Alicia had always stood at the top. Her affinity with wind magic was extraordinary. Everyone believed she would be the one to revive the family's reputation.
Harry opened his eyes again, "If Sebastian truly possesses Gale element… Then, his children might inherit it..."
Angus's shoulders sagged. He hated the logic but he could not refute it.
After a moment, he spoke quietly, "Let me talk to Alicia first…"
Harry looked at him then he nodded slowly, "Fine…"
*****
Their carriage slowly changed its direction. Before heading to Luminos City, they needed to find Alicia. Fortunately, the girl had recently returned from Prius Academy for a long vacation.
At this moment, she was wandering through a busy marketplace in a nearby city just for shopping. For the guards who were accompanying her, it had become an exhausting mission.
Alicia moved from one store to another with endless enthusiasm.
She bought few clothes, accessories, books, and even magical trinkets. Several guards carried the stacks of packages behind her like several pack animals yet she barely noticed. Her thoughts were far away since she was still thinking about someone which was Baston.
The fat boy she had encountered during the strange events from the beginning until the matter of Levan really opened her eyes. The fate truly worked mysteriously to make them meet with each other.
She frowned slightly, "I wonder if Baston has eaten yet…"
The thought surprised even her. She had never paid this much attention to someone before.
Baston was really strange.
On one hand, he possessed terrifying magical potential which were ice and flare attributes. He was powerful enough to shake the entire kingdom.
On the other hand, he had chosen a path that made a little sense. Instead of pursuing the fame, wealth, or power, he chased the mysterious cult that was responsible for his past.
She could not understand it completely but she respected it. Perhaps, that was why she wanted to observe him more closely.
Working with Baston had already brought unexpected results. From the mysterious explosion, the vicious strange potion, and to the assassination case that happened inside her home.
The growing influence she was gaining through accumulated merit by him alone was enormous. Everything seemed to be moving toward something bigger.
"If I keep working with him…"
Alicia's eyes glimmered faintly. The truth behind many hidden things might finally appear.
Just as she was lost in thought, a magical communication device vibrated gently in her pocket. She took it out and the moment she saw the name that was displayed on the screen, her brows rose slightly.
"Uncle Angus? Why would he call me now?"
Despite so many questions inside the head, she answered the call, "Uncle, is there something you need?"
Angus's voice came through the device, "Alicia… Where are you right now?"
She looked around the street casually, "I'm in the middle of shopping… Why?"
There was a brief pause before Angus spoke again, "Stay where you are..."
His tone was unusually serious, "We need to talk..."
Alicia blinked in confusion because something about his voice made her uneasy, "What happened?"
However, her uncle did not answer immediately.
Far away, inside the magic carriage that was heading toward the city where Alicia been, the old man stared at the device with a troubled expression.
Because he knew something Alicia did not that her life might change forever very soon.
And, at the center of that change was a mysterious fat man named Sebastian who did not even realize the storm was forming around him.