Every embassy in Valderun had enough space to host many more people than it actually needed. That was because they served as both a statement of power and a defensive position, designed for quick fortification in case hostilities broke out.
Not that such a thing was likely now. As the new Speaker, Archmage Antares declared that he would prioritize bringing peace to the Magocracy, and anyone going against this edict would face severe consequences.
He’s already mastering double-speak like a real politician. I might have brought a monster into the world.
That was all to say that space was never an issue for a major faction’s embassy. Privacy, on the other hand, was scarce.
Even private labs that could be reserved for weeks at a time were often fought over, making it nearly impossible to find a separate space in the gardens, let alone set it up for a private gathering without the explicit consent of Veil Priestess Yue, who was not known for being generous with those.
Yet Zania had somehow managed to do it. A wooden trellis, silvered as if by years of sun despite not having been there a day before, arched overhead in gentle curves. Roses climbed across it in pale red and cream, their scent faint but unmistakable, sweetening the air.
When the wind swept through, petals loosened and fell onto the stone path like gentle rain, and Orion didn’t need [Hypotheticism] to know it was a spell’s effect, rather than a natural occurrence.
At the center was a circular table made of smooth white stone, its rim engraved with faint lunar designs depicting different celestial phases. Six slender wrought-iron chairs surrounded it, cushioned with soft pads the color of dry grass.
A pot of dark porcelain rested on it, accompanied by several cups of different colors, just waiting for the mou to be poured in.
Beyond the trellis, the rest of the garden blurred, becoming difficult to notice and impossible to see from afar. The alcove was protected enough that voices stayed inside, and Orion suspected that even loud laughter would be kept within, despite there being no explicit privacy enchantment.
“Well?” Zania asked, and he turned to face her, impressed.
“This is quite something. I will have to taste the mou and refreshments to declare it a success, but so far, it’s everything I wanted,” he said honestly for once.
The redhead sniffed haughtily, “Of course. You should have known only the best would be possible when you came to me.”
Orion chuckled, shaking his head. “Yes, I should have. And I’m guessing we don’t need to worry about being overheard?”
“Indeed,” she replied. “The embassy’s wards are more than enough to protect you from outside scrying attempts, and I made sure to lay down a few specific plants known for their sound-muffling properties.”
Raising his eyebrows in surprise, Orion examined the vegetation more closely and was amazed to find that through [Hypotheticism], he could see a variety of methods to prevent sound from escaping the secluded area.
Some, like the roses, directly consumed it. They broke down sound waves, using the energy to nourish themselves in a way that was only truly possible through mana.
Others, like the ivy-like plants used to cover the trellis, acted as living soundproofing, trapping the waves within their leaves.
Though some of these qualities might have been innate, Orion didn’t doubt they had been carefully cultivated to the point they were now, creating subtle barriers that wouldn’t be as noticeable as extra wards.
“People should start arriving now,” he said, not wanting to praise Zania too much, lest she get a big head. He’d seen what she was capable of when she got in a mood. “Is there anything else that needs to be done?”
She shook her head, “No, I have handled everything. I didn’t even ask Abella, though it would have made things much easier.”
But it would have violated the spirit of our agreement, and you're already on thin enough ice as it is. “Where is she, anyway?” he asked instead of commenting.
Zania shook her head, huffing in annoyance. “She’s been holed up in a lab working all week, and wouldn’t tell me what it’s about. I guess that she’s feeling bad about your mother surpassing her despite being much younger, and is trying to push herself for the first time in a while.”
Orion hummed. He’d have to tell Asteria about that so she knew to watch her back, but he didn’t think anything would come out of it.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Earning levels in the third tier was a complicated business. Unless someone had the full support of a major faction’s powerhouse, as Yue had done for Asteria, or was willing to truly risk their life fighting some of the most dangerous monsters known to man, then stagnation was a fact of life.
It was unfair, but that was just how things were. Even when using the methods known by the Magocracy, some of the most talented people still hit a serious wall once they reached level one hundred.
Something buzzed in Zania’s pocket, and she pulled it out to reveal an ornate hand mirror, which she activated with a flicker of mana. The reflection distorted before reforming into a young man flanked by two older knights walking down a street, which Orion recognized as just a few hundred feet from the embassy.
“Is that your invention?” he asked, impressed, and Zania rolled her eyes.
“Of course not. Everyone with a background in enchanting can set up a basic divination ward, and since it does nothing but monitor for specific parameters, the city’s protections don’t interfere with it.” She replied, before marching off to welcome the first guest.
Orion watched her retreating back with bemusement before shrugging. He’d never been the best at divination anyway, especially at the Sanctum’s methods with it. It did leave him to wonder why she was going to such lengths, though.
“I only meant to punish her a little by having her work for free. I didn’t mean to turn her into a mistress of ceremonies,” he muttered, before shrugging. Maybe she’s having fun.
Ophelia and Jordan seemed to get along quite well, though Orion could sense a hint of condescension from the girl, as if she were talking to a particularly clever dog, which, honestly, wasn’t too far from the truth, even if Jordan had his hidden depths.
Zania was keeping herself busy with brewing the mou, apparently taking this whole hosting business seriously, and only two people were still missing, but when the mirror he’d been handed started vibrating, Orion saw that the last two guests had finally arrived.
Considering how much effort it took to write letters explaining why I would keep this gathering private to everyone with enough influence to buy a piece of parchment and a stamp, I might not do this again, at least not in this format, so it better go well.
The only real worry he had, besides Zania’s presence— which was proving to be more of a blessing than a curse— was whether these last two people would behave.
Esmeralda was alone, missing the thralls many of her kind liked to bring with them wherever they went, but from the confident smile she wore and the air of assurance she projected, one would think she was the one who had been promoted to apprentice of the Speaker.
Nearys, on the other hand, was tugging at her dress, an airy, white, and purple piece made of a silk-like material that felt almost too thin for being out in public, but that didn’t reveal anything, and a cloak over it that covered her shoulders.
Along with her were two fully armed and armored knights, the kind that guarded the Ruling Complex, and that Orion had once inspected and found to be A-rankers.
Before their presence could become an issue, however, they stopped in front of the embassy’s gates and took their positions there.
Orion told the enchantments to open the gates with a spark of light mana and cautiously watched the two girls as they examined each other.
“Welcome,” he said, drawing their attention to him. “We were just waiting for you two.”
With that, he turned around and left, deciding he didn’t really want to know the political reasons why Naerys had been accompanied by two knights capable of standing up to a Veil Priestess, yet they had been content to stay outside, where they couldn’t do much to help her.
It was probably a compromise of sorts. The Speaker can’t send his apprentice out alone, but he also can’t show that he doesn’t trust the Lunar Sanctum, and more importantly, me.
Fortunately, the two followed him without saying a word to each other, though the loaded glances they exchanged told him they probably knew who the other was.
“We’re all here!” he announced as he stepped through the secluded garden, feeling the noises of the embassy fade away.
“I shall proceed with the serving of the mou once everyone is seated,” Zania replied, carefully stirring the brews with just the right amount of force and speed, reminding him that she was an alchemical prodigy. Although he doubted she used her skills for such simple brews very often, she was still fully capable of handling herself.
Naerys did so without further prompting, taking the seat next to the one he’d been using, and Esmeralda followed suit, gliding over to the opposite seat, leaving a gap between the two that Zania would have to fill.
“Thank you all for coming here,” Orion repeated, feeling a bit uncomfortable as everyone’s attention shifted to him. Public speaking had never been his strength, but fortunately, he wouldn’t have to focus on trivialities for long. “I have invited you all to say goodbye before leaving Valderun to return to the Sanctum, but also to share some of my future plans, once we’ve properly enjoyed the wonderful treats we have for you.”
The feeling of interest sharpened, and even Jordan set down the napkin he’d been fiddling with to give him his full attention.
Orion smiled, pleased. He gestured for Zania to go ahead, and the redhead snapped her fingers, making her tools disappear and levitating the pot into the air, which she then sent around the table to pour into the waiting cups.
Once everyone had received theirs, she set it back down and snapped her fingers again, this time summoning several platters of finger foods and delicate snacks, ranging from cucumber sandwiches cut into small triangles at his request to the more traditional river chestnut cookies and blossom tarts.
After she finished serving everyone, she took her seat and turned to face him patiently.
“Thank you, Zania,” he said politely, and everyone echoed him.
Orion raised his cup to his lips and took a sip.
Starbursts of flavor exploded behind his eyes, and he had to stop himself from making an indecent noise as the milky goodness spread across his palate and evolved into more complex flavors, ending with the faintest hint of bitterness to complete the experience, leaving him craving more.
He grabbed the cucumber sandwich and ate it with gusto, taking a sip and a bite until it was gone.
That’s probably not very haute couture of me, he admitted silently, but was satisfied to see that everyone else appeared just as busy.
Once the rush from such wonderful food and drinks subsided and they were all back in control of their bodies, he lightly tapped his spoon against the cup and spoke up.
“As I said, I had an ulterior motive for gathering you all here, no matter what I had to promise the many who sent me letters requesting to be included,” he said, earning a muted chuckle from the others, who were probably much more used to the hardships of high society than he was.
“I will be returning to the Sanctum soon, that is true. But it won’t be permanent. Rather, I am already planning to come back here in just a few months, hopefully for good.”
Several people relaxed, as if they had worried it would be a long time before they saw each other, and Orion continued. “But in the meantime, until then, I won’t be here, and I’m sure you all know just how much will happen, given the recent changes.”
Again, nods responded to him. The election of a new Speaker was sure to cause ripples, after all.
“That is why I want to ask you for a favor. I won’t hold it against you should you decline, but I will never forget your help if you accept.”
Several eyes gleamed, and not just the expected ones.
