CHAPTER 78: DECISIONS

Jack took a deep breath, knowing that what he was about to reveal would change everything about their family’s approach to dungeon management. "Fourteen thousand enemies in the Luminous Labyrinth. Three field bosses. And the numbers are growing daily."

The color drained from Alaric’s face as the implications crashed over him like a tidal wave. Fifteen thousand monsters was more than enough to overwhelm any conventional military force, and if the numbers were increasing...

"How rapidly?" Alaric’s voice was deadly quiet, the tone of a man calculating military disasters and political catastrophes.

"I can’t give you exact rates without regular monitoring," Jack replied carefully, "but the magical signatures suggest it’s growing quickly. We’re looking at a potential dungeon break within a couple months to a year if nothing is done."

"THUD!"

"THUD!"

"THUD!"

The sound of Alaric’s boots striking the balcony floor echoed across the courtyard as the duke began pacing with barely contained energy. His mind was clearly racing through tactical options and political necessities.

"We’ll need to organize clearing expeditions immediately," Alaric muttered, more to himself than to Jack. "Adventuring companies, mercenary guilds, maybe even request assistance from other noble houses..."

"Father," Jack interrupted, "when you send teams to clear the dungeons, I need them to collect everything. Monster materials, herbs, magical flora, anything that could be useful for crafting or alchemy. I have projects that could benefit from such resources."

Alaric nodded absently, still focused on the larger implications of what Jack had revealed. "Of course. Whatever you need for your research."

He stopped pacing and gazed at Jack with an intense stare, his golden eyes blazing with paternal concern mixed with pragmatic calculation.

"But regarding this Sanctorium situation. You absolutely cannot travel there alone. The risks are too great, both politically and personally. They are crazy and unstable."

"They offered to escort me to the Ruins of Divine Convergence," Jack said carefully. "A holy site where I could commune directly with my patron deity. They claim I’ll receive answers about my true nature and cosmic destiny."

"And you believe them?" Alaric’s voice carried a note of incredulity mixed with concern.

"I believe they know things they shouldn’t," Jack replied honestly. "Whether that knowledge comes from divine revelation or more mundane intelligence networks, I can’t say. But the opportunity to speak directly with Draven..."

"The Forgotten One," Alaric said quietly, and Jack was surprised to hear recognition in his father’s voice. "Yes, I know who chose you, my boy. The pendant’s aura is distinctive to those who know what to look for."

Jack felt his breath catch at this casual revelation. "You’ve known all along?"

"I suspected from the moment you returned from the palace," Alaric confirmed. "Draven’s blessings carry a particular resonance that experienced mages can detect. It explains much about your rapid advancement."

The duke resumed his pacing, dark mana swirling more aggressively around his form as he processed the various threats and opportunities that Jack had revealed.

"The cultists spoke the truth about one thing," Alaric said finally. "You’re not ready for the kind of attention that traveling to Sanctorium would bring. Your magical development has been remarkable, but you’re still functionally a third-star mage at best. Your martial skills, while improving rapidly under Sera’s guidance, place you somewhere in the high silver ranks."

He stopped pacing and fixed Jack with a stare that carried the weight of absolute authority.

"To safely navigate the political and supernatural dangers of Sanctorium, you’d need to be at least a fifth-star mage with diamond-rank martial capabilities. Anything less, and you’d be vulnerable to manipulations and threats that your current power level couldn’t address."

"How long would that take?" Jack asked, though something in his expression suggested he already suspected the answer wouldn’t be what he wanted to hear.

"Years," Alaric replied bluntly. "Possibly decades, depending on your advancement rate and access to proper training resources. The kind of power necessary to stand as an equal among Sanctorium’s religious hierarchy isn’t achieved quickly or easily."

Jack’s jaw clenched with frustration, lightning beginning to crackle faintly around his fingertips as his emotional state affected his magical aura. "So I’m supposed to just... wait? Ignore opportunities for knowledge and growth because they might be dangerous?"

"You’re supposed to be smart about which risks you take and when you take them," Alaric corrected with the patience of someone who had made similar calculations throughout his own rise to power. "Rushing into situations you’re not prepared for is how promising young nobles end up dead or enslaved."

"But they know who tried to kill me," Jack said, his voice rising with barely contained urgency. "They have information about supernatural threats that could affect our entire family. How can we ignore that?"

Alaric’s expression softened slightly at his son’s obvious frustration, though his resolve remained unchanged. "We don’t ignore it. We investigate it carefully, through channels we control, with resources we trust. But we don’t put you at the mercy of religious fanatics whose true motives remain unclear."

The duke moved to stand directly in front of Jack, his hands coming to rest on his son’s shoulders with surprising gentleness given the power that flowed through his form.

"I understand the desire for answers, my boy. I felt the same urgency when I was your age, the same need to seize every opportunity for advancement regardless of the risks involved. But wisdom comes from learning which battles to fight and when to fight them."

"So what do you suggest?" Jack asked, his voice reflecting the struggle between impatience and trust in his father’s judgment.

"I go with you," Alaric said simply. "If these cultists possess genuine knowledge about supernatural threats, then as Duke of this territory, I need to understand what we’re facing. If they’re simply fanatics trying to manipulate a young chosen one, then my presence will make their deceptions considerably more difficult."

Jack felt a surge of relief mixed with continued frustration. Having his father’s support and protection would certainly make the journey safer, but it would also mean operating under ducal oversight rather than the freedom he’d grown accustomed to.

"When could we leave?" Jack asked, already beginning to plan for the various preparations such a journey would require.

"That’s the problem," Alaric replied with evident frustration. "The dungeon situation you’ve revealed makes immediate travel impossible. I need to organize clearing expeditions, coordinate with military commanders, and arrange for additional security throughout our territories."

The duke’s expression grew grim as he calculated the various responsibilities that demanded his attention. "The administrative burden alone will require weeks of intensive coordination. Add the political complexities of requesting assistance from other noble houses, and we’re looking at months before I could safely leave the duchy."

"THUD!"

"THUD!"

"THUD!"

The sound of approaching footsteps drew both men’s attention to the balcony stairs, where a familiar figure was ascending with predatory grace.

Sera Nightshade moved with the fluid precision of a hunting cat, her black leather armor gleaming in the morning sun while her green eyes sparkled with the kind of amusement that usually preceded violence. When she spoke, her voice carried easily across the morning air.

"My, my," she purred, her tone suggesting she’d been listening to at least part of their conversation. "What interesting dilemmas we’re discussing this morning."

She reached the balcony and leaned against the railing with casual elegance, her predatory gaze shifting between Jack and his father with obvious calculation.

"Religious fanatics, cosmic destinies, supernatural threats, and family responsibilities," Sera continued with that unsettling grin that made Jack’s skin crawl. "Such delightfully complex problems require creative solutions."

Alaric’s expression darkened at the chosen one’s uninvited participation in what had been a private family discussion. "Lady Nightshade, this conversation doesn’t concern..."

"Oh, but it does," Sera interrupted with silky authority, her green eyes fixing on Jack with predatory focus. "You see, Duke Kaiser, you’ve identified the perfect solution to your dilemma, but you haven’t recognized it yet."

She pushed away from the railing and moved closer to both men, her presence somehow making the spacious balcony feel cramped and dangerous.

"You can’t leave your duties to escort your son on his spiritual journey," Sera said with mock sympathy. "But you also can’t allow him to travel alone with religious fanatics whose motives remain unclear."

Her grin widened, revealing teeth that were perhaps a touch too sharp to be entirely human.

"Fortunately, you have access to a chosen one whose abilities are more than sufficient to handle whatever threats might emerge."