"So, Lord Crowley, huh?"

Nick grinned unapologetically. "I wasn't the son of a baron when we met. Just a lowly second son of a knightly house."

Sir Leon didn't appear impressed by that excuse, but he didn't voice his discontent, only sighing as he leaned against the wall.

They were in the abandoned wing of the Town Hall's upper floor, and below them, Nick could still sense the leftover excitement from the feast held for the fourteenth company.

Sir Poules was there too, having volunteered to lead a commando of men for the first reconnaissance, and judging by the loud laughter coming from below, Nick was sure he was making quick friends.

"It was a surprise to us, so I imagine you couldn't have known at the time. I still would have treated you with less suspicion if I had been aware of your lineage. The Crowleys, although minor nobility until recently, have contributed significantly to the kingdom's wars."

Nick eyed the man. Sir Leon was not exactly what a maiden would swoon over, but he was charismatic and capable, both qualities of a good leader.

"Would you have believed me?" He asked.

"I would have," was the quick response. Nick turned around, surprised by the sheer certainty.

Seeing that he wasn't convinced, Leon explained himself, "Your grandfather took part in the pacification wars in the north alongside my father. Though not of high nobility, my father always spoke of him as a man of honor and integrity. I have no doubt House Crowley's reputation in these lands reflects that. No one would have tried to pretend to belong to such a lineage."

That is either the most naive statement of all time or the most interesting. I don't believe he thinks people never try to impersonate nobles just to get their way, so that means the consequences for doing so must be severe.

"Of course, if you had claimed to belong to House Crowley and had lied, I would have cut you down then and there," Leon continued, all with a smile.

"Ah, yes. Your truth-telling skill. Very useful, that," Nick murmured.

Leaning back in surprise, Leon blinked, "You knew?"

"I am a mage, after all." And that was all Nick was willing to say on the topic. He might not have liked all the obligations that came with being a noble, but he could appreciate the benefits. It would be terribly impolite of Sir Leon to question him further, especially in his own home.

Seemingly knowing that just as well, the knight sighed, "Well, I suppose I have seen stranger things. Will you be joining us on the upcoming campaign, then? I'm sure someone with your skills will be handy to ferret out all those annoying dwarves from their holes."

Interesting that he doesn't see a problem with involving me now, when he was hesitant to recommend a military life before. But then again, nobles have different expectations placed upon them than random adventurers.

"I will be doing other work for House Crowley," he shook his head. "Father has agreed to send me to take the Tower exam in Alluria, and once I pass that, I will be studying there for a while. If the war is still going on by the time I'm done, I'll probably join you."

If he somehow managed to complete Rhea's revenge and come out of it alive, he wouldn't mind earning some extra exp by fighting the dark dwarves. They seemed pretty weak against his spiritual magic, so it might be a good match-up.

Leon hummed, nodding in agreement, "I see. Yes, if I were your father, I would do the same. You have talent in spades, but the discipline they teach at the tower is unmatched for a reason. Learning from the Archmage of a Thousand Flowers will be a valuable experience."

If I ever attain that level, I will turn anyone who tries to slap me with such a ridiculous nickname into a toad.

Somehow, he managed to keep his face impassive. Sir Leon seemed to respect the tower master very much, based on what he could see with his spiritual sight, so this might be a good opportunity to learn more about the man whose secrets he wanted to steal.

"You speak as if you know him."

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That brought a smile to Leon's face. "I have the good fortune of being acquainted with such an august person, yes."

A moment of silence passed, during which Nick tried his best to convey his desire to know more. Leon didn't budge, staring at the night sky, perfectly content as he was.

"What do you want?" Nick finally gave in. I've always been too curious for my own good.

"Why, I would never ask anything in exchange for information," Leon replied, sounding so honest that if Nick couldn't see his bubbling amusement with his spiritual sight, he might have almost believed him. "I just need a little favor. You see, my younger sister will also be taking part in the exam. I have no doubt she will pass, of course, but knowing her, she will fail to make friends. She's a bit shy, you know. It would be a great relief to know someone of your caliber was watching over her."

Nick side-eyed him, torn between amusement at the blatant request and frustration at having to take on another responsibility. If I had looser morals, people would regret giving me access to this many young girls. It's a good thing I'm just a murderer and not something worse.

"It would be my pleasure," he finally replied through gritted teeth.

Leon smiled, the genuine relief giving him a boyish look, and Nick sighed. He probably would have done this even without the information, but at least this way, he could convince himself it wasn't for nothing.

"Wonderful. Then, the first thing you must know…"

Nick sensed her approach long before she came into view. He was currently in the middle of painting protective runes all over the Crowley farmhouse, having decided that while he couldn't afford to give it the same level of defenses he had provided for the Town Hall, there was no reason why such a secluded place had to be completely defenseless.

His parents had approved, giving him free rein, and so he'd spent a good part of the day after the feast layering [Emakimono] all over the building.

If I ever come back for good, this might be a good place for me to stay. Devon can take the annoyingly busy manse in town, while I get to keep my privacy.

Dropping the paintbrush he'd been using into the bucket of thunderhoof blood, he started walking toward the direction he sensed she was coming from.

Just because she was coming to him didn't mean he had to subject her to the smell. He was a better friend than that.

Finally, Elia came into sight, once more dressed in an elegant kimono, though her face was free of paint and makeup.

"Good afternoon!" He called. "I'm just working with thunderhoof blood; no one has been killed."

Such a weak joke probably would have made anyone else frown, but his friend was made of sterner stuff, and her lips curled up in amusement.

"I wouldn't expect anything else," she murmured, though he caught it. Really, sometimes having complete control of the air was unfair.

"Slow day, then? I heard you were pretty busy coordinating the integration efforts."

For a brief moment, Elia's face appeared much older than her true age. She had been burdened with so much responsibility from many people. No wonder she felt compelled to act so stiffly these days.

But then it passed, and she was back to being his friend. "It's hard but rewarding work. But yes, today was relatively lighter. The beastmen recruits for the watch have all been called for sparring practice with the knights, and our laborers are all in the fields, so only a few people need my attention."

"Well, I'm glad I got to see you. I would have come on my own before I left, of course, but this way we have some privacy. The farmers finished working in our fields a couple of days ago, so it's pretty quiet here," he replied earnestly.

Elia looked around, her eyes lingering on the new bathhouse and the still-drying symbols he'd been painting over it.

As usual, she didn't ask about it. She had seen enough to know he wasn't the typical mage, but she trusted him completely and didn't mind his frequent use of unconventional ingredients.

"I'm glad I got to come too. I doubt I'll see you again for a while once you leave." She looked sad but understanding, and Nick could see that she had equated his actions to the responsibility she felt toward her community.

In a sense, she was right. He was leaving to get stronger and address the root causes of the disturbances up north. But his intentions weren't as pure as hers had been.

Before he could say anything, though, she kept going, her expression becoming more serious. "I have also come to inform you of something."

Nick flicked his hand, and a bubble of wind surrounded them, becoming opaque enough that anyone divining their location wouldn't be able to hear or see them.

Elia shot a curious look at the churning sphere but kept going. "You know about my inheritance, of course."

Nick nodded. Her integration of the previous Miko's essence had been a source of great concern for him, but he was convinced that, no matter what changes it had brought to her, she was still Elia at her core.

"Beyond some knowledge and a boost in my abilities, I have also received a… Well, my trait allows me to glimpse into the future at times."

She must have seen the surprise on his face, because she hurried to continue, "It is not true foresight. Most of the time, I only get flashes and impressions, but one thing has been clear for some time."

I have a bad feeling about this. The Sight is a strange ability that follows its own rules and can't be trusted, but ignoring it is just as risky, if not more so.

"I've seen the same thing multiple times. There are never enough details to determine when it is happening, but I know this: whatever is happening in the far north is much bigger than anyone realizes. A presence similar to the thing we fought in the Hall of Healing lurks there, corrupting minds and polluting what was once pure. So be cautious. Whatever plan you have, remember that the enemy is formidable."

It was a good thing Nick already had some suspicions about House Ultimer's dealings, or this would have shocked him. Making deals with demons was a dangerous practice, unlikely to fulfill the contractee's desires, but people continued doing it because the temptation of the power they offered was too strong.

The thought of his father having to handle such a being's schemes sent a shiver down his spine.

He isn't involved in the actual war, only in its spillovers. That was true, but when a demon got involved, it was impossible to predict where they would stop.

After a moment of tense silence, Nick nodded in gratitude. "This is important information. Thank you for telling me, truly."

Elia gave him a tremulous smile. Whatever she had seen, it clearly wasn't pleasant, because he had seen her happily leap into a pool of toxic poison to attack an enemy. She wasn't the kind of person to be shaken so easily.

"I will continue monitoring the situation, of course, and I don't believe it has turned its attention toward us yet, but we both know that demons are never satisfied with a little destruction," she said, a bit of steel returning to her voice. "I am training hard in the traditional skills of a Miko, and thanks to Cao-leò's instructions, I have already reached Proficient rank in my [Purifying Flames]. When the time comes, I will be there with you."

Looking into her eyes, Nick saw there was no shred of hesitation.

He smiled. "When the time comes, I will gladly fight with you at my side."