“Lord Nathaniel Pembroke and Lady Eleanor Pembroke.”
The herald’s voice rang out across the wide stone courtyard, echoing against the towering walls of the inner keep. The main gate of Valerian Castle loomed ahead. It was a fortress within a fortress, its colossal doors clad in black steel and reinforced with runic enchantments that shimmered faintly under the morning sun.
Roland had seen fortified gates before, but this was different. It was not merely a barrier to keep enemies out. It was also a statement of power and a declaration of who was allowed to enter and who was not. The approach narrowed to a single broad ramp flanked by arrow slits and murder holes, with armored sentries standing at attention every few paces. The enchantments woven into the walls contained a form of magical scanning that began to flicker as the next lord approached.
“Halt!”
Armored men stepped out in front of the Pembroke carriage, their halberds lowering in perfect unison to bar the path. The herald faltered mid-sentence as a ripple of pale blue light ran across the outer arch of the gate, the telltale shimmer of the detection wards flaring brighter.
“Magical item detected.”
One of the guards barked, his voice devoid of any respect. The Pembroke driver froze and glanced back toward the noble couple within. From the shadows of the carriage, Lord Nathaniel’s voice rang out, sharp with indignation.
“This is an outrage. We are invited guests of the Duke himself.”
“Then you will have nothing to fear.”
The lead guard replied without even looking at him. He motioned with two fingers, and a squad stepped forward, four in front and four behind. Their armor was engraved with runes and other enchantments designed to protect them from potential attackers and uncooperative guests. Even though the noble made no move to exit, the guards pulled the door open. The Pembrokes were all but ushered into the open.
Lady Eleanor clutched her fan so tightly that her knuckles turned white, her composure cracking under the gaze of other nobles who watched from their own carriages. The inspection began immediately. Trunks and cases were hauled down, their locks undone with an efficiency that suggested this was not the first such search that morning. The soldiers handled silks and jewelry roughly, pausing only when a faint glow pulsed from within a velvet-lined box. Once it came into view, the glow intensified, prompting the lead guard to raise his brow.
“Restricted enchantment.”
He declared, lifting the small crystalline sphere inside.
“Possession of this requires written sanction from the Valerian court. Do you have such papers?”
Nathaniel’s jaw clenched.
“No, but it is just a communication crystal used to contact my family. You cannot seriously be thinking about taking it away.”
He said, but the soldiers did not seem to care.
“It is now confiscated.”
The guard said flatly. He then placed the sphere into a steel case carried by another soldier, who immediately snapped the locks shut.
“Once the assembly is over, you may take your possessions back.”
The search continued, turning up a dagger with a concealed frost rune and a ring that radiated faintly with stored mana. Both were taken without discussion. Only when the guards were satisfied did they step aside.
“You may proceed.”
The Pembrokes reentered their carriage in silence, humiliation plain on their faces as the onlookers whispered behind gloved hands. The giant black doors of the inner keep groaned open, just wide enough for a single carriage to pass. From the carriage directly behind them, Roland leaned back and processed what had just happened.
‘There is an anti-magical field around the gate. This will be troublesome. The Valerians are not taking chances.’
The day of the assembly had arrived, and Arthur and Roland were heading into the inner sanctum of the Valerian house. The inner castle was the most heavily defended area on the island. It contained its own mage tower, its own army, and an array of magical defenses. Even though Roland had managed to create a monitoring zone within Albrook, he knew that his own work could not compare to what he was witnessing here.
He could not see beyond the walls because an anti-magical barrier surrounded them, making it impossible. The barrier only affected the outer layer, which meant he would be able to cast spells inside if he wished. However, escaping through it would be far more difficult. He also had no idea how many similar zones might exist within the castle grounds.
“Next!”
While he was lost in thought, the carriage began to move forward. The coachman had been assigned from their temporary mansion. Mary, Gareth, and Moiren had to remain in the middle district and were instructed to wait for their return. The assembly was scheduled to last the entire day until late at night, although it could be extended depending on how events unfolded.
All four of Arthur’s brothers had already entered before him, but they were treated in the same manner. The order of entry was the reverse of their teleportation gate arrival, with Julius going in first before any other noble, and Ivan entering fourth. The only one still outside was Arthur, and only a few others remained behind him. Even though they did not attract much attention, this did not mean that the guards would be lenient with their belongings, and he needed to make sure nothing important was confiscated.
“Lord Arthur Valerian.”
Arthur’s name was announced, and Roland noticed his friend gripping his fists tightly. It was clear that Arthur was uncomfortable with the situation and uncertain about what awaited them inside. The recent kidnapping attempt was still fresh in their minds, and it was possible that within the castle their enemies were already plotting against them.
The carriage rolled forward at a slow pace. The sound of its wheels grinding against the stone ground was amplified by the silence that had settled over the gate. When the name “Valerian” was mentioned, the other nobles fell silent. Although Arthur was not well known, many were curious about why he had come here and how someone of illegitimate birth had managed to get this far at all.
“Halt!”
As Roland had predicted, the guards stationed outside blocked their way. They surrounded them in the same manner they had other arrivals. He barely registered what they were saying, as his attention was fixed on the anti-magical field surrounding the area, which he was attempting to contain.
‘It is different from the powder, more concentrated and far more powerful…’
The most common and widespread method of suppressing magic was the use of a special powder prepared by an alchemist. When dispersed into the air, the particles would disrupt the surrounding mana and prevent spells from forming. Other methods existed, however, and in this case the area itself was interfering with the mana flow, rendering even his runic enchantments dormant. When he attempted to channel mana into the runic structure, there was no response, but he did not yet feel concerned.
“My Lord, please step out of the carriage.”
The guard outside gestured, and Roland moved to open the carriage door.
Roland stepped down. His armor immediately drew attention, and the guards flinched when they realized they were facing a tier-three class holder. He remained silent, holding the door open so Arthur could exit.
“Gentlemen, I have nothing to hide.”
Arthur spoke as he stepped out of the carriage. His movements appeared casual, yet each step was carefully measured. He carried himself with the composure of a perfect noble. The lead guard’s eyes swept over him from head to toe, then shifted to Roland, lingering just a moment longer than courtesy allowed.
“Just be mindful of the leather.”
The guard gave a brief nod before turning to his men.
“Proceed with the inspection.”
Four soldiers advanced, the faint glow of enchantments shimmering across their armor as they approached the carriage. Roland stood slightly aside, watching them closely. Their gear had already caught his attention before they had even reached the gate, and now he was trying to determine exactly how it functioned.
The anti-magical field did not affect everyone in the same way. These guards wore specialized equipment that allowed them to continue using their magic. Roland focused intently on this, knowing that if he could understand the mechanism behind it, he might be able to counter it. He had spent considerable time in the institute studying the problem, well aware that someone who relied entirely on runic equipment needed a way to operate even in areas where anti-magic was in effect.
The guards rummaged quickly through the carriage and even told Arthur to take something out of his pocket.
“Restricted item!”
The man barked as he held up a small crystal pendant with something swirling inside. It was a magical item imbued with a shielding spell. Arthur kept his expression unchanged and handed it over while the search continued. Compared to the inspections of other nobles, this one was far more thorough, and after several dummy items were found, it was finally Roland’s turn.
“Take off that cape and empty your satchel. Those gauntlets as well!”
Unlike Arthur, Roland wore a large amount of high-tech enchanted gear. The silvery clasp containing his all-purpose mithril armor was discovered, and the playing cards he had hidden in the carriage were also confiscated. To make matters worse, the man glanced at his helmet and pointed at it.
“Take off that helmet. It is a forbidden item.”
“...”
Roland became suspicious. He had made sure to use his rune concealment skill on his entire armor, focusing especially on the helmet. The skill was unaffected by anti-magical fields, so he had assumed it would remain hidden. Stranger still, the guards only confiscated certain items while leaving others untouched, as if they were making educated guesses rather than following their detection devices.
‘Are they acting on someone’s orders?’
Roland wondered. It was possible these guards had been bribed by one of his brothers or instructed by the Duke himself. They seemed intent on forcing him to remove pieces of armor, knowing he depended on them for casting spells. Even though he disliked their approach, refusal was not an option. Placing his hands on his knightly helmet, he removed it in full view of everyone present.
A ripple of curiosity passed through the gathered nobles as Roland lifted the helmet from his head. Their anticipation quickly gave way to disappointment. Beneath the steel that had hidden his face, there was yet another barrier. A black half mask made of metal or some other dark material fit snugly over his nose and eyes.
The sockets were covered with a reflective surface that completely hid his pupils. His ears were concealed by the material that wrapped around his head like a bandana. Only his jaw and hair were visible while the rest of his face remained obscured. Roland had no desire to reveal his identity here. Although he was not widely known, many recognized his father, and some knew his brothers. The men of the Arden estate shared a strong family resemblance since their father’s features always seemed to dominate. Even so, the guard who had forced him to remove the helmet did not appear pleased and continued to shout.
“Remove the mask as well!”
The guard barked as he stepped forward. His voice was louder this time, clearly calculated to draw the attention of nearby nobles. Several heads turned toward them, eager for another spectacle after the Pembroke’s humiliation. Roland did not move. His gaze, hidden behind reflective lenses, was fixed squarely on the man in front of him.
“And why should he?”
This time, it was Arthur who stepped forward to handle the situation. The guard blinked, momentarily taken aback.
“Because the Duke’s orders are clear…”
Arthur cut him off.
“Your devices have already scanned him. Did they register his mask as a magic item?”
He jabbed a finger toward the detection wards over the gate and toward the ones carried by the men. They were circular, shaped like large medallions, and they lit up when near a magical item. Several times earlier, they had failed to react, and Arthur had let it pass. Now that it had come to this, he was forced to intervene.
“Please, show me where my knight is at fault. But if that device does not react…”
Arthur lowered his gaze at the man. He was also a tier-three class holder and could exert his killing intent when he chose. It was clear that if they continued to harass them, this situation could turn ugly. The guard hesitated, paused in thought, and after a moment replied.
“That will not be necessary, my lord. You may pass.”
Arthur’s expression softened into something closer to polite indifference, as if the exchange had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience. The transformation was so quick it left the watching nobles baffled.
“Good, you have my gratitude for your diligence.”
Arthur spoke smoothly, inclining his head in a gesture that came just short of mocking. The guards stepped back in perfect formation, their halberds lifting in unison. The path to the gates was open again, yet the air around them felt heavy with foreboding. The guard’s eyes stayed locked on them, carrying more than mere hostility. Arthur climbed into the carriage first, his composure seemingly intact, but Roland knew better. Outwardly, he looked calm and collected, though deep inside, he was likely screaming.
“That did not go that badly.”
“Mhm.”
Roland nodded without speaking. Here he needed to remember his place, and unless the nobles addressed him directly, it was wiser to hold his tongue. He had lost a few of his belongings, though some remained. His gauntlets were gone, but his boots, with one heel concealing a piece of armor, were still on him. If someone attacked them, he would still have some kind of weapon to defend himself.
‘I managed to keep two of them, I hope it will be enough…’
Soon, the wheels began to turn, and the gate ahead opened. At last, they were about to enter the proper inner castle area, a place few ever reached. Arthur remained silent, his gaze fixed on the carriage window through which he could see the castle interior, a place he had visited only a few times in his youth.
The carriage rolled forward, its wheels clattering along the cobblestones. Sunlight streamed in shafts through the high, arching walls, each one adorned with banners bearing the Valerian crest. Beneath those banners, squads of soldiers drilled in precise formations, their armor gleaming like mirrors.
‘That is quite the welcome.’
Roland and Arthur remained silent as they passed through the gate. It shut quickly behind them, and at last they could see clearly what lay inside. The wall now stood at their backs, still high and blocking all view and sound from the world beyond. What spread out before them was unexpectedly charming, like a scene lifted from a fairy tale.
The carriage rolled into the heart of the inner keep, and Roland blinked in mild disbelief. He had expected a fortress of metal and stone, heavily fortified and bristling with defenses. Instead, he saw a sprawling garden filled with vivid scenery that seemed almost magical.
Broad cobblestone paths wound between manicured hedges, each shaped into mythical beasts such as gryphons, dragons, and even the rare phoenix. Water from a crystal-clear stream flowed through shallow channels beside the paths, feeding koi ponds whose surfaces shimmered like molten gold in the sunlight.
This was the path they followed toward the main keep, which stood amid lush greenery and tranquil scenery. A forest surrounded the castle grounds, and Roland could sense that simple creatures lived within. The space around them had been expanded through spatial magic, similar to what he had experienced in the dungeon area he had just left. Within the forest, he noticed a large tower that seemed to be the focal point of the magic at work here.
Not far ahead rose the castle proper, the destination toward which they now traveled. It was large and exquisitely built, the kind of residence befitting a duke. Its towering height was striking, and Roland found himself unable to look away.
More walls came into view as they approached the drawbridge and moat. The castle was immense, taller than any building Roland had ever seen, and it rivaled the height of a modern skyscraper. To make the sight even more imposing, there were seven towers in total. Six were clearly watchtowers built into the massive outer walls, while the seventh stood at the center and dwarfed the others. This central tower was the Duke’s residence and the place where the upcoming assembly would be held…
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