The Sostenza Family Mansion stood out from the others in the area with its Gothic design, complete with pointed arches and spired rooftops.
The building was symmetrical, each half mirroring the other, and raised slightly off the ground and having three floors. Out front, a well-kept garden featured hedges, small trees along the walkways, and flowers planted by the stairways. To reach the front doors, one had to climb two sets of stairs, which led up to a grand entrance with large double doors beneath a wide arch.
While the mansion wasn't overly extravagant, it was clearly well-maintained, though not without signs of age.
As Magnus and Mulvin ascended the stairs and reached the door, Magnus pushed them open without ceremony. The sound of the doors clicking echoed through the foyer. The interior matched the exterior, with dark red carpet covering the floor and extending through every hallway.
A large crystal chandelier hung from the center of the foyer ceiling, and two sets of stairs were visible beyond it, one on each side, though they converged as they led to the second floor. The mansion had all the typical features of a noble home, from the tall vases holding rare plants near the door to a statue of an unknown figure standing at the base of the stairs.
The mansion wasn't bustling with activity; only a few maids and knights passed through, most of the servants using the service passages to stay out of sight. A few of them glanced at Magnus with curiosity but didn't question him. After all, he was with Mulvin, a knight of the family.
As Mulvin led them down the rightmost hallway, he asked, "So, what's your reason for wanting to meet with the Young Lady?"
It wasn't a probing question, just a way to fill the silence, and Magnus didn't mind answering.
"Partly out of concern, since she was injured on our assignment. But also because we had an agreement—I get the rewards once it's all over since she only wanted experience," Magnus said, trying to keep his tone even.
It wasn't exactly a great look to visit someone who was still recovering from an injury, just to collect payment. But after using Arcana Advance at the Academy Exchange Center, he only had three months to make up for the credits he'd spent.
Mulvin didn't seem put off by it, nodding as he said, "Ah, I remember her mentioning something about that. The Sostenza Family was in a bit of a panic when she returned injured. She was put on temporary leave from the academy the same day she got back to Arlcliff City. But once things settled down, and she told us more about what happened, it actually turned into something positive."
"Really?" Magnus was surprised. How could something like this be seen as positive?
Mulvin explained a moment later.
"Seraline had only just reached Adept-level before you two left. It was already a huge achievement for her, especially at her age, and so quickly. But then to hear that she not only fought an Adept-level mana beast but also defeated it—that's practically unheard of in the Sostenza Family's history. I wouldn't have been able to do that when I first entered the Adept-level. It's the kind of news that could turn a serious injury into a sign of strength and capability."
Magnus nodded in understanding. He hadn't considered it that way. Adept-level mana beasts were much stronger than their human counterparts, and the fact that Seraline managed to defeat one alone was an accomplishment few Knight Division students could replicate unless they had been at the Adept-level for a while.
The excuse that it was all due to her Weapon Mastery wouldn't hold up in an argument either. After all, it was an extension of her talent. Who else could pull off something like that?
As Magnus thought about it, Mulvin let out a short sigh and glanced back at him.
"Though... I think the biggest surprise was that she brought a child back with her. I'm sure you can understand why."
"Halen's here?" Magnus asked, his surprise clear in his voice. He had wondered what Seraline would do after leaving Freyborn Village—whether she'd leave him there for the villagers to care for, along with the other orphans from the attack, or if she'd bring him back to Arlcliff City with her. Now he knew the answer.
Mulvin nodded, his face showing a mix of emotions.
"Yes. He's a good kid, from what I've seen. But it's a delicate situation. I can't exactly go into details—family politics and all that. I'm sure you understand."
"Right," Magnus replied with a subtle nod. He could guess what kind of problems might arise from the heiress of a noble family bringing a child, especially a commoner, into their home. Seraline probably didn't give it much thought when she brought Halen back, but he was sure her family did.
The two of them reached the end of a hallway where two doors stood, marking this room as different from the others they'd passed. Mulvin raised his hand and knocked softly.
After the third knock, they heard a response from inside.
"Who is it? I told you not to disturb us," came the voice of an older woman—definitely not Seraline.
"It's Mulvin, my Lady. Apologies for the disturbance, but someone's come to see the Young Lady," Mulvin replied, his tone calm and respectful.
There was a brief silence before another voice, one Magnus recognized, came from the other side. Seraline.
"Who is it?" She asked.
Mulvin looked at Magnus before answering, "It's Cain, from Takerth Academy."
"Who-" The voice in the room started, but was softly interrupted by Seraline.
"Come in," she said.
With permission granted, Mulvin opened the door, and as soon as they stepped inside, Magnus heard someone complain, "Seraline, you shouldn't make a habit of letting people into your chambers."
"It's fine, Mother," Seraline replied.
Following Mulvin inside, Magnus stepped into a room bathed in sunlight, the golden rays filtering through the tall, ornate windows. The room was spacious—bigger than the dorm rooms at the academy—but also rather sparse. The large bed at the center of the room stood out, made of dark wood and clearly too large for just one person.
To its right was a nightstand, matching the bed, with an unlit candle resting on top. Across from the bed were bookshelves, arranged in a way that didn't block the windows, though they only served to break up the empty space.
There was also a dark red couch with a low table in front of the bookshelves for reading, a few paintings on the walls, and a dressing screen with a mirror tucked in the corner for privacy. Opposite the bed, a small sitting area faced an unlit fireplace.
Four people were already in the room. Seraline sat on the side of the bed near the nightstand, and beside her, an older man with a few gray hairs stood, focused on the bowl in front of him. He was grinding herbs with a small pestle shaped like a club.
For a moment, Magnus thought he was a doctor, but then he saw the man's attire—black clothing with a white robe draped over his shoulders, decorated with gold accents. At the ends of the robe were religious symbols: a half-golden orb with four different colored beams shooting out from it.
Magnus recognized the symbol.
He must be from the church.
This was the first time Magnus had seen a priest, or anyone from the church, in person.
As for the other two people in the room, Magnus quickly identified the source of the earlier voice—it was Seraline's mother.
She was a bit taller than Seraline, around Magnus's height, and stood close to the bed with her arms crossed. Her maroon-colored hair was a lighter shade than Seraline's and shorter, only reaching halfway down her back compared to Seraline's waist-length hair. But it was those familiar, sharp, rosy eyes that caught Magnus's attention.
In the sunlight that filled the room, just like her daughters, they almost seemed to shimmer like jewels. Her gaze first flicked over to Mulvin and then locked onto Magnus as soon as he entered.
Beside her stood a woman dressed similarly to the maids they had passed earlier, though her uniform was more refined and her posture straighter. If Magnus had to guess, she was either the mother's personal maid or perhaps the Head Maid.
"And who, may I ask, is this person?" The mother inquired, her eyes not on Magnus but on Mulvin.
Mulvin answered politely, "Cain, my lady. The same boy who went with the Young Lady during her assignment."
The mother's eyes narrowed for a moment, as though trying to place him. Then, her expression shifted, a look of recognition dawning on her face.
"So, you're the one who won the Live Examination for Luden Rilhawk's Faction?" She asked, her skeptical tone now replaced with curiosity and a more approachable demeanor.
Magnus nodded and greeted her, "I am. It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am."
Seraline's mother unfolded her arms and nodded.
"The feeling is mutual. I've heard quite a lot about you from Mulvin, my daughter, and a few other sources. I suppose the Sostenza Family owes you quite a debt, considering you even healed my daughter."
The priest, who had been focused on his work, paused at this and turned to Magnus.
"Ah, so you're the one who healed her? I must say, your methods are quite impressive. When the Sostenza Family first requested the church's help and told us what happened to the young miss, I feared her condition would be far worse. But, surprisingly, her body is in excellent condition, almost perfect actually, aside from her missing arm."
"I simply did what I could. Not to mention, she was injured while I was on the assignment with her. I felt partially responsible," Magnus explained.
Still sitting on the bed, Seraline spoke up.
"It wasn't your fault, Cain. I got desperate during that battle."
"Perhaps, but I still would've preferred to be there," Magnus replied.
It was then that Magnus noticed the priest doing something strange. His hand hovered over the bowl of crushed herbs, and he was muttering something quietly, his expression focused. A moment later, the herbs began to glow faintly, their brownish-green mixture giving off a soft luminescence that made them look magical in nature.
"There you are," the priest said, his voice steady.
"Just have her take a spoonful with every meal, washed down with water. It'll take effect soon. As for healing her arm beyond the preparation, we should have someone available to perform the blessing soon."
The mother's attention shifted back to the priest, and she lowered her head slightly.
"I see. Thank you, Priest Frenver. We'll see you next week, then?"
"Of course," Priest Frenver replied.
"In the meantime, may the Sostenza Family continue to be graced by her lights."
"Thank you," Seraline's mother said, nodding in gratitude.
With that, Priest Frenver made his way to the door. As he passed Mulvin and Magnus, he gave them a courteous nod, which they returned, before leaving the room. The door clicked shut behind him.
Once the priest left, Seraline turned to her mother and asked, "Mother, could I have some time alone with my guest?"
Her mother didn't seem exactly hesitant, but her gaze flicked between Seraline and Magnus before she finally nodded.
"Very well. But make sure you're ready for lunch. You know, Priest Frenver told you it's important to eat your meals on schedule."
"Yes, Mother," Seraline replied.
Her mother glanced at Magnus one more time before heading for the door, with the maidly dressed woman following behind.
Mulvin didn't need any prompting—he simply gestured to Magnus and said, "See you later," before following them out.
With the door closing behind them, only Magnus and Seraline were left in the room.
Seraline looked at Magnus and said, "You can take off your mask here. No one will find out."
She added, "None of the knights are allowed to extend their senses into my room."
"Oh? Huh, so people give you your privacy, but you don't seem to understand it yourself?" Magnus said, his voice tinged with a teasing tone as he took off his mask and stored it away. He was referring to the time back in Freyborn Village when Seraline had apparently listened to the pattern of his breathing while he slept to find out when he woke up, not realizing just how weird or creepy that was.
Seraline fell quiet for a moment, actually considering what he said before answering.
"It's not like I ever asked them not to. My parents are the ones who tell the knights what they can and can't do. I don't really care, so I didn't think it would matter to anyone else."
"Oh, so you were basing it on yourself. Well... I can see how that might cause some problems. No offense, but you're not exactly a social butterfly. Not that I'm any better," Magnus said with a shrug.
"I suppose we're alike in that way," Seraline replied, then tilted her head slightly.
"But in any case, why are you here?"
"Hmm, right. I turned in our assignment, but the credits went to you," Magnus explained.
"Oh, I see. Sorry, my family arrived almost as soon as I stepped into Arlcliff City, so I didn't get a chance to handle anything else. Normally, we're not allowed to trade Arcana Credits outside of the Academy Exchange Center, but I can talk to Mulvin. Since he's a professor, as long as we both agree on it, he can arrange it from the academy's side," Seraline said.
"I guess that's one of the perks of having a Takerth Academy professor in your family as your teacher," Magnus remarked with a smirk.
With the issue of his Arcana Credits easily taken care of, the conversation shifted. Perhaps it was because they'd fought side by side so many times or because they'd traveled together across the region, but the two of them had grown fairly comfortable with each other. As they continued talking, Seraline offered Magnus a seat, which he accepted.
She was resting against the pillows and headboard of her bed, while Magnus sat on the opposite side, leaning against the footboard. The conversation soon turned to Halen.
"So you really brought him back to Arlcliff City?" Magnus asked, still a bit surprised.
Seraline nodded, her expression soft.
"It didn't feel right leaving him there. Not without a family to care for him. He was already sad when you had to leave, and I didn't want to think about what he would be like if I did the same." Magnus's gaze drifted to the side as he nodded in understanding.
"I see. But Mulvin mentioned some complications about that, right?" He asked, remembering what Mulvin had said earlier.
At the mention of complications, Seraline's expression tightened slightly. Her eyes narrowed as she spoke.
"I originally planned to try and adopt him into the Sostenza Family, so I could take care of him properly. But it raised more problems than I realized. I didn't think about it at first, but it would affect my succession to the family."
"Adoption?" Magnus said, surprised.
"I didn't think you'd go that far." He paused, considering the situation. He could definitely see how it would be a problem. The Sostenza Family didn't value things like blood or gender as much as they did one's abilities, but that didn't mean those factors were ignored entirely. The family would naturally want Seraline, the daughter of the current Lord and Lady, to take the next head position, and it would be easiest if her child followed that path as well. An adopted child would complicate everything. While Halen wasn't a knight and couldn't inherit the title of heir, his existence alone would create a rift in the family's succession.
What would go to him, and what would go to the next head? What would his status be within the family?
Magnus muttered to himself, "It's a slippery slope."
"My parents thought so too," Seraline said, her voice quieting slightly.
"They told me to put the idea aside until I become the matriarch. In the end, as long as you have the power to back up your decisions, the complications that come with them don't matter. Until then, he's a semi-permanent guest of the family. His room is just down the hall from mine, though he's taking a nap right now. He's been so excited since we got to the city, and has been asking me to go out with him nearly every day, though I can't just yet," Seraline explained, a small warmth in her voice as she spoke about Halen. It was clear she really enjoyed having him around.
The last part of their conversation made Magnus smile as he replied, "Well, at least he's still able to enjoy himself after everything that's happened. But, how about you? How's your arm? I heard you're supposed to get it healed soon by the church?"
At the mention of the church, Seraline glanced at the bowl of herbs the priest had left behind before nodding.
"That's right. It'll happen around the end of this month. Until then, the priest gave me a special blend of blessed herbs to minimize the resistance and rejection my aura will produce when it's time for the healing," she explained. Magnus gave a slight nod, going quiet for a moment. His expression shifted to one of light concentration, and Seraline noticed. She didn't interrupt him, letting him think in peace before speaking up.
"You look like you want to ask me something," she said.
Coming out of his thoughts, Magnus nodded and said, "I do. But it's a request, and the more I think about it, the weirder it seems."
Seraline shifted slightly on the bed, leaning to the side as she spoke with a relaxed tone.
"Like you said, neither of us are exactly skilled socially. At the very least, we can be direct with each other."
Magnus paused at her words before letting out a soft laugh.
"Yeah, I suppose so. Alright then. I was wondering if I could come along when you go to get your arm healed," he admitted plainly.
Seraline didn't seem surprised by the request.
Her expression remained neutral as she asked, "Why?"
"Hmm. It's a bit hard to explain, but I learn best by observation and mimicry. That's how I learned to heal as well as I do now, so..." Magnus trailed off.
Seraline quickly pieced it together, finishing his thought.
"If you see my arm healed, you might be able to learn how to heal from those kinds of injuries in the future?"
Magnus nodded.
"That's the idea, at least."
Seraline raised a hand to her chin, her eyes briefly drifting to the blankets on her bed.
"The church is pretty secretive about healing. It's usually done privately, with only church members and family allowed to be present."
"Oh, so I guess it's not possible then-" Magnus started, but before he could finish, Seraline shook her head.
"I didn't say that. I'm just telling you how it usually works. I'll need to talk to my family and Priest Frenver about it to be sure. But I can send you a letter once I get confirmation," she offered.
"Really? I know this is a pretty big request, so if you want something in return-" Magnus began, but Seraline shook her head again.
"It's fine. I may not know a lot about you, Magnus, but if I had to guess, you don't want to learn to heal limbs just for your own sake, right?"
Magnus went quiet at her words.
Was he? Honestly, he wasn't sure. Part of him did just want the ability because it would increase his combat effectiveness. If he could regenerate limbs, combined with his already impressive healing abilities, he could essentially be immortal in battle, just like the vampires he was up against. But another part of him… another part recalled the times he couldn't heal certain people.
When their injuries were just too severe, even for his [Perfective Regeneration] to mend. Gerald was one such case, and even more so, Hazel. Before leaving Mia and the others to return to Arlcliff City, he had told them that if he ever figured out how to regrow limbs, he'd heal them both.
Now, that opportunity was right in front of him.
Magnus let out a low sigh, muttering, "Looks like you know me better than you think."