As night fell, the knights gathered at the castle to see Maxi.
She was having dinner with the other mages when Ursuline Ricaydo entered the dining room, accompanied by Ulyseon.
She greeted them with an awkward smile as they approached.
From Ursuline's serious countenance, Maxi deduced that he had already heard about her imminent journey to the Plateau.
Ignoring the curious looks of the mages, Ursuline stopped before Maxi and bowed respectfully.
"My lady.
It's been a long time."
Maxi swallowed the mouthful of food nervously and murmured, “Y-Yes, Sir Ursuline.”
Why did it have to be him?
Of all the knights, he was the one who made her most uncomfortable.
She looked at the door.
It would be easier to explain the circumstances to Hebaron or Gabel.
Unfortunately, the only knights in the room she recognized were Ulyseon and Remus Baldo.
"Rovar informed me of the situation.
It appears that you have become involved in yet another dangerous venture."
When Maxi glared at Ulyseon for his betrayal, the young knight frantically shook his hands, looking distressed.
"I didn't say anything like that!
I just said I was worried about“"
“What did you think, for God’s sake?” Ursuline intervened, cutting Ulyseon off.
"You are leaving for the Pamela Plateau when you have just returned?
Don't you know how the commander will react?
I cannot allow you to put yourself in such danger.
How can you even think of joining another campaign after what you went through last time?
You are very reckless, my lady.
Think of the commander, and“"
“If you attempt to detain her against her will,” Calto interrupted, looking up from the meal he was quietly enjoying by the fire, “we will leave this castle immediately.”
Ursuline's keen eyes flew to the elder.
Calto remained impassive in the face of the knight's imposing gaze and continued calmly, "Maximilian Calypse is currently here not as your mistress, but as a mage from the Tower of Mages.
She has given us her word that she will participate in the expedition until the end.
The group currently needs all the mages they have."
“Are you responsible?”
"Indeed.
I am Calto Serbel, the leader of this expedition, and Maximilian Calypse is a mage under my command.
Until our mission is completed, she must follow my orders."
“She is Sir Riftan’s wife!” Ursuline barked.
Even in the face of the knight's fury, Calto did not retreat.
"Wizards in the Wizard's Tower must obey the Tower's rules.
Nobles and even royalty are no exception.
She is one of us and has sworn allegiance.
If you attempt to keep her here against her will, you will be guilty of forcibly confining a Nornui wizard."
Calto paused as if gauging the knights' reaction before adding, "If that's your plan, I won't accept it."
Ursuline's aristocratic features turned cold.
Facing Calto, he said stiffly, “And what would you do, exactly?”
"I will report your crime to the Tower of Mages.
Anatol will undoubtedly receive more severe sanctions than those already imposed," Calto said icily, then turned his gaze to the motionless Maxi.
“No wizard will ever be allowed to remain in Anatol.”
Essentially, she would be banned from becoming Anatol's mage even after completing the expedition.
The atmosphere inside the hall instantly turned hostile.
Seeing the men's faces closing in fury, Maxi quickly stood up and placed himself between Calto and the knights.
“E-Everyone, stop!”
Ursuline's dark blue eyes seemed to scream her protest.
Maxi licked her lips and determinedly met his gaze.
"Master Calto is right.
I have already promised to go to the Pamela Plateau as a member of the expedition.
Nothing you say will stop me from going with my companions, Sir Ursuline."
Surprised by her resolute stance, Ursuline's eyes widened.
He stared at her for a long moment before turning his head to Calto.
“What is the purpose of your mission to the Plateau?”
Although Calto kept his mouth firmly shut, Ursuline continued to press for answers.
"I am aware that the Temple Knights have been tracking the remnants of the monster army.
Have they discovered anything?"
“I’m afraid I can’t disclose that information.”
After studying the older man's face, Ursuline exposed the conjecture she had formed based on the information she had already gathered."The undead have grown exponentially across the continent recently.
Three years ago, during the war, the monster army had a necromancer capable of powerful magic.
Could it be that the monsters who fled to the Pamela Plateau are plotting again?"
Maxi was wide-eyed at the news of the spread of the undead.
She remembered the battle at Castle Eth Lene; Hebaron's cursed wound that refused to heal, ghouls rising from the ground, and the lizardman who had used terrifying fire magic.
It was possible that all of this was somehow connected to the banished dark wizards.
Maxi studied Calto's face, who didn't seem surprised.
“I can’t comment on that,” Calto replied, his tone indifferent.
“Nothing has been confirmed.”
Ursuline seemed to regard her answer as sufficient.
His expression became even more serious.
“I cannot allow you to be involved in such a dangerous undertaking, my lady,” said the knight, turning back to Maxi.
“If we don’t do anything to stop her from going to a place full of unknown danger and something happens“”
"The Temple Knights have agreed to protect us.
Nineteen experienced mages and the guardians of the Western Continent will be on this expedition.
I see no reason to worry," Calto said, clearly irritated by the circular argument.
"Furthermore, I do not think you have the right to interfere in our affairs.
We may have accepted your hospitality, but that does not mean we must comply with your whims.
As I have made clear before, if you insist on taking one of my subordinates, we will leave this castle immediately."
As if to show he was serious, Calto stood up.
He turned to the nearby mages who were watching the discussion while sipping on the best wine Calypse Castle had to offer.
“All of you,” ordered Calto, “get up immediately and get your things ready.”
The wizards protested in unison at having to interrupt their party.
However, faced with the elder's determined expression, they reluctantly stood up from their seats.
They made their way to the main entrance, seemingly ready to leave right then and there.
The knights' faces became worried.
Noticing Maxi hesitating, Calto said sternly, "What are you waiting for?
I asked you to pack your bags."
When Maxi turned away shyly at his rebuke, Ursuline exclaimed, "Very well!
I will say no more on the matter."
Calto turned and looked at the knight skeptically.
Glaring at the older man, Ursuline said with her jaw clenched, "Lady Calypse has not been home for three years.
I ask that you allow her to remain in the castle until her departure."
Calto seemed to consider this, then said in a gesture of benevolence, "Very well.
We will stay.
However, as I mentioned, we will leave when the time comes."
Although Ursuline seemed to fight the urge to retort, he nodded and looked at Maxi's pale face.
“As you prefer.”
The moment the knight relented, the tension within the hall dissipated.
The mages returned to the table to resume their meal, while Maxi left with the knights after receiving permission from Calto.
Guilt flooded her when she saw how anxious the knights looked.
"I'm sorry for making you worry so much," she said, shrugging, "but...
I wanted to get off the island as quickly as possible.
And...
I thought I might be useful on the expedition."
"Please don't apologize, my lady.
No one here is blaming you," Ursuline replied, her tone softening slightly.
"After all, you only agreed to enter the Wizards' Tower to save Sir Riftan and Anatol.
Frankly, I was inconvenient.
It wasn't my place to criticize a decision you made to hasten your return.
I just..." he hesitated with a frown before saying, "I'm worried about Sir Riftan's reaction."
“H-Was there… any warning sent yet?”
“Yes, my lady,” Ulyseon interjected, scratching the back of his head.
“I thought it best to inform you immediately of your return.”
Maxi swallowed in his dry throat.
She wondered how Riftan would react.
Their separation had been painful, to say the least, and they hadn't seen each other in so long.
Maxi was still anxious, despite having discovered the letters he had kept.
Her voice almost hoarse, she murmured, "I'm not sure… if I'll still be here when he gets the message."“How long will you stay in Anatol?”
Maxi hesitated for a moment before answering Ursuline's question.
"For about a week...
but that could change.
All I know is that we will leave as soon as the Temple Knights arrive."
Remus Baldo stood against the wall, tall as a totem.
He said in a soft voice, “I have received reports that the Temple Knights have been investigating the eastern regions of Arex and Dristan recently.”
Ursuline stroked his clean-shaven chin thoughtfully.
"Then it shouldn't be long.
Arex and Dristan aren't far away."
Until now, Maxi had felt like she was walking on eggshells around him.
Finally she managed to ask, “Are Ruth and the others… with Riftan in Livadon?”
"The mage, Nirtha, and Charon are with the commander.
Lachzion and a few others have been tasked with protecting the mine."
“The m-mine?”
"The Anatolium Mountains are no longer a den of monsters, although sometimes goblins appear.
We annexed the area through extensive incursions, and are now free to use the mountains' resources as we wish.
It is the main reason why Anatol has prospered so quickly."