Arsen Hertz. He did occasionally think about him.

He knew that one day they would need to meet and had resolved himself to that, however, he didn’t have any personal grudge against him or a desire for revenge as the person that Arsen killed was not Bern personally, but the Knight of an enemy kingdom.

Arsen had no idea that it was him who had been killed and Calian even remembered that when Arsen did kill Bern back then, he was quite courteous to him.

Although that’s what he told himself in his head, he couldn’t stop feelings of resentment that welled up inside him.

“I look forward to your kind cooperation, ” Arsen said, at those words, Calian replied with a heavy smile,

“Yes. It’s very nice to meet you.”

His smile was eerily familiar with Franz’s. As Allan was the only one to notice it, he looked back and forth between Arsen and Calian, then clicked his tongue.

Along with realising that he hired the wrong person for the job, he also knew that the road of this mage’s future wouldn’t be smooth.

“He said he is a talented, capable man who will be included in the mage division in the future, so learn from him as much as you can and also be friends if possible.”

As Rumein didn’t need to worry about Calian’s previous life or anything, he spoke those words to Calian.

The finger laid on top of Calian’s lap moved silently as it made a long curve. Just as if his lips were following it’s curvature as well, Calian’s face made a wide smile as well.

“Yes, your majesty. I shall do so.”

However, Allan was filled with goosebumps as he saw Calian’s smile, while Rumein laughed heartily and nodded.

Although Calian hadn’t remembered yet, it was actually the second time Arsen was seeing Calian. The first time was of course on the day he was at Senyu River sending off his deceased teacher and had blocked Calian who was trying to go across the bridge.

As the first impression he had of Calian back then was very positive, when he received the invitation from Allan, he went straight to the palace without a single moment of hesitation.

Therefore Arsen didn’t notice that the smile he saw from Calian and the smile he was seeing on his face right now had very different meanings, and simply stared at Calian while anticipation filled in his heart.

“Right then. Are you prepared for the Roselita?”

Rumein quickly moved onto the subject on hand to Calian. As hearing him speak with such a delicate tone was unfamiliar to Calian, he answered with a slightly awkward expression.

“Yes. I’ve completed all preparations.”

“But what I’ve heard is that you will not take the carriage. Won’t it be uncomfortable then?”

The carriage had dozens of layers of magic applied to it for the sake of making it comfortable and convenient, as well as several layers of defence magic applied by the greatest mage Allan Manasil.

Plus as this carriage was designed by the noble dragon Sispanian, it was a luxurious carriage that even had a bedroom, shower room as well as a toilet, making it the best, the biggest and most spacious carriage in all of the continent.

Yet Rumein heard that Calian was going to take a horse instead, he thought it would be uncomfortable for him. Calian answered carefully.

“There’s no need, I am fine without it.”

This was all because of Raven.

When Calian stepped inside the carriage, Raven wouldn’t follow along it’s side. Even the Kyrie siblings who were very good at managing animals because of their elven blood were not able to handle Raven properly.

Therefore Calian had to ponder seriously for a long time whether to leave Raven behind or to leave the carriage behind, he then heard some thoughtful advice from Allan suggesting he take the horse so he could exercise all the way on the journey. With those loving words in mind, In the end, he decided to take Raven.

“As the horse is very astute, we won’t have problems getting there.”

Whether it was to calm Rumein’s worry or to make fun of Calian, Allan said it anyway. Hearing Allan, Rumein nodded his head and supported Calian’s decision.

“That’s right. You will have a chance to look around the nooks and crannies of Kyris since you are on top of the horse anyways. I will believe in your wisdom. There also won’t be another chance for you to freely go outside of the palace with your title as the Prince so easily anyways.”

Calian smiled bitterly.

“Thank you for the permission.”

As Rumein finished talking with Calian, his head now turned towards Allan. But the topic was still about Calian.

“How is the prince’s magic ability these days?”

Even though Arsen was also sitting at the table, Rumein knew that he would eventually find out about Calian’s magic ability when teaching him, so Rumein asked Allan without any worry. Allan also answered without any worry as if for the same reason.

“It’s enough to make Sispanian weep with tears.”

Hearing that, Rumein stared at Allan with a bit of a surprised face. His face looked like it was asking if Calian truly did have such an amazing amount of powers within him. Allan smiled smoothly and continued his words.

“Since her blessing is being wasted like this,”

Clunk!

Arsen suddenly gasped loudly and stood up in surprise from his chair after hearing what Allan said in front of the king. He was thankfully able to hold onto the knife he was holding as it nearly fell. He then cautiously lifted his head and reassessed the situation as he was surrounded by people of high titles.

Calian had continued with his meal leisurely, as though he had not heard the fuss Arsen made nor Allan’s words. Rumein was still staring at Allan with a vacant look. Allan then gulped down some water.

Rumein spoke with a low tone at Allan as he finished drinking.

“You’re so consistent,”

“Of course.”

In the end, Rumein’s deep blue eyes headed towards Calian again.

“It’s actually been a very long time since a mage was born in the royal family. Although Sir Manasil behaves quite terribly, his skill is still outstanding. So try to learn as much as you can from Sir Manasil after you come back from Roselita and try your best.”

Hearing Rumein describe Allan’s behaviour as terrible, he could only imagine how he treats Rumein usually from outside his view. Calian let down his fork and knife, and calmly answered while slightly bowing his head.

“Yes, your majesty. I will try harder.”

However, Rumein did not know that Calian mastered the 3rd circle magic at just age 14, which was a year faster than when Allan Manasil achieved it. Rumein simply nodded with Calian’s answer.

And so Calian was told unnecessary things even though he was quite powerful in his way just because the master had too much high hopes about him, but Calian simply focused on eating his meal with a calm face as it didn’t get on his mind.

Of course, Allan was also eating leisurely, same as always. Only Arsen was the one shocked by the behaviour by all three people, and had a hard time swallowing down his meal.

That was how the luncheon ended, with a few more talks here and there.

As Rumein was busy, he left first, as well as Arsen as he had too many mixed emotions in his mind. Calian and Allan left, and both left the hall as if they promised to do so. Yan and Kyrie followed the two, a few paces behind.

Calian and Allan walked side by side, down a long pathway adorned by greenery on either side. It was a lovely walkway that surrounded the Senyu Pavilion as if it was it’s wall. As August’s hot sun shined light between the leaves, it made lovely reflections on the smooth gravel path on the ground.

Allan manifested ‘Silent’ as if it was the natural thing to do. Seeing him do so, Calian laughed lightly. It was because the only magic that this great mage used most often was ‘Silent’.

Of course, Allan didn’t mind that he was laughing at him, and turned his head towards Calian and asked him a question.

“Should I send him away, your highness?”

He was talking about Arsen. As the thought of Arsen brought up in Calian’s mind, he couldn’t help but brush a hand against that spot on his chest where the ice spear had pierced. Allan saw him do so, and decided to not ask what relationship Bern and Arsen had in the past.

Hearing the grasshoppers cries for a moment, Calian finally asked back.

“How old is he?”

“He is now 28. We were trying to find mages that were young enough to keep up wit your highness and were still quite skillful and so, he was chosen,”

It meant that he was a commander of an army at age 38 back when he attacked Bern. If he were able to lead a mage division at that age, it meant he was quite talented.

As it was only his personal resentment that he was harbouring towards him, Calian knew that he shouldn’t pass by such a talented individual just because of that. Calian laughed and shook his head.

“Just leave it be. I’ll take care of it myself.”