Dazzling lights gleamed, and ceremonial music rang out.
"Archmage Lionel Kano has arrived! Mage Rorschach has arrived!"
The guards relayed the announcement layer by layer. After passing the security check, Rorschach followed Kano into the palace. He felt the Royal Palace's security measures were mostly for show. For instance, they had not confiscated his storage ring. And if he retained the ability to cast spells, he could very likely make an ordinary person disappear—though his identity might not be so ordinary.
The high collar of his formal wear made Rorschach's neck uncomfortable, and he had felt ill at ease throughout the journey into the palace. They passed through a hall filled with mirrors, its marble floor radiating a chill. Only when they reached the banquet hall did it finally become warm. Opening its doors felt like opening the door to spring.
"During wartime, Spellcasters are forbidden from approaching the Royal Palace unless they swear loyalty to the King and become Court Mages."
As Kano spoke, he stepped into the dining hall. At the center stood the highest seat, His Majesty the King's vacant place, with tables for guests on either side. Rorschach followed him in and sensed faint mana flowing in an orderly pattern. It seemed to be a protective or alarm spell. The changes in aether were extremely subtle; without the orange "Mana Control," Rorschach certainly would not have noticed them.
Ever since a powerful king had emerged a century ago, nobles with real power had been required to dine frequently with the king. The banquets were lavish and interminable, yet everyone had to comply. Only serious illness or participation in a foreign war permitted absence. It was a tradition of loyalty to His Majesty, and today, the attendants led Kano and Rorschach to the first table on the