Though countless thoughts stirred in his mind, Rute politely invited the Eighth-Circle Mages from Sia Tower, who seemed reluctant to say their farewells just yet, to sit down.
At first, he had thought they would merely exchange a few pleasantries, state the most important reason for their visit... that neither of Sia Tower's two leaders would receive Rute's party... and then leave immediately.
After all, though Eighth-Circle Mages from all three factions were present, they lacked the standing to discuss important matters such as their future treatment directly with Rute.
This reception was merely the customary first round of welcoming guests.
According to formal etiquette, the reception should have consisted of three rounds. The initial greeters would be young people of somewhat lower standing within their factions, but still important... in the world of mages, that naturally meant people one rank below the visitors, but, well, who could be considered their factions' future.
At the Black Mystery Tower, that would mean three valued students of Rute, Nicholson, and Kament Tower.
But they did not necessarily have to be the chief disciples. Sometimes, they could be people of equivalent rank within the faction who had met the visitors before and gotten along reasonably well with them.
After all, the main considerations were the mages' ranks and the difference in standing between the two sides.
Sia Tower's careful selection of its greeters had, in a sense, already shown how much importance they attached to Rute.
So even if they postponed the third round... the formal meeting with the hosts... until a year later, that was understandable.
In truth, Rute had never expected Xiya and that artist to meet him as soon as he arrived.
Whether those two had really come to blows or not, they could hardly receive the Black Mystery Tower's