In the conference hall on the third floor of Red Tide Castle's main building.
The braziers burned brightly, driving away the chill brought by the first snow outside.
Several mages in gray-blue cloaks sat around a round table, sipping tea and conversing in low voices.
Their aged yet vigorous faces, together with the young, composed apprentices accompanying them, lent the gathering an unmistakable air of distinction.
Beside the head seat, a slightly plump old man with graying hair and gentle features took out a clean handkerchief and wiped the crystal monocle perched on his nose.
He was the Archmage leading this delegation-Herman Elwood.
When he saw Louis and his companions enter, he immediately rose and approached them with a broad smile.
"Well, well... so this is Lord Louis, the man all of Magewood has been talking about for a year? You're even younger than I imagined."
Louis gave a slight bow, his tone neither servile nor arrogant. "Welcome, everyone. You've traveled far. Conditions in the Red Tide Fief are modest, so please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality."
"Modest?" Herman patted the table, smiling so broadly that the wrinkles gathered at the corners of his eyes. "I've seen plenty of disaster-stricken territories on the way here. Some were utterly devastated; others were barely holding on. Compared with those ruins, this place is paradise!"
After the pleasantries, the mood grew more restrained. Herman took a sip of tea and changed the subject.
"Although you've completely destroyed the Doom Brood Hive..." He drew a sheet of parchment from inside his robe and spread it on the table. "We still can't confirm whether the ecosystem of these Insect Corpses has truly 'died.'"
The parchment bore a series of diagrams documenting shattered insect remains and the pathways of their magical markings.
Herman's expression grew