"Lord Roland?"
Rain called out inquiringly.
"Indeed. What can I do for you?"
Roland gestured to him from across the table, then sat down.
"I wouldn't presume to ask anything of you. I was simply curious.
I never imagined that Lord Antonia and you would be so generous as to indulge my selfish request."
Rain grinned.
Though almost no flesh remained on his face, the skeleton's movements still conveyed a trace of a smile.
The truth was that the Arcane Empire spared its dignitaries the indignities of punishment.
High Mages still placed considerable importance on decorum in their dealings with one another.
Lord Antonia always tried to accommodate requests from his juniors.
Even when the person in question had "made a mistake."
As they exchanged pleasantries, the two introduced themselves through their respective arcane achievements.
Had this scene not taken place in a prison reception room, it could almost have passed for an ordinary Arcane Salon gathering.
Roland had already learned from the files that Rain came from the Wendis Mage Tower, and took the initiative to find some common ground. "Come to think of it, I applied to that Mage Tower too. I just never expected my teacher to scoop me up instead."
"Life's twists of fate are often that extraordinary."
With a touch of wistfulness, Rain told Roland about his past.
"To be honest, I was born into a blacksmith's family. Thanks to the Empire's universal education, I spent a few years at the General Studies Academy, quickly distinguished myself, and entered a Mage Tower.
Back then, I was still far from outstanding. I even struggled with my graduation project for a time. My elemental reaction furnace project, which combined modern elemental theory with classical magical theory, began promisingly but fizzled out amid all sorts of problems.
But