Horace sat on the edge of the castle terrace, gazing toward distant Caria Manor, his thoughts churning.
The news that Rennala's Moon True Magic was growing more refined by the day had long since ceased to be a secret.
The full moon could dispel all True Magic, a fact amply demonstrated in several small clashes with the Academy's glintstone sorcerers.
What was more, Rennala herself was a powerful sorceress, and her wisdom and leadership were not to be underestimated either.
With those utterly loyal Crystalian allies as well, they seemed to think victory was assured.
In fact, Horace thought so too.
His confidence, however, did not stem entirely from Caria's apparent advantage in strength.
The two masters, Lusat and Azur, had long been dissatisfied with the protracted struggle between the Academy and Caria.
In private, Lusat had once hinted to him that it was not just the two of them. The core members of the Lazuli Conspectus and the Olivinus Conspectus, those truly devoted to researching True Magic rather than struggles for power, did not actually object to Rennala's leadership.
To them, an environment devoted purely to researching True Magic, the free exchange of knowledge, and an unobstructed path to exploring the Primeval Current mattered far more than who occupied the highest seat in the Academy's council chamber.
As an outstanding sorceress, Rennala's full moon True Magic was itself proof of her profound understanding of the essence of True Magic.
If she could bring stability and free research into True Magic from interference by factional struggles, then her leading the Academy, or even uniting Liurnia's world of True Magic, was not unacceptable.
Thus, although they had made no overt declaration, Horace knew in his heart that when the moment of the true showdown arrived, a considerable portion of the Academy's forces would choose "inaction," or even secretly favor Caria.
That was also why, when Rellana was ordered back to Caria Manor to prepare for a possible "decisive operation," Horace made a decision that surprised many.
He dispatched a full hundred Inquisitor Knights, fully armed and led by the seasoned Uriel, to secretly accompany Rellana to Caria Manor.
"This is..." At the manor gates, Rellana stared at the disciplined ranks behind her, momentarily taken aback.
Uriel stepped forward and, following Horace's prior instructions, spoke in his barbarian-accented but thoroughly solemn voice. "Honored lady knight, my lord Horace Loux believes Caria may require some 'temporary armed assistance.' We are available for hire-within the bounds of reasonable payment and clearly defined duties, of course."
He paused, then added, "As for what exactly we are to do... until Caria officially takes action, we know nothing. We are being 'forced' to take part in this. Do you understand?"
Rellana instantly understood Horace's intention.
These hundred knights were support, as well as a weighty expression of trust, but at the same time, by calling them "hired" and "forced," Horace had left both sides room to maneuver.
If the operation failed, or circumstances changed afterward, Lakeside Town could claim it had merely been "acting under contract," rather than as Caria's formal ally.
The meticulousness of this arrangement sent a complicated warmth surging through Rellana's heart.
She looked at the knights-many of them young men she had personally instructed in swordsmanship. Now they stood straight-backed, their gazes resolute, evidently already under orders to obey her commands unconditionally.
"I understand." Rellana took a deep breath and nodded to Uriel.
"Please follow me inside. I will explain the situation to my sister."
The stir this force caused upon entering Caria Manor was easy to imagine.
Caria's knights and soldiers watched the well-equipped foreign troops in surprise.
They marched in perfect step, their armor gleaming coldly in the sunlight. Most striking was their calm, resolute bearing, utterly unlike either the elegance and splendor of the Caria Knights or the aloof indifference of the Academy's sorcerers.
Word soon reached Rennala.
In the manor's main hall, when Rellana brought Uriel for an audience, Rennala's gaze lingered briefly on her sister and the barbarian commander before she gave an amused smile.
"One hundred Inquisitor Knights... Lord Horace Loux is generous indeed." Rennala's voice was gentle, yet held a knowing understanding that saw through everything.
"Little sister, it seems your 'supervision' in Lakeside Town these past few years has yielded remarkable results."
Rellana's cheeks flushed almost imperceptibly. She forced herself to remain composed. "Sister, Lord Horace said this was merely temporary armed assistance, in the form of hired service..."
"I understand." Rennala interrupted her with an elegant wave of her hand.
"Sir Uriel, thank you for coming. Caria will remember this friendship. Someone will discuss the specific deployment with you shortly."
Uriel bowed and withdrew.
Only the two sisters remained in the hall.
Rennala descended from the throne and came to her sister's side, studying her face closely, the scrutiny in her eyes growing ever more pronounced.
"Rellana," she began softly, a hint of teasing in her voice, "you haven't really... given in to him, have you?"
"Sister!" Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Rellana nearly jumped, her face turning completely red.
"What nonsense are you talking about! This is... this is politics! Support between allies!"
"Oh? Politics?" Rennala's eyes curved with her smile.
"A hundred of his finest knights, placed unconditionally under your command, at such a sensitive moment... that is hardly something ordinary 'political support' can explain. I seem to recall someone swearing a few years ago that she would 'avenge her humiliation'?"
"That was... that was..." At a loss for words, Rellana turned her face away in flustered anger.
"Anyway, it's not what you think!"
"And what do I think?" Rennala persisted, but seeing that even her sister's ears had turned scarlet, she finally let her off with a smile.
"All right, all right, enough teasing. This support has arrived at just the right time. With these fresh troops, our plan's chances of success will be much higher. Arrange for them to rest first, then come to the council chamber later. We need to finalize the plan."
As though granted a pardon, Rellana hastily saluted and fled the main hall.
Watching her sister's somewhat hurried retreat, Rennala's smile slowly faded into a barely audible sigh, then gave way to contemplation.
Gossip was human instinct, and the Caria Knights were no exception.
Soon, various versions of the "rumors" began circulating through the manor.
Some said the barbarian chief of Lakeside Town had fallen in love with the younger lady at first sight and pursued her devotedly for years, finally winning the beauty's heart with his sincerity. These hundred knights were part of the "bride price."
Some said the younger lady had spent years in Lakeside Town, living alongside Horace Loux day after day until affection secretly blossomed, and had now returned with her "dowry" to help her family conquer the land.
There were even more outrageous claims that the two had long since privately pledged themselves to each other and even had a child, and that this visit was to formally propose marriage...
Rumors spread quietly through the castle corridors, training grounds, and taverns, accompanied by irrepressible snickers and knowing winks.
Several times, Rellana caught her subordinates gathered together, talking and laughing in low voices. The moment they saw her, they scattered like startled birds and beasts, wearing strange expressions. It made her grind her teeth with anger, yet she had no way to vent it-was she, the dignified Twin Moon Knight, supposed to explain to each of them individually that "there's nothing between me and that barbarian"?
That would probably only make things murkier the more she explained.
She could only force herself to remain composed, pretend she had heard nothing, and throw all her energy into planning the coming operation.
Only late at night, when she was alone, would she tousle her hair in agitation as she faced the hazy moonlight outside her window, quietly cursing that fellow who, despite being far away in Lakeside Town, could still so easily throw her thoughts into disarray.
Sellen seemed to be a member of the royal family too.
Sellen's dialogue: [The fate of the Carian Royal Family shifts with the stars-even Ranni, whom you serve, is no exception. But when General Radahn shattered the laws governing the stars' movement, their ordained course came to an abrupt halt...]
[...When the stars fall, my fate, too, will begin to move. I may be killed. So before that happens, let me give you this-]
Remember, it was our teacher Sellen who earlier revealed to us that "the fate of the Carian Royal Family shifts with the stars." Now she said her own fate had begun to move too. Didn't that conclusively prove she was actually a member of the Carian Royal Family as well?
Before you continue