The Difference

Ashton glanced around the room with an assessing gaze, "I think I will go back to my tent to examine my spoils." Ashton announced as the golems jumped off the table, sinking into the ground out of sight. When there were only a few jolts but no denials, Ashton left.

Everyone was silent for a few moments, just sharing glances and analyzing the information.

"While this might be presumptuous, what exactly is Lord Reece's identity?" Randal asked looking around the room, "While I understand some mystery is needed, clearly he is far more... dangerous and capable than any Reece before."

Leonard genuinely regretted letting so many in on this meeting, while Ashton had been a great boon... without proper identity they could only pretend they were keeping everything under wraps intentionally. If they came to know this all powerful, all knowing Reece... had only been a poor farmer boy a few months ago... all hell would break loose. First, no one would believe it, second, they would no doubt think of ways to control him.

"All you need to know is to treat him with the utmost respect, which We have told you all before." Lucian informed coolly.

Randal took a deep breath, "Your majesty, the Fae are about to step into our country of their own free will for something other than war for the first time in recorded history. Whatever Lord Reece's role is, we need to be aware before the tribute banquet. We also should know the nature of an injury we have not noticed, but the elves could see at first glance. The... beings that helped him fight off a land dragon are also key figure. Figures that have been in the empire without our knowledge, well at least I, had no knowledge of before them today. Can we at know... is Lord Reece human?" Randal asked before he started ranting and raving.

The room was as silent as death, Wesley glanced around the room, then gave a light cough, "Maybe... we just ask?" he asked tentatively, when he felt as if he would be skewered from the glares he shrank back into his seat.

Charmaine and Charles shared a glance, "We saw the ... things before, Ashton made a contract to keep Serafin and Natasha safe during his stay in the empire." Charmaine admitted, everyone turned to Serafin who was looking down at the table. Lucian was staring her down with such fury she was sure that anyone else would have immediately been mutilated for the offense.

"Can you... speak to them? Can you call one here for us to see?" Devlin asked as he pulled a few mana cores from his pocket, most were second or third tier from their hunts earlier.

Serafin squirmed under everyone's gaze then shrugged, "I've never tried before." He admitted.

"Let's try, it might be helpful." Devlin encouraged.

Serafin looked to his mother for help, he had no idea how to get it to come out. After a bout of encouragement from his mother and grandfather Serafin started calling out to a wall. "Come out, are you here?... hello? Umm... excuse me? ... Sir Guardian?" Serafin tried maybe twenty different ways to call out before a huge figure stepped out of the wall and glared down at him.

"Speak." Ashton was viewing the meeting from inside his tent, the rest of the golems were diligently removing the scales of the once large dragon with meticulous care. Ashton had moved the carcass to his previous... nest so the 8 remaining golems could work in peace. Serafin's nagging had the assigned golem asking for instructions.

Serafin leapt back on instinct, Charmaine caught him by the shoulder to keep him steady, "Our apologies, we wanted to thank you for earlier, please accept our thanks." Charmaine explained holding out a mana stone.

The golem stared Charmaine down, "Do not call me." The golem ordered then sank into the ground. While it couldn't help dismantle the dragon corpse, just being linked meant the others were sharing mana it could actively absorb and refine. The more the pieces separated, the more they would grow into their own beings, growing stronger would now depend on their choices. While they would always be linked to Ashton in some way, they would one day be considered genuinely separate existences.

Charmaine was startled at the abrupt appearance and disappearance, she glanced around the room, "Perhaps we thought too simply."

Devlin sighed as he accepted the mana stone back, they'd been hoping a mana stone would be more tempting than a mana core. "When we return we will look up Fae lore, hopefully we can find something."

Randal was tapping his foot, "Can we at least know if Lord Reece is human? Surely no human would keep such company." It would make sense, using quartz to make nearly impenetrable barriers? Not even Alaina, a mythological beast of virtue, boasted such an ability... nor her followers. Perhaps they were beacons and the mage created a barrier from a distance? No, the mage would have to be watching at all times... regardless, not something any human had ever accomplished.

Sebastian raised a brow to Randal, "You seem oddly focused on this Lord Hammer, any particular reason?" Randal had never been his favorite person, but usually he was one to focus on what he could do, and not bother with what he couldn't. Sebastian would usually ignore such lax thoughts, focusing on the solution. No, Sebastian's disgruntlement with Randal was that Randal believed the ends justify the means.

Randal almost choked, "Is it really that surprising? He and his little friends just killed a land dragon. I was there 20 years ago. 300 of my best men, including five mages spent three weeks wearing it down. It took fifteen mages working together to create a spell that finally finished it off. The idea that someone or something of comparable power has been sitting in on court meetings, had free reign of the palace, and is currently unsupervised is mildly alarming." Randal half shouted; half scoffed.

Devlin hesitated, "We were also in the cerulean forest, most spells cast received a significant decrease in power. The spells I saw were top tier fourth and fifth, and that last spell... if I didn't know better I would think former Crown Prince Alphonse had cast it himself. From our reports, Ash- Lord Reece, first restrained the land dragon, then killed it. The power needed to restrain such a beast is no easy feat in itself." Devlin explained taking a mana stone and lifting it.

"Holding a mana stone is easy, but holding a boulder is harder the larger it is. The same with holding a rabbit or holding back a horse. An equivalent power is needed, even at the peak of my power outside the forest... just containing a single elephant for a moment might be possible. I think everyone will agree that a dozen elephants would be much easier than containing a single land dragon." Devlin added not sure if he was more amazed or horrified as the thought about it.

Leonard coughed, "True... but Mage Neilsen... your power bursts are your forte, control is not something you regularly practice." Leonard felt the need to point out as he glanced around, "My understanding is everything Ashton has given or shown is all about control, the economical use of everything he has available. For instance, if there are two glasses of water, you, Mage Neilsen would toss yours back while letting a third of the water spill down your face. Ashton and his group take every sip seriously. I don't know if Ashton and his group have more water, but they don't waste either." Leonard ventured then glanced around.

"As far as I recall, it took over a week for the mages twenty years ago to channel mana together, and even then, it was far from efficient, clearly those..." Leonard hesitated to find a word for them, "helpers were all very well attuned to mana collaborations. There may have only been ten of them, but if they are efficiently coordinated, they could be as effective as 40 fourth tier mages channeling a single spell." Leonard reasoned.

There were shared glances around the room; the information was beneficial... but didn't decrease their alarm. "We at least know the... helpers aren't human, sharing mana may be more natural. That still doesn't explain Lord Reece's role. I heard the knights claiming he was stabbing that dragon in the eye. With a short sword. Can a human even pierce a lord class dragon's flesh?" Randal demanded in disbelief.

The rest thought about it, "Enchanted weapons don't work, but... no one claimed to see Lord Reece's weapons using any enchantments... we just don't have enough information. About his abilities, who or what he is, the helpers he has. Your Majesty, just give us something." Randal half pleaded; but it was Sebastian drew everyone's attention by tapping his cane on the ground twice.

"For now, we know crown prince Serafin and Natasha are defended by beings who brought down a land dragon. We know Lord Reece has no malice regarding the empire, even if it appears there is little love. We know Lord Reece is bound by his honor, which no one can claim he has ever tarnished. We know... Lord Reece is injured in a manner destressing to the Fae. We know Lord Reece has been relaying information about rebels that has been accurate and honest in all ways, even the ways we had not considered. We know Lord Reece... was aware of our machinations and was upfront in his distaste. We know that Lord Reece has done his best to make sure he was not caught in even a half truth. What we don't know, Your Grace, is why you want to know more." Sebastian announced in his most sonorous voice. Sebastian also stood up and looked everyone in the eye. Their refusal to use Lord Reece's title was not lost on him.

"Yes, I am curious, but I can appreciate a helping hand without biting it like a rabid dog. There are many mysteries in the world, I may never have all the answers. But I know the day I die, my honor will be intact to the best of my ability. I have no intention of participating in such... ungrateful speculation, please send for me when more appropriate discussions are being had." Sebastian informed then left for his quarters.

Randal felt as if he'd been slapped repeatedly, "Is knowing who I break bread with such a crime?" He bit out after the door closed behind Sebastian.

Lucian looked around the room, his face also burned with the reprimand, but he hid his shame better. "The topic ends here. We have more pressing matters to discuss."

Sebastian wasn't surprised when they called for him almost immediately, when he returned he sat down ready to discuss their plans regarding the aftermath of rebel infiltrations. They still had fresh battle sites to inspect for clues.