Deep into the night, the Lord of Golden Scorch, Lawren, made his way to the secretive depths of the city to awaken the old Lord, Lanard.
"Father! I've just received wonderful news!" Lawren greeted with a bow, unable to conceal his excitement beneath his handsome and scholarly demeanor.
"I'm nearly one with the grave. What news could be so good?" Lanard, his hair as white as frost and his face lined with age, slowly emerged from the dim recesses. His gaze was still sharp despite his advanced years.
"The Mallister family... they are returning!"
"What has happened?"
"Do you remember Alavin?"
"Alavin?" Lanard pondered, then recognition dawned. "The Mallister's only son? The one sent to Cobalt Strike?"
"It's him! He served as a bondservant for eight years, and who knows by what stroke of fortune his strength soared so rapidly. Not only was he chosen to partake in The Clash of Eight Orders, but he also secured a top five ranking in the tournament."
"Oh?" Lanard expressed his surprise. Making a name for oneself in The Clash of Eight Orders was no simple feat, and to be among the top five was to become renowned across the Northlands.
"Not even Cobalt Strike knows what's happened to him, but that's not important now. What matters is that the Cobalt Strike Commander has pardoned Alavin's servitude, elevating him to a Golden Protégé, and has even forgiven Stormcast!"
Lanard nodded slowly, then something came to mind, and he suddenly looked up, locking eyes with Lawren.
Lawren, unable to contain his excitement, nodded vigorously. "The Mallister family—they're returning!"
"Good! Very good!" Lanard exclaimed thrice in approval. "Who of the Mallister family still lives?"
"Just Zakar and Helna, aside from some others of no consequence."
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Legendary Mage (Alavin)