"Your hospitality is appreciated," the Preceptor said, his tone carrying a tinge of finality to it. "However, the matter you speak of falls under the scope of the information exchange agreed upon between the Ossuary and the Aethelosian Crown. Third parties have no standing in such arrangements."

"Of course, of course," Malcolm said smoothly, though his smile tightened fractionally. "We would never presume to interfere in official negotiations. Though I confess, Preceptor, your young wards look positively exhausted. Perhaps they should be allowed to rest while you and the Queen's Emissary conduct your discussions? We have prepared exceptional accommodations—"

"They will remain with me," the Preceptor cut in abruptly with a tilt to his tone that became slightly dangerous.

"As you wish." Malcolm's smile never wavered, but Finn caught the calculation in his eyes. That had been a probe. The Family Head had just confirmed that Finn and Althea were truly central to whatever information was being exchanged. "Then perhaps we should—"

"If I may, Family Head Malcolm," Cassius spoke for the first time since they'd descended. "I appreciate the... enthusiasm with which Xanth's notable figures have gathered to greet us. However, the information exchange was specifically negotiated as a bilateral matter between Aethelos and the Ossuary."

He looked around at the assembled dignitaries with that same calm expression that never left his face.

"I'm certain none of those present would wish to be seen as attempting to insert themselves into sovereign negotiations through... let's call it creative hospitality?" He smiled lightly. "Such actions might be misinterpreted as diplomatic overreach. And given Xanth's carefully maintained neutrality, I'm sure that's the last impression the esteemed Trade City would wish to project to any of the three continents."

It was a beautifully-wrapped, yet easily and straightforwardly understandable threat. Back off, or Aethelos will take this as hostile interference!

The duchess from Mechanus' eyes narrowed fractionally. The Feraxian dignitary's pleasant expression grew strained. Even the Feugeur family head — Malcolm's perpetual smile dimmed for half a second.

"Naturally," Malcolm recovered first, nodding toward Cassius slightly. "We would never dream of compromising Xanth's neutrality. We merely wished to extend proper courtesy to distinguished guests. But I see the Emissary is as... astute as the rumors suggest."

Damn… One exchange and he's shut them up already. Finn glanced at the Emissary and subtly scratched at an itch on his forearm. This is not a good time to be irrational while facing up against someone like that…

"Then if there's nothing further," the Preceptor said, already moving toward the villa's entrance, "we shall require privacy for the remainder of the evening."

"Of course. The secured chamber has been prepared per your earlier request," Malcolm said, gesturing for his assembled forces to disperse. "Should you require anything—"

"We won't," the Preceptor said flatly.

As the dignitaries reluctantly withdrew, and the master-rank Arcanists returned to their posts, Finn caught Cassius glancing at him and Althea with a small smile.

The young emissary had just expertly deflected a concerted ambush from some of the most powerful non-Arcanist figures in the world, protecting Aethelos's exclusive access to whatever information they possessed.

And he'd done it without raising his voice, without threats, without even breaking his pleasant, scholarly demeanor.

Finn primed his mind and faced forward as they made their way into the Emerald Villa and straight to the secure chamber.

I wonder what tactics he will use…

.

.

The secured chamber was far less opulent than the rest of the Emerald Villa, adorned only with thick, bare stone walls, a simple table and chairs that prioritized function over comfort.

As they entered, Finn couldn't help but feel acutely aware of how his wings scraped against the doorframe, how his eyes had started to reflexively scan every corner of the room for threats, how the fur along his forearms stood on end in the oppressive atmosphere…

"Please, sit," Cassius said, gesturing to the chairs opposite him as he settled into his own as if this were his own turf.

The Preceptor paid them no mind. Instead, his eyes were half-closed as his soul essence spread through the room like an invisible tide. Finn felt it wash over him, making his Ferropteryx soul mass bristle instinctively before he forcibly suppressed the reaction.

Almost simultaneously, Cassius reached into his pocket and brought out a weird-looking orb. The emissary was scanning for recording artifacts, or anything that might compromise the privacy of their discussion.

It was a thorough check of soul-based scrying artifacts on the Preceptor's end, and check for the mana equivalents by the Emissary.

It wasn't until after nearly a full minute that they both seemed satisfied by the results. The Preceptor sat carefully at one end of the plain table, while the Emissary sat at the other. Finn and Althea sat facing each other.

"So," Cassius started without preamble, "I'd like to hear what you both experienced in that anomalous chaos breach. Please take your time. Start from the beginning. I won't interrupt."

So that's his play… Finn mused internally. He'd thought the Emissary would employ sophisticated tactics, mind games, or something more at least… but instead he had gone for a more direct approach.

Althea cleared her throat after a slight nod from the Preceptor to go ahead, and immediately, she did.

She narrated her arrival at Woodhaven town, the purpose of her arrival — the promotion test of the Grade 1 initiates she was to supervise, she detailed the weirdness of the town that she noticed, and explained that it felt like they were being watched. No— That they were certainly being watched.

The emissary was content to keep listening, only jotting light notes in a small book he held every now and then.

Althea continued. She moved to Finn's and the other Grade 1 Ossuarists' arrival over the subsequent days, and their first purging of chaotic soul mass outbreaks. She explained her thoughts on the whole matter: Looking at it in hindsight now, she felt the purgings had been too easy and straightforward, unlike what a town notorious for banditry and plentiful deaths of rogue Arcanists in the area should have had.

Finn chipped in too, speaking softly as he controlled the rising discomfort of the Ferropteryx debts. He explained that on his journey through the forest to Woodhaven town, it was surprisingly smooth and uneventful. It has stuck out as weird to him, but he chalked it up to the rise in mercenary Arcanists in the area — as their guide through the city had explained to them then.

They quickly then moved on to the crux of the matter — the chaos breach itself.

As Althea spoke, Finn felt his heart skip a beat. The Preceptor had told them to speak only the truth. But that truth involved speaking about something Finn himself didn't know how it happened. He had been the one to pull the veil of the exotic plane and reveal the pocket space hiding beneath it.

Revealing that would draw not only questions from the Emissary, but also questions and an even more heightened vigilance and curiosity from the Preceptor towards him.

I'm going to have to lie. Finn primed himself, looking at Althea's lips moving, waiting for the moment she got to explaining about the veil. He's just a normal Arcanist. No matter how smart he is, it's just physical cues he has going for him. It's not like he has some kind of truth-telling ability or something.

He was not going to reveal parts of himself that were so secret. Parts he himself didn't understand yet.

Finn's expression was as natural as possible. His mind worked at the maximum trying to maintain calmness on the outside, while also balancing the Ferropteryx debts from leaking out through his words or actions.

But just as he was about to insert himself fluidly into the explanation, Althea's next words made his act nearly slip in shock.

"...and then I noticed something abnormal about the space. My higher grade soul felt a tug from a particular section behind me…"

What…? Finn watched her continue without the slightest twitch on his face. But internally his mind was roiling. He fought the urge to scratch an intense itch on his arm as his Ferropteryx debts also rose because of his unstable mind.

He felt hot all of a sudden, but he tried his very best to stay still as she spoke.

"—Hold on," the Emissary spoke, cutting Althea off. "Your soul felt something? What do you mean by this? Buttress."

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