Chapter Twelve: At Last, They Meet

Hughes and his companions finally got through the long, arduous day. Thanks to the growth of his spiritual power, Hughes fell asleep the moment his head touched the pillow, just as Count Uloth had hoped.

Before dawn, Hughes woke naturally. He was gradually realizing that as his spiritual power increased, the amount of sleep he needed seemed to grow ever shorter.

“At this rate, will I eventually not need sleep at all?” Hughes mused, stretching lazily.

He dressed, washed up, and slipped quietly out of the castle without alerting anyone. Stepping onto the street, he noticed not a single person around. At first, he thought perhaps he was simply too early, but as he walked further, a sense of wrongness crept in. Where shops would have been open by this hour on any other day, today every door was tightly shut. Aside from a few passersby hurrying along, the street was deserted.

Hughes returned to the castle to find Count Uloth and the others already awake.

“You’re up early today. Did you just come in from outside?” Count Uloth spotted Hughes immediately.

“Yes, Uncle Uloth. I couldn’t sleep, so I went out for a walk,” Hughes replied, bowing politely before taking a seat at the table, ready for breakfast.

“A morning stroll does one good,” Count Uloth began, just as Count Clay and the Bols siblings came down the stairs.

“By the way, Uncle Uloth, I just noticed all the shops in town are closed. Do you know why?” Hughes asked.

“Oh, that,” Leah interjected before Count Uloth could answer. “Yesterday, the city lord decreed that no shops are to open today.”

“And how do you know that?” Hughes wondered silently, surprised that Leah knew despite not having left the castle yesterday. Still, he didn’t press the matter—perhaps Count Uloth had told her.

“Is it because of the wizards? Then—”

“Of course it is. Why else would the shops stay closed?” Leah interrupted him again.

“Leah! Mind your manners,” Count Uloth chided, casting her a stern look. She immediately bowed her head and focused on her meal.

“It is indeed because of the wizards,” Count Uloth explained. “You know, it’s been many years since the wizard academies have recruited new students. This time, with the wizards coming to test candidates, everyone is taking it very seriously. Closing the shops is only natural.”

“I’ve already sent men to keep watch at the docks. As soon as there’s any news, we’ll be informed immediately.”

Hughes could only nod in response.

So, the group waited from morning until afternoon. During this time, Count Uloth sent others to check the situation, but still there was no news. According to the reports, all the noble families had stationed their people at the docks on the Death Coast.

By evening, the sky was as dark and oppressive as a canvas drenched in ink. Silver lightning writhed overhead like venomous serpents, seeming ready to lunge down and devour anyone at any moment.

A thunderous crash split the sky, a silver serpent tearing a jagged hole in the heavens. Raindrops as large as beans poured down to the earth.

Count Uloth and Count Clay were growing restless, pacing back and forth inside the castle.

“My lord! My lord!” a voice called urgently from outside, drawing Count Uloth’s attention.

“What’s going on? Why the panic?”

“My lord, on the sea—on the sea, there’s a giant ship, and—and—” The servant was so flustered he could barely speak.

“And what? Out with it!” Bols demanded impatiently.

“It’s pouring rain, and the giant ship is sailing on the waves. No matter how big the waves, the ship isn’t fazed in the slightest. Remembering your instructions, I hurried here to report,” the servant stammered, calming down slightly as he finished.

Count Clay and Count Uloth exchanged a glance, each reading the same realization in the other’s eyes.

“We’re going to the docks at once!” Count Uloth decided swiftly. Foregoing the carriage, they took umbrellas and, with Hughes and the others, set off for the docks.

By the time they arrived, a large crowd had already gathered, mostly nobles like Hughes, drawn by the prospect of the wizard’s selection.

Out on the turbulent sea, a massive sailing ship over thirty meters long cut through the waves. Lightning illuminated its hull, where carved wooden figures seemed to come alive, giving the vessel an aura of mystery tinged with something sinister.

Hughes soon noticed something strange: as the ship plowed through the storm, every time a huge wave threatened to crash against it, an invisible force seemed to part the water, leaving the ship unscathed.

“So this is the power of a wizard—a supernatural force that inspires awe.” Hughes gazed longingly at the advancing vessel, yearning for such abilities himself.

As the ship drew nearer, Hughes saw four figures standing on the deck, all cloaked in black, their faces obscured.

The ship came alongside the dock, and the four black-robed figures descended. Raindrops struck them, but it was as if an invisible shield kept them perfectly dry.

“I wonder what powers this ship?” Hughes thought, observing the four wizards. No one else could be seen aboard, and his curiosity grew.

“My lords, my lords, I am Allen Cohen, Lord of Soto City. Welcome, esteemed guests, to our city. It has been a long time since you last visited. I have already prepared a banquet in your honor—please, this way,” the city lord greeted the wizards warmly, ushering them toward the feast he had arranged.

“Hmph! Allen is quick to curry favor,” Count Uloth muttered, clearly displeased as the wizards were escorted away.

The other nobles, guests in someone else’s domain, could only watch in silence, unable to protest.

Lord Allen, ever the gracious host, led the wizards past Hughes. As they passed, Hughes felt a chill run down his spine—an instinctive, soul-deep terror that utterly crushed any thought of resistance.

“Warning! Warning! Warning! Danger detected. Host is advised to retreat immediately,” his chip intoned in his mind.

“Chip, can you analyze their data?” Hughes asked silently, expecting the outcome.

“Unknown energy radiation detected—unable to scan. Host is advised to withdraw,” the chip replied.

“So it can’t be analyzed after all? Is this the power of a wizard?” Hughes felt a pang of disappointment.

Just then, as Hughes looked aside, he noticed one of the wizards glancing his way. Their eyes met, and in that instant, Hughes felt his entire body freeze, as though even his blood had stopped flowing.

The wizard’s gaze flashed, and Hughes felt as if he were utterly exposed, laid bare for all to see.

“Damn it! What kind of power is this?” Hughes struggled to break free, but to no avail.

“Unknown energy detected. Scanning host. Host’s spiritual power damaged, decreasing,” the chip reported.

Just as Hughes could endure no longer, the wizard turned away, but not before casting him a final glance.

With a gasp, Hughes collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily.

“What happened, Hughes? Are you alright?” Bols rushed over, concerned.

“I’m fine, just a little unwell,” Hughes managed, relieved as the sensation of oppression faded.

“Chip, give me my status.”

“Beep! Hughes Brook. Strength: 3.6, Agility: 4.0, Constitution: 4.0, Spiritual Power: 0.9. Status: Spiritual Power injured. Estimated 12 hours to full recovery.”

“My spiritual power dropped so much!” Hughes was startled by the sudden loss.

Remembering the chip’s earlier warning, he realized, “That wizard must have sensed something and used spiritual power to scan me. It must be my awakened spiritual power that caught his attention—otherwise, what else about me could interest him? The chip, perhaps, but it’s bound to my soul; it shouldn’t be detectable. If it were, I doubt I’d still be alive.”

Having reasoned this out, Hughes felt some relief.

With the wizards gone and Hughes feeling unwell, Count Uloth and the others returned to the castle. None of the other noble families could do otherwise; the city lord hadn’t even glanced their way as he left, clearly uninterested in including them. There was nothing to be done—no one dared force their way in and risk offending the wizards.

The rain continued, endless drops drumming against the earth and sending up splashes. Hughes was carefully helped to his room to rest, while Count Uloth and Count Clay sat in the hall, sipping red tea and discussing their next move.