Chapter 219: Mana Oath

"Look, I’m really taller than you!"

Dahlia said with a teasing smile while skipping alongside Regis.

"No, you’re not..." Regis responded as he looked out the window, subtly tiptoeing whenever she got near him.

Every time she tried to get close to him and compare their heights, he would take a step away.

Dahlia’s giggles softly echoed through the hallway as the three of them walked towards the meeting chamber.

Meanwhile, Regis’s cheeks were burning in embarrassment.

"Ehem..."

At this moment, Doron cleared his throat with a cough, catching the two’s attention.

"I’m glad that you two are finally able to meet each other. So, Regis, when do you plan on visiting?"

His words caused Dahlia to stare at Regis with curiosity in her eyes.

However, Regis scratched the back of his head and smiled wryly, "To be honest, I don’t think I’ll be able to visit anytime soon."

"Eh!? Why!?"

Dahlia looked as if she could not believe what she heard, while Doron merely glanced at him, patiently waiting for him to explain.

"Well... as you know, I’m currently in Harmonia. It’s a newly established city and is still at the initial stages of development."

"Although we do have teleportation portals to Ligera, other routes to cities and locations are still underdeveloped and currently pending in the development queue. Currently, Harmonia’s top priority is exploring nearby regions for any signs of demonic rifts."

"Besides, I can’t travel on foot since it would take years to get there. So I’m planning to visit once the teleportation portals to the Royal Capital are up and running."

"Even though I can use teleportation magic, the regions I’d have to pass through are dangerous, since they’re still uncharted parts of human territory. So, even though I really want to, I can only wait."

His words caused Doron to squint his eyes, ’Just how much does he know? And how could he know all of this?’

He knew that although Regis only seemed to be explaining things to Dahlia, he was also sharing information with him about the true reason for the establishment of the satellite city.

’So their reasoning that it was for the betterment of relations between the races was just a front, huh?’

’No... I think it’s more like hitting two birds with one stone, since the pope himself is human...’

As numerous thoughts ran through Doron’s mind, they had already arrived at the door of the meeting chamber.

Dahlia and Regis also noticed this and fell silent.

"Uncle Doron, are they going to be angry at Regis?"

"Why would they be angry at me?"

"I don’t know, maybe because your letter was misinterpreted by them as some sort of threat to the family?"

"Trust me, they won’t."

Regis chuckled lightly before looking at Doron, "What I said was enough, right? I still have more to say..."

"It’s more than enough." The latter smiled before opening the room to the meeting chamber.

Meanwhile, Dahlia wore a confused expression as she glanced back and forth between the two of them.

’Huh? What are they even talking about?’

Creak—

As she wondered what Regis and Doron’s words implied, the door to the meeting chamber opened.

The meeting chamber remained just as it was earlier, with the officials seated around the long table.

They had clearly gathered themselves, now wearing composed expressions as they sat with an air of nobility radiating from their presence.

At the head of the table sat two figures: Duke Gareth and Duchess Glorietta.

The three empty chairs to their right made it clear where they were expected to sit.

Doron’s eyes widened the moment he saw the three empty chairs, but he quickly composed himself and guided both Regis and Dahlia to their seats.

As they stepped into the room, every official’s gaze turned toward them, drawn especially to Regis’s avatar, who stood with a calm demeanor.

His blood-red eyes shimmered with quiet confidence, and a faint smile played on his lips, exuding composure.

In contrast, Dahlia’s face showed traces of nervousness despite her efforts to mask it.

Glorietta stood with a warm smile and greeted cheerfully, "It’s a pleasure to finally meet the friend Sweetie has always talked about."

Gareth also rose from his seat, nodding with a welcoming smile.

"A-Auntie... d-don’t..." Dahlia mumbled in protest, her face flushed with embarrassment.

But when she noticed Regis’s teasing gaze lingering on her, she could only lower her head in defeat.

Coincidentally, Gustav sat to the left of his parents— directly across Regis.

His black obsidian eyes shone with curiosity as he looked at the boy, who looked to be no older than him.

’He looks just about my age, but the way everyone, and even my parents, reacted earlier...’

Though he felt no oppressive aura, he was sharp enough to sense something off about the boy named Regis.

Oblivious to her son’s thoughts, Glorietta began the conversation with her usual friendly demeanor.

If one did not know better, they might have mistaken this for a casual meeting between a mother and her child’s friend, not a formal audience in the meeting chamber of the Ducal Hall.

"So, Regis, how have you been living since that accident? Dahlia told us how the two of you were separated during the Toran City incident. You were the only person she talked about for weeks after she came to live with us."

Her words alone were enough to give Gareth and the officials a clue about Regis’s true identity.

"I’ve been well, Auntie. Oh, and I hope you don’t mind me calling you that..."

"Of course not," Glorietta said with a delighted smile, leaning in slightly, "Since you’re like family to Dahlia, you’re like family to us too!"

She paused, then continued, her tone shifting just a bit, "Though, before we get into everything else, there’s something I’ve been wondering."

Regis smiled politely, meeting her gaze, "Please, ask away."

"It’s just... are you really a master rank magician?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

"The head mage of our duchy, who was a high rank mage, said you’re immensely powerful. But... given your age, it’s a little hard to believe."

Regis caught the implication immediately.

’They’re probing me.’

He glanced sideways, eyes locking momentarily with a certain official in the room, and offered a friendly smile.

Meanwhile, Borce’s back was soaked with sweat under Regis’s casual glance.

The fall of Toran City was known throughout the human territories.

Now, a human boy, without the blood of any other race, reaching the master rank would naturally raise suspicion.

And even though he was currently in Harmonia, those suspicions did not lessen.

’But this woman... something about her is odd...’

Regis narrowed his eyes slightly, watching Glorietta’s expression.

’...it’s almost like she wants to fight.’

"But Auntie."

He said lightly, "I’ve already spent over two hours with Dahlia, and the mana in this avatar won’t last much longer. I’ll likely be able to cast just one spell before it dissipates."

Gareth, sensing the rising tension, chuckled and interjected, "That’s unfortunate. But I trust you’ll be able to help us complete our request next time you send an avatar, yes?"

"I’m afraid not, Duke," Regis replied, his tone apologetic.

"Scriptum Vivens—the magic spell that creates this avatar—can only be maintained with Arcanvellum as the base material for the paper. And as you know... it’s incredibly rare and expensive. I will be sending letters regularly, but I don’t know if I can send an avatar..."

Regis bowed his head slightly in apology.

Hearing his words, Glorietta simply smiled. "Don’t worry about that. I’ll sponsor your next letter. Just find the material, and leave the rest to me."

The expressions of the duke and the other officials subtly darkened.

’Just one scroll made of Arcanvellum will hurt our budget...’

They kept those thoughts to themselves, but it was written all over their faces.

And with Glorietta’s personality, they knew resistance was futile.

They turned toward Gareth with hopeful eyes, silently begging for a solution.

The duke gave a resigned smile, laughing awkwardly. "You heard my wife. We’ll cover the cost of the Arcanvellum for your next letter."

"Now then."

He said, his expression turning serious, "Let’s get to the important matters. Earlier, you offered to answer our questions. But before we begin—how can we be sure you’re telling the truth?"

Just as Dahlia opened her mouth to protest, Doron gently placed a hand on her shoulder and shook his head.

She then remained silent with an unwilling expression on her face.

Despite the friendly tone Glorietta had used, this was still a formal setting—Regis stood before the important figures Grava Duchy.

"Then, I promise..."

Everyone’s gaze turned towards Regis as he raised his right hand and spoke with a languid voice, "...that until this conversation is over, I will only tell the truth."

Wooong—

The mana within the meeting chamber stirred violently.

The air trembled.

Chains of ethereal light materialized, binding the four glowing mana stars on the avatar’s chest.

Everyone’s eyes widened at the sight, especially Borce, the head mage of the duchy.

’A mana oath!?’

The four glowing mana stars on the avatar were already impressive enough, but now, with Regis invoking a mana oath, their surprise only deepened.