Chapter 354: The 4th Understudy

The dry, rhythmic scratching of a brass-nibbed quill against thick parchment filled the quiet space of Lord Alistair’s private study. The sharp, metallic scent of iron-gall ink mingled with the burning wax of the flickering candles, casting long, dancing shadows across the heavy oak desk where Ray and Jude Hawthorne sat.

"If we are to post a Subjugation Commission, we must define the parameters. Specifically, the minimum rank of the adventurers that we need for this commission. A bounty this large will attract the desperate and the foolish if we do not set a floor."

Jude said, carefully dipping his quill.

"I am unfamiliar with the Adventurer’s Guild's current hierarchy. How are they structured?"

Ray said as he leaned back in his chair.

"Alphabetically, the lowest ranks and novices start at F-Rank. The scale moves up through E, D, C, B, and A-Rank. Above that are the anomalies, the S-Rank and beyond, though you will rarely see them operating outside the capital or major warzones."

Jude explained, setting the quill aside to count on his fingers.

"How does our kingdom’s Aegis ranking fit into that system? If I wanted a squad capable of matching Svane?"

Ray asked as he processed the scale, comparing it to the Eldorian military structure he knew well.

"Svane is a Gold Aegis right? Which I believe is an elite in the kingdom’s military. In terms of raw combat power and survivability, I can only speculate that Svane would probably be on par with a peak B-Rank to A-Rank within the Adventurer's Guild, depending on the specific battle parameters and his command over his spells."

Jude noted, tapping his chin.

The mention of Svane's spellcasting brought a sudden, quiet frown to Ray's face. He remembered the violent magical backlash his Vanguard had suffered earlier.

I just hope his condition is not too serious.

Ray thought, anticipating the thorough medical examination he planned to conduct right after dinner.

Ray pushed the worry aside and nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing as he ran the tactical calculations in his head.

"Very well, write this down, Uncle Jude. For the minimum rank requirement and the total bounty payout, we will list..."

Ray said, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the desk.

The scratching of the quill resumed, etching the fate of the Ruinstone mining site into the heavy parchment.

The clinking of heavy silverware against porcelain echoed in the Greywood Keep’s dining hall. The rich, savory aroma of roasted venison glazed with honey and root vegetables filled the room, offering a stark, comforting contrast to the damp horrors of the Whispering Hills.

Ray sat at the long wooden table with his father, Alistair, and his mother, Eileen. The two men went out of their way to keep the atmosphere light and normal, actively steering the conversation away from the Ruinstone mining site to keep Eileen from worrying.

However, Eileen was far from oblivious. She caught the subtle, weighted glances passing between her husband and her son, and she noticed the hint of worry and determination hiding behind Ray’s casual demeanor. But she was the Lady of Greywood; she trusted the men of her house. She knew that whatever burden they were currently carrying, they would handle it, and they would tell her when the time was right.

As the main courses were cleared, the door that leads to the kitchen swung open, and Rina entered, carrying a platter of honey-glazed pastries. She had insisted on helping the kitchen staff prepare the dessert like what she does before she went with Ray to the academy.

"The pastries are perfect, Rina. Thank you,"

Eileen said with a warm, genuine smile.

"It is my pleasure, Lady Eileen."

Rina replied softly, offering a polite curtsy before stepping back to let the family eat.

Notice the source distinction: www. carries the author's chapter, while this text was copied without approval.

Ray caught her eye and gave a small nod of appreciation. She smiled back, though she also noted a hint of worry from Ray radiating from his posture.

As soon as the dessert concluded, Ray excused himself, bypassing the usual post-dinner tea. He had a Vanguard to examine.

Ray’s private quarters were cool and dead silent. The air held the sharp, astringent scent of dried medicinal herbs and crushed eucalyptus from his alchemy bench in the corner.

A heavy, rhythmic knock broke the silence.

"Enter."

Ray called out, sitting in a high-backed chair.

Svane stepped into the room. The massive Gold Aegis had cleaned the mud and blood from his skin and changed into a simple linen tunic and trousers, but he moved with a subtle, rigid stiffness.

"Have a seat, Svane."

Ray ordered, pointing to the stool opposite him.

"My Lord, it is truly not necessary. My internal circulation is stabilizing and my body simply aches from the physical pressure of the Retaliation Shield. With a few days of rest I should be fine."

Svane protested mildly, remaining standing.

Ray ignored the deflection. Without a word, he initiated Concurrent Partial Immersion. His eyes briefly flashed with golden light as he layered the Serene Cultivator’s ‘Aetheric Perception’ with the World-Weary Healer’s 'Diagnosis' skill.

To Ray's enhanced vision, Svane's physical body became semi-transparent, revealing the glowing network of his mana pathways. Inside Ray’s mindscape, the personas delivered their grim assessment.

Healer: “The physical pathways are intact, but the synchronization is completely shattered. The violent magical backlash from earlier severed the bridge between his body and his mana core. His body and his magic are no longer speaking the same language.”

The World-Weary Healer noted clinically.

"Cast a spell, Svane. A basic Shield spell. Right now."

Ray said as he frowned, the golden glow fading from his eyes.

Svane hesitated, clearly uncomfortable, but his loyalty demanded obedience. He raised a hand, took a breath, and reached inward to draw from his mana core.

Ray watched the catastrophe unfold in real-time. The mana surged upward, but instead of flowing smoothly into the Vanguard's body, it violently clashed against the physical gates of his meridians. The spell matrix stuttered. The energy spiked aggressively, threatening to collapse inward and trigger another devastating backlash.

Ray didn't warn Svane of what he had seen. He made a move.

Utilizing his newly evolved innate ‘Aetheric Severance’ skill, Ray lunged forward. He perfectly read the 'somatic vulnerability window' in Svane’s failing spell. Ray’s fist, coated his pure primordial aether, struck Svane dead center in the chest with a sharp, concussive thud.

The 'Mana Shock' triggered instantly. The strike violently slammed Svane’s meridians shut, forcibly cutting off the flow of magic and aborting the spell before it could detonate internally.

Svane stumbled backward as the magic evaporated. He looked at Ray, utter confusion mixing with the lingering pain in his chest.

"My Lord? Why..."

"Because you were half a second away from rupturing your own meridians, your internal circulation is stable, but your synergy is gone. Your body and your core have entirely disconnected. If you try to cast, you will simply tear yourself apart."

Ray stated, his voice flat, allowing the harsh reality to land.

The words hit the Vanguard hard.

Svane’s massive shoulders slumped. The stoic mask crumbled, revealing a profound, agonizing despair. He looked down at his trembling hands. Just months ago, Ray had miraculously cured his crippled mana flow, unlocking his potential and allowing him to achieve the rank of Gold Aegis. Ray had given him his life back.

And now, through his own weakness on the battlefield, he had broken it all over again.

"I... I am sorry, my Lord. You wasted your efforts on me. I am broken. I can no longer serve as your Vanguard."

Svane whispered, his voice thick with shame. He slowly sank to his knees on the cold stone floor, refusing to meet Ray's eyes.

"You are not broken, Svane. And you are certainly not relieved of your duty. The disconnect is severe, but it is not permanent. My Patron has a way of fixing this. If you are willing, I can share a piece of that gift with you."

Ray said, his voice softening.

Svane’s head snapped up. He stared at Ray, his mind racing. He had almost forgotten about the mysterious entity that backed his young Lord, the unseen Patron that had somehow provided the impossible solution to Solhaven Academy’s Genesis Crystal crisis.

"You have already saved my life more times than I can count. It would be my absolute honor to receive this gift, my Lord."

Svane said without hesitation as he bowed his head.

"Good. This will feel strange. Do not resist," Ray instructed.

Ray responded as he placed his thumb on Svane’s forehead.

System,designate Svane as Understudy Number Four. Impart the Serene Cultivator's 'Body-Mind Harmony' to restore the synergy of his physical body and his core. And impart the Grizzled Commander's 'Predator's Intuition'.

Ray commanded mentally.

[WARNING: IMPARTING TWO SKILLS SIMULTANEOUSLY INCURS SEVERE COGNITIVE STRAIN. PROCEED?]

Proceed.

Ray responded without hesitation.

A blinding rush of golden light flooded the room.

[UNDERSTUDY DESIGNATION: SVANE ORBEN]

[SKILL SHARED: 'Body-Mind Harmony']

[SKILL SHARED: 'Predator's Intuition' (Passive)]

[RESONANT LINK COMMUNICATION: ACTIVE]

[EVALUATING UNDERSTUDY PHYSIOLOGY AND APTITUDES...]

[UNDERSTUDY PROFILE: SVANE ORBEN]

[Age: 38]

[PHYSIOLOGICAL STATS (Relative to Peer Average)]

[Strength: 35 / 45 (Peer Average: 25)]

[Agility: 26 / 35 (Peer Average: 22)]

[Stamina: 35 / 42 (Peer Average: 24)]

[Constitution: 36 / 45 (Peer Average: 25)]

[DETECTED APTITUDES:]

[Kinetic Bastion: Subject possesses an unusually high physical tolerance for absorbing and grounding kinetic trauma without suffering skeletal fractures.]

[Unwavering Loyalty: Subject displays a psychological framework highly resistant to external manipulation, coercion, or magical charm when defending designated VIPs.]