Callis and Novus crossed the Main Hall width-wise, passing across the main hallway and entering the row of crystalline pillars opposite to where they started.
As they walked, a loud voice caught their attention, making them stop in their tracks.
-What do you mean the Chalearii Aemilianus’ possessions aren’t here?- A middle-aged Cidens Ensis, part of Chalearii Aemilianus’ entourage, angrily shouted at one of the clerks in charge of taking inventory and registering any arriving supplies.
He was starting to get physical, pushing the young man.
-S-sorry sir, but no merchant under the listed name arrived at the Castle.- The clerk stammered out of fear as the looming figure of the Cidens Ensis kept pushing and intimidating him.
Novus, looking at Callis, couldn’t avoid saying. -Somebody should do something about this.- Callis shook his head.
-No, this is something that does not concern us, Mes Igneus.- He gestured for Novus to follow him. -Please, let us continue.- And with that said he started walking.
Novus, after a moment, turned around, away from the ruckus, and followed Callis through a doorway into a curving staircase.
As he walked up the rug-covered stone steps, the Young Arcanist was pretty disgusted with how the Ensis was conducting himself. It was clear that the clerk didn’t have control over any deliveries arriving or not.
“Wait… deliveries?” Novus’ brain fired up piecing together the information he had to reach a hypothesis.
[-From Ora, we bring many important products requested by Chalearii Aemil-]
“Aemilianus, the merchant from Ora was bringing whatever the Chalearii wanted” Novus realized that and couldn’t avoid whispering really softly. -So he has it.-
-Did you say something, Mes Igneus?- Callis stopped walking and glanced back at Novus.
-Uh!?- Novus was surprised, he was sure he whispered really softly and didn’t think Callis could be able to listen. -No, sorry, I was just talking to myself, let’s carry on.-
Novus walked past Callis without knowing where to go, a bit flustered upon being heard and after a couple of steps, he stopped and turned around.
-Sorry, I just remembered I don’t know the way.- He lowered his head, realizing how dumb he looked and expected being mocked.
-Yes, that’s the case, allow me to continue guiding you, Mes Igneus.- Callis’ tone lacked any of the arrogance or disdain most highborn used when talking to Novus.
That was another thing that seemed peculiar. The Young Arcanist’s brain stored that tidbit of information for further study down the line.
-Of course, sorry again, lead the way.- Novus apologized again, allowing Callis to walk past him to follow behind.
It was a smart decision, as the more they moved through the castle, the more lost Novus was. It was an artisanally crafted architectural nightmare, with corridors splitting apart into smaller towers added centuries after the neighboring structures.
It was almost as if each Rex attempted to put their own mark in the castle, but only managed to make the whole building confusing.
In actuality, there was a certain method in the madness, as the spiraling structure had very well-defined main corridors following the progression of increasingly taller towers.
-So… this place is confusing, isn’t it?- Novus decided to attempt to fill the silence with small talk. If Callis was placed as his bodyguard he could at least try to have an amicable relationship with the man.
-Yes.- Callis replied without turning around. The Half-Blooded Ensis was a man of facts, rather than opinions. He knew that sharing his own thoughts would only end in ridicule most of the time, so he had closed off his subjective thoughts and his words always aimed to convey truths, or better put, to convey what was accepted as truth by all.
-Eh…- Novus really wasn’t expecting such a short answer, not after Callis attempted to give him a full history lesson before. “History”. A thought passed through the Young Arcanist’s head and realized how he had an in.
-Before you were telling me about the tower of the Paeoniis and the Royal Laboratory, is there anything more I should really know about it?- Novus hoped that Callis, who clearly seemed to know about the Castle and was quite happy to talk about it before would open up a bit.
Still, the Young Arcanist didn’t want to test his luck too much as most of his interactions with Ensis or other nobles ended badly.
-There is so much to mention about the tow…- Callis stopped in his tracks and turned around, unable to contain a smile. Soon he stopped smiling when he saw Novus’ reaction to it.
The Half-Blooded Ensis usually spoke in a calm and collected tone, not needing to open his mouth too much. Not many noticed his teeth, sharper than any Viani and most of them resembling fangs, rather than proper teeth.
Instinctively Callis covered his mouth with his gloved hand and turned back around. Novus was speechless. And then it clicked. He knew where he heard the name “Callis Nomene” before.
-BY THE ANCIENT MAGUS!- The Young Arcanist couldn’t avoid shouting out of shock. Callis’ shoulders shook, surprised by Novus’ sudden exclamation.
The Half-Blooded Ensis gradually turned around to see the Young Arcanist pointing at him with a shivering finger.
-You’re the Beast Blade?- Novus mentioned Callis’ old nickname from his City Guardsman days. It was an unflattering nom de guerre given to him by some of his so-called comrades and Callis hated it.
Given to him for his mixed heritage, it was another painful reminder of his disreputable ancestry.
Novus was shaken, he heard many stories of Callis exploits, mostly from his father’s workers when he visited his business to help out before going to the academy.
Most of them came from the Mudhole, the lower class district of Rigel, where Callis did most of his patrols. They were tough guys, all of them had worked as Cibus miners or blacksmiths, so they had a certain type of physique and demeanor.
Like for example slapping each other during the Boreas season to make their blood flow and fight off the cold.
All of them were dead scared of Callis. At least that was the first thing they said when they talked about him.
“The Beast Blade kicked my cousin through a wall”
“I saw him fight against half a dozen brigands.”
"He pulled out my arm when I was drunk in White Sands."
"Never break a law in the Mudhole or he will break your jaw"
-I can’t believe you are the Beast Blade…- Novus always thought they were exaggerating, but still felt like that the “Beast Blade” guy was pretty strong, or he was really good at selling his reputation.
Not in a thousand years did he think he might encounter him in the castle as a history-loving Ensis.
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