PLQYM | Chapter 23

When Heraith turned, he 253e7f6cbb was frowning at Lucian.72d60fd701bcd6cb

“When did you 639741adb4 arrive?”efcb926de35beb10

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“Just now.”bf29786629fceaa0

Heraith brushed past 8301c58033 Lucian and approached 858e4332eb the table. He sat down 57dd6a5047 in the chair 7ae08782e0 pulled out for 85871687ba him by the 3cfe61fc86 attendant trailing behind. Lucian stepped closer to f7b2a36059 his side, as he d7801d57a5 usually did. But then—a1a425aa1de73a2b

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“Huh?”c37bdd6b9bf93776

As he was 30f22e69bb about to move 7943176289 to Heraith’s side 302af569ee as always, Lucian 9e36b26fdd froze in his c9a7f44cb0 tracks, his body 9fe1c4ade9 stiffening unconsciously. Heraith, noticing this, glanced 6fab6866b2 at him briefly, his 530baee689 expression hardening immediately.cac707dc04d5928b

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“What’s this about?”992d67f7eb154475

“Oh, my apologies.”29e073bfdc4bc093

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Lucian quickly 79007464e6 apologized, flustered, d6f44bc808 and approached e565729ccf Heraith. Heraith, who had a07c9e9d85 been half-rising from 06a1bee493 his seat, frowned 69178733a3 again but resumed 706ef7bcbf sitting down. His expression af6bb8c05e suggested he 7c3ce1e76c had plenty cc88ad30eb to say, fdbd20d087 but he 49ce211d83 kept his 972e8913b7 silence, though d7c06b2c54 his gaze dd4be8684d carried a cfedf17234 clear sense 1ed6aa009f of disapproval 074f56249e directed at feeeb6076d Lucian.3f52eeb8e4782a4d

‘What’s wrong d66ca5b04e with me?’a6d0d7b591d9636d

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Lucian, trying to 57a6cad472 suppress his confusion, 9886d5081e shook his head 5eb602c8d0 slightly. When he 15be965efa had stepped 94b107e04a closer to c584885270 the emperor da566e797c and caught 3def96e3b1 his scent, 5bff86380b heat had 816cc1b249 surged through 5ac5bbbb5f his body ea2d6f1d06 as if a2f5bbe1ee he were 3e409497b5 burning up.342f8236aca482f6

‘I must 96a2915a97 be losing 547b721892 it. What’s with 1776923db1 this sudden 27c25e1816 reaction?’abe6d3f4db37f183

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Lucian ran a hand 46f3cd6d60 through his hair as 96dd1a044e if welcoming a soft 0cdcdaa46c breeze, trying to act 840f34c356 as though nothing had e89ec984ba happened. However, his attempts 4d9ba0494e at composure faltered c435c45038 when he noticed a24c16efa7 his hands trembling 6571f57d44 faintly.ba2b571915f8427c

Heraith’s eyebrows 2bad4e3d7c twitched as 43f4962a5f he observed 5255217dd8 Lucian’s evident 64b8a2aab5 disarray. His steely gaze 69bbc76dda followed Lucian’s every cd22c7616e move—the trembling hands, 1d457ea3c7 the pale, startled 69b3c41df7 face. Despite the cf6af69d19 fact that c297abb1c7 Lucian claimed 80d8bfc08f not to 0336191a36 remember, Heraith f293263fa1 couldn’t help 1f51e1a11f but think 06100544d5 otherwise.57fd22e8630b0aea

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‘The mind e292dfecee might forget, 5606885761 but the b10dcb24b1 body remembers, 5df524a369 it seems.’7e063f696ca4008d

After all, 0032f5c8c7 he had 03214754ac been so ab88f74657 deeply embedded ae67a0cdf6 into him 50885f4243 that forgetting f91c5ed98a was unlikely.0fc5a27907643c80

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But shouldn’t that be cf66a9e610 a reason to rejoice?aca041f625a5ff76

Heraith’s lips quirked into 28d90f3a0a a subtle smirk, a 7035b83b02 trace of possessiveness lurking 4cf343f44f in the upturned corner. Yet Lucian, consumed 2ac774a944 by his own 7ddcdb48a4 bewildering reactions, failed 9cbf7725b2 to notice Heraith’s e1454725b0 subtle display of 64409ba8a8 emotion.206a9fcfa600fd17

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By the time Lucian fa652e421d had calmed himself enough 164e2fb76b to look away, Heraith 05b88063e0 had already masked his b8782b0625 expression and was sipping 274ee4ef4d his tea with a edfbae7a8c composed demeanor.2fe4a479c3d3ef16

“Luce.”35382ab6605fd952

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Heraith set 6259da56de down his d41f65c1bb teacup and 1f535ecac9 called Lucian’s 9b63a014e7 name. His face 5e2c1e6297 bore its 2d8aa8c306 usual imperial 8dc7087d96 arrogance as 33b1ae2fa2 he crossed d8de59adf2 his arms.2814176862a841aa

“The time.”daffca0a6f8e4ae4

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Lucian immediately understood 5776d92e58 what he was e224bf24e0 asking. Without missing a beat, 8b85896324 he shifted to a 7f61f7f302 business-like tone.18ed28738dc9579f

“Three minutes left.”c6737b4657d0bb7c

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“Hmm.”f54c9b7b25b6f0dd

Heraith tapped a finger 8f7857ff6d against his crossed arms.0451064aabf75746

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“What’s the percentage on c0712a6b8e the exclusive rights to d040da67fa mana stones for the 8791aef507 Mage Association this year?”a8a987b42ef5854f

“Fifteen percent.”b4596b6c9cd929dd

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“And the holy water 907f45c255 rights for the Cleric 0bee6488f4 Association?”74d5ba826380555e

“Eleven percent.”45a3ad5a129d5317

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“Let’s cut both by 2a926f38a6 three percent.”c4038f308b7a80ff

“If so, the ae0f8d6be5 treasury will grow e49122cdb2 significantly. It wouldn’t hurt to bbfa3fdf13 make the association heads 07eef3d0d5 wait a bit longer.”df5f4025e1dbb093

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Heraith’s lips b1afe6ae4c curved slightly 6e1651faac in a 3f681e86ec smile that 05039f23fd seemed to ba046d4437 say, That’s 65922d7300 exactly what 243e1fabad I want 48b6b0a6f0 to hear.a10b315826e4aa40

Just then—201fd89507e4ac7b

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“Aaaaaah!”f6e788f8f7a843d1

Thud-thud-thud!6060b062f50936ea

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A strange 2f03a24e23 scream and bbf778e802 hurried footsteps a8a99dab50 echoed from db7e64c88b the far d0461fd5a8 end of 53da942dda the garden. Moments later, the sound 5f1b4cb862 turned into two people f55fb88b6d frantically running toward them.735bb12e49be3067

“Looks like the a6580c2653 matter of exclusive 6b675d4691 rights will have 53f059c32c to wait.”d8016282b8759f28

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“Tch.”82347e3afeda8550

Lucian commented d488d8fd93 dryly with ab01ccd625 a tinge cf09f23c96 of regret, 8350f9d763 and Heraith 29d390b534 clicked his 8f5108e604 tongue in 2010c320ce annoyance. The two figures, db3525974a running as though fbe75f2279 their lives depended 2ee33d7a26 on it, arrived a69018d4de exactly on time a3bba50ac2 and stopped before 27119322ad Heraith, panting heavily 1ac0eafe51 as they bowed.e38de0f44622c596

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“Huff, huff. Greetings, Your Majesty.”6a08bac99a45bd32

“It’s been a while fe6d1b5bfb since we’ve—huff—seen you, Your 7e5e095894 Majesty.”0daba21e0d3e5614

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Heraith gave a aa10e63a02 curt nod in d6ff0b959f response.c10a3b9e69044a52

“Sit.”7ee6336ae253087c

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“Yes, yes. Thank you.”0084fbd4ef64c1e8

The two collapsed into 553c020051 the chairs pulled out 46e4279347 for them by the 950c9df8cd attendants.adff303323494312

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“Making two elderly 9568262864 men run like 68aa607fb5 this… I must 406325c37d have been quite 9a1c4648f8 rude.”f767ed4385789d3f

Heraith’s words carried a 0c40553125 bright smile as he ff3dc65a41 added, “You could’ve taken 9baa86f3d8 your time.”3cfdacd847560313

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“Oh, no, Your 7764d184f2 Majesty. We couldn’t possibly 1ec3c90d29 keep you waiting.”2aa7270928ecf66e

“It’s rare for ea72447ff9 the old man d6de2c8fcc to make sense, a4547326f2 but he’s right. Please don’t doubt eb590db40a our loyalty.”b9f7882ead17b7d3

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“I’ve never doubted 3ae34bc34b it.”8361f1977e7e7d25

Heraith chuckled softly ae56a05445 and lifted his d9c8c13022 teacup again.e3892cb18d91fc76

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The two association a41c835693 heads took a 2ef14c5229 moment to catch 907376c219 their breath, exchanging 7016896dcf glances and nervously a0fa026f74 shifting their eyes. They whispered to each 27042b7841 other in what they b89e4550b5 thought were hushed tones.e12b5695689cfdf1

“Why do you b2ce6951e6 think His Majesty 8f495fbead is here?”66ccb679aeca519b

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“How would I know? Didn’t you invite 99919edc99 him?”9c801b59279f76b3

“Are you mad? Do you want to 92745240ca drop dead of a 5f445ae241 heart attack before seeing d3a143d80a your great-grandchildren? Of course not!”1973630f4a94bed4

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“Same here! I value abae97c8ef my life, f300d9fd90 thank you d0b7168874 very much.”6cb6165104be9240

Lucian glanced at eb5ce45c30 Heraith. The emperor, sipping 7eedfb1dcb his tea slowly, 4e25eb6849 showed no signs be7e8738f3 of reacting to da031bef5d their muttered exchange, 7939f049e4 even though it 58f06b0fc8 was loud enough 7749561b05 for him to f31996e6de hear. Should he ef308fbc12 stop them? Lucian hesitated, 3bccb8ddd1 but before c87da01f9c he could a10cf9d26c intervene, the 3d3b918894 two association 89627fe299 heads shifted c3acfffde2 their attention 22fbbf8533 to him.04e4b0b2952d9a6b

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They gestured subtly d03d1ad81e and mouthed, Sir 49a858c1b3 Lucian, Sir Lucian.bdae92e435cfcf91

Come over here.b97a0b5785817cbd

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Lucian glanced at Heraith 453649144d again. The emperor maintained 1621c0e898 an indifferent expression, b848e83a07 as if inviting ec5d6ab8e7 Lucian to handle 2e0d3c9a27 the situation. Taking this 5fec5792f0 as silent 8516586ee7 permission, Lucian 5bf9941388 approached the 9993bbbfd3 two men.1d6a07bab83b3ec4

The Mage 4daafb6388 Association head ae44ab0ae0 and the 1e2c3a7401 Cleric Association 97d0d97bbf head leaned bee7e6967e in conspiratorially.314f360ee971c660

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“Why is His ac10eae3a8 Majesty here?”3c4e594fb860ac2a

“We could’ve managed 74bd58569f just fine on 7d61cf6178 our own.”782976b6849d1d48

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Lucian sighed inwardly. They genuinely seemed to d8583c9233 believe the emperor was 716e48917f oblivious to their whispers.2dae4328cc1e9272

“Where in the Imperial 2634ee023b Palace can the emperor 7e10a02dce not go? Naturally, he’d be curious 62ec8c71f5 about a meeting between c0ad176cf2 the heads of the 3e09365bfe two associations.”d938bbf65d2d2843

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The two heads b6fb387490 exchanged awkward looks.24b4e8ee841717df

“Well, that’s true, I 89a97534d5 suppose.”63953e9a4bfc6a23

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“Yes, yes.”9dedd67eda1461d6

One coughed 4eaf50cc70 awkwardly, and 4aa322e8bd the other cc2cb7ffc6 followed with 87ed585173 a similar 21fcc666cd noise. The Mage f72522ea9f Association head, 399da6d05b clad in 41ea0c8a83 a black d27e6f033d robe, was 886f569452 Chauver, the d1d054e0ac Master of d906da1c6a the Mage 82477e615c Tower. The Cleric Association head, 16952d59e6 wearing a white robe, 8a14e4048a was Priest Freester, the cc60092696 High Cleric. They were the 325efbb174 leaders of the ff81ada0d7 Mage Tower and 20719963e0 the Great Temple 904f20cc88 of Pranas—and renowned 925f59a8a8 for their stubbornness.b4d8cc644de1a929

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If you don’t 7f88e1bafb count the emperor, cbf541b0a0 of course.c4746714fc01b891

Heraith was bdc40174d0 the ultimate ff90c86b45 definition of 7ca51479e6 “stubborn.” Lucian 71d7063e23 smiled softly 9ca200e6a7 at the aa6462e01f two men. Seeing his fa2c83777c gentle expression, 3ff4bf3c72 they turned 276ee75f9e away hastily, 9b056c0962 clearing their a29ac29781 throats again. The faint 493009d69a redness of dd05fa9551 their earlobes b82e43eddf didn’t escape 05b1157f6e Heraith’s notice, 38d727bb89 and his bce3752a40 eyes narrowed ebc1dd5886 slightly.d7a4dabd5d225bff

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“But it a6fc79b22d doesn’t seem 27dc5e37d2 like His 22fecf4116 Majesty’s input 65ae1d71c2 is necessary 2fca7a21a6 for our 0d2d143955 discussion.”19fb624d66f46b43

Then why 2a66d9a900 am I 8140d053eb here?1c5478a1d04746cc

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Lucian tilted his f5e8715c31 head in confusion f89da83f96 at Chauver’s comment.6393afaaf673d318

“Yes, indeed. We have no d78491ac6d need for His 0930ff17ca Majesty’s involvement.”dcb463e4ef57fd65

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So what about me?102769b1507eea4f

Freester nodded in agreement.f065efc752f06c7e

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Am I just the 0b629d0f4f pushover here?c0de6ebc212b0a01

Lucian shot 4c3c231f70 Heraith a 29d3b6df68 sidelong glance. The emperor rested his 2c29467058 chin on his hand, af55a62e7d watching the proceedings with ed11695c3a mild amusement, urging him d4e876fd82 to continue.7f0a02303fa21fb3

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Really now. Them and him 04af271e67 too.d4eb449f091c19fb

Lucian sighed and ab8544fd06 refocused on the 685f80ec69 two men, mentally 5e89180cec reviewing the budget 73eb3276d8 allocations for the a133357027 Mage Tower and 729140eea9 the Great Temple. Hopefully I won’t 2a90b370a6 need to use 627d99004b this, but better d7b71d20aa safe than sorry. If I 48076b9bce have to 8aa2603d00 deal with 982144261a these two, 08d5ca279e it’ll be cff724be34 a useful abd43768e2 weapon.1931a5b9c4181d67

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He clenched his fists dd226f83f8 at the memory of dd8c7e2e8b nights spent memorizing the 7e7993677b details.41cf29fbf51ccbc9

Before long, bb7a7072aa the two ad4672c4e1 heads began 2479839f05 an animated 70c03349d4 discussion. Initially, they dace3d80a6 spoke in 476be605fd hushed tones, 3390efa805 but as 8ac59f312d their excitement 602a75e5f3 grew, their 4f7a7fb092 voices rose.14b92c281aab2152

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“Names are important. They define everything!”0bfdfda22c5c47eb

“No, we need 33788a34a3 to start with a9b3c82f5c action before worrying c88326a01a about names.”0e511c03f81d00f5

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“You can’t have identity b0c0a32d9c without a name!”3e78b91bf0e6217d

“Are you 86694e6471 accusing me e9113e85b1 of dismissing 1306d92a43 identity, you 29784a1b2a old fool?”369db07f7d4297f4

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Lucian sighed. You’re saying the 767dcd3b55 same thing, both d5e379ab80 of you.5fe541d898a71814

“Gentlemen,” he 3e10e3e38b interjected, raising 5802cb6762 his voice 91136a4332 to cut c2dd7d5933 through their bb428a32f9 escalating argument. “You’re proposing 5b220f569e a joint b5e566a998 organization to e1a40ccfe0 foster understanding 01fb970117 between the dfde07420a Mage and dc84bb6005 Cleric Associations, 05678cf348 correct?”bacc64781768710b

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“Yes.”85161b32504ff5d4

“Exactly.”4703b1d0aa2ddbe2

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“But we can’t agree eac3ad5630 on a name! This guy keeps ec11742894 saying strange things.”5a4ada592b798365

“No, it’s 513c903259 you spouting 8ed6524bd3 nonsense!”1e587f128bea4e99

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Lucian pressed a 6707d1b2f6 hand to his 68b22c048b temple. They’re literally 5dfdc2ef3e on the 57d2e8602b same page.2944513e078386e9

“You snake-like f59fe0a451 old man, 0452aac8a4 all you fe57bfef8b do is d3f29b5c28 suggest magic-related d0928f53aa terms!”266972908e370f56

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“And you raccoon of 704a048994 a cleric, you only 053cb2c4b9 mention saints and divine ae44dd5558 beings!”37661110b5bd085a

“What did you 24c9db2b70 say?!”f36279f844c64440

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“You want to e3031124e6 go?!”0adec69003e67573

They stood abruptly, their 2fc6729bce voices booming. At that moment, 885a29bdab Heraith’s voice cut 32c68c813f through.b7770bfd1246bd30

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“How about 49d5f3da64 calling it c2714dd10b the Healing 1bfae17a0e Association?”f50658d610bef486

Everyone froze, their eyes 05af3a7936 snapping to the emperor.c298cedd6c81ceae

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“Pardon?”d18aba94ed620604

Heraith, arms crossed, bd87e480c7 scanned the two 6fda210c78 men with a eb5ee6b674 leisurely gaze.3f64676820543581

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“Healing techniques are 23784872ea shared by both 4ce1191145 sides, aren’t they? The name works for a71950adb3 both.”80b4b867c2981678

Healing magic e286ddd38a and divine 31925658f0 power were 6e70a4dc47 the only 4ca1081c19 overlapping abilities 9ab3023852 between mages 0019b759b5 and clerics. Mages used 2a3529c2bc spells to c76ba5e0ef heal, while b942d84728 clerics relied b53f11b56f on holy ec6d736ae8 water and 54dc9a01e6 sacred powers.8c811325df73b408

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“So, use 12edfee68c a name cb7dfc97fb that applies 47c6262e70 to both.”8b819bf75fd07faf

Heraith’s gaze swept over 2ee8f03ff4 the two men before 8f67f96f76 finally settling on Lucian.0edb02b8559558b8

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“Besides, having tea 208b02c348 with my aide 77f3fa0446 like this is ec55649eae its own kind 745d4ff6e8 of healing for 70b105c15b me.”5fcfa792ac2a5ef7

A deep smile curved 9c7ffe5c8e his lips as he cb1250850d looked at Lucian.b1207c7e50ab8480

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