Act 3: Empire's Stand - Chapter 527: Caire's Opportunity

Act 3: Empire's Stand - Chapter 527: Caire's Opportunity

This time, the strange shadow in the dream never arrived since the first time it showed up. Oscar leaped from his bed and stretched his limbs, a daily necessity for his tall body. Opening the curtains and windows, he was greeted by the refreshing morning breeze and relaxed, inhaling the waking air. The sound of tiny wheels squeaked closer behind the doors. They swung open, and Eris, the cold-faced maid with blond streaks in her finely tied-back hair, strode inside, exuding well mannerisms in her straight back and lowered chin.

Eris bowed and said, "Good morning, my Lord. I will be attending to your needs today. I have brought you a light snack of lemon tarts with freshly brewed tea."

"Good morning, Eris, was it? I thought the usual time to wake me up was a few hours later. Why are you here now? I said there is no need to be up earlier than me." Oscar took the slightly damp towel from Eris to wipe the drowsiness from his face and sat down.

"Was that an order or a suggestion, my Lord? As a maid, I have to be there right when you wake to provide the finest services at a moment's notice." Eris poured out the tea and placed it gently on a saucer, not a single sound made in her delicate motions. Together with a piece of lemon tart, she set them in front of Oscar and stepped back, waiting by the sidelines.

Faced with her stalwart stance, Oscar considered ordering her to stop, and from her work ethic, she would listen to him. But it felt wrong. Since she seemed so dedicated, there was no need to rob her of her own joy and principles. Silently, he sipped the tea and ate the lemon tart, giving his wordless agreement. A quick glance showed Eris smiling slightly before she forcibly repressed it away, showing her understanding of his silence and her emotional control.

"Can I ask you something?" Oscar said, finishing the last droplets of tea, and waved for Eris not to refill.

"My Lord does not require my permission to ask. He only needs to ask, and I will answer." Eris gracefully bowed, the folds on her white headdress fluttering from the breeze.

"Have you seen anyone else in the estate?" Oscar could not let go of the image of that shadowy figure. Surely, a servant of the estate would spot some discrepancies. "To clarify, anyone other than the Pavilion Master, the guards, and the other servants."

Eris shook her head and said in her clear, monotone voice, "Other than Mrs. Bertin yesterday, I have not seen any strangers in this estate. But I'm not reliable enough to know every nook and cranny of the estate. Forgive me for not being able to provide a clear answer. I recommend speaking to Head Butler Declerd and the guards."

She provided some good suggestions, and Oscar thanked her, to which she bowed with a slight smile again. Hours still remained until the day would start for him. Oscar couldn't speak openly with Erden here, not in front of Eris, so he decided to converse with her, asking about her family background and history. As it turned out, Eris was the daughter of a fallen noble, one of the few who lost their status before the war when she was barely three. She's worked for years as a servant from place to place, earning a good reputation for her readiness and mannerisms. The war hit her former workplace hard, and she struggled to find a new opportunity when everyone was penny-pinching and unable to hire extra hands.

"Thank you for this opportunity. I will not disappoint you." Eris bowed deeply. Before Oscar could reply, the door opened, and Declerd stepped inside, his left hand properly placed behind his back and the other holding a linen towel. Eris retreated away and greeted the old mustached butler, "Greeting, Head Butler."

Declerd merely acknowledged Eris's greeting with a short nod and faced Oscar, relaying his goodwill and today's itinerary, "Good morning, my Lord. It is good to see you in fine health this morning. The Dragnar Ancestor has called for you again today, but he left a message saying there is no need to dress up like yesterday and to hurry to the Imperial Palace."

"Are you serious?" Oscar strained his voice out, utilizing every fiber of his being to hold back the dropped fist. The clenched fist retracted, and he found the moment to catch his breath.

"You and your beast. Show me your capabilities." Caires tossed away his pipe and spread his arms out, exposing his front to any attack, sending a clear message to Oscar to hit him with everything head-on.

Compiling with the King Exalt's request, Oscar mounted Erden and used the Meld, his beast clad in sapphire armor, burning red flames at the antlers. The sparkling blue antler wings, wreathed in fire, extended and fused with the front antlers and Oscar's golden drills into a singular blade, long and wide. Even without the Guise, this attack failed to penetrate the hardy defense of the Lower Marshal Exalt golem. There was no indication of this spar going differently. Still, excitement burned into a raging inferno around him as Erden stomped forward. How far was the distance between him and a King Exalt? The urge to find out flared in his mind.

A condensed stream of fire burst from their combined blade, landing directly on Caires, seemingly engulfing the former emperor in flames. Shortly after, their powerful blade, forged from their combined might, laden with Eirin, and tempered in the flames of their resolve, reached their target. Rather, it should have. A wave of rubble blasted away and piled before Erden, who was halted. Every part of their body trembled, shaking uncontrollably. Erden roared and stomped his feet, failing to gain a single inch further.

"That's quite a distance," Oscar grunted. "You have to be kidding me."

Caire held Oscar's blade in place, not with a grip, three fingers, or even two fingers. A single finger stopped the tip of his blade from plunging further forward. Forget moving forward. The blade failed even to draw a drop of blood. Caires lowered Oscar's blade and forced it down to the ground with a finger flick. "Amazing. And Remulus mentioned there is still a level beyond this one. Little wonder, you won many battles. But they will counter you once the enemy figures out more of your means."

"I understand. That's why I need to hone myself more." Oscar undid the Meld, his heart thumping heavily from the exertion of nearly all of his Ein.

Caires rubbed his beard and retrieved his pipe. Reigniting the end, he kept it in his mouth and smiled, "How about I teach you?"

"Teach me?!" Oscar exclaimed but remembered Draven and replied, "But I already have a master."

"I'm not talking about being your master. Though, sticking to only one is just being stubborn." Caires crouched before Oscar. "I want to teach you a single spell. One that will help you."

"A spell?" Oscar asked.

"My self-created spell, Duality."