Fire Mage-Chapter 691: True Color

Chapter 691: True Color

"We’re letting him live?" the bald Elder Michael asked, eyes narrowing. "What if he discovers we were the ones who killed his father?"

"Charles isn’t the concern. That man, Runeth, is." Diego’s tone turned grave. "He stayed in Charles’s shadow all this time, and yet I didn’t sense he was a pseudo-legendary Mystic. Until he leaves, we do nothing to Charles."

"Why don’t we summon all the Mages from our Magic Tower and kill him with full force?" Michael suggested.

Unlike other Guardian Houses, the Nightwind Family’s strength stemmed from the Magic Tower beside their mansion.

"If you give the word, we can mobilize every Mage and bombard that house with spells. I doubt even he could survive our full might," Michael added confidently.

"You don’t understand what concerns me," Diego said, exhaling slowly.

"When Luna attacked Charles with her Wisdom Power, he didn’t even raise a hand—yet shattered her force like it was nothing. I’ve never seen someone at Rank-5 do that and completely dominate an opponent." He looked to Elder Luna for her thoughts.

Luna hesitated before responding. "At first, I felt we were equals... I even considered crushing him with force. But then, something stopped me. Call it instinct, or maybe a woman’s intuition. If I had attacked him directly, I believe I would’ve died. That was the feeling I got in that moment."

She took a deep breath and continued. "He’s likely the Ancient Mage we heard about in legends. His strength may have regressed, but he’s still capable of fighting multiple Mystics at our level. Michael, neither the Patriarch nor I can confidently face him head-on. It’s wiser to study him before making a move."

"She’s right," Diego agreed. "So don’t provoke Runeth or engage him in any way."

"...Understood, My Lord." Elder Michael nodded and fell silent.

Patriarch Diego then turned to Ekemir, disguised as Jasper.

"Jasper, send a letter to the House of Truelords. Ask for their counsel on our current situation. Also, has there been any news from the explorers who entered the Star Tombs Dungeon?"

"I’ve heard that Elder Seer Daisy prophesied an oracle," Jasper replied. "She said the Truelords’ exploration team might have met misfortune. If true, it could cause an uproar across the kingdom."

"Haa... I expected something like that." Diego sighed deeply. "This kingdom may soon face a major upheaval. It might be our chance to rise—if we achieve something noteworthy, we could manipulate Travis into granting us a Dukedom."

He leaned back, exhaling with a weight that hinted at years of ambition. His eyes then shifted toward another Elder seated nearby.

The man appeared to be in his seventies. Long white hair spilled over his shoulders, a thick white beard framing a face marked by deep lines. His almond-shaped eyes, shadowed by age, radiated wisdom.

Though age had left its mark, his frame remained lean and resilient—proof of a life hardened by discipline. Draped in a plain white robe, he exuded an air of quiet exhaustion.

"Kyle, what’s the current situation in the Royal Palace?" Diego asked. "I’ve heard Travis has been acting strange since becoming King. We put him on the throne because he was a dumb child—but if he starts acting on his own and making trouble, remind him the House of Guardians can strip him of his luxuries."

He then turned to the fifth Elder.

This man, Baker, was in his forties, his muscular build and sharp features exuding physical strength. His short jet-black hair and piercing eyes lent him a formidable presence. Clad in a large black surcoat over a white shirt, a broadsword rested near his seat—a symbol of his martial prowess.

"Baker, your job is to stay close to Runeth and monitor him until the Truelords respond. Hopefully, they’ll send someone of Legend Rank to eliminate him. Until then, stay vigilant."

"Yes, Lord Diego," Baker responded promptly.

Diego’s attention shifted back to Luna. "Elder Luna, how’s the progress on cracking the Ringer Demi-plane’s array? That was the last place Eddie visited before returning and vanishing. That bastard knew I’d protect his legacy and sealed it anyway."

A flicker of rage danced in his eyes. "After centuries, I finally found a genius in my own family. I poured everything into Harry, sent him to the Wisdom Church to learn their secret arts, and retrieve the key codes to dismantle the demi-plane array. But the bastard gave those codes to the Raven family before I killed him myself."

He clenched his fist, the frustration in his voice palpable.

"If that old fool hadn’t come to negotiate for his cursed family, I’d still be wondering how to solve this mess. And just when I thought I’d eliminated everyone close to Harry, Charles suddenly shows up—like a ghost."

Elder Luna exhaled and answered calmly. "Unfortunately, we can’t crack the array without a Rune Master or a high-ranking Wisdom Church member, My Lord. From Oswald’s interrogation—with Elder Jasper’s help—I learned that Harry gave him the key codes before dying. He even shared more secrets."

She paused, her tone grave.

"Even with the Dream Curse we placed on his family, Oswald still clings to hope."

"That hope must be Rachel—the Lightning Mage," Diego growled. "She’s been targeting us for fifteen years. She even used her influence to disrupt our businesses. She knows Oswald is imprisoned and has been trying to get him out. Just two weeks ago, the Curran Family’s Elder told me not to be too harsh on him and to release him soon."

"As long as he has hope, he’ll resist. But once it’s gone, Elder Jasper can enter his Inner World," Luna added, then paused, her eyes narrowing. "Why not capture Rachel and imprison her under the guise of an investigation?"

"Her aunt is a Legendary Powerhouse from the Life Church, Elder Luna. If we make a move on her, the entire household could be wiped out in a day."

The weight of his words stunned the chamber.

"I didn’t realize she had such a powerful background..." Luna muttered, immediately dismissing her earlier idea.

Then Kyle spoke up with a darker suggestion.

"What about Charles? He’s Oswald’s grandson. Eve’s only son. If we torture him in front of Oswald, that hope might shatter. He could break and spill everything."

"But if Runeth finds out we’re torturing his student, he might go berserk," Diego said, concern flickering in his voice.

"We’re not killing Charles, My Lord. Just two days of torment. After that, we heal him with a potion and release him. Elder Jasper can even alter his memories. There’s nothing to worry about."

Diego fell silent, weighing the risk.

"...So be it. Luna, Jasper—you’ll go to the underground prison and begin preparations. I want results within two days."

"As you wish." The two Elders rose and left the chamber, their footsteps echoing down the long corridor that led to the prison.

Patriarch Diego quietly dismissed the meeting.

In the underground Prison Hall, at that very moment, a young man of twenty-five was being escorted by two guards. Each step echoed through the narrow, spiraling staircase that descended into the darkness below.

As they moved downward, the suffocating air of the prison thickened around them. With his hands bound, Charles cast a quick glance at the guards and quietly activated [Curse of the Overlord] on both.

"So," he began casually, "how long have you two been working here?"

The flickering torches lining the damp stone walls cast long, eerie shadows, revealing worn and uneven steps beneath their feet.

After a brief silence, the bald guard replied, finding nothing unusual in the question.

"Been here over fifty years, young man. Why do you ask?"

"Just curious," Charles shrugged, then added with a hint of bitterness, "Did you know I’m part of the Nightwind Family? Not that the Elders or Patriarch ever acknowledged it."

The guards glanced at each other, startled.

"You’re from the Nightwind Family? Then why haven’t I ever seen you?" asked the blond guard, narrowing his eyes.

"I lived far from here. Never had a reason to visit until now," Charles said, his tone even. "You may not know me, but you might’ve heard of my parents."

"Your parents?" the bald guard echoed.

"My father was Harry Nightwind. People once called him a genius. But decades ago, he was assassinated in his home. And get this—the Nightwind Family blamed my mother and tried to execute her. Lucky for me, she escaped with me in time."

"Harry Nightwind..." The blond guard furrowed his brow. "I think I remember that name. There was talk back then—people weren’t happy with how the family handled the whole thing."

"Yeah," the bald guard nodded. "Many from the branch families thought blaming his wife was unjust. But it all faded after a while. Still, now that I look at you... You really do resemble him."

"So, why are you being imprisoned now?" the blond guard asked, his tone more like that of a curious acquaintance than a jailer.

Charles let out a dry chuckle. "I killed Lord Martin."

The guards froze mid-step.

"You? Then, who was that prisoner Elder Luna and Elder Jasper were interrogating all this time?" the bald one asked in disbelief.

"Did they pin it on someone else just because they couldn’t find the real killer?" muttered the blond guard, frowning.

Charles suddenly paused, eyes widening in feigned realization.

"Oh my god... Could it be him?"

"You’ve got a guess?" the blond one asked quickly.

"I think... it might be my maternal grandfather. When we killed Martin and his companions, he told me he planned to strike a deal with the Nightwind Family—to lift some kind of Dream Curse off our family."