Chapter 86: Crowns Tavern
Daley sat motionless on the velvet sofa, Raven's final words echoing through his mind like a curse.
Discard the coldness in your heart… Seek the right path in the void.…
His jaw clenched. The steady hum of the tavern around him faded into silence. "Tell me, Maisie," he said finally, his voice low. "Did he mean I have no affinity for Ice?"
Maisie stiffened beside him. Her tone sharpened like cracked glass. "That's absurd, Young Master. You carry Lady Viola's blood. What could a random bumpkin possibly know about you?"
She glanced toward the reception desk, where Raven and his companions were speaking with the clerk. Her eyes narrowed, calculation flickering in them.
Daley's own expression hardened. "Kingston. Find out who that man is. I want every detail before nightfall."
The guard bowed slightly. "Yes, Young Master." He turned and walked toward the counter where Raven stood, silent as a shadow.
Daley exhaled through his nose, his fingers tapping restlessly against his knee. "Could it be… I have talent in another element?" he muttered under his breath. "What did he mean by those words?"
Maisie softened her tone, though her gaze stayed sharp. "Don't let him disturb your heart, Young Master. Your Ice magic is extraordinary—it just hasn't awakened fully yet."
Daley shook his head slowly. "If I had access to the royal affinity checker, I'd know for certain. But only the royals can use it."
He remembered the first time he had touched a basic affinity orb. The faint blue glow had filled him with pride, enough to choose Ice Wizard Mary as his professor without hesitation. But that glow had been faint—almost trembling. He'd ignored it back then. Now it gnawed at him.
"I heard the royal artifact can only be used a few times a year," Maisie added. "That's why they guard it so tightly."
Daley's fists tightened. "Then how did he know about my condition? His words… didn't sound like a bluff."
He looked down at his hands—slender fingers marred with faint scars. The hands of someone who had pushed too far, too often. "Even with potions, forcing my spirit power higher before December is suicide. I've failed three times already. My heart barely survived the backlash."
He remembered the crushing pressure, the blood in his throat, the echoing silence in his chest when his spell models collapsed. Each failure left him colder, hollower.
Find your path in the void…
His eyes widened slightly. "Could he have meant… the Spatial element?"
In an instant, uncertainty turned to resolve. Daley rose from the sofa, eyes burning with new light. "I'm returning to the academy. I'll use Professor Mary's lab and test the other orbs. If I have even a trace of Spatial resonance—I'll try engraving a spatial spell in my Mind Space."
Maisie stood up abruptly. "Young Master! You'd risk your entire foundation on the words of a stranger?"
But he didn't answer. His footsteps were already echoing toward the exit. Determination drowned out fear.
Maisie could only watch as he disappeared through the door, her lips parting in a silent sigh.
…
At the same time, Raven stood at the tavern's reception desk, his gaze steady beneath the soft light of the chandeliers.
The receptionist—a brown-haired woman in her thirties wearing a crisp red dress—smiled politely. "Welcome to Crowns Tavern, Sir Thomas. We offer stays ranging from a day to several weeks. Single bedrooms, double bedrooms, resort houses, or multi-storied mansions—each with meals and servants according to the package."
She paused for breath before continuing, "A single bedroom costs two gold coins per day. A double room is five. A resort house, fifteen. Which would you prefer?"
Raven's expression didn't change, but his thoughts did. Fifteen gold per day… steep.
"And for a three-storied mansion?" he asked evenly.
Her smile widened. "Fifty gold coins per day. It includes a butler, two maids, two guards, and one hour of daily access to the spirit pool."
Fifty gold coins… but it'll get me close to Judith.
Feigning mild interest, Raven tapped the counter. "Can I choose which mansion?"
Selene leaned closer, whispering, "Isn't that too much, My Lord?"
The receptionist blinked at his boldness, then quickly nodded. "Of course. We have fifteen such mansions. Please take a look." She spread a map across the counter.
"Camera Portrait!" Selene gasped, eyes gleaming.
Raven tilted his head. "Camera what?"
Selene smiled faintly. "A new technique by an alchemist named Louise. They capture real images using alchemy—etched on silvered copper plates. Nobles collect them like art."
Raven studied the top-down image. "Taken from the sky?"
"Yes," the woman said proudly. "A wizard from the Academy assisted."
He examined the map closely, his eyes landing on a certain mansion at the southern end of Garden Street. "That one—near the Crow's Misery. I'll take it."
The receptionist hesitated. "That mansion belongs to Vice President Judith, Sir. It's reserved long-term. But the one next to it is vacant."
Raven's lips curved faintly. "Perfect."
He motioned for Jacob, who handed him a pouch. Raven placed two platinum coins on the counter. "Five days."
The woman bowed deeply. "Understood, Sir Thomas." She rang a small bell, summoning a young servant. "This is Toby. He'll be your guide."
Raven nodded and followed the boy out.
…
The road curved through a quiet stretch of the garden street. Sunlight spilled through high trees, painting shifting shadows across the stone pavement. Lavender and honeysuckle filled the air, soft and sweet.
"So, who owns this place?" Raven asked as they walked.
Selene replied, "Prime Minister Gavin. He struck a deal with the Empire's Wizards. That's why the place is filled with protective enchantments and spirit pools."
Raven glanced around. Every guard they passed carried an aura, at least at the peak of Radiant Rank. Some—he suspected—were Experts pretending to be less.
Soon, they reached a black iron gate adorned with curling vine motifs. The faint glow of runes pulsed beneath its surface.
[The entire mansion is bound within a rune array. No wonder the cost is outrageous.]
'Protection array?'
[Yes. High-tier. Strong enough to block even Pseudo-Legendary attacks. Staying here is like hiding under a fortress.]
'Can it block dream spells?'
[Dream power is entirely different and has no way of blocking it using normal rune arrays. But to enter Judith's dream, you'll still need a ritual—and timing.]
'Then this spot is perfect.'
The guards at the gate straightened as they approached. Recognizing Toby, they relaxed and opened the gate.
"Welcome, Sir Thomas," one said with a respectful nod.
Raven offered a brief gesture of acknowledgment before leading Selene, Stephanie, and Jacob inside.
The garden within was breathtaking—rows of glowing lilies, marble fountains, and a winding path leading to the mansion's doors.
An elderly butler greeted them as the doors swung open. His silver hair gleamed under the chandelier's light. "Welcome, Sir Thomas. I am Harold, your assigned butler. Allow me to show you around."
The interior gleamed with polished wood and golden chandeliers. Paintings adorned the walls, depicting scenes of old empires and forgotten wars.
Harold spoke with calm precision. "The dining room lies to your left, the lounge to your right. Upstairs, you'll find your study, library, and meditation room. The third floor holds your private chambers."
Raven nodded as they moved through the hall.
"If you wish to use the spirit pool," Harold added, "I'll handle the preparations personally."
Raven paused, thoughtful. "I'll tour later. For now, prepare a carriage. I'll visit the Wizards Guild within the hour."
"As you wish, Sir. Would you like a guide to accompany you through the Royal City?"
"I'll decide soon." Raven's gaze drifted to the mansion across the street. "Vice President Judith lives there, yes?"
Harold inclined his head apologetically. "Indeed, but she only returns on Sundays. And even the royals must request an invitation to meet her."
Sunday… that's two days away.
Raven's fingers brushed his chin. "Understood. Arrange the rooms for my companions."
Once alone, he turned to Selene. "Follow me."
He stopped before a guest room, opened it, and said, "Enter after thirty seconds." Then he stepped inside and shut the door.
Selene blinked, confused. Thirty seconds?
When she entered, Raven was sitting on the bed, removing his shoes. The room around him glowed with quiet luxury—crimson carpets, silk curtains, and furniture carved from whitewood.
Her eyes widened. This looks like my academy dormitory…
"My Lord," she said softly. "Do you need assistance?"
Raven didn't answer at first. "I want to test a few things," he said finally—and vanished.
Selene froze. The air rippled faintly, and a second later, the door clicked open again. Raven walked in from the hall.
Her pulse quickened. "M-My Lord? You just came from outside—how?" She unleashed her spirit sense—no illusion.
He sat back down, murmuring to himself. "Spell duration: thirty seconds. Cooldown, five minutes. But it's not fully integrated yet…"
The door creaked again. Selene's breath caught.
Raven was no longer on the bed. He stood by the window, watching her with quiet amusement.