Edward thanked all the gods that was watching over him.
He had finally managed to utter a single coherent sentence!
Armand gave him a small nod, then went and took the seat next to Calen.
A moment passed before Calen addressed the duke.
"Are we expecting anyone else?"
He nodded. "Just one more."
Almost as if on cue, the doors opened once more.
A man entered, older this time. He looked to be in late 30s, wearing a plain robe that completely hid away his features. He had a kind face, and bright grey eyes.
He had a subtle smile stretched on his lips, not the cold kind that he had seen from Armand. But a genuine smile, the kind that made you feel a little warm.
His face looked a little worn out, the marks of time like tattoos spoke of history like the open pages of a book.
Laughter echoed from where the duke was sitting.
"Welcome Elias! you're just on time."
The man bowed, "Your grace."
Edward didn't know why, but he could the tension in the room rising with the arrival of the new person. Calen had discretely adjusted his posture, and Armand had immediately went on high alert as soon he had seen the man.
Is he important?
Then, like a twig snapping in a silent forest, the duke spoke, addressing Edward.
"This is Elias Rowan Aldric, he's an old friend of mine, he's also a mage."
Edward blinked.
"Mage?" He blurted out before he could think.
The duke simply stared at him for moment, then jolted awake as if he had remembered something.
"Yes, Mage. He studies mana and it's flow."
Edward looked at Elias, his thoughts slowly catching up to the new information.
Mages exist in this world?
Considering what the system can do, I guess that's normal after all.
But there was one thing that was bothering him.
The man in-front of him didn't look like a mage at all!
There was no weird hat, no wands, no eccentric animal on his shoulders. His robe looked a little worn, but that was the extend of it, it looked completely normal according to this world's setting. In-fact, if anything, Elias looked more like a librarian than a mage.
And it didn't help he smelled more like parchment than weird concoctions.
He even looked entirely out of place in the lavishly decorated room.
Then the duke smiled warmly and turned to Elias.
"I'm glad you came."
"Ofcourse." The man lifted his head and offered a polite nod. "I would not miss the young master's return."
He took a glance behind him at Emilia.
Unlike earlier when she had scolded Calen or Armand, she was showing no particular reaction to this man's arrival. It was almost as if his presence here was as natural as air existing in this room.
Calen bowed his head with quiet respect.
Armand offered him a polite nod.
It was like everyone here respected the man greatly, but at the same time, feared him as well.
Elias approached the long table and gave Edward a small, composed bow—not deep, but respectful enough to acknowledge his position as a servant.
"Welcome home, Young master."
Edward tried to reply normally this time, he really did.
"Uh... yeah."
Emilia closed her eye's and let out a heavy breath.
Elias didn't linger, he simply walked away and took a seat a little further away from them.
He was so calm.
So... ordinary.
This man is a mage?
It was when Edward was unknowingly staring at him.
For a split second, he met those grey eyes.
And something in that gaze seized him by the throat. Edward was practically choked under the sheer weight behind those eyes. He quickly averted his gaze, but was still almost out of breath by the time he looked away.
It felt like he had just outran a tiger.
Just what kind of monster..
A chill slid down his spine, and he involuntarily shuddered.
And of course, Emilia immediately noticed.
She leaned down and whispered into his ears.
"Do not directly gaze at his eyes."
He quietly interpreted the meaning behind her words.
You will go insane if you look at him for too long.
It was more of a threat than a warning. Only that, Emilia was delivering it instead of the mage.