The intense, half-day magical conversation between the 9-Star Mage Emperor and the 4-Star adventurer finally concluded. Ian Emrys Skyrune placed his hand on Kaelus's shoulder.
"Good. We have an understanding," the Emperor said, a genuine excitement still alight in his eyes. "Be ready. I want you, and the other S-rank parties involved, to attend the Awarding Ceremony in the Magic Court Hall tomorrow morning. It's time the continent formally recognized its heroes."
Kaelus bowed and was escorted out. His waiting comrades—Zane, Sylva, Aethon, and Riona—immediately crowded him as the Magic Guards released them.
"Well? What happened?" Sylva demanded. "He kept laughing! I've never seen the Mage Emperor so unprofessional."
"He called us fools," Zane muttered, recalling the courtroom scene.
Kaelus, still processing the sheer volume of magical knowledge exchanged, simply relayed the details of his extended conversation with Ian Skyrune. "We spent most of the time conversing solely about magic and skill theory. He took a keen interest in the mechanics of the Tempest Wings and the Ryujin no Kaze."
Kaelus then looked at Sylva. "You were right, Sylva. The Mage Emperor also feels something is wrong in this continent. He said that he can also feel something is changing; the continent is not the same. The sudden appearances of S and S+ rank monsters, the monster psychic links, the new dungeons—it all points to a massive shift. He also ordered the Obsidian Phalanx to serve as his special operations unit."
The group exchanged grave looks, the celebratory mood temporarily dampened by the news of the continent's instability.
Riona, seeing a golden opportunity, immediately turned to Kaelus. "Ironclad Aegis is better equipped for high-level operations. We have a more centralized command structure. Kaelus, you should come join my guild."
Aethon Ironheart bristled. "Absolutely not! He is Dragon's Fury's newest S-rank! You have enough assets, Riona! What's wrong with Dragon's Fury's Guild Hall anyway? We have tradition!"
"Tradition doesn't beat efficiency, Aethon," Riona shot back, folding her arms. "And your guild hall looks like a glorified tavern. There's nothing truly prestigious or powerful about Dragon's Fury's Guild Hall!"
The two S-rank Guild Masters were soon engaged in a loud, passionate argument in the middle of the street over which guild was more suitable for the new continent-level asset.
With identical exasperated sighs, Zane, Sylva, and Kaelus quietly abandoned the fighting duo and continued toward the Dragon's Fury Guild Hall.
When Kaelus stepped through the doors, the Guild Hall was already in a state of chaos. The whole guild was having a massive, impromptu party celebrating the successful clearing of the monster waves and the survival of their teams.
As Kaelus's striking silver hair and emerald eyes appeared, the cheers intensified. Gron Stonebeard and Faelar Moonwhisper had also come to visit and celebrate.
Faelar, an Elven race herself and known for her effusive nature, spotted Kaelus and rushed forward, wrapping him in a fierce hug. "You're more handsome than your brown hair, Kaelus! Long time no see, I miss you so much!"
Gron immediately pulled Faelar off with a grunt, then turned to Kaelus, shaking his hand firmly. "It's not that a few months since we last saw you, and you're an S-rank adventurer now. Well done."
"Long time no see, Mr. Gron, Ms. Faelar," Kaelus replied, genuinely touched by the familiar warmth.
"You must be tired, Kaelus. Please have a rest first, sit down, let's drink!" Gron insisted.
Zathis was already busy guzzling a barrel of beer, while Grund, Kaelan, Jian, and Vara all rushed over to offer their boisterous greetings and congratulations. Faelar, meanwhile, had spotted Sylva and the two elven race women exchanged greetings, their shared heritage creating an immediate kinship.
The environment was incredibly lively. Even Seraphina Dale, the guild receptionist, kept glancing over at Kaelus, subtly admiring his new, powerful appearance.
The guild hall doors finally swung open, and Aethon Ironheart, having finally concluded his argument with Riona, appeared, shouting over the din.
"Let the party started!" Aethon bellowed, raising a mug. "Let's celebrate our new S-rank adventurer, Kaelus Wyndhelm!"
The party exploded in volume. The celebratory mood was infectious; even Riona, along with her Ironclad Aegis members Garrick Winterspire and Elysia Fulgurant, joined in the merriment.
Zane, already severely drunk, climbed onto a table and began to loudly mimic Kaelus's ultimate skill, Ryujin no Kaze, swinging an imaginary sword and making booming wind noises. He mimicked every dramatic move Kaelus had unleashed during the fight. The other guild members roared with laughter and amazement. A visibly embarrassed Sylva immediately tried to pull Zane down, only to have Aethon swoop in and drag the 'out of character' commander off the table himself.
It was well past midnight. The once lively guild hall was now quiet, the scene of joyful carnage. Guild members were a mess, with some asleep under tables and others slumped over benches.
Kaelus, lying on the bed in the guest room, was far from rest. His mind was a churning pool of recent events: his mother's cryptic dream message, his conversation with the Mage Emperor, the talk of the disastrous dungeon raid, the first Mage Emperor, and the "massive shift" transforming the continent.
There had to be a connection between all of it and his mother's urgent warning:
"The world is changing since you left the cave. The seals are weakening, the veil is thinning, and the chaos is rising faster than we ever predicted. You must return to the source of your becoming. If you seek to save those you wish to save, you must return. That is the only path."
Kaelus realized that his mother's message might be the reason for the disturbances in the Eastern Territory, as the cave where he was born was located in its deepest part. He desperately needed answers.
He also remembered the item that had saved his life earlier in the war: the Knight's Cape, the 6-Star High Rank Defensive Artifact given to him by Grolnuk Stonebeard. The deep scarlet cape, woven from the silk of an S+ monster, had been damaged when he was forced to activate its defensive skill against the Elderwood Troll, expending the one-time, forty-five-second barrier. Grolnuk had warned that the delicate enchantment would fail and the cape would explode, but the surge of Kaelus's power must have somehow contained the destruction.
He needed to visit Grolnuk after the ceremony to see if the artificer could fix the damaged artifact.
The Awarding Ceremony tomorrow morning came first.