The Greatest Archmage To Have Ever Lived [OP MC, LitRPG]

The three of them had settled into chairs around a low table in Richter's office, a concession to comfort that the Duke had offered after the first five minutes, when it became clear this would be a lengthy discussion. Tea had been brought in at some point. Sael hadn't asked for it, but he appreciated the gesture.

He'd walked them through it methodically. The flight to Marrix. The mines. The initial attack by Corrupted mages. The troll. Chief Mage Moss and his research team. The tear in reality he'd found three hundred feet underground, pulsing with that sickly purple energy.

Richter had asked questions. Koleen had taken notes on parchment with a quill that scratched furiously across the page whenever Sael mentioned anything particularly concerning, which was often.

And through it all—through the entire hour of explaining supernatural tears and Corrupted researchers and the healing work he'd done afterward—neither of them had mentioned the awkward situation of him accidentally-but-not-really eavesdropping on them earlier.

They'd just... moved on.

After his "Well, hello there," Richter had blinked once, nodded, and said, "Archmage. You've returned." and Koleen had simply grunted and gestured to the chairs. "Please sit. Tell us what happened."

That had been it. No questions about how he'd gotten in. No demands for explanation about bypassing centuries-old magical defenses. No awkward conversation about privacy and appropriate arrival methods.

They'd been gracious enough to not talk about it at all, and for that, Sael was genuinely grateful.

"So the tear is sealed," Richter said now, setting down his teacup. "And the Corrupted mages in Marrix are dealt with."

"Yes."

"What would you recommend we do next?"

Sael had been thinking about this during the flight back. The answer was straightforward enough, though the implementation would be complicated.

"Declare it," he said.

Both men looked at him.

"Declare the return of Corruption," Sael clarified. "Officially. Publicly. To the Kingdom of Albyon and its allies. Make it known that this isn't an isolated incident. That a tear opened in reality, that Corrupted mages are actively spreading Corruption, that this requires immediate attention."

Richter's jaw tightened slightly. "That will cause panic."