Chapter 509: Goodnight.
"Thank you for the update, Professor Arion. I’ll have to speak with Headmistress Arvandus myself, won’t I?"
"That would be for the best, Professor Wayland. But tread carefully my friend, this situation is highly unusual.”
Roland sighed, glancing at the monitor where Arion’s concerned face hovered. He had just received word that the Xandar Institute leader wanted to chat with him. She hadn’t given a deadline, but it was implied that if he didn’t show up at her office, Bernir wouldn’t be returning to Albrook. He hadn’t anticipated this development when he formulated his plan, as the woman had always remained passive regarding his decisions. It seemed he had pushed his luck too far with his last adventure. But it also raised the question: why hadn’t she contacted him directly earlier?
'Could there be a limit to her abilities?'
He recalled the one time she had intervened in his affairs. Yavenna had protected him from the other tier 4 class holder in the nearby dungeon. Considering that, the De Vere estate might have been simply too far away for her plant-based magic to reach. Perhaps she could only influence a limited area around where she resided - likely connected to her mage tower, which resembled a giant tree. He had examined it before and concluded that the roots extended in all directions, spreading far beyond the institute's premises. Perhaps this was her territory, and it had boundaries.
It was similar to his situation in Albrook, where he had been spreading runic cabling. In theory, just like modern technology, there would be no limit to how far these cables could extend, and as long as they existed, they would be under his direct control. However, this could not happen in the near future, as it would require a colossal investment of both time and resources - neither of which he currently possessed. If his theory was correct, then he was safe here in Albrook from the woman’s influence. Even a tier 4 class holder had their limits.
"I see… I need to take care of a few things here first, could you keep an eye on Bernir for me, until then?”
"Of course, my friend. Don’t worry, I’ll arrange a temporary badge for him and some lodgings, he’ll be safe here.”
“Thank you.”