The Vastness of Magical Destiny

Upon receiving news from Mandu, Komer grew anxious and restless. Although the messages from Eve and Finitz were encouraging, Komer believed the Court’s people wouldn’t just simply accept the opinions of some outsiders and dispel their suspicions. The fact that they had traveled from Mandu to Muscat proved this point; they would also conduct a thorough investigation in Caucasus. These two were not like the Thunderhorse Knights, bound by a knight’s creed—they were seasoned investigators, especially sensitive to the presence of Dark Force. Once they found anything suspicious, they would investigate at all costs. At that time, deciding what to do with Caucasus would be truly challenging.

Komer was plagued by worry. Although Eve and Finitz had done their utmost, Komer felt they could have done better. He could sense Eve’s deep-seated reluctance, but perhaps because of his passable performance in Caucasus and with Leon, she reluctantly agreed to a plan that was somewhat unilluminated. Correcting the bias of two senior Court officials was important and difficult; as long as some hostility could be mitigated, and they could view Caucasus with a relatively impartial mood, that would suffice. Komer believed he had already put much effort into Caucasus: erasing what needed to be erased, eliminating those who had to leave, and hiding what needed to be hidden, all in anticipation of those two officials’ arrival.

Rebury hadn’t left. Although he appeared indifferent when Komer informed him about the impending arrival of the Court’s people, Rebury’s attitude seemed a bit odd after hearing the names. It was a look of melancholy, confusion, and a persistent aftertaste, albeit brief. Komer sharply picked up on it, not knowing why Rebury would exhibit such emotions. But seeing that Rebury had no desire to answer, Komer tactfully refrained from asking further. Nonetheless, Komer believed that Rebury wouldn’t joke with his own life and trusted in his capability. Since Rebury was so certain, he naturally had a way to cope.

Mihailovich, Newman, Solonberg, and Vladimir Koff had already left Caucasus for the Cordillera Wilderness to hunt dragons, accompanied by Uma, Lome, and that beautiful Ice Dragon. The Wicked Dragon appeared again in the Baden Gold Mountain Range, and the Great Mysterium Sect reported that now was the best opportunity. To slay that formidable Wicked Dragon, even the Great Mysterium Sect felt somewhat inadequate, so Komer simply dispatched several dangerous individuals to taste the primitive charm of the Barbarian Territory within the Cordillera Wilderness. He believed that after encountering the power he controlled, the Sanjia Tribe’s barbarian priests and witches would collaborate with him even more wholeheartedly.

Komer didn’t want Lome to leave, and she didn’t wish to go either. But Komer knew that the Court’s people could easily detect Lome’s anomalies, and though they might not recognize her appearance, her inner magic origin wouldn’t escape their keen eyes. Thus, Komer reluctantly sent Lome to the Cordillera Wilderness.

Lome had become a part of Komer’s life. More accurately, she was gradually blending into his life. Especially as Komer felt his status in Caucasus and with Leon increasingly solidified and the crisis fading, he seemed to become more fond or indulgent in his old ways—simply put, he started to like beautiful women more. Lome and Grace became Komer’s prey; Lome’s gentle and considerate nature contrasted with Grace’s fiery and explosive personality, clearly two extremes. Yet Lome could share Komer’s bed unrestrained by anyone’s opinion, while Grace faced many restrictions. Her companions’ gazes forced her to constrain her behavior, especially since Eve’s attitude had been a heavy stone in Grace’s heart.