Chapter 508 – Back Home?

“Master, how can I assist you?”

“Contact the Institute. I need to speak with Arion.”

“Please wait, executing task…”

A small glowing orb of light floated in front of Roland’s face. It was Sebastian, the artificial spirit of his workshop, who had recently begun learning new words. Sebastian functioned much like an AI. While he carried out the task, Roland focused on trying to understand why he couldn’t locate one particular person at home. He even connected to the city’s monitoring system but still couldn’t track down his missing friend.

“Is everything alright? Are there more enemies nearby?”

Before Roland could resume his search, he heard a voice call out from the side. After turning his head, he saw his brother Robert and Robert’s companion, Lucille, standing together, holding hands. Robert had removed his hobgoblin mask and parts of his armor. Roland quickly realized why they seemed concerned as he must have looked strange, pacing around and shouting orders to a glowing orb, as if there was an imminent threat.

“No, you can both relax. This place is safe. We’re back in Albrook, at my home. We’re just underground. Count Graham won’t be able to find you here, nor will Wentworth Arden. These are Valerian lands. Even if they wanted to track you, it would be extremely difficult for them to get here.”

Relief washed over Robert and Lucille as they clung to each other, taking in the dim surroundings of Roland’s underground workshop. Despite the cold, impersonal walls of stone and metal, it was a haven – far away from the turmoil that had haunted them for so long.

“Thank you, Roland.”

Robert said, his voice somewhat weak. He looked quite tired from the whole ordeal and it was probably better to give these two a room to rest in as they looked exhausted. Lucille managed a weak smile, her eyes quivering as she tried to keep herself from dozing off.

The space around them didn’t feel particularly welcoming – it was mostly an empty laboratory. Roland had only managed to set up a teleportation gate here, while Sebastian’s core was housed in another room. Aside from a few workbenches and chairs, there was little else. It would probably be best to guide Robert and Lucille to the elevator and let them get some fresh air. He had a guest room in his home where they could stay while he figured out what to do next.

Now that Robert and Lucille were here, Roland knew he would need to create new identities for them. He considered crafting a new suit of armor for Robert – one that would conceal his identity and alter his voice. Robert could pose as one of Arthur’s knights, working under Morien or Gareth, both of whom were now Tier 3 knights. Robert’s level was high for a Tier 2, and with some runic scrolls, Roland believed he could help his brother reach Knight Commander status soon.

Hiding Robert’s identity wasn’t only necessary because of Count Graham. Robert had also served in the royal army and held an official rank. While he had completed several skirmishes and been granted leave, it wasn’t indefinite. Although no one could object when Lord Marshal Arden took him, Robert could be considered a deserter if he didn’t return. Roland and Robert had discussed this before, but it was clear Robert preferred being labeled a deserter over letting the love of his life, Lucille, become a bargaining chip through noble marriage.

As for Lucille, the laws didn’t bind her in the same way. She could renounce her De Vere title, but her father could still use his influence to drag her back. The laws in this world heavily favored the nobility, and her feelings would matter little. Roland thought about designing a robe for her – something lighter than runic armor but with some of its functionalities. As a rune mage, Lucille could make good use of his work, as she had the required passive skills. Altering her voice and concealing her identity with a mask wouldn’t be difficult, and she could easily work at his workshop or with the Dwarven Union.

Forging new identities for them wouldn’t be hard, especially with the guild’s help. Their noble lives might be over, but with his support, they could soon become Tier 3 class holders, and from there, the world would be theirs for the taking. The adrenaline from their escape still lingered in his veins, but exhaustion was beginning to creep in. He had spent weeks planning every contingency, but now that the most dangerous part was over, he felt the weight of the unknown bearing down on him. There was still one person missing and he had an idea why.

“You also have my gratitude, Sir Roland, if it wasn’t for y…”

Lucille was about to give a slight bow but nearly collapsed to the floor. Fortunately, Robert, who was holding her hand, quickly pulled her close, offering his shoulder for support.

“Ah, careful”

Roland could tell they were both utterly exhausted, and to make matters worse, Arion wasn’t picking up. With Sebastian around, he could always take the call through his helmet once the connection went through. But for now, it was more important to take care of his sibling.

“Let’s get you two somewhere to rest. You need sleep. We can talk more once you’ve recovered.”

He gestured toward the elevator that would take them up and out of the underground workshop. It wasn’t far, and it would lead them directly outside. However, to no surprise, the elevator was already occupied. At first, Roland thought only one person was inside, but he quickly realized his mistake when the doors slid open with a soft ding.

“Awooof!”

“Agni… your tail is in my face! Please stop moving. I told you to wait outside.”

“Awwwooo…”

It was quite a sight. Agni, Roland’s large companion, had curled up tightly to fit inside the elevator. His fur covered a woman – his wife who looked both amused and mildly annoyed. In his Sunlight form, Agni appeared fluffier than in his secondary ruby appearance, and while the flames were off, the ride must have been uncomfortable for her. She managed to squeeze her way out of the cramped elevator, but Agni was having a harder time. As he tried to shift after she exited, the elevator groaned, shaking as if the metal would buckle under the strain.

“Agni, stop moving, you’re going to damage the elevator.”

Roland said in an annoyed tone. His words were met with a soft whimper from Agni, clearly not enjoying the tight quarters or that he was being reprimanded by his master.

“Roland! Are you alright? Take off that helmet and let me see your face.”

Before he could continue to be angry at Agni he looked down to his wife, Elodia. Although he had informed her of his entire plan and everything that had transpired at the De Vere estate, that didn’t mean she wasn’t worried. He couldn’t dismiss her feelings, so he decided to remove his helmet, revealing a face that looked quite sleep-deprived.

“You’re so pale…”

Elodia’s eyes widened as she took in the sight of him, her concern evident. She stepped closer, brushing her fingers gently over his cheek. They shared a tender moment, but then her hand shifted, fingers pinching his cheek and tugging at it.

“Ow…”

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“You haven’t been sleeping for days again, have you?”

“Um… I’m sorry.”

Roland could tell that his wife was unhappy with his state. In their previous conversations, he had omitted the extent of their workload, knowing she would disapprove of his tendency to pull multiple all-nighters in a row. Despite being a Tier 3 class holder and having access to elixirs, his body still needed proper rest.

“Ah… what will I ever do with you?”

She had been frowning for a moment but after sighing and shaking her head, Elodia’s expression softened. Her concern for him clearly outweighed any frustration. Gently, she took his hand in hers, while turning towards Robert and Lucille.

“Are these two?”

“Yes, that’s Robert and Lucille, they will be staying with us for a while.”

Elodia glanced at both of them and could tell they were barely holding on and needed rest. However, one problem remained – Agni was still stuck in the elevator and needed help getting out. Roland hurried over, grabbed his paws, and started pulling. Eventually, the large wolf managed to squeeze his way out.

“Hey, stop!”

Agni showed no mercy, licking Roland’s face enthusiastically while wagging his tail like a propeller. Luckily, the ceiling in this underground part of the workshop was high enough, so fitting the horse-sized Sunlight Wolf wasn’t much of an issue. Once he was out, Roland took a moment to ask his wife about the missing person, someone that should be here.

“Is Bernir somewhere? He should have arrived before me, did he contact you?”

After a resounding push, Roland managed to get Agni off. The wolf snorted with his nose but still let his tongue flop out before barking like a dog a few times.

“Bernir? No, but isn’t he at the Institute? Maybe he is just having a good time with those other blacksmiths, you mentioned that they did accept him?”

“Perhaps…”

This was the crux of the current problem – Lucille and his brother were now safe, but his assistant was missing. He didn’t want to use the teleportation gate in Graham’s territory and directly link it here, as that would reveal the coordinates of this one. The institute had these coordinates, but no one else did, at least for now. If his enemies linked his previous green disguise to this teleportation gate, they could uncover his true identity.