Chapter 598 – Gear Restrictions.

“Lord Nathaniel Pembroke and Lady Eleanor Pembroke.”

The herald’s voice rang out across the wide stone courtyard, echoing against the towering walls of the inner keep. The main gate of Valerian Castle loomed ahead. It was a fortress within a fortress, its colossal doors clad in black steel and reinforced with runic enchantments that shimmered faintly under the morning sun.

Roland had seen fortified gates before, but this was different. It was not merely a barrier to keep enemies out. It was also a statement of power and a declaration of who was allowed to enter and who was not. The approach narrowed to a single broad ramp flanked by arrow slits and murder holes, with armored sentries standing at attention every few paces. The enchantments woven into the walls contained a form of magical scanning that began to flicker as the next lord approached.

“Halt!”

Armored men stepped out in front of the Pembroke carriage, their halberds lowering in perfect unison to bar the path. The herald faltered mid-sentence as a ripple of pale blue light ran across the outer arch of the gate, the telltale shimmer of the detection wards flaring brighter.

“Magical item detected.”

One of the guards barked, his voice devoid of any respect. The Pembroke driver froze and glanced back toward the noble couple within. From the shadows of the carriage, Lord Nathaniel’s voice rang out, sharp with indignation.

“This is an outrage. We are invited guests of the Duke himself.”

“Then you will have nothing to fear.”

The lead guard replied without even looking at him. He motioned with two fingers, and a squad stepped forward, four in front and four behind. Their armor was engraved with runes and other enchantments designed to protect them from potential attackers and uncooperative guests. Even though the noble made no move to exit, the guards pulled the door open. The Pembrokes were all but ushered into the open.

Lady Eleanor clutched her fan so tightly that her knuckles turned white, her composure cracking under the gaze of other nobles who watched from their own carriages. The inspection began immediately. Trunks and cases were hauled down, their locks undone with an efficiency that suggested this was not the first such search that morning. The soldiers handled silks and jewelry roughly, pausing only when a faint glow pulsed from within a velvet-lined box. Once it came into view, the glow intensified, prompting the lead guard to raise his brow.

“Restricted enchantment.”

He declared, lifting the small crystalline sphere inside.

“Possession of this requires written sanction from the Valerian court. Do you have such papers?”

Nathaniel’s jaw clenched.

“No, but it is just a communication crystal used to contact my family. You cannot seriously be thinking about taking it away.”

He said, but the soldiers did not seem to care.

“It is now confiscated.”

The guard said flatly. He then placed the sphere into a steel case carried by another soldier, who immediately snapped the locks shut.

“Once the assembly is over, you may take your possessions back.”

The search continued, turning up a dagger with a concealed frost rune and a ring that radiated faintly with stored mana. Both were taken without discussion. Only when the guards were satisfied did they step aside.

“You may proceed.”

The Pembrokes reentered their carriage in silence, humiliation plain on their faces as the onlookers whispered behind gloved hands. The giant black doors of the inner keep groaned open, just wide enough for a single carriage to pass. From the carriage directly behind them, Roland leaned back and processed what had just happened.

‘There is an anti-magical field around the gate. This will be troublesome. The Valerians are not taking chances.’

The day of the assembly had arrived, and Arthur and Roland were heading into the inner sanctum of the Valerian house. The inner castle was the most heavily defended area on the island. It contained its own mage tower, its own army, and an array of magical defenses. Even though Roland had managed to create a monitoring zone within Albrook, he knew that his own work could not compare to what he was witnessing here.

He could not see beyond the walls because an anti-magical barrier surrounded them, making it impossible. The barrier only affected the outer layer, which meant he would be able to cast spells inside if he wished. However, escaping through it would be far more difficult. He also had no idea how many similar zones might exist within the castle grounds.

“Next!”

While he was lost in thought, the carriage began to move forward. The coachman had been assigned from their temporary mansion. Mary, Gareth, and Moiren had to remain in the middle district and were instructed to wait for their return. The assembly was scheduled to last the entire day until late at night, although it could be extended depending on how events unfolded.

All four of Arthur’s brothers had already entered before him, but they were treated in the same manner. The order of entry was the reverse of their teleportation gate arrival, with Julius going in first before any other noble, and Ivan entering fourth. The only one still outside was Arthur, and only a few others remained behind him. Even though they did not attract much attention, this did not mean that the guards would be lenient with their belongings, and he needed to make sure nothing important was confiscated.

“Lord Arthur Valerian.”

Arthur’s name was announced, and Roland noticed his friend gripping his fists tightly. It was clear that Arthur was uncomfortable with the situation and uncertain about what awaited them inside. The recent kidnapping attempt was still fresh in their minds, and it was possible that within the castle their enemies were already plotting against them.

The carriage rolled forward at a slow pace. The sound of its wheels grinding against the stone ground was amplified by the silence that had settled over the gate. When the name “Valerian” was mentioned, the other nobles fell silent. Although Arthur was not well known, many were curious about why he had come here and how someone of illegitimate birth had managed to get this far at all.

“Halt!”

As Roland had predicted, the guards stationed outside blocked their way. They surrounded them in the same manner they had other arrivals. He barely registered what they were saying, as his attention was fixed on the anti-magical field surrounding the area, which he was attempting to contain.

‘It is different from the powder, more concentrated and far more powerful…’

The most common and widespread method of suppressing magic was the use of a special powder prepared by an alchemist. When dispersed into the air, the particles would disrupt the surrounding mana and prevent spells from forming. Other methods existed, however, and in this case the area itself was interfering with the mana flow, rendering even his runic enchantments dormant. When he attempted to channel mana into the runic structure, there was no response, but he did not yet feel concerned.

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“My Lord, please step out of the carriage.”

The guard outside gestured, and Roland moved to open the carriage door.

Roland stepped down. His armor immediately drew attention, and the guards flinched when they realized they were facing a tier-three class holder. He remained silent, holding the door open so Arthur could exit.

“Gentlemen, I have nothing to hide.”

Arthur spoke as he stepped out of the carriage. His movements appeared casual, yet each step was carefully measured. He carried himself with the composure of a perfect noble. The lead guard’s eyes swept over him from head to toe, then shifted to Roland, lingering just a moment longer than courtesy allowed.

“Just be mindful of the leather.”