The double doors of the manor opened into a grand marble atrium, flanked by twin staircases leading to a second-floor balcony. Though it was late, a small staff had been roused to greet them, their uniforms hastily donned but faces alert.

A woman in her fifties descended one staircase briskly, her silver-streaked hair pulled back in a no-nonsense bun. Her military posture and the leather bracer on one wrist, with an archer's ring glinting on her finger, suggested she was no ordinary house servant. Justin's monocle logged her as a Level 14 Archer, though she carried only a small dagger at her belt for now.

"Lady Myrelle," the woman said, her voice thick with emotion yet tightly controlled. "Thank the Six. We feared the worst."

"I know, Marienne. I'm sorry."

"There is nothing for which to be sorry, my lady. Those Aurelian brutes will have it coming, and they grow bolder by the day!"

Marienne, noticing she wasn't alone, bowed briefly to Alistair and Justin. "Be welcome to the Corrin Estate, good sirs."

"These are Mr. Talemaker and Sir Alistair," Myrelle said. "I owe them my life."

"The Corrin family thanks you," Marienne said. "I am Marienne Sialine, the head stewardess of the Corrin Estate. His lordship is awake and awaiting you. He rarely sleeps these days. Please, this way."

As they followed her through the atrium and into a warmly lit corridor paneled in aged oak, oil paintings of past Corrins lined the walls, watching them with silent judgment. Justin noted one ancestor who bore a striking resemblance to Myrelle, a mischievous smile on her lips.

"Who is that?" he asked.

"My grandmother," Myrelle replied with a hint of pride. "If you think I'm bad, you should hear some stories about her."

Justin thought it most diplomatic to say nothing at all.

At the end of the corridor, they reached what seemed to be a drawing room. It wasn't large, but well-appointed, with deep leather chairs, an enchanted globe of Eyrth, and shelves filled with heavy tomes.

Lord Corrin rose as they entered. He was a short man with bright blue eyes now tinged red with exhaustion. A silver circlet adorned his brow, and his gray hair was styled in a monk's ring. Despite the late hour, he was impeccably dressed, with a class tag above his head reading: Politician, Level 31.

Justin knew enough by now to understand that a man of Corrin's caliber was not to be trifled with. To reach that level, he must have had numerous high-profile dealings involving high stakes.

"Please, take a seat," Corrin invited.

Justin and Alistair did so on a leather sofa, while Myrelle took up a cozy armchair. A game board resembling a strategy game caught Justin's eye on the table before them, pieces arranged as if waiting for a match. It reminded him of chess.

"Myrelle," he said, taking up his on chair across from them. "I was beginning to fear... well, no matter now. You're here."

She stepped back, gesturing to her companions. "These are the men who saved me: Alistair of Drakendale and Justin Talemaker."

Corrin appraised them, his eyes flaring with recognition. "Paladin, Level 25," he noted of Alistair, then turned to Justin with curiosity. "Entrepreneur, Level 20. Hm. A unique class?"

Justin cleared his throat. "Yes. Not many of us about."

"I'll say. Just when you think you've seen it all." He turned to Myrelle, thankfully not pressing Justin for details. "Tell me everything. I found your letter, of course. Your plan was foolhardy as it was daring."

Myrelle launched into her story, recounting the ambush on the road, waking up shackled on the barge with dozens of other women, Justin and Lila's rescue, Alistair's involvement, and the chase across the rooftops, all culminating in the Templars' promise to stop the hostilities with discretion.

"If I had known they would stoop so low," Myrelle concluded, "I wouldn't have dared the operation. Yet, we've learned a great deal, and our family now has significant leverage against the Aurelians. Their open trafficking of people and the brothel could bring them immense shame at the very least, or worse, turn the Crown against them."

As Lord Corrin lit a pipe, he reflected on her words. His practiced expression concealed his thoughts, but Justin's Insightful Gaze revealed more than he intended. He felt anger at Myrelle's recklessness, yet gratitude for the leverage it provided. It was a complex tangle of emotions.

Myrelle shifted in her seat. "Father, their operations in the Floating Market run deeper than we thought. There's a lead here. If we act quickly, we can secure evidence before they have time to—"

Lord Corrin sighed, interrupting her. "Nothing is ever that simple, my daughter. We will discuss it in detail tomorrow. Family business is not for others' ears."

"Of course, Father. But consider this: our allies are too few in what is becoming a prolonged war."

"We cannot risk open conflict, but blood was spilled this evening. The Aurelians won't forget, and our position is too vulnerable. Our power has always been subtle—through charities, the Church of Light, politics, and connections—not the aggressive tactics of the Aurelians. When you fight with a pig, you both get dirty, and the pig enjoys it."

"For what it's worth," Alistair added, "a truce is being negotiated to prevent further bloodshed."

Corrin nodded. "A sensible outcome, though not ideal. It will give the Aurelians pause, but for how long?"

An uncomfortable silence ensued, clearly indicating that Alistair and Justin had overstayed their welcome.

Alistair offered a bow. "With your leave, my lord, we should return to Belmora."

"Not so soon!" Lady Myrelle said. "I promised Mr. Talemaker a tour of our weapons collection. He gave me a silver-tier cane to defend myself with—a generous gift. At the very least, he should be rewarded."

Corrin considered this for a moment and then nodded. "Indeed, that was a generous gift, and it deserves recognition." He called out, "Marienne?"

Within moments, the steward approached. "Yes, my lord?"

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"Prepare the East Hall. The collection is to be viewed."

"Right away, my lord."

As they waited, Corrin turned to Alistair. "How did you arrive at the right moment? That was never explained."

Alistair replied, "I wasn't involved from the beginning; that was Justin and Lila. We're here in Belmora working for the Templars. Justin just happened to see what was happening and couldn't stand by."

Corrin studied him, his expression thoughtful. "Really? It's rare for someone to take such risks. Anyone can fend off a few thugs, but the real challenge lies in the chaos that good deeds can unwittingly unleash."

"You're right," Justin admitted. "I can act rashly at times. We couldn't save everyone, but we're still figuring out what to do with those who stayed with us."

"Perhaps the Church can help," Corrin suggested. "Our family has many connections in that arena."

"It would certainly look good," Myrelle added. "If any of this comes to light, it will reflect poorly on the Aurelians."

"Just a thought," Corrin said. "If these people aren't given jobs soon, they're likely to fall back into their old lives. And even with the best intentions, some are simply destined for destruction."

Justin fell silent. He didn't fully agree, but he understood the point.

At this moment, Marienne returned. "The collection is ready for viewing, my lord."

"Very good," Corrin said. "Shall we?"

They followed him deeper into the manor, past several locked doors and down a narrow corridor lined with suits of armor and old campaign banners. At the far end stood a heavy, iron-banded door with an enchanted, runic lock embedded in the frame, now open.

Marienne stepped aside to let them pass.

The chamber resembled a private museum, with tall glass cases showcasing elegant rapiers, jewel-studded canes, gilded umbrellas, and enchanted monocles, rings, and brooches. Soft magical lights illuminated each exhibit, casting a gentle glow.

Justin struggled to take it all in. The collection must be worth tens of shards.

Corrin gestured toward a section of the wall. "My daughter says you supplied her with that silver-tier cane, but more importantly, you saved her from disaster. Therefore, the cane I offer is not silver-tier, but gold."

"Gold, my lord?" Justin asked.

Lord Corrin approached a plinth displaying three exceptional canes. The first was a simple metal cane adorned with carvings of lightning bolts, topped with a silver pommel shaped like a storm cloud. The second glowed subtly, its polished wood the color of honey, with a golden lion for its pommel. The third cane appeared almost unassuming, made of dark wood with a golden jester's mask forming the pommel.

"These," Corrin continued, "are unbound. One of them is yours to choose."

Justin stared. "Seriously?"

Corrin nodded solemnly. "A Corrin always repays generosity twofold."

"Thank you," Justin said sincerly.

The necessary information appeared before him, not through his monocle, but apparently enchanted into the room. He read the details of the first one.

Stormlash Cane

+2 Power, +2 Coordination Shock Touch: The first strike of each combat phase deals Lightning damage in line with your Power attribute. Chance to Stun. Thunderclap: Releases a concussive blast that stuns all targets before you. Cooldown: one hour.

Justin nodded. This was a decent offensive cane, but unless he needed Lightning damage specifically, it was outclassed by his Cane of the Drake.

He eyed the honey-colored cane with the lion's head pommel next:

The Golden Lion

+3 Charisma, +1 Perception Lion's Majesty: +4 to Charisma once per day for one hour. Golden Roar: Inflict the Intimidate status on all but the most powerful creatures and characters.

This would be useful for the Intimidation effect, Justin could achieve similar results with Morvath's Aspect and his innate Charisma.

Finally, he inspected the last one.

Jester's Roulette

Jester's Roulette: After each long rest, gain +6 to a random attribute for the day.

Mercurial Gamble: After each long rest, this cane gains a unique, unpredictable enchantment for the day, whether beneficial or detrimental.

Justin considered it. Powerful, yet chaotic. The unpredictability was intriguing. It could give him something incredibly good or something incredibly useless, or even bad.

But if it happened to be the latter, he wasn't bound to use it. His Cane of the Drake would serve just as well. There was really no downside.

The decision was fairly simple. "I'll take Jester's Roulette."

Corrin smiled. "A gambler. I respect that. I've always been curious about what that cane could do in the right hands. I hope it serves you well."

Justin grasped the cane.

[Do you wish to bind the Jester's Roulette to your core?]

Justin mentally affirmed his decision. The cane shimmered and briefly reshaped to fit his grip. The jester's mask atop the handle seemed to stare at him irreverently. It was a bit creepy, but a new cane was a new cane.

Corrin turned to Alistair. "And don't think I've forgotten you, Sir Paladin. A debt remains unpaid, though I fear I don't have a weapon here suited for one of your class."

"Lord Corrin, truly, there's no need—"

Corrin dismissed the protest and walked to a nearby collection of amulets. He handed him a fine steel-chain amulet inset with a blue gem. "Aegis of the First Shield. It generates a barrier that halves all incoming damage for ten seconds once per day."

Alistair accepted it with a bow. "Thank you. I will use it well."

"And this Lila you mentioned, a Bard from the sound of it," he said. He fetched something from his collection, a single curved dagger that was almost translucent, housed in an enchanted crystal sheath. "Give her this with compliments."

Justin took the dagger, something called the Elemental Dagger, which automatically swapped its elemental affinity depending on the creature it was targeting, but it had no other effect. Justin supposed the flexibility would be incredible useful in certain situations.

As they made their way back toward the atrium, Corrin offered a final word of warning. "House Aurelia is not to be underestimated. Tread carefully."

Myrelle walked beside Justin, her expression unreadable. "This won't be our last meeting, Mr. Talemaker, I'm sure of it. Friends are a valuable commodity, and I suspect we'll both need more before this is over."

"My daughter is right," Lord Corrin said, his expression inscrutable. "Should you need anything at all, do not hesitate to call upon me."

"We will," Justin said with a bow. He stifled a yawn. "Good night."

As they headed back to the road, a message flashed in his interface.

[Quest Updated: Break the Chains]

You have returned Lady Myrelle safely and earned the favor of House Corrin, and have been richly rewarded. A truce is being brokered with the Aurelians through the Templars. For now, the city is calm... but for how long?

Quest Phase Complete.

Experience gained: 5,000. Your total experience is now 23,575/29,000.

Quest phase? It was his first time encountering such a thing. He supposed a Quest Phase meant there would be more to come, but for now, he felt satisfied. He was just a few thousand experience points away from his next level-up.

It was far past time to head back to the city. They stepped into the chill of the night, following the road beneath a scattering of stars. For a long while, neither spoke.

Eventually, Alistair broke the silence. "Let's hope tomorrow is simpler. Today turned out about as well as could be expected, but it could have easily gone the other way. Consider that next time you wish to help."

Justin nodded. There was no point in arguing when Alistair had a solid point. "You're right."

After a couple more minutes of walking, the Paladin sighed. "But in a way... you are also right, Justin. As a Paladin, it is my duty to uphold virtue and help the weak and downtrodden. It is... unbecoming of me to suggest you should not do so. In truth, the only reason I mention it is to prevent a greater calamity involving Count Valdrik. But that can be a slippery slope."

Justin nodded. "Speaking of Count Valdrik, Myrelle mentioned him while you were gone."

Alistair's eyes widened. "Dear gods. In what capacity?"

Justin explained his brief conversation with Myrelle. Alistair relaxed, but only slightly.

"It doesn't seem as if they are connected, and their meeting was circumstantial," Alistair said. "However, if they meet again, she is certain to mention you." He let out a breath. "Let's pray to all the gods that it doesn't happen and he remains firmly rooted in Silverton. He only came here to accept his new title, it seems."

"The odds are low. Just something to watch out for."

Alistair glanced at Justin's cane. "An interesting selection. I would have chosen the Golden Lion myself. It's useful when dealing with someone who just can't be persuaded otherwise."

Justin shrugged. "My Lord Corrin is right, and I'm something of a gambler."

"Maybe so," Alistair allowed.

Justin's fingers curled around the newly acquired cane. It wouldn't grant either of its bonuses, or perhaps a malus, until he'd woken up in the morning.

He wondered what it would be.

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