The Runesmith

Chapter 681– Not For Sale.

“I beg your pardon?”

Arthur’s confused voice rang out as he stared at the golden-haired woman. The pile of treasure kept growing, glittering in the afternoon sun as though a dragon’s hoard had been emptied onto his estate.

Lady Aurelia did not answer at once. Instead, she stepped closer to Agni, her gaze distant, almost entranced. The priests behind her had already dropped to their knees, whispering prayers. Even the paladins seemed unsure whether they were meant to guard or to worship the sacred beast.

“I will not repeat myself a third time.”

She spoke softly, yet the weight of her words pressed down on everyone present.

“Name your price.”

Arthur’s expression tightened. For a moment, the composure of a rising lord slipped. His eyes flicked toward Julius, searching for any sign that this was a jest or at least an exaggeration. Julius did not intervene. He simply watched, as if he too were tempted by the divine beast.

Arthur then glanced at Roland, the true owner of Agni. The confusion over the sunlight wolf’s ownership was becoming increasingly awkward.

“My lady…”

Arthur chose his words carefully.

“Agni is not a commodity to be traded. He is a companion to this house.”

When he finished speaking, Aurelia tilted her head slightly.

“Agni?”

“It is the beast’s name, given by its true owner, not by me.”

Arthur corrected himself quickly. He had no desire to argue on Roland’s behalf.

“Naming sacred beasts… who would dare such a thing?”

Julius frowned as he heard the irritation creeping into his mother’s voice. Roland was not sure how strictly she followed the teachings of the church, or how she interpreted them. As far as he knew, the faith had several branches. Some were rigid, while others accepted that divine creatures could form bonds with mortals instead of existing only as distant symbols of reverence.

Roland exhaled slowly and stepped forward. The faint scrape of armored boots against stone drew attention. The paladins and knights at Julius’s side tensed as they sensed the power surrounding the armored figure.

“Ah, this is Sir Wayland. He played a crucial role in our victory against those cultists. You remember, Mother?”

Julius finally spoke in support of Arthur. Aurelia gave a small nod.

“Yes. That man…”

Roland remained silent, waiting to be addressed. It was clear that Aurelia was not easily swayed. She seemed convinced that the holy beast belonged with the church, or perhaps with her. 𝙧𝘢𐌽𝘰₿ЕŜ

“So you are the one.”

Her voice was quieter now, yet no less imposing.

“The one who named it.”

Roland lowered his head just enough to remain respectful, though he did not kneel. His posture stayed firm and grounded. Now that she was speaking to him directly, he could finally respond.

“Yes, my lady.”

There was a brief pause. The flames around Agni flickered. Aurelia’s gaze moved between the two, the armored knight and the radiant wolf. Something in her expression tightened, as if the connection between them did not please her.

“A mortal naming a divine beast. Creating a bond that can’t be broken lightly...”

Roland remained silent as she spoke. It was true that a bond between a master and a beast could not be broken easily. Either he would need to transfer the contract or die before it could end. There were also complications when the bond between a tamed beast and its master reached such a level.

At that point, the bond became nearly permanent. Unless the creature accepted a new master, it would not transfer without the use of powerful spells and rituals. These were practices the church frowned upon when it involved their sacred beasts, who were granted the freedom to choose their own fate. Forcing Roland to relinquish what had already been established would go against those teachings, yet it seemed this woman was still willing to try.

Aurelia took another step forward. The golden light in her eyes intensified, as if she were trying to cast a spell on Agni.

“Then release it.”

The words fell simply, almost casually, yet they carried the weight of a command rather than a request. A subtle shift moved through the gathered knights. Several of the paladins adjusted their footing, not out of hostility toward Roland, but out of uncertainty. They seemed to recognize her tone, and perhaps knew it had led to conflict before.

“Mother, please.”

Julius stepped forward and placed himself between Roland and Aurelia. He had clearly noticed the tension in the air and understood that whatever offering his mother had prepared would not be enough. He raised a hand, visibly unsettled by the situation. His composed expression began to crack as she grew more forceful.

“This is neither the time nor the place.”

Aurelia did not look away from Agni. The golden light in her eyes pulsed faintly.

“You feel it as well, do you not?”

Her voice remained calm, though now it carried a sharper intensity.

“This is no ordinary contracted beast. It is a manifestation of divine will. It belongs with us. It should remain within the main temple, within Solaria’s gardens, where it can truly embrace its purpose.”

“...”

Roland’s helmet concealed his face, but he was frowning. Above him, his floating golems watched the group, already scanning. Earlier, he had lacked a reason to use his identification skill. Now he had one. The people before him were not only showing animosity toward him, but also toward Arthur, someone he was sworn to protect. The others sensed the shift in mana, yet in a situation like this, none of them could object.

Even though her level did not exceed two hundred, she was still considered high level for someone who was the wife of a powerful duke. He was not sure what she did when she was away from home, but it seemed likely that she had once been an active healer. Reaching such a level would have required her to take part in battles, whether against monsters or other people, perhaps even cultists.

Some of the people who arrived with her and Julius were above level two hundred, but they were nowhere near Lady Bernadette’s level and lacked any notable prestige classes. Julius likely understood this and was concerned that Roland, who had demonstrated his strength during the light incident, might be difficult to handle.

“Lady Aurelia, why don’t we head into the mansion and have some tea? I’m sure the cakes will be to your liking.”

Arthur stepped in, attempting to ease the tension before things escalated. Aurelia, however, did not move. Her gaze remained fixed on Agni, as if everything else had faded away. It only shifted when the sunlight wolf lifted his head in protest and turned away.

“T-the divine beast is rejecting me?”

Agni snorted and rose to his feet. He did not advance. Instead, Roland stepped back slightly and placed a hand on the wolf’s fiery mane, which did not harm him.

“If I may…”

Roland turned toward the nobles, focusing on Arthur, who gave a small nod.

“Agni is not truly a tamed beast to me, nor a symbol of divinity. He is a companion who has been by my side for years. Our bond goes far beyond that of master and beast. I must apologize, but I cannot part with him, and I do not believe he would wish to leave either.”

The paladins and clerics could see that Roland remained unharmed, a clear sign that the wolf accepted him. At the same time, they could sense the divine mana growing hostile toward them. Angering a holy beast, even one bound by a contract, went against their teachings. Still, they could not defy the lady, who had yet to order them to stand down.

“Preposterous!”

After a brief pause, the woman spoke again, revealing more of her true nature, one that had not been visible during the noble gathering among the other Valerian ladies. At that time, Aurelia had appeared calm, composed, and gentle. Now, faced with something tied to her faith, she showed that she could not let the matter go so easily.

“What would a simple knight not blessed by the sun know about her creations?”

She pointed at Roland as if he were some demon trying to seduce their sacred beast. Roland was not sure how to react. It was clear that this woman was more of a zealot than he had expected. The plan had been to let Agni frolic in the garden while he acted like a docile puppy, but things were getting out of hand.

“Grrrr!”

Without warning, Agni’s mane burst into stronger flames, and his eyes locked onto the woman accusing Roland. The moment she noticed the hostility in his gaze, she recoiled, not in fear but in bewilderment.

“T-the holy creature is angry with me? But…”

“Enough!”

A loud shout cut through the tension. It did not come from Arthur or Roland, but from Julius. He placed his hand firmly on his mother’s shoulder and pulled her back. Her authority was high, but the young lord was no slouch either.

“My son, what are you doing?”

“I am ending this before you embarrass me and the church any further, Mother.”

His expression shifted. What had been a mild annoyance hardened into clear anger. He turned to the two paladins standing behind him.

“My mother is tired. Escort her somewhere she can rest.”

The paladins hesitated for only a fraction of a second before bowing their heads.

“As you command.”

Lady Aurelia’s eyes widened as disbelief flickered across her face while they guided her away from Agni. For a moment, it seemed she might resist. The light in her gaze did not fade. Yet when she met Julius’s expression, whatever words she had meant to say died in her throat.

“Brother Arthur, could you have some of your people tend to my mother? I am sure she would enjoy some cake and tea.”

“Of course, Brother Julius.”

Arthur did not hesitate. He glanced toward Mary, who immediately moved with a few other maids to handle the situation. Aurelia fell silent and seemed to regain her composure, but even as she left, her gaze lingered on Agni, who merely snorted and turned his head away.

That woman was more trouble than Roland had anticipated, and her behavior felt unsettling. He knew people could be two-faced, but she seemed to become an entirely different person in Agni’s presence. Someone like her was difficult to read. Would she act on those emotions and do something dangerous?

After this encounter, his suspicion of her involvement in what had happened to Arthur’s mother grew. She was a devout follower of the Solarian Church, while Aeloria, Arthur’s mother, had been tied to the opposing belief of the moon gods. It was possible that Aurelia might have harmed her over this conflict, even without any connection to the struggle for the duke’s title. It could have been nothing more than a clash of faiths.

Julius remained silent until his mother had been led far enough away that her presence no longer pressed against the gathering like a vise. Only then did he exhale, as if releasing something he had been holding in for quite some time.

“I owe you both an apology.”

His gaze shifted first to Arthur, then to Roland. The polished smile was gone, replaced by a faint quiver at the corners of his eyes.

“My mother’s devotion can be… overwhelming when it is awakened.”

Arthur gave a small nod, a slight smile forming on his face.

“It is no small matter to stand before something like Agni. Strong faith often invites strong reactions. Think nothing of it.”

Roland remained silent. His hand rested against Agni’s mane, feeling the slow, steady heat beneath his palm. The wolf had calmed, though not completely. The flames still flickered, but with less intensity. His gaze then settled on Julius, who was also a devout believer in Solaria.

“Lord Julius… Agni here is quite docile, if you wish…”

He stepped back. Agni sat where he was and tilted his head in mild confusion. His gaze returned to Julius, as if weighing his worth, and then he let out a sharp bark.

“Woof!”

“Oh…”

Julius was clearly entranced by the divine mana radiating from Agni. Roland already knew how pure the flames were. Such purity of mana was not easily replicated and seemed to enthrall sun worshipers like moths to the flame.

“May I?”

“That depends on him. If your intent is good, he will allow you to touch him, and the flames will not burn you.”

Roland spoke calmly, his hand still resting against Agni’s mane. He did not look at Julius as he spoke. His attention remained on the wolf, as though the decision had never been his to make.

Julius seemed to understand. For a brief moment, he hesitated. Not out of fear, but out of something far rarer for someone of his standing: respect. Slowly, he removed one of his gloves and stepped forward.

“I mean no harm, oh holy beast.”

His voice was calm and measured, as though any hint of force or dominance might lead to rejection. The flames along Agni’s body flickered brighter, then settled again. His ears twitched slightly as Julius placed a tentative hand against his side.

Roland watched from the side. Julius, a lord revered by many and the one closest to becoming the next duke, now looked almost like a child. The moment his hand touched the flaming mane and he realized he was unharmed, his eyes lit up.

“Brother… the divine beast has accepted my touch!”

“That it has.”

Arthur nodded with a smile. The tension that had been building dissolved at last, bursting like a soap bubble. Now they could relax and move forward, perhaps even begin to build trust and discuss terms. This was more than a simple gathering between brothers. Arthur still hoped to secure something like a ceasefire between them, at least until Theodore was dealt with.

Julius was not as aggressive as his brother, or at least he did not appear to be. He focused more on gaining power by helping people and earning favors, rather than through domination, as Theodore did. Arthur was still in the race, and he seemed willing to try as well, either to become the next duke or at least to ensure that Theodore did not claim the position.

“It is… warm and so radiant, far more than any divine spell I have witnessed…”

It was clear that Julius was entranced by the purity of Agni’s mana. The wolf, on the other hand, was simply sitting there with its tongue hanging out. The regal composure he had tried to maintain earlier was gone, and now it looked like an overgrown puppy after Aurelia had left.

‘Now we should be able to move forward, but that woman.’

Julius was ecstatic as Agni allowed him to touch him. Roland, meanwhile, kept his eyes on Aurelia. The woman had been taken to one of the larger guest rooms and given something sweet to eat. However, she refused the tea and treats and instead sat there in silence. Her gaze was fixed on one of the windows, clearly in Agni’s direction.

‘Even now she wants Agni.’

Roland was unsure whether this would cause problems later. If the woman had ties to the assassins he had seen in the city, sending them to eliminate the master of the beast she desired would not be unthinkable. Still, the place was well defended, and paladins of Solaria who were friendly to him were present. They would not allow anything to happen to the secret beast or his master.

‘I will have to keep an eye on her…’

He glanced at the display inside his helmet and considered the situation. Things were starting to return to normal, though whether they would remain that way was uncertain.

For a moment, he wondered if he should order Agni to play along with Aurelia’s wishes. Allowing himself to be petted was not the end of the world, but Roland feared that if Agni showed her any sign of affection, she would only become more unreasonable. The pile of treasure offered to him meant little, as Agni’s worth could not be measured in gold. He was someone Roland cherished deeply, and he would not allow anything to happen to him, not even if it meant opposing the duke himself.