The caretaker of the villa returned to the guardhouse. It was time to start the investigations. With the help of the shadows, Camiel left the garden and headed to the back of the house. He identified the service door where some bags of garbage had been stacked and ready to be transported.

A maid went out to gather some firewood. When she returned, Camiel held his luggage tightly on his back and reached the door before it closed. He rested his hand on the wooden edge and followed its movement until it was fully closed. He stopped to listen. The maid walked away singing, no other sound could be heard. Clear to go, he thought. He slowly pushed the door open, stopping at every creak that was too loud. He peeked inside. It was the kitchen entrance. Empty, but who knows for how long. He quickly entered and just as quickly dived under one of the tables. Heavy footsteps anticipated the arrival of a man with a long apron. He rummaged through the pantry, pulled out a couple of boxes and a steak, grabbed a large meat knife and slammed everything onto the table that was the hiding place for Camiel.

"The lady has ordered for dinner to be set," said the maid who had just re-entered the kitchen. She tasted something from the counter and from her grumble, it seemed that she liked it.

"At least give me time to cook! Katia, please pass me the butter that's in the cupboard." The cook put the meat on the stove.

The intoxicating and appetizing smell of a good meal reminded Camiel that his stomach was empty, so much so that he regretted the terrible eggs from the innkeeper.

The tinkling of a bell split the air. The waitress left and the cook walked towards the garden. Camiel ran behind the door that was swinging between the kitchen and the other room. He leaned in just a little and saw an antique dining table with well-carved curved legs, old paintings on the walls, and on the other side of the room long, plump red velvet curtains that hung down either side of the window. He sprang up and hid behind them as best he could. Just in time: the maid had just re-entered to set the table. "Katia, go get my husband," ordered another woman, haughty in tone.

"Katia, I explained to you that the napkins have to be placed this way," she said.

"Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry."

"Now go,"she ordered.

Mr. Allet appeared at the end of the pendulum clock chimes. He was restless: he beat his cane repeatedly. Camiel observed him, at least as much as the fabric that concealed him allowed. The maid brought two delicious smelling plates to the table, poured a drink, and went back to the kitchen.

"Who were those men?" Mrs. Allet asked, now with a calm tone.

Ludvig beat his cane on the ground again. He sat down and sighed deeply. "They were Kharzanian soldiers," he burst out. "Damned dogs ready to jump at your throat."

"Why did they come to talk to you?" the woman squeaked.

"Well ... I don't know. They believe that someone in Lud has something to do with a large shipment of undeclared Seorite."

"For a moment I thought it was news from Aran."

"No, our son has nothing to do with it," Ludvig hissed.

The woman laid down the cuttery. "I had to ask Mrs. Flint for information and I found out that they went to Clodia for the summer. He could have informed us."

Ludvig Allet wiped his lips with the napkin. "Stop bringing him into every discussions! He must start acting like an adult. I have more important things to think about." He cut another bite with so much force that he scraped the plate. As he chewed, he turned towards the window that looked out onto the garden. "The thing that baffles me is that the Kharzanian detection team never made a mistake. But a shipment of Seorite passing through Lud can only have two directions without being checked, Amanastre or the port of Virn."

"Ludvig, what does it mean?" the woman asked, her voice even more worried.

"I don't know, they will be expert smugglers or some armed militia capable of crossing the forest without problems. I think the Kharzanians have figured it out, but strangely they can't seem to make sense of it."

"You must inform the city council. As soon as possible." She hastened.

"I already talked to Bernold and Carl in the past few days. As if we didn't have other problems."

The woman frowned. "Poor tree. Have you heard anything about its state?"

"Unfortunately, none of our people understood much. We can't even formulate a theory. We sent letters to Clodia to get botanists to help to us." Ludvig Allet pounded the table with his fist. "This Seorite matter has become our priority. I can't devote myself to the Great Jalme."

"You get cranky every time the Kharzanians are mentioned, you're overreacting,"

Ludvig stood up and left the napkin on the plate with the remains of dinner. "If the Hozmans are involved and the government of Edel considers us accomplices, the situation can deteriorate. Carlton and his men are searching everywhere without raising suspicion. I want to know the truth and decide accordingly." He approached the window thoughtfully and Camiel heard his steps near the curtain. "Uh... if they were to check our basement, we would have a rough fifteen minutes."

His wife brought both hands to her chest. "Darling, couldn't you get rid of some items? At least the Hozmans ones. I know they're valuable, but..."

Ludvig shook his head. "Right now we would attract attention, I prefer to keep the secret."

Between sighs, she finished the meal. Visibly upset, she approached him and stroked his back. "I'm going upstairs. Come to bed and let's think about it tomorrow morning." She left the room calmly, with soft steps that slowly disappeared.

He bowed his head and Camiel felt that he was still close by.

Ludvig Allet cleared his throat with a cough. "Whoever you are, come out, please."

For Camiel, the hopes of a quiet search of the villa shattered instantly. "Caught," he whispered in a defeated tone.

"An Hozman... not that the peasant clothes can help you go unnoticed..." said Ludvig, staying still on the spot. He didn't seem scared or surprised, but his hand held a brass pistol with a rudimentary CEC system. He aimed it at Camiel's chest. On his finger that tightened the trigger, he wore a gold ring with a large "A" engraved.

Camiel frowned and raised his hands. "How did you notice me?"

"I knew you were there since I stepped into the room," replied Ludvig Allet with a note of pride in his voice. He opened the collar of his shirt and revealed a medallion. Camiel immediately recognized it: the engraving and the small Seorite shard. The dawn of Meliro. He just raised his hand. He wanted to touch it and make sure it was real. The pistol barrel was still on him. "Are you able to use it?"

"A small gift from the Empire of Hozma," he felt the surface of the stone. "Once you learn the basics from the masters of the Voice of the Soul, I had many years to perfect this type of trick." Ludvig held the cane in front of him, lifted off the ground.

Camiel hadn't thought about it, he had been too busy thinking about the Kharzanian soldiers or the Seorite shipment. Yet it made sense: Ludvig Allet had crossed the borders of Hozma many times, and people like him didn't stay indifferent to the abilities of his people.

Camiel pointed to the pistol. "We both know it's not a valid deterrent."

But Ludvig, as cold as ice, didn't move. "I'm much faster than I let on..."

"Mr. Allet, I didn't enter your home to harm you. On the contrary, I thought you and the citizens of Lud were in danger. The stakes are very high."

"Are you here for the stones?"

Camiel grimaced. "Someone is moving an immense amount of Seorite in these lands. And by that, I mean enough to supply an army. That's why even the Kharzanians believe there's something underneath."

"What do you have to do with all of this? Speak up! I didn't think the Empire of Hozma was involved, and yet you sneak into my house looking for information. What am I supposed to think?" His grip on the weapon became so tight that his knuckles turned white.

"Stay calm. I assure you that the Emperor and his High Authority have nothing to do with this. It was a mistake to come here. If the Kharzanians found us, we'd both be in trouble," he said gravely.

"Yes, unfortunately, you're right. It was a mistake."

Camiel felt a shiver run down his spine. He had to leave there as soon as possible. He turned the window handle behind his back.

"But before you go, I have to ask you some things...and this time I have to be sure they're solid facts and not just excuses," said Ludvig Allet.

What were that man's intentions? Camiel wasn't sure he wanted to find out. He flung the window open and jumped onto the sill.

The stone on the medallion lit up in the blink of an eye. "Hozman warrior, I bind you to your weapon and the promises you have made, I bind you to the 'Oath of the Righteous'," he said solemnly. "Tell me about your arrival in Lud and the Seorite that the Kharzanians are seeking."

Camiel froze in place. The silver ring on his finger filled with energy due to the small Seorite stone. Even the long bag he carried on his shoulder began to pulsate with light. The skins in which it was hidden tore and burned as if it was paper on fire.

The sword was exposed to view. The gleaming blade was longer than an arm and the edge was covered with the same characters engraved on the silver ring. Above the handle, the metal embellishments twisted like vines, chasing each other without revealing a beginning or an end. A decoration that wrapped around the power of the Seorite that was now exploding with light. It resonated with the stone on Ludvig's medallion.

Camiel felt the whispers invade his mind. "Tsk... this is not right, Mr. Allet, threatening me with a gun was infinitely more polite." Annoyed, he freed the sword from the remnants of the cover and laid it on the ground. He sat cross-legged and looked up, disapprovingly.

Ludvig Allet seemed to relax and said, "I have made many discoveries in Meliro."

The stone on the sword returned to normal, but Camiel knew from now on he would have to fulfill an absolute obligation.

"Let's skip the formalities and get to the questions: Who are you and what are you doing in Lud?" Ludvig asked. He took a chair and sat in front of him.

"My name is not part of the oath, but I can tell you that I am an Hozman. I come from the south for other business and I travel alone. I was supposed to go to Amanastre. But in my sleep, during the night, I felt an immense source of energy coming from this direction. I wasn't even meditating; it was in no way comparable to a simple Seorite transport. Someone intends to threaten the peace in this region." Camiel spoke without looking at him and ran his finger through the embellishments on the sword hilt.

"Which house do you come from?"

"Let's stick to the subject or as far as I'm concerned, I've fulfilled my oath."

"Tell me then, what have you discovered? Did you find others of your people in Lud?"

"I haven't spoken with an Hozman in over three years and I haven't seen any during my travels within the Republic."

Mr. Allet nodded and the stone on the medallion stopped shining. "Well, please forgive me and I apologize for the trouble caused, but these were information I really needed," said the man. This time he spoke politely. "What are the chances that you and the Kharzanians are wrong?"

"None. The Seorite cargo exists, but I'm not sure it stayed here. I can only tell you that they will insist and press in every way they know." His forehead narrowed.

"I already know... and that's what troubles me the most."

Camiel, before leaving, extended his hand to Ludvig Allet who reciprocated with respect. "I have already seen the sword you carry, in Aletar if I'm not mistaken, during one of my trips to the Emperor's court," the latter added. When the warrior opened the window wide, the summer breeze invaded the dining room. "I can assure you that it's highly unlikely, although your eyes didn't betray you entirely," replied Camiel. He turned towards the garden. "It would be better to prepare the city council. Inform the capital and ask for support. The situation will become dangerous."

Ludvig Allet nodded with tense nerves. His hand clenched into a fist.

The Hozman jumped out of the window and quickly moved away from the villa. They won't be able to convince them, he thought.