Truth Weavers

Chapter 9.1

Translator: Lizz

Basically, Zechs’s approach was to go to Daza after being contacted when something happened, but aside from that, he always made sure to show up at the beginning of the month even if nothing happened. It was a kind of ritual to greet his Guild Master, who had been taking care of him, and to reduce friction with other mages. However, recently there hadn’t been a month when he hadn’t been summoned.

In Daza, which was far from the Capital, near the border, and relatively close to the conflict area in the north, public order had significantly deteriorated over the past few years. Especially around Cadenza; more and more residents had been forming groups to oppose the Lord. About twenty years ago, when the conflict first started, the disputes had been small-scale, but now they had become large-scale and sophisticated, with mercenaries from other countries being employed and several groups collaborating to cause disturbances. This indicated how desperate the people of Cadenza might be. Although the Cadenza conflict did not directly involve Zechs, there was a troubling issue in the northern region where the knights employed by the Lord were no longer able to handle towns’ security, leading to rampant thieves and unscrupulous merchants. The repercussions of this had reached Daza, spreading a somewhat desolate atmosphere throughout the town.

As usual, after tying his beloved horse to the stable, Zechs brushed past several mages at the Guild Headquarters entrance. He knew that most of the mages in Daza didn’t think kindly of him, and while some of them never hid their disdain and scorn, today their gazes were sharper and more prickly than ever.

Wondering why, since he hadn’t done anything in particular for the past half month, Zechs headed towards the mages’ quarters, where he encountered a few more mages. They were Jesse’s friends and fellow apprentices, who usually didn’t show dislike for Zechs. However, today, when they saw Zechs enter, their eyes darted around in confusion, and they quickly left after barely greeting him.

(What’s going on?)

Although he didn’t remember doing anything wrong, Zechs knew that sometimes one could be suddenly ostracized without any reason.

Just as he thought of subtly asking Jesse about it, the man himself walked in. He stopped in his tracks upon seeing Zechs.

“You’re here.”

“Yeah.”

“I was just about to go get you; the Guild Master asked for you.”

Jesse’s voice and expression were stiff. It wasn’t disdain or contempt, of course.

“Jesse?”

He called his older friend’s name, questioning. Jesse looked at Zechs again, as if startled. There was a pained expression in his eyes, as if he was enduring some sort of suffering.

“I knew it, but…”

“What?”

“…You’re not a mage who will be stuck in such a rural area. Even if you’re from Seldia.”

For the first time, Zechs’s friend, who had never spoken a racially discriminatory word before, let bitterness seep into the name of his ethnicity. This unnerved Zechs more than he expected, and he was surprised at himself.

“You really are a genius. You’re different from someone like me.”

“Jesse, you’re plenty skilled too.”

This was not flattery; it was what Zechs genuinely believed. However, he knew it wouldn’t serve as any consolation.

As expected, Jesse kept a stiff expression and shook his head.

“In the end, we’re on different levels. You truly are an exceptional mage. I knew that someday you would be called to the Iron Fortress.”

From Jesse’s words, he could finally imagine that his wish had been granted, but he simply could not rejoice; Zechs merely looked into Jesse’s eyes.

“…I’ve always wished to go to the Iron Fortress someday, and I’ve been training hard for it. It’s not just me; every mage probably feels the same. As long as we’re mages, we’re looked down upon and laughed at as inferior beings wherever we go, no matter how much we work for the people. But it would be different if we went to the Iron Fortress. Everything would be rewarded. That’s what I believed… I had hope.”

Jesse laughed with a self-deprecating tone.

He was probably… twenty-two years old already. At that age, there was no longer any hope of being called. Even though he was one of the top mages in Daza, he wasn’t chosen.

“I envy you, Zechs. To be honest, I understand how those who harassed you out of jealousy feel.”

“…But you didn’t do that, Jesse.”

“Yeah, that’s true. Well, I had already given up. The younger ones probably hadn’t given up yet. But then you showed up, and they realized that people like you are the ones who go to the Iron Fortress. It must have felt like their future was stolen. It’s not your fault… Ah, I’m no good. I should have been happy for you and sent you off with joy. I’ve still got a long way to go. Sorry.”

Even though he was apologized to, Zechs didn’t know what to do. He never intended to blame Jesse. It was just… he realized even Jesse felt that way.

“The Guild Master is calling for you. A messenger from the Iron Fortress is here. Sorry for making you listen to my complaints.”

Nodding silently, Zechs left the quarters as Jesse urged him to.

Given Jesse’s personality, he wouldn’t usually complain like this. But he couldn’t help himself. It was that shocking to him.

Did the Guild members who saw off the mages invited to the Iron Fortress before react in the same way they did to Zechs? For example, when it was Dariesh, whom he had met a few times.

Probably not, Zechs thought. And as he thought that, his legs trembled slightly.

Dariesh had likely been seen off with joy, surely. It might have been due to his personal qualities, but it was probably the same for other mages as well. However, Zechs was different from other mages. He was a Seldian.

Mages were shunned by people, but even among mages, Seldians were avoided.

Trying to ignore his trembling legs, Zechs headed towards the room at the far end of the second floor. After getting permission to enter, he saw an unfamiliar man in the familiar office.

The man was probably around Leon’s age, just over thirty. With long, dark hair – not an uncommon feature in Lavarta – he gave off a gloomy impression with his unremarkable facial features. His thin frame and hunched back added to the lack of vigor, but a familiar medal hung from his chest. It was the same as the one on Zechs’s chest. However, unlike Zechs’s, the man’s medal was a polished silver one, signifying that he was a mage from the Iron Fortress.

“Zechs, you may have already heard, but this is Mister Gill, a mage from the Iron Fortress.”

The Guild Master, who was facing the mage named Gill, invited Zechs to stand next to him and introduced him.

“So, you are Zechs? Finally, we meet.”

Gill said with a voice stronger than his appearance suggested, extending his hand to Zechs. After shaking his hand, Zechs introduced himself again.

“I was just talking with Aldo, and it seems you are quite a capable mage. Even though you are a Seldian. The Iron Fortress has finally decided to invite you, which is why I am here.”

Gill wore a friendly smile, but there was a faint trace of irritation in his voice. Zechs couldn’t understand the reason behind it. It didn’t seem to be an issue with his ethnicity.

“Based on the reputation of your abilities, there doesn’t seem to be any problem. However, since we’ve been rejected multiple times, it seems that letters no longer suffice.”

“Huh?”

(Rejected?)

“Let me ask you directly. Zechs, are you willing to come to the Iron Fortress?”

Setting aside the questions that came to his mind, Zechs met the black eyes staring straight at him and nodded firmly.

“Yes.”

Gill smiled faintly at the clear response.

“I see. Well, shall we go then? There’s a carriage waiting.”

Zechs was surprised that Gill intended to leave immediately, but the Guild Master – Aldo – was even more shocked and flustered.

“Wait, please. This is too sudden…”

Aldo was not the kind of man to throw his weight around or grovel needlessly. Yet, now, he stepped forward, drenched in cold sweat, as if clinging to something desperately. However, Gill cast a cold glance at him.

“I told you, even our patience has its limits.”

“But… but Zechs’s Master has not given permission for him to go to the Iron Fortress.”

Zechs was shocked by those words. He had heard that one needed their Master’s permission to enter the Iron Fortress, but he also knew that it was merely a formality. After all, an apprentice’s success benefited the Master as well. No Master would refuse.

(Did Leon refuse? Why…?)

“If you give permission, it will be fine.”

“I am not Zechs’s Master!”

“Leon Varden, right?”

The tone used to call the familiar name felt unusually unpleasant to Zechs. There was a different kind of disdain in Gill’s voice compared to the one directed at Zechs.

“That’s fine, isn’t it? In the first place, it’s customary to consider the Guild Master as the Master after one joins the Guild. There’s no benefit in being apprenticed to a third-rate mage when you’re entering the Iron Fortress.”

From those words, Zechs fully understood the emotions behind Gill’s words. Although it was a fact he had known for a long time, it felt like there was an indescribable lump stuck in his throat, making it hard to breathe. Zechs found himself unconsciously clenching his fists.

“Moreover, Varden is suspected of rebellion against the Iron Fortress.”

“Ridiculous…”

“He never showed any intention of returning the talent we entrusted to him, even after he had sufficiently matured as a mage. Furthermore, he repeatedly evaded our demands. It can only be seen as a deliberate concealment of a talented mage.”

Aldo still tried to rebut, but as he couldn’t find the right words, his face gradually turned pale.

Zechs understood that Leon had refused to hand him over, but he couldn’t grasp the reason behind it. Could a Master ever not want their apprentice’s success?

“It could be jealousy.”

In a strained voice, Aldo spoke. ‘Oh’, Gill smiled faintly, seemingly intrigued.

“I see, it’s not uncommon for mages to pull each other down. Similarly, a Master who doesn’t appreciate his apprentice’s success could use his authority to hinder it. Interesting theory. However, I believe that producing excellent apprentices is also a mage’s honor. By showing their apprentice’s power, the Master’s name is also elevated.”

“…But as you said earlier, Leon is a mage with such low ability that he couldn’t even join the Guild. Even if his apprentice succeeds, the one whose name is elevated is the Guild Master the apprentice belonged to, not Leon himself. In fact, some have entered the Iron Fortress from his tutelage, but it brought no benefits to Leon personally.”

“I see, so just as low-ranking mages might envy their peers’ success, a Master might do the same. Well, I suppose small-minded individuals might behave that way.”

Seeing that Gill was gradually starting to agree, Zechs impulsively opened his mouth to speak. He didn’t even know what he was about to say. However, before he could actually voice anything, his left arm was pulled with a strong force.

“Even I can’t help but feel jealous of someone with talents like Zechs.”

“Oh, for someone who is the Master of a Guild to say that much.”

“…Moreover, Leon has very low abilities as a mage. There’s no way he could have such a grandiose idea as to rebel against the Iron Fortress.”

As Aldo said resolutely, Gill fell silent for a moment, seemingly contemplating, before he spoke again.

“Understood. But Zechs, you yourself want to come to the Iron Fortress – That’s true, isn’t it?”

“…Yes.”

There was no hesitation about it. Zechs was convinced that nothing would begin unless he went.

“Then, you should obtain permission from Leon Varden yourself. I will stay in Daza until noon tomorrow, so by then. Or should I go with you to persuade him?”

“No, that won’t be necessary. If he knows that a mage from the Iron Fortress has come to fetch me, he will…”

“Then, I will wait at the inn. I expect a good answer from you, Zechs.”

With a final reassuring smile at Zechs, Gill left the room.

As soon as he left, the room’s atmosphere seemed to lighten. Zechs secretly took a long breath to steady his breathing, and Aldo, standing next to him, wiped away his cold sweat and let out a heavy sigh.

“Guild Master…”

“Zechs, go back and talk to Leon immediately. Make sure to get his permission… No, even if he doesn’t allow it, come back anyway. I’ll handle the rest.”

Faced with his Guild Master’s unusually serious gaze, Zechs nodded, feeling somewhat pressured. With the sensation of walking on clouds, he returned to his beloved horse.