The study was quiet save for the wind brushing the tall windows.
Fredder stood with his back to the room, gaze fixed beyond the glass. Behind him, the Sealbearer waited — sat on a chair, body bandaged under his clothes.
"Has he shown any sign of waking?" Fredderich asked without turning.
"No." Answered the Sealbearer, "I checked myself. Caelis's enchantment truly does remain active in those arms of him."
"The Riven Path is one thing. The fact that it endures beyond the caster's death is easily dismissed as but another feat of the Master of Conjuration. But now Caelis accomplished that as well? Or could it be the boy himself? He was once enrolled in the Rune academy. Tell me what you think?"
"I think…" the Sealbearer began, "If Caelis learned to cast permanent Runes, he would have told you so. Brimmah on the other hand; the boy broke free of the enemy's Mindbinding. The only reason I'm currently still alive."
Fredder turned. He began to pace. "Maybe he is special. Maybe it was Caelis. Or maybe the world itself is changing. Nonetheless, Brimmah will become of interest to the Whyteleafes — particularly to the Rune Academy's Headmaster. Whether to study him or execute him as an enduring product of forbidden Runes."
Silence settled between them.
"Your decision to keep our survival quiet was wise indeed." the Sealbearer noted. "What do you want to do next, Lord Kaine?"
Fredder stopped. Not because of the question, but rather something attracted his attention from outside. He returned to the window.
Below, the gates of Kaine Keep opened for a column of Knyyts. Fredder squinted as these Knyyts rode in, steel glinting. His gaze fixed — then he recognised their leader.
He turned back. "His existence evidences the usage of Human Enchantment by the Kaine Sect — which will reflect poorly upon me. But the boy has proven himself a Kaine and we protect our own. " He answered the Sealbearer. "Move him to Westreach Keep. Quietly. Make the arrangements but do not go yourself. I need you here in Elsem."
The Sealbearer nodded. "And Satorii?" he asked. "She often visits him."
"She hears nothing. If she asks — he woke and disappeared."
The Sealbearer studied him a moment. "You seem… pleased."
Fredder's smile was faint. "You'll understand soon."
The Sealbearer took his leave.
Shortly after the door had settled, it opened again.
Reuben Kaine entered — in his Knyyt armour.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Fredder crossed the distance and embraced him.
In a private room, Brimmah lay unconscious. Head and body wrapped in bandages while his arms bound in special black cloths bearing rune seals.
Master Leef has been tending to him for the past 18 days. Leef was a slight, old scholar. Although his weathered face under long, gray brows betrayed his age, he moved with the vigor and enthusiasm of a man in his prime.
Master Leef looked up as the Sealbearer entered with two servants.
"Ah, Sealbearer," Leef said, voice enthused. "Come come, I must show you this."
The Sealbearer stepped closer.
Master Leef carefully unwrapped the black cloth around Brimmah's left arm. "Until now, I have been using Othren Seal Rune to suppress the enchantment in his arms. To prevent accidents."
After removing the wrap, Leef shuffled to a nearby counter, retrieving his kit. From it, produced a small vial of pale sand shimmering under the daylight.
The Sealbearer recognised Giantbone dust instantly.
Master Leef dragged a scalpel across Brimmah's arm.
A harsh scrape like steel grating steel. Rather than the blade cutting Brimmah, his skin instead abraded its edge.
"Now, contrary to common belief, this Rune of Sundersteel does not harden an object." Leef explains, "rather it coats the object with an effect that shaves anything it contacts — no matter how hard. Effectively transforming even the dullest thing into the sharpest weapon in the world."
Leef trades the scalpel for a picker. He carefully picked a single grain of Giantbone dust from the vial. He places it on the skin of Brimmah's arm. "Much much more potent than Othren Seal. Only a single particle of Giantbone nullifies Runecraft on an entire body."
Leef took the scalpel again.
This time, the blade bit, cutting a small incision in Brimmah's skin.
The Sealbearer watched, unmoved.
Master Leef shuffled again. "Something curious about this one's body…" he returned to the picker and moved the grain of Giantbone off Brimmah's arm and onto his cheek.
He tried incising Brimmah's arm once again. The blade scraped and failed.
Now the Sealbearer's eyes shot wide. "How?"
"I had added even more Giantbone on his person, yet still the enchantment remained much much active as long as the Dust didn't touch the boy's arms. Functionally, that is to say his arms are not a part of his body." Leef explained.
"Functionally?" Mind puzzled, conflicting with disbelief, the Sealbearer stepped closer to Brimmah. "How does this even happen?"
"It does not. But if anything, it debunks your earlier speculation. I—I did also quite strongly considered the boy might unknowingly be a dormant Runecaster since any active Rune has to channel Runestrings from someone. Therefore it couldn't possibly be Brimmah himself since he is in contact with Giantbone. The boy is conclusively not responsible for the Rune's enduring activity. Whatever Caelis did is novel to Runecraft just like the—the Riven path."
Back in Fredder's study, the brothers had taken seats. Wine sat between them.
"It's been years," said Fredder, voice light and merry. "Look at you now, Ben. All grown up, I almost don't recognize you." He paused for a final sip that emptied his cup, meanwhile Reuben hadn't touched his. "Do not misunderstand, I adore the fine man before me but by gods, Ben, what have you done to my sweet and chatty little brother? How dare the Knyyt Order transform him to… this!"
Reuben chuckled, while Fredder laughed out boisterously.
"It's good seeing you too, brother." Said Reuben.
Fredder refilled his cup, saying, "When I take the throne, I shall release you from that Knyyt oath. You've served the Crown long enough. High time you served your own Sect."
Reuben's face shifted. Displeased but masked it behind a short-lived smile. "The Crown is Elsem. And serving it is honour."
"I'd argue you will be serving Elsem even more as Lord Kaine Kaine than what? A Knyyt commander."
Silence stretched as Reuben realised the meaning of what Fredder said. He averted his gaze, hesitated because he silently sought the appropriate words to refuse Fredder. "I am unworthy." He said. "I'm not even a Kaine."
Fredder's expression tightened. "That again?" he said, annoyed. "Father named you one. Raised you as one. When you stubbornly chose to become a Knyyt rather than join the Kaine Guard, what was his one and only condition for allowing you?"
Reuben hesitated. "I must never forsake my Kaine name." He recalled.
Fredder exhaled, softer now. "Mother concurs. In fact, she is more skeptical about my endeavours for the Throne than making you Lord Kaine after me. Think of all we can accomplish together. Myself as King and you head of Kaine Sect. Think of all we could do for Elsem."
Reuben couldn't answer. He stood up and walked across the room in deliberation.
"You can ponder on it and give me an answer another time." Fredderich added. "For now I'm just glad you returned home."
"I did not. I was recalled."
Fredder's eyes sharpened. "By whom? The Queen? Boren?"
Reuben met his gaze. "Did you kill Rudeus Whyteleafe?"
The room went still.
Fredder's hand tightened around his cup. Then he threw it into the fire. Leftover wine hissed against flame.
Reuben remained steady where he stood, while Fredderich walked across to the window.
Silence lingered for long between them. Reuben denied a view of Fredder's face throughout. After what felt like a long, lonely guard shift, his brother finally responded.
"They could not send soldiers here to arrest me." Fredder's voice hardened, bitter. "So they sent you. The only Knyyt who could walk in and out of Kaine Keep."
Reuben stepped forward.
"Just say it, brother." Reuben asked. "Say you did not do it. I'll carry your word back and ensure that is the end of this ridiculous allegation."
Fredder turned. Hands extended. Face blank. "Do what you were sent here to do."
In the infirmary room, the Sealbearer gestured to the waiting servants. They wheeled in a handcart.
Master Leef stiffened. "You intend to move him?"
"Lord Kaine's orders."
"Doing so might—might worsen the boy's condition."
"No it won't, you old bookworm. You just want more time to study him, don't you?"
Leef hesitated, then snarled, defeated. "Does Lady Kaine know?" He asked while gathering his things back into his kit.
"You will ensure that she doesn't."
"Ha! I am leaving this room before you, Sealbearer. 3 generations serving this household, I learned this simple simple rule: never never find yourself between Kaine siblings."
His kit packed up, he patted the Sealbearer on the back. Then and there, he froze as Satorii appeared
The servants stopped.
"What are you doing?" Satorii demanded.
They looked to the Sealbearer. But before he could speak, another man rushed in.
"Sealbearer!" the messenger called, breathless. "Lord Kaine has been arrested!"
The Sealbearer moved immediately, leaving without a word.
Satorii stood stunned. The Sealbearer and messenger were gone before she could react
She took a step after them.
Behind her—
Brimmah awakened.