Chapter 43: This discussion is getting nowhere
Few people know what mages are and what they are capable of. The case is all the more true for the Archmages, after all it was not customary to learn what was not required.
A farmer does not learn what a blacksmith or itinerant merchant does. He only does his agricultural work and nothing more. He only had common sense to guide him.
After all, even in Isaac's modern world, mages could be compared to a person of power. Not political, decision-making power, but sheer force. An emeritus boxer, an outstanding combat teacher or even a war hero.
It was the impression that the Magi gave to the common people who had never met any. Extremely powerful beings that they wanted to serve, befriend, use or even avoid.
For a city bordering neutral territories, things were all the more true. Despite the traffic, no mage had wanted to even set foot there. Why should they?
Of course, the locals knew well what the Magi were just from the stories told by the bards. But ultimately, these are just stories, legends. Things were easily overdone. Like the elves, they didn't have a lot of concrete stuff.
For a cavalry captain, but above all a proud man like Raphael, the title of Archmage alone didn't do much to him. As an Italian proverb said: "Pride is the daughter of ignorance" and it applied almost perfectly to him.
Isaac was intrigued by Raphael's proposal. He hadn't noticed Iracuz's reactions since he was focused on what he was going to do now.
Should he prepare for a battle? Or should he prepare to travel to the capital? He didn't have to worry about the sanctuary since it would certainly be able to protect itself.
- "A deal?" he asked.
- "You leave the sanctuary to Kilguana and we will compensate you greatly. Gold, money or treasures, the Kingdom have plenty of those and you can even get a very high rank under the King's service and a Nobility title with land" announced Raphael.
Of course, those were only the words of a commoner, a captain but a low ranked soldier nonetheless. Isaac knew very well that.
Raphael was confident, too confident according to Iracuz. But come to think of it, who would want to become the enemy of an entire kingdom? Just for a simple ruin, it was just ludicrous.
Isaac for his part seriously considered the captain's proposal and measured the pros and cons. He had little reason to give them the sanctuary, but above all he did not want it.
Besides the runes, magic plants and golems, Isaac had become emotionally attached to the Garden. He had spent his first days there in this world. It had become a small "hometown" filled with unique and special memories for him.
Even if he was going to leave soon, why should he give this place to strangers? The closest analogy he could make would be to sell the house where he grew up with his parents, where he had lived and created so many childhood memories, to a real estate developer who was going to use the land for a mall. .
Some would be delighted, but for Isaac, the thought made him want to throw up. The captain turned to Iracuz to tell him to go make his report when Isaac's voice echoed in the room.
- "I refuse"
- "Iracuz, go tell the governor that everything is settled…" he said before turning to Isaac. "Sorry ?"
He was starting to get angry. It wasn't just that this mage wanted to appropriate a thousand-year-old sanctuary that their ancestors had tried to enter for centuries. It was their right to claim ownership of such a place.
No, what pissed him off even more was his complete indifference to the threats he was making. Did he have no idea how powerful the kingdom was? Did he think he was much stronger? All mages, whoever they were, all had some oversized egos and loved to show off their great power.
For him, Isaac was just another show-off mage among many in the stories. He was not going to let it go.
- "You know what awaits you, don't you?" he said, clenching his fists lightly. "The kingdom will not let you" he finished.
Isaac looked at him coldly. In his eyes, Raphael was no different from a child praising his big brother's abilities to get something. This discussion was getting nowhere.
- "If that's all you have to say, this hearing ends here. Go, please" he said, sighing and standing up.
He began to walk to the back of his throne at the back of the room where the elevator was at the edge of the cliff. He wanted to return to his magical research. Although he was not totally anti-social, this conversation was like torture to him.
Raphael watched him leave in silence before suddenly turning around, his eyes poisonous. He was going to give his report and make sure that this place was reduced to ashes and that heinous character with it.
Seeing his brother leave, Iracuz started walking, glancing punctually behind him, curious to know who this man really was. But he didn't have time.
They had come to confirm the rumors of an elf present at the shrine but they had been unable to do anything because of this Archmage.
Suddenly his eyes widened for a moment. "Don't tell me" he thought as he looked at Isaac's back and his hood.
He and Raphael had been absorbed by the chain of information they had received. First the fort, then the maids and finally this man with the immense aura. They had completely forgotten the report of the presence of an elf.
"Impossible…" he said to himself before a howl suddenly reached his ears.
- "Iracuz! We are leaving. NOW" shouted Raphael still angry.
The young man immediately abandoned the report. "No, stop, an elf can't be here," he thought as he turned and ran to catch up with his brother. "Let's focus on what we have" he finally said to himself to convince himself.
They quickly left the fort under the cold, empty gaze of the golems before making their way back and heading immediately towards Erivia.
- "Do you think Isaac has a chance against the royal army?" Suddenly Artiel asked over the ramparts with Rebecca and watching the riders leave.
- "I have no idea ..." she said before turning around. "Let's go see him," she added.
In the high plains, Isaac was frustrated. He hadn't shown it in the courtroom, but he was frustrated with the captain.
His superior tone, the flirtatious aura he gave off. Everything that emanated from this man displeased him. His displeasure with social relations and politics did not help either.
He sighed long when he heard the elevator platform approach. Immediately he turned and watched Artiel and Rebecca arrive.
- "Humans are tiring" he said immediately, surprising Rebecca. "I hope they're not all like that," he said with a frustrated and pissed off look.
Immediately, Artiel and Rebecca shivered. They had forgotten for a moment that Isaac was an elf, since they had grown used to his presence. Also, the fact that he was not used to human politics had totally escaped them. In any case, that's what they thought.
- "Forgive my ignorance, Excellency." she said to him solemnly. "I will make sure that such behavior does not happen again," she said at last.
Isaac came to smile at her. The reaction was slightly exaggerated but it was fine with him. He removed the hood covering his ears before taking a deep breath. He had hidden them for a specific reason.
In the event that the kingdom knew that an elf was present, there was a good chance that it could cause diplomatic tensions between Kilguana and Angremort. After all, the presence of an elf, moreover an Archmage, near the borders could be considered a serious military act. Isaac had no desire to start a war.
However, if he only showed himself to be an Archmage who had occupied the premises, then the chances of a detachment of mages being deployed to take possession of the riches of the garden would be greater. And the chances of further slippage would be lessened.
This was what he was looking for. In an army there was a General or even a royal personality with great authority. And therefore, would be followed by a royal escort who, in a world such as Falanx, was sure to contain mages or even an Archmage.
Isaac's goal was simple. Meet another mage or Archmage or a senior figure who could negotiate better and would have much more power than a simple cavalry captain.
Once the person met, he first wanted to collect information. Whether it was information on magic or the Administrator, it was sorely lacking.
In truth, Isaac had not planned further. He didn't know what he was going to do once he met a senior officer. But one thing at a time.
While reveling that his plan seemed to have started well, despite some frustrations, Artiel and Rebecca stood up and then the young man spoke.
- "Monsignor, do you think you can fight the royal army?" he asked with a shy little voice.
He was sure the master was far more powerful than the two of them put together. Probably more powerful than several hundred Rebecca actually. However, facing the royal army, he was not sure.
- "Don't worry, we have nothing to fear here" he replied calmly, smiling.
- "But if they got to the shrine…"
- "Do you think an army can survive against me AND the golems?" suddenly interrupted Isaac.
Indeed, Artiel and Rebecca had not taken into account the golems. After all, they had never seen them really attack, the only golems they had been able to fight were, according to Isaac, an inferior version.
Their size alone would scare away most of the soldiers present, it was easy to imagine the chaos caused by their mere presence. Not to mention their unknown and possibly extremely high firepower.
With nearly a hundred artillery golems positioned high up on the cliffs, an army wanting to storm the shrine didn't stand a chance. What's more, if the master joined in, even if they had mages, the attackers wouldn't last long.
Rebecca and Artiel felt much better. They didn't have much to fear, at least as long as Isaac was on their side. They really didn't want to end up on a battlefield with him in the opposing side.
- "I'm going to go and prepare lunch" finished Artiel preparing to return to their camp before being stopped by Isaac.
- "I have a much better idea. You have shadow skills too, don't you?" he asked with a smile.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Joprocorp
Joprocorp Hi, it's me ! I hope you like this story and where its heading so far. I really appreciate your comments, they help me keep writing and its a really enjoyable experience.
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