When Lynn saw Giggs, Giggs spotted him as well.
The tall, slender, brown-haired youth's eyes lit up instantly, and he strode forward with a smile.
Lynn's face also broke into a smile. He had just been wondering where to start looking for Giggs.
"Good evening, Giggs…" Lynn greeted.
During their exchange, the man in wizard robes who stood beside Giggs made no move, simply watching the two of them converse.
"And this is…?"
Only when Lynn turned to him and asked did the man smile and introduce himself.
"Good evening, Lord Lynn.
"I am Blue Henkel, from the Golden Shadow Society."
The man looked young, no more than his twenties, with a head of golden hair. Yet his bearing and demeanor carried a composure and steadiness far beyond his apparent age, an air of maturity that contrasted with his youthful appearance.
Lynn studied him for a moment, his gaze lingering briefly on the oval brass badge on the man's chest before he nodded in reply.
"Lynn Kent… just a wild wizard apprentice."
Oval-shaped, with a mist-shrouded humanoid silhouette in the center, Lynn recognized that emblem. He had seen the same badge before, worn by Garan, an old customer who bought crystal spell plates from him.
That emblem marked one of the three great organizations in Emeraldwood City, the Golden Shadow Society.
"Was it you, Lord Blue, who got Giggs released from the Order?" Lynn asked, already suspecting the answer.
"I don't have that kind of influence," Blue replied with a small smile. "Consider it a modest gift from the Golden Shadow Society to congratulate you on your advancement."
Lynn understood at once and spoke plainly. "My thanks, Lord Blue. But what does the Golden Shadow Society want in return?"
Few gifts came without strings attached, and Lynn knew he wasn't skilled in subtle games; better to skip the pretense and go straight to the matter of interests.
His bluntness made Blue pause for a moment before answering.
"What the Golden Shadow Society wants is a mutually beneficial cooperation."
"Cooperation?" Lynn frowned slightly, thinking for a moment before deliberately replying,
"I'm just a newly advanced third-class apprentice. I may look impressive to mortals, but to the Golden Shadow Society, I'm hardly worth notice… The only thing that might set me apart is that I used to be part of the Order.
"So if the Society is hoping I'll do something against the Hossens Order, I'll have to decline, I'm not that foolish."
"You jest, my lord. The Golden Shadow Society isn't foolish either." Blue paused, concluding that Lynn was likely a straightforward youth without much guile, and so he spoke frankly as well.
"We simply wish to invite you to join the Golden Shadow Society."
Before Lynn could answer, Blue continued clearly,
"If you join, you'll receive a monthly dividend of no less than five magic stones, the exact amount depending on the business you're assigned. You'll also have access to a two-story residence with a front yard in a Tier-0 high-grade magic-energy zone within the Society's headquarters, for only the basic rent of about two stones a month.
"Our library will be open to you as well, where you can exchange magic stones or contribution points for all kinds of knowledge.
"But above all, the most valuable thing will be your identity as a member of the Golden Shadow Society."
Blue smiled at him.
"With that status, my lord, the next time something like this happens, you won't find yourself locked up for so long."
The terms Blue offered were indeed tempting.
This time, when he was taken in by the Order for questioning, the only reason his treatment had been so generous was that he had once belonged to it.
But Lynn knew that kind of goodwill was worth little in the long run. After all, he was no true member, just a newly advanced third-class apprentice. In essence, he wasn't much different from any other wild wizard, and life without the backing of a major force was far less comfortable.
The promised dividend of at least five magic stones wasn't particularly impressive in itself, but the offer of a magically saturated residence at basic rent, and the right to purchase knowledge from the Society's library, were real enticements.
Those two benefits alone would solve most of the training difficulties faced by independent wizards.
Still, as tempting as the offer was, Lynn knew that the key to whether he joined the Golden Shadow Society lay in what they would expect from him in return.
"So, what exactly do you need me to do?" Lynn pressed.
"Nothing out of the ordinary," Blue replied. "You guessed correctly, the Society's invitation is indeed because of your former status in the Order.
"But the Society doesn't require you to do anything special, and certainly nothing that would harm the Hossens Order.
"All we want…" He leaned in slightly, gazing toward the distant hillside, and said with a tone hard to read, "It is to have you wear another badge.
"After all, to everyone in Emeraldwood City, the Hossens Order is like the sky above our heads.
"And the Golden Shadow Society is the faction in this city that stands closest to the Order… You'll understand that in time.
"We already have two members with the same background as you.
"So you needn't worry, Lord Lynn."
Blue turned back to him with an easy smile.
Lynn thought for a moment before answering,
"I'll need to think about it, Lord Blue."
"No problem. The Society's offer stands for you indefinitely," Blue said with a nod. He handed Lynn a gilded card.
"If you can make your decision by eight o'clock tonight, come to the Greenvine Restaurant. I've prepared a simple dinner for you there.
"We can discuss the details further then."
Lynn nodded and watched as Blue climbed into a waiting carriage and rode away.
When he turned back, his eyes met Giggs's.
The youth had remained silent throughout the conversation, minding his manners.
It was much like the etiquette in Lynn's past life when elders spoke, the younger ones simply listened.
Only here in Guern, a world where power was rooted in oneself, such etiquette was ingrained even deeper.
Giggs had many things he wanted to say, but facing Lynn, he didn't know where to start.
The black-haired boy before him seemed little changed from two months ago at first glance, yet on closer inspection, he felt completely different.
"Come give me a hand, Giggs," Lynn said, extending his hand.
Giggs blinked in surprise, then clasped it firmly, nodding with a serious look.
"All right."
"Let's go. We can talk on the way. I need to head to another Order outpost that handles the promotion of expelled apprentices.
"They're only on duty for a few hours in the morning. If we're late, we'll have to wait until tomorrow."
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