Blade Over Magic

Future Plans

Xavier’s words were telling, but Curtis raised an issue that was probably not really consequential, but still piqued his curiosity.

"Um... is there a reason the knights over there training don’t care? Or can they not just see us?" He pointed at the part of the training field where the knights were training their ’swordsmanship’ that caused Xander’s eyes to twitch whenever he saw it.

"Oh that? They’re just used to me." Xavier shrugged.

"More like tired of you." Mia finally extricated herself from Xander’s back and instantly appeared at Xavier’s side.

Xavier ignored her and continued.

"Now, this is the current situation. For starters, your families are already being brought over here. Don’t worry, the ones doing it are pretty competent. Not that anyone would dare to attack any of my people in the first place. They should be arriving here soon enough." These words were directed at Aubrey, Falael, and Curtis, causing them to let out relieved breaths.

"Second, and this part is a little important." His expression turned a little serious.

"In essence, we need to prove that you guys are actually under me at the moment." That confused them, but Xavier elaborated.

"Simply put, many of the upper echelons in Solvaren love looking for loopholes. Hence, if we don’t pretty much make it known publicly that you lot are tied to me, they will look for excuses to cause trouble, and if they get caught, they can act like they didn’t know you were affiliated with me and only be left off with a warning. It’s not a huge issue, but it’s something I’d rather take care of before it becomes one at all. And no, using my amulet doesn’t count as a bug enough declaration." The others heard this and nodded slowly, but Xander’s gaze turned a bit odd.

’That’s... weird. I understand that Archmages can’t act with 100% freedom. Mostly because their are other Archmages to act as deterrents, but this should be something well within his ability to handle early on.’ As he pondered on that, Xavier continued.

"To solve this, you guys are gonna be a part of my entourage during the Royal Family’s Ball in a few weeks." Now this came as a surprise.

It was widely known that the Royal Family held a Ball once a year, and during this, influential and powerful figures all over Solvaren, as well as some figures from other species, would come over to attend. Calling it grand was an understatement, as just getting an invite alone was a testament to one’s influence and power.

"W-Wait. Seriously? Us?" Falael couldn’t hide their surprise.

"Isn’t that... a bit much? Just to make it known that we are affiliated to you?" Aubrey added carefully, but Xavier just waved his hand.

"You lot seem to still severely underestimate how this kingdom views you. I dare say it’s the most appropriate place for you to make your debut." He smiled, but even hearing this, Xander still felt like there was more to this that Xavier wasn’t saying, and he suddenly wondered what sort of machinations the seemingly quirky guy had in store. No matter what, he was still an Archmage. Long lived and unbelievably powerful.

He recalled what Xavier had said in the tent when Xander asked how many Archmages would be involved in all of this, and Xavier told him that he was much too weak to even consider the conflict going on at the top.

’Just what sort of schemes are they up to?’ As he was considering this, Xavier continued.

"Now, there is still the issue of what you guys wanna do. I talked it over with Xander’s half-siblings, and they seemed on board with Xander opening his sword school." That startled Xander. They were on board? Them?

However, Xavier’s next words poured a bucket of cold water.

"That said, they only agreed because that meant most of the pressure would lay on Xander, and it wouldn’t be an issue. In other words, kicking him to the curb." Everyone blinked, then Xander forced a cough.

"That’s... something. They really don’t like me, huh?" In response to that, Xavier just gave Xander a strange smile that confused him even more.

"Be that as it may, I want to make a trade with you." The words were startling, and even Mary showed a look of surprise.

Xavier... wanted to trade with Xander?

However, Xander seemed to have an idea of what this ’trade’ was, and he ventured carefully.

"What does this trade entail?" Hearing this, Xavier revealed a shrewd smile.

"Well, it’s quite simple, really." He aimed his chin at the knights training in the distance.

"You teach them swordplay, and in return, how about I send a few to be your ’students’ when you inevitably open your school?" The offer surprised the group, yet before anyone could say anything...

"Deal." Xander agreed so fast that it gave everyone whiplash. Even Xavier, the one who proposed the trade, was surprised by how fast Xander agreed.

"... You don’t want to think it over?" He asked with a strange expression, and Xander just jabbed a thumb in that direction.

"Even if you didn’t offer anything, I’d have still done it. I’m sorry but watching such dastardly displays of swordsmanship—if you can even call it that—is an insult to the entire craft. When I look at them I suddenly understand why many people call people who use swords and channeling brutes. It’s genuinely painful to watch." Xander, who was usually relatively humble in his speech, uttered a set of very harsh words. It was so bad that even Mia raised a brow.

They knew he was passionate about swords, but he sounded almost personally offended by the way the knights fought.

"Um, aren’t those guys like... really elite knights? I don’t think a family as accomplished as the Lowells would have a subpar combat force, even if they use channeling and not spellcasting." Funny enough, Falael was the one to point this out, and the others nodded.

Yet Xander shook his head vehemently, not wanting to hear it.

"It’s only elite because they have no frame of reference. If they knew just how terrible their use of swords were, they would be ashamed of all their accomplishments with the weapon up till this point. Even Bodhi is better." He turned to Xavier.

"You’re pretty much just paying me for something I’d have done for free. So yeah, deal." Xavier blinked slowly, then he huffed slightly.

"You know, most people would take the chance to get more out of a deal they were already benefiting from. You could have handled that better." To this, Xander looked him straight in the eye.

"Ensuring that swordplay is done properly is something I see as a necessity. Even if I don’t gain anything from it, I’m happy enough to see it be done properly." When he finished, the people there suddenly seemed to have a glimpse into Xander’s brain when it came to his attitude towards swordplay.

Everyone knew he liked swords a lot, yet. Heck, Mia had made use of that obvious passion to manipulate him into doing what he did against the ant.

But the fact that he saw teaching people proper swordsmanship as a good enough payment in of itself, and to say it with such conviction...

"Haa. Alright, if you say so." Xavier rubbed his temples, feeling a baffling sense of disconnect, and HE was the Archmage.

"Right, speaking of swords." He looked up at Xander and held out his hand.

"Give me that thing." Xander blinked, then he realized what he meant and he took out the ant’s bladed limb.

"I’ll give this to Patrick and we’ll see what he can make out of it." Xavier stated while taking it from Xander.

Patrick. Patrick Lowell, another one of Xander’s siblings. Xander had some impression of him as he was basically the family’s master blacksmith. His black longsword he’d gotten before he left the Lowell Residence the first time was made by one of his students.

"... Would he agree?" Xander said with some worry. While he didn’t know how every single of of the pure-blooded Lowells felt about him, the general consensus was that it wasn’t great, so Xander was a bit worried Patrick would refuse.

However, Xavier just raised a brow.

"What’s he gonna do? Say no?" At that, Xander suddenly remembered that Xavier was, again, an Archmage.

"Huh. Well in that case, aren’t you mostly swordless right now? I remember you saying that those two swords you have with you currently aren’t great for general use." Aubrey asked with some concern.

"Ah, that. Well... turns out I can do this now." He made a grabbing motion, and everyone watched as in his hand, a sword materialized. It was the same black longsword he’d been using for the longest time.

This was the last ability Xander had ascertained with the Swords of Myriad Paths. He called it Sword Projection.

If he wanted, he could draw out the projection of any of his past swords to use in reality. That’s what he had done in his fight against the ant where he overlapped all his swords onto his then alive longsword.

"It costs mana to keep it active, but it’s a pretty low drain, so it’s acceptable for now." He explained, and Aubrey stepped closer, her eyes glittering.

"Interesting. It doesn’t just seem to be a mana construct, but an actual manifestation of something that has existed in the past. How does that work?" At that, Xander just smiled.

’Fuck if I know.’ He added inwardly.

"Hm. Neat." Xander blinked, just to see that at some point, Mia had appeared next to him, the sword projection now in her hands as she inspected it closely.

"... Anyway." Xavier cleared his throat to get their attention.

"Mary, direct everyone to their rooms. Since you guys will be here for a few weeks before the Ball, you won’t just be sitting around. So enjoy any period of rest you can get." At his words, Keir whimpered and curled up more behind Xander, while the group suddenly felt like things were going to be very hectic shortly.

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