Apocalypse: Starting With Three Unique Blessings-Chapter 37: The Observers.

Magnus departed after finalizing the dinner plans with Augustus.

Augustus and Magnus’s father, Arthur, had been close friends, and Magnus and Arthur had frequently dined at Augustus’s house. Magnus understood that Margaret’s invitation was a way to revisit happier times and to collectively grieve their shared loss. The act of remembrance, he believed, would help them cope with their loss.

After leaving Augustus behind, Magnus continued his daily routine, diligently inspecting various aspects of his territory to ensure everything ran smoothly.

With his duties completed and ample time remaining Magnus returned to his chambers and summoned Seraphina. He was curious about the Lord’s Seal; given her connection to it, he wondered if Seraphina might possess some insight into its location.

"Greetings, young Master Magnus," Seraphina greeted, entering the room with a graceful bow. Her vibrant blue hair was neatly tied in a ponytail, accentuating her short purple horns and pointed ears. Her striking purple eyes fixed on Magnus.

"Hmmm," Magnus acknowledged her presence.

"You summoned me?" Seraphina inquired, her purple eyes filled with a distinct curiosity.

"Indeed, I did," Magnus confirmed. "As you know, the Lord’s Seal has been missing since my father’s death. I was hoping you might, by some chance, know where he kept it."

Seraphina’s brow furrowed in thought. "I don’t believe your father ever kept the Lord’s Seal, young Master Magnus. He always carried it with him, constantly," she explained.

"Oh," Magnus muttered, a sense of discouragement creeping in. This was proving to be more difficult than he anticipated.

Suddenly, Seraphina’s eyes widened as if recalling a crucial detail. "However," she added, "a few weeks before his death, the Lord’s Seal vanished. I stopped seeing it on his person."

Magnus’s brows furrowed at this revelation. ’Strange,’ he thought. Why would his father suddenly cease carrying the Lord’s Seal? What purpose would that serve? And, most importantly, where was the Seal now? A torrent of questions swirled in his mind, each yielding no answers, only generating more questions.

After a period of contemplation, Magnus finally spoke. "I see," he said. "So, I was wondering... since you’re linked to the Lord’s Seal, is there any way you could sense its location?"

A flicker of emotion crossed Seraphina’s face as she shook her head. Magnus sighed, his disappointment palpable. His summon had searched every location he could imagine his father might have used to conceal the Seal, but to no avail.

"Well, thank you anyway," Magnus replied, his voice subdued.

"I shall take my leave then, unless you require further assistance," Seraphina offered.

"No, that’s all for now. You may go," Magnus confirmed.

"Very well. I hope you find the Lord’s Seal, young Master Magnus," Seraphina said as she turned towards the door.

Magnus, lost in his despondency, didn’t respond, his gaze fixed on the floor. Seraphina, witnessing his despair, felt a pang of sympathy, but knew there was nothing more she could do.

Magnus remained motionless, staring blankly at the floor, desperately trying to figure out his next course of action. He couldn’t think of any other place to search.

Just as Seraphina reached the door, she paused and turned back to Magnus. "Your father, I believe, was not a complicated man. And as far as I can tell, the Lord’s Seal is likely still within the territory, close to the surface, not hidden in some complex manner. You simply have to think deeply. It’s probably somewhere you least expect it," she advised before finally departing, closing the door softly behind her.

Magnus’s head snapped up at her words, his gaze shooting towards the now-closed door. ’Look on the surface?’ He pondered Seraphina’s cryptic message. What surface? His mind raced, trying to decipher the meaning behind her words, but the answer remained elusive. After a while, he sighed and gave up, frustration setting in.

"Well, I guess I’ll just have to keep searching," he muttered to himself.

With a heavy sigh, Magnus turned his attention back to his system. He needed to focus on summoning more troops. While he believed he had a sufficient number for the upcoming trial, there were still some gaps in his forces – not in terms of quantity, but in specialized roles necessary for specific tasks during the trial.

----

Meanwhile, high above the Lancaster territory, two figures floated amongst the clouds, their gazes piercing through the dense air currents, fixed on Magnus’s domain. They were the same individuals from the Silent Forest, still clad in the same attire.

As they observed the territory below, a sharp whistling sound cut through the air. Turning, they saw a third figure joining them. This newcomer wore a blue robe and possessed a remarkably affable face, one that seemed perpetually etched with a smile.

"Well, well," the newcomer remarked. "Never thought I’d see the two of you here. I figured you both had more pressing matters to attend to in your own territories. Didn’t realize you had so much free time."

"And what about you, Reynold?" the white-robed man retorted, turning to face him. "What brings you here? Don’t you have a territory of your own to manage?"

"Now, why wouldn’t I be here?" Reynold replied with a friendly smile. "I’m just here for a potential customer. I’m a simple, chill merchant, after all."

"Tell that to someone who doesn’t know you, Reynold," the white-robed man countered, his voice calm and even. "We all know how dangerous and cunning you are behind that friendly facade."

"Oh, is that so?" Reynold chuckled, neither confirming nor denying the accusation. His gaze then shifted downwards, piercing through the clouds to the Lancaster territory below. His brow furrowed slightly.

"That aura... it’s indeed one of us," Reynold murmured.

"Of course it is," the white-robed man replied, a hint of offense in his tone. "What do you take me for? Why would I mention it if it wasn’t?"

Reynold seemed unfazed by the other man’s annoyance, his brow furrowing further. "He’s the thousandth among us. Does that mean...?" He left the question hanging, but the other two understood his implication.

"Yes," the white-robed man confirmed gravely. "Exactly what it means."

A heavy silence fell over the trio as they continued to observe the Lancaster territory below, each lost in their own thoughts.

The silence was broken by the white-robed man. "You can come out now, Monkey," he said, his brow furrowed in distaste. "Your foul stench is already assaulting my nostrils."

Although he seemed to be addressing the empty air, Reynold and the white-robed man’s companion reacted as if he was speaking to someone specific.

Just then, the space beside Reynold shimmered, and a figure materialized. One glance was enough to confirm that this newcomer was not human. Towering over the others at a height of nearly nine feet, his bulky frame was a mass of muscle, giving him a truly imposing presence. He resembled a human, but with a subtle green tinge to his skin.

The man appeared disheveled. His grey eyes were bloodshot, his bald head and brown beard looked unwashed, and his clothes were stained with wine. He clutched a massive keg of wine, and the overwhelming smell of alcohol permeated the air around him.

"Aye, aye," the man, known as Monkey, said with a mournful expression. "I thought my stealth skills had improved."

"Perhaps try bathing," the white-robed man suggested with contempt. "It would increase your stealth capabilities by leaps and bounds."

Monkey seemed unbothered by the insult. He grinned at the group. "Hey there, Reynold," he greeted. "Hey, Lin Chen." He then turned to Lin Chen’s companion. "Hey there to you too, mystery man."

"Hey, Monkey," Reynold replied with a friendly smile. Lin Chen and his companion ignored the greeting.

"What are you doing here?" Lin Chen questioned with a frown. "You’re usually not interested in these matters."

"Oh, I just heard there was a new addition to our ranks," Monkey explained, taking a long swig from his keg. "Came down to see for myself. Who knows? He might be a man of culture like me, with a refined palate for fine wine. Maybe we could share a drink and get properly drunk together."

Lin Chen facepalmed. With Monkey’s immense strength and resilience, he could drink all the wine in the world and never feel its effects.

Turning away from Monkey in disappointment, Lin Chen returned his gaze to the Lancaster territory, his expression serious. The others, with the exception of Monkey, mirrored his grave demeanor. They understood the implications of the thousandth member and were apprehensive about what the future held.

-----

Meanwhile, back in the Lancaster territory, night had fallen. Magnus hurriedly dressed and departed his quarters, making his way towards Augustus’s home for dinner.

As Magnus walked through the streets, he noted the change in atmosphere. The somber mood that had pervaded the territory just days ago had lifted somewhat. While things hadn’t returned to complete normalcy, there was a sense of peace in the air. The territory’s tavern was open and bustling with patrons. Children played in the streets. Magnus felt a surge of satisfaction; life was returning to normal. With a lighter heart, he continued towards Augustus’s residence, anticipating a pleasant evening.