Early in the morning was the busiest time in the outer walls of the palace. Within these majestic edifices, exuding wealth and grandeur, almost a hundred armored men clamored; their every movement was filled with a knight's pride.

At first glance, there seemed to be a lot of people; looking closer, however, one would see that it was actually a very small percentage of the Imperial Knights. Numbers were not everything, of course. Each and every one of them was more capable than a hundred men combined.

This group of knights and mages was preparing to depart for Duke Agnus’s territories. Leading them was a petite, middle-aged man with platinum blonde hair, draped in a white robe; his emerald green eyes glittered brightly and seemed as if they peered into peoples’ hearts. His skin was so fair as though he had never endured any sort of hardship in life, and his gaze was cold and imperturbable. He was one of the most powerful wizards in Avalon: the Imperial Chief Mage, Evergrant con Aswald.

His five aides clustered around him with worried expressions.

“Chief, are...