As soon as these words came out of the knight’s mouth, the eyes of every noble in the ballroom were immediately directed towards the door of the hall.
The pair’s harmonious appearance and the way they looked at each other as if they did not trust anyone around caused an incredible uneasiness to the nobles around them.
On top of that, the fact that a Sage and a young hero were entering the hall arm in arm naturally frightened each of them.
Atlas and Cassandra began to walk through the hall and stopped, moving towards a place they thought was empty among more than three hundred nobles. It would be very accurate to say that no one dared to come near them.
However, there was no one particular person among them.
The High Dwarf Duke Bhagholir passed through the nobles with his wife and then approached Atlas and Cassandra and said, "How nice to see you here! I didn’t even know you were coming here!" he exclaimed in amazement.
The servants and knights who saw Atlas and Cassandra were ordered to "Silence.". If anyone spoke of seeing them, they were to be executed. This was a strict order from the emperor.
This meant that perhaps as many servants and knights as there were fingers on two hands knew that Atlas and Cassandra were in the palace.
By now, everyone had managed to find out what had happened.
"It has been some time since we last met, my lord, and I hope the request I made to you has been successful," Atlas said suddenly.
Bhagholir shook his head and replied, "I have done it clearly and correctly, Atlas, don’t let your mind wander, I will take care of everything until you find a way."
Immediately after this, Bhagholir gestured somewhere with his hand and then said, "Come on, please, I will introduce you to the others."
Atlas nodded without waiting for Cassandra’s response and then said, "We would be honoured."
The fact that Atlas was partially following Cassandra around seemed to be a small shock to the people around, who were listening to everything with rapt attention.
It was incredibly strange for a Sage to be following someone so young.
Bhagholir had come to another group, with the duo immediately behind him. Atlas instantly recognised the people he saw in front of him. Two families with whom he had communicated in a previous life, but with whom he had not been close, yet whose heroism he had never forgotten.
"This is High Elven Duke Miholir Restie and High Human Duchess Akali Fembe. Both of you, this is Atlas, Eva’s younger brother and the hero of the Herria raid," Bhagholir said.
Atlas finished the introductions by extending his hand first to the other Duchess and then to the Duke. "It is an honour to meet Duchess Fembe, one of the greatest heroes of the Empire’s foreign invasions, and Duke Restie, perhaps the greatest merchant in the world," he said with a polite bow of his head.
The Duke and Duchess responded in kind, and then Akali spoke the following words without waiting:
"I must make it clear that the honour is mine, young man. A war hero was only fifteen years old. And on top of that, a sorcerer with three magic rings, and on top of that, a two-level aura warrior. I’ve heard from Eva that he has both powers in his body, but seeing it with my own eyes is incredibly exciting, I must say."
As Akali finished, she turned her head directly towards Cassandra, then bowed as she gently lifted her own dress and said, "I salute the daughter of the red rain and the moonstone of the night. Seeing you again is the greatest honour I could ever have, sage of war."
When Cassandra heard these words, she gently extended her hand towards Akali, who immediately bowed in front of her, and Akali softly kissed her hand once.
"It is good that you have chosen to become a warrior just like your mother, little girl. Since I trained your mother, I have never met a better student than her... And... where is your mother?" Cassandra said with great curiosity.
Atlas was clearly surprised by these words. Cassandra had no idea that Akali was training his mother, let alone that the two knew each other.
"My mother is currently in a meeting with the emperor, my lady, they will join us at the exact time the ball starts. Thank you so much for your curiosity, I am sure my mother will be honoured." Akali replied and then gestured to one of the waiters carrying drinks and took a glass for Cassandra and Atlas.
Atlas refused the drink with his hand and then said, "I am fifteen years old, Lady Fembe, forgive me, I must decline your offer."
Akali smiled at these words and then said, "Very well, then I will have to drink one of them." and then said, "To our health, my lady."
Immediately after the two had their drinks, the group began to talk, and many things were told, from what Atlas had done to the excellence of Duke Bhagholir’s command during the raid.
The atmosphere in the ballroom was getting softer and calmer. It was as if everyone was getting used to the presence of a Sage in the hall.
Of course, the minutes chased each other in this order, and finally the words that Atlas was waiting for echoed in the hall:
"Golden Star of the Empire, Emperor Aether Epsilon and Light of the Emperor, Empress Aelia Epsilon entering the ballroom!"
All eyes instantly turned to the entrance of the ballroom, and attention was at its peak.
When the doors to the ballroom opened, two men in golden robes entered. Atlas smiled. It was the first time he had seen his uncle and aunt in these clothes. In a previous life, he had barely made it out of the academy...until the imperial family was destroyed.
Of course, that was a bit of a hindrance...still, it was impossible to be too sure of everything. The world was a dangerous place after all.