Regressor of the Fallen Family novel Chapter 228

Chapter 228

The origin of these towers dates back to when five great sorcerers, once contributors to the foundation of Grandia, chose to establish towers instead of ruling over their own domains. Representing the schools of wizardry, fire, water, wind, and earth, these sorcerers wished for the prosperity of Grang and set up the towers at the capital’s heart and its four cardinal points. Initially, the towers were firmly aligned with the royalists, especially during the early days of the kingdom’s establishment.

However, as time passed, the allegiance of these towers shifted back and forth between the nobles and the royalty, depending on the strength of the monarchy. Eventually, unless the nation faced an invasion from external forces, the towers acted as independent interest groups, neither subservient nor fully aligned with any authority. Now, even amid the upheaval of the royal family, the Great Magic Towers—except for the Royal Tower—stand by passively, merely observing.

The towers had the luxury to choose sides because they could always align themselves with another faction when pressured by those in power. But in the present situation, as everything in the kingdom began to converge under the name of Macline, even they couldn’t help feeling anxious. This unease was what brought the leaders of the four towers together.

“Did Earl Chasen Riverfield really just surrender like that?”

“They say over a thousand knights entered the royal palace. How could the Royal Tower possibly resist?”

The Fire Tower’s master, Freymer Carlson, commented, which prompted a sigh and a response from Gilbert Limore, the master of the Wind Tower. The other two tower masters didn’t even react, for they all knew this already; or more likely, they were preoccupied with the current predicaments. As such, the atmosphere among the four gathered was heavy with tension.

Earth Tower’s master, Redios Crate, in particular, was continuously sighing, his inner thoughts more complex than the others. More than future worries, it was regrets of the past that weighed on him.

‘Should I have been kinder to Macline back then, secured a stronger alliance? No, no. What more could I have done? The problem is that Clayten…’

The Earth Tower had a somewhat favorable connection with Macline, but now Redios was troubled by his past conflicts with the kingdom’s most renowned sorcerer, Clayten.

‘I pushed him too hard, trying to step out of Everton’s shadow.’

A pained expression crossed Redios’s face as he remembered his former rival and Clayten’s mentor.

Was he too engrossed in his thoughts? He barely registered his name being called out.

“…Master Redios of the Earth Tower!”

“Huh? Ah… Master Freymer, what did you say?”

“Where is your mind right now? With the situation at hand!”

Freymer’s fiery temperament, befitting the master of the Fire Tower, caused Redios’s expression to harden slightly, feeling as though the elder was treating him like a subordinate. It made sense, given that Freymer, nearly ninety years old, was the eldest among them and practically a peer to their own mentors. Redios bowed his head slightly in response.

“I apologize, Master Freymer. I’ve been lost in thought…”

“Let’s lay out those concerns and find a way forward—that’s why we’re here. So, Master Redios, why don’t you start by sharing your thoughts?”

Freymer’s sharp eyes and irritable gaze under his snowy eyebrows fixed on Redios, who couldn’t help but swallow dryly.

“Hmm… Considering the precedence, do you think Macline would really go out of his way to attack our towers? If we were to unite…”

Bang!

“Are you even serious right now? At a time like this, to be joking? Would someone who respects tradition slay his master and kill the king!”

“No, what I meant was…”

“Stop spouting nonsense without thinking and come up with a solid alternative!”

An old man’s booming voice, hard to believe it could come from someone nearing ninety, filled the room. Redios, chided, blushed a deep red, but Freymer’s words held truth.

“I apologize. My thoughts were not fully composed. Allow me to speak again.”

Wetting his dry lips, Redios met the eyes of the other tower masters.

“If we wish to maintain our influence, we need to unite our strength and make our stance clear. We need to convey our resolve that we won’t stand by if provoked. Even Macline wouldn’t want trouble within the capital during these unstable times.”

“That’s more like it. You’re finally making sense.”

The tension in Freymer’s face only slightly eased; however, the Water Tower’s master, Regen Pieta, seemed to disagree.

“And if Macline decides to strike us first, amidst this concentration of forces in the capital, it would be overwhelming for our towers to cope.”

“Do you think he’d go to such extremes? The magic towers, in a way, are also a vital force of the kingdom…”

Despite Redios’s opposition to the extreme notion, he felt Regen’s disapproving gaze on him. Regen didn’t voice his criticism as openly as Freymer, but his disdain was apparent in his eyes, looking especially youthful despite being the same age as Redios. However, Gilbert Limore of the Wind Tower drew attention with a firm slap on the table.

“We should not be too extreme, yet hopeful assumptions can bind us just as much. There’s a fine line between acting too quickly and waiting too long after seeing Macline’s response.”

And then what?

The fierce stares of the other three tower masters focused on him, but the amiable old man continued unabated.

“Given the situation, maybe Macline isn’t even interested in our towers. Rather than provoking him unnecessarily, I suggest we should stay one step ahead by gauging internal reactions.”

“What do you mean?”

“We should implant a reliable informant inside.”

“Even if we manage that, what if we suddenly get backstabbed?”

Although Redios considered it a rational suggestion, it didn’t seem to appease the fiery magician. Yet, Gilbert calmly replied despite Freymer’s agitated expression.

“We move with caution, while staying alert for such a scenario. Moreover, as far as I know, that sorcerer, the Golem Master, is a former member of the Earth Tower…”

Gilbert’s gaze shifted, bringing everyone’s attention to Redios.

There it is.

The topic Redios had been dreading had surfaced, bringing a heavy weight upon him. Stories he’d tried to bury in the recesses of his heart resurfaced, and he could only respond with a bitter smile.

“Ah… Yes. That is true.”

“We may not be allies, but as former comrades, perhaps you could reach out and gather some information before anything happens?”

Utilizing the sorcerer as an informant.

If possible, it was indeed an ideal solution.

“Ah… perhaps that much is possible.”

“Good idea.”

A glimmer of hope sparked in the others’ eyes, but to Redios, it only added to his frustration. He knew too well that it was an unrealistic expectation.

“Ah, but…”