"What makes you think he is a swordmaster?", Grischa calmly spoke up, but there was no answer from Miguel. You could tell he regretted asking that question. He probably thought of his master's words and cursed himself for not being able to control his curiosity. Cale, however, only raised his hand to signal Grischa to stay out of it for now and then looked at Miguel seriously.

"I've heard that siblings can sense each other. You noticed Karekama, didn't you?", Cale stated, watching Miguel become visibly nervous. He could well understand him. Even Cale hadn't thought the rumors about the legendary swords were true. He himself had only received Karekama in this life and rarely ever used it, so he had never looked into the subject more closely. But Master Paseru already said in his 4th life that the legendary swords were capable of it. At that time, Cale had also been allowed to hold Zurakekama in his hands for the very first time, even though he did not know that it was that very sword. That there was really something to his statement and that Miguel was able to sense Karekama, Cale had not expected. Especially because he didn't notice anything of the sort himself.

"Yes. I can see that you are not carrying the sword, but Zurakekama tells me so. As far as I know, only aswordmasters can wield the three legendary weapons of Linus Kama, so I assumed you were a swordmaster as well. Sorry."

"This must be a misunderstanding, Cale is a High-Magician, not a swordmaster", Aletta spoke up, which only made the whole situation worse.

"Excuse me? You're a High-Magician?", the man admitted in astonishment. Cale could feel a few people's gazes go to his table before he audibly sighed and asked to be served.

"I suggest we move the conversation", Cale reported. When the condition reached the table, he paid for all four and finally asked them to leave the store with him. It wasn't until his guests stood up that they seemed to have noticed that the people in the café were talking about them. Their names came up frequently, as if they were considering whether such high-ranking people would really visit such a store.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up like that", Miguel admitted as she walked outside. He walked next to Cale and on the other side walked Grischa, who audibly stifled a laugh. Aletta walked in front of Cale and Miguel.

"How can you even notice that? Is the sword's aura that strong?", Grischa inquired, directing his gaze at the blond-haired swordmaster.

"Yes. I can't see it, but I can feel it quite clearly. Do you really have Karekama in your possession?", he inquired, and Aletta also turned to Cale with interest.

"Yes, I always carry Karekama with me."

"How is it in your possession...do you know of her past?"

"Of Karekama's past?", Cale interjected, confused, before Miguel nodded. "I must confess, I don't know too much. I know the story of the Paseru triplets, but what exactly happened after that and how the sword came to Altona, I can't tell you. I'm just something of a protector, I don't really use her and I haven't dealt with their past either."

"The legendary swords... have a pretty bloody past. What happened to Mirajokama after the Great War, no one can really say, but Karekama and Mirajokama were still owned by the Paserus until about 100 years ago."

"Do you want Karekama back?"" Cale interjected in wonder. While he knew that his master Jonat Paseru had always greatly mourned Karekama's loss, what possible reason could there be for wanting it back in his family's possession? If that was true... where did Miguel stand on the whole issue?

"No, not at all. Who would I be to rob you of your weapon?", Miguel countered abruptly, dropping his gaze to Zurakekama. "I was just surprised that it showed up here in Exarion and got curious. How exactly do you hide Karekama?"

"I guess I'll have to explain that from the beginning", Cale admitted as he rubbed his head, no doubt annoyed. "My name is Caleb Leuen and I am the 12th High-Magician of Altona. I was the High-Magician Aletta had just told you about, not Sir Vonstetten. Karekama had been in the Magistrat's possession for quite a few years, but there was a small incident and so it happened that the Elder and Sir Vonstetten entrusted with Karekama. The sword..."

Cautiously, Cale raised his hand and made the beautiful black sword appear in his hand. Aletta stared at him in disbelief, and Miguel seemed no less surprised.

"... I hide with the help of my zero magic. I don't know if you know exactly what null magic is, but it is one of the special forms of magic. There aren't particularly many mages who have mastered it at all, as it requires superb mana control from one."

Cale passed the sword to Miguel, knowing full well that he would do no mischief with it. His intention behind it was to gain Miguel's trust.

"And yes. I am also a swordmaster, so the weapon does not rebel against me. Have you met other swordmasters before me, or am I the first?"

"I know a few other sword masters, but I've never met anyone who wields one of the three as well. I always thought Karekama was considered lost. Much like Mirajokama."

"More hidden than lost. We are merely waiting for a worthy successor. The Magistrat never intended to abuse the weapon, that's not who we are."

"Do you know Jonat Paseru?"

"Jonat Paseru?" repeated Cale, irritated. Why did Miguel suddenly come up with the swordmaster? "I've heard the name before, but I don't really know him. How did you come to ask?"

"Pure interest. Sorry if I was rude", Miguel returned, handing Cale the sword again. Aletta eyes were also glued to the dark sword, which Cale noticed. "The world and its mysteries."

"Aletta, did you notice that your fiancé also wields one of the three swords of Kama?"

Surprised, she looked at her fiancé, who seemed embarrassed and also reached for his white sword.

"No", she replied, staring at the two swords in disbelief. "May... May I... touch them?"

Surprised, Miguel and Cale exchanged glances before Miguel raised his voice.

"I'm afraid you can't. The weapons have their own very powerful mana that if you touched them would immediately get ahold of you and probably would kill you", he explained.

"That's why they say the swords have a mind of their own and don't accept everyone as their leader. Miguel and I, as well as other swordmasters, are used to such pressure and can handle it. People like Sir Vonstetten and you, however, are not", Cale added, even though he would have been able to grant Aletta's wish. With the help of his Igrikum, he could even block the mana of the legendary swords, so it would not be dangerous for them. However, he did not want to discuss the topic in the open, so he made his sword disappear, which Miguel did the same. Grischa, who silently followed the group through the empty street towards the North Gate, now also spoke up.

"I beg you, Sir Heriog, Lady Merensen. Keep this information to yourselves. Not many know about Karekama, and I want to avoid drawing Caleb into unnecessary conflict."

"Ah, of course, I never intended to tell anyone", Aletta immediately returned, and Miguel echoed the statement. Calming down, Grischa breathed a sigh of relief and looked to Cale.

"Actually, the meeting today should not exhale in talking about me. Don't you have to get know each other?", Cale reminded the two Frignezer's, so she dropped a glance at Miguel and started laughing.

"That's right. Thanks for accompanying me, but I think I can manage on my own now."

Cale and Grischa nodded in understanding.

"Well then, we'll leave you to it. It was a pleasure to meet you, Sir Heriog", Cale politely acknowledged.

"The pleasure was all mine", he replied. After a brief farewell, they parted ways. Aletta and Miguel were going to walk around the city for a bit, while Cale and Grischa headed back to Magistrat.

"Now I see how you were able to gain the trust of the others so easily", Grischa spoke up as soon as she was out of reach of the Frignezer. "You're feeding them really dangerous information, making them feel guilty."

"Is that supposed to be a complaint?", Cale volunteered, almost amused.

"Never...", Grischa admitted ironically, and strode back to the Magistrat together with Cale.

His friend had taken the whole story surprisingly casually. He probably would have been a lot more panicked if Cale hadn't confided in him about his past. How else would he know who Miguel Heriog was and what his significance was for the future?

Inevitably, Cale had to think of William and the others. They had to be currently on the ferry and probably would be for the next few days. He wondered how Philippa might feel about being back home, and he would be just as interested to know how Aaron felt about the group.

Cale sighed.

"Maybe I should ask Miguel to teach Will and Ben?" the mage muttered.

"Hasn't he done that before?"

"Indirectly, you might say. Back when we lived in Norgram, Miguel was the one who taught pretty much all the fighters how to use a sword."

"I see, it could definitely help those two if a swordmaster taught them."

Grischa had a point. He had only ever trained his friends to the point where they could act well as a group, he had never tried any special training for them. With Aletta, on the other hand, it was different; he always made sure she focused on her mana control, and on that point he was probably one of the best people to talk to.

"How are you feeling?", Cale asked after a few minutes of silence, while the two walked through the city, watching the inhabitants with interest.

"Pretty good, actually. Better than the last few days. The only thing that's new is this constant cold and tiredness."

Concerned, he glanced at the grown man.

"You're not freezing, are you?"

"No, no. I can tell it's cold, but I'm not cold. It's my normal resistance to cold. When I used my Igrikum, I always have that feeling, but to feel it permanently is strangely unusual."

His ice magic was part of Grischa. The Igrikum must try to use force to keep the household the same, which is reflected in the form of cold. Cale would probably be more concerned if he didn't know about the Igrikum. However, he had been a bit startled this morning after all.

"And other than that? No dizziness, headaches or otherwise?"

"None so far, but the day isn't over yet", Grischa replied with amusement, but Cale shuddered at the statement. He didn't want to imagine his friend suffering every day with nothing to help him. He just hoped the marking didn't get worse and that the Igrikum could keep his household stable until they had a solution. "That reminds me, you haven't told me all the things you've done in your other lives!"

"You don't want to know, believe me."

"Oh come on, you owe me that!", Grischa exclaimed, patting his friend on the shoulder with amusement, who only rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"Alright, alright, ice princess."