Remote Byway (Hard)

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*The fact that even Lucilicca’s mind had started to be affected means the situation here is worse than before. Still, no problem comes without a solution. You need only press forward to find it.*

## Summary

Lucilicca and the Lord of Avillon discuss all of the things that happened to the First Archmage.

## Character List

### Major

* Lucilicca La'elaya (Fire)
* Lord of Avillon

### Mentioned

* Laphlaes Selkena (Earth)
* Taneli

## Content

"Lord": So, the concern you expressed in your message boils down to… the elves huddling in this corner of the world and cutting themselves off from everyone. Is that right?

Lucilicca: Yes, that’s the essence of it. If the First Archmage’s vision becomes a reality, we elves will slowly become distant from the world. I don’t think rejecting change and fencing ourselves in with “purism” is the right thing to do.

"Lord": I feel the same way. The future that waits for such a people is not a particularly kind one.

Lucilicca: It sounds like we’re seeing eye to eye on this.

"Lord": We’ve seen eye to eye on a lot of things. Your personality’s similar, too.

Lucilicca: Similar to who?

"Lord": The Lucilicca from my previous life.

Lucilicca: That’s an odd joke to make..

"Lord": Sorry. Forget about it.

Lucilicca: Do you always try to keep such a sense of humor in every situation? If I were to respond to such a joke, I suppose I would say that I don’t like being compared to anyone else, even the me from a past life. Everyone has their on, individual value.

"Lord": You’re right… I apologize for the indiscretion.

Lucilicca: Your punishment is to come up with a better joke next time.

...

"Lord": You know, I didn’t expect the one who requested us to come to get brainwashed.

Lucilicca: Brainwashed? That really may have been it… My memory is a bit foggy.

"Lord": What happened after you sent out Taneli?

Lucilicca: I was summoned by the Council. They said it was something related to the arcane towers, so I couldn’t refuse. The meeting was with all members of the Council and all the archmages. There was some discussion back and forth, and… I can’t remember the specifics. Afterwards, the rotation of border guards changed. The First Archmage’s forces switched assignments with mine, and I was left here alone.

"Lord": They might’ve called in anyone who wasn’t brainwashed and worked their magic on them… literally.

Lucilicca: …You seem to be sure about this brainwashing.

"Lord": Was there some other reason for the change in your forces’ assignments?

Lucilicca: I think I remember something about… a threat from the outside…?

"Lord": Hmm. Perhaps they heard that we conquered the woodlands and Rhodon…

Lucilicca: Come again? You conquered Rhodon?

"Lord": Only recently. We’re in the middle of abolishing slavery there and trying to reduce tension between the social classes.

Lucilicca: … You’re not setting your sights next on Lumisade, are you?

"Lord": No, I’ve no intention on trying to conquer Lumisade. Once we end the pure-bloods’ takeover, we’re going to leave and go about our business.

Lucilicca: As the one who asked for your help, I hate to become suspicious, but… I’m starting to get a lot of doubts about this. If my decision leads to the fall of Lumisade…

"Lord": It won’t, I promise. If we all just do what we’re here to do, you won’t need to worry about anything.

Lucilicca: You don’t strike me as the type to do something so insidious, but still… …Hold on. If they heightened security around the borders… It means the Council and the other archmages knew you conquered Rhodon. But I’m just hearing it for the first time.

"Lord": The First Archmage and the Council are probably colluding together. Maybe they didn’t share what they knew with you because you hadn’t been fully “converted”, so to speak.

Lucilicca: They would never do that, even if we have differing opinions. All information needed for the decision-making process was clearly shared in the meeting with the Council.

"Lord": Or it wasn’t. They might’ve wanted to put you at a political disadvantage, knowing that you couldn’t do anything by yourself. Then they removed you from your forces.

Lucilicca: That’s… not how elves do things.

"Lord": You’re right. It’s closer to how humans do things. That’s exactly why you can’t blame this situation on a simple difference in opinion or way of thinking.

Lucilicca: What’re you…?

"Lord": Listen, Lucilicca, and don’t be surprised. There’s a third party who is controlling the First Archmage, someone who thinks that you and I are threats to their plan.

Lucilicca: That’s… The First Archmage? He’s an elder elf, and the greatest mage in all Lumisade. There’s no way someone’s controlling him.

"Lord": I agree that he’s the greatest mage in all Lumisade, but the world’s a big place. There’s probably someone stronger than him out there. Er, not “probably”… There’s definitely someone stronger than him. And think about it: there’s no way to explain the First Archmage’s sudden and drastic change in philosophy other than it being some sort of mind control. Even humans rarely change their way of thinking in an instant, yet you think an elder elf who’s lived hundreds of years would suddenly change his entire value system in a day? There’s just no way.

Lucilicca: Ngh, just be quiet for a second. I need to think.

"Lord": Take your time.

...

Lucilicca: So, let me get this straight. The First Archmage has been brainwashed along with the majority of the people in Lumisade. Now, the only sane people are me and a few others, and we’re being threatened. And if we don’t fix everything, elfdom as we know it will eventually collapse?

"Lord": That about sums it up, yes.

Lucilicca: But this is all just your theory, right? Are you sure you’re not trying to wrap this whole mess up nicely in a box labeled “brainwashed”?

"Lord": I’m certain it’s brainwashing.

Lucilicca: How can you be certain? Where’s your proof?

"Lord": …If I start talking about my previous life again, you’ll shoot me, won’t you?

Lucilicca: You catch on quick.

"Lord": In the last ten to twenty years, the First Archmage started to invite humans or a human to his tower, did he not?

Lucilicca: This is the first I’m hearing of it.

"Lord": Okay, then how about this: there's a secret weapon that uses the tower's core as its power source and is currently dormant.

Lucilicca: What?! How do you know that? That information has been strictly kept secret. Only an archmage would know… Wait, are you the one who brainwashed the First Archmage?!

"Lord": What? No! I had nothing to do with that. You can put the gun down. That’s really your go-to move, isn’t it?

Zaira: Is there a problem, Your Highness?

"Lord": No, everything’s okay. The Second Archmage is just a little hungry.

Lucilicca: What? Who said I’m…?

Zaira: Now that you mention it, neither of you must’ve eaten in some time. Do you want to take a break?

"Lord": Let’s keep going a little further. We’re almost at the end of this road.

Zaira: Okay, but call me the minute you need anything.

"Lord": I will, don’t worry.

Lucilicca: She’s very loyal to you.

"Lord": I trust her more than I trust myself.

Lucilicca: Back to the matter at hand. Start explaining how you know about Titan, and make it convincing. Now.

"Lord": The First Archmage Laphlaes Selkana told me about it in my previous life. It may sound like I’m joking, but you have to believe me. You yourself said only the archmages know about Titan.

Lucilicca: I’ve always kept an open mind about prophecies, astrology, and all sorts of magic and miracles, but what you’re saying sounds absurd.

"Lord": I know it’s hard to wrap your head around, and honestly I don’t have an easy way to prove it to you. All I can do is tell you the truth.

Lucilicca: You’re the first person in my life to ever make this confused. Who ARE you…?

"Lord": The monarch of Avillon, going through life a second time. And I can promise that no harm will come to you or Lumisade from working with us to fix the current situation. I swear it on my name and on my life. It might be hard to trust me, but I hope you do.

Lucilicca: I take promises seriously… So, assuming I believe you, do you know exactly who brainwashed the First Archmage?

"Lord": It was a mage from Gallus named  Cesaire Alteon.

Lucilicca: Gallus…? That country on the eastern continent?

"Lord": Far, far away in the East, yes. Gallus is in the middle of rebuilding the empire it lost about a thousand years ago.

Lucilicca: Keep talking. This is so absurd that it’s starting to get interesting.

..

Lucilicca: I’ve come to the conclusion that either you have an astonishingly vivid imagination, or the truth is just that astonishing.

"Lord": I agree. But this is real. It’s not a dream.

Lucilicca: It’s certainly not my dream, at least. Who else have you told this unbelievable story to?

"Lord": No one. You’re the first.

Lucilicca: What? Why me?

"Lord": I guess… because I thought you wouldn’t be put off by it…?

Lucilicca: …

"Lord": Because I knew you’d at least humor me…?

Lucilicca: …

"Lord": …Because you’re smarter than me?

Lucilicca: Let’s go with that.

"Lord": Sure… Anyway, you don’t have to trust me, so long as you’re at least aware of the cause of Lumisade’s current problem. It’ll help yu disarm the situation.

Lucilicca: Brainwashed by a human… If the arcane tower has really been affected, then things are quite serious. And that means that now’s not the time for talking. We need to bolster our ranks with allies from the Second Tower. Some of my forces won’t have headed to Thyrendiel yet.

"Lord": If our numbers increase, so does the chance of a civil war breaking out. There will only be more casualties.

Lucilicca: Then how would you propose we stop the pure-bloods?

"Lord": There’s no need to drag it out. We just need to help the First Archmage come to his senses. We do that, and the curse on the tower and Titan will be lifted as well.

Lucilicca: I can see how using a smaller team would be more beneficial in that scenario. However, Laphlaes has all but locked himself in the First Tower. Our forces aren’t strong enough to break our way in.

"Lord": Oh, that’s easy—he’ll come to us. We’re about the best bat you could ask for.

Lucilicca: Good point. He won’t be able to help himself once he hears about wanted human invaders working together with the treasonous Second Archmage…

"Lord": When you see him, you’re going to have to keep trying to get through to him.

Lucilicca: Don’t worry abut that. I have a lot of things I want to say to him.

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