The first thing they did was obviously report what Irwyn was smelling, or rather, that he was detecting something on the stronger side. Their words were honestly taken much more seriously than Irwyn’s pessimism would have expected. By the time they were down from the hill, Alice noted another group teleporting behind them, and at least three more squads of inquisitors would supposedly follow in the next ten minutes.Moreover, the person in charge of the entire garrison was notified. The journey to the fortress took them barely a minute, floating just a half step above ground - a compromise between speed and not looking like an aerial threat. By then, they were already awaited. The gate had already cleared of whatever personnel there might have been and the instant they stepped through, a single man appeared, causing a wave of potent magic to erupt in all directions. There was an apparent weight to him that Irwyn recognized. Bursting from beneath his skin, undeniable, no matter how hard he might have been trying to conceal it. Like the world around the man would reject anyone and anything else on just a whim. An attempt to usurp the very actions that others imprinted upon reality. Refute their very existence if need be. Perhaps REJECTION or DENIAL? Domain either way, of that Irwyn was certain.“So, you are my newest problem,” the man inclined his head as they arrived, inspecting their group with rapidly moving eyes. “And Lady Elizabeth no less. There have been many of our relatives asking around. Looking high and low where you might have vanished off to, cousin.”“I seem to have left a stronger impression than you on me, Lord…?” Elizabeth inclined her head.“Alazat, secondborn of your late uncle, though I suppose that hardly narrows it down, does it?” The man smiled ruefully. There was slight hostility in that tone, but more akin to mere dislike than what would make Irwyn actually wary. “Fascinating to see you with (...)