Michael let his senses stretch outward—slowly, carefully.
He probed the knights stationed at the entrance.
What he sensed made his brows knit slightly.
Each one of those knights… wasn't ordinary.
Intermediate stage, at least.
Several had the steady, compact mana of advanced stage knights—likely captains of the Duke's household guard. Their mana was well-contained, their auras faint but sharp.
And that was just the gate.
Michael exhaled softly and let his awareness retract.
The door to the carriage clicked open.
Peter, the blue-robed man who'd accompanied him all the way here and made sure Michael remembered his name, stepped out first. He turned back and motioned gently, a practiced smile on his face.
Michael followed.
Peter led him deeper into the estate when an elderly man soon approached them.
