After seeing Luca and his partner out via the Nightwalker tunnels, where they'd exit at the same gallery they'd left, King Arthur Valar leaned back in his chair, his eyes closed as he faced the ceiling. He wasn't sure if he'd gained more answers or questions with his secret meeting with the young Dragonborn. After all, the information he had received caused more questions to form, only to be countered again by information. Of all things he'd learned, one thing stood out the most: Luca seemed to believe every word he spoke. Sure, a few minor things didn't quite fit, but on the whole, it appeared to be his true thoughts.
A lot of what Luca had said, or even knew, could have lead to his arrest and potential execution if it had been said anywhere else. An outsider with knowledge of the secrets of the palace was a major reason, along with foretelling of the fall of several kingdoms, and even the death of the king himself. The last part could be misconstrued as a threat to the king, something akin to a major taboo. His knowledge of the Dreamwalker, the person closest to achieving Sagehood and a bearer of the Goddess of Dreams Mnemosyne's blessings, would easily make him a target for the High Elves of Cyelume.
If not for his instinctive belief that Luca was being sincere in his desire to accomplish his mission, Arthur would have had him killed immediately, as he had thought to earlier.
Several minutes of silent contemplation followed as he organized his newly acquired knowledge into a more manageable state. After he recomposed his scattered thoughts, Arthur set about doing what he believed he should do. With a press of a button that was more visible than the secret tunnel ones, he rang for one of the guards posted outside the study. Previously, he had activated the room's hidden soundproofing array so he could speak with Luca without being eavesdropped on.
A guard opened one of the doors and saluted the king, "Yes, Your Majesty?"
Arthur Valar unhurriedly stated, "Summon Ambassador Athrahel, I need his assistance. Ask him to bring the Contact Glass" Athrahel was the emissary designated by the High Elf Queen of Cyelume. As he had decided to listen to Luca and attempt to negotiate a meeting between them in secret, the ambassador would smoothen the process to some degree.
Due to the distance between the palace and the embassies, along with the necessary security measures, Ambassador Athrahel arrived an hour later. While his noble attire appeared both regal and humble simultaneously, it was the silver-and-sapphire circlet adorning his head that truly belied his status. High Elf Mages all wore a form of jewellery that would make their element and level more noticeable. Circlets were reserved for Lv. 6 Mages, and sapphires were reserved for Water-type Mages, meaning that Athrahel was a Lv. 6 Water Mage. The only other people allowed to wear a circlet were members of the royal family. In his left hand, he held a square 25in (63.5cm) framed mirror with a support stand on the back. After being announced by a guard, Athrahel gave a respectful bow to the king, "I have come as you requested, Your Majesty." While High Elves did have their pride embedded into their natures, they were not overly arrogant. They understood that the Valar Kingdom stood between them and the Dark Factions, shielding and supporting them. As such, the Valar family was one of the few unanimously respected groups for the High Elves.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice. Please, come in." The guard wisely closed the study door as Athrahel moved to stand before the king's desk. "Something... interesting, in a manner of speaking, came up and I need to speak with Queen Nesine immediately." Before Athrahel could inquire as to the reason, Arthur quickly continued, "Suffice it to say that it requires the utmost secrecy. Even the smallest detail of it cannot be spread."
The severity of the king's tone made it clear that it was a critical matter. The only times such a matter had arisen, it was already a topic discussed between the leading members of the nations. This time, however, it was not one of those moments. For such a sudden issue to arise, Athrahel easily comprehended how urgent it was. Without wasting time, the ambassador quickly placed the mirror on the king's desk and began relaying a hailing signal to one of its counterparts, which were held in the High Elf Queen's own study and by the Valar Kingdom's ambassador to Cyelume. A fourth was also in the Valar Kingdom Palace, but it was closely guarded, along with the other critical communication devices. Considering the situation, Athrahel attempted to contact the Queen's. Arthur needed Athrahel's assistance, as the High Elf Ambassador had the necessary magic command to contact the Queen's directly from any of the other three mirrors, just as the Valar Kingdom Ambassador had the same for the palace's mirror.
A few minutes of unsurprising silence followed before the mirror shimmered with a small sound of ringing glass. An image of a gorgeous golden-haired High Elf woman bearing an ancient circlet on her brow formed in the mirror, her voice a rich alto, "Arthur, a pleasure to see you again. It's been some time." Between the two rulers, they refrained from using personal titles and referred to each other by name so as to better converse. This was decided after one of the Dwarven Kings got frustrated trying to remember how to refer to each individual without mixing them up. The result led to the nations becoming more familiar with each other, so it became a positive change.
"Indeed it has, Nesine. I'm afraid that I'm not contacting you just to talk."
A minor upward twitch of the corner of her lip signified her amusement at the king's mastery of skipping the regular customaries and moving straight to the main point. "Blunt as ever, old friend, but I understand that quite well. It was very unexpected to receive a contact alert from you, so it must not be a small matter. Pray tell, what incited you to call so suddenly?