Sorcerer… Cyborg???

"I don't know. But what I know is that your father has not led me astray until now, and I would follow him no matter what." Simon's response was simple and to the point, and Kothar internally sighed with relief, he didn't know what he would do if he found that Simon and Tam were at odds.

"Alright, I'll be sure to ask you some more questions, but I'm sure you're eager to know why I was trying to break into my own home." Kothar gave Simon a grin, diffusing the tense atmosphere that had developed in the room. Simon nodded in response.

"I was betrayed, when I returned to Trinquile, my mentor became greedy for something I had found by chance and sent me into a Spatial Rift. I only just returned to Eclat, after many months on other planes. He cannot know I have returned, otherwise he'd hunt me down immediately." Kothar decided not to beat around the bush, and told Simon about what had happened as succinctly as possible.

The room was quiet, only the crackling of the fire in the grate breaking the silence, Simon was quiet, his face pale with shock.

He opened and shut his mouth a few times, but struggled to speak, only staring at Kothar with eyes wide open. Kothar would have laughed, if the situation were less serious, Simon looked like a fish out of water.

"Oth-, oth-, other planes?" Simon stammered out, then took a few deep breaths to compose himself.

"I've only heard of such things by way of rumor. Sure, it would explain the eccentric armor you're wearing, but Kothar, on Eclat, travelling to other planes is something only done by those who have reached the limits of the Advanced tier." The looks of surprise left Simon's face, replaced with a furrowed brow. Surely his nephew wouldn't deceive in such a strange way. Why would he do it in this way? And his mentor could be a powerful Spatial Mage who would easily be able to send Kothar to another plane.

Kothar watched as a series of strange expressions crossed his uncle's face, seeing him so confused was a refreshing change from the usually calculated spymaster, whose outbursts were even calculated at gauging an enemy.

"I wonder if this will do anything to convince you." Kothar handed Simon a sketch of the designs that had adorned the walls of the cube, he knew his uncle would be interested but didn't want to answer any questions about the Pebble, which using the Pebble to project an image would inevitably bring.

Simon took the sheet of paper, and rolled it out onto the table in front of him. He pulled over a magic crystal lamb and activated it by flipping a small lever on the base, a clear light illuminated Kothar's sketch of the cube.

Kothar had first drawn the cube among the desolate landscape, showing it from one corner, and then had drawn the sides he had been able to see before its collapse. Finally, he had drawn an image of the central room of the cube, which had completely enraptured him.

At first, Simon was unimpressed, the cube seemed like nothing special. But the longer he gazed at it, the more it compelled him, the designs drew him in, and he struggled to pull himself away from them, then he turned his attention to Kothar's drawing of the central room and his breath caught in his chest.

Even though it was just a sketch, Simon got to see the absolute majesty of the room that Kothar had depicted, and he knew that there was no way that Kothar had seen anything of the sort while on the Isle.

He must have gone beyond, whether to another plane, he didn't know, but this was amazing, to say the least. 

Simon sighed, and looked back upon to the young man who had once quizzed him on the qualities of magical beast hybrids while still a tiny child.

Who knew that this young man would bring him the most fascinating sight he had ever seen, and he wished that he had been able to see this magnificent piece of architecture himself.

"Can you take me here?" Simon finally asked Kothar, who was slightly shocked at the question. He knew his uncle had an interest in ancient civilizations, but he had no idea that the cube would capture his interest.

"I cannot, and even if I could, that building is no longer standing." Kothar said simply, obvious sorrow in his voice.

"No matter, you have me convinced. I'll have a set of armor brought to the house secretly, you can disguise yourself as one of your father's personal guard and make your way to him in the west .Not many in the kingdom would dare question you then." Simon said with a grin, imagining his brother-in-law's surprise when his son showed up as one of his own guards.

"Alright, but why would I go join him in the west, surely he'll be returning here soon?" Kothar asked, still confused, surely it would not take so long to conquer Kalun. 

"I think not, and I'd advise against going to visit Rotan, I've heard he holds no love for your father nowadays. He thinks that your father is carrying out Kultas' legacy, but in my opinion, he is aiming for something far greater." Simon's face was stoic, he thought back to his shock when Tam had told him of his plans, and shook his head, both father and son were equally shocking.

"I'll keep it in mind, I'll rest here for a few days and then leave for Kalun." Kothar responded, he was keen for a bath and to finally rest in a bed after so many months of sleeping on makeshift hammocks and rough bedding.

"Of course, I may have to leave urgently, but the guardsman's armor will be here when you need it." Simon smiled at Kothar, and poured himself a cup of wine.

Kothar thought long about the matter, surely no matter how bad things had gotten, he would be able to convince Rotan about the threat Krieg posed and convince him to send an official missive to the Academy.