Hubert notices...

It was as though an unnatural cold settled about Kostas… a biting chill that seemed to cut him to his core. And then he saw the man…!

“Ah, shit…!”

It was Hubert, Edelgard’s right-hand man, and all-around general creep… and he was approaching Kostas with an intensity unmatched by most at the monastery!

Kostas may have sacked and pillaged for a good portion of his life, taking what he wanted by **** and killing with wanton abandon, but Hubert set him on edge: That sinister stare, having the trust of a future empress, and that magic… he could feel a cold sweat start to form, as well as an familiar knot in the pit of his stomach. He’d seen his men felled by magic, whether they were innocent looking vagabonds or imperial mages sent to drive his gang away - Kostas knew strength but what was he to do against a weapon he couldn’t block?

Hubert had locked his sights with Kostas as he approached. Each of them was intimidating in their own ways, but in drastically opposite fashions. Kostas tried to project what extra strength he could, foregoing his usual hunched posture and standing up straight, rising up over six feet tall, now eye-level with the ominous mage. Hubert stopped just close enough to make any normal individual feel as though their personal space was being violated - even Kostas had to put forth the effort to stand firm.

“You should not be here.” Hubert stated flatly.

“Wha- Hey, what are you trying to-” Kostas babbled, but was cut off.

“Let me be clear. You may have understood it as though I said you shouldn’t be here, at present, at the doors to our Professor’s room. What I am actually saying is that you should not be within this monastery.”

Kostas didn’t know what to say. Sure, he was pretty much correct; Kostas was given a position here, but there was no way he’d be fighting for them. Still, he felt as though he needed to stand up for himself.

“Yeah, well… I’ve been hired on! I got me a crest.”

Hubert sneered, his lip rising in disgust.

“Our most esteemed Archbishop...” Hubert began again, inching ever closer to Kostas, “… she might believe there is some part of you that can be redeemed… To be useful. But I find that difficult to believe.”

Hubert glances down at the tent in Kostas’ trousers before meeting his eyes again, his glower even harsher now than it was before. The brigand was finding it difficult to match the mage’s gaze. He was unsure what to do, deciding his usual strategy of hitting things was a bad idea. He could back down or stand his ground or… or…!