Episode 629
“Fire! Fire!”
“There’s a fire at Janai Market! Bring water!”
“What on earth is going on in the middle of the night?”
“I don’t know! Bring all the sand you can find!”
As night fell, the merchants had all gone home, leaving Janai Market in eerie silence. Suddenly, a dilapidated building in the center was engulfed in fierce flames. The pitch-black night was abruptly illuminated.
Nearby residents rushed over, carrying buckets of water and sandbags, while firefighters arrived, dragging long hoses across the market.
“Hurry! Move quickly!”
“We can’t let the fire spread!”
“Clear the way! Everyone, clear the way!”
Amid the chaos, a carriage pushed through the crowd. It bore the flag of Toorun’s royal palace. A woman stepped down and quietly stared up at the blazing three-story building.
“That’s the Spirit Mage!”
“It’s her! Everyone, step back!”
Dressed in an ochre uniform with her hair neatly tied back, the woman clasped her hands together. From between her fingers, soft blue particles began to form.
A single drop of cold water trickled from her fingertip. From it emerged a massive spirit in the shape of a mermaid, which wrapped itself around the building. Wherever the fierce flames met the mermaid’s touch, thick smoke billowed up.
The Spirit Mage clenched her teeth, and sensing her resolve, the mermaid sacrificed itself to fully envelop the building. Instantly, the flames died down. The air was thick with the smell of smoke, and the ground was wet and scorched.
“Wow, thank you! You really are amazing, Spirit Mage.”
“Truly incredible!”
The crowd cheered and applauded, but she only frowned and turned away. She had sensed a faint magical energy lingering in the fire.
“Captain of the fire brigade.”
“Yes, Vanusa.”
“Don’t just put out the embers yet—”
“Vanusa!”
Before she could give further orders, the temporary security captain called her name from a distance, approaching with a haggard, distracted look. Though born and raised in Toorun and having seen all manner of things, tonight was especially chaotic and exhausting for them.
“Temporary security captain?”
“Yes. We’ve received a report that may be connected to the fire. Please verify it. Hey!”
At his signal, his subordinates brought forward a boy. He looked ordinary, but what he said was shocking.
“So, the building’s basement was a hideout for the Cutthroats?”
“Yes. If you dig through the rubble, you’ll find bodies. And the one who set the fire is Filia’s son.”
“Filia?”
Vanusa frowned at the unfamiliar name. The temporary captain lowered his voice.
“It’s a matter related to the royal palace, Vanusa. She was a woman brought from Bariel, but got tangled up with the Cutthroats, complicating things.”
“Was her son involved too?”
“No. I don’t know the details, but I heard her son is the Minister of Magic for the Bariel Empire.”
Minister of Magic? Vanusa’s eyes widened slightly as she looked down at the boy. It was clear the palace was scheming something. If the Minister of Magic was involved, it would explain the magical energy she sensed in the fire.
‘Unfortunately, I’ve learned too much.’
The palace’s attempt to kidnap the Minister’s mother, the presence of Bariel’s mages here in Toorun—it all pointed to trouble.
Vanusa gently patted the boy’s head and gave the security captain a look, signaling him to handle the situation as he saw fit. The captain hesitated briefly but then nodded with a salute.
Things were not looking good. The previous person in charge was dead, and a major fire had broken out. The palace’s mood was clearly unsettled.
“…Take him away.”
As the captain sent the boy off, Vanusa wiped her wet hands with a handkerchief.
“Summon the Spirit Mages. We’re calling an emergency meeting. The security and fire captains will report the results as soon as possible. Until then, remain on site.”
“An emergency meeting?”
“This isn’t an ordinary fire. There’s magical energy involved. We can suspect that Bariel sent mages to rescue the woman. We don’t know if they’re still in Toorun, but if they are—”
Vanusa’s eyes reflected the charred ashes.
“The defense forces must prepare thoroughly.”
“Y-Yes! Understood!”
“Then, I’ll be going in first.”
With a crisp salute, the two captains turned their backs to Vanusa. Ever since hearing about the war between Bariel and Burgos, she had worried that Toorun’s peace might be shattered someday…
‘But it’s already broken.’
Bariel’s mages are here in Toorun. That likely means the previous security captain’s death was connected. Vanusa climbed into the carriage and summoned her small spirit, spreading her palm.
The massive mermaid that had wrapped the building vanished, replaced by a tiny one swimming across her palm, its tail flicking weakly. The spirit had been weakened by facing the flames directly.
To a Spirit Mage, their spirit was family and closest friend. If it died, so would her power.
“I’m sorry. You did well.”
Vanusa gently stroked the little mermaid and then gazed out the window. What on earth was the palace up to?
If it became known that they had kidnapped the Minister of Magic’s mother and brought her to Toorun, war would be inevitable. A war with no justification, no allies from neighboring countries—an isolated conflict.
“Damn it.”
In Toorun, there were families who controlled all four elements. Many mages existed, but the core were Vanusa’s family. Whenever trouble arose, they were always the first to step up and resolve it.
Yet now, a puppeteer with no real power was in control, and the situation was a mess.
‘The palace will find out soon enough.’
Thanks to Marni’s testimony and the security captain’s report, they would learn of Bariel’s mages. Then the Spirit Mages would be summoned.
Before that, they had no choice but to gather and assess the situation themselves, then devise a plan.
“Hurry. Before the night ends.”
“Yes, understood.”
At Vanusa’s urging, the driver cracked the whip. The deeper they moved away from Toorun’s center, the quieter the night grew.
Clack!
Hale closed the window and glanced left and right. The street was empty, and the streetlights along the road they had taken were off.
Satisfied there was no danger, Hale drew the curtains and lit a candle.
“Ssshhh.”
“My goodness, Balsabe squad?”
“Lady Filia, I’m glad you’re safe.”
“What happened? Why do your eyes look like that?”
“It’s nothing. I’m just covering them for a reason. Please, have a seat. Are you hungry?”
Filia’s clothes smelled unpleasant. No matter how well she was treated, the conditions she’d endured were far from normal. Hale cut some fruit and bread the hotel had prepared and handed them over.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No, thanks to you. Ian came just in time.”
“Ian? Honestly, I’m surprised you found her so quickly.”
Ian casually took off his bloodstained leather gloves and set them on the table. Beric seemed interested in Filia’s food but patiently sat beside her, only watching.
“Yeah. I went looking but didn’t see the pale blue cloth. Then I saw a man rushing through the darkness. I chased him—it was one of the thieves who heard about the arena. Lucky break.”
Filia tore off a piece of bread and gave it to Beric, who flopped onto the sofa and chewed heartily. Food after a job—nothing tastes better.
“So, are we heading back now? The Bariel folks will be thrilled. Ian, you caused quite a fuss worrying about her.”
They had achieved their main goal: rescuing Filia.
More importantly, she needed to hurry back to Bariel and contact Nersarn. If she didn’t, or if she was late, then during the war with Hwan, Luswena, and Clifoford, Cheonryeo might have to leave her post.
“I think it’s best to move together to Burgos, then send Lady Filia on to Bariel.”
Hale said this, glancing at Balsabe. If they withdrew now, they’d lose the chance to gather intel on the palace—and clues about Balsabe’s perspective.
Of course, when the time came for official war between Toorun and Bariel, she would reclaim the world. But there was no guarantee when.
“Yes, I agree. Lady Filia’s safety comes first. Let’s withdraw.”
But Balsabe agreed without hesitation. She had realized that invisibility was no obstacle to wielding a sword. It was disappointing, but she believed the opportunity would come.
“I’m fine with that. But do we really need to go to Burgos? We’re fast enough to cross straight to Bariel, drop off Filia, then head back to Burgos. And, honestly, let’s feed the poor girl before we go.”
Beric offered a rare sensible suggestion. Filia awkwardly covered her hesitant smile, and Hale poured her some milk.
“Take your time eating. You can move whenever you want, so just relax.”
“Thank you, Captain Hale.”
Philia bowed her head as she took a sip.
“How much do you all know so far? I think it was the Toorun palace that first kidnapped me. I’m not sure who exactly in the palace, but from what the bandits said, it seems to be someone pretty high up.”
“Wait a moment, Mother.”
Ian interrupted gently, listening closely.
“You said the bandits were talking about this? Mother, do you understand Toorun language?”
There was no way the bandits were fluent in Bariel. If they were, they wouldn’t have come all the way to Toorun—they’d have just gone back to Bariel and collected your ransom.
“No, not really. There’s almost no one in Toorun who speaks Bariel. I shouted in the big market, and only one person understood me. Earlier, the bandits brought a boy who could interpret for us. He’s a bit rough, but we managed to communicate.”
“A boy?”
Ian asked, puzzled. Among the scattered bodies, there was no sign of a boy. He must have heard Ian’s warning to stay down and hidden himself under the desk.
“Why do you ask, Ian?”
“Is there a problem…?”
“No, not a problem. I just realized I missed something.”
If the boy is alive, then surely the palace guards have been informed by now. They must know that the ‘wizard’ who saved Philia is here in Toorun.
“What? Ian, you missed something? Are you crazy? This is huge!”
“Beric, calm down.”
“Captain Hale looks curious too. So, what is it?”
“By now… the Toorun king might already know we’re here.”
Isn’t that bad? We should probably get out of here fast. Everyone except Beric looked worried, but Ian just smiled as if a good idea had struck him.
“Looks like we have a little more to do before leaving Toorun.”