Chapter 657
“Your Majesty!”
The palace of Luswena was in turmoil. It had only been a short time since the vanguard had set out.
Day after day, the ministers kept summoning Eldert, and he felt a deep weariness as he removed his glasses.
“What is it?”
“There’s been a battle near the Mage’s Forest. It seems mages from Bariel have crossed the border, but we don’t have a full report yet.”
“Bariel mages?”
Eldert jumped to his feet without realizing it. Weren’t they supposed to be in Kalamath? Even if the survivors from Hielo and Mereloff had sent messengers, it was too soon for them to have reached the capital.
So how did Bariel’s mages find out? Could it be that they had set a magical trap on Hielo? No, if that were the case, Vitor would have noticed and warned them.
“Are you certain they’re Bariel mages?”
“According to Minister Martin’s report, yes.”
“This is serious.”
Luswena’s goal was to seize Hielo before reinforcements from the capital arrived. But if Bariel’s mages have already crossed the border, it means they’re aware of Luswena’s offensive.
“Do we know how many?”
“No, they’re hiding somewhere in the forest.”
“Please tell me it’s not Ian Hielo.”
“I’m sorry, but nothing has been confirmed.”
“Bring me one of their mages.”
They had a direct line to Lady Darcy, after all.
Soon, a mage entered slowly and sat before Eldert. Their eyes were empty, staring past him into nothingness.
“Lady Darcy.”
“…”
“Lady Darcy, if you can hear me, report the situation. They say Bariel’s mages have crossed the border. What’s going on? Can you identify the enemy? It would be good to know if it’s not Ian Hielo.”
The mage didn’t respond. The ministers exchanged puzzled glances.
“Lady Darcy.”
“…Ugh.”
“Your Majesty, what is she saying?”
“Quiet. Listen.”
The mage parted their lips slightly, uttering a barely audible groan. The ministers held their breath to catch every sound.
“Kill them.”
“…?”
“Kill, kill, kill…”
“…!”
Like a broken doll, the mage repeated the same phrase in a low whisper. The ministers were horrified and unsettled. Eldert’s face showed clear confusion, but he quickly regained his composure.
“Something’s wrong with Lady Darcy.”
What exactly, he couldn’t say. Perhaps she was overwhelmed in battle against the Bariel mages, or something else entirely.
The ministers kept glancing nervously at the whispering mage and reported to Eldert.
“Your Majesty, what shall we do…?”
“Form the main force immediately and send support to the vanguard. Transport the mages by dragon.”
“Are you sure? We don’t know the enemy’s strength.”
“Lady Darcy seems to be struggling. She took five mages with her, so the enemy must have comparable power. After all, wasn’t the whole point to summon Lady Darcy?”
Luswena was willing to sacrifice all its mages to eliminate Bariel’s. Without magic, Luswena was confident it could defeat Bariel and dominate Gaia.
“If we don’t support them now, we’ll lose only our mages. That’s the worst possible outcome. If sacrifices are inevitable, the only way forward is to decisively strike down Bariel’s mages.”
What if the one who crossed the border was Ian Hielo?
That would actually be an opportunity. Ian Hielo was worth the strength of several ordinary mages and the spiritual pillar of Emperor Jin Verosion. If he died, Bariel’s momentum would be completely broken.
“Prepare the main force at once. Send every available soldier. The plan may be disrupted, but the goal remains: wipe out Bariel’s mages. Nothing else matters.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“And—”
Eldert furrowed his brow.
“What does Minister Martin know about the Mage’s Forest?”
“I’m afraid it’s unfamiliar to him.”
“Send a messenger immediately. Make it clear that the Mage’s Forest must never be destroyed.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I will see to it at once.”
Over the years, Eldert had wondered why, despite Gaia’s vastness, mages were concentrated only in Bariel and Luswena.
Clifford had fertile lands and a stable climate before the war, and even if Burgos was too barren to consider, there was still a question.
“Bariel and Luswena share one thing in common.”
They both had places where mages could gather and bond over long years. Bariel had the royal palace’s magic department since its founding, and Luswena had the Mage’s Forest.
“If both lose their mages and fall into nothingness, victory will surely belong to Luswena. Then the royal magic department will vanish, and only the Mage’s Forest will flourish.”
Eldert nodded unconsciously, as if Luswena’s golden age was unfolding before his eyes. For an eternity, the golden fields of Luswena would rule Gaia.
“Your Majesty, but what if Lady Darcy falls in battle?”
“If she dies after fulfilling her role, it’s no problem. But if not, the remaining mages will be difficult to handle.”
He could imagine what would happen if their will broke. They’d likely betray Luswena and help tear down the city gates. But Eldert stood, dismissing the worry.
“We already have countermeasures for that.”
“Still, just in case…”
“You worry too much. Fear holds you back. Put aside your doubts and act. The enemy has crossed Luswena’s border.”
The ministers bowed and hurried out of the chamber.
Not long after, a mighty trumpet blast echoed from the top of Luswena’s palace. The moment of true resolve was near. Soldiers were to assemble and arm themselves.
“…!”
Nakina’s body bent backward. Blood sprayed in an arc as the black-armored swordsman’s blade cut through her, and a chilling numbness followed the searing pain.
She knew this feeling well—the sensation of all her magic being drained and vanishing in an instant. Frowning, she turned to see the amber blade gleaming.
“I—!”
It was Idgal. A weapon enchanted with Idgal magic, designed to counter mages.
Nakina felt her strength drain and reached out. It didn’t matter if it was a Luswena mage or a dragon’s head—she had to grab something to avoid falling.
But her hand grasped nothing. She plummeted helplessly, eyes squeezed shut. The sky was dizzyingly high. Falling without magic would shatter her body and end her life.
Damn it. I still have so much to do at the magic department. I owe Captain Hale money, need to set up a match for Tommy, and want to go drinking with Ian…
“Nakina!”
Beric, pushing forward against Luswena soldiers below, spotted her fall and shouted, but it was too far to catch her. Just as he leapt to try—
-Kyuuuuu!
Whoosh!
Something flashed in the distant sky. Then, at an unbelievable speed, a red dragon swooped in.
Both Ian, who was facing off against the forbidden mage, and the Luswena mages barely caught sight of the dragon’s form as it passed.
Kraaaang!
“Ugh!”
The dragon crashed straight into the ground, scattering Luswena soldiers in all directions. It swung its tail wide, clearing space to catch Nakina.
-Kyuuu!
“Kyuu!”
Thanks to that, she landed safely on the dragon’s back. The dragon flapped its wings and soared into the sky. Looking down in a daze, Nakina felt dizzy.
“Ugh!”
A large crater was gouged into the earth, and flattened corpses lay everywhere. Nakina wiped cold sweat from her brow.
Haa.
She had almost died. Wrapping her arms around the dragon’s neck, she let out a relieved breath and then laughed.
“Damn it, why are you so late? Did you swim here or what?!”
Her comrades were arriving. Bariel’s mages had teleported and were flying toward them. Against the backdrop of the vast desert, golden-eyed lions lined up like predators surrounding their prey.
“Ian!”
“Nakina, Tommy!”
“Why is Nakina acting like that again? Did you get hit by Idgal?”
“Yeah! I barely escaped with my life!”
“Always getting smacked by Idgal when you’re bored. Same as ten years ago. Go back and watch from the sidelines!”
“Shut up!”
Nakina rubbed her eyes and cursed brightly. Maybe it was because she’d just escaped death, but she was ridiculously happy.
Meanwhile, the mages paused, staring at the scene before them.
“What the hell is going on—”
“What kind of chaos is this?”
Swarming soldiers of Luswena, dragons, and the black-armored knights.
Yeah, so far, so good. But why on earth are there not one, but two mages wielding forbidden magic? It just doesn’t make sense.
Nakina pointed toward the main Luswena force with her finger and explained.
“We can’t handle the forbidden mages! Leave them to Ian and hit the main force! There’s a puppeteer over there!”
“A puppeteer? Seriously? You’re telling me the puppeteer’s using forbidden magic too?”
“Questions later, move! Over there! Where Tommy is!”
“Ian! Hold on just a little longer! We’ll finish this quickly and come to help you!”
“Everyone, get ready.”
“Yes, Captain!”
Crack!
Following Hale’s command, the mages pulled out small pills and bit down on them. These were Acrella’s special magic enhancers. Since opening and maintaining the portal had drained a significant amount of their mana, it was better to take them before jumping into battle.
Their eyes flared with a deeper intensity, and soon they passed Nakina and Ian, charging straight toward the Luswena main force. Behind them, their magic robes billowed like waves.
‘By the way—’
Nakina, left behind, glanced toward the vast desert the others had just crossed. From the black moon hanging in the sky, murky water poured down like a waterfall.
Whoosh.
Before they left, it had only been a small stream, but the amount of water released from Toorun must have surged dramatically in the meantime.
‘How on earth did they open the portal? These people are insane. And the water flow…’
It was soaking the dry desert, carving a path as it went. Slowly, steadily, it seemed to be moving toward the Luswena border.
Nakina studied the terrain carefully and made a guess. At this rate, the polluted water would definitely flow into the Mage’s Forest.
‘Well, whatever.’
She frowned, rubbing the prickling sensation on her back.
Still, why hasn’t Tommy—who went off to catch the puppeteer—made any sign of life? Nakina tightened the sash beneath her jacket and looked toward the main force.
“…?”
Though too far to see clearly, the soldiers’ movements looked unusual.
And then—
“…What is that?”
Nakina narrowed her eyes, tilting her head in confusion.