Chapter 744

“By the way, is it true that there are no mages at all in Toorun?”

Tommy wiped the sweat from his brow as they paused in a narrow alley while moving stealthily toward the city center under the cover of darkness.

The more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed. Neighboring countries around Bariel all had at least a few mages, yet a vast nation like Toorun supposedly had none?

“I’ve heard that even in Clifford, where the mage lineage was said to have died out, there used to be mages. Maybe with time, they’ll reappear. But Toorun never having a single mage from the start… is that really true?”

“As far as I know, not a single one has ever existed.”

Banusa answered cautiously, glancing outside the alley to check for patrols. It was true—Toorun’s history didn’t even mention mages in passing.

She hadn’t questioned it before, but now it made sense. Since this was the stronghold of the underground god opposing the divine, perhaps mages—called the children of the gods—simply never came into being here.

“That must be why the palace squeezes the noble families like rats in a trap, trying to hire mercenary mages.”

“Do you think they’ve succeeded?”

“I don’t know. To find out, we’d have to make contact with the mansion, but Lord Ian seems intent on heading straight to the palace.”

Ian just nodded silently, signaling them to keep quiet as guards approached from the opposite direction.

“Whether we know or not doesn’t matter. We’ve already faced mages under puppet magic in Luswena.”

Since they were deep behind enemy lines, it was all the more true. Their destination was set, so it didn’t matter what preparations the enemy had made.

Once the guards turned the corner and disappeared, Banusa led the way again, breaking into a run.

“The palace must already be aware of the mage intrusion. Setting aside mercenary mages, the Ardo family must be on high alert.”

“The Ardo family?”

“They’re elementalists who control fire. They’re responsible for Toorun’s national defense.”

“How many of them are there?”

“Exact numbers are unknown, but probably close to a hundred.”

“Wait, a hundred? You mean one hundred?”

Tommy asked in surprise. Were there really that many family members ready for battle? Were they that prolific?

“Those who inherit the bloodline possess their own elemental spirits in some form. The skill levels vary greatly, but at least that many can respond to orders. That’s just within the Ardo family.”

There were five elemental families in total. Excluding Banusa’s own, that meant nearly 400 elementalists were on standby.

Hale chewed on a dry cigarette and muttered, “We have no choice but to take them down without revealing our position.”

“Yeah. It won’t be easy.”

This place was truly in the palm of the Toorun king’s hand. Not just a figure of speech—once the target and location were known, they could unleash all manner of attacks.

So Ian’s group aimed to enter the palace as quietly as possible. Other mages patrolling the walls would likely draw attention away.

Thrum!

“Did you feel that vibration?”

“Sounds like it’s coming from the east, senior.”

“Right? I think so too.”

Nakina suddenly stopped, sensing something. The eastern wall was the gate where Bariel’s main forces would enter. Was something wrong? The vibration felt ominous.

“Lord Ian, the echo is coming from the side where His Majesty is. Is that alright?”

“What’s there to worry about? Mages are surely guarding the king. Beric and the royal guards are with them. We just have to do our part.”

“Yes, I spoke out of turn. Sorry.”

“Banusa, how much farther?”

“Almost there. At this pace, about ten minutes. If we turn left here, my mansion will be just ahead—”

Suddenly, a hot chill ran down Banusa’s spine. As she turned in alarm, Ian, Hale, Tommy, and Nakina all dropped low, eyes wide.

Whoosh!

It wasn’t a mistake. Banusa felt a scorching heat brush past her side and bit her lip.

“Ardo.”

“Banusa, if you’re coming up, you should have said so.”

It was Ardo, head of the fire elemental family. A longtime friend of Banusa’s and a trusted comrade within the palace.

Ardo frowned as he looked at Ian’s group, cloaked in robes.

“I thought it was just a rumor, but it’s true.”

“What rumor?”

“There were whispers ever since you went to the Masantar Temple and lost contact with the family. Then recently, Bariel’s forces destroyed the temple. Still, no news of you. So I figured one of two things.”

Whoosh!

At Ardo’s gesture, flames erupted from the ground, quickly enveloping Banusa and the others in a massive dome.

“Ardo!”

“Banusa, don’t say another word. Don’t confuse me any further.”

They had come this close to the palace alongside enemy mages from Bariel. There was no need to overthink what that meant.

But Banusa was his old friend. Just deciding not to strike him down took all her strength.

“Ardo! Calm down and listen to me!”

“Lord Ian, if this continues, our position will be exposed.”

“Yes, we should kill them quickly—”

“No!”

Banusa raised her arm, blocking Nakina’s path. Her eyes blazed with determination. She wanted to bring down the palace, not her friend.

“…I can persuade Ardo. Do not harm him. If you do, I will no longer guide you. Truly.”

“Good grief.”

Nakina clicked her tongue and looked at Ian. Ian gazed up at the solid wall of fire and said,

“If you want to try persuading him, go ahead. But we have to move.”

“Listen here, mage of Bariel! I don’t know how you convinced Banusa, but don’t get cocky! This is Toorun!”

Whoosh!

The fiery barrier thickened as if fueled by Ardo’s anger. Banusa stepped forward anxiously.

“Ardo, listen to me. I heard you’re troubled by the palace’s unreasonable demands.”

“Are you saying you’d betray the country over that?”

“No! I’m not betraying it—I’m trying to save it! You don’t know what I saw at the Masantar Temple.”

“Banusa! Please come to your senses! We are the protectors of Toorun!”

“Shadows!”

Banusa kept glancing at Ian’s group as she shouted. She had to earn their trust. Otherwise, Ardo would surely die here.

“I saw the shadow of the gods. It was no different from a monster. It’s rooted deep in the palace, feeding on Toorun. That means the kingdom’s downfall is imminent. Do you understand?”

“So mages can use illusions too? That’s new.”

“No, I’m serious!”

Banusa snapped, frustrated.

Then, someone slowly stepped over the fire barrier. Members of the Ardo family. They formed a circle around Ian’s group, ready to attack.

“Lord Ardo! The palace has sent a signal. Reinforcements will arrive soon.”

“Damn.”

Ian smiled at Banusa. With things like this, there was no choice left. They had to move before the king pinpointed their location.

“Ardo! Do you think living like this is right?”

Damn it! Banusa summoned water elementals, sending jets of water to douse Ardo’s flames.

“The king toys with our hearts like a child with a toy. Do you think that’s right? I’ve been blinded and deafened! Ardo, I know you’re no different!”

Ardo took a step back, frowning. He acknowledged it, but couldn’t accept that it justified destroying the country.

Ziiing! Ziiing!

“Ian, I’ll open the way.”

“We should go first.”

“Banusa!”

Tommy and Nakina unleashed their magic, calling to Banusa. She turned the water flow behind Ian’s group, creating a small gap.

Tommy and Nakina waved to Ardo and slipped through first.

“Lord Ian! This way!”

Ian did the same. He glanced back at Ardo and Banusa, then quietly said,

“Banusa, among those I know, there is one who escaped the king’s puppet magic. Ardo, was it? You’ll find this interesting. Listen well.”

“What?”

Banusa was stunned. Neither she nor her ancestors had ever heard of anyone breaking free from puppet magic on their own.

Puppet magic was like a divine brand to them—once entangled, it could never be undone.

Yet here was talk of escape?

“It’s faith. Even if your heart feels like it will burst and your mind melt, if you face death without flinching, you will survive. That’s all I can say.”

Ian left the brief words behind and slipped through the gap without hesitation.

Ardo’s temple vein throbbed with anger.

“Lord Ardo, I’ll chase after them!”

“No! Everyone, listen! If you chase them, they will surely die. The one we’re dealing with is Bariel’s Minister of Magic, Ian Hiel!”

Ardo’s family members hesitated, turning back. The mage closest to the gods, the one who had even thwarted the palace’s attempt to kidnap his mother—the young mage they spoke of?

“Ardo, I—!”

Just as Banusa stepped forward to plead with them—

Thump!

Her heart pounded wildly once again. The king was calling her. The feeling was different from the signal she had sent just hours ago.

If she didn’t respond this time, her heart might burst…

—Vanusa.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At the honorific, Ardo hesitated.

Vanusa wiped the cold sweat streaming down her face and looked Ardo straight in the eyes. This was how things stood between them now.

—You’re with that Ian guy, aren’t you?

“No, I’m with Ardo.”

—Ian?

“Sir Ian is currently…”

The king’s silence stretched long at the mention of “Sir.” Vanusa clutched her chest and smiled bitterly.

“I’m on my way to the palace, Your Majesty. Please be careful. The path isn’t difficult, so it won’t take long.”

“Vanusa!”

The desperate act of someone ready to die. Just as Ardo cried out and took a step toward her—

“Ahhh!”

Vanusa collapsed, clutching her chest. Her whole body trembled violently, saliva dribbling from the corner of her mouth. It was clear the enraged king had driven a needle into her heart.

Ardo grabbed her by the shoulders, supporting her.

“Vanusa! Vanusa!”

“Your Majesty!”

But Vanusa laughed, staring defiantly into empty space. To the king’s eyes, all he could see was the fire burning around Ardo. Ah, what a fitting moment.

Tears streamed down Vanusa’s face as she muttered, a reflex born of pain.

“At the Masantar Temple, I saw the underground god. It was no different from a monster. Does that… thing also dwell within Your Majesty’s body?”