CHAPTER 122.

Amber tried to back off, but the mental fatigue from it all was real. She simply stared at the Archmage who looked unimpressed.

“I thought that you’d be much harder to catch.”

“There’s been some developments,” Amber answered as Remmel drank another healing potion.

The assassin broke into a coughing fit as Amber eased the curses on him, yet the Archmage and his guards seemed to be standing there.

“So, do I get arrested now?” she asked.

“Hand over the staff, first,” he said, raising his hand. “Breaking into your storage ring is gonna be annoying, and you can’t use mana with cuffs on.”

Amber frowned. She had read something about that. To get access to someone else’s ring it must be consented or the user has to be dead⁠— though it wasn’t relevant right now.

She raised her brow, “So what will happen after?”

He frowned. “Afterwards you will be imprisoned for at the very least 300 years for your crimes, you shall not be let go until you have a single year left to live.”

300 years or whenever I’m about to die? She hadn’t expected that, but it made sense. That said, she couldn't allow that. She turned to Remmel, who seemed to be thinking about what to do, before finally turning back to the head mage with a frown.

“So ignoring my situation, you do realize that two infamous organizations are fighting and trying to kill each other not too far away, right?” Amber pointed out, hoping to divert his attention to more urgent matters. “There is a good chance the nobles are affected from their battle.”

Maybe he’ll try to leave me with his guards instead while he deals with that. At least that’s what she was thinking.

The Archmage frowned and a golden explosion went off in the distance as he turned to face it. The guards tensed at the sight of it as well. Finally he turned back towards Amber. But at that moment, Remmel received a letter that caused the guards to raise their staffs at him. Though the Archmage didn’t seem to care at all.

“It seems I can’t waste time, give me the staff in three seconds or I will kill you,” he said. “I shall use Arkara’s Staff to deal with the problematic individuals.”

Amber frowned.

“Three.”

The Archmage raised his staff and Remmel laughed.

“Two.”

“What a good timing, Aveline!” Remmel called happily.

“One⁠—”

And Remmel took out a black dagger, before it immediately shattered, erasing the mana in the air and the Archmage took a mana potion and splashed it to counter that, but it was too late. Aveline appeared behind them and grabbed them as barriers formed⁠—

Then she teleported them and immediately used her presence killing skill. Amber lost track of everyone as they appeared somewhere along the road, then a moment later they were able to see each other again.

Meanwhile, part of the forest exploded, trees flew hundreds of meters into the air and dirt billowed along with it as it began to rain. Amber’s heart was skipping a few beats. She almost died. And using 3rd Rank of Quick Dash wouldn’t have saved her either. A sobering reminder to her situation.

Her eyes remained on the forest as Aveline panted, and as Remmel laughed.

A moment later, a few dozens of meters away the Archmage teleported into the road with a contorted face twisted in anger.

“No more of this humiliation, I’m done following procedures!” he bellowed, anger evident in his voice. “I know you people are around here I can still sense your general presence, so I will simply destroy this entire place and recover Arkara’s Staff, casualties be damned!”

Amber paled, as he raised his staff and hundreds of barriers appeared in the sky, gradually building up as she realized what was about to happen⁠—

And another explosion went off in the distance, a moment later a mage appeared.

“Sir, stop! The noble house of the Fanir family has just been hit! We have to deal with it!”

The Archmage continued to cast his spell and it wasn’t until he was physically pulled that he scoffed, letting it go.

“I will kill all of those people personally, you people track the humans. This is personal now,” he growled.

“Yes sir!”

With that, the Archmage teleported away, even Remmel seemed to no longer be laughing but rather relieved as the level 400 spell dissipated. Meanwhile the guards gathered to discuss things as spells began to be used, which Remmel responded with using one of his own skills.

A shroud of smoke exploded and they disappeared, being teleported back into the forest.

“We don’t have much time, let’s get to safety now,” he said, standing up and walking away. “We’ve angered him beyond belief. We have to leave the country.”

Amber frowned. “I’m not leaving without at least telling my companions, plus I have to tell Frei as well.”

Remmel didn’t turn as he replied. “She’ll come find you, let’s just⁠—”

“I’m not leaving, period,” Amber said. “When I joined the organization it was implied you wouldn’t get me in this amount of fucking trouble, you do realize that now I’m a wanted criminal right?”

Remmel turned. “I told you that he doesn't know your name⁠—”

“He will,” Amber emphasized. “Do you think he’s stupid? It’s only a matter of time, especially after he encountered me a second time. So help me find Frei before I beat your ass up.”

“It’s not my fault those stupid scholars showed up, we would’ve been fine otherwise⁠—”

“It doesn’t matter Remmel, take responsibility for getting me into deep shit. I’m also keeping the staff.”

Perhaps she had been slow on the uptake, but after seeing the spell and hearing her prison sentence it had fully settled in for her. She was a wanted criminal now. Sure, she had agreed to his mission because she had chosen to blindingly trust the man wouldn’t do anything to actually get her into trouble.

Liz hadn’t after all.

But she was fucking stupid for thinking that, and she acknowledged it. However, that didn’t mean she was just gonna let Remmel reap all of the benefits while she just got fucked. In the end they weren’t even killing the people of the council so there was no reward for her.

“If not, I’ll just give it back and save my ass,” she said with finality. “If you told me you were planning to steal a fucking divine artifact from the elves I would’ve never agreed.”

Remmel frowned before sighing. “Fine, yes. You are right, I deliberately hid it. Let’s go find your fucking friend and get out of here.”

Aveline flinched seeing Remmel’s evident anger, but Amber was satisfied. She had learned a valuable lesson from this. Namely to get all the details before agreeing to things, and also to not trust contractual relationships.

Her gaze fixated on Remmel who was walking away.

After all, he is only looking out for himself, and he’ll do the bare minimum for me even now. So I should do the same.

* * *

With Aveline’s help, they reached Lasren’s family residence. Apparently, Remmel had dropped off Aveline with the Dazdril family and gotten attacked on his way back, though he had decided against telling them anything. Aveline, upon waking, also didn’t say anything. Both had the same motivations.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Not wanting to get the family involved given that at the very least Asil would help no matter what, landing his family in trouble. Which surprised Amber, something that she felt thankful for towards Aveline, and she would’ve felt thankful for towards Remmel if not for her current feelings towards him.

Aveline had to consume a lot of mana potions, and she actually threw up once, but she kept her skill up. Meanwhile in the distance there was the occasional explosion from the ongoing battle. Apparently the residents nearby were evacuated by the guards, and protective formations were set up to safeguard this side of the forest.

The entire plateau had entered lockdown, so it was important for them to leave as soon as possible. Especially with the explosions that kept on resounding in the distance. Which was why Amber kicked down the Lasren’s residence door and marched right in.

But to her surprise, it was completely deserted.

All of them rushed into the residence and they began to look. It was a complex with multiple houses and buildings, and it was bigger than the Dazdril’s residence. Amber went through various unassuming rooms; the furniture seemed modern with a mixture of wood to keep it feeling natural. The various magic lights were off and there was dust settling on the various places.

Everyone looked and it wasn’t until five minutes in that Remmel came to find her with a discovery.

“We found a teleportation circle.”

Amber nodded, and went along with Remmel. She followed him to the back of residence, to a rather run down shack where the circle was. And while Amber tried to decipher the runes she was mainly unable to, though that wasn’t completely the case for Aveline

“I can only tell it goes to a different part of the Sacred Forest, below the plateau so probably to the lands at the bottom of the districts,” she said after a moment. “And in the past week it’s been used fourteen times. One as recent as one hour ago.”

“Is that where Frei went to?” Amber asked.

Remmel cracked his hands. “Only one way to find out.”

Amber nodded at that and a moment later a much stronger explosion went off in the distance, even being felt where they were. A moment later, a ring of light appeared above Amber, flashing for a brief moment.

“Trouble,” Remmel clicked his tongue. “Start the circle, now! Prepare for battle.”

The ex-noble nodded, and even though she looked pale she began to diligently activate the circle, and then a moment later there was a flash of light from outside. As a new presence appeared with teleportation. Amber tensed, but realized it wasn’t the Archmage but someone else, Remmel however, paled.

“Aveline!”

She raised her staff and they were all teleported outside as the house with the circle exploded with a flash of light.

And Amber immediately turned to see the perpetrator only for her face to twist. It was someone familiar yet she hadn’t interacted much with them. Right now they were wobbling and weak, their white robe tattered, but their level was no joke.

[???. Lvl. ???]

It was the mage from the Saints of Truth.

“I’ve come to finish my business with you, Ishtar’s descendant,” he said.

Amber clicked her tongue as the man raised his staff. Aveline teleported herself away, and Remmel tried to go for a sneak attack but it was deflected by a barrier.

“To believe I’d have to fortune of finding you here; putting an end to you is not an opportunity I can let go⁠— absolution.”

Amber once more, found herself without curses. They were completely inert within her body and her sword. This time however, it even felt stronger as her body became sluggish, but Amber didn’t let that stop her as she summoned Arkara’s Staff and swung, using both slashing attacks at once.

The mage ate the attacks and⁠—

“Dissolve.”

Amber was blasted with a golden light, she went flying into a house and broke through it as once more she was forced to manually heal. She almost blanked out before she cursed.

Can they all do that?

She teleported away and the spot where she had just been exploded with a ray of light. She landed back outside as the mage teleported, raising his staff again. And this time, Remmel appeared once more, stabbing with a different dagger.

The mage ignored it as light gathered on his staff and his barrier⁠— exploded. The Archbishop side-stepped as his shoulder was nicked before he grunted.

“Repel.”

Remmel was blasted away and Amber appeared in front of him, swinging her sword as her Essence flared. The man blocked with his staff, no barrier to stop her and her blade still went into his shoulder as he grunted.

“Give up, and accept your fate.”

“If you weren’t after me, why were you even here?” Amber asked, gritting her teeth.

She had a bad feeling about this. The mage grunted and then teleported as he raised his staff, light gathering.

“Because, I was waiting, waiting for the weakened and imprisoned target to be killed. I was merely a lookout and you just happened to appear in the plateau of nobles.”

And she blocked as a blast of light made her slide across the ground. Her armor was burned off, her skin sizzled and she grunted, forcing herself to heal. Then, the mage appeared before her as he swung his shining staff down.

Amber barely blocked as the staff irradiated a burning heat that consumed her skin.

“And so, all you need to do is die and my life will truly be complete.”

“Fuck you⁠—”

Amber stomped and the mage stumbled, stunning him then increasing her strength to the max she swung Cursewelder horizontally, Silver Flame Edge increasing its sharpness threefold.

In an instant she cleaved into the man, going about halfway into his body and he⁠— smiled with bloodied teeth.

“Ensnare.”

Amber was hit by a golden light and blasted into the wall, chained with golden strings that glued her into them. She squirmed but to no avail as the mage grabbed his side with a wicked smile.

“Got you.”

Remmel appeared, swinging and the mage ate the attack as he swung in return. Remmel was hit on the shoulder as he hit the ground in pain, completely overwhelmed in physical strength.

“H-How?” Remmel squirmed.

“When I fight a Cursebearer my attributes will at the very least match theirs, though since she’s Ishtar’s descendant she somehow surpasses that rule,” he mused. “Anyway, that is everything you need to know, now die⁠—”

And Remmel was teleported away by Aveline, the ground was blasted open and both of their presences vanished a moment later. The Archbishop clicked his tongue before turning to Amber.

“No matter, you’re what I’m here for.”

“You sure are obsessed,” Amber spat.

All this time she had been trying to free herself of the bindings, but to no avail, not even with her Essence.

“Well yes, a Cursebearer killed my parents, and my village, they tortured me for months on end as well,” he replied calmly before coughing up blood. “Of course I’d be obsessed. Cursebearers are a plague to this world.”

Amber grunted and the man approached.

“That level 300 mage was quite pissed, saying how he couldn’t wait to kill some human⁠— I assume it’s you, but it doesn’t matter because I’ll be taking that opportunity. That said, I wish I was the one to avenge Archbishop Anael, but it doesn’t matter, for that woman will die a dog’s death.”

She strained herself and she finally ripped apart one of the bindings as she raised her hand, she didn’t like how the mage was behaving. Amber pushed her Essence, using half of it as she began to gather blue flames on her hand in the shape of an arrow.

“Hmmm…” The mage paused. “That is not magic, but those are not curses either, this power is not something as filthy as you should have access to.”

He raised his staff and immediately stabbed her through the heart as she gasped, Amber immediately squirmed with pain as light entered her body, wrecking her every organ.

“Tell me, where did you get it?”

Amber concentrated, as her vision began to darken, she focused solely on her fire, not using God’s Physique to heal and the mage snapped.

“WHERE DID YOU GET IT?!”

And she was blasted by a flash of light Amber felt her bones break, and the mage grunted in anger. Pulling back his staff as she almost fainted, blood flowing out.

“So you choose guaranteed death instead.”

And Amber tossed the arrow at point blank with her hand⁠—

Primordial Blazing Bolt.

The mage didn’t notice it as he was hit, and a moment later a rippling explosion of blue fire blasted the mage. The wall Amber was bound to was immediately melted as she was blasted back, she broke through walls and furniture while panting. She hit the ground like a sack as she forced herself to heal, but even then she felt like she was dying.

She was grabbed by Remmel and a moment later her presence was extinguished, two healing potions were splashed onto her as she finally gasped, recovering her wits.

“Is he⁠—”

“No, not yet,” Remmel said grimly, looking over.

Amber followed his gaze, they were at the end of the property line. And for a moment she saw nothing, but then the mage teleported where she had landed.

“Where are you, Ishtar’s descendant?” he asked with a hint of madness. “I must know your secret.”

And Amber paused, the man was burned alive. Aside from his hair no skin remained on him, he was trembling and bleeding all over. In fact, he was still burning.

“The mage took away all my potions, and I can’t heal yet you choose to run away,” he said. “But I can sense you nearby.”

Amber frowned, feeling like the worst was about to happen, summoning Arkara’s Staff.

“No matter, where you are, I will kill you, even if my time is near.” He grinned as he began to shine in a golden light.

And at that moment, Amber felt alarmed like never before as even Remmel tensed and turned to Aveline who seemed frozen.

“Teleport us⁠—”

“I can’t!”

The mage laughed. “I love to see how you scramble to run away from this! My life for an attack, surely it’ll be magnificent! And the imprisoned and weakened Dark Reaper will soon meet her demise at the other Archbishop’s hand!”

Amber immediately began to channel her Essence as the mage began to glow white, becoming nothing but a white figure emanating light like a beacon. Yet what he said about Frei alarmed her. Frei was in danger. But also, she was in danger.

“Oh, what an honor, to take Ishtar’s descendant with me!”

Amber immediately raised her staff, draining the rest of her Essence. Remmel cursed and summoned a scroll, and the mage reached a new apex of light as danger filled the immediate surroundings.

Storm of Destruction⁠—

“Extinguish.”

Thunder exploded and a moment later, a white light burst in all directions, consuming everything in its path as Amber and everyone else was hit by the impact. Their barriers did not put up a fight as they were blasted by the mage’s attack.