"It would behoove you to retire early this evening. The journey to the land of wizards via the river will take us many days and there is still ample opportunity to study new magic." As Lynn remained steadfast, Aubrey could only remind him before turning to depart.
"Wait... Aubrey!" Lynn pocketed "Basic Magic for All" and was suddenly struck by his previous conjecture, causing him to halt her.
"Is something the matter? Is there something else you require?" The silver-haired lady paused in her steps.
"Are you certain that no one outside of our group is aware of the location of our hideout?" Lynn queried once more.
"Do you suspect that someone among us may have defected to the Church?" Aubrey's countenance became grave. She instinctively grasped Lynn's meaning and harbored the same suspicion, but after a moment's hesitation, shook her head and declared, "That is impossible"
"We have been sojourning in this hamlet for a week prior to your arrival in Uer Town... The perilous missions of procuring intelligence and supplies are also randomly assigned,"
She had availed herself of this chance to test each person and their lack of encounters with the Church's pursuit thus far served as the optimal evidence!
Lynn was not astonished by this, but inquired candidly:
"Have you ever contemplated, what if our group is not the primary objective?"
Lynn was fully aware that as an informant, the single possibility that could account for their stealthy behavior was for the sake of garnering greater gain...
Aubrey was momentarily taken aback, her visage fraught with perplexity.
"Old Lard and.... The path to Greemmier is the Holy See's true objective!" Lynn stated each word deliberately.
He was unsure of the extent of the rapport between Old York of the Drunkard Tavern and Kelu, yet he was still willing to assist these wizard apprentices. Nonetheless, there was one thing he knew for certain! It was implausible that this covert, direct route leading out of the city was specifically crafted for them!
In other words, it is highly probable that Old York was a spy planted by in the Norland region, and the person who aided their voyage to the sea was undoubtedly of greater importance.
Lynn could fathom how many wizards had traversed this channel into the Sika Empire over the years, and how many laden ships had set sail from the port of Nordland towards the land of wizards...
In comparison, apprehending these wizard apprentices was of little significance, merely a means of placating the mood of the Duke of Nordland while attending to it. This could be the reason why they had constantly been pursued by the Church outside, yet remained safe and unscathed in Uer Town!
Under Lynn's suggestion, Aubrey also promptly comprehended this, her countenance momentarily shifting. If this were the case, the Church was likely already aware of their movements, simply waiting for them to act before ensnaring everyone in a net.
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At the thought of this, a chill ran down Aubrey's spine, and at this moment, they were like birds stepping into a trap, awaiting the hunter to raise the blade in his hand.
Aubrey pressed her lips together and remained silent for a considerable amount of time, yet she was unable to conjure a plan.
"What, then, should we do?"
Upon posing this question, the girl didn't anticipate Lynn to furnish a response and was nearly despairing in this fateful predicament.
How could a group of apprentices who couldn't even trust one another evade the cage artfully crafted by the Church?
However, Lynn spoke up.
"It's actually quite straightforward!"
"What do you mean?" Aubrey was startled by Lynn's response.
"You just disclosed the plan about the ship and information regarding Lard to them, and we are set to depart on the morrow, so at that time, we shall all be under mutual surveillance. Therefore..." Lynn declared with certainty. "Tonight presents the optimal occasion to transmit the message!"
.....
"Squeak--"
As the luminosity of the full moon traversed the 13th star, Will awakened to the sound of mouse squeaks, and the dry straw on the hard-wooden bed behind him pierced his back like needles and razors.
Will exerted himself to sit upright and then perceived two or three mice congregating around his discarded robe and gnawing on a half-loaf of black bread, their saliva draping at the corners of their mouths, and their inky toes leaving impressions on the robe.
"Blast it, you beasts, you mire!" Will was incensed and kicked them away, kicking the soiled black bread aside, and cursed fiercely for several minutes before calming down, picked up the robe with revulsion, and cautiously opened the door.
The side hall was enshrouded in darkness and there was no indication of anyone. At this juncture, except for the white pigeon on guard, everyone should have retired.
Will didn't dare to linger a moment, hastened through the corridor and entered a secluded storage room, turned and closed the door.
The creaking of the old wooden door echoed through the room. All of the locks in the estate had been violently destroyed, leaving the storage room in disarray with chairs and cabinets lying haphazardly on the floor, covered in a thin layer of dust.
Will, his nerves on edge, crouched down and moved aside a pile of clutter to reveal an inscribed, diamond-shaped pattern on the floor. He had studied alchemy during his apprenticeship, while Aubrey had chosen elements and Dove had chosen spiritual energy.
[Ship, Port, Lard...]
Will etched the characters onto the center of the magic array and placed the magic stone within its four circular rings. As the magic array began to shimmer and the light extended along its lines, a sharp breaking sound filled the room and a [Frost Blade] was plunged into the corner of the array, causing the glowing light to fade.
"Who!?" Will exclaimed, startled, as he turned around, his gaze filled with fear as it fixed upon the figure that had intruded upon his solitude.
The once-secluded chamber had somehow been breached, the other apprentices and Aubrey's gorgeous countenance was one of disappointment, confusion and anger.
"Why hast thou betrayed us, Will!?" Beck, his temperament tempestuous, stepped forward and seized Will by the collar, his fist crashing against the other's face.
"Explain thyself!"
"Why?" Will sneered, shoving the other man away with force as he wiped the blood from his nose and lips. "Why do you ask me why?"
"I am Will-Eisk, the second son of the Earl of the Empire!" he declared, his baleful eyes alight with passion. "Had it not been for that fool Kelu, I would have been residing in the estate of Eisk, attending lavish upper-class gatherings, indulging in sumptuous fare and the ministrations of servants, eventually inheriting a portion of my father's lands and becoming a lord of Sika' Empire!"
"But what of now!? We are reduced to gnawing on the black bread meant for the commoners and taking refuge in rodent-infested ruins. I have had enough!" Will exclaimed in a fit of frenzy as he glared towards his fellow apprentices.