14. The First Move

Neva frowned when she felt a foreign consciousness sweep in her direction. While weak, the invasion of privacy still displeased her. With a thought, she shattered the mana sense when it reached within a meter of her.

Sweeping her gaze over the battlefield, her attention lingered on the two unconscious children. She noticed that the girl had just entered the mana condensation stage and the boy was not far behind. The boy could be considered talented on the continent to be on the verge of mana condensation at his age.

But that wasn’t what interested her. With a deep scan of the boy’s body, she immediately discerned that the boy had all twelve of his primary meridians opened. With what she knew, opening twelve meridians would make a heaven defying talent in the warrior’s path on this continent. If he had magical aptitude to boot, then he could even tread the warlock’s path.

It seems fate was not kind to you, son of Aurelius, Neva sighed inwardly. Then again, that is to be expected. He wouldn’t be one of this world’s Nexus point if he didn’t muddy the destinies of the people around him.

Just as she was about to retract her gaze from the boy, however, she jolted to a stop. With glittering eyes, she scanned Lena’s body more attentively this time. A breath of time later, a wide grin spread across her face.

Hahaha. Interesting! Interesting! To think there’s someone who has opened four secondary meridians. Neva laughed manically to herself. Her outward appearance, however, remained composed. Ignoring the childish smile that made her look like a little girl that had swindled candy out of her parents.

While still smiling, she carefully reinforced the protective barrier around the children. After all, she didn’t want to risk anything happening to her precious seedlings just because she was careless or overconfident.

After that was finished, Neva turned her gaze onto the youth wearing a black cloak.

Lokhart was briefly startled when he noticed the beauty’s gaze. Her smile was beautiful and enchanting. Coupled with her mesmerizing eyes, he couldn’t help but feel a deep compulsion to never lie, argue or do anything that would bring harm to her. It was quite a disarming feeling.

However, at the end of the day, he was royalty. Despite being sheltered and woefully inexperienced in combat, when it came to maneuvering social situations, he had experience in spades.

Therefore, he composed himself fairly quickly and gave a slight bow of respect. Then with a polite smile on his face, he addressed the newcomer in the manner of equals. “I am Lokhart Ronoa, seventh scion of the Ronoan Empire of Magic. How might I address the fair lady?”

There was no response. The woman simply looked at him with the same disarming smile. The only difference was that he could now see that the smile did not reach her eyes.

Lokhart’s smile stiffened.

Coughing awkwardly, Lokhart decided to try a different approach. With a serious expression, he said “This is a conflict between us humans. It would be inappropriate if the Woodland Elves were to interfere. That would escalate the matter needlessly for a mere mage and two children.”

While he did not think that the woman in front of him had any affiliation with the elves, he didn’t want to be careless. He had already made too many mistakes with his impulsiveness. Add on the fact that he could not see through the level of power of the woman, Lokhart decided to adopt a more conservative approach. He decided to probe the other party.

Neva's smile disappeared.

Lokhart’s eyes flashed. He knew he had displeased the woman with his remark but he decided to push on. “I can see that you’re human. Even if you want to distance yourself from the elves and act on your own, there is no need to bring disaster upon your head by offending someone you cannot afford to.”

Lokhart’s tone was grave at the end. He knew he had pushed a little too hard, but his nerves had gotten the better of him.

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Neva raised an eyebrow in amusement. Am I being… threatened? How long has it been since I was last threatened? She couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly as a twinkle returned to her eye.

In the distance, Rose, who felt she had finally found her savior, felt her soul wither when she noticed that the newcomer wasn’t Elven. Indeed, no human in their right mind would dare antagonize the Magic Empire needlessly. If the Elves refused to come out, it could only mean they had been abandoned. Why else would they take so long only for a human to come out?

Rose laughed. It was a bitter laugh. Bleak and tragic.

“I see you’re not a person of faith,” a soft ethereal voice entered Rose’s ears all of a sudden.

Startled, her head snapped to the side. It settled on a beautiful woman who looked at her with a playful teasing smile.

Neva then waved her hand.

Immediately, Rose felt a wave of the purest mana she had ever felt envelope her. Her injuries healed at a visible rate. What was baffling however, was that she was sure there were no healing spells being cast on her. Rose was dumbfounded.

While she knew that wood element mana could heal minor injuries even if it was applied in its base form, this did not feel like wood element mana. And even if she wasn’t a great mage herself it wasn’t like she hadn’t met any great mages before. She didn’t believe for a second that wounds as severe as hers could be resolved so easily, wood element mana or not.

While she was still in a daze, a bubble of mana seemed to envelope her body. She looked around and saw that Sam and Lena were also in a protective bubble.

She exhaled a sigh of relief.

At this point, she didn’t care whether this person was acting on behalf of the elves or by herself. She was grateful enough that she was willing to help them.

As Rose was still lost in her thoughts, Lokhart looked on in stupefaction. What was this woman doing? Did she not hear him? Did she think she was very strong just because she was a great mage? That she could disregard the Empire of Magic with her level of strength?

Eyes simmering in rage, Lokhart spoke in a low growl, “Fellow arcanist, I advise you to think carefully. Even if you are a great mage, this matter is not one you can interfere in.”

Neva just chuckled softly before turning and walking away. She completely ignored the man’s childish threats. She doubted there was anyone the scion could bring that could defeat her. And even if there was, could they defeat her husband?

While silent and expressionless on the outside, Neva was humming a melodic tune in her head.

What a good day this has been. Neva thought to herself. Mhm, these two will make excellent companions for little Sam. At this point, she was all but skipping back to her home.

Ah! Neva suddenly stopped mid skip. I must be careful to make sure little Sam doesn’t turn out like that Lo- something fellow.

Nodding to herself, she continued to skip home with three person-sized orbs of mana trailing behind her.

Lokhart’s face was flushed red with part anger and part humiliation. He had been toyed with! On multiple occasions he wanted to drop all pretenses and attack but the problem was… he didn’t dare.

From the moment his mana sense was shattered, he knew he wasn’t the woman’s match. And while he had some treasures that could help him kill her if he launched an ambush, he was reluctant to use them.

So what if he succeeded? He still remembered what that bandit had told him. There were two people inside the formation. What if that person was also a great mage or supernatural? He couldn’t take on multiple foes on that level.

He had only recently become a great mage. With his future wide open ahead of him, he wasn’t in the business of courting death.

He looked at the formation in front of him one more time. He could see the cottage, the herb gardens, but no people. It was truly bizarre.

With a harrumph, he beckoned to Reigar who was skulking in a corner, trying his best to blend into the background. After that, the two left.

The forest returned to calm. The supernatural battle in the night sky had long ended. No one knew who the final victor was.

***

On the veranda in front of the house, Sam watched on nervously. It had been him who had begged his parents to help the little highness’ group. He didn’t know if his parents could put up any kind of fight against that expert in a black cloak but it didn’t sit well with him to watch them die just outside his house.

Thankfully, he had underestimated his mother. He didn’t know exactly what exchange took place between her and the expert, after all, he could only see him talking while his mother quietly listened. In any case, something good must’ve happened as the man didn’t attack anymore and let her take the woman and her two children away.

“Phew…” Sam exhaled a breath he didn’t know he was holding. His clenched fists and tense shoulders relaxed as well. Looking ahead he could, see Neva walking in his direction with three people suspended in two bluish bubbles in tow behind her.

Meanwhile, Aziel continued to sip on his tea he looked at the game board in front of him. Looking at the pawn that Neva had pushed forward before taking action, he smiled faintly.

He then turned his attention to Neva who was half walking half skipping her way back.

When Samael was born, the board was set. Eight years later, the first move is played…

Aziel sighed wistfully his gaze distant.