“More are coming.” Agata panted. “I think they noticed me.” She glanced back down the dark tunnel. “I ran circles, but I doubt it will fool them for long.”

Mila cleaned her dagger from the blood. They had encountered a group of soldiers who were setting up a blockade and had to go through them.

Now, a fifty-strong platoon lay dead before their feet. They were not the strongest and had already seen battle before encountering Mila’s group. Some were injured, some had broken armour, and some had just tools to build an obstacle.

It was a slaughter. Mila frowned. In the faint light cast by the Raran’s magic, she found her cloak to be soaked in blood again. Despite her care when moving and killing, Laura’s powerful slash had torn an enemy’s artery and splashed her with blood.

“They have a faster way down.” Laura grimly noted. The group was checking their condition, equipment and surroundings before moving further.

Mila agreed. “It is as you say. They are the owners of the place. It is understandable they can navigate these tunnels.”

“Should we grab someone and ask the way?” Isabel was also cleaning her weapon. The hammer had been a devastating thing in the previous engagement.

“We are ready.” Laura gathered her people. With Agata back, it was time to move. “And I would rather not ‘grab’ anyone.” She continued. “Any information they might have is quickly becoming obsolete.”

“And we know where to go anyway,” Verte added by pointing down. “Okay, people! We are leaving.”

The distant rumbling, crackling sounds reverberated down the shaft they were passing. Together with shambles and dust, an occasional limb or equipment tumbled down the pit. When standing next to the ventilation shaft, they could hear the shouts and clashes above.

“How much time has passed?” Mila asked.

“Around forty minutes.” Viola estimated. “Hard to say with all the darkness.”

“It’s around fifty at this point.” The Messanger corrected.

That was Mila’s estimation as well. “How much time do we have before it’s too late?” They had been moving too slow for her taste. But rushing wasn’t an option either.

“I don’t know.” The Messanger had no answer.

Which Mila suspected was not the case. “What about that ‘Sage’ group?”

“They are here.”

Mila waited for more information, but the Messanger was not forthcoming. She sent him a withering look before diving back into the dark tunnels.

Much of their advancing speed was up to Agata’s and Mila’s shoulders. She swam through the darkness, searching for any interference or danger. Raran, on the other hand, collapsed a tunnel or two from time to time. But there were too many tunnels, and they had to leave a path of retreat, so what the mage could do was limited.

Another rumble travelled downwards. This time, the turbulent mana seemed to respond and behave for a short while. Mila focused her senses. She put her palm against the cold stone wall, feeling the change.

Someone had fortified the tunnel system. Likely to avoid having a mountain dropped on the attacking group’s heads. Mila returned to her duty. Her soundless steps carried her further. She knew her group was following her advance.

For a good two minutes, there was nothing but darkness. Then, Mila heard voices ahead. Her steps slowed down. Carefully, she searched for the enemy, who were likely alert.

Soon, Mila saw the light. A patrol. Three people were checking the tunnels. She heard more voices far behind them. Likely another attempt at barring the way for any potential intruders.

After a short moment of thinking, Mila decided to leave the trio alive. If the scouting group vanished, it would make the assault at the new fortification harder. She didn’t think there was a way around it. If the commander of this group had half a brain, he would build the defences at a crosssection, making it impossible to advance without first tearing them down.

Letting the small scouting bunch pass her, Mila moved closer to the place where the most sound came from. Her careful steps led her to a larger room, bustling with activity. The bright lights made both by torches and magic blinded her eyes.

A similar platoon to the previous one. From what Mila could tell anyway. She could get any closer without risking being discovered. So, she analysed the place from the darkness offered by the entrance into the room.

What they were making was essentially a wall. A mage tried to shape the stone but struggled against the earlier spell that had fortified the walls. So they used supporting beams, metal tools and more to raise a barricade.

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With three tunnels feeding into the room, with one being from where the platoon had arrived, this was a suitable place to defend. Mila counted forty-four people working on the construction. There were likely fifty, just like before, assuming two scouting parties were checking the tunnels they hadn’t come from.

No. There were more. Another five people arrived. One of them in decorated, full-body armour. The golden/silver metal shone brightly in the lights. The four retainers began yelling out orders for the troops to move faster in the name of House Newa.

This was the first time Mila had laid her eyes on a proper noble since coming here. She slunk back into the darkness. She was impressed. The stereotype of the Nobles being useless was prevalent, but she knew better. Most of them had to have some competence to keep their position.

And this particular noble was a fighter. Mila could tell. The armour may have been flashy, but the man carried himself with confidence. The halberd in his arms was held properly, and his eyes were sharp and praying.

More importantly, the Noble’s retainers treated him with respect. When one of them had come close enough for Mila to scan, she had discovered him to be a capable fighter. Someone who could give Mila and Isabel a fight.

Mila had to report the news and see if Agata had found another path down. After slipping past the previous trio of scouts, she soon returned to her group.

“Another barricade is being formed ahead,” Mila spoke while finding Isabel’s arm. She latched to it, not letting go. “A noble of house Newa and his retainers are directing their efforts. My advice is to avoid the fight, if possible.”

“It’s probably the best option for us right now.” Laura shook her head. “Agata couldn’t find a way down not being blocked, and the pathways to the left-” She pointed. “There are signs of the Tordgo Military there.”

“Smells like them, anyway.” Viola inserted. “Most of the paths are starting to stink of one presence or another. Yours at least doesn’t have a mix of both.”

Mila nodded. They didn’t want to entangle themselves with the Military forces as well. Especially since the Inquisitors were working alongside them.

“Us destroying the barricade will create a path for the Tordgo’s forces. It can only be delayed.” Mila reminded everyone, especially herself. “Viola, any whiff of the seven anomalies?” She asked while they began moving.

“For a moment.” Viola joined Isabel and Mila in their stride. “And…” She leaned closer. “Helly and Andrew were with them.”

“The fucker.” Isabel cursed. “Both of them. Especially Andrew. That guy is so dumb.”

“Language, my dear.” Mila chided, mostly because Isabel was growing heated while talking and raising her tone.

“Yeah, yeah.” Isabel relented. “What does he think will happen next? That he can return to us after this fuckup?” She asked, and…

It was a chilling question. Mila paused. Would he come back? Would they continue to travel together? She hoped so, but as it stood… “If we can forgive him.”

Isabel scoffed. “Can you?”

“Yes, and so can you.” Mila pressed closer to Isabel to calm her down. “But you are angry.” Of course, that was just a guess, but Mila felt confident in reading Isabel.

After Mila’s claim, silence fell over the advancing party. They moved faster than before, feeling the heated battles head down the tunnel system.

As they closed in on the position, Mila left a peck on Isabel’s mask and slipped away in the darkness.

The bright light at the end of the tunnel came closer by the moment. Mila waited for their sturdier party members to move forward before following in their shadows.

Amy and Isabel stood side by side, forming an impenetrable wall and a battering ram at the same time. Laura and Verte followed, then Virr, Mila and Agata, with the rest hanging in the back.

Their approach was noticed. Mila couldn’t see, but she heard Amy’s shield releasing a keen sound from an attack impacting it. Isabel ploughed through projectiles as well, ignoring most of them.

And then they were through the yet-to-be-finished barricade, deeper into the room. Mila kept herself behind Verte as the man moved to the side to cut down a would-be flanker.

Then, their charge came to an abrupt stop. The defenders had managed to set up a rudimentary wall, and it was enough to hinder Amy and Isabel for long enough for them to be bogged down by attacks.

Laura’s advance continued, but once the Noble’s retainers stepped forward, she too was forced to slow down. The noble himself still hung back, letting his servants do the job.

But Mila saw the man narrow his eyes and prepare his weapon. He was aware his retainers would not be able to hold Laura back for long. Especially since Verte managed to injure one of them with a sudden slash.

The centre of the area became a storm of attacks and defences. The defenders threw everything at the sturdy frontline, pushing them back with the quantity.

So impressive was the sudden attack and the prowess of those in the centre of the room that they completely missed a shadow slipping over the wall and landing behind it.

Mila’s skill of keeping herself hidden from others worked in overdrive. The loud clashes deafened her as she moved further to the back of the large room. She ducked behind the materials yet to be used and re-assessed the situation.

Isabel was doing awesomely. Over the loud impact sounds and metal hitting metal, Mila heard the defenders exclaim in surprise when their attacks did nothing against her girl. She couldn’t help but allow a small smile to form.

Of course, Mila erased it immediately after. It wasn’t the time to fawn over Isabel. She moved further along the wall while hiding behind the boxes.

The defenders were holding. Seeing Laura’s might, the noble moved to meet her. He barely managed to block a few blows before, with the help of his retainers, he managed to hold the mercenary leader back.

A few mages hung in the back, casting spell after spell. Most of them were supporting ones for their troops as hitting the fast-moving targets between the growing gaps in the walls was too hard.

There was also a healer there. An old man who was tending to the increasing number of injured guards falling back from the fight.

Now, that looked like a proper target. Mila’s lips formed a cold smile. The healer would be the first life she took in this fight.