Nathan

Year 2850 | Month 12 | Day 27

I pause a couple hundred meters away from the battle as I realize something.

If I go in slaughtering the enemy, then not only would that anger the general and likely make him an enemy, but I could accidentally hurt one of my friends.

And that’s not the only thing I realize, because I also remember my difference in appearance. Even if it’s not that large of a difference.

Not to mention the whole fact that I was declared dead if I had to guess. So none of my friends believe I’m even alive.

Which is a problem in and of itself.

Shit.

I grit my teeth as I stare at the army, unsure of what to do. Only for the general to turn his head and look at me directly. At which point his eyes widen in shock and surprise.

And, most importantly, recognition.

My mouth parts open a bit before closing again.

He recognizes me.

After a brief pause, the man only starts moving again when a bullet slams into his barrier of water mana. With the bullet not piercing through.

Then the man suddenly vanishes and is replaced by a clone made of water. Meanwhile dozens of other clones made of water appear around the battlefield.

I look around, feeling more than a little surprised. But then I remember that he’s a Class A magician. So this isn’t too surprising.

What is a little surprising, though, is when he appears right in front of me with the air around us beginning to shimmer a little bit. And he grabs me by my bicep before shooting a spout of water out from beneath him and bringing me through the air towards his ship.

At this point I’m too surprised to do anything to stop him and just let him take me.

He brings me all the way to the deck of the biggest ship before letting go of my arm, startling me again, and motioning for me to follow him.

So I do.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

I follow him into the ship until we arrive at a fancy cabin and enter it. A cabin I can only assume is most likely his.

Then he finally turns around and looks at me with that same pitying look he had the last time I saw him.

“I see you’ve had a tough time here, Nathan,” he eventually says, making it clear he knows more about me than he probably should. “I know Leonidas said you ended up here, but I wasn’t expecting this change.”

My mouth opens for a second to say something, only to close as I find myself unable to figure out what the hell I should even say in this situation.

“If you’re worried about your friends, don’t be,” the general states, surprising me again. “None of them are participating in the war. I managed to place them in the Republic’s defenses instead using the excuse of them being top students at the top academy of the Republic.”

Now that makes me smile in relief.

The general narrows his eyes a little at me and crosses his arms as he continues, “Telling them of your survival will be your responsibility when you make contact with them again. But until then, we are still on the opposite side of a war.”

After that, the air begins to shimmer around us again before he opens the door to his cabin.

“Now that I’ve said what I needed to say, please escort yourself out,” the general declares, growing a lot more serious. “I may disapprove of the Chairman’s actions, but I will not betray my own forces to aid you.”

I nod my head at that and go ahead and begin walking out of his cabin, finding the shimmering air around me still there no matter how far I go. And even when I pass by other soldiers, none of them so much as look at me.

Almost like they can’t see me.

Guess he’s using some sort of illusion magic spell with his water magic.

Nice.

Also explains why no one looked our way when he brought me to this ship in the first place.

Once I make it to the deck, I look around one last time before jumping off of the ship and into the water below. Then I proceed to walk across the ocean floor in the direction of the edge of this noble’s territory. Beginning my search for the next battlefield to fight in.

Because I’d rather not cause that general any problems by attacking him. Not when he just did me a favor.

And I know he didn’t lie because I could hear it.

Although, just in case, I go ahead and burn myself alive from the inside out with death flames. Just to remove any possible trackers he may’ve put on me.

Fortunately, I don’t find any while doing that.

Which kind of means I burnt myself alive for no reason. But whatever.

Better to be safe than sorry.

I do wish I could’ve asked a couple questions though. Like how Leonidas is doing.

Ignoring my other sadistic teacher who I mostly remember for chopping off my arms.

Then again, that sort of punishment and training wouldn’t even phase me anymore. No matter how sad that may be.

Anyways, from what I read on the other army’s map, the next assaulting force in the direction I’m walking should belong to the nation known as Natra. A desert nation with a bit of a supremist attitude. Believing their own people to be superior to everyone else.

A sentiment their Class S fire magician agrees with wholeheartedly.

Which is honestly another reason I’m going to their force. Even if I don’t think the Class S magician will be there on the battlefield.

Because they may have more information on fire magic that I could use.

I smile at that thought before glancing back at the ship that’s far enough now that I can only barely see it through the waters. Then I turn around again and focus on making my way towards the territory of Baron Drawl.

Time to improve my fire magic.