The trio gathered around the quaint kitchen table. Beth's deft healing touch had mended their injuries, while Kael busied himself with preparing a hearty meal, which they were now partaking of.
A contemplative hum emerged from Zan's throat, his brow furrowed in deep thought. "So, let me get this straight. You discovered this boy months ago, and he had already mastered the arts of mana channeling and mana manipulation all on his own?"
"Yes," Beth confirmed, her tone serene.
Kael quietly chewed his food, attentively listening as Beth relayed the entire situation to Zan – or at least, the parts she wanted him to know. She had vowed to keep Kael's past life a secret, and she honored that promise now.
"You took him under your wing to keep him from hurting himself and others, and also to wield him as a weapon against a looming threat, one that will reveal itself in a decade's time?" Zan sought to clarify his grasp of the information.
"Yes, that's correct," Beth replied without hesitation.
Zan raked his fingers through his hair, reclining slightly with an audible sigh. "And this threat plans to harm the royal family before showing itself?"
"Indeed," Beth affirmed, her demeanor patient and unflappable.
"How did you come across such vital intelligence? This revelation carries massive implications. The preparations I must undertake will send ripples throughout the entire kingdom," Zan asserted gravely.
Beth shook her head gently. "I cannot divulge the source of my knowledge. Only that I am certain of its truth."
Kael's heart weighed heavy within his chest. He had dared to hope they might secure Zan as an ally in their efforts against the Holy Empire. However, Zan's skepticism was not without merit – he couldn't be expected to mobilize for war based on the word of an enigmatic woman from a secluded village.
"Very well," Zan conceded. "We'll depart for the capital tomorrow, and I'll begin rallying my supporters to initiate our defenses. My foremost priority will be securing the safety of the royal family. Keep me apprised of any developments."
Kael gazed at the man, dumbstruck. Was he genuinely prepared to move mountains – or rather, a kingdom – based on Beth's cryptic warning, even without knowing the origin of her information?
Zan shifted his attention to Kael. "Your aura may be relatively weak at present, but the ability to extend it through your weapon and manifest it as a projectile is a formidable achievement. Your aura manifestation may not yet be capable of cleaving through a seasoned warrior, but as you continue to augment your aura, it will undoubtedly evolve into a potent threat. Heed Beth's guidance, and she'll steer you on the right path."
With a nod toward Beth, he added, "I suppose I should take my leave now. I must attend to my men and prepare for our departure at daybreak. There's only one inn in this village, so you'll have no trouble finding me. Though I suspect you'd know where I was, regardless." Zan offered a respectful nod to the pair before exiting through the front door.
Kael's gaze snapped to Beth, incredulity etched on his features. "How on earth are you acquainted with Grand General Zan? And why would he accept such outlandish claims from you, without any evidence or sources to back them up?"
Beth offered a wry smile. "Recall what I told you earlier? The importance of forging alliances with those who trust you. I've lived a long time." She nonchalantly dismissed his query.
Kael shook his head, not entirely satisfied with her answer. "And Isolde? Is Beth merely an alias?" he probed further.
"As I mentioned, I've lived a long time. Now, cease asking trivial questions and focus on preparing for the ominous future you're so convinced awaits us."
Realizing he would glean no further insights from her, Kael opted to immerse himself in some reading. Deprived of this pastime for several days due to his blindfold, he was eager to explore a recently discovered topic: magnetism.
Following Zan's departure, the day unfolded uneventfully for Kael. He devoted himself to studying, training, and tending to chores until night descended and he succumbed to slumber.
Kael awoke with a start, in the grip of an inexplicable unease. He quickly discerned the source of his anxiety: a complete absence of mana. The void that surrounded him was akin to the sudden loss of sight or hearing, yet somehow more disconcerting.
As he focused on this phenomenon, Kael detected a small, dense concentration of mana approaching from the village outskirts. He couldn't fathom the cause but sensed impending danger. Seizing his spear, he hastened to locate Beth.
Emerging from his room, he found Beth in the kitchen, a lantern casting eerie shadows across her anxious expression.
"What's happening?" Kael implored, seeking an explanation.
"Someone possesses an artifact that disperses mana – a potent one, at that," Beth replied, her voice heavy with foreboding.
"But why would anyone do such a thing?" Kael persisted, struggling to comprehend the situation.
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"The primary motivation would be to incapacitate mages. Magic is futile without mana. Given the artifact's wielder is heading directly towards us, and that they activated it from such a distance, they're evidently aware of my presence. This can only mean one thing: someone seeks to eliminate me."
Kael fought to quell the panic rising within him. Fear threatened to engulf him at the prospect of losing the one person he could rely on in this life. However, he knew he must remain level-headed in the face of crisis.
"Let's find Zan. He can fend off any assassins, and he has an entire group to help protect you," Kael urged, seizing Beth's free hand as they hastened towards the entrance.
As they made their way to the inn, Kael sensed the mana source drawing nearer. Hindered by her advanced age, Beth could only move so quickly, and Kael, still small in stature, couldn't carry her. He could only pray they'd reach Zan before the assassin intercepted them.
Silent and tense, they raced towards their potential refuge, with Beth's breathing growing increasingly labored. The menacing presence of the concentration of mana loomed ever closer.
When the source was a mere twenty meters behind them, and the inn was still a couple of blocks away, Kael noticed something odd just a few feet ahead. The dirt shifted almost imperceptibly, as though someone were walking there, but no one was visible.
Driven by paranoia and unwilling to take chances, Kael charged his spear with his aura and swung it before him. To his surprise, he encountered resistance midway through the motion, and a small cloud of dust stirred where he had struck. Had the foe leaped back? How could they be invisible? Blocking out light would render them blind, yet they had clearly located their targets and made no sound.
Kael's mind raced with questions as he grappled with the enigma. Recognizing that Beth's wisdom far surpassed his own, he spoke while they continued to press forward.
"How can they be invisible yet still see?" His voice betrayed none of the panic he felt.
"There are more types of light than what we can normally perceive. They must have augmented their eyes somehow," Beth gasped, her words strained as she quickened her pace.
Kael knew of no countermeasure for this. Hoping they were close enough to rouse Zan, he took a deep breath, reinforced his diaphragm with aura, and screamed Zan's name with all his might.
As he shouted, Kael scanned their surroundings for any sign of the assailants. The only illumination came from the lantern Beth carried, allowing him to see no more than a few meters in any direction, even with his aura-enhanced vision.
After a full ten seconds of yelling, Kael decided to conserve his energy for the impending confrontation. As he did, he spotted a disturbance in the dirt and swung his spear once more. Although he didn't feel contact, he saw indications of the unseen enemy's retreat. His eyes darted around, vigilant for any other threats drawing near.
Kael detected another subtle shift in the dirt and thrust his spear forward, encountering the solid resistance of metal. Since he hadn't pierced through it, he surmised the foe was an aura user.
Before he could fully retract his spear, a searing pain erupted in his right side. Instinctively, he swung his spear towards the source of the pain and sensed something being pushed away.
The realization dawned on him that there were multiple attackers. His wound throbbed more intensely than it should, a likely indication of poison.
At that moment, Kael heard the shattering of glass and a thud from the direction of the inn—help was finally arriving.
Zan materialized beside them in a rush of wind. Without wasting a second, Kael apprised him of the situation: "Several invisible enemies that make no sound. They have poisoned weapons. I'm watching the dirt to see their steps."
"Fuck." was all Zan bothered to say before they both scanned their surroundings. Kael heard the sound of Zan's men approaching as he and Zan did their best to repel the unseen assailants.
When Zan's men arrived, they formed a protective circle around Kael and Beth. Kael noticed that the mana source remained about ten meters away, seemingly stationary. He decided to ignore it for now, as leaving the safety of the group to pursue the artifact was too risky with the invisible enemies lurking nearby.
Instead, Kael tried to devise a way to thwart the enemies or find a better method to sense them. He opted for a daring gamble.
Focusing on the aura in his eyes, Kael began to manipulate it in a manner he hadn't attempted before. He crafted a lens of aura directly in front of each existing lens in his eyes, striving to direct and concentrate infrared light.
At first, nothing happened. Kael persisted, fine-tuning the shape of the lenses in desperation. Abruptly, he was inundated by a blinding burst of brightness. He immediately closed his eyes and raised his hands to shield his face.
Cautiously, he opened one eye and observed that everything appeared... different. Instead of discerning shapes and colors as usual, he now perceived ambiguous blobs of varying brightness. Swiftly, he adapted to filtering out the background light emitted by the houses and road.
Kael scanned the darkness, discerning figures weaving in and out of their defensive circle, probing for a weakness to reach Beth. He felt light-headed; the poison was beginning to take its toll. Time was running out.
With all the swiftness he could muster, Kael bolted from their position, charging straight toward the artifact. The artifact remained stationary, but he noticed two heat sources converging on him to intercept. He unleashed an aura blade in their direction, deftly sidestepping to evade them as they defended themselves.
As he passed, Kael glanced back to ensure his safety. He doubted they could match his speed while expending so much aura on concealment, but he needed to be certain.
Indeed, two small blobs were in pursuit, but he skillfully used his spear to deflect what appeared to be a pair of thrown knives. The two figures continued chasing him but couldn't close the gap.
Kael redoubled his efforts, closing in on the artifact. He noticed a heat source that carried it attempting to flee, but Kael's speed was unmatched. The artifact's wielder managed to parry Kael's initial strikes but was ultimately overwhelmed and fell.
Kael hurriedly reached for the artifact, an intricately carved metal sphere that barely fit in one hand. As the first two assassins closed in, he seized the sphere and sprinted, trying to deduce how to deactivate it.
He focused on the artifact with his mana senses, struggling to overcome the drowsiness induced by the poison. He detected a faint, delicate extension from the mana stone powering it, resembling a switch. Carefully, he employed his mana manipulation to move the switch and felt it flip.
Suddenly, mana surged in, filling the void that had previously enveloped him. He turned to confront the assassins but, as he did so, lost his balance and collapsed to the ground. The world spun around him as he caught a glimpse of the approaching figures. He thought he saw numerous spikes burst from the earth, impaling his assailants before darkness swallowed his vision and his consciousness fled.