"There, he should be in better shape now." Magnus peeled the used spell catalyst off the unconscious man lying in a wooden-framed bed with white sheets and a pillow. The moment it was removed, its single-use was spent, and the remaining mana, once contained in its structure by various runes, dispersed as those runes flickered out.
Everything below the man’s head was wrapped in bandages, and though the covers hid most of his body, it was obvious his legs were gone. This wasn't Hazel—it was the lieutenant of one of the four platoons the Major General had sent to assist Mia, Marcos, and Gerald with the Nullfang. One platoon had been completely wiped out when they entered the valley, and this man was the lieutenant of the other unit that was attacked shortly after.
Now that Galven's... dead, only two of the four lieutenants the Major General sent are still alive.
Magnus looked away from the bed, scanning the rest of the infirmary. Most of the other beds were occupied by soldiers—injured but not nearly as badly as the man in front of him. Hazel was a bed or two away, in a similar state, but at least he was awake.
"T-Thank you... We were afraid his condition would never improve. Even in his sleep, he was always in pain. Some nights, he'd start sweating like he was in the middle of a nightmare." The voice belonged to a medic from one of the four platoons. As a combat medic, he was skilled at keeping people alive long enough to receive proper treatment—but that was the problem. They had no real treatment out here, only temporary fixes. He and the other medics had done their best to keep everyone stable, but it was never enough.
Now, looking down at the lieutenant, whose face for the first time seemed at peace, the medic felt a wave of relief wash over him.
"It's fine. We got lucky—his Aura Intensity was too low to reject the spell catalyst. Otherwise, we would have had to wake him up first," Magnus said, and the medic nodded. That was always an issue when operating on knights. Either they had to consent, or someone had to force their way through their aura—something that usually required another knight's help. In this case, the lieutenant had been bedridden for so long, suffering through constant pain, that his willpower had naturally dulled over time. He might regain it once he woke up, but that depended on where he was mentally.
Not many people stayed strong-willed after losing the ability to walk.
Speaking of which…
After letting the medic take over monitoring the unconscious lieutenant, Magnus made his way to Hazel’s bedside.
"How are you feeling?" His voice was calm and disarming.
Hazel seemed lost in thought, taking a moment before finally registering the question.
"Hmm? Oh, I'm doing good. Hardly in any pain anymore, which is a huge improvement from how I felt an hour ago." A slight curve touched his lips as he took a deep breath, but there was something else—something buried deep in his eyes. The weight of everything that had happened was still there. Who knew how he really felt about it?
Magnus pressed his lips together, standing there for a moment before saying, "I'm sorry this happened to you. I thought my plan would work... I didn’t think it would cost you and Galven..."
Hazel glanced over and shook his head.
"Don’t blame yourself for this mess. If you hadn’t shown up, we’d all be dead—I’m sure of that now. And as for your plan... well, they rarely go the way the planner wants. That’s just part of life. Part of being a soldier." Magnus lowered his head slightly, letting out a sigh as he nodded.
"Yeah, I know... Mia and Marcos said something similar. I just-" Before he could finish, a loud voice rang out from across the infirmary, making him turn his head.
"And they’re right. You should listen to them. You’re moping so much, I swear you’re making this place even more depressing—didn’t think that was possible." The voice, of course, belonged to Gerald, who was sitting up in his bed with a grin. His injured and bandaged hand was raised, despite the void having cost him two fingers from his left hand and the back of his right foot—including his Achilles heel.
Not that he acted like it.
Ignoring Gerald for now, Magnus shook his head in disbelief before turning back to Hazel.
"If I ever find a way to extend my healing to limbs, I promise I'll make sure to heal you." Hazel blinked, caught off guard. He stared at Magnus in silence for a few moments, trying to process the words.
Mages had a solid reputation, built on stories, legends, and myths—not to mention people's natural fascination with magic. But that same reputation often came with an air of arrogance and superiority. Most mages were of noble descent and raised in academies that reinforced the idea that they were special. When you spend your life being treated like you're more important than everyone else, it's only natural for your mindset to warp.
But looking at Magnus, Hazel saw none of that. His words, his promise—it was all genuine. So was the remorse he felt, despite Hazel already telling him it wasn’t his fault.
I was wondering why the captain and the others trusted him so much. But he really is an odd one.
Hazel’s smirk turned into a small smile as he nodded.
"You're already so strong for your age. If that's not talent, I don't know what is. I doubt I'll have to wait too long for you to keep that promise. But either way, I'll be looking forward to seeing where you go in the future."
"Well, you're right about that. You should’ve seen how scared he was when we first met him," Gerald chimed in from across the room, clearly listening in.
"Poor kid almost passed out when an arrow flew past his face." He let out a laugh.
Magnus sighed.
"Well, clearly, he wants my attention. Guess I better go deal with that." Even as he spoke, a smile crept onto his face, despite how annoying Gerald was being.
Turning back to Hazel, he added, "Thanks for believing me."
With that, he left Hazel’s bedside and made his way over to Gerald, who was grinning like he had just won something.
"You know, it's rude to eavesdrop on other people's conversations," Magnus said.
"Eh, I'm technically his superior officer, so it's fine," Gerald shot back casually, shifting his pillow against the wooden headboard for a more comfortable position. Magnus just shook his head. He had no idea how the Batis Military was structured, what authority Gerald actually had, or even what rank he held.
So, he decided to let it slide and not question the logic.
"Fine, whatever. I was planning to talk to you about something anyway. Or I guess more like, ask you something."
That caught Gerald's attention.
Raising a brow, he replied, "Oh? Well, shoot. It's been boring just lying here."
"Well, from what I've seen, out of the three of you—you're the strongest, Mia is the fastest, and Marcos is the stealthiest and most precise, right?" As Magnus spoke, Gerald put his uninjured hand on his chin, rubbing his short unkept beard as he mulled it over.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
"I’d say you're close but not exactly right. Out of all of us, I’m definitely the strongest physically, though Mia, with her spirits, could probably cause more outright damage than I can." Magnus blinked in surprise.
"Wait, really?"
Gerald nodded his expression somewhere between serious and amused.
"That’s right. It may be hard to believe, but spirit naturalists are ridiculously powerful. If an Apprentice-level knight can bring down a building with raw force, and an Apprentice-level mage can blow it apart with a destructive enough spell, then a spirit naturalist wouldn’t have to do either. All they'd have to do is ask the spirits controlling the materials in the building to weaken its foundations all the way through. No explosion, no sound—just a quiet collapse, as if the structure failed on its own." Magnus thought about that for a moment.
Hmm, I never really looked at it that way before... Though, now that I think about it, Mia has always been precise with her attacks and movements.
"But if she can do that much with the spirits, why doesn’t she?" The question popped into Magnus’s mind as he considered it.
Gerald’s expression shifted slightly. Letting out a short sigh, he rubbed the back of his head.
"Eh… not exactly my story to tell. But trust me, there's a reason Mia doesn’t use her connection to the spirits for raw destruction. She’s trained herself to be precise, which is what makes her so fast and deadly. Without that connection, though, she’d probably be a bit slower than Marcos and definitely weaker than me." He shrugged.
"Basically, what I’m saying, kid, is that there’s no straight path when it comes to strength. Even if Marcos and Mia are faster and more agile than me, I can match them in short bursts thanks to my Aura Intensity."
"Huh, I see… Well, in that case, what about close-quarters combat? Out of the three of you, who’s the best in hand-to-hand?" A confident grin spread across Gerald’s face.
"Oh, that one's easy. Me. No doubt about it. My mentor made damn sure I knew how to handle myself, with or without a sword. I’ve been doing this longer than both Mia and Marcos."
"Huh… I suppose that makes sense…" Magnus muttered, though his tone sounded oddly disappointed.
Gerald raised an eyebrow.
"What’s with the sour face?"
Magnus sighed.
"Well, I was hoping whoever was best at hand-to-hand could help me with a training exercise I’m planning. But… considering the state you’re in, I doubt that can happen." The moment Magnus finished speaking, Gerald clicked his teeth, his expression making it clear he was offended.
"What do you mean, the state I'm in?" Magnus rolled his eyes, gesturing toward Gerald’s bandaged hand and leg.
"You know exactly what I mean." Gerald just laughed, slapping his right thigh.
"Oh, please. You know knights recover faster. Give me two days, and I'll be walking around good as new. Then I'll help you out with whatever training exercise you're planning."
"You're serious?" Magnus asked a hint of disbelief in his voice.
Gerald nodded.
"Of course I am! Honestly, I’m insulted you think I can’t help just because I lost a couple of fingers and a bit of my foot. Hell, even if I lost a leg, I could still do it." At this point, Magnus was almost certain Gerald was boasting... almost.
Still, he conceded with a shrug.
"Alright, fine. Two days then. I'll hold you to it."
"Heh, good. I’d be bored out of my mind just lying around healing with nothing to look forward to except the trip back to Arlcliff City," Gerald said with a grin.
"Yeah, I don’t doubt that." Magnus gave a casual wave before turning toward the exit.
Stepping outside the infirmary, he was met with an unexpected sight—hundreds of soldiers gathered in rank-and-file formation across the courtyard. They hadn't all been there when he went in and compared to when he first came to the outpost and saw them, they looked far less exhausted. That was mostly thanks to him temporarily solving the food and water shortages they’d been dealing with. And now that the Nullfang was taken care of, they no longer had to waste energy hunting it down. Their supplies would last longer.
On top of that, Mia had eased up on them and taken time to rest herself, which had done wonders for morale. The almost ghost-like eyes of the soldiers now held a renewed spark of life, their faces invigorated.
I guess Mia’s about to make the announcement.
Magnus had that thought as he followed the direction all the soldiers were facing—up on the wall. Mia stood there, with Marcos a step behind her to the side, lingering like a shadow. Almost as soon as Magnus spotted them, their eyes found him as well. Mia smiled and gestured for him to come up. That, of course, made several soldiers glance in his direction, making him feel a bit awkward as he walked past the lined-up ranks toward the stairs leading to the walkway above.
"Glad you're here. How did it go?" Mia asked when he reached the top.
"Good. Both Hazel and the other lieutenant are stable and aren’t in much pain anymore. Oh, and Gerald’s as energetic as ever," Magnus replied. Mia and Marcos showed no surprise at that last part, but Mia’s expression did brighten slightly at the first bit of news.
"It’s been a while since I’ve heard so much good news at once," she said, then turned her attention to the soldiers below. Clearing her throat with a slight cough, she began her announcement. Her voice carried effortlessly across the courtyard as if the winds themselves were delivering her words to every soldier’s ears.
"First, I want to thank all of you. Your loyalty, courage, and dedication to your duty are what brought us this far. Even when times were rough, food was scarce, and everything seemed hopeless, you all pushed forward and persevered. We’ve lost friends, comrades, and, as many of you likely guessed, lieutenants. But today, with great relief and pride, I can tell you this—the Nullfang, the creature responsible for our suffering, has been slain!" The silence among the soldiers shattered instantly.
First, there was shock. Then came the cheers.
"It- It’s dead?"
"Finally! That means we can go home, right?!"
"Is that why all the knights left? To kill it once and for all?" Questions mixed with shouts of relief, the weight of looming death finally lifting from the valley. Mia let them celebrate, giving them a moment to take it all in. But as the noise began to settle, she raised a hand, signaling that she had more to say.
The crowd quieted.
"This victory did not come easily. It was the combined efforts of myself, my comrades, and your lieutenants that led us to this moment. It was a battle that cost Lieutenant Galven his life and left Lieutenant Hazel unable to walk. Yet their sacrifice gave us the clue that led us to victory. And so, I want to personally thank the one responsible for the plan that took down the Nullfang—and the one who ended it once and for all." Mia turned, her gaze settling on Magnus.
"Magnus Wright!" The moment his name was spoken, Magnus felt himself freeze slightly.
Once again, he was being pushed into the spotlight.
"Magnus, you may have come to help us under the Major General’s orders, but you fought alongside us and put your life on the line—even when you had no duty to do so. Because of that, we're all still alive. And I speak for everyone when I say—we're grateful." Mia lowered her head in respect, and Marcos followed her lead. A moment later, the soldiers in the courtyard did the same.
"We're grateful!" They spoke in unison, echoing her words.
Magnus honestly had no idea how to react.
So, doing his best to sound calm and confident, he simply said, "I was just doing what I could. There's no need for you to lower your heads."
Mia lifted her head with a soft smile—one the soldiers below probably couldn't see, but Magnus could. Part of it was genuine, though another part felt like she was enjoying how flustered he got when people thanked him. Not that he was in a position to call her out on it.
Turning back to the soldiers, she raised her voice again.
"With our duty here fulfilled, we’ll be setting out for Arlcliff City in a week’s time. But I don’t want to see any of you dropping your guard just because the Nullfang is dead. We’re still in dangerous territory—monsters lurk in the valley, and mana beasts roam the forest beyond. However, I can promise you this: when we return to Arlcliff City, a feast and great rewards will be waiting for every one of you!" Once again, her words sent a wave of excitement through the soldiers. Cheers erupted as the reality sank in—they were finally heading home. After everything they had endured, after surviving this hellish nightmare, they were going back.
Seeing their excitement, Magnus felt his nerves ease slightly. Mia continued speaking, but out of the corner of his eye, Magnus noticed Marcos quietly slipping away. He didn’t seem like the type who enjoyed speeches.
As he passed, Marcos patted Magnus on the shoulder and whispered, "Remember, their cheers are thanks to you."
Magnus turned to look at him as if wanting to respond, but by then, Marcos was already heading down the stairs toward the courtyard.
When I came out here, I definitely didn’t expect Marcos to be the encouraging type.
•
Year 348 of the Great Sundering Era, 1st Month, 28th Day of the Mistveil Cycle.
After Mia finished addressing the soldiers, two major things happened. The first was the news being delivered to Larter Village, which, unsurprisingly, brought joy not only to the villagers but also to the soldiers stationed there.
The second was the troops beginning preparations for the journey back to Arlcliff City. A volunteer group of soldiers would remain behind to keep the outpost manned and protect Larter Village until the platoons returned to Arlcliff City and the Major General could send proper reinforcements. They would actually occupy the outpost would ensure that monsters wouldn’t become an issue again in the valley.
As for Magnus, things weren’t nearly as hectic. He spent most of his time in his room—prepping, resting, and waiting as the two-day period passed. When the time finally came, he found himself back in the courtyard once again.
[Master, are you certain developing this ability is the best course of action? It will greatly enhance your combat abilities, but it will also potentially strip away your control.]
Magnus stretched, listening to Basker’s voice in his mind. He answered only as he wrapped up.
Of course, I am. It’s a sacrifice I’ve been trying to avoid for a while now. But in the end, technology back on Earth has made one thing clear—automation is the key to constant improvement.