Assassin’s Chronicle - Chapter 451

Alice hosted another meeting about expansion. The League of Mercenaries had been established recently, so there should not have been any bureaucratic issues yet. Alice neither loved holding meetings nor tried to strengthen or show off her position in the league with meetings.

Alice called the meeting because this was the perfect timing. They had just fulfilled their last plan and needed to reflect on it and make a new plan for the league. They would work best with specific plans.

Because Anthony had just joined the league, Alice did not know where his seat should be in the conference room. She felt it was inappropriate to seat him just anywhere, so she rearranged the tables into two circles. This way there would be no focus on their titles and positions. Everyone could just pick their own seat.

After receiving the meeting notice, Anfey and Suzanna immediately went to the conference room. Anthony and David did not wait either.

Alice spent some time to reflect on their last plan. She did not have combat power and was only a magic apprentice, but she was amazing in other areas. For example, her voice was so strong everyone could hear her talk from the beginning of the meeting to the end. Her voice had been clear and pleasant. There was no sign of it getting coarse. The more she talked, the more energetic she looked. To be honest, if it were Anfey, he probably would have ended the meeting earlier. He knew he could not do what Alice was doing, so he asked Alice to be the CEO.

Anfey was completely a man of action. He believed in fighting rather than talking. When he led everyone to escape from Sacred City, he never spent any time teaching that group of “rookies” a lesson. He showed the bloody and cruel reality to them, which forced them to grow and mature.

If Anfey were asked to give a speech or talk about politics, life, or dreams, it would be as hard as walking up to the sky. Assassins were good at giving one fatal strike without leaving any possible danger for themselves, which totally influenced how Anfey acted. He never talked at length in any formal occasions, and tried to make it as short and clear as possible.

When it was close to noon, Alice suddenly changed the topic and laid her eyes on Anfey. “Master Anfey, in terms of our next development plan, what do you think?”

“I do not have a plan yet,” Anfey said.

“Right now, our opponents are Mourtta and Batusimon. Which one should we pay more attention to. You are the leader of the League of Mercenaries. You should be making the final decision, shouldn’t you?”

“I have asked Arlango to socialize with the Storm mercenaries, but he has not come back yet so I do not have detailed information,” Anfey said.

“Arlango again? Is he that trustworthy?” Alice asked slowly. In fact, during the talk last night, she referred Anfey as “you” without showing any special respect. It sounded more comfortable for both of them, but today in the conference room, Alice dared not miss adding respectful phrases in front of Anfey’s name.

“I am not sure he would be so trustworthy if he had better choices, but right now,” Anfey smiled, “we can trust him.”

“Master Anfey, when did you ask Arlango to socialize with Storm mercenaries?” Anthony suddenly asked.

“Before I came to White Mountain City. Master Anthony, did I do anything wrong?” Anfey looked worried.

“No, nothing wrong. It is just unnecessary,” Anthony said. “I have worked with Batusimon for dozens of years. I know him well. He acts aggressively and seemed to have a hot temper. In fact, he fakes his anger. He is actually very cautious and smart. Master Marino, what do you think?”

“I agree with you,” Marino said.

“Batusimon has seen what happened in the Country of Mercenaries for the past few days,” Anthony said. “My guess would be he has been thinking about his future and where Storm mercenary group will head. The news that Master Anfey killed Archmage Michael with one strike went around. After he checked the authenticity of the news, he should feel terrified and lose his courage to fight. I myself was stunned the other day when I saw Anfey killed Archmage Michael with one swing of his hand. Batusimon was only a senior swordsman.”

“Master Anthony, are you saying we should fight Batusimon first? We could force him to surrender to us to get rid off our concerns and then attack Blackwater City with full force, right?” Blavi asked.

“Too much work involved. I only need to send two people over to talk to Batusimon. He will make the smart choice.” Anthony slightly frowned. He did not like the word “surrender.” If he pressured Batusimon to surrender to the League of Mercenaries, wouldn’t he be doing the same thing as Batusimon. If Anfey or Christian used the term “surrender” to describe his situation, he would have definitely argued with them, or at least show he was not happy about it. He could fight for the League of Mercenaries, but no one could think little of him.

“Which two?” Alice asked immediately.

“Master Marino and I,” Anthony said.

Alice’s eyes moved very fast and then stopped on Marino.

Marino was quiet for a while before he slowly nodded.

“Master Anthony, how sure are you about convincing Batusimon?” Alice asked.

“Not very; maybe 60 percent,” Anthony said.

“I do not agree,” Christian suddenly said. “Master Anthony, you have told us that Hotchbini from Tiger of Tawau mercenary group has been sending her people to see you. I am sure she must have sent people to Storm mercenary group. If Batusimon has decided to be on the side of Tiger of Tawau mercenary group, Master Marino and you would be in danger. We cannot have you guys take unnecessary risks. If someone has to see Batusimon, why don’t you let Zubin and Feller to see him. Zubin is calm and Feller is smart and flexible. They can work very well together.”

“Lord, I do not mean to look down upon anyone. If the talks went sour, Marino and I would still have a high chance of escaping. It will be too dangerous to send you guys over there,” Anthony said. “As I have said, I know Batusimon very well. He could be as aggressive as a furious tiger, but also as timid as a mouse. We have Master Anfey to back us up. He dares not do anything to us. Even he already had an agreement with Mourtta, he would reconsider after he heard the news that Archmage Michael has died.”

“One more thing to consider,” Marino said. “We have been dealing with each other for dozens of years. Whether we are friends or enemies, Master Anthony and I could be more convincing than you guys.”

“Then, I will have you two work on Storm mercenary group. Thank you.” Alice made the final decision when she saw Anfey did not have any intention to disagree. “Right now we only have one opponent left. Any report about Blackwater City?”

“I have sent people over there, but it is too far from here. I think they will not come back for a couple of weeks,” Long said.

“I know a little bit about what is going on in Blackwater City, but not too much,” Anthony said. “At this point, Tiger of Tawau mercenary group is much more powerful than before. A large number of elves and druids went to Blackwater City. It would be hard to conquer the city.”

“Besides, Scarlet has led troops to Blackwater City. If we had to attack Blackwater City, Scarlet would definitely join the battle,” Christian said.

“Are you worried about Scarlet’s troops the most?” Anthony asked.

“Yes,” Christian said.

“I do not agree with you guys. I worried about the elves the most,” Anthony said.

“Why?” Alice stared, her eyes wide open. Not only Alice did not understand; neither Anfey and others. Given their fighting ability, Scarlet’s troops would be decisive.

“Elf Empire has not come out for thousands of years. They were never involved in any confrontations. This time they acted very aggressively. They must have some intention we do not know,” Anthony said. “In addition, they have been training for many many years. No one knows what skills they have. With the support of three druid tribes, they could be terrifyingly powerful. We need to be careful.”

“Only Wolf druids will be on their side. Bear and Eagle druids would not be on their sides,” Anfey said.

“Master Anfey, do not feel offended if I say it too directly. Why do you think Bear and Eagle druids will not be on their side?” Anthony said calmly. “You can trust us because we can talk openly. Do you know what elves want? Do you know what druids want? No one in this conference room could answer those two questions, not even King Yolanthe.”

“We have worked with Bruzuryano for a long time. He is an honest and upright old man. He is very trustworthy,” Christian said.

“I have seen Bruzuryano. I agree with you, but I still have to say Bruzuryano could only represent himself instead of Bear druids,” Anthony said. “I heard Wolf King Manstuly sent people to ambush Ms. Suzanna, right? Bruzuryano was very angry after he heard about it. He even claimed to cut off any relationship with Wolf druids.”

Anfey slowly nodded.

“It is really a great idea,” Anthony said. “The druids were divided. Some will fight against you, while some are on your side. No matter what happens in the future, they would attain their maximum interests. If you win, Bruzuryano could come out to mediate the between you and druids. Seeing what Bruzuryano had done for you, you probably could not kill Wolf druids. If you fought to a draw, what would happen if your trustworthy friends stabbed you in the back?”

Anfey and others were all shocked. Even Alice was so shocked that she could not comment.

“Great idea!” Anthony kept repeating his comments. “All the confrontation would end up in losses, wins or draws. We would not even have to talk about it if they won. They could protect their own interests and their peers even if they lost the battle. It means you lose if the battle ends up indecisive.”

“Bruzuryano is not that kind of person,” Blaive refuted as he shook his head.

Anfey felt a shiver down his spine. He had to admit that he was very subjective about druids because of Bruzuryano. He thought druids were his friends. That was why he was exceptionally enraged when he learned Manstuly sent people to ambush Suzanna. He felt he was sold out by his friends. There was saying that bystanders knew better than the people involved in the situation. Anthony was not influenced by Bruzuryano, so his view seemed to be more sophisticated.

Anfey suddenly realized that Yolanthe was so sophisticated that he must have seen it too, if Anthony could realize this about druids. What did Yolanthe think? Did he trust Bruzuryano? Was there any strategy or compromise involved in this issue?

“I do not think Bruzuryano is using us,” Riska stepped out to support Blavi.

“You guys are still too young and easily go to extremes,” Anthony said with a smile. “What I am saying is we can trust Bruzuryano, but not completely. This way we still can protect ourselves and fight back if anything happens in the future.”

“Master Anthony, you are right,” Anfey said firmly.

Riska and Blavi had planned to argue with Anthony, but after hearing what Anfey said, they kept silent.

“I have been working in the Country of Mercenaries for dozens of years. I am not forcing you to listen to me because I am older than you. I think anyone who is willing to put everything on the table is actually trustworthy. If I do not know what the other party wants, I would never trust him,” Anthony slowly said. “Especially elves. Don’t trust them.”

“Why are you saying that?” Alice asked in surprise.

“As you know, many years ago, Elf Empire controlled this continent. Unfortunately, they were not very motivated. They spent most of their time on so-called arts and lost their fighting ability big time.” Anthony paused. “After they got weaker, you know what they suffered. I do not think I need tell you the stories about them. Humans came into control of the continent, while elves became the entertainment for the humans. For the past thousand years, no one knew how many elves were killed by humans. As you know, elves were very proud. The generations of humiliation and hatred accumulated. Once they broke out, it would be more terrifying than Forbidden Spells. They had control of the continent, and they have been wanting to recover their glory since they are so proud. If they could successfully take over the continent, humans would suffer a big time.”

“If they are not part of my family, their hearts must be different,” Anfey said in a low voice.

“Wonderful!” Anthony complimented Anfey. “This is exactly what I meant.”

“But elves all love peace,” Blavi murmured. In fact, these young people felt bad for what elves had suffered. When Anthony described elves as evil, they could not agree with him.

“If you had suffered humiliation and hatred for thousands of years, would you still love peace?” Anthony said coldly.

Anfey looked cold and distant. “When Suzanna was ambushed, there were elves and druids. What elves shot out were not olive branches.”

Everyone remained quiet in thought.

Anthony saw the air was getting too intense. He tried to lighten up the atmosphere. “Maybe I made it sound more serious than it should be, but I still want to reiterate that we can trust them, but not completely. I hope you know what I mean.”

Anfey took a look at Anthony. He found that all top level powers in this world were not easy to deal with, except for silly Deswright. The top powers did not only have strong fighting ability, but also special understanding and principles.

There seemed to be more suspicion about the honest and generous Bruzuryano.

Anthony’s warning made sense. The reason they would trust anyone was because they wanted that person to be on their side, but they could not completely trust that person in case they were not able to protect themselves or fight back, and end up in a worse situation.

Anthony’s warnings showed he sincerely wanted to work with Anfey. It seemed like it was time to claim his duke title once Baery got back to White Mountain City.

“It seems like we cannot attack Blackwater City right now,” Alice said.

“At least not before we have more information about them. We cannot attack Blackwater City without thinking of the consequences,” Anfey said slowly. “Master Anthony, do you have any spies in Blackwater City?”

“Yes, but now they do not report to me anymore,” Anthony said. “Right now, David is the commander of Glory mercenary group.”

Anfey was shocked when he heard what Anthony said. It took Anfey a while to get what Anthony meant. Maybe Marino had said something to Anthony, or maybe only David could get along better with the young people in the League of Mercenaries. Anthony had delegated his power to David.

“Master Anfey, I will send the reports to you once I receive them,” David said.

“Thank you.” Anfey nodded. “I will let Long and you be in charge of the reports. You guys can get together and discuss how to collect more information after the meeting.”

“I understand,” David said.

“It’s already noon. Let’s end the meeting.” Anfey looked around.

Suddenly, someone outside the conference room excitedly called Anfey’s name. “Master!”

The long line of carriages and carts stopped on the square in front of the government building. Arlanga had brought only a hundred guards and mercenaries when he left, but he brought back many more this time. He also was accompanied by hundreds of soldiers from Maho Empire.

A lot of guards and soldiers were bloodied, and Arlanga was injured. Clearly, the trip back had not been an easy one.

Arlanga jumped off of his horse and hurried over to Anfey, bowing. Alice frowned when she saw him. She did not like men with no backbone. A man like Arlanga could betray his former allies and was capable of more betrayals in the future. Men like Arlanga were not trustworthy.

“So this is Arlanga,” Alice said quietly. Anfey nodded. “Is it true he founded Cloud Chamber of Commerce?”

“It’s true,” Anfey said. “Why?”

“That means he must be of able mind,” Alice said. “I don’t understand. Why is he doing this? Who is he acting for?”

Anfey smiled. He knew exactly what Alice was talking about. Arlanga’s head was wrapped and his robe was tattered. He looked like he had just stepped off of a battlefield.

“I have all the food, my lord!” Arlanga said loudly with a bow.

Anfey frowned. He hadn’t sent Arlanga to transport food. Arlanga made that decision on his own. He had Arlanga contact the Shield of Light legion because he wanted to shorten Arlanga’s trip. The way Arlanga was talking made Arlanga seem like he was only a food merchant.

“Good,” Anfey said with a smile. “You must have had a hard trip. Let me introduce you real quick. This is Alice. She is in charge of all the internal affairs in the alliance. You will report to her about supplies.”

“Lady Alice,” Arlanga said with another bow.

Alice nodded and waved her hand. She glanced at the carts parked in the square and frowned. “There’s not enough,” she said, turning to Anfey.

“I can go find some more,” Arlanga volunteered eagerly. “I’m used to running around. I’d rather be out all day than sit around.”

“No,” Alice said, shaking her head. “I have other plans for you. Come with me.”

Arlanga froze and glanced at Anfey. Anfey nodded and shrugged. Arlanga sighed and followed Alice, his eyes shifting, trying to think of a reason why Alice would want to talk to him.

“Those are members of the Roaring Death Legion,” Kumaraghosha said, looking at the soldiers.

“I know,” Anfey said, nodding. Even though the soldiers were not flying a flag, they were very different from the Shield of Light soldiers. They were wearing dark armor and had not moved since their arrival.

“If you give them to me, my lord, I can…”

“You know I can’t do that, Kumaraghosha,” Anfey said with a sigh. “Baery would kill me if I do.”

—

“This is what we received,” Jerrick said, handing a file over to Scarlet. “It doesn’t look good.” He was an average looking young man and did not speak with a commanding voice that was common among royalty.

Scarlet flipped through the file and frowned when she read the last page. She reread the file and sighed. “That Alice… This is true?”

“It’s not just her,” Jerrick said, shaking his head. “I don’t think anyone dared to defy Anfey.”

“I’m talking about the genius part,” Scarlet said. “There’s only one person befitting of this title for me, Your Royal Highness.”

Jerrick frowned and did not say anything.

“The alliance is new. They are trying to expand as fast as possible by absorbing different mercenary groups,” Scarlet said. “Which means they are also absorbing conflicts. Mercenaries are free-spirited. They believe in themselves and freedom, which meant they despise rules. If old conflicts are not resolves and new conflicts accumulating… This is a miracle.”

“You’re forgetting about Anfey,” Jerrick said. “Mercenaries worship freedom, but they also worship the strong and the powerful.”

“I know,” Scarlet said. “He is a terrifying opponent. He could not have worked this miracle by himself. He needed other helpers. If Alice is in charge of internal affairs… she must be one of his best.”

Jerrick’s gaze fell to the ground and he did not say anything.

“I’m surprised. How did she manage to keep the mercenaries from murdering each other? How can she manage such a large organization so smoothly?” Scarlet paused and turned to Jerrick. “Your Royal Highness, I want to promote a soldier right now to lead my army.”

“Are you kidding?”

“Do I look like I’m kidding?”

“Soldiers are just that. They don’t have the ability or the experience to lead an army.”

“Alice has got to be one of the best Anfey’s got,” Scarlet said. “We both know that a capable person is never born capable. Ability comes from years of experience. It’s either that Alice is so good we cannot find where she came from and who she is, or it’s because you are hiding something from me.”

“She is…” Jerrick hesitated.

“Who is she?”

“She’s Maderofa,” Jerrick said quietly.

Scarlet froze. She had been expecting this, but it still came as a shock. “This is why you insisted on meeting with Hotchbini, isn’t it?” Scarlet said with a chuckle. “You knew this, and you didn’t tell me?”

“Scarlet, I don’t know why you hate her so much, but she is still my sister!” Jerrick said.

“Which is why I didn’t kill her back then,” Scarlet said. “It seems like I have made a mistake. I won’t make the same mistake again. When the time comes.”

“Why?” Jerrick asked loudly.

“Because she is about to become Anfey’s wings,” Scarlet said. “You and I both know what she’s capable of.”

“She could have become my wings,” Jerrick exclaimed.

“She wouldn’t,” Scarlet said, shaking her head. “She would have never work for you. I am the only one, Jerrick. Don’t forget. You’re not her only brother.”

“But…but she…”

Scarlet sighed. She walked over and took Jerrick’s hands. “You are too kind, Your Highness. Can’t you tell how much of a threat your sister is? His Majesty wanted her to become princess regent, but do you think she would stop there?”

A dark figure landed on the walls of White Mountain City and observed the activities inside the city silently. A patrol team walked by him, but no one seemed to see him.

The figure was a tall, middle-aged man. He was watching the patrol and did not do anything. He appeared no different than a normal person at first glance, but his odd nature became apparent upon closer inspection. His skin was more smooth than a normal person’s, and he had no facial hair.

He raised his hand, and a ball of grey gas gathered in his hand. He waved his hand and the ball flew towards the patrol team, engulfing the entire team in dense mist. The patrol kept walking for a few moments before stopping in the mist.

Anfey was sitting in his room and meditating, but the sudden wave of magic surges interrupted his meditation. His eyes blinked open and the elements that gathered around him quickly dispersed.

Another patrol team walked by and noticed the first team. The leader of the second patrol team frowned and called out, “What are you doing there?”

“Are you slacking?” another mercenary called, grinning. “You’ll be in big trouble if Lord Ye finds out about this!”

Mercenaries in the first patrol team slowly turned around to face the second team. Mercenaries in the second patrol discovered, to their horror, that all the mercenaries’ eyes were shining with a strange red light. The War against the Dead had been raging for a while now, and all the mercenaries had experience fighting zombies. It was not hard for them to figure out what had happened. Before they could do anything, however, another wave of dense fog descended onto the mercenaries, turning them into statues.

The middle-aged man on the wall chuckled under his breath. “How interesting,” he said. “There is no one on the mage tower.”

The mage tower was one of the most important structures in a city. During a battle, it was up to the mages in the mage tower to protect the city and its people. The towers were also a place for the mages to rest. Mages in the mage tower could increase the power of the soldiers. When there wasn’t a battle, the towers were responsible for detecting magic surges and serving as a lookout.

The mage towers in the city still hadn’t send out a warning, meaning they were not manned.

Michael’s mage tower was only half complete and did not have all the functions a mage tower should have. The League of Mercenaries did not have enough money to continue building the towers. Taking the incomplete tower down, on the other hand, would be a great source for extra materials.

Mercenaries in the two patrol teams converged and turned down a street. The middle-aged man levitated into the air and followed the mercenaries. Before he could go far, however, he was stopped by a flash of fire shooting towards him.

The man did not panic. He raised his hands and waved them, summoning a large bone shield. The firebird crashed into the shield and broke into scattered elements.

The man’s eyes widened. An arrow shot through his hand and his shield, planting itself in his cheek. Thick blood slowly seeped out of the wounds on his hand and cheek.

The man grabbed the arrow and gently pulled it out. Then he whispered something under his breath, and his wounds began healing quickly.

Anfey flew towards the middle-aged man, his entire body surrounded by loose elements that were attracted by his magic use.

The man did not turn to leave or fly towards Anfey. He remained where he was, watching calmly as if he was watching a show. He originally didn’t come here for a fight. He came here to scout and to find out more about the city. However, the arrow had angered him, and he was ready to accept the challenge.

He knew how powerful he was. Even people like Burzuryano could not take him on alone. He was used to being powerful, and he was confident in his own skills.

Anfey watched the middle-aged man. As he approached the man, he clenched his fist and swung it at the man’s face.

The man summoned another bone shield. The shield was darker than normal shields but seemed to be glowing.

Anfey’s fist crashed into the bone shield. The elements around him scattered but the shield was still good as new. The middle-aged man, however, was thrown back by the attack.

Anfey lunged towards him, swinging his left fist and sending a column of wind towards the man.

The man suddenly disappeared and reappeared a few hundred feet away from where he was before, watching Anfey coldly.

Anfey frowned. It was very hard to fight with mages because of mages’ ability to teleport. It was almost impossible to kill a mage because of how good they were at escaping.

Anfey clenched his teeth and chased after the man.

Suddenly, a dark red wand appeared in the middle-aged man’s hand. Anfey did not see him do anything with the wand, but a sharp bone lance appeared in the air between them. The lance flew towards Anfey.

Anfey did not slow down or back away. As the lance flew closer, he raised his hand and knocked the lance out of the way. Before he could do anything, however, he suddenly realized that his vision was growing blurry. Anfey frowned but did not stop. He didn’t need his vision in a fight. He could sense his opponent without it.

The middle-aged man raised his wand and whispered something. Anfey felt his body growing heavier as the man chanted. Magic surged above and around him, and a bone cage appeared out of thin air. The cage surrounded Anfey and quickly shrunk in size, trapping him.

Anfey spat. He could sense the magic surging, and he should have been able to get out of the way, but because of the man’s spell, his body was too heavy and he couldn’t move quickly enough. The bone cage had already formed by the time his fist made contact with the cage’s elements.

Black fog swallowed the bone cage. The man grinned and raised his wand. Suddenly, he realized that something was approaching him. He had been alive for hundreds of years and had more experienced than most people in the world. As soon as he detected it, he summoned two bone shields around himself. A few moments later, Anfey appeared behind him and swung his fist at the man.

Anfey crashed through the bone shield and his punch landed on the man’s shoulder. The man grunted and his figure tumbled in the air.

Both of them were smart men, and even in a fight they could still calmly analyze the situation. The man was shocked by Anfey’s magic and the fact that he was able to teleport to him without any magic surges. Anfey was shocked by how strong the necromancer was. Even though he wasn’t using his full strength and the man had summoned a bone shield, Anfey was still confident that he was strong enough to take out a mage. He knew that he had not caused as much damage to the man as he wanted. This man was a very dangerous opponent, perhaps the most dangerous he had faced so far.

To Anfey, every fight was a fight to death. He knew that this man had very rare capabilities. He lunged at the man.

Anfey’s figure disappeared as he got closer to the necromancer and reappeared right before him a few moments later. He swung his fist at the necromancer’s face.

The necromancer was shocked by this and stopped, but he only stopped for a split second. By the time Anfey appeared before him, he already had a magic scroll in his hands. As Anfey swung his fist at him, the necromancer had already used the scroll.

Anfey’s fist smashed into a zombie as the necromancer appeared among the zombies below. The ground around the man had turned a dark color, and hoards of skeletons were climbing out of the ground. Some of the skeletons surged towards the city while others stayed close to the necromancer.

Anfey turned and lunged at the man again. He wanted to use antimagic terra to stop the man from using magic, but he was afraid that the man had some hidden power he did not know of. If Anfey could not find a quick way to kill this necromancer and he escaped, than the antimagic terra would be wasted. He needed to know what the man was capable of, but he couldn’t even get close to him.

The necromancer raised his hand again. The skeletons he summoned were strange. They were gleaming white, and some were even holding bows. The skeletons, under the necromancer’s command, raised their bows and sent hundreds of arrows toward Anfey.

Anfey stopped and summoned a large fire shield. The shield stopped most of the arrows, but there were too many arrows and the shield began disintegrating slowly.

Anfey rose higher into the air and summoned another shield. Then he moved again and summoned one more.

The skeletons had reached the city. The necromancer closed his eyes, sensing the changes in the city, deciding whether he should leave now.

Anfey waved his hand and summoned a large, golden fire shield.

The necromancer looked at Anfey and shook his head, as if saying now was not the time for the final fight.

Anfey raised his hands. The elements around him began expanding slowly, until his figure disappeared and the only things visible were the lightning, fire balls, and rocks, clashing each other in midair.

The necromancer frowned. He summoned a magic shield that also included the skeletons around him. The best thing to do now was to attack Anfey, but the necromancer knew better than to take unnecessary risks. The skeletons were still sending arrows at Anfey, but none of the arrows could pierce through the cloud of elements around him.

Anfey clenched his fists and pushed the elements outward. A wave of mind magic swept across the battlefield.

The skeletons and zombies stopped in their tracks because they were connected to necromancers through a mental link. Anfey’s mind magic had broken all the links. However, the mercenaries did not fare well, either. The zombies and skeletons stopped, but so did the mercenaries.

The magic shields the necromancer summoned disappeared and the elements crashed into the ground. The cloud of elements broke the skeletons, sending broken pieces of bones flying. The zombies were turned to bloody pulp.

The necromancer reappeared through the cloud of elements. He was wounded and his robe was tattered, but he appeared as calm as ever, as if he was not the one that was wounded. Another magic scroll appeared in his head and magic surged around him.

Anfey’s hands shook. He could tell his life power was flowing out of him. He could see that his hands were aging visibly. Within a few seconds, his smooth skin was covered with wrinkles.

The aging spell was a powerful spell. The necromancer could still use magic by himself, and there was no need to waste a scroll, but there was no time. He knew he had to take out his opponent fast.

Two large bone wings appeared behind the man’s back and a long bone lance appeared in his hand. The necromancer didn’t want to use his own magic and did not have time to waste. It should be easier to get close to people afflicted with an aging spell than to use magic to kill them.

Just then, white light suddenly appeared around Anfey and his figure disappeared.

“It can’t be,” the necromancer muttered. He did not expect a priest to be here.

Suzanna appeared in the distance and was heading towards them. The necromancer knew he was running out of time. He did not know if the aging spell’s effects were cancelled, but he had to take the risk.

Anfey’s figure appeared through the light and he dove down towards the necromancer. The necromancer raised his hand and threw the bone lance towards Anfey. This way, he could tell Anfey’s state and keep the distance between them.

Anfey swung his right arm and knocked the lance out of his way, sending it flying in another direction.

The necromancer narrowed his eyes. He was a necromancer, he had hundreds of years to live. He was patient and he did not mind waiting. He was never one for taking risks.

The necromancer summoned another scroll and disappeared from the field.

Anfey landed where the man had been standing. He stumbled and took a deep breath. The cleansing only temporarily stopped the loss of his life power, but it couldn’t turn him back. If the necromancer did not hesitate, Anfey would not have risked coming towards him.

“Anfey!’ Suzanna called as she flew towards him. She could not see him and was worried.

Anfey spat on the ground and shook his head. “I hate magic,” he muttered.

Anfey walked into the room and sat down. Suzanna, Anthony, and Alice streamed into the room after him. Behind them were the mercenary leaders. They all wore a grave expression, and none of them opened their mouths.

Everyone knew how powerful Anfey was, yet the man had almost defeated him. That came as a shock not only to Anfey but also to everyone else in the city. After Anthony recognized the aging spell, everyone realized that no one in the city was powerful enough to take on that necromancer. Everyone knew how terrifying the aging spell was. It was a very nasty spell, and the only reason Anfey survived was because of the light magic within him. By the laws of nature, light magic could suppress the effects of death magic and cancel out its effects.

Edy felt uncomfortable as he realized that everyone in the room was staring at him. He shifted in his seat but did not say anything.

“As you know, a necromancer has just visited this city,” Anfey said quietly. The effects of the aging spell had already worn off, but he felt exhausted.

“I know,” Edy said. “It’s hard not to realize that.”

“Tell me, Edy,” Anfey said. “Who is the most powerful necromancer?”

Edy frowned and lowered his gaze. When he was first captured, he thought for sure that Anfey would interrogate him to find out more about the necromancers. Then he thought maybe Anfey didn’t care about him and what the necromancers were planning. This question took Edy by surprised.

“You’re a smart man,” Anfey said. “If you focused on studying magic, you should be much more powerful than you are now. I don’t know why you chose to become a necromancer, but I think you don’t like it. That is why I kept you alive. I think cooperating benefits both of us.”

“Why I became a necromancer?” Edy said, shaking his head. “I don’t think you can understand. The only way for someone like me to rise up is to study magic.”

“If you wanted to study magic, why didn’t you go to the academy? Why did you become a necromancer?” Alice asked, frowning.

Edy shook his head. “You’re funny, Lady Alice,” he said. “Don’t you need money to study at the academy? Do you really think an orphan like me can afford the price of going to the academy? I can barely feed myself, let alone think about learning magic.”

“You still shouldn’t have turn to dark magic,” Alice said, shaking her head. To her, the way of the necromancers was against the laws of nature. She despised necromancers and thought that the entire world should despise them as well.

“You don’t understand,” Edy said. “Have you ever been so hungry that you would eat anything? Have you ever tried living on the streets, not knowing if you would survive the night?”

Alice froze. Edy was right. She had never experienced anything an orphan like Edy had experienced.

“I promise you, Lady Alice,” Edy said. “Starvation does not feel good. Becoming a necromancer was the only way for me to survive.”

“I see,” Anfey said. “I sympathize with you, Edy, but I need to know something. Who is the most powerful necromancer?”

“It’s not that much of a secret,” Edy said with a shrug. “It’s Minos the First.”

“Anyone else?” Anfey didn’t know who Minos the First was, but there was no way the most powerful necromancer would ever come to White Mountain City alone.

“Minos has three students,” Edy said. “Golman, Morgan, and Desvidia. They are the most powerful necromancers after Minos.”

Anfey sat up straighter in his chair and leaned towards Edy. “Tell me more about them,” he said.

Edy nodded. “Morgan was the most powerful out of the three of them. I’ve never actually met him, but I heard that he was a handsome young man. I don’t know anything else about him.

“Golman is the least powerful among the three, but he is the most dangerous to you.”

“Why?” Anfey frowned and asked.

“Because he is the master of plague magic,” Edy said. “If he wanted, he could kill every living being within a twenty mile radius without ever joining the fight himself. You’re lucky that he betrayed Minos twenty years ago.”

“I thought the secret of plague magic had been lost,” Anthony said.

“It is,” Edy said. “But Golman is a genius. He was able to figure out the secret from the bits and pieces that remained.”

“How many necromancers can use plague magic?” Anthony asked.

“Why did Golman betray Minos?” Alice asked.

“Because he’s a good person,” Edy with with a shrug.

“A good person,” Alice repeated drily.

Edy nodded. “Golman betrayed Minos when Minos ordered him to destroy everything he had worked for. He didn’t want to kill all the necromancers that had learned plague magic, so he left with his manuscripts and his research. He is the only one who knows its secret.”

“Why did he learn plague magic in the first place, then?” Anthony asked.

“Because he was curious,” Edy said. “He believed that the world needs balance. He didn’t want to destroy the existing balance of magic in the world because he believes that will lead to utter destruction of everything.”

The room fell silent. If Edy was speaking truthfully, Golman was less of a necromancer and more of a scholar.

“Minos hates Golman,” Edy continued, “but Golman was too influential. A lot of necromancers now believe no good will come from destroying the world.”

“Unless a new system was created to oppose the necromancers,” Anfey said. “But that’s impossible, isn’t it? If the necromancers destroy the world, they will die as well, because they cannot recreate the balance. Minos would be the only one left.”

Edy nodded. “Golman never said anything like that, but everyone knew that was what he was implying. His belief began fracturing the necromancers. We’ve been preparing for this war for years, and Golman played a vital part in its preparation. But…the council did not use Minos’s choice and instead picked a more defensive plan.”

“Because they’re worried as well,” Anfey said.

“Golman really is a genius,” Edy said, nodding. “Golman is good friends with Morgan, who is also the one Minos chose to chase Golman down. Morgan has been searching for Golman for more than twenty years, but he still hasn’t found him.”

“Have you met him?”

“He’s the only one I’ve ever met,” Edy said. “He appears ugly, but his way of speaking is gentle and forgiving. If you only hear his voice, you might mistake him for a priest.”

Anfey nodded. “Interesting,” he said. “Tell me more about Desvidia.”

“Desvidia isn’t as powerful as Morgan,” Edy said. “He keeps a low profile and rarely appears in public. Most people ignore him.”

“What does he look like?”

“I heard he has very smooth skin,” Edy said. “His skin is smoother than a normal human’s, and he had no facial hair.”

“That’s got to be him, then,” Anfey said, tapping the table.

The reappearance of zombies sent White Mountain City’s citizens into a panic. In order to calm the people down, the alliance announced that there was only a single necromancer commanding the zombies, and the necromancer had already been taken care of. There was no trace of zombies around the city, and everyone should resume their lives without worries.

Alice was a skilled politician, and she knew the importance of having someone to look up to. She knew that people needed a hero that could protect them. This was why she tried to make Anfey look like a hero in her announcement. She even listed a number of Anfey’s achievements to show how strong he was. Alice knew some of the things she listed weren’t true, but it would give the effect she wanted.

Anfey wasn’t a shy person, and he didn’t mind the spotlight, but he felt strange reading the announcement. He asked Alice to change it, but she refused and told him that it was necessary to cement his position.

Christian took Alice’s side as well. He believed that they would have to fight against Tiger of Tawau mercenary group in the future. The more famous Anfey was, the less likely the mercenaries would support Tiger of Tawau mercenary group. He even wanted Anfey to write to Manstuly and challenge him to a duel.

Christian knew Manstuly was still more powerful Anfey, and such a duel would never happen, but a challenge would make Anfey famous. This would make the mercenaries look up to him even more.

Another army soon arrived at White Mountain City. Baery had arrived with his army. Anfey, Suzanna, and Entos all happened to be away that day, and Christian had to send people to find them and bring them back. By the time Christian brought Baery and his people into the city, Suzanna, Anfey, and Entos had returned.

Baery did not come alone. He brought Steger and Ernest along as well. After Anfey greeted them, he turned to two strangers he did not recognize them. He could tell they were powerful men.

“Let me introduce you,” Baery said. “This is Shawn and this is Dalmatian. You finally get to meet today.”

Anfey frowned when he heard the names. Shawn nodded at him with a smile. “I apologize for my past behaviors, my lord,” Shawn said. “You see, it’s hard disobeying your teacher.”

“You’re too kind, my lord,” Anfey said hurriedly. “I understand.”

Even though Shawn’s apology was short, he was sincere. He was a master swordsman and Baery’s right hand man. It was hard for him to publicly apologize.

“What happened before is our fault,” Dalmatian said. “We are working together now, my lord, and I hope we can forget about our past disagreements.”

“Like you said,” Anfey said with a smile, “we are working together now. There’s no need to bring up the past, my lord.”

“Good,” Baery said, smiling. “Let’s forget about the past and look to the future.”

Before they had come, Shawn and Dalmatian were worried that Anfey would not forgive them for what happened in the past. They were important people, and if Anfey would not forgive them after they apologized, they would have had no choice but to turn on him. Baery, however, wasn’t worried at all. He knew Anfey and knew that he wasn’t the type to dwell on the past.

Anfey looked around the meeting. “Lord Baery, does this mean…” he hesitated. “Does this mean we are opening war?” Before Baery’s arrival, White Mountain City was already drawing attention with Suzanna, Anthony and him. Now that Baery had brought people who were more powerful and important than he, Anfey knew that a storm was on its way.

“Your teacher’s on the way too,” Baery said with a smile.

“Just for Scarlet?”

“Not just her,” Baery said, shaking his head. “The Church has sent its three Grand Knights, and Prince Jerrick has sent backup.” He paused and looked at Anfey. “I heard Christian say you fought with Desvidia.”

Anfey sighed and nodded.

“And he used the aging spell?”

Anfey nodded again.

“How are you still alive them?”

“Didn’t Christian mention anything?”

“He did,” Baery said. “But I want to see it.”

Anfey nodded. He raised his hand and a ball of white light appeared. The light bobbed a few inches above his palm and disappeared.

“See?” Baery said, turning to Steger. “I told you.”

Steger sighed and smiled. “We’ve got to talk more about this later,” he said to Anfey.

“Of course, my lord,” Anfey said with a smile. He turned to Baery and said, “Lord Baery, I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“If you are attacked with an aging spell, what would you do?”

Baery frowned and lowered his gaze. “I would find a place to wait until the spell’s effect disappeared,” he said after a few moments of silence. “If I couldn’t get away, I guess I’d have to fight.”

“Really?” Anfey had asked because he wanted to learn something about the spell. Baery had given him the exact same answer as Anthony, and he was disappointed he couldn’t learn more.

“There’s are other ways, I suppose,” Baery said. “You can always prevent them from using the spell or have a priest with you.” Baery sighed and shook his head. “You cannot underestimate necromancers. They are the most powerful mages. Even Saul must admit that.”

“I’m not underestimating them,” Anfey said. “I just want to find a way to deal with them more effectively. At least I should find a way to deal with them without putting myself in danger gain.”

“You can always become a priest.”

“But I tried to cleanse it, and it didn’t work.”

“You can’t just cleanse the effect of a forbidden spell,” Baery said, smiling. “If you are a high level priest, there are things you can do to cancel out effects of those spells.”

Anfey frowned.

“I’m a swordsman,” Baery said. “I don’t know enough about magic to answer that question. Steger, Saul, even Entos are more equipped to answer that question.”

Anfey turned to Steger, who retrieved a few scrolls from his dimensional ring and showed them to Anfey. “This would my solution,” he said.

Anfey nodded. He only had three magic scrolls, and he did not know if any of the three would work when he was afflicted with a necromancer’s forbidden spell.

“Anfey, have you forgotten who your teacher is?” Baery said, shaking his head. “Do you think you’ll have to worry about magic scrolls as long as Saul and Jacob are here?”

Dawn was usually the darkest part of the night. White Mountain City had witnessed Anthony receive his title and had just settled down after the celebration.

Someone receiving the title of nobility was not rare, but having eight top level powers in the same city at the same time was rare. The most powerful people had all gathered in White Mountain City.

Anthony was very happy and he knew he had made the right choice. Even his wedding to Nishieva, the princess of Ellisen Empire, was not this pompous.

Anthony had been keeping to himself for years. He was Ellisen Empire’s ally, but Ellisen Empire didn’t want Anthony to become too powerful or influential. Michael wanted Anthony to make peace with Tiger of Tawau mercenary group and form an alliance, because Ellisen Empire was scared that Anthony could defeat Tiger of Tawau mercenary group and become more powerful. Ellisen Empire would have a harder time controlling Glory mercenary group, and it did not want that.

Anthony knew that, which was why he chose to keep a low profile instead.

He had a pleasant conversation with Steger and Baery despite the fact that they had never met before. Shawn and Dalmatian were both very polite. Ernest was very quiet, but that was his personality.

Anfey didn’t join the ceremony, because he knew that Baery and Anthony were more important than he was. He stood by a window and watched the surging crowd below. “Alice,” he suddenly said. “I must confess. I am very confused.”

“What about?” Alice asked, handing a scroll to Hui Wei.

“If Baery is ready to fight, why isn’t he preserving his strength? Marino’s ceremony was so much more low-key than this.”

“Marino and Anthony are two different people,” Alice said. “This is a different situation.” She pulled out the ledgers and began going through the numbers.

“What changed?”

“Marino had been working for Maho Empire for years,” Alice said. “But Anthony had always been an ally of Ellisen Empire. I think His Majesty is setting an example.”

“What else?”

“Back then, the situation was still a bit murky,” Alice continued. “Now, His Majesty is determined. He knew that a war is inevitable.”

“Then why didn’t Baery conceal his army?”

“There’s no use, because he can’t,” Alice said. She rubbed her temple and closed the ledger. “Maho Empire, Ellisen Empire, and Shansa Empire have been at each other’s throats for hundreds of years. No one knows who to trust. His Majesty is risking everything now. If you were Scarlet, what would you do if all of Maho Empire’s top level powers disappeared?”

“That’s just another reason to conceal his strength,” Anfey argued.

Alice sighed. “Would you have let someone come between you and Christian?” she asked quietly.

“No,” Anfey said. “We would talk it out. We trust each other.”

“Does that mean you are loyal to Maho Empire?”

“Of course.”

“See. We can band together, but Scarlet’s army can’t. She has so many different armies serving her. Conflicts are almost inevitable. If we display our strength, at least some part of that army will become fearful. They will be hesitant. The worst thing that can happen to an army during a war like this is doubt or hesitance. If the soldiers don’t want to fight, who will?”

“I see,” Anfey said, nodding.

“Scarlet wants to eliminate the Roaring Death Legion, Baery, and us. But she would never risk the entire army for her own personal goals,” Alice said, smirking. “The Church’s army won’t do that, and neither will the druids and the elves. They are allies, but their alliances are shaky. All participants of that alliance want to reap the benefit without putting in actual work.

“Scarlet is a natural leader, but she cannot change the way people act. Unless she is willing to sacrifice the Shansa army, her plan will never work. When the actual battle breaks out, her army will fracture.”

“Tell me more about Scarlet,” Anfey said. “Do you know her?”

“She…” Alice sighed. “I’ve always underestimated her. Now I know just how smart she is.”

“How so?”

“She’s good at concealing her emotions,” Alice said. “She knows how to keep a low profile. She knows how to keep herself away from the spotlight. No one really knows her, which gives her an advantage. Unlike me, no one knows what to expect from her.”

“You keep saying she is a natural leader, but I don’t believe that,” Anfey said. “No one is naturally good at something. She must have worked very, very hard to achieve her position today. What about the people that work for her? Are any of them…strange?”

“Strange? What do you mean?”

“I want to know who taught Scarlet to become the woman she is today.”

Alice frowned, then shook her head. “I don’t know,” she said. “Even if she does have a teacher, I don’t think she would have let me know.”

“Scarlet ended the revolution because of her personal army. But how did she manage to train all those soldiers? I don’t think Prince Jerrick’s support was enough,” Anfey said, frowning. “There are so many things I don’t understand about her. She may be a good leader, but she is still so young and inexperienced. Why does your father trust her so much? What gave him the confidence that she would be a good leader?”

Alice shook her head. “All this happened after I left. I don’t know anything.”

“Let’s see. Your father opposed her advance into Country of Mercenaries, but she still came. He even sent her a hundred griffin knights. Why? Why did he send his most precious fighters to embark on a crusade he didn’t even support? There must be something we’re missing.”

Alice frowned. She stared at him but did not say anything.

Anfey remained quiet. He was not as good as Alice at analyzing a situation, which was why he had asked her those questions. Somewhere deep down he knew something must be going on in Shansa Empire. Edward VIII was weak and short-sighted. He was not a gambler and even less of a risk-taker. Why would someone like him suddenly throw in everything he had? What changed?

Anfey heard the sound of prayers as he passed one of the rooms. The sound of prayers reminded him he wanted to speak to Warner, and he pushed opened the door. Inside, Warner was kneeling before a table and praying. The Book of Life was laying on the table and was glowing as Warner prayed.

Anfey stood there quietly, not wanting to interrupt him. Warner realized someone was behind him as he finished his prayers. He grabbed the Book of Life, holding it close to his chest, and turned around. He let out a sigh of relief and smiled when he saw it was Anfey. “What are you doing here, sir?” He scrambled up and pulled out a chair. “Please sit, sir.”

Anfey smiled and sat down. “Warner,” he said quietly, “I heard you’ve been preaching a lot lately. How is that going for you? Did you convert anyone yet?”

Warner pursed his lips and hesitated. He looked at Anfey and did not say anything.

“I know Christian and the others oppose that,” Anfey said. “And I know you’re too scared to openly preach to too many people. But don’t worry. I gave you the privilege to do so. They won’t do anything to you, even though they are not fond of your way.”

“Thank you, sir,” Warner said carefully. “Truthfully, I haven’t converted a lot of people. It is very hard to preach in Country of Mercenaries. The mercenaries are very independent, and they do not believe in anything beyond themselves. They do not believe in God. There are some women that are interested, though. Mostly families of the mercenaries.”

“That makes sense,” Anfey said, nodding. “Mercenaries must depend on themselves to make a living.” Anfey paused and frowned. “How many women are willing to convert?”

“Around two hundred,” Warner said, lowering his eyes.

“Two hundred?” Anfey repeated. It was much less than he had expected, but now was not the time to show his disappointment. He wanted to encourage Warner. “It’s… a good number to start with,” he said. “It’s good. Keep working on it.”

“But sir, most of the people that are willing to convert are women,” Warner said. “Can they really help us?”

“Maybe,” Anfey said. “But not yet, anyway.”

“What do you mean, sir?”

“Women will have children, right? Their children don’t know anything, but if their mothers are believers, they are more likely to be believers themselves. The women aren’t mercenaries and do not have to risk their lives everyday. They will talk and they will spread the news about their new religion.”

Warner nodded.

“If they really are pious, they won’t be the only ones living by the rules of the Church. They will make their husbands and everyone around them live by the same rules. Surely they will feel like they have sinned if their families do not follow these rules, and they will want to repent. That way, we will get more information.”

Warner frowned, then nodded.

“I know you can’t do everything by yourself,” Anfey said. “I think it’s time for you find some preachers. I will have Alice give you some more money. This Country of Mercenaries must have more than just mercenaries. Focus on the normal people, not just the fighters.”

“You will give me money, sir?” Warner asked, shocked.

“It’s for recruiting preachers,” Anfey reminded him. “If you use it for other things and Alice finds out, I’m not sure I can save you.”

“I won’t, sir, I promise.”

“Good. Remember what I said,” Anfey said with a smile. “Normal people cannot hunt magic beasts, and this isn’t the best place to farm. Most of the people are laborers and live on very little wages. A preacher’s wage should be enough to entice them to join you. If the mercenaries don’t believe in god, they will.”

Warner nodded. “That is brilliant, sir,” he said with a wide grin. “Thank you for this tip.”

Anfey shook his head. “They will be working for you. They will be your men,” he said. “This is all I need to say today. Come up with a good plan and start doing it. If you need anything, you can always to go Alice.”

“Yes, sir,” Warner said.

Anfey turned to leave, then he suddenly remembered something. He turned back to Warner and asked, “Do you have any books on light magic?”

Warner nodded. He retrieved a book from his dimensional ring and handed it to Anfey. “Lord Cardinal gave this to me,” he said. “Sir, I heard you can use light magic.”

“Yes, I can,” Anfey said, taking the magic book. “Why do you ask?”

“Can I…” Warner hesitated, rubbing his hands together.

“What is it?” Anfey asked, flipping through the book.

“Can I…tell others about it?”

“You want to use me to preach to the mercenaries?” Anfey asked, amused.

Warner clearly took it the wrong way. He scrambled into a deep bow and said, “I…I just want to expand quicker, sir! I’m not using you or anything!”

“I know, Warner,” Anfey said. “Stand up. I think I know why you can’t expand.”

Warner straightened himself and looked at Anfey curiously.

“You’re a priest, Warner,” Anfey said. “Priests are usually radiant, just, mighty. You are always afraid of what other people are saying. And you bow way too much. The mercenaries think you’re weak, which is why they don’t like you.”

Warner blinked and did not say anything.

“You have to reinvent your image. That is the most important thing,” Anfey said. “If it’s just the two of us, I don’t care how you act. If there is a third person here, I need you to act proud. I need you to act like you’re better than the rest of us.”

“But sir…”

“You have to! What are you scared of?” Anfey asked. “I told you to do this. I won’t blame you. On the contrary, I will play along. If you don’t do this, you will never recruit as many people as we need, even if you have the Book of Life. If you let me down, I may have do let you go. It’s not hard to find a priest, after all.”

“I can do it, sir!” Warner said, straightening his back a little more. He tightened his grip on the Book of Life.

“Try it,” Anfey said. “Pretend there’s someone else here.”

Warner’s eyes widened. He had been working for Anfey before they even left Moramatch, and he knew how powerful Anfey was. He could not think how he would pretend to be better than Anfey.

“You can do it,” Anfey encouraged him. “Think of when you just came to Moramatch.”

Warner coughed and nodded. He took a deep breath and said, “I think your plan is very inappropriate, sir! We all agree that you are powerful, but eliminating the necromancers is my job. You should not have crossed that line. Plus, you are too important. If something happens to you, the alliance is done for!”

“I’m sorry,” Anfey said with a grin.

“What is past is past,” Warner said. “I don’t need your apologies, sir. You were a fearless warrior, but now you are more than that. Your own safety isn’t the only thing you have to consider now. You have to think about the entire alliance.” Even though Warner looked very proud, he was still scared and unsure.

“Good,” Anfey said, slapping the table. “Good. I like it.”

Warner jumped, then he smiled when he realized Anfey was complimenting him. “I hope you don’t take offence to what I say in the future, sir,” he said.

“I won’t, don’t worry,” Anfey said. “Can I borrow this for a few days?”

“Of course, sir,” Warner said. “Are you planning on practicing light magic?”

“Maybe,” Anfey said with a shrug.

“How strange,” Anfey whispered as he flipped through the book. He had been trying to use light magic for a while, but something strange and unexpected happened.

In the past, he could manage to control light elements and summon balls of light. They might not have been powerful, but he could always do it. Now, he found that following the book’s instructions resulted in nothing.

He had tried almost all spells in the book, and not a single one worked. However, when he closed the book and gathered the elements using his own style, he could manage to summon a light ball or two.

Anfey frowned and closed the book when the memory of Warner praying sprang into mind. He grimaced. Did he really need to pray in order for light magic to work?

“Anfey, what are you doing?” Suzanna asked as she walked into the room and saw the grimace on Anfey’s face.

“Nothing,” Anfey said, tossing the book onto a nearby table. “Were you out again with Shawn and Dalmatian?”

Suzanna nodded. “It’s a rare chance,” she said. “Practicing with them taught me things I would have never learned otherwise.” She paused and glanced at Anfey. “Why didn’t you come?”

“They never asked me to go,” Anfey said. “I’m not a swordsman. There’s no point.”

Suzanna walked over and sat down next to Anfey, wrapping her arms around him. “You have to blame Ernest for that. He told everyone that you are too strong to practice with us. That’s why no one ever asks you to come along.”

“Who’s the strongest out of all of them?”

“Ernest,” Suzanna said. “Obviously. Oh, I showed them what you taught me. You won’t believe how surprised they were. Of course, we still must depend on our swords in a real battle, but your tricks can give me an advantage.”

Anfey nodded. He knew the things he taught Suzanna were useful to him in battle, but to swordsmasters like Shawn and Dalmatian, those things were practically useless. “They’re still useful,” he said. “Just depends on how and when you use them.”

“Really?” Suzanna asked, blinking.

Anfey nodded. “Suzanna, have you realized? Ernest is changing. He’s so much more friendly than before.”

Suzanna nodded. “You missed it. Shawn and Ernest had an argument today.”

“What were they arguing about?”

“Shawn thought that the Knights of Light are only a little bit more powerful than the priests, but Ernest thought that they are more powerful than swordsmen because they can heal themselves.”

“What do you think?”

“I think Ernest’s right,” Suzanna said. “The Knights of Light may not be as powerful as we are, but they are much better at long fights. Legend has it that a Knight of Light once fought for five days without resting. A swordsman would have never lasted that long.”

Anfey opened his mouth to talk, but was interrupted when someone pushed open the door. Baery walked in. Suzanna yelped and jumped back. Baery smiled at her. “Sorry for the interruption,” he said.

“It’s fine, my lord,” Anfey said. “Are you looking for us?”

Baery nodded. “It’s time for us to go,” he said. “I want you to take care of business here as quickly as possible. Once the war breaks out, both you and Lady Suzanna will be gone.”

“Don’t worry, my lord,” Anfey said. “We will be there before the war breaks out.”

“Good,” Baery said with a nod. “I won’t waste your time, then.” He nodded at Suzanna and turned to leave.

“Wait!” Anfey called, suddenly remembering something. Baery turned back and looked at Anfey.

“My lord, I’ve been thinking. If we can kill Scarlet before the war even breaks out, would it delay or even prevent the war?”

Baery looked at Anfey, then he walked back into the room and sat down across from him.

“It doesn’t matter if Scarlet’s alliance is not as strong as mine,” Anfey said. “It is still hard to fracture it. But if we can kill Scarlet, who is the glue that’s holding everything together, we would have an advantage.”

“I know what you’re thinking,” Baery said. “I’m not going to lie. We’ve tried assassinating her before, but she is a very paranoid woman. She is never alone without guards. Especially now. She has Manstuly and the Church’s men around her. It is impossible to find her alone and assassinate her.”

“I can always find an opportunity,” Anfey said slowly.

“You mean…”

“Can we kill Prince Jerrick?” Anfey asked. “Will that do anything?”

“Of course,” Baery said. “But we can’t do that yet. He is the weakest of all competitors for the Shansa throne. He won’t be a threat even if he takes the throne.”

“I don’t want to assassinate him,” Anfey said. “He is bait. If he is in danger, would Scarlet do anything?”

Baery frowned.

“Of course, this plan is only at its beginning stage. I need everyone’s help to actually execute it. I need you, my lord, and Ernest, Shawn, and Dalmatian. I want to intimidate Scarlet. I want her to think that we really will kill Jerrick. Hopefully that will prompt her to try to save him,” Anfey said. “I need information about both Scarlet and Prince Jerrick. I need to know as much about them as possible for this plan to work. Including the things that may be deemed irrelevant.”

“What will that irrelevant information do for you?”

“I need to know more about their personalities,” Anfey said. “That way, I can make sure Scarlet will come to rescue Jerrick.”

“I see,” Baery said. “You have my support. Of course, you should talk to the others about this. I can’t make the decision for everyone. My army is settled between Loji Valley and Blackwater River. It’s a plain, and perfect for a battlefield. My army is working on setting up a communication portal, and you can speak to them that way.”

Anfey nodded. “Thank you,” he said.

“Are you serious about this plan?”

Anfey nodded with a smile. “It’s the best plan I can think of, if we want to avoid the war.”

Baery looked at him for a few moments then sighed. “I don’t like assassinations,” Baery said. “But if that’s what it takes to prevent the war and the death of my soldiers…well, I’m willing to take this chance.” Baery smiled at Anfey. “If you can assassinate Scarlet, then you have achieved more for Maho Empire than I ever will.”

A middle-aged man was sitting alone in a large cave. He had a flame in front of him and was roasting a rabbit. The scent of cooked meat lingered in the cave.

“Aren’t you bored with this, Desvidia?” A handsome young man appeared next to the flame.

“It’s not my fault that you lost your ability to taste and smell,” Desvidia said. “But I do pity you.”

“What’s the difference? Don’t tell me you still have an appetite.”

“Only animals eat to quell their hunger, Morgan,” Desvidia said, shaking his head. “I enjoy the process of making it, the process of eating. I enjoy the taste. Brings me back to the old days. Once in a while, I need to remind myself what warmth and comfort mean.”

“You’re starting to sound like Golman,” Morgan said with a laugh. “Why are you doing this yourself?”

Desvidia pursed his lips. The mind magic Anfey released during their fight was so powerful that it cut off all the links he had to the skeleton army. He couldn’t bring the skeletons with him when he fled the city.

“What happened?” Morgan asked, concerned. He could tell there was something bothering Desvidia.

“Do you believe there’s someone who can use all the magic?”

“No,” Morgan said, shaking his head.

“I didn’t think so, either,” Desvidia said, “until I met him.”

“But that’s impossible,” Morgan argued.

“I saw it with my own eyes,” Desvidia said. “His control of the elements is incredible.”

“Who are you talking about?”

“Anfey.”

“You went to White Mountain City?” Morgan asked, his eyes wide in shock. “Are you mad?”

Desvidia did not say anything. His eyes did not move away from the fire.

“I heard that Baery had brought Shawn, Dalmatian, Steger, and Ernest to the city,” Morgan said. “Scarlet had the three Grand Knights, Jerrick’s force, Manstuly and the elves. Ellisen Empire has a foot in this as well.” Morgan paused, looking at Desvidia sternly. “Haven’t you heard what master said? No matter who wins this, there will be considerable damage to all sides. We need to weaken them enough so they can do nothing about the Throne of Bones. If we disrupt this…none of us can protect you.”

“I’m not trying to do anything,” Desvidia said with a shrug. “I’m just curious. I wanted to see if the rumors were true.”

“You just wanted to see,” Morgan said mockingly. “You wanted to see so badly you lost your skeletons.”

“It’s not my fault,” Desvidia argued. “I wanted to teach them a lesson.”

“And you got a lesson instead,” Morgan said, shaking his head.

“Don’t just talk about me!” Desvidia said angrily. “You didn’t find Golman yet, did you? Everyone knows what has happened except for master. If master finds out, can you imagine what will happen?”

Morgan lowered his head. After a few moments of silence, he sighed and sat down next to Desvidia. “You think master doesn’t know?”

“You mean…” Desvidia’s eyes widened. “Then you…” They might argue and fight, but the two of them had been together for hundreds of years. Desvidia was worried for Morgan because of their deep friendship.

“Master won’t do anything,” Morgan said. He waved his hand and set up a magic barrier to make sure no one was eavesdropping. “I’m sad because of that.”

“You’re sad that you didn’t get punished,” Desvidia said drily.

Morgan nodded. “I think master must have been furious. The worst the punishment, the happier I would be.” Morgan sighed. He picked up a stick and poked the fire. “Do you know what it means if master pretends nothing had happened?”

“What does it mean?”

Morgan bit his lip. “I guess there’s no use keeping this from you,” he said. “Before Golman left, he came to me. He said if I let him go and master punished me, he would immediately come back. If master pretends nothing happens, then…”

“Then what?”

“Then that means Golman was right. Master was worried that we think he was furious and he took care of everything.”

“That means… Golman’s right?”

“You know the Land of Repose? Golman had been spying on that place. That is a place of death. New lives will be born from those bones and, like the creatures we have, they will fight and kill until only the most powerful remains. After a few generations, those creatures will become very, very powerful until they gain the most power. The most powerful creature will absorb all lives there and fall asleep again. Then the cycle will repeat.” Morgan paused. “There is no repose in the Land of Repose. Do you want this place to become another Land of Repose?”

“If this becomes the Land of Repose…” Desvidia shuddered. “Master must be that hidden creature. He has repeated this cycle until he becomes more powerful than anything else this the world. More powerful than gods. Then he invades other worlds and creates more Lands of Repose.”

“What are gods, Desvidia?” Morgan asked, shaking his head. “The power of gods derives from their believers. Will they ever invade other worlds?”

“Maybe our world was once invaded by such gods.”

The two of them fell silent. After a few moments, Desvidia said, “Maybe we shouldn’t keep building the throne.”

“No,” Morgan said, shaking his head. “Master isn’t a patient person, Desvidia. Golman’s betrayal is already too much.”

“But what can we do?” Desvidia asked. “I wish Golman was here.”

“I’ve already asked him,” Morgan said. “He said we should wait. Wait for change. Wait for fate to make a decision.”

“Fate?” Desvidia repeated. “I don’t believe in fate. If I did, I would never have become a necromancer. I would rather die than be absorbed by some strange creature.”

“That goes for all of us,” Morgan said. “Can Anfey really use all types of magic?”

“You can go see for yourself,” Desvidia said with a shrug.

“You mean there really is Sacred Inheritance?”

“Of course,” Desvidia said. “There were so many of them in the past.”

“That was so long ago,” Morgan said. “Power in this world is sealed away. There will be no Sacred Inheritance if that seal is still there. Master is the only one.”

“There will be a second one. You and I both know this.”

“No,” Morgan said. “Master had already achieved Sacred Inheritance before he died, or else he wouldn’t have been able to fight against the seal, either. If someone can achieve Sacred Inheritance with the seal in place, how powerful will he be once the seal is removed?”

Desvidia sighed. “I don’t know,” he said.

“You got me interested now,” Morgan said. “But we must wait. We are not powerful enough to defy master. We must be patient and wait.”