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35: Dark Mages Attack 1
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Aiden had only just left the castle and dropped his invisibility spell when the sensation of being watched hit him, causing him to come to an immediate halt.
He wondered when the palace guards became so efficient in their abilities but shrugged it off as a post war effect before continuing on his way.
Since he had been sighted, there was nothing he could do other than going about his business until he got summoned by whoever positioned that guard there.
Considering that he had been unconscious for months, he was famished and needed to put something in his stomach. He knew he would get the most premium delicacies in the palace, but he didn't want the attention that came with it.
His sister had only just left and he knew that soon, his father, mother and brothers would come looking for him to ask about his condition.
Aiden was in no mood to receive all those sentimentalities at the moment. What he needed was a good meal and quiet uninterrupted alone time.
With his mind already set on his next course of action, all he needed to do was take each step one at a time.
Aiden adjusted the hood of his cloak as he moved away from the castle, blending into the quiet evening streets of Atlanor, the capital of the Atlan Kingdom.
As he passed through the Common District, the bustle of merchants packing up their stalls and the faint laughter of children playing in the fading light added a sense of normalcy to the world.
Aiden found it comforting as an involuntary smile made its way to his lips. The world was still the world no matter the time and place.
His senses remained sharp as he navigated through narrow alleys and voided eye contact with the guards patrolling the streets.
Turning onto a less-crowded street, he caught sight of a lively establishment tucked between two taller buildings. A wooden sign swung gently above the door, etched with the words 'The Wandering Stag'.
Faint music drifted out, accompanied by the low hum of conversations and the occasional clink of mugs.
The exterior was simple yet inviting, with ivy crawling up the weathered stone walls. Aiden didn't hesitate for a moment before stepping inside.
Unlike the grand halls of nobles or the rowdy, crowded taverns of mercenaries, The Wandering Stag had a balance, neither too loud nor too quiet, neither too extravagant nor too plain.
It was a place where a man could sit undisturbed, or, if he chose, find a good conversation without pretense.
The bar was tended by a middle-aged woman with shrewd eyes but a patient smile, the kind of person who knew when a man wanted a drink and when he needed a moment.
A few patrons glanced up as Aiden entered, but there were no lingering stares, no measuring looks, just a brief acknowledgement before they returned to their own company.
The bar was modest but well-stocked, with rows of polished bottles catching the firelight..
Aiden made his way to an unoccupied corner table, the wooden floor creaking faintly under his boots. A serving girl approached with a welcoming smile, her apron dusted with flour.
"What can I get you?" she asked.
"Something hearty," Aiden replied, his voice low. "And a drink, something strong but smooth."
She nodded, jotting down his order before disappearing into the kitchen.
Aiden leaned back, allowing himself a moment to relax. The hum of the tavern and the comforting aroma of food grounded him. For the first time in a long time, he felt a semblance of normalcy, even if only for a fleeting moment.
…
"KYAAA!"
A piercing scream echoed through the castle halls, startling servants and knights alike.
Finn, Jaxon, and Mira, who had returned to the castle after seeing off Lyra were immediately alarmed.
"That sounded like it came from Aiden's quarters," Jaxon said, already activating his earth-based movement technique. The ground beneath him shifted, propelling him forward with startling speed.
"Let's go!" Finn added, lightning crackling around him as he vanished in a blur.
Mira sighed, her magic swirling around her feet like a gentle breeze as she gracefully leapt forward, following after the two.
Within moments, they reached the hallway outside Aiden's quarters, where a maid stood trembling, her tray of food spilled across the floor.
"What happened?" Mira asked, her tone sharp but controlled.
The maid, pale and visibly shaken, stammered, "H-His Highness…he's missing!" She pointed a trembling finger toward the open door.
Finn and Jaxon exchanged worried glances before stepping into the room.
The bed was empty, and the curtains fluttered gently in the breeze from an open window. Aiden's belongings were untouched, but the absence of the Third Prince was glaringly obvious.
"He's really not here," Jaxon muttered, his brow furrowing. "He just woke up. He shouldn't be wandering around on his own."
Finn clenched his fists, sparks of frustration flickering around his hands. "We need to—"
"Relax," Mira interrupted, rolling her eyes as she leaned casually against the doorframe. "You two are overreacting."
"Overreacting?" Finn turned to her, incredulous. "He's been unconscious for months! He needs rest, not…whatever this is!"
"And since when has Aiden ever conformed to common sense?" Mira countered, crossing her arms. "He's the strongest person in the kingdom right now. What do you think could possibly happen to him?"
Jaxon hesitated, his concern warring with the logic in Mira's words. "Still…he just woke up. Shouldn't we at least—"
"No need to panic," Mira cut in. "If Aiden wants to be found, he'll make it known. Until then, let's not embarrass ourselves by acting like nervous hens."
Finn opened his mouth to argue but closed it again, realizing she had a point.
Jaxon sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Fine. But if anything happens—"
"Nothing will," Mira assured him with a smirk. "This is Aiden we're talking about."
The maid, still standing frozen by the door, looked between them nervously. Mira gave her a reassuring nod. "He's fine. Clean up here, and don't worry about His Highness. He can take care of himself."
With that, Mira turned on her heel and began walking away, leaving Finn and Jaxon no choice but to reluctantly follow.
However, they had only walked a short distance when Mira suddenly halted in her steps and frowned, her eyes sharp as she looked at a few empty spots in front of her.
Finn and Jaxon who were following behind her noticed her sudden movement and paused too. "What's wrong?" Finn asked as he followed Mira's gaze only to see nothing.
Mira's voice cut through the silence like a blade. "Your hiding skills are mediocre at best. Why don't you stop hiding like rats and face us?"
A tense silence followed her words, the air thick with an ominous presence.
From the shadows of the dimly lit corridor, figures began to emerge, cloaked in dark robes with sigils etched onto their fabric, glowing faintly with malevolent energy.
Their hoods obscured their faces, but the sinister intent in their postures was unmistakable.
Finn's fists crackled with electricity as he stepped forward. "Dark mages," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.
Jaxon clenched his jaw, his magic flaring up. "What are they doing here?"
The lead mage, his voice dripping with disdain, spoke. "You should consider yourselves fortunate. Our mission wasn't to waste time on pests like you."
Mira smirked, her fingers lightly glowing with green energy as she readied herself. "Fortunate? You're the ones who've made a mistake. Thinking you could sneak into our castle and leave alive? Bold."
The Dark mage chuckled darkly. "Boldness is the path to power. You should know that better than anyone, child of the wood. But no matter. You'll soon be silent."
With a flick of his hand, the mages around him lunged forward.
"Jaxon, fortify the hallway!" Mira ordered, stepping back as vines began to sprout from the walls, intertwining to block potential escape routes. Since they dared to step into this castle, she'd make sure they never leave.
"On it!" Jaxon said and lightly stomped his feet lightly, causing multiple magic circles to rise and shift, creating barriers that fortified the walls.
With their level of power, the destruction of this castle would be inevitable if they went all out. From the energy readings of the dark mages, the three already figured out that there were all sorcerers with their leader being an Archmage.
This wasn't their first similar altercation and they were fully capable of battling an Archmage if they worked together. However, with Mira now at her current level, they was even lesser need to worry about the leader who was an Archmage.
Finn wasted no time, dashing forward in a blur of lightning. His fists became electrified battering rams, slamming into the nearest cultist with a thunderous crack that sent the man sprawling.
At Finn's level of speed, any one below the Archmage level would find it difficult to follow his movements not to mention of withstanding a hit from him, so this sorcerer didn't even see what hit them before they were knocked out.
Mira activated her magic as tendrils of vines whipped toward two more cultists. They tried to evade and were successful, but the vines were relentless and wrapped around their feet before slamming and pinning them against the wall.
"Is this all they've got?" Finn taunted as he sidestepped a dagger coated in black energy and countered with a swift uppercut, rendering another cultist unconscious. "I wonder what gave this one the impression an assassination would work out."
"Don't get cocky," Jaxon warned, summoning a massive slab of stone to shield them as one of the cultists unleashed a barrage of magic bullets. "They're buying time for something, or someone."
Mira's eyes narrowed as she caught sight of the leader who seemed to be unaffected by the state of his surbodinates and was even smiling, and her tone turned cold. "If they're here, then Aiden is their real target."
That was the only explanation she could come up with. They were either just being kept busy while Aiden was isolated and neutralised.
Finn's face darkened for a moment. "They'll regret it."
The lead cultist smirked, his hand glowing with a sinister light. "You can try to stop us, but it's too late. By the time you finish us, your precious prince will already be dead."
"Shut up!" Mira snapped, sending a massive wave of wood spears at him, splintering the air with sharp thorns.
The leader waved his hand and sliced the spears while jumping around and dodging with an air of calm, his smirk widened. "You're strong, but not strong enough."
"Finn, Jaxon!" Mira called out. "Take those guys down fast. This guy is Archmage level. When you're done, go after Aiden."
Without hesitation, the duo intensified their attacks as Mira put her full attention on the Archmage in front of her.
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