"That was a trap."
Kaedryn looked at the numerous fire arrows outside the secret base. It was irritating—apparently the traitors had even told them about this base. The trap was activated the moment they stepped out, as if it had sensed the door moving, so it was possible it was connected to the door somehow. The arrowheads were rotating, which would cause piercing damage. Moreover, their power as they shot toward them was absurd and could easily kill any Circle Six. That was how ridiculously powerful those arrows were—they could have killed him if not for the aberration in front of him.
"It seems they were made by someone who knows very well how to conserve their mana, sir."
"Why do you think that, soldier?"
"Normally, those capable of doing this are people who have—or once had—little mana and ended up refining their magic to a high degree of manipulation... this person seems like the troublesome type to face."
Ocirne had redirected all those arrows with her hand, stepping in front of him. It seemed she used cold to reduce the heat and then the magic in her hand to redirect, reflect, and hold the arrows. This kid was a complete monster.
"I know what you're thinking, and I'm a girl."
"As if I would believe that."
Ocirne crossed her arms, walking with that enormous box on her back. Rolling his eyes, he moved ahead. As he stepped among the arrows, their tips began spinning in place, transforming into fire tornadoes trying to crush him at the center. Caught off guard, he wouldn't be able to dodge in time—but Ocirne appeared in front of him before he was crushed and made a spinning cut through the air with the palm of her hand. A small wave of ice left her hand and sliced all the tornadoes in half.
"A second activation of the trap in case the first failed. This is really going to be exhausting. I'll take the lead, sir."
Kaedryn almost felt like sighing in relief seeing that she would take the lead from now on. After having that thought, he felt uncomfortable about letting a soldier lead, but it was better this way so he could deliver the black note he had taken before leaving the base. If he brought that note to a safe place, they would be able to locate them, since he had left another note inside the city.
"They wouldn't stay in a place with two Circle Nines roaming around, so they must have done something to the city... no matter what they did, this note will connect to the one inside."
It could even teleport someone into the city if a Circle Nine or Eight poured enough mana into the note. The good thing was that thanks to this task he had carried out, he would undoubtedly rise higher in his queen's opinion.
"That will be good, but my curiosity is elsewhere now."
"What is that on your back?"
He looked at the blue ice box on Ocirne's back. She had called it treasure, so it was undoubtedly important to her. Ocirne let out a small laugh and arrogantly brushed her hair back.
"My Golden Armor."
Kaedryn hit her on the head for the joke, pointing forward and telling her to keep walking ahead of him. With her hands on her forehead, she almost made a crying face as she continued walking.
"But it's true. One day I'll show the great power of my Ice Armor."
"Wasn't it gold?"
Ocirne turned her face away, not wanting to look at him. He couldn't deny that this soldier was entertaining to watch, especially in battle. Seeing the potential of prodigies grow was something he loved—if it was on his side, even better. Ocirne suddenly turned serious upon noticing three figures in the distance.
"It seems there was a third trap."
"Wait, Ocirne, those are corrupted elves."
He placed a hand in front of her before she could attack. He was right—the black eyes and the magic leaking from their bodies marked them as corrupted elves. And to him, those elves would never betray the queen who had freed most of the prisons. As he approached, he was about to speak to them, but the three appeared at different sides around him.
"You—"
Three blades tried to strike him. Kaedryn managed to block one with his own magic, and Ocirne, as before, prevented him from being severely injured. She caught the blades with her hands. Pointing to the one on the left, she formed her staffs and extended both to strike two at the same time. Kaedryn realized that since they had managed to block, all three were Circle Six.
"It's impossible to defeat them... I can't believe I have to do this, but..."
"Soldier, there's a note in a pocket dimension located on the right side of my pants. Take it and deliver it to the queen."
Since Ocirne was stronger, it was better to give her the note so she could escape while he held them off as much as possible. Of course, he had a plan—he could try to ally with them, since he had something else hidden they might want. Taking advantage of that, they would undoubtedly let him live for now, giving time to be rescued.
Ocirne seemed to understand what he intended and immediately ran to retrieve the note, since he had to grant permission for someone to access that pocket dimension. Seeing that, the elf in front of him pressed his sword forward, forcing him back, trying to prevent it.
"As if I would allow a traitor to meet the queen."
"What are you—"
Without understanding the elf's words, he saw both his own chest and the elf's chest pierced by a water spear. Turning his face back, he saw Ocirne holding the spear that pierced through his chest. He wanted answers and was about to ask, but when he saw the shocked expressions of the two elves behind and her appearance beginning to change into that of a human, he knew everything was wrong.
"I'm sorry for this, sir. And know that I will use this note well."
Her hair and pupils turned golden as she acquired a more masculine form. The one revealed before him was someone they had been warned about, someone who had escaped the castle with others—Enrico Solcrem Ferreira. He had used his unique ability: Transformation.
"You know, you're quite irritating with your plans."
Kaedryn fell to the ground along with the other elf whose heart had been pierced by the spear. Looking up, he genuinely felt fear when he saw those empty eyes, as if he were about to be swallowed whole. Enrico carefully placed the ice box on the ground. It seemed he was exhausted of mana.
"So I had to think carefully about how to eliminate you and take a few of your things."
His eyes began to close as his body grew heavy. That spear seemed to carry something different, similar to that extreme cold magic. Watching his opponent turn his back with certainty that he would die, Kaedryn could only curse that person.
Seeing his opponent's eyes close forever, Enrico watched the two remaining enemies rush toward him.
"Let's finish this quickly. I have to talk to someone who will help me a lot."
Inside the ice box, a person tied up with ice ropes struggled. That person looked similar to Ocirne and was sweating upon hearing the sounds of battle outside. This corrupted elf was no genius—just a monster captured her for some reason.