ushernet Chapter 53 Kingdom's mage
Chapter 53 Kingdom's mage
Ethan let out a shaky breath as the cloaked figure descended back into the distance. The oppressive weight that had gripped the battlefield seemed to ease, though the memory of their piercing gaze lingered like a ghostly imprint on his mind. His knees felt weak, and for a moment, he considered sitting down—but the eerie silence of the battlefield kept him on edge.
"Master... I think the reinforcements arrived. That should be a mage from the kingdom. How powerful..."
Ethan nodded absently at Lia's words, though his thoughts were elsewhere. The cloaked figure—mage or otherwise—was unlike anything he'd ever encountered.
If that was what kingdom reinforcements looked like, then the power scale he'd been imagining was woefully inaccurate. The way the air had bent under their presence, the oppressive mana suffusing the battlefield—it wasn't just power. It was dominance.
"Powerful is an understatement," Ethan murmured, his voice low. He tightened his grip on his dagger, as if the small weapon could provide any semblance of protection against a force like that. "If that's what their top mages can do... we're just ants in their shadow."
Lia nodded, though she looked more in awe than fear. "I've heard stories about kingdom mages, but seeing one in person... it's overwhelming. To close a portal like that—and to silence an entire battlefield without lifting a hand..."
Her words trailed off as she glanced back toward the clearing where the portal had been. The silence was deafening, broken only by the occasional rustle of wind against the decimated foliage.@@@@
Ethan took a deep breath, forcing his mind back to the present. The stillness unnerved him, but it also provided a brief window to retreat before the adventurers or kingdom forces spotted them. "Reinforcements or not, we need to get out of here," he said, his tone firm.
As they passed through the gates, Ethan caught snippets of conversation from the guards. Words like "portal collapse" and "kingdom mage" drifted through the air, confirming what he already suspected. The cloaked figure's intervention had likely saved the city from disaster, and the guild would take credit for whatever victories came from the battle.
"Hey, you there." Someone called after him. Ethan's pulse sped up as he turned around.
One of the guards was walking toward him. "You looked like you contributed in the battle. Stick around. The guild is offering rewards for everyone who helped."
The offer of a reward sounded enticing on the surface, but the last thing he wanted was to draw attention to himself—or worse, be interrogated about the sheer number of insectoid corpses left in his wake.
Lia stiffened beside him, her expression betraying her nervousness. Ethan placed a calming hand on her shoulder, a silent signal to stay quiet.
"Ah, yeah," Ethan said, forcing a sheepish smile. "We, uh, did what we could. Just a couple of stray insectoids near the edge of the battle."
The guard, a broad-shouldered man with tired eyes and a soot-streaked face, squinted at Ethan, clearly scrutinizing him. "Stray insectoids, huh? Well, every bit counts."
The guard grunted, his gaze lingering on Ethan's dagger for a moment before nodding. "Well, if you helped, you should get compensated. The guild has set up a temporary station at the main square. Head there, report what you did, and you'll get your due."
Ethan nodded, feigning appreciation. "Thanks. We'll do that." The guard gave him a tired wave before heading off, leaving Ethan and Lia standing near the gate.