Birth of the Legendary Battle Mage

Chapter 33

Julius just concluded his fabricated story of himself and Ashia to the village chief, when Asia woke up. Opening her eyes slowly to find Julius still there filled her with even more joy and comfort. As she tried to sit up, the pain from her internal injuries stopped her momentarily.

“I checked your body while you were asleep. It seems like someone damaged your mana core, and left you with some serious internal injuries. What happened?” Julius asked Ashia as he helped her to sit.

“You were reported dead, and after more than half a year of not seeing you, you wouldn’t even let me enjoy this moment.”

“Don’t worry, I promise to make it up to you... twofold.”

“It seems like I’m getting between your conversation, so I’ll just step out. I have some things too attend to anyway.” The village chief said as he stood up.

“Thank you, village chief.”

“Call me Zarks.”

“Alright, chief Zarks.”

‘This kid.. heh, whatever.’ The chief thought to himself as he left the room.

...

“Lord, the prisoner has escaped! The prisoner has escaped! The prisone.. urk!” A loud cry came from outside the throne room. But it seemed like the guards stopped the man from entering the throne room.

“Worry not my Lord, the guards will take care of it.” The advisor who was standing close said to king Bael. After a few minutes, one of the guards standing outside the room rushed in, taking a knee when he got close to the throne.

“My Lord, terrible news. We just received a report that the prisoner Ashia has escaped.”

“What? How is that possible? Before anything, advisor, mobilize people to search for her. Dead or alive, it doesn’t matter. I want her before me before tomorrow, go now.” ‘This is strange. There’s no way it’s coincidental... wait, Uruak!’ Leaving the throne in an angry manner, king Bael searched for Uruak within the residence. Losing his patience with every passing second.

“No need to look so ugly now. Bael. Hmhm” A voice spoke behind king Bael.

“You fool. What is the meaning of this?”

“Oh come on Bael, it’s just one prisoner. Although I do appreciate your efforts to find that prisoner girl, it is futile, since she has already been too long.”

At this point, king Bael’s anger was already flaring. Despite his anger, he controlled himself and refrained some starting a fight with the odds stacked quite highly against him. Unlike him, Uruak has a younger body, which means he can use his full strength if required, compared to him who is old and has an old body. He might not be weak, but using his full power will only bring him closer to his death.

“Don’t worry Bael, she still has a damaged mana core. That isn’t something just anyone can fix, even though that person is a ranking mage. Rest your mind, my reason for letting her go are good and beneficial to us both.”

“Tsk.” Bael listened to Uruak, while not fully trusting him still. Uruak was if anything a snake. Listening to him talk with his ever smiling face was irritating on it’s own to Bael. That in addition to the fact that he couldn’t do anything against him, even when he does whatever he wants was also paining. ‘I can’t believe that this is all I can do in such a situation. I can’t let this cunning bastard do as he pleases. The girl can go, but this snake has to leave too.’ Beal thought to himself while looking at a smiling Uruak. Being in the presence of Uruak made him feel like a game piece in Uruak’s hand. Surely, Uruak was planning something and Bael was a piece in his hand to realise his plans.

“Now Bael, let’s not bother ourselves with the small problems. I know full well that the girl is not of much importance, so let’s focus on what I told you earlier.” Uruak’s face suddenly turned serious as he said this, putting away this ever smiling face.

“You mean that?” The king’s face also became serious, abandoning his anger like it never happened. ‘I thought this bastard was just talking nonsense, but for him to look this serious, this is definitely something.’

...

Somewhere in a place surrounded by rocks and mountains, close to the wilderness, a well hidden cave was spotted by two men wearing white cloths with strange patterns drawn on the outside. “We’ve finally reached the hid-out.” Inside one of the compartments of the cave, a woman was seated on a chair made from bones from different animals, like a throne. She had a piece of clothe hanging over around her head making it impossible for her face to be seen. She looked fit, with a slender figure, and a presence as imposing as a tiger. The two men walked into the room where she sat with two others beside her. Taking a knee, one of them spoke.

“Reporting to the leader. The group sent out to eliminate the adventurers who entered the forest of the river of ends has been eliminated, and it doesn’t seem to be the doing of a magical beast either since the adventures seem to be fine. We went into the forest to search for their bodies today and should be receiving feedback before night falls tomorrow.”

“Hmm. Interesting.” “What about the village we are using as testing area? The demonic beast didn’t return. Did they perhaps kill it?” As the woman with a piece of cloth around her head asked the last question, her voice sent a little wave of fear to the men kneeling.

“Rest assured leader, the one who killed it was able to because the beast sent last time was a weak one. She also sustained serious injuries from the beast and is most definitely poisoned by it. Another beast will be sent there soon, an...”

“This time, send a strong one. There’s no need to delay it any further, have the other demonic beats on stand-by and release all to attack the nearby town after the village has been destroyed. There is no time to waste, get going now!”

“Yes leader!”

...

“So that’s how it happened.” Ashia had just finished narrating to Julius all that happened to her after his death was reported, all up to the point where she fought with the demonic beast. Before she began, Julius helped her remove the poison gotten from the demonic beast, and also helped her treat her external injuries. “From what you have said, it sounds like Uruak is up to something, and has come to seek Bael’s aid in accomplishing his goal. I might not know him personally, but everyone who knows him, knows he is a snake. As of now, I would be able to win against Bael without straining myself. As for Uruak, I’m not sure if I’ll leave unscathed, but I’ll still come out victorious.” He didn’t look too worried as he said this things which made Ashia wonder. She knew he was strong, but his strength didn’t lie in one on one fights. If the fight is with someone of a lower or the same class as him, it would be fine. But he wouldn’t dare try to fight someone of a higher class head on, the difference in strength is leaps apart. So the fact that he can make such declarations with a straight face is new.

“You now call him Bael? Not KING Bael?” Ashiaasked with a smile on her face.

“Well, he is no longer my king, and he also tried to kill my beloved sister. I initially didn’t want to take any revenge on the betrayal towards me, or hold any grudges towards him, but now it’s different. I will definitely pay him back for this, and as for Uruak...” The look in his eyes were different, carrying intent to follow through with every word he spoke. “That can wait for now. Ashia, when you killed that demonic beast, did you notice anything strange? Like if it was acting of it’s own volition or if it was sent or controlled by someone or something else?”

“Yes, about that. When I delivered the last blow (she says blow, but not in the literal sense), I noticed a shadow figure standing at some distance behind the bushes close to the forest. I chased after the figure, but I was unable to catch the person. Although I was moving pretty fast, it didn’t feel like that person was even using magic, but still, his speed was very unnatural.”

“Were you able to catch a glimpse of what he was wearing?”

“I think it was black cloths beneath a white cloak that had strange patterns on drawn on it. I didn’t get a good look at the patterns so I can’t say what exactly they represent.”

“It’s ok. I know who it is sending this demonic beasts. And I’m eager to find out more and quench some of my curiosity.” “Rest up. You will also be resting your body tomorrow so that by the day after tomorrow when you recover your energy fully, I can examine your mana core and also heal your internal injuries.” After that, Julius stood up to leave the room.

“Brother, can you stay a little longer.” Ashia asked in a sweet voice.

“Come on Ashia, you are not a kid anymore. Hehh, ok. I’ll stay till you fall asleep.” With a faint smile on his face he returned to sit beside her, as she placed her head gently on his laps with a little smile escaping through her lips to expose her happiness while she lay there like a baby on his legs.