Chapter 46: Friend or Foe

Chapter 46: Friend or Foe

Nathan eyed Faline for a moment, then he shrugged. No time to lose. Lets go.

She gestured for him to pull his hood up, then swung the green robe off of the hook. Her body swelled as she settled it on her shoulders, and the fleshy face of the enslavement mage persona glanced back at him.

Thats pretty creepy.

Follow me. Keep your head down. I will draw first blood, be ready for it. Her voice was back to the cultured drawl of her disguise, and Nathan obeyed her instructions.

Faline led him out of the safehouse, and Nathan kept a careful three paces behind her. They walked out of the slums by a different route than theyd entered it, and started climbing the hill. As soon as they got back to the busy streets the bubble of clear space around the green robes resumed, and Faline leisurely strolled up the slope.

Soon enough they passed out of the slums and into the part of the city dominated by regimented square stone buildings. Nathan darted curious glances around as they passed, discovering that there were a few types. Some of them were workshops, where hundreds of artisans worked to build things from carts to weapons, while others were warehouses or barracks that housed hundreds of slaves.

There didnt seem to be a great deal of organization behind their placement, with a warehouse full of metal ingots placed between a barracks with hundreds of cots and a workshop where dozens of weavers were spinning thread.

It reminds me of citybuilding games. Oh, I need another warehouse. Ill build it over here. It feels like somebody standing on top of one of those hills planned this out, not somebody who lives and works in the city.

The streets were flooded with traffic as dozens of collared laborers carted materials around the city. They moved silently, navigating their heavy payloads by rigid rules. All of the organized flow made way for Faline, and she moved through the steady flow like a fish swimming downriver.

Nobody seemed to be giving Nathan a second glance - or even Faline for that matter. Even the few slavemasters directing complex tasks saw the green robes and made way, keeping their eyes downcast.

There were a few slave-soldiers guarding a small gate into the upper city, but Faline walked through without a care. Houses and shops replaced barracks and warehouses, and other mages started to appear. They weren't many - and the most common were the green-robed enslavement mages, usually with small entourages of slaves. Several were going around in litters carried by bare-chested bearers, and more than a few were accompanied by black-armored warriors festooned with blades.

I bet those are the slave-elites I learned about a while ago. Thats what happens if you train somebody from a young age to be a powerful warrior instead of just handing your failed craftspeople a spear and a shield.

The houses grew fancier and the traffic thinner as they went on. The estates on either side werent huge - but they had glass windows, were multiple stories tall and had exquisitely cultivated gardens. Each of them reminded Nathan of Dalo and Kullals house back in Gemore. Thinking of them made a fist close around Nathans heart.

I do not want to tell Kullal that Stella was captured by Giantsrest. Shes always been gentler and calmer than Dalo, but I think shed be the more terrifying of the two on hearing that news.

Nathan took a calming breath, refocusing himself on the target. He was here to prevent that outcome. And now that Faline was here, the news would make it back to Gemore even if he failed.

Shes not coming in to face Taeol, after all. Shes helping out, not backing me to the hilt.

Thats it. Ill gut the mage. Take the soldiers on the left. Falines voice was quiet, but clearly audible to Nathan with [Notice].

He looked up, seeing the road terminate at another gatehouse. A mage in blue robes stood in front of the gate, looking bored out of his mind. Flanking him were two of the slave-elites, as well as a dozen of the normal slave soldiers. They looked ready for trouble.

Nathan nodded jerkily, swallowing to wet his throat before muttering back. Got it.

This is it. Taeol is in there, and so are my friends.

They walked up to the gate, Faline striding along as if she had every right to be there. She waved to the middle-aged man in mages robes. I open my palm to you, friend. I have news the archmage will welcome.

Nathan caught the sound of crackling electricity from beyond the gatehouse. He felt like he couldnt breathe for a moment.

Whats going in there? I dont think Taeol has electricity mana. But Stella does.

Unaware of Nathans conflict, the middle-aged mage scratched at his chin, looking sleepy. It must wait. Archmage Taeol has ordered the gates sealed, with none to interrupt. Return at a later date. Unless you will leave the news with me?

Faline kept walking, and her voice was friendly. Ah, but the fingers must obey the hand. When will his gates be opened?

The blue-robed mage shrugged and yawned Only prophecy knows. He eyed Faline inquisitively as she passed the first set of guards and approached him.

She pulled out a flask and offered it to him. Tears of a dragon? I have mind to wait a moment.

The mage shrugged, reaching out to grab the flask and nodding his thanks before tilting his head back to swallow at the contents.

In that moment, Faline moved. Glimmering knives appeared in both her hands, and she stabbed both forward like lightning. The blades impacted a [Mage Armor] in front of the mans chest, but the metal sunk a few inches into the barrier. She yanked the enchanted knives apart, ripping a gap in the spell. The man spluttered on his drink, staggering backwards.

She followed the man, dropping the knives as they hovered in place, keeping the mage armor cracked. More blades appeared in her hands.

Nathan was making his own move, revving his Rage to life and rushing at the black-armored elite on the left. Even taken completely by surprise, the man still had his blade fully drawn when Nathan crashed into him. Uncaring, Nathan let the sword stab into his chest as he crunched his elbow into the smaller mans neck, bearing him to the ground. The slave-elite didnt stop struggling despite the broken neck, slicing with a wicked dagger.

Nathan accepted a glancing blow to the side to roll on top of his foe. The man released the sword stuck into Nathans lung and brought his hand in front of his neck. The blow that would have crushed his windpipe instead sent cracks through a gauntlet. Nathan spent Stamina to keep himself functioning around the sword in his lung, but the wound in his side started burning as a necrotic poison tried to eat at his veins.

Gonna have to try harder than that, idiot.

Forty feet of verticality completely disarms me. Maybe I could knock the building over if Id taken [Magicsunder Siegebreaker]. But I didnt. I might just need to talk Taeol down.

He looked up to Taeol. Tell you what. You come down here and fight me. Mano-a-mano. You beat me, and I promise to give you whatever you want, including all my Insights from earth. But if I beat you, you let the Heirs go and let us leave Halsmet.

Yeah, lets pretend that hell survive that fight.

Taeols response was a choked laugh. Me, fight you? When you have built yourself to fight mages and win? Giants bones would that be idiotic. Though you have given me an idea.

He turned to Stella. Jump.

She promptly jumped over the balcony, and Nathans heart leapt into his throat.

[Levitate]

Taeols spell caught Stella and she slowly descended to the ground. He looked satisfied, like hed just figured out an elegant solution to a problem. Stella Caxol, capture Nathan Lark. You know his capabilities, any state short of death is acceptable. Fight to the fullest extent of your capabilities.

Dammit. The one mage whose magic can hurt me.

Status of Nathan Lark:

Permanent Talent 1: Magic Absorption 10

Permanent Talent 2: Perfected Body 4

Talent 3: High-tier Slow Fall 9

Class: Implacable Antimage level 119

Stamina: 3519/3870

Antimages Impassivity

Antimagic Momentum

Raging Thrill

Implacable Inertia

Unarmored Resilience

Improved Antimagic

Strenuous Agility

Hand-to-hand Expertise

Utility skills:

Battle Meditation 5

High-tier Earnestness 9

High-tier Sprinting 2

Magical Perception 1

High-tier Notice 4

High-tier Identify 5

High-tier Dodging Footwork 5

High-tier Enhanced Memory 8

Mid-tier Lecturing 8

High-tier Tumbling 2