Chapter 92

Chapter 92

The news of the comet spread through the camp like wildfire with the commander spearheading the efforts of getting all the guards up and looking at it. Perception was a decently important stat for guards though one that most people wouldn’t want to invest in.

Kate and Ajax went back into their tent and tried to get some sleep, with all the commotion going on it wasn’t an easy thing to do. Not only that but they were all but dragged out of bed on three separate occasions only left alone after they made it perfectly clear that they already had the achievement.

The next morning saw Kate, Ajax and a tired Tom getting ready to march for the next battle.

“What time did you get back? I thought you only went to inform the commander.” Ajax said.

“Commander put me on the first horse he saw the moment after I pointed out the comet and sent me to the main camp to let them know about it too.” Tom got out between yawns.

“How did they have enough time to see it?” Ajax asked, at the speed he saw it cross the sky no way it would be more than a few minutes before it was gone.

“Apparently the comet arcs in a weird way, it remains visible for quite a bit longer, around four or five hours. At least according to the commander, he’s seen it before.” Tom answered.

“He’s seen it before?” Ajax wondered.

“Yes, according to him each season has a comet, not only that but they cross the sky once a year each. He has personally seen the Spring, Summer, Autumn and Death ones.” Tom continued “Apparently the challenge is to not only be on the lookout for it but to also have it appear on a night with clear skies. Death is the easiest one to get since despite the frigid cold and wind there are hardly any clouds, he has spotted that one more than ten times already over his life.”

“What about the Winter one then?” Ajax asked.

“That one is the worst, with how often it snows the sky is almost never clear, he has been hunting for it for more than twenty years now. When I asked him why he would do all that just for ten extra Perception he said that it was because he thinks there is another achievement for witnessing all five comets.”

Ajax agreed with that logic, if there was a separate achievement for each one there should be one for collecting all five. Considering how his achievement for not spending points worked there might be variations of it, like spotting them all in a single year and then one for spotting them all within a year of seeing the first.

As they got ready to march off, the commander's aid approached them.

“Morning, how’d you sleep Tom?” he asked.

“Hardly any.” he responded, perfectly punctuated by a yawn.

“Yeah the commander thought that might be the case.” he said as he pulled the reins in his left hand.

Ajax finally noticed the magnificent horse that was being led behind them. His training as a hunter and the limited experience he gained during this little war let him know that not only was this horse both a good specimen and of a thorough bred but also rather young, no more than three years old. This horse could fetch quite a price.

“You’re not looking to steal resources from the baron are you Ajax?” he said warily.

“No, well maybe a few waterskin’s and a fruit but there are dozens of them on the tree.” he begrudgingly admitted, he specifically made no mention of the fish as monsters were something no landowner could lay claim to and didn’t want to worry his brother.

After passing over everything Ajax said his goodbye, already having given one to Kate he was ready to head out and meet them back in the city a few days later. As he distanced himself he all but ran into Spencer who was hiding around the corner watching Tom with a malicious smirk on his face.

Ajax was too paranoid a person not to investigate something like this so he took a look around trying to find what Spencer was looking at. He found two things, one was his brother as he approached the command tent and the other was a robbed person who suddenly started to exude mana.

Without a second thought Ajax charged towards his brother, making it almost all the way to him before a massive fireball was launched. Seeing no other alternative he fully infused [Mana Syphon] not only to get himself and his shield in between Tom and the spell but to also absorb as much of the spell as he could.

Ajax successfully got them both through the ambush unharmed but that was at the cost of activating his mana, he was now on a clock to get out of here before anyone started asking questions about it. First thing first, the attacker was quickly subdued by other people nearby and was already showing his mark as a spy.

Ajax quickly put it together that Spencer found an enemy mage and convinced him to try and kill Tom then use the fact that he wasn’t told the war ended as an excuse.

Tom P.O.V.

Ajax jumped in front of me and took the full brunt of the spell without even a scratch to show for it. After a few explanations from him I knew that he was stronger than I was but this put in perspective just how big the difference was.

After a quick look around he turned to me and quickly blurted out. “I think Spencer is responsible for this. I had to reveal my mana so are you alright if I leave now before people can start asking questions.”

I could barely nod and start to process everything before he was already on his way out of the camp. Pulling myself together I brushed off the dust and dirt from my clothes and headed back towards the command tent only to see the flaps pulled open and a number of eyes looking at me.

No they aren’t looking at me I realize, they are all following Ajax.

“What happened here?” the commander asks.

“Enemy spy didn’t get word about the war concluding, one of Spencer’s lackys conveniently stepped up to answer from where he was a moment before detaining said spy.

“Hmph” the archduke’s daughter huffed, showing she believed that about as much as Ajax did.

“What did your brother do?” the usually shy and reserved Lexi asked as she grabbed me by the arm. Her unusual fierceness threw me through a loop. “Not only was there no mana residue on his shield from blocking the spell it felt like he was actively absorbing it.”

I had no idea what she was talking about but from the surprised looks that flashed on the faces of the others present it told me I was about to be put through an interrogation on the subject. Might as well I suppose after all Ajax wanted me to give him a head start, he would have however long it took for them to figure out I have no idea how Ajax works with his mana before I tell them about the source of mana infused water.