Chapter 126: The Raid

Chapter 126: The Raid



Garrick led his small team through the dense forest, the early morning light filtering through the trees as they moved silently toward the valley where Bren had last seen Rourke and Sykes

Bren, walking just ahead of Garrick, signaled for the group to slow down as they approached the ridge overlooking the valley.

"This is where we parted," Bren whispered, pointing to a cluster of rocks that provided a clear view of the city below.U//ppTodated fr/o/m nô/v/e/lb(i)n.c(o)\/m

The men crouched low as they reached the ridge, staying out of sight. Bren pulled out a pair of binoculars and handed them to Garrick.

"Take a look, sir. You need to see this for yourself."

Garrick accepted the binoculars without a word and brought them to his eyes, focusing on the city in the distance. He scanned the area, his gaze settling on the walls of Ferm, now fortified with strange structures that hadn't been there before.

Then he saw it-the flying machine Bren had described. It hovered above the city, its metal blades spinning rapidly, holding the craft in the air with an ease that defied logic. The deep thumping sound it emitted was faint from this distance, but Garrick could feel the vibration in the air, even from where he stood.

After a long moment, Garrick lowered the binoculars, his expression grim. "Everything you said is true," he muttered, more to himself than to Bren. "This isn't just a fortification. They've got technology far beyond anything we've ever faced."

"So are we going to raid it?" Bren asked.

Garrick paused, considering Bren's question as he continued to gaze out over the fortified city. The flying machine, with its ominous presence, loomed in his thoughts, but the treasure beneath the Town Hall was too significant to ignore. His men had come too far to turn back

now.

"Alright," Garrick said, his voice firm. "Get everyone into position. We move as soon as that thing hits the ground."

The men nodded, their faces set with determination as they quietly moved into their assigned positions along the ridge. Garrick stayed back for a moment, watching the flying machine as it continued its slow, methodical patrol over the city.

He could feel the spellbook in his pocket, the ancient runes on its cover thrumming with latent power. Aether was required to activate it, and Garrick had been conserving his energy for this very moment. He knew that once he opened the book and channeled his Aether into it, there would be no turning back.

Taking a final glance at his men to ensure they were ready, Garrick reached into his pocket and pulled out the spellbook. The leather binding was smooth and worn from years of careful handling, and the intricate symbols on its cover seemed to shimmer in the early morning light.

Garrick focused his mind, drawing upon the Aether within him. As he opened the book, the ancient runes began to glow with a faint blue light, growing brighter as he channeled more of his energy into the spell. The pages of the book fluttered as if caught in a strong wind, and the air around Garrick crackled with anticipation.

"Here we go," Garrick muttered to himself as he directed his focus toward the flying machine.

With a final surge of Aether, the spell activated. A blinding bolt of lightning shot from the book, arcing through the sky with a deafening crack. The bolt struck the flying machine dead- on, and for a moment, everything seemed to freeze.

Then, with a shuddering roar, the machine exploded in a shower of sparks and twisted metal. The thumping sound that had filled the air ceased abruptly, replaced by the distant echoes of the explosion bouncing off the valley walls.

Garrick watched as the wreckage of the flying machine spiraled out of control, crashing into the outskirts of the city. Smoke billowed from the impact site, and chaos erupted within the city as soldiers scrambled to respond.

"Now!" Garrick barked, his voice cutting through the stunned silence.

The men sprang into action, charging down the ridge and toward the city walls. With the flying machine out of commission, their window of opportunity was open.

Bren was right beside Garrick as they led the charge, adrenaline pumping through their veins. The spellbook had done its job, but now it was up to them to finish what they had started.

***