Chapter 42: Regular Ol’ Saint

Magia Scalpere Hominidae – Commonly known as Mana Shredders.

Terrifying, and reclusive members of the Fillar mountains, these creatures have been known to travel in family packs of up to ten. Nearly hunted to extinction during the Twisted Crusades, Their claws are valuable components, capable of cutting through mana like a sword through parchment.

While being primarily vegetarian, they are extremely aggressive when threatened. If encountered in the wild, do not make eye contact or any sudden movements.

• Common Creatures Of The Fillar Mountains by Alvaara Temon

That pushes me to level 14, one away from my next spell. I look away from it to focus on the street, keeping a careful eye out for more enemies.

Now that the battle is over, people are looking out from behind curtains, staring at our group as we make our way through the snowy street. I do my best to ignore them, just pulling my hood up. Libby does the same. Grildor has his helmet on, and Keve is still wearing his scarf around his face.

As we walk the few streets back to the inn, I feel a headache coming on. I have no idea what I’m going to do with twenty slaves. I don’t want to escort them through the wilds to Kolas’s stronghold, but that’s seeming like the only option.

Managing the food for a trip like that would be a nightmare, especially because we have to leave the Stronghold right now. Sticking around to see how the Archmage reacts to his choked out son sounds like a really bad idea.

Soon enough, we get to the inn, where Tanya and Daron are hauling the last of our bags out next to Jasper. Lyla stands a few feet away, alone.

I look around, expecting to see the other slaves, but they’re gone.

Lyla catches my gaze, “They’re on their way out.”

“What?” I stop a few feet away, the rest of my party stopping around me.

“I told you I had an escape plan. I don’t know where they’ll go from here. But they’ll find a way.”

I hesitate for a second, then hurry over to my pack, and pull out my notebook. “Everyone, pack up, we’ll leave as soon as I finish this.”

The others nod, and hurry around me to throw their packs on.

I find an empty page in my notebook, then start drawing. This is one of the first skills my mentor taught me, and while it might not be perfect, it should be good enough to get them there, especially since I can compare it to my skill.

I finish the map, and rip it from the notebook. Then I toss the book into my bag and swing it over my shoulder.

Lyla looks at me with exhaustion. A wind blows through, and she shifts with it, nearly falling.

I hold the piece of paper out to her, and she takes it, looking at it with confusion.

“You’re citizens of Kolas’s Stronghold, and they’ll welcome you. All of you. I wish I could do more, but this’ll have to be enough for now.”

Lyla looks up from the map, then carefully folds it. “May the darkness treat you kindly, Leo.”

I remember the second part of the greeting easily. Normally, the exchange is reserved for nonhumans, and despite the seriousness of the situation, I can’t help the smile that finds its way to my face, “And the light watch over you, Lyla.”

I turn away from her to look over the group, up above, a golem-crow swoops onto the rafters of the building.

“Let’s go.”

We set out, and I set the pace to a light jog until we reach the tunnel. We leave through the gate without much trouble. The guards don’t care about things going out, they’re too worried about the things that can come in.

I lead the way off the path immediately, heading towards a small stream that makes its way past the Stronghold. Then I force us to walk through the cold water for as long as we can before turning into a small clearing I barely remember from my previous travels. There I set up the angel ward, and grab the old rock I’d carved runes into when a mage had previously tried to track Keve and I.

My mana flows into the rock, hopefully throwing off any traces that would attempt to track us.

I keep the ward up for the night, then pass out in the early hours of the morning.

***

Tanya rubs the solution into my hair, then has me close my eyes to pour a pot of warm water over my head.

I shake myself, happy to see the strands of familiar brownish-gold hair.

She hands me a solution of some kind, and I eat it, happy to feel as my eyes return to their normal hazel.

Libby comes over with a comb and a pair of scissors. She does some light trimming with experienced hands, helping me get my hair just above my eyes, and changing its shape slightly.

Then I change into a white fur cloak, courtesy of Gerald, and grab the Builder’s sword, replacing my usual, more recognizable sword with it.

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Hide Presence activates as I leave the protections of the Angel Statue and start my journey back to the gate of the Stronghold.

***

I lay in the snow, watching the guards change rotations with Hide Presence activated. A young witch stands just outside the gate, her expression frozen cold as she looks out imperiously.

Shar flies down, landing on a nearby branch.

“She’s alone best I can tell. One of the scouts spotted me when I tried to get close. I did manage to see a wanted poster for a nature mage with green hair just inside the gate. It looked nothing like you.”

I snort, then push myself out of the snow and lower my hood as I deactivate Hide Presence.

Immediately, I feel the attention of the guards at the gate as I walk up.

I select the first class, and the close scrutiny leaves me as they realize I’m an explorer.

Eyla sees me a few seconds later as I walk up to the gate.

A happy smile crosses her face before being replaced with a more professional one. She walks towards me, leaving the other guards behind. “Delver Grayson. I’m glad you made it.”

“There was a little trouble on the way, but nothing I couldn’t handle.”