Chapter 52
Parcival looked out at the moon. It was a full moon tonight. He closed his eyes and felt air rustle all around. His consciousness rode the currents, stretching beyond the trees, the town, the outer walls.
A bird perched on a high branch stirred as his awareness settled into it. He bound a folded slip to its feet—a letter written not in ink, but in a thin weave of his own mana, invisible to anyone who didn't know to look.
He nudged the bird with a spell of wind. It took flight.
Thwip.
An arrow sliced through the darkness. The bird crumpled mid-air and fell.
A robed mage stepped out from the shadows with silent steps, snatching the letter before it touched the ground. He checked the contents.
He clicked his tongue.
The letter was empty.
A small spell scanned for hidden code or magic, but nothing turned up.
He looked in the direction the bird had come from and cast a detection spell, but the currents had already scattered Parcival's presence like smoke.
The mage burned the letter and retreated to the shadows. A moment later, a flicker of mana sent an alarm pulsing through the patrol network.
Parcival opened his eyes and started writing a letter to his family. After checking the contents again and again, he folded it.
Inside his drawer was an insignia belonging to the Soran family. He put the letter beside it and closed the drawer.
The next morning, the letter was gone, along with the insignia.
---
Doris looked at the reports in front of him.
The reconnaissance squad that returned yesterday had reported the details of their trip thoroughly, and it gave him a huge headache.
The initial estimate put the number of monsters at least above 600, with more than 100 high-grade monsters.
There was even the possibility of another black mage's presence, and an intelligent monster wasn't ruled out either.
The leader of the party was a grounded veteran expert in leading scout parties, so he had refrained from direct confrontation of any sort and strictly adhered to gathering information.
The fact that they made it back safe and sound was also proof of his sound judgment. But even then, Doris wasn't sure what the actual numbers would be.
They were not in a position to lead a direct assault, either, because they were severely outnumbered.
Doris was considering all the options, but most were possible only if they pulled personnel from North Castle or if the Magic Tower miraculously lent a hand.
The King had already ordered reinforcements, but there was still some time before they would arrive.
In the meantime, if that horde somehow made its way to town, it would be a disaster. He wasn't sure how long they would hold out.
Even if some mages survived, they wouldn't be able to guarantee the lives of the townspeople, even after giving a leg away.
"And this is only the tip. There were three sightings reported, and we have only found one monster bed. I am not sure how many more are still undiscovered," Ryan reported. He was the head of yesterday's party.
Doris sighed and nodded.
"So what is your suggestion?"
"We need to employ assassin-technique mages and use a hit-and-run method. There is no other option. After we are done with practice, we should reduce the number as much as we can, because we increase the risk of a town siege with every passing minute."
"And how many people can be deployed?"
"With our current situation, six parties can be formed, with one assassin and one wind mage, the third being the leader checking the feasibility of the target."
"So where are you going to find people? Are you suggesting we abandon the town? What are you thinking?"
Doris's tone was still rational.
"I am thinking of deploying every person in this expedition. Seven people from the castle forces, six people from the margrave family, and five students from the magic academy."
"We can't jeopardize the students' lives,"
Doris's tone changed.
"Do you think you will be able to keep them safe in the town with our current forces if the monsters attacked?"
Ryan calmly questioned.
Doris's expression became ugly.
"They might as well venture out and become strong enough so that they can protect themselves. They are future mages, after all. Besides, you will have to keep extra forces occupied with their safety. If they go and participate in battle, we can hit two birds with one stone, because the mages we are sending are already more than enough to ensure their safety."
Doris looked at Ryan.
Ryan stared back.
"Are you seriously not interested in the vice commander position?"
"Spare me. I don't want to get dragged into political banter. Besides, I belong on the battlefield. I can still go on for another good 20 years."
He smirked and stroked his chin. He was in his mid-thirties, but Doris saw his small build with good muscles as something towering.
But this wasn't the only thing remarkable about him. It was his bold approach to difficult situations that made Doris put him in his right-hand man position.
He had been pestered endlessly by Doris to take on the vice commander of the Royal Magic Brigade position ever since he experienced his unorthodox methods and ability to pull his teams out of impossible situations.
But he flatly refused, as he wanted to waltz into battle on his own, taking on as many direct combat opportunities as he could, but he still wasn't satisfied.
So he settled for the scout leader position, as it gave him access to approach any situation.
Doris sighed.
Such a capable person, when put in charge of the Brigade, would bring miraculous changes, but he wanted something else. Instead of a position of power, he wanted to be a free spirit.
Now, when all roads could be seen as blocked, he proposed this idea, which even Doris found hard to counter.
He sighed again.
"Go prepare the squad. I am leaving you in charge."
"Your command is received," he replied cheerfully and went out.
Doris looked at the alarm report of yesterday's night and tapped under his desk.
A shadow magic spell calmly spread throughout the town.