Evans walked through the hallways, the time had come. Thousands of warriors and magicians had gathered to form the army that was going to head south. Evans watched everything from the main garden of the mansion.
The duke left the mansion, dressed in his elegant uniform, on his belt he carried a sword that radiated a powerful aura that was barely contained by the sheath. The Duke looked at Evans.
Evans made a respectful bow, shortly after the duke boarded his imposing carriage and set off towards the South leading thousands of magicians and warriors.
Evans considered the scene quite imposing, seeing several warriors at the fifth rank and hundreds of mages at the peak of the fifth circle, it was something that only a powerful house like the Qualty dukedom could achieve.
"There are very few guards left in the mansion, the vast majority are below the fourth rank. Apparently many people will die"
Evans walked again through the hallways that were now practically empty like the rest of the mansion.
"Apparently everyone is aware of the duchess's plans"
Evans went to his room, grabbed a book on basic magic, and walked to the back garden to go give Aria magic lessons.
After giving Aria the lessons, Evans went to find Stan at the training ground.
-Young sir, what do you want?
-I want you to stay outside Aria's room, making sure that no stranger approaches her; In addition to that, select the strongest warriors and magicians to do rounds near the perimeter of Aria's room, be careful, choose the best.
Evans left and went to his room. Evans took out five high-level mana elixirs containing his energy, slowly beginning to engrave magic circles made up of intricate symbols. When dawn arrived, Evans had stayed up late, but thanks to that he had just drawn the fifth magic circle in the fifth vial. Now I just have to place them around Aria's room, to form a magical barrier that is connected to my mind.
The sky was still dark when Evans stepped out into the garden, took a breath, and then walked to the perimeter of Aria's room, buried the elixirs in the surrounding area, and activated a magical barrier. At the end, the sun was about to rise and the sky was slowly turning a light color.
"At least this way I'll know if anyone suspicious is approaching."
9 days later, the duke's carriage continued on its way south; The butler who had just entered the carriage said to the duke:
-Honorable Duke, I have received a magical message; A few hours ago, an assassin of the sixth rank entered the dukedom and was accompanied by several accomplices who were at the top of the fourth rank.
-So she decided to act; She is an ambitious woman; It's a shame our kids have been such a disappointment. -The duke expressed with an indifferent attitude.
-What are your orders? -Asked the butler Fred who seemed to be waiting for an answer that never came, or rather silence was the answer.
Days later. At noon.
Evans was walking through the lonely mansion, if before there were very few servants, now those that remained could be counted on the fingers of his hands.
-Young sir, shouldn't we escape? -Stan asked him.
Evans looked at him calmly as he responded:
-Where to? That would only make things easier for them, they wouldn't even find our remains. Let's hope, just do your duty.
-As you order, young sir. -Stan said hiding his concern and then going to protect Aria.
"So you plan to torture us psychologically; it won't turn out the way you expect, Duchess; whatever happens, it won't turn out the way you want."
Evans walked to the perimeter of the back garden and saw Aria talking to Lizet. Ana and Lizet hid their worries as best they could, Aria seemed happy, but sometimes she looked at them intently, as she sensed that something was happening and she didn't know what.
"Just play, don't stop to think about the problems; you're still little, the time will come for that"
Evans approached and asked his sister:
-Aria, did you practice the spells I taught you?
-Yes, I did.
four days later. Night.
The sky was dark and cloudy, causing shadows to spread to every corner of the mansion.
Evans was sleeping.
Dozens of men in black robes entered the territory of the mansion, taking the guards protecting the mansion by surprise. Most of the guards died without knowing who attacked them; Those who could react only survived long enough to know that resistance was futile.
Little by little the invaders took over the territory of the mansion, the order was to kill all those who had not yet left the mansion, that was the punishment and the lesson that the duchess imposed.
From a distance, the duchess observed what was happening with subtle satisfaction. "From today, only my son will have a chance of inheriting the dukedom. Dirty bastards like you just have to disappear."
Stan, who noticed the unusual movement, ordered the rest of the guards monitoring the surroundings to remain alert. "Something is happening; I must not disappoint the trust they have given me," thought Stan, drawing his sword to face two men in black robes who were approaching.
Bang! Bang!
Stan did not hesitate, he took the elixir and attacked, the two invaders were repelled with two blows from Stan's sword. The invaders felt their hands tremble.
-It is in the fifth rank. -Said one of the invaders.
The other invader only responded nonchalantly and with his tone loud enough for Stan to hear:
-Eclipse already went for that girl.
Hearing the words one of the invaders spoke, Stan turned his attention towards the doors of Aria's room, but before he could approach three invaders appeared in front of him.
The invaders' weapons were stained with blood, which meant that they had killed the rest of the guards.
-You will die here, it doesn't matter if you are a fifth rank. We are five warriors at the peak of the fourth rank...
Stan interrupted the invader who was speaking, he attacked with all his strength.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Stan attacked, driving the invaders back, but with practiced coordination, the moment one invader retreated, another invader attacked without fail. Thus they began to hurt Stan little by little.