Vlad's heart sank, his mind racing. He tried to keep his voice steady, but his words felt hollow. "I'm Vadtyr. I'm just passing through."
The young man's gaze pierced through him, not believing his words. "You're lying."
His voice was firm, his eyes burning with intensity. "What are you doing here?"
Vlad's thoughts went blank. He knew he had been discovered, and his instincts screamed at him to act. But before he could react, an explosion rocked the city from the west.
The young man turned toward the direction of the blast, giving Vlad the opportunity to slip away.
My chance. Taking advantage of the distraction, Vlad dashed through the shadows lingering around the corners of the streets, his heart pounding in his chest. Weaving through alleys and side streets, his senses were on high alert as he not only tried to shake off his pursuer but also to avoid encountering other guards.
After what seemed like a long time, Vlad successfully shook the young man from his trail, his concealed footsteps playing a vital role in his success.
Just have to get to the rendezvous point, and then we can all leave. Alternating between walking through alleys and on the streets of Frageor, he gradually got closer to his destination, unconcerned about the guards running and walking past him.
You can't apprehend who you don't know.
Arriving close to the rendezvous point, he caught sight of the young man with black hair and a trace of purple staring around, scrutinizing everyone who entered within twenty meters of him.
Just as Vlad was about to retreat from the young man's line of sight, he saw the sorcery lineage's high-born staring straight at him, his thumb sliding through his grimoire.
I hate this guy! Unaware of what spell would descend upon him, Vlad called forth a ball of water that enclosed him.
As he concentrated on defending against the high-born's unknown spell, Vlad noticed the people around him growing shorter… or so he thought.
"He's among the rebels!" The high-born's voice permeated the street, drawing the attention of the guards.
How the hell did he perform a viscount-level spell? Shocked and angry at the outcome of the exchange, Vlad quickly formulated a plan.
"Eriest!" Jumping down from the protruding earth, he summoned a raging flame that swallowed him up, together with the water ball enclosing him.
Boiled away by the flame, a massive stream emerged as a result of the reaction between the water ball and the raging flame, shrouding the sight of those present.
Taking no more than two seconds to think up a solution, the high-born and a couple of nearby guards conjured winds that swept the steam away, along with Vlad's presence.
"Fan out and find him!" A bit furious after failing to capture Vlad again, the high-born struggled to maintain his image as he gave orders to the guards while also continuing his pursuit.
Surviving another encounter with the high-born, Vlad felt frightened at how close he was to death. It was a miracle that despite the close calls, he managed to stay ahead, driven by the fear of death and the need to see his goals accomplished.
After much running and hiding, Vlad finally spotted the rendezvous point ahead. With a final burst of speed, he reached the location and dove into the safety of the building. He waited, his breath ragged, as the sound of the guards echoed further into the distance.
Relieved but exhausted, Vlad leaned against the wall, his eyes scanning the rooftops for any sign of danger. He had completed his task and managed to evade capture, but the night was far from over. He could only hope that his teammates had been as successful as he had been.
As he waited for the others to arrive, he closed his eyes, prompting the scenes of his encounters with the high-born to play out in his mind, as well as the scene of the group battle against the ancient mummy.
Not long after he finished examining his performance, his companions began to arrive, each carrying a mix of relief and concern on their faces.
They gathered in silence, exchanging nods and brief updates. But as the minutes ticked by, it became apparent that Aidynr had not yet arrived.
Whispers and worried glances spread through the group. Tension hung thick in the air, and soon the silence broke into a heated argument.
"We can't leave without Aidynr!" one of the practitioners insisted, their voice rising.
"He's probably dead by now," another countered. "Staying here puts us all at risk."
"You don't know that! No one knows that!" a practitioner refuted.
"Enough," said a veteran sorceress, her voice cutting through the noise. "We need to vote. Majority rules."
The group fell silent, nodding in agreement. One by one, they cast their votes until it turned to Vlad, the newcomer, who hadn't voted yet.
A bit more intense, and I would've thought they were all into me.
Saving his thoughts for himself, Vlad's mind raced. He knew the gravity of the situation. Leaving Aidynr behind could be the logical choice to ensure their survival, but the memory of Aidynr's camaraderie and the help he had offered flashed through his mind.
Vlad took a deep breath and recalled the philosophy of the mad sage: "A life worth living is one lived for the desires of your heart."
"I vote to rescue Aidynr," he said firmly, forsaking the safety of reason and stepping onto the turbulent path of emotion.
Hearing Vlad's choice, the group split in their reactions. Some nodded in agreement, while others shook their heads, warning Vlad and his supporters not to regret their decision.
"Fine," one of the dissenters said, his tone resigned. "But don't say we didn't warn you when things go up in the flames of disaster."
Done with their choices, they quickly formulated a plan, informed by the task Aidynr had been handling and the area he was likely in. The plan hinged on creating chaos to divert the guards' attention, giving them a chance to rescue Aidynr.
Vlad was tasked with causing the distraction, paired with a shaman named Elysia who had the innate ability to submerge into shadows, an earl-level spell. Their abilities made them the best candidates for the job, as they had the highest chance of escaping.
Vlad looked at the remaining five percent of his wish bar and took a deep breath.
"Alright, let's do this," he said, determination hardening his resolve.
The plan was set into motion. Vlad and Elysia separated to cover more ground, each tasked with setting fires and causing as much chaos as possible.
Vlad moved through the city like a soothing breeze, soundless, weightless, and ready to divert the tempest of the guards. Carrying out his task, he used his magic to ignite flames at specific parts of the street he was in charge of.
Finishing that, a runic pattern appeared in his mind: the pattern of flame.
"Euxb!" At Vlad's incantation, the negligible set of flames erupted, quickly spreading in their wake and shrouding an entire street in fiery destruction.
"Your evils are cleansed." Having no pity for the lives lost in his destruction, the images of the once beautiful and myriad realm of Tenria occupied his mind, outweighing the mortal grief he had for the loss of innocent lives.
>>>