"So that ans when you said those words..."
Lugh nodded in confirmation.
As for the words she was referring to, it was naturally when he yelled,
"Stop! Vaelith..."
followed by,
"...Vaelith called her a Sylph."
The first part of the sentence was a ssage to the elf lurking nearby, undoubtedly preparing to act when the priestess threatened to destroy everything, and everyone, nearby.
The second part was a warning, subtle but clear.
Her main body is most likely not anywhere near the vicinity.
It was a coded signal for the elf. There was an enemy present. She shouldn’t reveal herself.
Lugh had intentionally made himself the highest-priority target, hoping to draw the enemy’s wrath onto himself.
She had seen through his ploy, though, and instead went for Lyra. Fortunately, his backup plan had worked. The mont Vaelith, who had been stalking the scene from the shadows, saw her lithe figure erge, she had taken her shot.
No impossible phasing this ti. No supernatural evasions. The bullet struck true.
She was dead.
Lugh shivered in the rain as he stepped forward.
"Ti to inspect the corpse."
"Corpse?"
Lyra echoed, her tone sharp.
They all turned to look.
There was no body.
Lugh’s expression fell.
"Wait—"
Lyra groaned and facepald.
"Did you really think she was just going to wait for you to finish your explanation?!"
"I-I thought she was dead!"
Lugh stamred, defensive.
"She masked her aura, killed her heartbeat, and even simulated the energy released by the dead."
Xhi’s tone was matter-of-fact. Then she turned to him, eyes cold.
"If we let soone that dangerous slip away, she’ll beco a real threat to your future. We have to follow and eliminate her, now."
"I don’t think Lugh can go on"
Lyra cut in, eyeing him critically.
"We should head back and recuperate."
"I’m going back"
Vaelith spoke without hesitation.
"No, you’re coming with us."
Xhi’s voice was firm, absolute. Vaelith narrowed her eyes, sizing the woman up.
"I’m leaving."
She turned and began to walk away.
Xhi’s voice stopped her cold.
"My puppets are stationed around your precious prince."
Lugh and Lyra recoiled in shock.
"If you don’t help us"
Xhi continued, her tone sickly sweet,
"Then you’ll be heading back to a warm corpse."
The air around Vaelith crackled with raw magical energy.
"Is that a threat?"
Her voice was low and dangerous.
Xhi brushed it off with a smile.
"Honey, you and I both know that’s not a good idea."
She cast a glance at the elf’s glowing hands.
"You’re coming with us whether you like it or not. If you think I’m bluffing, try ."
Lugh felt a headache coming on. This was exactly why the prince had been forced to take such a risk—bringing in a completely unrelated, yet reliable and trustworthy person to act as the head of their fractured group. Renshaw.
Speaking of Renshaw...
Lugh’s eyes flickered around.
The soldiers were starting to regain their senses, both allies and enemies alike. The others put their argunt on hold, exchanging tense glances before swiftly snatching up their rifles.
Then they slowly and thodically executed the enemy troops before they could rise again.
Gunshots rang out in the rain.
Once the battlefield was silent again, Vaelith exhaled sharply.
"Fine. I’ll help. But what about the boy?"
She jerked her chin toward Lugh.
He was in terrible shape, that much was obvious. But he knew they couldn’t afford to hesitate now.
"I agree with Xhi,"
He said, pushing past his exhaustion.
"We have to follow them now."
Lyra frowned.
"Are you sure?"
"Do you rember what she said when we first t her?"
Lugh pressed.
"She said a lot of things"
Lyra muttered.
Lugh repeated it, voice firm.
"I can’t allow you to advance further than this. You might screw up our plans."
Instantly, they understood.
"Forward is—"
"The weapons depot"
Lyra breathed, realization dawning.
"The one the resistance is supposed to hit."
"Exactly. The place that supposedly has a bunch of armored vehicles that lack fuel."
Lugh’s voice darkened.
"That story always sounded dubious to . Now I know why."
"You think it’s a trap?"
"I know it’s a trap."
Lugh’s expression was grim.
"We have to hurry before sothing terrible happens. They’ve been secretly kidnapping humans for months to experint on them.
What happens when the whole city is plunged into war, where missing people are just a regular occurrence?"
The implications hit hard.
A grand battle was coming. Lyra glanced at Lugh’s tottering form.
"If there’s really going to be a battle ahead, you should sit this one out."
But Lugh did sothing unexpected.
"^@#@^&*"
The phantoms swirled, their ethereal forms shifting and weaving around him.
"Restore my strength."
They plunged into his body.
Lugh’s limbs steadied. The sickly pallor of his skin faded. He was completely out of mana, but his Mawglass had stopped acting up, and his connection to his puppets had been restored.
Knowing he would need every bit of strength, he piloted the one lingering around Lovainne, drawing it toward the battlefield.
The priestess took a long hard look at him.
"It would be best if you don’t use that command too often."
She hesitated before adding.
"And avoid that spell for the next week."
Lugh blinked, stunned, but nodded. If even she was saying it, there had to be a serious reason. Too bad. He had hoped he could spam the command.
"Okay, let’s move."
Lyra’s voice was firm.
"What about Renshaw?"
Lugh asked.
"Just leave him here"
Xhi replied dismissively.
The rain had lightened to a drizzle, but it had already washed away any tracks left by their quarry.
Not that it mattered anymore. If Lugh’s suspicions were correct, then the resistance army was walking into disaster.
They just needed to follow them and respond accordingly.
They were about to leave when a voice called from behind.
"You forgot these... again."
Turning, they saw Renshaw. In one hand, he held a cluster of helts. In the other, yet another flask of alcohol.
Lugh blinked.
’Another one? Where the hell does he keep pulling those from?’
"You can’t follow us, Mr. Captain"
Xhi said flatly.
"Wasn’t planning to."
Renshaw tossed the helts toward them.
They caught them reflexively.
He raised the flask in a lazy salute.
"Good luck."
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