Chapter 13: The Perfect Moment is Tonight!

Chapter 13: The Perfect Moment is Tonight!

"Tonight, you should get some rest early. It'll take us several days to reach the Wizard's City by ferry, and we'll have plenty of time to study new magic," Jonny advised Lynn. Seeing that Lynn was not convinced, she offered this reminder before turning to leave.

"Wait... Jonny!" Lynn tucked "Basic Magic Primer" into his arms and suddenly thought of his earlier suspicion, so he spoke up.

"What's the matter? Is there something else?" The silver-haired witch stopped in her tracks.

"Are you sure no one else knows the location of our hideout besides us?" Lynn asked again.

"Are you suspecting that someone among us might have defected to the Church?" Jonny's expression grew serious, and she understood Lynn's concern. She had the same suspicions, but after hesitating for a moment, she shook her head and said, "That's impossible!"

"Before you arrived in Ur Town, we spent a whole week in this village... The dangerous tasks of gathering information and procuring supplies were assigned by drawing lots," she explained. She had taken this opportunity to test each and every one of them, and so far, they hadn't encountered any pursuit from the Church. That was the best proof.

Lynn wasn't surprised by this; he was more direct in his response.

Have you ever thought that maybe the Church's first target isn't us?

Lynn knew that for an insider, silent compliance meant only one thing – working towards a bigger gain...

Jonny was momentarily stunned, wearing a puzzled expression on her face.

"Lame Loude... The route to Greenrealm, that's the true target of the Church!" Lynn said, enunciating each word.

He didn't know what kind of relationship the "Drunkard" Hawke and Kora had that made them willing to help apprentice wizards like them, but one thing was certain. A hidden passage directly leading outside the city was not specifically built for them!

In other words, "Drunkard" Hawke was very likely a spy placed by the Wizards in the Nordland Province, and helping them sail to Lorde was undoubtedly more important.

Lynn could imagine how many wizards had entered the Secas Empire through this route over the years, and how many cargo-laden ships had set sail from Nordland's ports to reach the Wizard's City.

Will didn't dare linger and swiftly crossed the hallway, entering a secluded storage room. He turned around and closed the door behind him.

The old wooden door creaked and groaned, a testament to the mercenaries who had violently broken in. All the locks in the manor had been damaged, and the storage room was a chaotic mess, with dusty wooden boards covering the floor, and a few chairs and cabinets strewn haphazardly.

Will knelt down, anxious, and started to clear away the clutter piled up in the corner, revealing a dusty floor with an enigmatic rhombus-shaped pattern etched on it.

Back when they were apprentices selecting their specialized fields, Jonny had chosen elemental magic, Dove had opted for psychomancy, and Will had mastered alchemy.

"By boat, the harbor, Lorde..."

Will etched each character into the center of the magical circle, then placed the magic stones on the four circular patterns within. Faint, radiant light gradually emanated, extending along the lines of the magic circle.

Just as the radiance was about to enshroud the entire magic circle, a piercing sound of something cutting through the air echoed in the silent room. A "Frostblade" was pinned firmly to the edge of the magic circle, and the brilliant magical light instantly dimmed.

"Who's there?" Will was startled, and he sat down on the floor, his eyes filled with fear as he looked towards the direction the sound had come from.

The partially open room had already been forcefully entered. In Jonny's eyes, there was a mix of disappointment and confusion.

"Why are you betraying us, Will?" The hot-tempered Buck strode forward and grabbed Will by his collar, landing a punch on his face. "Answer me!"

"Why?" Will sneered, then suddenly pushed Buck away, wiping the blood from his mouth. He spoke with an agitated expression. "You're asking me why?"

"I am Will Isk, the second son of an Imperial Count! If it weren't for that fool Kora, I would have been living in the Isk estate, attending lavish high-society gatherings, enjoying delicious meals, and being served by servants. In the future, I would have inherited a portion of my father's lands and become a Baron in the Secas Empire!"

"But now? Every day, we're stuck eating the same wretched bread as the peasants, sleeping in filthy ruins infested with rats." Will screamed hysterically. "I've had enough!"

"Kora is a madman, a devil! He taught us demonic knowledge and turned us from high-born nobles into a bunch of insects cowering in the shadows..."

Unlock exclusive early access to a more than 100 chapters before anyone else by becoming a valued member of my Patreon community.