Chapter 73: A Heavy Loss?
The caravan rolled steadily onward, the rhythmic creaking of axles and the clatter of hooves filling the air. The recent skirmish with the mercenaries hadn’t caused any significant setbacks. Givia, reassured by Abyss’s explanation that the two unconscious guards would recover fully after some rest, felt a sense of relief. Aside from a minor bruise suffered by the guard who had fallen from his horse, the caravan had emerged unscathed.
“If we make haste, we should reach the Restoration Army’s base soon,” Givia said, her voice cheerful, as she lifted the carriage curtain and pointed towards the road ahead. “The scenery is becoming familiar. Our comrades await us. Soon, these potions will be in their hands.”
Her face radiated excitement, her beauty enhanced by the sunlight streaming through the window.
Leona, sitting beside her, couldn’t help but admire Givia’s profile. Her beauty wasn’t the conventional kind, not the elegance of a noblewoman, the charm of a young lady, or the allure of a courtesan. It was the unique charisma of a leader, a warmth and strength that inspired trust and confidence.
Unlike Emperor Camper of the Eastern Empire, whose intelligence and dominance commanded obedience, Givia’s power stemmed from her empathy, her courage, and her keen understanding of human nature. Her gentle approach was more suited to a smaller kingdom like Ossi. She shared some similarities with Princess Helen, but she was more grounded, more attuned to the struggles of ordinary people, a quality honed through years of hardship and exile.
“Wait… I sense magical fluctuations from that wagon…”
Abyss’s soft voice interrupted Leona’s thoughts, pulling her back to reality.
Everyone in the carriage tensed.
A loud bang suddenly erupted from one of the cargo wagons.
Boom!
The powerful shockwave startled the horses, already on edge from the constant threat of ambushes. The guards struggled to calm them.
“Impact!” Abyss exclaimed, recognizing the spell. He jumped out of the carriage, his gaze fixed on the source of the magical fluctuation—the wagon that had been carrying the two unconscious guards. It was now in splinters. Two figures emerged from the wreckage.
Abyss raised his hand, about to suppress their mana, when one of them spoke.
“These two are under our control now. Are you sure you want to suppress their magic? I’m warning you, if they attempt to use magic while suppressed, their blood vessels will rupture, and they’ll die.”
Abyss narrowed his eyes, observing the two men, their bodies now puppets of an unknown enemy.
So the illusionists were just the first stage of their attack! Their true goal wasn’t to incapacitate the caravan’s defenses, but to infiltrate their ranks, taking control of their minds while they were unconscious! This was a new tactic employed by the Lord of Nightmares, something Abyss hadn’t encountered before. He could control mortals through their dreams!
Boom! Boom!
The two controlled guards, without hesitation, attacked the other cargo wagons.
The raw concussive force of the Impact spell, accompanied by a low, rumbling sound, shattered two more wagons. The sound of shattering glass echoed from within—the potion bottles had broken!
“No! The potions!” Santos exclaimed, his face pale with horror. Three wagons filled with potions! Almost half of their haul from the Eastern Empire!
Abyss didn’t hesitate this time. He chanted a spell, a powerful wave of mana enveloping the two controlled guards, disrupting their magic.
As the unseen controller had warned, their skin turned crimson, their capillaries rupturing from the strain of forced magic.
“Freeze!”
Abyss instantly encased them in ice, halting their movements and their spellcasting, protecting them from further harm.
“I’ll heal them!” Flora exclaimed, rushing out of the carriage. She would use her Divine Arts to free them from the enemy’s control and heal their injuries, concealing her methods from the others.
But the potions in the three wagons were destroyed. The force of the Impact spell had even shattered the wagons’ wheels, sending splinters of wood flying through the air. No potion bottle could survive such an impact.
“Damn it!” Santos cursed. “That treacherous Kevin!”
The other guards were devastated. They had risked their lives, lost several comrades, and endured countless hardships to acquire these potions from the Eastern Empire. And now, half of them were gone.
“It seems I underestimated the enemy’s cunning. I didn’t anticipate this,” Abyss said, stroking his chin, his voice filled with regret.
“The potion bottles are broken?” Rebecca asked, leaning out of the carriage window, observing the wreckage. “That’s a ruthless tactic. Forcing those two to use magic beyond their capabilities must have put a tremendous strain on their bodies. Thankfully, we have Flora.”
Flora, crouching beside the two guards, nodded at Abyss, signaling that she had freed them from the enemy’s control. High-ranking Divine Arts were incredibly useful in such situations.
“Your Highness! I failed to protect the potions. I deserve death!” Santos exclaimed, kneeling before Givia’s carriage, his voice filled with grief.
But Givia’s reaction was calm and composed. “It’s not your fault, Santos. The enemy was cunning. I won’t punish you. Have everyone gather the remains of the potions. We’ll leave immediately and return to our base as quickly as possible.”
“Gather the potions? But they’re broken,” Santos said, confused.
“You’ll understand soon,” Givia said, a knowing smile on her face. “Hurry. And tell the soldiers to be careful not to cut themselves.”
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