CH 289 – Delete, Escape, Undo (Part 1)

“Keep up, and stay alert,” the young woman in her mid-twenties said in a low voice as she began to climb. “This is meant to be a quick scouting trip. Nothing more.”

The middle-aged man who had teleported us here followed her without another word.

This was the second time in a week that I’d been dragged through a portal against my intention. The first time had worked out in my favor. I passed Augustus’s test, became his intern, and gained insight into his secret technique for mana core expansion.

However, that and this were different.

That time, I had at least the comfort of knowing I was following a well-renowned and respected royal mage.

My eyes glanced down at the black leather shackles peeking from beneath the pants of the young woman and the subtle, uneven bulge beneath the middle-aged man’s trousers where his own ankle restraints had been hidden more successfully.

This time, I had gone who-knew-where, following a pair of criminals.

Moreover, with Augustus, there had been some semblance of a choice. In this particular case, I had been literally pushed through the portal with no explanation, except a wink and a promise of showing me ‘something cool’.

‘Cool’ was not the word I would have used to describe our surroundings.

The air here was hot, humid and rancid, carrying a smell akin to burning hair, scorched clay, and something nauseatingly sour. Red mud clung to my shoes with each step, with more crumbling softly beneath the soles.

My gaze shifted to Aegus.

Did he not know, perhaps?

Deciding there was little benefit in keeping this skill hidden, given the urgency of the situation, I spoke to Aegus using Illusion Magic.

“Aegus, this is Luca. Don’t be alarmed,” I said. “But these two are criminals from Glimver Dungeon.”

However, to my surprise, Aegus smiled and mouthed, I know.

Then, switching to the frequency of our elementals, he spoke to me in secret.

{{ I met Evelia when I went to Glimver Dungeon to contract with Azar. She is quite famous. She was locked up because she flattened a whole city. }}

His insight did not relieve me one bit.

If anything, it further drove home that Aegus was absolutely not of the right mind.

{{ She was brought here under special conditions. Her unique talent, alongside yours, will help us put an end to this war once and for all! }}

Aegus' eyes shone brightly and a grin spread across his face.

Damn it.

I felt a renewed pang of guilt in my chest.

Losing Azar must have seriously messed up his head, if he’s only seeing the potential upside and none of the risk. We had just been teleported away from everyone else, and were alone with two dangerous criminals. Regardless of whatever conditions, the situation did not sit well with me.

I looked ahead.

That meant that getting out of this mess—getting both of us out—was up to me.

There was, of course, the possibility that everything was indeed fine, and I had been merely taken on an exploratory trip, approved by those higher up. A point in favor of this was that neither the Hindsight Reflex skill, nor the Fool's Escape had yet to activate, so at least by their logic, I wasn't in any dire danger that required immediate saving.

Other than this, there was little else remotely reassuring about the entire situation.

Evelia walked ahead with an easy and leisurely step, her bright green ponytail swishing left to right. The motion felt oddly cheerful for someone climbing a canyon above an active battlefield. Beneath her shoes, the soft red dirt and clay gave way in dry little slides, scattering pebbles down the slope.

The middle-aged bearded man beside her did not speak much. He had introduced himself as Peter. His hands remained loose at his sides, but his attention kept flicking over the terrain at the most subtle of sounds. Of the two, he appeared more imposing, but his reactions seemed far more normal and civilian.

Peter had teleported us onto a canyon ridge with stormy clouds above us and a steep drop behind. The only real path was forward and up.

As we walked the short distance to the top, requiring but a few steps, the view below opened up. The valley stretched out beneath us—or at least what remained of it. I imagined that it had been lush and green once. A few patches of resilient green trees stood stubbornly amid the destruction, but the majority had been blasted to bits. Charred tree trunks jutted from the blackened soil and rocks.

I squinted toward the horizon.

From up here, I could make out the sea, faint and grey-blue in the distance. I could also see our base camp, the grey tents clustered inside the ruined city where we had been only moments ago.

Turning to my left, I spotted the opposing camp on the other side of the valley.

Their tents were blue and green.

“Cool, right?” Evelia smiled brightly. Her teeth were white and perfectly straight, and her brown eyes twinkled, despite the lack of a visible sun. She was objectively quite beautiful.

Had I not been aware of the cuffs on her ankles and the fact that she was imprisoned for flattening a city, I might have concluded that she was quite charming. Might have. I knew enough somewhat unhinged, seemingly charming companions in my own realm. Her persona was not fooling me.

To flatten a city meant complete and utter disregard for human life. I did not know the details, but I imagined it meant thousands of lives lost. No filtering for who deserved to die and who did not. Children. The elderly. Pets. All killed without a second thought.

That was the sort of person who had pushed me through a portal and was standing before me now.

“Yeah, it’s cool,” I replied.

There was no need to divulge my true opinion regarding her, the view, and the entire situation.

I focused my attention on the grey tents. If I could figure out where I had been and, more importantly, where Augustus was, I would be able to send a message using Illusion Magic.

“Are we allowed to have come here, though?” I probed innocently.

Evelia blinked. She looked toward the grey tents far off in the distance, and she jerked her hands to her face. “Oh FUCK!”

She rummaged through her black uniform, checking every pocket.

“Shit. Shit. Where is it?”

She turned to Peter.

“You brought the keys, right?”

Peter crossed his arms, and his expression darkened. “No, Evelia. I did not. I thought you did.”

An alarm sounded. It was distant and faint. But it was evidently coming from our camp.

My heart pounded, and my eyes widened as I connected the dots.

Was the alarm in any way or shape related to them? Because it sure seemed to be.

“Shit. We’re done for.” Evelia rubbed her face. She then suddenly turned to me. “Hey, Luca. Aegus said your elemental was strong enough to make his elemental disappear.”

I felt my stomach churn, understanding what she intended to ask next.

She flashed a smile and lifted her trousers, revealing the cuffs. “I don’t suppose your elemental could make these disappear too?”

{{ Mama, shall I help? }} Void’s eager voice sounded into my mind. {{ I can make them disappear! I can do it. }}

{{ NO! Definitely not! }} I replied instantly, using the same frequency.

I was not about to find out what the repercussions of letting loose a criminal like her would be.

“Evelia, were you not cleared to come here?” Aegus had a confused expression on his face. “I thought you said it wasn’t a problem.”

She shook her head. “It wasn’t supposed to be a problem. This was meant to be a quick trip to show you and your friend the playing field. But now I’m going to be in massive trouble…”

Peter clicked his tongue. He did not look pleased and had a lot more to say than he had all this time. “Even if we return now, there’s no way to explain ourselves. This little trip is going to add another decade to my sentence. I’ll never be out in time to see my grandkids as actual kids—they’ll be adults and want nothing to do with me.”

“And I’ll lose my pudding privileges….” Evelia wailed, leaning her head back.

Peter looked like he was ready to snap her neck. The repercussions of their actions were evidently not going to be the same.

Not that it was my problem. The only real problem was that I was stuck with these idiots. All three of them, Aegus included. Though his mental capacity to comprehend the situation was partially my fault.

I looked toward the campsite. There had to be a way to make contact.

I licked my lips.

Perhaps I could send out an Illusion explaining the circumstances, and direct the proper authorities here?

“Hey kid, if your elemental can take these off, please take them off,” Peter asked.

While his words sounded polite, his expression was not merely asking.

“I can’t take them off,” I said.

Peter stared at me, but did not move.

For a moment, the only sounds were the distant alarm from the camp below and the soft hush as the wind pushed small rocks and dirt over the ridge.

Evelia’s eyes widened.

“You can’t?” she asked.

“No,” I replied. "I can't."

{{ Mama? }} Void’s voice sounded again, small and eager. {{ But I can help. }}

{{ No, }} I replied immediately. {{ Absolutely not. These are criminals. }}

Peter’s expression darkened.

“I thought your elemental made another elemental disappear,” he said.

“I said I can’t,” I repeated. “Those cuffs are there for a reason.”

I glanced toward the grey tents clustered far below inside the ruined city.

General Alessia had explained that the ankle restraints were meant to prevent prisoners from running or teleporting away. The Dead Weight Spell embedded within them would activate and lock the wearer in place.

My gaze shifted between Evelia and Peter.

Neither of them had moved since the alarm sounded.

Not away from us. Not toward the camp. Not toward the enemy side either. Not even a hair. Given the alarm, their restraints had probably activated already.

Which meant, hypothetically speaking, this situation would resolve itself if I bought enough time. Someone would come. I just needed to stall long enough for help to arrive before these two attempted something truly dangerous.

The alarm continued faintly below, muffled by distance.

And if I reached Augustus, General Alessia, or even Professor Brennan, this could be fixed sooner, preferably before anyone decided to make the situation even worse.

My gaze flicked briefly toward Aegus.

Wasting no further time, I focused and pushed Illusion Magic outward, above the grey tents, for all to see. I didn't have the luxury to be precise.

[[ Augustus, this is Luca. Aegus and I have been taken to a ridge overlooking the valley by Evelia and Peter. They are asking me to remove their restraints. ]]

The message stretched over the camp.

For half a second, I felt the familiar thread of my magic reach across the distance.

But then it snapped.

I winced, feeling a sharp sensation strike me in the back of my skull.

Whether the message had gone through long enough to be read or had been dissolved before anyone could see it, I had no idea. Either way, it hadn’t felt completely successful.

Peter’s gaze slid toward me. “You tried to contact someone.”

I kept my expression blank, though I was surprised at how on target he was.

He sighed. “Don’t bother. The ridge is under a naturally-occurring communication shear. Prevents enemy mages from intercepting signals sent from scouts positioned up here.”

That was a very reasonable explanation. And under the current circumstances, it was incredibly unreasonable.

“So, you brought us somewhere we can’t call for help?” I asked.

Peter’s mouth tightened. “No. I brought us somewhere with a good view. And now I’m stuck here like a sitting duck.”

Peter glanced back toward the camp, irritation evident on his face.

“We’re pinned in place until recovery mages come to undo the Dead Weight Spell and collect us. And even if we explain ourselves, no one will care. We’ll be treated as escape risks.” His gaze shifted toward the opposing camp across the valley. “And if the enemy side notices four idiots standing on an exposed ridge, unable to run…”

The alarm grew slightly louder.

A cold shiver moved across my skin.

Peter’s expression changed and he let out a curse.

“Luca, get rid of these cuffs now!!” he yelled out.

The world flashed blue-white, and a spell struck the ridge several skulls away from us.

Its impact cracked through the air. Red clay exploded upward in a spray of hot dust and stone. I felt something slam into my side, but the hit felt padded. I felt thankful again for all the protective spellwork embedded into my clothing.

Around me, the others sounded.

Peter began to chant a spell.

Evelia screamed, though whether from fear or delight, I couldn’t tell. She was also clapping her hands like a madwoman, so it was quite likely the latter. A squishy and strangely familiar sound followed each clap, like wet flesh being compressed.

Aegus shouted, and Azar’s flames burst from his mechanical arm in a blazing arc, either in defense or to attack.

I wasn’t sure. I had my own problems taking up my attention.

Despite evading the worst of the attack, my feet had slipped on the wet clay, and the edge of the ridge tilted beneath me. The valley below suddenly came into focused view.

{{ Mama! }}

Void surged outward in a black wave, wrapping around my legs, my waist, my shoulders. His darkness spread up the cliff, snapping me back to safety atop the ridge with enough force to knock the breath from my lungs.

However, it was not safe yet. Several dozen mages in green uniforms had surrounded us from all sides.

“Void, don’t hurt them,” I commanded. “Just delete their ability to aim.”

It wasn’t so much that I was taking a higher moral road; these people had attacked with the intention to kill. I merely didn't want Void doing something unbecoming of a toddler, no matter what Apophis had seemed to suggest.

Not a moment later, Void shot toward the nearest threat, enveloping the three green-uniformed mages in darkness.

{{ BAD! You tried to hurt Mama! }}

“Void, don’t delete them!” I shouted in a reminder.

The nearest green-uniformed mage lifted his hand to cast another spell.

Then he froze.

His eyes moved, but they did not focus. The blue-white light gathering in his palm sputtered, flickered, and collapsed into sparks.

Another mage shouted something, or perhaps tried to. The sound came out nonsensical.

A third took a step forward and immediately stumbled, as if he forgot how to walk. His arms swung through empty air before he crashed face-first into the red mud.

Within seconds, the attacking mages were no longer attacking. Several had dropped to their knees, clutching at their faces or ears. Others stumbled in slow, uneven circles.

{{ I did not hurt them. }} Void informed me proudly.

One mage walked directly into another and knocked them both down.

“Good job,” I said carefully.

However Void interpreted my instructions, it had clearly worked. Far better than I expected. I made a mental note for myself.

Meanwhile, Azar’s flames were taking care of the mages on the other side of the ridge. Fire tore across the ground, forcing ten green-uniformed mages to throw themselves backward since their collective protective spell had shattered. They yelled out briefly as the fire enveloped them, charring them to a crisp.

Aegus stood pale and wide-eyed, his mechanical arm raised. Flames shot around it like an enormous swimming school of fish.

For someone who had apparently puked after seeing the front lines earlier today, he had adapted to unleashing fire on enemy mages rather quickly.

Or perhaps he had not adapted at all, and this was simply panic or Azar having taken control.

Before I could further assess the situation, another two flashes of spellwork bloomed. One was a portal beside me, and another a wall of fire that dropped from the sky.

It was not Azar’s fire.

This flame was broader, cleaner, and far more controlled. Soft heat washed across the ridge.

A second later, Professor Brennan landed on the red clay several skulls ahead of us, her oversized black hat somehow still fixed perfectly in place. Fire rolled off both of her palms in bright, eager spheres. She had a sharp smile on her face as she took in the scene, firing off fireballs against a few remaining enemy mages.

“Well,” Hira said, looking from the downed green-uniformed enemy mages to Azar’s burning line across the ridge, then finally to me. “You two were certainly eager.”

Beside her, Augustus stepped out of a blue portal without any additional ceremony. 

His gaze swept over the area before landing on me.

For a brief moment, I felt relieved.

But then he frowned. Augustus’s gaze swept over the ridge once more, slower this time.

“Where are Evelia Maren and Peter Malvek?” he asked. “We received your message.”

I blinked and turned.

The space behind me was empty.

There was no sign of the bright green-haired woman, nor the bearded middle-aged man. The two criminals who had brought us here, then asked me to remove their cuffs, were gone. Not even their cuffs remained.

Ah. Damn it.