NOVEL NEXT Chapter 121: Destination
Since the Phyrexia Kingdom wasn't their enemy, it was a bit hard to believe that they were the culprits in this crime. Because of that, Magister Smith couldn't help but think that the traces of the Phyrexian Mages were actually planted to lead them to a false enemy.
Nonetheless, this was the reason why he needed to do several checks in order to be sure…
Once again, Magister Smith's Spectral Eye was activated, projecting a replay of the attack that had happened here.
As expected, the kidnappers moved with incredible coordination, their spells flawless—too flawless. No hesitation, no wasted energy, as if they've been doing this for a long time.
"It's subtle but they're really from Phyrexia… Why?" Magister Smith couldn't help but frown as he felt that he was missing something.
Phyrexia was the kingdom's largest trading partner.
The Phyrexia Kingdom was mostly filled with deserts and gorges that bore no crops, but their mines brimmed with various ores, including those precious mana-infused ores. Their forges could also produce artifacts unmatched in their kingdom.
A war would cripple both nations since they needed each other's resources.
So why?
Magister Smith's jaw tightened. If Phyrexia had orchestrated this, it made no sense—unless they wanted war. But the alternative reason could be worse: Someone was framing them.
And if that were true, the real perpetrators were still out there, watching. He had to get to the bottom of this.
"Tsk… This is difficult."
More than 60% of their Magic Artifacts and other precious items came from Phyrexia Kingdom… If the source was cut off, they would have huge problems resupplying or even repairing them.
A junior mage approached hurriedly. "Magister, the council demands answers. The Marquis—"
"Tell the Marquis I ride for Frostpeak within the hour," Magister Smith interrupted.
Frostpeak was the closest boundary of the Phyrexia Kingdom to their Austere Kingdom in the south.
The mage paled. "Alone? But the Phyrexians—"
"Will either prove their innocence," Magister Smith said as he walked toward his horse, "or reveal their guilt."
***
After about five and a half hours in the darkness of their prison cell, Hayden felt some movement around, telling him that they were about to reach their destination.
'Still… This is a bit too far…' Hayden mused as he felt that they actually went deeper into the enemy's nation.
Well, even though the skyship suppressed its energy and used various illusions or barriers to hide its presence, Hayden's Ocularis Lens could still calculate its location with the skyship's movement.
Indeed, he was still able to track their progress, and it was a very precise calculation.
[ Estimated Speed: 220 knots. ]
[ Direction: South-southwest. ]
[ Elapsed Time: 5 hours, 32 minutes. ]
At first, the movement of the skyship was a bit difficult to predict. They had a calculated route—one that avoided patrols, trade routes, and prying eyes. Even with his Lens, it took a lot of calculations to monitor their path.
However, just about an hour later, their ship started traveling in one straight direction, and most of the barriers and illusions were even removed in the process.
This was when he believed that they had arrived in the enemy's territory and were already safe from possible pursuers…
'It's really the Phyrexia Kingdom, huh…' Hayden mused as he realized that their destination was just a neighboring nation in the south…
There wasn't much information about this kingdom in the Academy's lessons, even after studying for three years.
Aside from being filled with deserts and gorges with minimal arable land, he only knew that Phyrexia's northern border to the Austere Kingdom was filled with military outposts…
But as they traveled further south, he wasn't really aware of what to expect.
"The Obsidian Tower?" It was at this time that Hayden heard a conversation between the Mages guarding their cells.
***
As the first streaks of sunrise appeared on the horizon, the skyship finally descended toward a huge tower. It was like a monolith of black stone.
There weren't any flags and sentries at all.
Just the tower, standing alone in a dead valley where even the wind was still.
'What an awful place…' Hayden mused.
The moment the gangplank lowered, the barriers of the skyship were also removed.
It was at this time that the smell hit Hayden—a mix of salty air, iron, and something sweetly rotten.
It was a strange sensation as Hayden couldn't help but frown at it.
Prince Helcurt then walked ahead. It was quite easy to recognize him even without looking at the walking figure because his boots were clicking as he walked…
As he stood at the entrance of the tower, he spoke.
"Welcome to your new home, slaves. This is the Obsidian Tower… Here, you'll learn the only truth that matters—obedience."
At this time, the door of the tower had finally opened and a line of hooded figures arrived.
The Prince then introduced them as the Tower's Keepers.
The captives, who seemed to have been weakened due to injuries and lack of Aura, were herded into a large hall.
At this time, Hayden calmly observed that its walls were lined with iron pods—each large enough to hold a person.
Hayden's Ocularis Lens started to work as he assessed their situation. Aside from the iron pods or cells to hold them, he also noticed various items inside…
Soon, a Keeper stepped forward and spoke to the captured students.
"You will enter the pods. You will sleep. And when you wake…"
He gestured to a row of armored figures by the far wall. They were about 25 years old or higher, a lot older than them, and they seemed to be working in the Tower.
However, there were traces of shackles on their necks, hands, and feet…
Without using his Lens, Hayden could tell that they were former prisoners, now standing at perfect attention. Their eyes were hollow and seemed to have been through a huge trauma…
"...you will be better… Just like them. However, with your young age and talents, I'm sure you will be the best product that we have."