NOVEL NEXT Chapter 204: Entering the New Town
As Van continued to observe from the tree line, he noticed movement along the dirt path leading to the town gates.
It was a group of people with five wagons following behind... There were about thirty or more people he could see from his position.
They were moving slowly toward the settlement.
Many of them limped, had wounds, or leaned on one another for support. They don't look good at all.
'Are they affected by the ongoing war or something?' Van mused.
Some bore makeshift slings for their wounded arms, bloodied cloth bandages, and broken weapons strapped to their backs.
It was clear they had come from a battle… However, the injuries didn't seem to have come from Spells, so Mages shouldn't be involved.
Van observed them carefully.
Ten guards walked alongside the group, their armor was dented, and there were also signs of splattered blood...
They carried spears and swords, and their expressions were tired. Still, their eyes were constantly scanning the forest. They were Aura Users, but since they weren't emitting their true Aura, Van wasn't sure what level they were from his position.
He was a bit too far for that.
Anyway, he soon noticed something important. Five apprentice mages moved with the group. They were distinguishable by their grayish-blue robes with gold-stitched hems.
They bore no visible Mana Circles, as indicated by the Lens. Likely trainees sent for field experience.
But what caught Van's attention most was the group of eight young medical practitioners walking with them.
They wore plain green and white robes stained with blood and dirt. Among them, one adult—a woman in her late thirties—appeared to be the leader of these people.
She was on a wagon checking a man's arm and gave a few quiet instructions to the younger ones, then moved to the next injured person in the wagon.
[ Identification: Civilian Convoy – Mixed Status ]
[ Threat Level: Low. All Apprentice Mages below Circle Grade. ]
[ Aura Users Detected… ]
[ Medical Personnel Detected… ]
His Ocularis Lens confirmed his analysis.
"Good…"
This was the opportunity he needed.
He didn't need to sneak past the walls or forge documents—not if he could blend in with this group.
Their group was quite big and disorganized. The guards weren't alert enough. And apprentice mages didn't have the authority or experience to scrutinize everyone under their protection.
If he could just look the part...
His gaze shifted toward the third wagon, one of three traveling at the rear. It carried not just those heavily injured, but it also included supplies like bandages, crates, vials of herbs, and a few folded robes of apprentices. A pair of masks used for basic sanitation even lay atop one of the piles.
Perfect.
***
Activating his Aura Cloaking, Van vanished from the forest line as he swiftly move…
He remained low and silent, sticking close to the shadowed part of the forest…
The Lens assisted his trajectory calculations with predictive mapping of guard routes and blind spots.
[ Proximity Alert: Safe. Cloaking Holding. ]
He moved fast, but he was always being careful… He walked across the dirt, behind a boulder, then under the cover of an old cart wheel.
It happened fast, and thankfully, the guards and the apprentice mages weren't really thinking that anyone would try to blend within their group.
As the convoy passed a slight incline, one of the wagons tilted just enough to jostle the crates inside. A tired guard at the rear didn't even glance back.
Van used that moment.
He rolled forward and slid beneath the wagon, his body flat against the earth, and waited as dust rained down from the wheels above.
He could hear the uneven breathing of those walking around him—some groaning in pain, while others were murmuring softly to one another.
When the wagon creaked again as it slowed to climb another bump, Van moved.
He swiftly reached up, unlatched one of the crates, and pulled it down slowly.
There were no clinks or any sharp noises. He only needed one set of robes and a mask.
Just like that, before his Aura Cloaking could end, he moved away, carrying the rolled-up robes and mask under his arm.
He waited for the perfect moment, just a few dozen meters before the group reached the town gates—then slipped away into the nearby hedges.
There, behind a thicket of berry bushes, he changed.
He threw off his rough shirt and donned the apprentice robe, then fitted the plain white mask over his face.
The outfit was stained but passable. The hem covered most of his worn pants, and the mask concealed his identity well.
"Not too bad," he muttered softly…
Well, it would have to do.
He soon emerged just behind the medical apprentices and some patients…
Of course, noticing that the Apprentices were carrying some herbs, he also took out some dried herbs he had scavenged earlier from his satchel.
He walked slowly, head slightly bowed, mimicking the posture of those overworked healers.
Thankfully, no one noticed.
***
The town guards at the gate were barely more alert than the ones escorting the convoy.
They waved the group through with little scrutiny, overwhelmed by the sight of injured and exhausted travelers.
Furthermore, seeing the five Apprentice Mages, no one dared to bother inspecting them.
One of the guards welcomed them and spoke…
"The healers must go to the east yard. There's already a place arranged for everyone… Lord Mages, please report to the west block barracks. Lord Axel wanted to meet you all…"
The guard then continued to give instructions, and as expected, the patients were all treated differently… They actually had to pay in order to enter… Furthermore, they were escorted to another area…
At this time, Van stayed close to the medical team, who were all following the two wagons carrying heavily injured patients…
He followed the physician and her apprentices toward a clearing near the eastern edge of the town, where a makeshift canvas tent had already been erected…
He helped carry a crate and handed it to one of the young women organizing supplies.
She barely acknowledged him before moving on.
Good. That was what he wanted.
It was time to flee…
However, it seemed that this would not be easy...