bookpower Chapter 534: Ambush
Chapter 534: Ambush
Chapter 534: Ambush
"All clear, go," said the guard leader.
A moment later, the carriages moved out of the outer checkpost of the fortress of Baxzar. We didn't enter the main fortress like we did in the Mahal.
Instead, I took the route around it.
The Baxzar Dominion is one of the most powerful and biggest countries in the Zenid.
It could be called an empire, but a dominion is the best term to describe it with its political system.
It's a country with thick forests that would make anyone get lost, with 80% of its population being orcs. The rest are humans, elves, and other races.
Our carriages moved toward the thick forest.
The whole dominion is like this. Filled with dense forests.
It is not just because of the environment but also the primal nature of classes these people here have, which affects the things around them.
It is why not even the Navr and its horde were able to go much deeper into the Baxzar.
It is due to it that the Baxzar dominion is one of the oldest kingdoms in the continent. Even the incursions weren't able to wipe them out.
The carriages were at the edge of the forest. Lt. Colonel Zaris and Lena moved toward the twelve people waiting there.
The leader was the orc with two humans, and the man seemed like a dwarf.
These are mercenaries that we had hired to protect and guide us through the Baxzar. Before, there were only eight, but with prophesy, I increased their numbers.
These people are from the Raxdar mercenary company. It is one of the biggest in the Navr; they are highly rated.
Zaris verified the documents before they got into some heated discussion.
"What are they talking about?" I asked Zela.
"The mercenaries aren't agreeing with the position Lt. Colonel Zaris wants them to take,"
"They are saying they need to be an inner circle to protect you better from the threat that arises from here, which they are more capable of handling," she informed.
Seeing that, I smiled.
Zaris would never agree to that. He takes his responsibilities far too seriously, especially after the prophecy.
A few minutes passed, and the mercenary leader seemed to give up as he placed his men in an outer circle.
A few seconds after that, we resumed our journey.
The dominion may have primality, but it has good infrastructure, including great roads. So, the carriage moved fast.
Our destination is Khulber the City. It is a small city under the territory of the Baris tribe.
I have taken all the permissions from the tribes whose territories I will pass through. I do not need to do that since I got it from the supreme chieftain, but I wanted nothing to slow me down on this journey.
Once I cross the Baxzar, it will take less than a day to reach the archmage city.
"It reminds me of home; the place I grew up has forests as thick as these," said Eudo, looking at things.
"I heard it's quite beautiful," I replied. To that, he smiles. "It is," he said before his smile turned sad.
I sighed seeing that, but didn't speak and turned to the forest.
I watched it for a few minutes before practicing the aura and then reading the book before practicing the aura again.
Before I know it, the sun has started to go down before it becomes fully dark.
Thankfully, there are lamps.
Knowledge is necessary. There is never enough.
It is about the legacy that had disappeared over millennia ago. It was a Grade IV legacy, a good one at that. Lasting for nearly two and a half centuries.
It has information on its master and the legacy's abilities.
I read it for an hour before I put the book down and closed my eyes.
I took a couple of deep breaths and started the layering exercise, but with a different mindset.
I imagined myself standing on the sand and bringing the aura to my feet before imagining it melting into the glass.
It's hard but after a few attempts. I had understood the trick.
The sand beneath my feet melted and turned into molten glass.
As it did, I pulled it over me as thinly as possible.
It moved and began to cover my body slowly.
Soon, it covered my legs and moved up, reaching my waist and then the chest and neck before the head, covering me fully.
Bell says the aura is about the perception.
If you want it to be air, it will be. If you want it to be Earth, it will be. It is a manifestation of one's will; it can become whatever one desires.
I succeeded in the first layer before, and I want to do the second.
I am not as tired as I usually am when I am using my old method. That used to make me a lot more tired, used to take a lot more time and used to take a lot of effort to maintain.
I didn't begin immediately. Instead, imagine myself radiating the cold.
Making the liquid glass solid.
As I did, I began on the second layer. I moved it slowly, but this time, there was a greater strain, but less than what I feel when I do things the old way.
Soon, the aura covered my legs, and I moved it around my waist.
As it reached it. I moved toward my chest, then my neck, and finally the head.
A big smile appeared on my face as I achieved that, and I really wanted to try for the third later, but I didn't.
Instead, I froze it like a first layer and kept it as such for six minutes before letting go.
I really wanted to push, but getting tired wouldn't be wise.
Hours passed, and carriages kept moving. Stopping only for the small bathroom breaks.
Soon, it was afternoon with the bright sun shining from above.
"I want to ride under it," I said, to which Eva rolled her eyes. "You can try, but you will hear the same words again," she replied.
Earlier, when we stopped for the break. I wanted to ride, but both Lena and Lt. Colonel Zaris shot down my idea, terming it too dangerous.
I shook my thoughts and turned my eyes away from the window to the book I was reading.
I am nearly finished with it. In a few minutes, I will be done, and then I will practice again. I will work on the layers.
I want to become good enough at them. It becomes an instinct.
"Ambush!"
I was in my thoughts when I heard the loud warning ring in my ears.
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