Chapter 85: The storm is comming? (2/2)

Back in Layn's past and in the future of the ancients, this saying referred to the value of experience, something that even raw talent and years of training couldn't equal. But right now, when Layn repeated those words to himself, they bore a slightly different meaning.

Back then, it implied the importance of experience. Yet right now, Layn could only think of it as an encouragement to grow. 'Was his form pathetic? It was. Was his grasp of swordsmanship poor? It was. And so is my form and grasp over cultivation.' Just as Layn was about to discard the option of relying on his cultivation, he suddenly changed his mind.

With his means as a damned archmage, he could dispose of those lurkers with just a single thought. Even though his mana was nowhere near to what he wielded at his peak, he was now more than capable of operating on the middle-tier spells freely. As such, creating a vortex of air that would suck all the oxygen before either repelling it or burning it away only to then attach it to the mouth of unsuspecting future victims of suffocation and 'burnout' was well within Layn's means.

But he opted not to do so.

”I'm ready. What's going on?” Looking to the side, Layn squinted his eyes in satisfaction seeing Irea already in her full gear. Outside of the rope that was still gently outlined underneath Irea's shirt, she switched her usual shirt into simple pants. With a single coat-like robe covering it all, she had more than enough space underneath her outer robe to hide the motions of her hands from anyone attempting to guess her next move.

”I believe the price I asked for… It was a bit too much for them to stomach.” Moving back to the window, Layn observed how some of the shadows moved from the dark spots on the other side of the street to the blind spot of his window, blocked by the protruding wall of the Inn they were staying at.

”Are we going to kill them?” Looking to the side, Layn took a long glance at Irea's resolved face. From her clear eyes, the archmage could tell that this question had no deeper emotions or meanings underneath. As if asking if she should go and get some salt from the neighbors, Irea didn't seem to be perturbed by the idea of killing her fellow inner disciples at all.

”Well, that's one way to go about it, but also it's something I assume our real enemies want to happen.” Shaking his head, Layn reached for the knob before opening the window all the way out to the point where the hinges the shuts were hanging on started to creak, only to break free from the wooden wall when enough pressure was applied.

”If we kill them, we will lose our lead to where the sanctuary is held. What's more, we won't be able to obtain any leads as to who actually sent those meatshields at us.” Speaking with a perfectly normal voice as if not bothered by the fact that the very people he treated with scorn and disregard were listening to him, Layn winked at the girl. ”I will keep them alive in order to figure out who is the leader. Then, once we will get rid of the bodies, I will take my sweet time to pick his brain out.”

Sitting on the frame of the window, Layn threw his legs to the other side before jumping down from the second level of the inn their room was located at. Landing right in the middle between the group of shadows that still hid on the other side of the street and those who already managed to push further, the archmage hid his hands underneath the same, spacious robe that Irea was wearing while conjuring a set of simple spells under its cover.

”Excuse me guys, but the training of stealth and assassination was scheduled for tomorrow, not today.” With two orbs of light containing a precise set of orders making up the middle-tier spell brimming around his hands, Layn pulled them out from underneath his robe.

”Dear, leave some for me.” Quickly following suit, Irea jumped down and landed right beside the archmage. Yet, even though they apparently did the same thing, her landing was far more graceful and soft when compared to the murderous thump Layn landed with.

”Sure. Just make sure to leave one alive.” Turning to the girl and giving his order in his usual voice, Layn then turned towards the group he was going to face before putting a wide smile on his lips.

”Guys, we cannot let such a mistake to pass. How about you will let us accompany you all to the elders' headquarters so that we can figure out who made the mistake of mixing up your schedules?”