Chapter 115: Seven-ringed formation (1/2)
”I wish life was as simple as some of the novels made it out to be,” Layn muttered under his nose as he continued to weave his mana in complicated structures. Soaked to the bone and exposed to the surprisingly cold winds of the grassy desert, even Layn found it hard to focus.
'It would be great to just said ”he went back home” and skip over to that part already,' Layn continued to grieve. The first of his spells soon started working. Now that the energy was no longer a problem for him, Layn rarely concerned himself with the efficiency of what he was doing.
And that's how, rather than creating a simple, levitating spell to fly back, Layn spent thrice as much time as needed in the water to construct a magical platform on which he could stand up and dry his clothes!
”Ah,” Layn moaned when all his spells finally came alive. He was warmed up by a constant hot wind created by one of the spells. Rather than standing on the shapeless mass of magic, Layn sat in a comfy chair while pushing it through the endless expanse of the sky. ”Now that I think about it,” Layn continued speaking to himself, hoping that it would make thinking easier for him. ”Just where could those artifacts come from?”
The question sadly remained without an answer. Layn's spells made his return relatively short. The only reason why he took the boat in the first place was because of possible anti-magical traps in that strange structure.
'Aliens? Or maybe the ancients of former eras were more advanced than we imagined,' Layn still attempted to tackle the issue even when he stepped back at the camp.
A small commotion erupted in the instant he returned.
”Where have you been for so long?!” Irea screamed out as soon as she arrived at the scene before grabbing the archmage in a desperate hug.
”I'm sorry, it took longer than I expected,” Layn excused himself, trying to ward off the attack. Against Irea's attacks though, he was powerless.
”Did monsters attack while I was away?” Layn asked after a prolonged moment of silence.
Irea didn't reply to him at all. She just buried her face in his chest while locking her arms behind his back. And no matter how Layn attempted to talk her up, she remained in place.
”Sir, if I may,” Antion spoke up, moving a step closer. By the time Layn had any mind to pay attention to him, the entire group already gathered around.
”Speak,” Layn ordered with a deep sigh. 'Looking at them, it wasn't one or two monsters but a whole bunch,' Layn thought while squinting his eyes.
The state of the mercenaries was tragic. As if the monsters detected Layn leaving, they picked the perfect timing for their attack on the camp.
No one was missing. That was the most important part. But Layn couldn't say the same about the number of hands, legs, and eyes.
There were seven injured. Two of them got away easily, just with life-threatening wounds. The remaining five was generally in a better state…
But they were missing some parts. One of them lacked a right hand. Another one missed an entire left arm. The third had to learn how to live without his legs, while two others only kept half of their vision.
”Sir, we were attacked. Right at the darkest hour of the night you left, sir,” Antion reported, keeping his head low.
'Fuck,' Layn thought when all the joy of the discovery from before was washed away by the sorrow. The consequence of his choice was dire.
'No matter how much I despair, I won't change it,' Layn bit on his lips. It wasn't the first time when people under his command were injured. It wouldn't even be the first time for him if some of them were to die.
But in no way, did Layn enjoy experiencing this feeling in this current life of his.
”Everyone,” Layn started, perfectly aware that this moment was crucial. Even if he could keep all of them attached to him now, it would be of pure calculation, not devotion. And this wasn't the means he wanted to use when creating a stable following.