98 Battle Beyond the Stars (2/2)

”Tell me, Dean Dapper… what do you see when you look upon my city?” the Patriarch asked in his wispy voice.

”I-it's beautiful,” I said, unable to hide the awe I felt for something that honestly took my breath away. ”A place of magic and wonder…”

Beneath me, the city that felt hewn out of the very forest surrounding it was alive and breathing with colorful lights and sounds that made this whole surreal experience even more magical than I could have imagined. Like the hammer striking the anvil, it brought home the point that I was in an entirely new world.

”It is all those things, I agree,” the Patriarch nodded. ”But it is also a promise.”

I turned my head to look at him. ”A promise… sir?”

”A promise of a better Fayne. A kingdom worthy of the heavens,” he answered.

”Is that your dream?” I asked surprised. How could I not be? Beside me sat a fairy was obviously struggling just to breathe. Yet he had such a lofty dream as this.

”You have not seen the rest of my world…” he whispered. ”You will find great darkness here… and war… and death… but there is hope to be found as well…”

At this, he patted my arm lightly with his hand.

”And you shall meet others who fight for that same dream…” he whispered. ”I hope you can be of use to them…”

That was the first time I thought fairies weren't all bad. Like the patriarch who stood on that cliff-side and discussed his plans for a kingdom worthy of the heavens, I saw in this battlefield a great general who fought for that very same dream, and I felt pride at being one of her officers.

I stole a peak at Aura and noticed her face brimming with that same pride for her aunt. I smiled. She and I really were on the same wavelength.

It was then that I noticed the commander of the enemy troops positioned next to mine. A dark-haired elf in an unremarkable black garb that covered him from shoulder to ankles sat on top of a dark gray swifthart. His pale, oval face, covered in a silver half-mask that was strangely similar to Aura's own golden mask, was looking right at me, a smile growing on his thin lips. Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.

This elf glanced to the side and whispered something to the female beside him.

My eyes widened at the sight of her. It was the masked rider I fought a few nights previously, the one whose single punch nearly broke my insides.

The masked rider turned her gaze at me as well, and I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. It was a sure sign that trouble was coming.

After a quick discussion, the elf maneuvered his mount so that he could stroll over to me.

By this time, Aura had noticed my agitation and she turned her gaze to where I was looking. I could see her body stiffen at the sight she saw. But neither she nor I did anything as the silver masked elf strolled to the other side of her.

He lowered his head in greeting to Aura before turning to face me.

”I was hoping we would meet at least once in this battlefield, Dean Dapper,” Ardeen Spellweaver said.

Of course, I knew who it was. Who else would be so brazen as to walk past enemy lines so he could come over and chat with his enemies? For sure, I was staring into the face of the brilliant strategist who nearly killed me with his plans. And now face to face with the Magesong clan's Lord of War.