Chapter 70 – Surreptitious

The centipede carriage arrived near the borders of Lugenstan. However, just as about they were to have it good. The carriage encountered a giant sand worm that chewed the centipede’s head. The carriage flipped around, but luckily the passengers got out alive.

Ramiel who was sitting in the back rolled over the sands. Leone followed after but was agile enough to break his fall. The whole passengers then engaged the sand worm. They may be passengers, but the passengers of the carriage are from Tinople city. Meaning to say, they are people who can handle this kind of predicament.

Without the restriction of the Tinople City’s infamous spell canceling formation. The folks that could cast spells turned their unused mana to the sand worm as if venting the unreleased mana that piled up inside them.

Ramiel watched the scene with quite a surprised face. He dislocated his arm a bit during the fall, but the healing spell him able to fix it. Although he oddly couldn't touch his right shoulder now, it isn’t a bother to him at all, however, Leone was kinda worried.

“You okay Ramiel?”

“Fine...gulps, how about you try a water plus freeze plugs gust combination Leone?”

“Eh?” Leone casted a wind slice spell at the giant sand worm. Ramiel is taking cover in a slope of sands. Firing bolts at the enemy, he was doing his best to somehow damage the enemy.

“For example: How about casting a pile of water on top of the sand worm, then using freeze to solidify the water and make it look like a giant icicle. With that icicle, you can use the gust of wind to hammer it down to the sandworm’s scale.”

Ramiel would like to do this combination. But without the power to control offensive spells, he can only do as much. So instead of screaming like a little bitch, Ramiel kept his cool and thought out how to help.

“I will try!”

Leone lifted his palms up high in the sky. Glowing spheres twirled on his palm gathering light. Leone then put strength on his arms making veins appear on the back of his hand. A blue magic circle appeared on top of the sandworm, a pile of water discharges heavily at the sandworm. Another layer of magic circle appeared on Leone’s hand. Light Blue, the circle of magic turned the waterfall-like into ice. Another layer of magic appeared on the three magic circle and this time it pushed the frozen icicles into the body of the sandworm.

Fleshy sounds erupted everywhere as the sandworm gets pierced. Leone smiled a bit but didn’t relax as she casted another spell to tie up the sandworm in place. The other magus’s saw the brilliant display that Leone showed.

“Wow, that worked?”

“You weren’t sure!?”

“Hey now, you know I can’t cast for shit.”

Smugly, Ramiel replied to Leone. Lifting his gourd, he then watched the passengers bring down the giant sand worm down to the ground. It was quite a battle, and Ramiel got quite thrilled at the scene before him.

...

The battle against the sandworm was over. The passengers didn’t want to trek the Trapolstan Desert so they waited for the horse bound carriages that they requested from the city.

The Horse carriages arrived and the passengers were taken in. Leone and Ramiel rode together in the same carriage as usual. Along with them was the non-human group they were talking in a campfire once.

The travel was light. The carriage may have their wheels buried sometimes but the journey to Lugenstan went quite well. Ramiel saw the city of Lugenstan as he tried to take a look at the carriage. The carriage was more of a cart, so he was able to see the stony city of Lugenstan that is partly covered in sand while other half is covered in vegetation.

The carriages rolled to the gates of Lugenstan. It attracted attention but the scene was quickly drowned out by the other non-humans entering the city of Lugenstan.

Ramiel stepped out of the carriage and few inches away from the carriage to survey the city. He looked around and saw that the city is purely made of cobblestone and carved stone. The city is like fortress, and the buildings aren’t simple at all. They are made of stone and not one of them is composed of wooden materials unless they were just furniture. Ramiel felt like this place can endure a lot of punishment. The streets are also quite crowded. He could see various non-humans talking to humans as if it was a natural thing to do.

While Ramiel is observing the city of Lugenstan, Leone who is just getting off the carriage felt someone pats his shoulder. He looked at the smiling figure of the silver-haired elven she was talking in a campfire just a while ago. Leone turned around said.

“What’s up?”

“Are you heading to the Elven forest?”

“That’s...well I will after helping my benefactor settle in this place. I plan on returning back though.”

“Hai, it sure is tough being an ex-guardian of the forest. But are you really sure that you want to abandon the forest?” said silver-haired elven.

“I do. I have been longing for the outside world so far. And besides I think that I do not have a place in my homeland again after what I did to smear the ranger’s name.”

“Is that so? Very well, I will tell you my name for now. Silveria, that is my name and I think that having a ranger friend is a good thing for a spymaster like me.”

“I see...My name is Leone, it is nice to finally know your name, Silveria.”

The two smiled simultaneously; light casted upon their heads as their hairs fluttered behind their back. Leone and Silveria nodded their heads.

“See you, Sister Leone, I hope that we meet again, some day, some time.”

“I too, though I hope that you just keep that former a secret. Well, it doesn’t matter really.”

“Eh...you are as weird as him...”

“I know...that is why it is quite fun looking after something you do not expect.”

“Really, us elvens and our obsession in protecting, be sure to keep it in moderation okay?”

“I know. Despite this, I will still be leaving for a while anyway.”

“Okay, see you Leone... and please keep your hair, it looks beautiful on you.”

“Thank you, and goodbye Silveria!”

Silveria disappeared into the crowd, leaving Leone behind. Ramiel who was looking around at the buildings tap Leone’s shoulder.

“Let’s go for a drink Leone. I am out of ale...”

“Sure!”

With that, Ramiel and Leone decided to head for a tavern.