Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 39 (Part 1)
Cory recalled the conversation he had with Rodin.
“Rodin, if we kill the Watcher and retrieve the slave rod, can’t I just escape? I’d be free.”
“No. You must complete the mission for your safety.”
“Why?”
“If you abandon the mission and run away, the Committee will think you killed the Watcher. Then they’ll come after you.”
While a Spirit Mage excels at hiding their traces, Mages are also adept at tracking.
It was unclear who would be superior, but it was certain that with Cory’s abilities, he wouldn’t be able to shake off a 5th Circle Mage’s pursuit.
“What if I complete the mission?”
“Complete the mission and then disappear. The Committee will think you never encountered the Watcher. They’ll assume you disappeared because the Watcher broke the slave rod and died.”
“What about the Watcher?”
“They’ll assume he met with an accident on the way back or ran away. The important thing is the Committee will think you’re dead. If you prepare a corpse with a shattered head, it’ll be even more perfect.”
To attain the freedom he desperately desired, Cory had to kill Marquis Stain and disappear without a trace.
He spent several days in the royal capital, racking his brain for a plan.
‘Is Rodin’s method the best?’
He made his decision. It was time to act.
Cory stuffed clothes inside his garments to create a bulky figure. With his hair disheveled, he went to a distant clothing store.
Rodin had told him that people don’t remember the face of a first-time visitor but rather the impression they give off.
“Cory, if the guards go to the clothing store and ask the owner if they remember the person who bought these clothes, what will the owner say?”
“Uh, what will they say?”
“Height, weight, and impression. They’ll say something like, ‘A tall, bulky young man bought them,’ not details about the nose or eyes. They can’t remember the face accurately in the first place.”
Recalling Rodin’s advice, Cory visited eight different clothing stores in a single day, buying different outfits each time and acting out different personas.
At some stores, he made himself look bulky, at others, he put towels inside his boots to appear taller. In some places, he hunched over to look sickly, and in others, he slicked his hair back to pose as a wealthy young man.
After buying all the clothes, he finally bought a horse. When buying the horse, he posed as the wealthy young man.
‘Passed the first hurdle.’
He rode the horse out of the capital, using the southern gate instead of heading east towards the special forces training center.
“Let’s bury one here.”
He rode for about thirty minutes to a remote area. After digging a hole, he wrapped one set of clothes in a cloth and buried it. He smoothed out the ground to avoid any noticeable traces and marked the location.
“I better not forget this spot.”
He rode for another thirty minutes and buried another set of clothes.
“How many sets will I need to use?”
If he used all eight sets he prepared, it would mean he was being pursued until the very end. It was the worst-case scenario.
“It would be best if I could end it with just one set.”
After burying all the clothes, he returned to the vicinity of the capital. There were about two hours left before the gates closed.
‘If I just tie the horse well, I should be almost ready. Oh! I need a corpse with a shattered head too. Should I search the back alleys?’
Thirty minutes before the gates closed, he tied the horse in a secluded spot.
Leaving it tied for too long would be a problem, but it should be fine for tonight.
He passed through the gates just before they closed. He walked leisurely through the capital, taking in the surroundings.
‘That spot looks good.’
He noticed a small alley leading off the main street. He saw three silhouettes moving within the alley.
Acting as if he knew nothing, Cory entered the back alley.
Sure enough, it wasn’t long before he sensed people around him. There were two in front and two behind.
“Hey, kid.”
“Damn.”
Cory’s face twisted at the word ‘kid.’
At 18, Cory was almost fully grown, yet he was still small. Only three or four trainees out of his cohort were smaller than him. Even compared to Rodin, who was four years younger, there wasn’t much difference.
This made him sensitive to nicknames like ‘kid’ and ‘dwarf.’ When Hedler called him ‘dwarf,’ Cory had stopped talking to him for two days.
“Hey, kid. Stop right there.”
“Sigh, I was feeling a bit sorry earlier, but now I don’t feel sorry at all.”
“What’s he saying? Kid, give us everything you have and stand over there with your hands up.”
One of the thugs blocking his path jerked his chin towards the wall.
Ignoring the thug’s words, Cory assessed the age and build of the ones surrounding him.
One of the four was about his height and age. The hair color was the same common brown as his own.
“Perfect.”
“Hey, kid. Not listening, huh? Some kids only learn after a beating.”
“Silafe, kill everyone except that one.”
Swish!
It took less than a minute for the three thugs to die. Silafe raised wind blades that swiftly decapitated the three.
The one left alive, similar in appearance to Cory, stood dumbfounded, unable to grasp the situation. When he finally understood, he started to retreat.
“Silafe, make sure he doesn’t escape. Selist, burn the three corpses until only ashes remain.”
Nod!
The corpses caught fire. The flames grew stronger, completely enveloping the bodies. After about thirty minutes, nothing remained but ashes.
“Please, spare me.”
“Well, what should I do?”
“I didn’t recognize someone of your stature. I’ll reflect and live a better life. I’m truly sorry. I’ll do anything if you spare me…”
Thud!
Cory commanded Silafe to knock him out with a blunt wind hammer. Silafe formed a blunt wind hammer and struck the thug’s head.
“There’s some time left.”
Marquis Stain would visit his lover in about two hours. Until then, Cory had nothing to do.
“Hmm, let’s move this guy to that rooftop.”
Nod.
Silafe moved the unconscious thug to a nearby building’s rooftop. Cory followed, aided by Silafe.