A Mage Reborn: Legacy of the Fallen Emperor
Chapter 47: Get Lost

Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Get Lost

"Lady Erica!"

At her subordinate’s shout, Erica set down the documents. Since arriving here, good news had been a rare commodity when delivered with such urgency...

"We’ve found Countess Mary and her son, Chel!"

"What?"

But this time was different. This was unexpected, welcome news! Erica’s eyes glittered with sudden elation.

"Where?"

"At the north gate. They shoved past the guards and two horses broke through. There were four of them in total, and they split into two groups as soon as they cleared the gate."

"Four of them? Are you sure it was Mary and Chel?"

"They were hooded, so it was hard to be certain, but we saw a flash of red hair on the boy, definitely not yet a man. The woman was middle-aged, fitting Countess Mary’s description. The riders were likely the surviving knights."

Erica strode to the table and unfurled a map. If they’d split up at the north gate, they’d be heading in completely opposite directions, east and west. It didn’t make sense that Mary and Chel would willingly separate.

"What about pursuit?"

"The guards from the checkpoint are on their tails, but we need to send reinforcements immediately."

"Report their position."

"They’re estimated to have reached this point."

"Wait, wait..."

Erica slowly traced Mary and Chel’s supposed paths with both hands. They’d split up, but both were still heading north. North? North... Erica’s eyes flashed sharply.

"Merelophe is out of the question. They locked their gates to avoid getting involved..."

After Merelophe was the famed merchant city, Shayron. In truth, calling it ’next’ was misleading, as it was at least a ten-day journey by land.

Considering it took fifteen days to reach the central region from Bratz, this was a ridiculous estimate. They’d have to cross the Denba Mountains, the boundary of the borderlands.

"It seems likely they’ll use Shayron as a base."

"Shayron has roads leading to most other territories. Countess Bratz’s family, the Pontrolls, are within a day’s reach on horseback."

"Pontroll, good. Send a messenger bird."

"How many for the pursuit team?"

"For now..."

Erica hesitated. The appearance of these helpers was unsettling. With Derga imprisoned in the dungeon, it was strange that any knights survived. She had little prior knowledge of these borderlands, so what if they had hidden forces?

What if Mary and Chel were luring them into the mountains?

"Send twenty for now."

Erica glanced out the window as she gave the order. Those unfamiliar beasts, Kushile or whatever they were called, were running and playing in the garden. If she depleted her forces too much, she might lose control of the mansion to the Ten-Ryeo. For now, that was the most she could spare.

"Even a knight would struggle against twenty men while escorting a woman and a child. If there are any problems, tell them to maintain pursuit and send another message."

"Yes, understood."

"Bring them back alive if possible. If not, their corpses. No, bring me their heads, at least. You understand?"

"I’ll make sure they understand."

Erica’s subordinate hurried out. Even if they escaped, they couldn’t run forever.

Erica smiled in satisfaction, staring at the map. Capturing Mary and Chel would be a decisive blow against Ian and the Ten-Ryeo, who were clinging to her like burrs.

She had no idea at the time.

That this smile would only last three days.

"This way!"

"This way!"

"Split up and ride!"

Tat-tat-tat!

Two horses galloped through the trees, as tall and thick as pillars supporting the world. The Imperial Army’s pursuit force chased relentlessly. The Ten-Ryeo warriors, however, seemed almost leisurely, weaving through the trees with practiced ease. They even had the spare breath to turn and taunt their pursuers.

"Damn it!"

This only fueled the Imperial soldiers’ belief that they were facing Derga’s knights. Unlike the pursuers, unfamiliar with the terrain, they seemed to know the paths intimately.

Sheeeik.

But the Ten-Ryeo’s pathfinding was thanks to the hawk constantly signaling from above. Unlike the rough terrain, choked with rocks, moss, and thick undergrowth, the sky was a highway, free and clear.

"Shall we stop here?"

"Looks like around twenty in total."

Whee-ee-eet.

One of the warriors whistled, signaling a change in plans. They guided their horses into the brush, then leaped off, landing with inhuman grace.

"The targets have stopped!"

"Halt! Surround them!"

Hee-ee-eeing!

The only sound in the dense forest was the cry of some unknown beast. The pursuers, drawing their bows, shouted.

"Drop your weapons and surrender!"

"Reveal yourselves! Show your faces!"

The two men’s answer was to draw their swords. Seeing their intent to fight, the pursuers swallowed hard and pulled their bowstrings even tighter.

"Who’s in command here?"

"Wh-what?"

"Who’s the commander? I asked."

The pursuers hesitated. The accent sounded strange, foreign.

But before they could dwell on it, their commander stepped forward, drawing his sword. The two men charged without hesitation.

"Kill anyone who runs!"

"Shoot! Shoot! Fire!"

"We’ll spare one of you who fights back!"

"You bastards!"

Clang! Cla-clang!

The two warriors leaped into the air, signaling the start of the battle. Arrows rained down on them, but they deflected them with their swords as they charged forward. Two arrows pierced one warrior’s forearm.

Thunk!

Shhhhk!

"Aaaargh!"

Simultaneously, the pursuit commander’s head flew from his shoulders. Blood erupted like a fountain, but no one could quite grasp the reality of it. Was this human? Or some beast? The question echoed in the vice-commander’s mind.

"Th-..."

The word "Ten-Ryeo?" never left his lips. The warriors were like wolves in a henhouse. They wiped the dripping blood from their blades on their sleeves and declared,

"We are the knights of Derga. You won’t defeat us easily. Bring at least a hundred men next time."

"Hiiik!"

Shhhhk!

Twenty men. It had seemed like enough, but the force scattered uselessly. The sounds of dying men soon drowned out the cries of beasts in the forest.

The warriors looked down at one of the pursuers, who was cowering on the ground. They exchanged a glance.

’We need to let one escape, right?’

’Yes. So that a second pursuit force will follow.’

Whee-ee-eet!

"Aaagh! Spare me! Please, spare me!"

The warriors summoned the hawk to confirm the horses’ location, then left without a backward glance. The panicked soldier, too terrified to notice their departure, continued to beg for his life. When he finally looked up, the two men were long gone, vanished like a phantom in the wind.

"Huh..."

Monsters. They were monsters. If not for the scattered corpses of his comrades, the soldier would have thought it a dream.

"What did you just say?"

Erica’s face was a mask of disbelief. The dirt-covered, blood-soaked soldier stammered as he recounted the battle.

"The, the pursuit force has been annihilated."

"How... how is that possible..."

"They were Derga’s knights. Their movements were extraordinary, like they had some special ability. They seemed to be magic swordsmen. I, I couldn’t confirm their faces, and we couldn’t recover our comrades’ bodies."

She let out a hollow laugh, taking a sip of her tea to moisten her lips. Twenty men. Even if they were facing knights, shouldn’t they have gained some kind of clue? It was unbelievable that they were so thoroughly defeated.

"The location?"

"I remember it."

"And you’re certain it was Mary and Chel?"

"Positive. Their hoods slipped a couple of times during the chase. It was Chel, and it was Mary."

"Damn it. Organize a second pursuit force."

"Lady Erica, with all due respect, a force alone won’t be enough. We need to mobilize our full strength, and even then, it might not be enough..."

At the soldier’s words, Erica’s eyes narrowed. Did he think she didn’t know that? Of course, it would be easier to crush them in one fell swoop! But there were reasons why she couldn’t simply empty the mansion of its defenses.

"I, I apologize."

"You’re dismissed."

As soon as the soldier left, Erica swept the table clear in a fit of rage. Finding Mary and Chel was fortunate, but if this dragged on, it would be troublesome.

"Fucking hell! Why is the central command so slow to respond?"

"It seems they’re taking the land route..."

Reports, orders, and simple letters could be sent by messenger birds, but a letter bearing the Emperor’s seal had to be delivered by a designated official in a carriage.

And of all things, this was an important appointment of peerage, so it would undoubtedly arrive in a ridiculously inefficient golden carriage.

"What about Ian’s group? Any news?"

"No suspicious movements. They’re busy rebuilding the village."

"Those damn bastards. They should be taking care of their own land."

Unlike the Imperial Army, preoccupied with chasing Mary and Chel, Ian’s group was focused on erasing the traces of battle in the territory. They were rebuilding collapsed walls, roofing houses, and transporting the wounded. The Ten-Ryeo’s strength was proving more helpful than expected, and the villagers’ response was surprisingly positive.

It was infuriating.

Erica was mentally cursing Ian when she suddenly stopped. A prickling sensation ran down her spine.

"Mary and Chel broke through the wall on horseback, you said?"

"Yes."

"Then where were they before that?"

They had searched the territory thoroughly, yet they hadn’t found them. And now, suddenly, they escaped with the help of allies? Horses? Aside from other beasts, only a limited number of people could use horses in Bratz right now.

’...No way.’

Could Ian be involved?

"Summon the stable master immediately."

"Yes, my lady."

There were horses owned by Bratz besides those managed by the Imperial Army. Why hadn’t she checked that earlier? Erica mentally berated herself for her own stupidity, ruffling her hair in frustration.

Knock, knock.

"Lady Erica."

But it wasn’t the stable master who entered, it was Ian. He had seen her subordinate rushing to the stables and had come up.

"What is it?"

A pile of documents strewn about Mary’s room. Such an unfitting sight. Ian smiled and entered.

"Any progress on the pursuit of Countess Mary and Chel?"

"Why do you ask?"

What was this? Erica leaned back, propping her arm on the armrest and tilting her head. Was he feeling guilty? What a strange question at a time like this.

"I’m naturally curious. If Countess Mary and Chel survive and find an opportunity, I won’t be safe either."

Erica nodded, as if to say, "Continue." Both were smiling sweetly, testing the waters, but it was Erica whose smile faltered first.