Gunmage
Chapter 65: Intoxicated

Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Intoxicated

Lugh’s sight was still blurry, the world around him a swirling haze of shifting light and shadows. Through the fog in his mind, he saw a figure. One he had longed for over the past decade.

"Mum...?"

Then, clarity returned. The illusion shattered as his vision sharpened, and the pain hit him all at once. His ribs ached with every shallow breath.

It wasn’t his mother, it was Lyra.

gods, how embarrassing.

He tried to stand, but her voice came down firm and unyielding.

"Don’t move."

He exhaled sharply and let his body relax.

"What about the others?"

Lugh asked, his voice hoarse.

It was only then that Lyra realized, to her dismay, that she hadn’t even thought about them.

"Oh, uh..."

She began awkwardly, her eyes glancing around.

"They’re... alive?"

"Yeah, I’m still here"

A broken voice cut through the silence.

Renshaw lay sprawled on the floor, pulling out a small metal flask of hard liquor. He gulped down the contents, then immediately shivered in pain.

"Oh hell, that stings. Where’s Xhi?"

"Xhi? Xhi!"

Lyra’s voice burned with anger.

She found the body of the priestess, and her rage dissipated somewhat once she saw the state she was in, disheveled, drained, barely conscious.

Even so, Lyra stormed toward her, gripping her shoulder roughly and shaking her awake

"Wake up."

A sluggish moan escaped Xhi’s lips.

"Oh, stop shaking me..."

Her voice was low, exhausted, yet still carrying its usual flippant tone.

Lyra clenched her jaw.

"Look at what you’ve done!"

Xhi blinked slowly.

"What did I do?"

She asked, feigning innocence.

Lyra snapped.

"What if you had killed everybody?!"

"...Then that would be the end of that."

Lyra recoiled, a chill creeping up her spine.

"What is wrong with you?!"

Xhi’s gaze darkened, a sharp contrast to her usual lazy demeanor. The priestess tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable.

"Who do you think you’re talking to?"

Lyra flinched back, momentarily unsure of what to do. She had forgotten, if only for a moment, who Xhi truly was. Lowering her gaze, she swallowed her pride.

"I’m sorry"

"I accept your apology."

Then, with far more flair than necessary, the priestess attempted to stride out of the wreckage, only to trip spectacularly, face-planting onto the floor with a muffled groan.

Outside, the clamor of gunfire grew louder.

"They’re getting closer"

Lyra noted, regaining focus.

"Who can still fight?"

"I can’t even move"

Lugh admitted.

"Same here"

Renshaw muttered, taking another swig. He tapped the two unconscious soldiers nearby, they stirred but they did not respond.

"Lugh, can you still control your puppet?"

"...Yeah"

He responded after a pause.

"Then stay in here and provide support."

Xhi scoffed

"Don’t you need my help?"

"Are you willing to help?"

Lyra shot back.

"For a price"

She confirmed

Lyra exhaled through her nose.

"Oh? And what would that be?"

"Money."

Lugh blinked.

"Money?"

Lyra frowned, sensing a trap.

"Are you serious?"

Xhi smiled coyly.

"Or do you not have any?"

Lyra sighed.

"If we survive this, I’ll give you a lot of money."

"It’s a deal."

"Are you all done?"

Renshaw, who had been watching the exchange, finally stood.

Lugh eyed him.

"I thought you couldn’t move?"

"The alcohol gives me strength. Let’s do this."

Then, with sudden determination, Renshaw charged toward the vehicle’s exit, only to slam headfirst into the wall.

"What the—what is this?!"

He ran his hands along the surface, pressing his face close.

"Is this some kind of barrier?"

He gasped dramatically.

"Lugh! Analyse this!"

Lugh and Lyra stared at him, dumbfounded.

"You’re wasted"

"No, I’m not."

"Yes, you are."

"No, no, I’m really not! I’ve never gotten drunk during a mission."

"First time for everything."

"No, I’m serious! The drink wasn’t even strong, it was just like water!"

Lugh hesitantly picked up the flask Renshaw had been drinking from. The instant the vapors hit his nose, his eyes burned. He coughed violently and immediately hurled the flask away.

"You’re insane."

"No, I’m not!"

Renshaw paused suddenly. His expression shifted.

"Wait... do you guys hear that?"

Xhi, growing impatient, interrupted.

"I can’t hear anything."

Renshaw smirked.

"Exactly."

The realization struck them all at once. The immediate gunfire, so deafening just moments ago, had completely ceased.

"Something’s wrong"

Lugh muttered, forcing himself upright with a groan of pain.

"I told you not to move!"

Lyra snapped, frustration lacing her voice.

"Don’t worry, I won’t overdo it."

He steadied himself, then glanced at Renshaw.

"He won’t be much help. We should leave him here."

Then, with Lyra supporting Lugh, they stepped out of the vehicle, and were met with an eerie sight.

Soldiers—both allies and enemies—were acting bizarrely. Some crouched behind cover, peeking out as if still in battle, yet their guns remained silent, their magazines long emptied. They didn’t seem to realize that they needed to reload.

Some danced, some sat in circles playing an invisible board game, and others lay down to sleep, using their fallen comrades as pillows.

Every single one of them was acting... intoxicated.

"What the hell is going on?"

Lyra whispered.

Xhi frowned, then stuck out her tongue as if tasting the air.

"A magical spell"

She muttered.

"Don’t breathe in too much, you’ll end up like them."

Lugh immediately covered his nose with his forearm. Lyra mirrored his actions.

A voice called out from the ruins of a crumbling building.

"I didn’t expect you to notice so quickly."

Lugh tensed.

"They’re here."

From behind the rubble, a petite woman with white hair emerged. Lugh recognized her instantly. Killing intent flooded his mind, but his face remained unreadable.

She studied them, her gaze flicking to Lyra’s long hair, then to Lugh’s black-and-red eye. She pursed her rosy lips as she frowned.

"And not only that, you also managed to remain completely unaffected.

I’m guessing you’re the mages of Ophris I’ve heard so much about.

I really can’t let you advance any further—you might ruin our plans."

Lugh’s mind raced, analyzing the situation..

"Plans...?"

The woman sighed, as if reluctant to say the next words. Then, in a startling shift, her face lit up, her smile warm and nurturing.

"I’m sorry to say this but..."

Her voice was honeyed, gentle, almost loving.

Her expression twisting into something both beautiful and cruel.

"...this is where you die."

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