230 Besieging From All Sides
— Meanwhile - Hightower - Envy's Office —
In the heart of the room, Envy's massive mahogany desk stood as a testament to her pivotal role as one of the Hightower's key decision-makers. The desk was overshadowed by towering stacks of documents, scrolls, and parchments, bearing witness to the ceaseless deluge of paperwork that flowed across her workspace.
These documents contained intricate details of various mage affairs. They encompassed a wide spectrum, from requests for increased funds to protect magical creatures to appeals for the creation of task forces aimed at combating illegal poacher groups that were wreaking havoc within the unicorn and pegasus reservoirs. Each stack was meticulously organized and meticulously labeled, mirroring her exacting nature and heavy responsibility.
Amidst this sea of paperwork, Envy sat with a sigh, her expression a blend of exhaustion and exasperation. Her quill pen hovered over a document, pausing as she mumbled aloud, "Ugh... I hate my job. I should not have come back here so soon."
She allowed herself a long sigh, her gaze drifting toward the window. From her vantage point, she could see the Hightower's serene and tranquil academic grounds, where numerous mages engaged in discussions about their spell theories and thaumaturgy. The garden was designed to provide a sense of calm for the apprentice mages, a stark contrast to the relentless demands of her role.
The room was bathed in a soft, enchanting glow emanating from the crystal-embedded chandelier suspended from the ceiling. The shelves were adorned with various curiosities, housing rare spell components and magical trinkets.
On one wall, an ancient tapestry depicted the earliest mages in history during the Mesopotamian Golden Era, also known as the Era of Gods. The tapestry showcased scenes from Egypt, ancient Greece, Babylon, and the Hittites, paying homage to the rich and storied legacy of magic.
At that moment, a deep rumbling resounded from the exterior of the tower. The source of this disturbance emerged from the direction of the 'Path of Knowledge' faction, nestled within the Hightower's vast grounds. Envy swiftly made her way to the window, her curiosity piqued by the unusual occurrence.
In the sky, a colossal golden spear, towering like a five-story building, hurtled towards Envy's office atop the main Hightower building. The spear sliced through the protective barriers of the structure with breakneck velocity, piercing the stonework roof with uncanny precision, closing in on its target.
Envy, acting with unparalleled speed, summoned every ounce of her power. She manifested an ethereal barrier, a formidable defense to counteract this extraordinary assault. This was no ordinary attack; it was the ancient magic of Gungnir, a force meticulously designed to dismantle magical shields and unravel enchantments.
The clash between these two formidable forces generated a cataclysmic shockwave that reverberated through the Hightower. Lights flickered erratically, and a deep, resonant hum echoed through the ancient edifice, causing the uppermost floor to rupture in an explosive display of golden light and cascading mana particles, visible for miles around.
The confrontation reached an unprecedented crescendo. The Gungnir-like spear pressed against the intricate network of defenses Envy had conjured. Each of her protective barriers was a masterpiece of magical craftsmanship, forming an intricate web of shimmering light. There were more than a hundred of these layers, woven together like the intricate strands of an ethereal spider's web.
The 'Spear of Gungnir' spell, a force inspired by the might of Norse mythology's strongest spear, wasted no time. It tore through the first 25 layers of Envy's protective 'Aegis' spell like a knife through warm butter. Each layer it cleaved sent shockwaves of exploding mana particles cascading through the office, their ethereal sparks filling the air.
As it moved on to the next 20 layers, the spear encountered resistance, making the journey more challenging. Envy's protective barriers displayed their remarkable power, holding back the relentless advance of the Gungnir-like force. It struggled to pierce each successive layer, taking precious minutes to breach the intricate magical defenses.
However, as the spear continued its determined assault, the balance of power began to shift. Envy, renowned as the strongest witch in the world, marshaled her vast reserves of magical power. With each layer it pierced, she started restoring the 'Aegis' spell, layer by layer, pushing back the spear that was losing its momentum.
The shockwave and residual of the clash created many sparks of magical energy that the entire mages and apprentice mages that reside within the Hightower to learn magic noticed the epic clash between two legendary Ancient spells.
Both 'The Spear of Gungnir' and the 'Aegis' that Envy used to defend against it were categorized as ancient magic, beyond the grasp of normal mages due to the vast mana required. Envy's exceptional ability to wield this power came from the immense mana reserves within her body and soul. This extraordinary feat was made possible because one of Envy's 'Origin Elements' matched the nature of her trump card spell 'Aegis,' with 'Protection' being one of her Origin Elements.
The clash of these renowned ancient magics, the very trump cards of the Hightower, was a magnificent spectacle. This intense battle inspired senior mages who watched it, sparking new ideas and epiphanies about spells and Origin Elements. Instead of intervening to assist Envy, some of them found themselves absorbed in theorizing as they observed this extraordinary phenomenon.
The few who possessed the heart to help realized their limitations and the perilous nature of meddling in such a high-level confrontation. To interfere could mean forfeiting their lives.
Atop the tower, as Envy meticulously reconstructed her Aegis, layer by layer, and the Spear of Gungnir's momentum began to crumble, its vast reservoir of mana began to deplete. A man in his early sixties ascended the stairs and hurried to Envy's side. It was none other than Harry Pembroke, Envy's loyal butler and confidante.
"Harry! Why are you here? Didn't I tell you to run away?" Envy scolded her butler immediately.
"I can't, ma'am. I can't abandon you in this situation," Harry replied with a concerned tone, preparing his spell to aid Envy.
Envy offered a knowing smile. "You old fool," she remarked, admiration in her eyes for her butler's unwavering loyalty. "I've been far stronger than you for a long time. You don't need to deplete your magical energy to assist me." She continued to restore the protective layers of her Aegis spell.
Harry looked into Envy's smiling face, his eyes filled with indescribable emotions. In them, there was a complex mixture of regret, longing, and nostalgia for times long past. These were memories of the days when his hair was still jet-black, and he was a young aspirant from a noble mage lineage.
"It's so much like those times, isn't it, Lady Envy?" Harry remarked as he began his spell, supporting Envy and aiding her in stabilizing her magic to accelerate the restoration of her Aegis protective layers.
Envy nodded, a reminiscent smile gracing her face. "Yes, it's just like back then. You trying to protect me even though you were much weaker than me. I believe it was in 1850, during the California Gold Rush. I had a confrontation with the former patriarch of the Ragnar clan, and he used his trump card spell against me. It was for a rather silly reason, really. He believed that the Hightower wanted to claim his gold mine," Envy recounted, the smile on her face showing her fondness for those days.
Harry's smile mirrored her nostalgia. "Yes, I was your student at the time, an apprentice mage with a crush on you, and all I wanted was to protect you."
Envy chuckled. "You old fool. I made it quite clear that it's impossible. I'm a witch; I can't have children." She spoke with a wistful smile.
Harry's smile faded, replaced by a mixture of emotions. In his eyes, hope began to emerge, however futile it might be.
"Claudia," Harry uttered Envy's true name, a name she never expected to hear in such a situation. There was longing in his voice as the situation stabilized, and safety returned with the fading of the Spear of Gungnir.
"You've said it's impossible between us because you're a witch and I'm just an average mage with moderate potential. I understand that... but," Harry paused, and his eyes conveyed deep regret, longing, and hope. "Have you ever loved me?" he asked, his voice filled with emotion.
Upon hearing Harry's heartfelt question, Envy understood the deeper meaning behind his words. However, she didn't want to wound his feelings, so she chose to feign ignorance. "Of course, Harry... you are not just my student but also my loyal butler. I love you," she replied with a smile, all the while struggling to maintain her Aegis spell.
The 'Spear of Gungnir,' despite nearing collapse, retained the formidable reputation of being the most potent spell capable of piercing through all protective barriers. Its unwavering resolve to dismantle Envy's magical defenses remained evident in the fading golden light, relentlessly corroding her Aegis shield with each passing second. Envy had to maintain her focus, with no room for distraction.
"Claudia... please," Harry implored, his voice a mixture of emotions but still holding a glimmer of hope. He prayed that his love might be acknowledged. "You know what I meant. Please don't insult my intelligence by pretending not to understand. I'm over 200 years old now, not the same naive student whose feelings you needed to protect."
Envy's smile turned melancholic upon hearing his words. She didn't want to deceive him any longer, so she decided to share the truth she had evaded for over two centuries. "I'm sorry, Harry... I care about you deeply, but not in that way. You are a wonderful person, but I..." Before she could finish her sentence, a sharp pain pierced her from her lower back. In that moment, all the mana she had been using to sustain the Aegis spell abruptly vanished. The Spear of Gungnir, which had been on the verge of collapse, regained its vigor and surged through Envy's body, obliterating all her protective charms and magical defenses.
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