"You have got to be kidding me." Ethan’s face was filled with disbelief. He always knew that the ’love me’ talismans had a component of mental attack in them, but he just did not think that the effect would be so strong, especially in the middle of a battle like this.
That person’s attack power definitely outclassed him and yet he failed to have enough mental strength to block this attack. Ethan had saved his spirit magic as a last resort surprise tactic but it looked like he did not have to use that after all.
He grabbed the blonde’s sword that had clattered to the ground and started slashing at the robed man, who was now staggering, his eyes glazed over from the overwhelming ’love me’ effect.
The man did not even have a chance to fight back as Ethan quickly hacked away at his body until nothing was left behind. Today he understood the frightening power mental attacks held.
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He stood there, breathing heavily, staring down at the scattered remains of the robed man. A level up notification for his mage class popped up. It was finally over. His hands trembled slightly as he lowered the bloodied sword, the adrenaline slowly fading. The eerie silence that followed was broken only by the crackle of lingering flames.
He glanced over at the blonde woman, who had managed to regain her footing, eyes wide with shock and grudging admiration. Ethan gave her a small awkward smile. "Are you okay? I am sorry. I am was waiting to lure the guy out." He returned her sword so that she wouldn’t feel too threatened.
The blonde woman took back her sword cautiously, still eyeing Ethan warily, but her tense shoulders gradually relaxed. Her gaze softened just a little, though her expression remained guarded and icy. "I’m fine," she replied quietly. "And... thanks."
Ethan nodded. He looked around and his gaze fell on the several dead bodies strewn about. Dead bodies belonging to cultists supported by two local lords of the nearest cities. Yup. It was time to get the hell out of here.
"So… I am going to get out of here. Can you take care of these survivors? I would prefer if you left me out of this and not mention me to anyone."
The blonde woman nodded. Ethan did not wait around anymore and quickly slipped out of the mine. He did not really trust the blonde woman but right now his face was all bashed up and swollen in a dozen different places. He was pretty sure she wouldn’t be able to recognize him even if she tried to expose him.
After dismissing his minions, he used a few Minor Teleportation talismans that he had saved up for escaping and did not waste time in arriving back in the vicinity of the city gates.
But he stopped before going back. It was time for a new disguise spell. Ethan focused and cast the spell. This time he thought of someone else completely different, an elderly beggar, as he used the spell.
A shimmering haze surrounded Ethan as the disguise spell took effect. As the glow faded, he stood transformed into a frail, elderly beggar hunched over a twisted wooden cane.
His hair was a matted silver-gray, his face creased deeply with age, and a threadbare cloak hung loosely from his thin shoulders. Even his eyes had turned cloudy, matching perfectly the role he’d chosen.
He took a cautious, experimental step forward, mimicking the unsteady shuffle of a man far past his prime. Ethan couldn’t help but grin internally at how convincing the disguise felt; no one would link this vulnerable old man with the mage who’d just decimated a powerful cult leader.
Slowly, he made his way toward the city gates. The guards glanced at him briefly and waved him through without a second thought. He merged into the flow of the crowd, unnoticed and unthreatening, the perfect disguise to slip into anonymity after such chaos.
As he moved quietly through the bustling streets, Ethan let out a long, weary sigh beneath his beggar’s facade.
Today’s battle had shown him just how deep and dangerous magic could run. He needed more training. Not the sitting in the old hag’s shop and comfortably training at his own pace kind but a different kind.
At least he had taken care of something that had bugged him for a quite a while.
Ethan would have felt more relieved, except the cult leader didn’t ask him about Luna at all. Seeing that he was a mage and that he had sniffed out the mine, he thought he would figure out Luna was with him as well. But that guy did not bring her up at all.
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It was almost as if he did not know she existed.
So was there someone else behind him orchestrating these things in this place? That would mean that this wasn’t over just yet. He needed to lay low and observe everything in the city for the next few days before he made any other moves.
He walked back to the old hag’s house and in a quiet ally, he used the disguise skill again and redid his image into someone younger. This time not some ugly face but more a plain looking one that no one would bother with. He then entered the house.
"That witch is probably asleep." He muttered to himself when suddenly a loud cackle sounded. "You are back already? Did you pee in your pants and run back to me?"
Ethan turned sharply, barely suppressing a jump of surprise. He sighed helplessly at how amused the old hag was. "Yes. I ran as fast as I could." He shrugged, having no problem admitting it.
The old hag laughed. "I am sure, you did."
Not wanting to engage her any longer, he quietly walked upstairs and collapsed onto his bed. The plans for the future could wait one night. He was extremely tired at the moment and fell asleep immediately.