Chapter 39 - Don't Look Back

Arthur ground his teeth as Kyren's words reached him. It was Elyria again! He didn't have a doubt in his mind about who had sent the strangers blocking the alleyway outside. The woman was like a lamprey, refusing to let him go.

"There's a dozen men outside blocking the alleyway. One's a fifth circle mage." Arthur announced before staring at Kyren in an attempt to get him to elaborate. "I don't know about the rest."

Thoran frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"There's two third circles too, but the rest aren't mages. They all have their faces covered and are wearing the same thing. It's gonna be hard to spot the mages." Kyren declared.

Foster immediately pulled out his sword and faced the doorway while Jeren lagged behind a step with a confused expression.

Arthur took off his shirt in a flash and equipped his other hidden blade. "I can't explain how I know, but I need you to trust me. There are also two third circles, while the rest aren't mages. They're wearing the same clothing, so it'll be difficult to spot the mages amongst them. Is there another way out of the smithy?"

"How..." Thoran remained stunned for a moment before snapping out of his stupor. "No, the smithy only has one entrance. Behind it is another building, there's no way through."

Arthur clicked his tongue as he threw on his shirt and began equipping his new armor. The gambeson and mail didn't leave much room for his hidden blades to shoot out, but it was still loose enough to work, at least until he grew a little more.

Foster glanced back nervously. "What should we do, young master?"

Kyren chimed in with half his body through the smithy wall. "They aren't moving. Seems like they plan to ambush you once you step out. The two third circles are to the right, while the fifth circle is left. Each side of the alley has six guys."

"They're waiting for us outside..." Arthur repeated the information Kyren had fed him.

"Wouldn't the city guards see a fight breaking out between mages if we fight?" Jeren asked. "If we can make enough noise, they'll swarm the area like flies."

Arthur's thoughts raced as his chest began to tighten. "It's not a bad idea, but the ones outside were probably sent by Elyria, and she could easily have had the city guards back off from the area. It's best not to rely on help coming our way."

"Should we wait them out then?" Foster asked.

"I don't know..." Arthur glanced at Kyren for more information. "It'd be better if we waited for them to enter, but I don't know if more are on the way..."

Kyren tucked his head back inside. "Two guys are taking off their masks and coming in to pretend to be customers. They want to confirm you're still in here. One's a third circle, and the other's a normal human. The third circle has short blonde hair."

Arthur quickly glanced around the smithy. It didn't have windows, but it did have foot-wide rectangular holes on either side above the doorway. They were probably meant to expel the smithy's hot air, but Arthur wondered if he could get a view of the situation without risking his neck. Arthur gazed at the doorway for a moment as a plan formulated within his mind.

"I have a plan! Put your swords away, quickly!" Arthur shouted as he began removing the armor he had just equipped. "Pretend like you're unaware of what's outside. Two men will enter the smithy to see if I'm inside. The blonde one is a third circle, the others a normal human."

Arthur pointed toward the weapons and armor hanging from the wall behind a counter near the doorway. "Jeren, stand over there and pretend to be browsing the weapons. Once the smithy door closes behind the two men, kill the blonde mage without destroying his body and without making a lot of noise. His body needs to stay intact no matter what!"

"They're coming now... Ya got maybe ten seconds, kid." Kyren declared as Jeren followed Arthur's command.

"Foster, stand behind me. You'll be in charge of killing the other one. It doesn't matter how; just don't make a lot of noise." Arthur turned to Thoran and tossed him the chainmail body. "Pretend you're showing me that and act natural. They'll be here any second."

Everyone in the room appeared on edge despite their best efforts, and soon the door creaked open.

"Wow! It doesn't even look like armor! It looks just like a normal shirt!" Arthur cheered to the awkward-looking Thoran as two men walked inside.

Thoran glanced at the intruders, nodding his head to acknowledge them before focusing on Arthur. "Yup, trinitite is very strong, so much less metal is required for armor."

"Sure is busy in such a small smithy, huh?" The blonde intruder joked to the man beside him as the door slowly closed behind them.

Arthur and Foster turned around to look at the intruders.

"I'm buying trinitite mail!" Arthur smiled and excitedly pointed behind him toward the mail in Thoran's hands as he watched what had to be the world's slowest door slowly close inch by excruciating inch. "Isn't it so cool how thin it is, Mr.?"

The blonde mage laughed. "It sure is kiddo. How much that cost ya?"

"Hmm..." Arthur innocently counted his fingers as if doing math. "I think it was—"

—Clack! Arthur's innocent smile disappeared as the sound of the door hitting its frame rang out. Foster and Jeren immediately unsheathed their swords and dashed toward their respective targets while Arthur raised his arm, intent on firing a hidden blade should he see any significant resistance from the intruders.

Jeren closed the gap in an instant and reached the blonde mage first. He thrust his sword toward the man's chest in one fluid motion as if the lunge had been practiced a thousand times. The blonde mage reacted as quickly as he could and attempted to turn his body to dodge, but it was a step too late.

Jeren's sword entered the man's chest from his left armpit and tore through flesh before exiting just below his left collarbone. Bright red blood sprayed out from the wound as Jeren threw a powerful left hook striking the man's cheek and sending him stumbling back while Jeren gave chase.

The man attempted to raise his right arm as if to cast a spell, yet Jeren was already on top of him, thrusting out his sword once more. This time, however, the man's unbalanced footing as he stumbled backward made dodging impossible. As a result, Jeren's sword sank deep into the man's ribs, piercing his heart and ending his life.

The whole fight was over in a flash, and Arthur quickly turned his attention to Foster, yet the body lying lifelessly below Foster's feet clearly indicated the battle's winner. With the enemies dead, Arthur looked to Kyren for updated information.

"They ain't moving from their spots." Kyren announced.

"Well done." Arthur nodded to his guards. "Drag the mage's body over here and face the doorway."

"Lord?" Jeren was clearly confused by the command but still dragged the body to Arthur as Foster stood with his sword drawn, facing the doorway.

Arthur ignored them and looked at Thoran. "Please turn around and do not look this way until I say so."

Thoran's eyebrows scrunched together as he tried to figure out what was happening. "Aye, as ya say... Don't worry, I ain't gonna peek."

Arthur faced the mage's body and raised his right hand over the corpse. "No one is to turn around and look this way under any circumstances..."

He debated whether he should warn them even further but decided against it. Arthur would seriously need to consider killing anyone who turned around. His necromancy spell wasn't currently obfuscated since it wasn't finished, meaning anyone who saw it and memorized the spell's makeup would be able to steal it from him.

It was his greatest secret behind Kyren's existence. Arthur even considered it a greater secret than his reincarnation. It couldn't be leaked to anyone under any circumstances.

Arthur glanced around the room to ensure there weren't any reflective surfaces and warned the people in the room once more from turning around despite his previous reservations. "Keep your swords pointed directly in front of you. No one is to move or look at anything that isn't straight ahead of you.

I keep repeating myself because the spell I'm about to cast will quite literally rip out the consciousness of anyone who witnesses its phenomena other than the caster. That may sound unbelievable, but I assure you, it's the cold hard truth.

If you so much as glimpse at it, you will not only die but suffer the unimaginable pain of having your consciousness forcefully ripped out from your body. I like all three of you, and I don't want to be responsible for your deaths. Does everyone understand?"

"Yes, young master." "Aye." "Understood, lord." The three people within the smithy agreed in unison.

Kyren shot him a confused look, but Arthur just shook his head. It was obviously a lie, but Arthur couldn't explain that right now.

With his hand still raised over the corpse, Arthur willed his mana through his arm as a light-blue magic circle of light appeared before it.

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