Ery had never truly been part of the military, and the constant summons, orders, and formalities were still a foreign experience for him. He had grown accustod to leading his acolytes with more autonomy, making decisions based on their collective needs rather than so distant commander's whims. But here, in this tense and charged atmosphere of the Citadel, things were different. Every command carried weight, and every summons could an sothing significant.
As he walked down the narrow, cold hallway toward the General's chamber, Ery's mind raced. He hoped the eting wouldn't involve any further complications or additional burdens.
When he reached the door, it opened almost silently, revealing a dimly lit room. Stepping inside, Ery felt an imdiate and instinctive tension ripple through him. Sothing was wrong; an unseen presence filled the air.
In the center of the room, General Wayne sat behind an imposing desk, his gaze sharp and unyielding as he looked up at Ery. But it wasn't just the General who caught his attention. Off to the side, another figure stood—a grand magus dressed in an intimidating dark uniform. The man's stance was casual, but his eyes held a glint of keen interest, scrutinizing Ery with unsettling intensity.
As Ery took in the presence of this stranger, he realized this man was suppressing his power, hiding his true strength. More alarmingly, Ery was certain he hadn't seen this grand magus among the city's defenders or in any of the prior etings. Keeping his voice steady, Ery gave a respectful nod to the general, carefully masking his unease. "You were asking for , General?"
The General didn't imdiately respond, his fingers lightly tapping an information cube in front of him. "Ery Ambrose…" he murmured, "Top Hall Magus Academy instructor... at such a young age..." His gaze hardened a fraction, and he continued with a quiet, almost incredulous tone. "I wonder if this is what the Academy has beco these days…"
Ery could feel the weight of the general's words. It wasn't hard to catch the hint: the general was either skeptical or dismissive of the academy's current standards, especially with soone as young as Ery rising through its ranks so quickly. But Ery remained silent, choosing not to engage with the implicit critique.
Before Ery could ponder further, the grand magus in the dark uniform, who had been standing quietly by the window, spoke up. His voice was casual, but it held an undeniable sharpness. He offered a sly, knowing smile as he addressed the General.
The grand magus in the dark uniform, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke.
"Don't underestimate this young magus, General," his tone was almost playful. "There have been multiple reports of him defeating grand magus-level figures."
The statent landed heavily in the room. The general's gaze sharpened, his previous indifference replaced by a keen interest.
"Lieutenant Ery, you are summoned to participate in an important mission," the General stated "Major Kouga here will give you the details."
Ery's mind raced for a mont, quickly analyzing his options. He remained calm, but his reply carried a firm, respectful edge. "My apologies, General, but I cannot accept such an assignnt."
Major Kouga shows a mix of amusent and calculation. "Magus Ery… I haven't even detailed the mission yet, but you've already rejected it" He added "If your concern lies with your acolytes... Don't worry. This mission is for you alone."
Ery's gaze flickered to the Major, he offered a respectful nod as he replied, "I understand, Major. My acolytes certainly would not be involved in a mission that involves three grand magus, masters in concealnt."
Kouga's eyes glead with a knowing look. "Haha, I knew it… you are no simple magus, indeed."
With the major signal, from the walls, floor, and ceiling, three grand magus realm figures materialized clad in dark, fitted uniforms, each one soundless, each presence seamlessly rging with the shadows. His instincts told him imdiately who they were: mbers of a specialized covert unit. "We are the Ghostblade unit, and we need your assistance."
Ery listened carefully as the Major explained the situation. The Major had only recently arrived on the planet, but his role in the Ghostblade Unit had given him access to critical intelligence on the Valaryn situation. He revealed information that had not been disclosed in the previous briefing—an unsettling picture of the planet's real condition.
"The elves will launch an all-out attack within the week," the Major stated firmly. "If we do nothing, Valaryn will be lost."
The Major's mission was a bold one: to assassinate the elven commanders, sow chaos within their ranks, delay their attack, and hopefully shift the balance of the war. He was assembling a small, elite team of grand magus for the operation, and the reason he sought out Ery was clear—he needed Ery's expertise in spatial magic.
"With you on our team, our chances of success will improve greatly," the Major added, his expression intense with the weight of what was at stake.
Hearing the mission details, Ery felt a surge of temptation. The prospect of hunting dark elves stirred sothing deep within him. Despite the allure, Ery knew he had no real obligation to take part in such a perilous task. His primary responsibility now was to his acolytes, and the idea of leaving them exposed did not sit well with him. Choosing his words carefully, Ery subtly highlighted his temporary status within the military, using it as leverage in his conversation with the general.
"General… I understand the importance of the mission, but I'm deeply concerned for the safety of my acolytes" he said, a calculated tone in his voice.
With this choice of words, Ery able to negotiate terms that not only secured authority over the placent of his acolytes within the city, ensuring their safety, but he also managed to turn the general's attention toward Major Zoller. By the end, the general reprimanded Zoller sharply, much to Ery's quiet satisfaction.
Hours later, after leaving so instructions for Klea and his acolytes, Ery prepared himself to join the mission.
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