Chapter 13.2, Year 960 of Chronicle of Truth, The First Month of Yellow-Green Field Season (2/5)

Translator: Lizz

 

Zechs and his team cautiously approached a house with patches of its outer wall peeling away. Their mission this time was to capture a group of young thieves. These ranged from petty pickpockets who avoided violence to somewhat more brazen criminals like armed robbers attacking carriages. Of course, thieves were everywhere, but these particular culprits had reportedly targeted the carriages of nobles.

 

Once they spotted the building’s entrance, they hid in the shadows of an alleyway where they wouldn’t be easily seen, when Rigitte and her team circled around the back. Soon after, the ground trembled lightly, followed by a loud rumbling noise. The senior members had likely cast some kind of magic, a showy, intimidation spell with controlled force.

 

Sure enough, the boys emerged unharmed, scrambling out in a panic. Zechs and Danya exchanged nods, then unleashed weak spells aimed at the boys’ legs. Shrieks rang out as they fell down one after another.

 

“Damn it, those f*** mages!”

 

The boys spat out vulgar insults typical of the downtown district. As they cursed, Rigitte and her team swiftly emerged behind them, efficiently tying their hands behind their backs.

 

“…These guys are all small fry.”

 

From a distance, Aster murmured as he observed the scene. Before anyone could turn in response, he shouted.

 

“Zechs, to your left! Beyond the red roof. He’s running!”

 

The instant red flashed in his vision, Zechs instinctively reacted like a predator chasing movement. Without chanting a spell, he rapidly formed his magic.

 

The guy ran with his back turned towards them, scattering trash cans and kicking aside people sitting in the alley as he fled. Amid the chaos of innocent bystanders being shoved aside, Zechs focused his power into a pinpoint strike, like threading a needle. He unleashed a blade of ice, which slithered along the ground and pierced the man’s ankle just as he pushed off to run again.

 

The man stumbled and fell, and Warren sprinted toward him. Practically lifting him off the ground, Warren restrained him in a firm hold and dragged him back.

 

The man, bleeding from his ankle, was older than the boys captured earlier. Judging by how the boys’ attention shifted to him, he seemed to be their leader.

 

“That seems to be all of them. There were more than I expected.”

 

As Rigitte said with an exhalation, the man clutching his ankle suddenly raised his head.

 

“You noble’s dogs! As if being mages wasn’t disgusting enough, now you’re wagging your tails for the nobles… Have some shame!”

 

“Is that all you have to say?”

 

Rigitte responded coolly to the man spitting at them, then motioned to her comrades to force the captured boys to their feet. Some resisted, their injuries making movement painful, but the ropes tightened regardless.

 

By now, a crowd had formed – likely the residents of the slums, watching the captured boys and the mages from a cautious distance. Despite their crimes, there was a sense of kinship toward the boys, and hostility flickered in the eyes directed at Zechs and his team. Though accustomed to such reactions, it was far from comfortable. The desire to leave quickly pressed on Zechs, prompting him to step forward toward Warren and Fio, who held the ropes. At that moment, a sharp noise sliced through the air – a fleeting cry, barely a whisper of alarm.

 

“Danya!”

 

As Zechs turned around, he saw Aster standing protectively over a crouching girl, scanning their surroundings. Between Danya’s fingers, which were pressed against her face, crimson droplets seeped through. Zechs’ mind quickly deduced that someone had thrown a stone or something similar. Rigitte’s scream echoed in the background.

 

“Drop dead, you monsters!”

 

The shout came from within the crowd. In that instant, Zechs felt the murderous intent swelling among the people encircling them.

 

“Get out!”

 

“Die!”

 

The dam broke, and the crowd began hurling cruel words, some even throwing objects they had in hand.

 

“You bastards!”

 

Rigitte had an expression of fury etched on her face, and it felt like one could see her anger rising like fumes from her shoulders. Ignoring the flying trash and stones, she began murmuring quietly. Unlike the younger ones who stood dumbfounded, the two older individuals hurried to intervene.

 

“Rigitte, forget about that. Tend to Danya’s wounds!”

 

Even when restrained by the two men, Rigitte didn’t budge. However, amidst the crowd’s angry shouts, Aster’s single, clear statement struck a chord, and Rigitte fell silent.

 

“Warren, Fio, take those people into custody.”

 

The two nodded at the instructions from their younger comrade and hurried the group of thieves away from the scene. Zechs noticed Aster trying to lift the girl and silently took over. The petite, dainty girl was lighter than expected, and Zechs trembled with unease, feeling as if her life might fade away at any moment.

 

“Danya, Danya!”

 

As Zechs began walking briskly, Aster shielded Rigitte, who was desperately calling out their comrade’s name with a tearful expression, and started to leave the area while keeping an eye on their surroundings.

 

The residents of the slums did not pursue the mages. They simply stood there, brimming with anger and murderous intent, shouting furiously. At first, the curses were scattered and disorganized, but before long, they transformed into a unified chant wishing for death.

 

After performing first aid, Zechs and the others returned to the Iron Fortress and rushed into the infirmary. Unfortunately, the mages capable of healing were accompanying a platoon on an expedition, leaving only ordinary physicians available.

 

“Don’t joke around, you useless fools!”

 

Rigitte shouted insults with all her might, but there was nothing that could be done. Mages capable of healing were astonishingly rare; out of the approximately two thousand mages in the Iron Fortress, there were currently only three. Healing magic cannot be learned or acquired; whether one can use it or not is determined by their innate abilities, akin to how one’s natural eye color cannot be changed to another color like dyed hair.

 

Before long, Warren and Fio, who had handed the group of thieves over to the knights, arrived at the infirmary, but by then the treatment was already completed.

 

The stone had cruelly torn through the girl’s pale skin and left a gash about the width of a finger, running from her right temple to her forehead. Fortunately, her eyeball had been spared.

 

“It’s good I didn’t lose my sight. Honestly, I wouldn’t have the confidence to hit a target if I could only see with one eye.”

 

Danya said with a feeble smile as she sat on the examination chair.

 

“That’s not good at all! You’re a girl, having a scar on your face…”

 

Rigitte’s voice trailed off as she wrapped her arms around Danya’s head, embracing her tightly.

 

It was said that Rigitte has a younger sister, who didn’t treat her with fear and interacted with her without reserve despite her having a guiding vein.  They parted ways when Rigitte entered the Iron Fortress and hadn’t seen each other since. That was probably why Rigitte treasured her younger comrade like she were her own younger sister.

 

“It’s okay, Rigitte. After all, as long as one is a mage, it doesn’t matter whether they’re a woman or a man, or whether their face is beautiful or not.”

 

Danya’s calmly expressed opinion was probably correct. As long as one was a mage, marriage was hardly an option. While many Commanders and those of higher ranks were married, Zechs couldn’t help but wonder how they managed it. Every person they met looked at them as if they were filth, simply because they were a mage.

 

It was said that even brothels wouldn’t take in children with guiding veins. For the establishments, it would be troublesome if problems arose, and there were hardly any drunken, crazed customers who would want to be with a mage.

 

Thus, as a mage, it was meaningless to discuss beauty or ugliness. However, the fact that a young girl, still in her youth and objectively cute, had already reached such an enlightened perspective was profoundly saddening. She harbored no hopes for love or a new family. All that remained was the question of how to wield her cursed power.

 

Reassured by the doctor’s guarantee that Danya’s life was not in immediate danger, the group disbanded on the spot. After parting ways with Rigitte, who went to report to Evan, the four men headed to the cafeteria. However, they had little appetite. Normally, they would celebrate modestly among themselves after completing a task, but everyone seemed shaken, likely because they had witnessed the solemn resolve of the youngest member in their team.

 

After barely eating and parting with minimal conversation, Zechs was on his way back to his room when someone called out to him from behind.

 

“Want to step out for a bit?”

 

When Zechs turned around, he saw Aster standing there, pointing toward the wall. Beyond the wall, in the direction he indicated, lay the town of Rhiannon.

 

After a moment of hesitation, Zechs nodded and followed him.