Tainted in Red

Chapter 3

Raven’s mana whipped viciously, creating a layer of malevolent energy around her. The whirling mana sucked in a few falling maple leaves, shredding them into tiny pieces upon contact. It gave Ishwar a chilling sense of foreboding, making him gulp subconsciously.

"Oh forget it." Raven suddenly shook her head and the whirling layer of death immediately vanished, turning back into that misty-looking serpent that spun around her. "Let's skip the one-sided beating and get right to business, Vice-Captain. I doubt you’d come personally just to extract your unconscious members. So what do you want?"

Ulfur’s eyes narrowed at Raven. “You don't have to keep hiding it, Raven. If you're the one who did this to our captain, why don't you go ahead and tell us what you want and get this over with?"

"Ah— So that's how it is.", Raven mused. It wasn't that hard to figure out. She was someone Dain often clashed in battle with. So it wasn't a surprise if some members of his squad suspected her of doing something to harm him. In all actuality, she wouldn't be surprised if a plague suddenly broke out and they blamed it on her. Such was her life as a havoc.

Raven crossed her arms and hummed in thought for a few moments, “I’m sure you’d like me to confirm your accusation but I just recently received the news myself. I assumed you all knew his plan and didn’t think much of it but—”

Raven paced a few times while she spoke, subconsciously tapping her chin in thought. By the end, her eyes narrowed, “.....two days have already passed. If it’s what I think it is, then we’re already too late.”

Idel, “What do you mean– too late? Is the captain alright?!”

Raven ignored Idel and instead turned to Ulfur, “Aside from your squad, who else knows about Dain’s condition?”

“Only the healer and Dain’s servants. Why?”, Ulfur answered despite the surprise.

Raven nodded, “Good. That will make things easier. Vyll, take these three to the infirmary and gather all remaining members of 20-A. I’ll meet you at the castle grounds.”

As she spoke, she flicked her hand and let the unconscious 20-A members float to Vyll’s side, “Asking you to avoid any fight might be impossible so instead I ask you not to overdo it. Three of them are already unconscious. Oh and—”

“—take Prince Ishwar with you.”

/ / /

“What.. in the world.. IS GOING ON?!!”, Ishwar yelled as he stomped his feet to the ground and conjured an earthen wall in front of him. The wall appeared just in time to block out the numerous fireballs and arrows that were launched at them.

As the continuous rain of attacks battered his spell, Ishwar glared at an amused-looking Vyll that took refuge behind the wall with him, “You better wipe that smile out of your face and tell me why we’re getting attacked out of nowhere in the middle of your capital.”

“Obviously because of me.”, Vyll answered with nonchalance. He was already huffing heavily from dodging all the attacks but still smiled as if everything was normal.

Obviously, my foot! There's nothing obvious about this at all! Ishwar frowned in irritation but managed to keep himself from cursing, “I'm not stupid, Elf, I can tell you're their target the moment they attacked! What I want to know is why they're attacking you! Just what did you do?!"

"What? No, I didn't do anything.", Vyll's brows knit together as he eyed Ishwar with a perplexed expression. “You're a really strange human, aren't you? Are you sure you’re really a human?”

Ishwar’s frown deepened, “What— do I have to be an elf to wonder why someone’s trying to kill you?! And what does being human have to do with all this?!”