Our Soul Nexus

Chapter Thirty-Two

What was more concerning to Ayben was the hundreds of soldiers that had been stationed around the village. Command tents had been set up in makeshift ice domes to protect them from the elements and Ayben could spot not a single person without some kind of magical weapon.

There were dozens of distant conversations, laughs between comrades, shouts of orders and the entire scene had turned into a frontline.

He rushed over to the nearest snow mage, who was struck with surprise upon seeing him.

"You're Ayben, right? Oh, by the Gods, we've been searching for you everywhere!" The green-eyed woman leaned down slightly to assess the blood on his forehead. "Are you injured?"

Ayben shook his head. "I'm fine, it's healed. What's going on? Who're all these people?"

The mage had waved down a group of their village members and waved Ayben to follow her. "The military was sent to reinforce the boarder."

Ayben hurried to keep up with the woman, her stride rushing over to the group.

"Ayben's returned." She informed then once within distance to be heard.

A few people rushed out from a nearby tent, Professor Rist among them. Her face lit up with relief when she saw him.

"Oh, for goodness sakes, boy, why must you worry us like that?" She reprimanded him, but it was clear she was happy he was safe.

Ayben frowned. "It was Relia. She caused the ground to cave in on itself. By the way, where's Chesca? Shouldn't she be here?"

Rist had a grim look on her face, replacing the previous bout of glee within seconds. "She, along with the rest of the court mages, have been sent to the boarder as reinforcements."

Ayben's mouth fell open, his breath leaving him. "W-what?! What's going on?"

Rist looked at him, almost to convey the situation was too complex for words. Another group of people emerged, this time from one of the cabins.

These were students, amongst which were Claretta and Laude. They spotted Ayben and immediately rushed towards him.

"Ayben!" Claretta threw her arms around him, squeezing him tight before letting go. "What the Hells happened to you?"

Rei had an irked look in his eye. "I swear, we were told you would be fine!"

Ayben looked between his two friends, eyeing them both as they shared a seething air.

"That bitch told everyone you had done it yourself, dropping into the cave. I knew she was lying." Claretta hissed.

Ayben rubbed his temple. "What do you mean? You guys didn't know she was behind it?"

"It's a long story. She's been dealt with...I think." Rei assured him, looking just as exhausted as Ayben from the insurmountable things going on.

Rist held up a hand to end the theorising. "She has been dealt with. I'm sorry Chesca couldn't assist you in escaping the glacier cave, but you did well, Ayben. We were fearful, given how far from the village you were."

It was all crashing down around him, Ayben felt his knees buckle beneath him as the weight of everything from the past few hours settled into his brain.

Primordius' son...the forbidden Desivoto spell...Chesca on the frontlines with the other court mages...the assassination attempt...and now the military...it was all too much.

Rei caught Ayben as he began to fall, feeling his legs go numb and weak.

"Get him inside!" Rist ordered, making way for Rei to walk forward.