Chapter 150: The Second Army

Chapter 150: The Second Army

“Though Airael declared this match is over, the three in combat seemed to have not heard her, continuing their fight.”

Arthur was still keeping Celia and Aurora under pressure.

Celia and Aurora were strong, repeatedly fending off Arthur’s attacks.

Whenever Arthur struck one, the other would swoop in to distract him.

This made it impossible for Arthur to focus his full efforts on just one opponent.

Seeing the three completely ignore her, Airael mustered up her momentum and shouted again, “I told you to stop! This fight is over!”

Feeling the terrifying momentum radiating from Airael, the three halted for a moment, looking at her in confusion.

They hadn’t clearly heard what Airael said just before.

Now that they finally stopped, Airael’s overwhelming momentum half-dissipated, and she calmly said, “You shouldn’t keep fighting; this isn’t a real battle—just a training match. Keep it light. Do you seriously want to beat each other down to the point of not being able to care for yourselves?”

Her words carried a hint of reprimand by the end.

Feeling a bit ashamed, the three lowered their heads.

Undeniably, they had gotten a little carried away earlier.

Seeing their acknowledgment, Airael refrained from further criticism and continued, “Now you all should rest well. Once you’ve recharged, we’ll check the sky color before discussing the next steps.”

They couldn’t return to the city after dark.

Once it got dark, the city gates would be locked.

Unless something major happened, the gates wouldn’t open until dawn.

Based on Airael’s estimation, the soldiers on guard would likely have a hard time letting them in.

So, they had to hurry back before nightfall.

Returning after dark would be too late.

The three nodded in agreement; Airael’s suggestion was sensible.

Urgently, they found a nearby spot to rest.

Airael didn’t seek out Arthur first, but instead approached Celia and Aurora, asking with concern, “How are you feeling? Is everything okay?”

Not far away, Arthur watched Airael fussing over the guards with longing eyes.

“Thank you for your concern, miss. We’re fine; a bit of rest is all we need,” Celia replied.

Airael nodded, then continued asking, “How did it feel fighting Axi?”

“Axi is very strong. We were no match for him,” Celia admitted, her head drooping in disappointment.

Aurora felt the same.

Although they knew this would be the outcome beforehand, the reality stung after putting in their effort.

Seeing their dejected faces, Airael sighed inwardly.

Celia and Aurora were both exceptionally talented.

They had the potential to rise to hero status, but their race meant they had a naturally longer growth period than humans.

Thus, even though Arthur was significantly younger, it was challenging for them to overcome him.

“Hang in there! I believe you’ll grow stronger in the future. After all, as a mage, I still count on you to protect me.”

With that, Airael offered a supportive smile, having nothing much else to comfort them with.

Airael understood some truths, and so did they; no special words were needed from her.

After all, they were elves who had lived for nearly a thousand years, much older than Airael.

Upon hearing Airael’s encouragement, Celia and Aurora’s glum expressions brightened considerably. “Miss… we will work hard to protect you!”

In her excitement, Celia almost slipped up and miscalled Airael but managed to correct herself just in time.

Aurora didn’t verbally respond, but her excitement was evident.

“I know, so you must focus on your training going forward.”

Airael gently nodded again and then walked over to Arthur.

Noticing Airael approach, Arthur quickly turned his head, his previously yearning expression fading somewhat.

He had entirely shed the previous “stone of longing for his wife” demeanor.

Airael joined him, skipping the warm, friendly greetings she shared with Celia and Aurora to bluntly ask, “You fought all three of us; what did you gain from it?”

“I gained a lot,” Arthur replied, turning to face Airael.

However, his attitude felt a bit distant.

Airael frowned slightly, wondering: What’s his deal? Has something unpleasant come to mind?

Shaking her head gently, she decided not to dwell on it and continued, “As long as you gained something, I hope you achieve victory in the next round.”

“I’ll definitely win!” Arthur confidently stated, his gaze steady.

This was basically the first step in his life; if he couldn’t get this right, the following path would only get tougher.

The spark of desire flickering in his eyes made Airael worry for him.

Desire could motivate and drive people, but getting lost in it could lead to endless disasters.

…

Time passed slowly.

By the time Arthur and the others rested, it was getting late.

As autumn deepened, the days grew shorter, and they needed to leave the woods and hurry to the city.

But since it was still some time before dark, they didn’t need to rush; they could take their time.

Just as they stepped out of the woods and headed toward the city gates, they spotted an army approaching.

Due to the troop’s passage, the city gates were temporarily closed to ordinary citizens.

Fortunately, the army wasn’t very large, so it wouldn’t take long to pass through.

Airael and Arthur exchanged a knowing glance, saying nothing as they continued toward the gates.

There was still some distance to the gates, and by the time they reached them, they should be able to enter.

Although they didn’t speak, both were deep in thought.

Airael recalled the army that entered the city earlier.

If one army was a coincidence, then two armies clearly meant something was up.

Once again, it was said: moving troops is no trivial matter, no matter the time or place.