After the spy was dealt with, everyone went back to their duties as if nothing happened. To be doubly sure, Henry cremated the corpse and scattered the ashes outside. The winds did the rest and carried the ashes off into the forest. Before they parted ways, Henry gave them all a quick and brief summary of his experiences. The Lavans were pleased to hear that more than half of the kingdom’s forces were culled, everyone except for the Grand Marshal, Leon.

  Leon muttered some crude remark under his breath before taking his leave. Henry caught the marshal’s words which made him concerned but he paid it no mind as he didn’t believe Leon would do something stupid. The marshall was indignant over the ck of opportunity to show off Lavan’s military might. Unless fate intervened and decreased his intelligence, Henry had no reason to suspect Leon of making any retarded decisions.

  Henry was also given a succinct report on the state of the kingdom’s forces on their end. As of now, none of the kingdom forces were near the pass. The closest force was at the foot of the mountain range, around two days away. As it was a steep path, the soldiers would be exhausted after they finished their climb, which would give the Lavans another day of preparation.

  The main forces of the kingdom were still far away. In fact, they had retreated from their original position in fear of another attack by Henry. Still, the retreat was not in full as they remained within the boundaries of the border. From what the Lavans knew, the main forces would hear about the devastation to other forces at night at the test.

  For now, the construction of the fortress continued while they waited for the kingdom’s decision. They had lost more than half of their forces. Whether they would advance or retreat, only time would tell. Until then, Henry and the others could only wait. At present, he sat atop the mountain range that separated Ulrum from the kingdom’s nds along with his women.

  They were there to survey the forest and also to take in the scenery for the sake of rexation. Yu insisted on helping with building the fortress but since she and Sarynn had already done all the difficult parts for today, the Lavans rejected her kind offer.

  “How are you feeling?” Yu asked as she snuggled closer to Henry.

  “I’m feeling okay?” Henry answered, unsure of her question.

  “She means how are you faring after killing so many people in a single day,” Ani expined and cuddled with Henry from the other side, opposite Yu.

  “I-I don’t know… I know I’m supposed to feel bad but… I don’t. Is this weird?”

  “Think nothing of it, my dear,” said Sarynn, who came up from behind and hugged Henry. “They were our enemies, ones that couldn’t be bargained with. Think of all the Lavans that could have died in the future if you didn’t take action beforehand.”

  “I know that. It’s just… Is it normal to not feel anything even after you have taken so many lives?”

  Sarynn shrugged. “I have never regretted my kills. I have done so to fill my belly or to protect my home. I have no regrets about that. Be it people or monsters.”

  “Maybe you don’t see them as people at all,” Rayne said. She was sitting some distance away from the group, though only by a few feet. As always, she sneered at the four’s lovey-dovey atmosphere.

  “Who are you referring to?” Henry asked.

  “Both of you. If someone comes at me with the intent to kill me or ruin my home, I would greet them with the same hostility and I will have no regrets. They forfeit any regrets and mercy I would have the moment they threatened my livelihood. Such is the way of Ulrum. Like it or not, we are all animals. Regretting over the lives taken is a short path to ruin.”

  “...They’re our enemies, Henry,” Yu said. “Don’t worry about it. You have done nothing wrong. You shouldn’t feel bad.”

  “Is that truly what I should be feeling? What if I become a mass-murdering maniac with no consciousness? What then? Who could stop me?”

  “My lovely ancestor,” Rayne answered.

  “I say she would join Henry in continuing the spree instead of stopping him,” Ani added.

  “If you turn on us, we would all be dead,” Sarynn mused. “That is a terrifying thought. Thankfully, we can just make sure that would never happen.” Sarynn hugged Henry tighter and started rubbing her body against his back.

  “In that case, I will have to do my part too!” Yu cheered gleefully and stuck Henry’s arm in between her massive bosom.

  Not wanting to be left out, Ani hesitantly grabbed Henry’s other arm and hugged it like a pillow.

  While Henry was relishing in this premium service that one could only get in another world, Rayne stood up and walked over to Henry before sitting down right in front of him.

  “Want to join?” Sarynn teased.

  “Later,” Rayne said.

  Henry raised an eyebrow. She was surprised to hear such an answer from Rayne. It wasn’t a ft-out rejection.

  “I want to hear the rest of the story.”

  “What story?” Ani inquired.

  Rayne stared at Henry. “From what you have told us, I sensed that you didn’t tell the full story. You left something out, didn’t you? I don’t believe it is as uneventful as you cim.”

  “I killed thousands of humans. I won’t call that uneventful.”

  “Something else happened, didn’t it? I saw the state you were in when you returned. You looked hurt. You didn’t just fight with some formidable knight with swords. You look like you were struck by something big and vast, perhaps a spell projectile. You fought another kind of formidable opponent, one that you seem disinclined to share with us regarding their presence and identity. Why is that?”

  At this point, all gazes were on Henry and not one of them looked amused.

  “It’s a woman, isn’t it?” Yu asked.

  “A beautiful one at that, I say,” Ani added.

  “Is it true, dear?” Sarynn asked.

  Henry relented and sighed. “Yes, it’s true. She’s very beautiful. Most of all, she’s strong. She’s a… Magus, or so she cims.”

  “A Magus?” Sarynn was the only one who reacted strongly to the word.

  Rayne also had a reaction but not as intense as Sarynn.

  “You know about them?” Henry asked.

  “Aye, I do. They’re beings born of Murux. Human in every way except for their essence. They have no flesh or blood. They are known for their mastery over spells. There was a Magus who stumbled into Ulrum tens of years ago. He left a lot of corpses and carcasses in his wake. He was running from something, presumably the humans. I fought him a couple of times and each ended in my defeat. If I didn’t have the advantage of being in the water, I would have been dead.”

  After hearing Sarynn’s story, Henry turned to Rayne. “And what do you know about them?”

  “Why do you presume I know?”

  “Because you read a lot and I don’t believe the texts about Vishara wouldn’t mention a Magus considering their capabilities.”

  Rayne snorted lightly. “You’re right. The texts did mention them and it’s more than just ‘mention’. The texts spoke highly of Magi. As it turns out, the one who taught and moulded Vishara into the fighter she is today is all thanks to a Magus.”

  “...Well, shit,” Henry groaned.

  “Versatile and resilient. Their innate connection with Murux allows them to quickly master any spells they learn. Moreover, they carry no weakness of the flesh and blood. They do not get sick. They don’t die so easily. They can be stabbed, burned, or even have their limbs torn from them, they would still live. They can even recover in just a few days from these dire and fatal injuries.”

  “How do you kill them?”

  Rayne drew a line across her neck and then pointed at her heart. “Decapitation or aim for the heart. Decapitation is more effective. Aiming for the heart is fatal but only as long as you don’t let that wound heal. And depending on each individual, some could even inhibit the pain they felt.”

  “What about spells that impair spells? Would that work?”

  “Those spells only prevent spells from forming. It doesn’t erase the presence of Murux. Many have tried to use… Anti-Murux tools against Magi but none were even remotely effective against Magi.”

  “Huh… this is more than just highly. This is detailed. Did the texts really tell you all of these?”

  Rayne nodded. “People fear the Magi. If it wasn’t for the Magi only and complicated means of reproduction, Magi would have ruled the world.”

  “And what’s their means of reproduction?”

  “To be formed naturally by… nature and Murux itself. There’s no definite method. They just… happen to be formed and born. Still, they fear the Magi.”

  “What happened to Vishara’s master?” Yu asked.

  “Killed, by Vishara herself.”

  Yu widened her eyes. “Why would she do that?”

  “The real reason was never specified. Some think Vishara became as fearful as the others towards the Magi. Some say it was the wish of Vishara’s master himself as a final test for Vishara. There were other theories but it gets more and more nonsensical as I read on.”

  “What became of this Magus you encountered?” Sarynn asked.

  “She escaped,” Henry admitted. “I wanted to recruit her.”

  “You want to seduce her,” Rayne retorted.

  “She was a mage for the kingdom but she has no love for them. She was only there due to her unavoidable circumstances. If we can get her to our side, we will have a better chance against Vishara.”

  “Didn’t the two of you come to an agreement?” Yu questioned.

  “The agreement only holds firm as long as things go to pn. How often do you think pns go the way they are intended without falling apart midway? Even if everything went well, there’s still the aftermath. She’s ambitious. I doubt she’ll be content with leaving Ulrum alone.”

  “A valid concern,” Sarynn agreed. “We need to become stronger or find stronger allies, not just because of Vishara.”

  “This magus can make us stronger and be a strong ally. The worst outcome would be her becoming our enemy. Regardless, I have to find her. Of course, after the threat of the kingdom’s expedition forces have been dealt with.”

  “You just want to expand your harem,” Rayne scoffed.

  “That would be a nice addition,” Henry shamelessly admitted. “Don’t worry, I won’t give you any less of my attention and love.”

  Rayne rolled her eyes and turned away.

  “This just came to me,” Ani muttered. “What about the hero?”

  Henry frowned. “What about him? He’s dead, or at least he’s good as dead.”

  “Wouldn’t another hero be chosen? Let’s say we are victorious in repelling the forces today, what’s stopping them from dispatching the new hero in the future?”

  “Which is why it is imperative for the princess to sit on the throne.”

  “Vishara is the problem,” Rayne said. “I reckon it’s easier to pce the princess on the throne than defy Vishara. Her ambitions would only invite more challengers.”

  “We have to kill her,” Sarynn concluded.

  “Easier said than done,” Rayne retorted. “She has familiars, blindly loyal servants and thralls.”

  “Or perhaps she would gain a good conscience and curb her ambitions,” Yu suggested.

  Henry smiled wryly at his lover’s naivete. He then turned to Rayne. “If the Lavans and the kingdom fought in their current states, how would the Lavans fair?”

  “The Lavans would win, not without any casualties but it won’t be a lot. The kingdom’s soldiers still have much distance to cover. The elements would get them. Their strength is also their weakness. The golem carriages are huge and heavy. They used fmmable and explosive substances as their fuel. The Lavans have archers and spell casters capable of fiery offences. From these facts alone, the Lavans’ victory is guaranteed.”

  “So to say, the only issue here is how much casualty can we reduce in the eventual confrontation.”

  Rayne nodded.

  Henry smiled and cpped his hand. “Well, that sounds easy enough… Or at least I hope it is.”