Aeon Morgan?!
Jax knew who that person was. Who in Meredith wouldn't? He was really famous in their empire! But why in the world was he here?
"Mere…dith!" Jax struggled to utter the word, hoping that Aeon would understand what he was trying to imply.
Hearing this, Aeon cocked an eyebrow. He immediately dropped the pair he was choking, leaving them gasping for air as they coughed and coughed.
To begin with, he wasn't planning on killing the two. He just didn't want the two to use magic against him so the situation wouldn't escalate and get out of hand. It just so happened that depriving beasts of oxygen was useful in preventing them from using spells; he learned that inside the labyrinth. So he subconsciously used it against humans too. And it worked.
"You two are from the Meredith Empire?" Aeon asked with a hint of doubt. Looking around, it seemed like he was still in a forest. Based on the uneven elevation, then he should be on a mountain or a hill. Being the second smallest empire, Meredith had few of them, so it was a bit hard to believe.
After Aeon asked, the two nodded multiple times to show their response.
"Who are you two? And where are we anyway? If you don't answer, I'll choke you guys again."
The two who were still struggling to recover tensed up and started waving their hands in the air.
No more! Please!
After coughing a few more times, the earth mage spoke in a hoarse voice, "I'm Jax and this here is Thrain. We're in the north-eastern part of Mt. Eirene, a few kilometers beyond the border."
Aeon sat on a rock and made himself comfortable. Seeing him, Jax realized that he was wearing weird clothing, especially his shirt and pants. They looked like beast skin ripped straight off a magical beast, but he couldn't tell from which. It was too colorful and shiny. He had never seen a beast with such hide before.
He does look like Marshall Devon Morgan. And the muscles in his body... Forget Thrain, it even seemed like he could tear apart a magical beast with his bare hands!
"Jax and Thrain huh. Oy, oy! Look at me!"
"Yes!"
"Last time I checked, it was illegal to cross the border without permission. And not only that. Getting permission is extremely hard, especially if the parties involved are two empires that are at odds against each other," Aeon asked, his eyes sharp and serious. "Tell me, what are you two really doing here?"
For a moment, time seemed to have stopped. Jax couldn't find the words to respond, and he was stuck there with his mouth slightly opened.
"Are you serious right now?!" this time, it was Thrain who spoke, breaking the awkward silence. His face was full of disbelief.
Aeon looked at Thrain flatly. He didn't have the patience right now. If the guy wasn't part of the Meredith Empire, he would've punched the person right in the face already.
He'd been stuck for a long time in the labyrinth. He needed answers, not questions!
But, after looking at Jax, who also had an expression of disbelief, he realized that something was wrong. Was something wrong with what he said? Thinking about this, Aeon's gaze wandered and his eyebrows furrowed.
Jax could tell that Aeon's expression was genuine. He was serious about what he asked. "Sir Aeon Morgan… are you talking about asking for permission from the Florentine Empire?"
Hearing this dumb question, Aeon angrily responded, "Who else?!"
"Right. But sir," Jax paused, his face now showing a hint of confusion. Then, he continued, "There is no Florentine Empire anymore."
….
Aeon stared blankly ahead as the horse he was riding galloped through the wind. He was utterly confused.
After Jax said that the Florentine Empire was gone, the two asked him why he didn't know such a thing. He was supposed to be staying in the Florentine, in the first place.
Aeon answered them vaguely. He said that he was trapped in Mt. Eirene after an earthquake. He added that he only got out after 8 months after traversing an underground passage.
After a series of questions that confirmed his identity as Aeon Morgan, the son of the marshall, the two mages then explained in detail what they meant by the Florentine not existing anymore.
What Aeon heard from the two was not something that he could outright believe.
The mages revealed their identities as spies, emphasizing that they knew everything that is known to the Meredith Empire. This information sufficed to make Aeon believe them.
….
Approximately 8 months ago, Sera City was besieged by a huge number of magical beasts. This matter, however, was immediately resolved. Though the damage was quite devastating, it couldn't change the fact the Sera City could still be rebuilt afterward.
What was weird, though, was that just a few days after the siege, several notable mages, even General Solare Samo himself, were seen in the border city of Cora. This caught the attention of the Meredith Empire, putting it on high alert. With this move, it was speculated that the Florentine was scheming something against them.
The chief advisers believed that they were planning on plundering a few Meredith towns near the border to get some resources, replacing those they lost in Sera City. And it only made much more sense because the General of Sera City was there.
Things got a lot weirder too when several high-level spies didn't return to Meredith anymore. It was debated that the Florentine was planning something big and was doing everything they can to hide it by actively seeking out spies, but it didn't make much sense too because their actions were plain as day.
The real reason why they were in Cora was only revealed after five months. And the way it was revealed was too abnormal.
Attack reports started flooding the palace. But the ones subjected to the attacks weren't part of the Meredith Empire.
It was those from the Florentine; those towns and cities near the border.
The Meredith would've thought it as a civil war, but based on the reports, the people who launched the attacks did not look like locals of the Florentine. Moreover, they brought with them magical beasts that aided them in battle. This point alone was already inconceivable.
One day, General Samo just came knocking on Meredith's door, begging to provide them with refuge. He brought along the citizens of Cora and stayed outside the walls of the nearest Meredith town called Fermin.
This was a dangerous move because, aside from the fact that his trespassing gave the soldiers of the Meredith Empire a reason to attack, he was also risking the lives of innocent citizens.
Thankfully, a letter that was written by the Emperor of Meredith himself arrived. Written in the letter was an invitation to a meeting in the palace, and it was addressed to Solare Samo.
A battle did not take place. Well, maybe not yet.
The fate of the people outside the town would be decided at the said meeting.
In the meeting, Solare Samo appeared pretty bold in front of the Emperor. The moment that he was permitted to speak, he explained that even if they lived as squatters outside Fermin Town, Meredith wouldn't be able to send enough men to threaten them.
Because if they did, they might not be able to respond in time to defend against those people who are chasing after them when they attack the other towns and cities of Meredith.
In his point of view, the other border cities and towns were, in fact, at a much bigger risk. At least Fermin town had the General and his men as their cannon fodder if things get out of hand.
Meredith did not disagree. It was not a secret in the room that even they were threatened by an unknown enemy.
Instead, he simply proposed what he originally had in mind as if did not hear anything.
The emperor told General Samo that, seeing their pitiful condition, they will provide food and shelter to the non-mages, in exchange for information.
Non-mages only. They wouldn't take in even those mages who are not part of the military nor the Academy.
The Emperor was firm in his words, and it was apparent that he was not open to negotiations. His only reason for calling out the General was already thrown into the table.
He only needed information. He did not ask for more.
Solare Samo was silent for quite some time. Ultimately, he agreed. But he asked the emperor to show some compassion to the wounded mages.
The Emperor responded with his silence.
The Emperor declared the terms.
That was it.
Even though the chances of them being schemed against was close to none because of the current state of the other party, they still held a slight hint of doubt. They were cautious! They haven't forgotten about Florentine's ill will.
The negotiation was closed. The General could only agree.
The General and his men settled outside Fermin Town's walls. From time to time, on a distant hill, smoke would rise up to the sky. Those smokes did not come from a bonfire for camping.
They came from burning corpses.
The corpses of those wounded mages who were not treated due to the lack of medical supplies.
They weren't permitted to bury the dead there, so they could only choose cremation.
One month later, another piece of information was sent to the palace. A mage who was able to successfully leave the Florentine Empire was now seeking refuge outside Fermin Town. According to him, even the Capital City of the Florentine Empire, Lerith, was no more. He knew because he came from all the way there.
After that, more and more refugees started arriving in the Meredith Empire.
….
The trio's destination: Fermin town!
Jax and Thrain were against the idea. They were spies! They were supposed to be spying! But what could they do against Aeon Morgan's request? Sitting on top of the horse that they were both sharing, they looked at Aeon with killing intent.
They didn't know Devon Morgan's son was quite an asshole.
As if taking their horse wasn't enough!
Jax inwardly harrumphed.
After a few moments, a sentry tower slowly came into view. Then, the town.
It was their first stop.
….