Isgram paced in front of the clinic, his footsteps grinding into the dirt, echoing the fire burning in his chest. The warmth of the day clung to the air, but all he could feel was the searing impatience gnawing at him, hotter than the spirit he had unleashed on the empire's villages. He replayed the moment in his mind.
Fang's blood was on the ground, the katana cutting deep into the ground as it supported his friend's descent to his knees.
How dare they?
His fingers clenched into fists, his eyes scanning the village for any sign of movement.
The people of Davra went about their business cautiously, whispering as they passed the clinic, but Isgram's gaze returned to the door.
Inside, Alona was tending to Fang, healing the wound, purging the poison. He trusted her skills, but the waiting...the waiting was unbearable.
What if they strike again?
He considered storming into the clinic, demanding updates, but instead, he kept his feet moving. A fire burned deep within him, but now was not the time to let it loose again. Not yet.
Suddenly, a guard from the village approached, visibly shaken. "s-sir Isgram… we found something near the edge of the forest. Something left behind by the assassin."
Isgram stopped, narrowing his eyes. "What did you find?"
"A small hideout he made, a set of binoculars and a variety of daggers just like the one that was used for the assassination attempt."
The man was used to his officer's wind mana, one that was close to silver rank yet not just there.
But Isgram's mana flared, melting the grass nearby and causing the guard to lose consciousness for a moment.
Seeing his anger getting out of hand, Isgram breathed in a couple of times, begging his lungs to calm his mind.
The guard regained consciousness.
"Show me where it is.
I will take on the investigation from now on."
The guard could just nod and started walking towards the edge of the village.
After a couple of minutes, Isgram saw a small cave, one that couldn't even be called a cave.
It looked like a hollowed-out large boulder, around 6 meters tall.
Behind Isgram were a couple of warriors and one man with a large mana capacity, enough to be deemed a threat. Seeing that he wasn't known to any of the trio, he assumed he was the military leader of Davra.
The man approached him, a stern look on his face as his one eye exuded power and absolute dominance over his warriors.
"Isgram, right?"
He nodded solemnly, thinking about Fang and the clinic.
"I am continuing the investigation on behalf of Chief Fujin. My name is Varden, commander of Davra's defenses." His voice was low, with an air of authority that was hard to ignore."
Isgram's eyes flicked over the commander, assessing. This was no ordinary soldier; his mana was intense, controlled, unlike most of the warriors here. Yet Isgram had no time for formalities. The assassin's hideout had raised more questions than answers, and the faint traces of poison still lingering in Fang's body gnawed at his conscience.
"I don't need help," Isgram growled, though his gaze stayed locked on the small cave ahead. "This assassin made a mistake. He underestimated us. But I won't."
Varden raised an eyebrow. "And if this assassin isn't working alone? What if there's more to this than a simple hit on your leader? The empire doesn't send lone killers without a reason."
Isgram turned sharply, the tension thick between the two men. "You think I don't know that? Do you think I haven't considered the possibility? This isn't about underestimating—this is about revenge. And I'll get it. This investigation is mine to lead."
Varden didn't flinch at the sudden shift in Isgram's tone. His expression remained calm, but his grip on his sword tightened slightly, as if sensing the fire beneath Isgram's words. "Revenge won't solve this, dwarf. Being thorough will. Every attempt on a person's life in this village is a personal insult to me, nothing less. I will assist you in any way possible but do not mistake my help for charity. I am interested in protecting my own, not magistos."
The two stared at each other for a moment, a battle of wills playing out silently in the air between them. Finally, Isgram's shoulders relaxed, though his anger still simmered under the surface. "Fine. We work together. But make no mistake—if I find any other assassin waiting in that hideout, they won't be walking out alive. Their head will decorate our cave, and the rest of their body will be fed to the ravens." His mana flared once more, this time only for the commander to sense.
With that, Isgram turned his back on Varden and motioned for the warriors to follow him toward the cave. The commander gave a nod to his men, and they spread out, surrounding the area. As they approached the entrance of the hideout, the air seemed to thicken. The lingering presence of the assassin, of the attack itself, was palpable.
"Stay sharp," Isgram muttered. His senses were on high alert, eyes narrowing as he spotted something glinting inside the shallow cave. He stepped forward, the faint glow of mana emanating from the daggers still stuck in the ground, their blades shimmering with the remnants of dark magic.
But that wasn't all. At the back of the hideout, barely visible, was an insignia carved into the stone—a symbol Isgram recognized instantly.
"The empire's mark," he hissed, his fists clenching. "They're not even hiding it anymore."
Varden came up beside him, eyes widening as he saw the symbol. "This changes everything."
Isgram's mind raced. "They've made their move. Now it's our turn."
"No. Something is fishy. Why would an assassin mark his hideout with the empire's insignia? This is a framing attempt, someone is trying to sabotage the peace talks."
"Do you actually take me for an idiot?! There are not many who know of our existence, only you and the empire! Who the hell could it be?"
Thinking back on the facts, Isgram knew it was too obvious but he was blinded by anger.
Knowing his next words are of grave meaning, Varden uttered them with shame.
"I suspect the villages nearby."
Isgram's eyes blazed with fury, his voice sharp. "The villages? Why would they involve themselves in this? They've stayed neutral until now, and your chief told me they hate the empire just like you lot do. And how would they even know of it?"
Varden shifted uncomfortably. "Think about it. The villages have watched their lands dwindle as the empire and other powers expand. The presence of the chosen ones, your group, shakes the balance. You're not just a threat to the empire but to anyone who sees their authority slipping."
Isgram clenched his fists, forcing himself to think. He hated it, but Varden's words made sense. They'd been so focused on the empire that they hadn't considered others—small factions trying to stir the pot, waiting for the right moment to strike.
"And with the empire poised to send an ambassador," Isgram murmured, the realization sinking in. "If the villages can stir up chaos before the talks, they could spark a war—one that'll destroy any chance of peace and give them a chance to claim power in the aftermath."
Varden nodded, his face grim. "It's a power play. They're using the empire as a scapegoat, knowing it'll ignite your anger and push you into retaliation. They want you to strike first, forcing the empire's hand."
Isgram paced, his mind racing through the possibilities. "But the villages don't have the manpower to challenge the empire directly. If this is true, they're either suicidal or they've struck a deal with someone far more dangerous."
Varden's gaze darkened. "The real question is—who's pulling their strings?"
Isgram stopped in his tracks, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. Fang, injured, lay in the clinic fighting for his life, while Alona worked tirelessly to heal him. But now, it seemed there was a larger game at play, one they hadn't fully seen. Fang's resurrection abilities, the peace treaty, the empire's looming presence—it was all connected.
Knowing he let his feelings get the better of him, he channeled his mana to dispel the dragon until new information found its way to his hands.
"We need to flush out the real culprits," Isgram said, his tone hardening. "And we need to protect Davra and Fang's group before it's too late."
Varden crossed his arms. "Agreed. But how do we expose them without tipping our hand?"
Isgram smirked, his mind churning with a new plan. "We lay a trap. Let them think we've fallen for it. And when they move to strike again, we'll be ready."
Varden raised an eyebrow. "You're suggesting we bait them? With what?"
Isgram turned to the hideout, eyes narrowing. "With exactly what they want—revenge and chaos. We will stage a fight with Davra, one that will just be us defending from your attack. When Fang gets better we will know for sure how to act, for now, let's wait for his recovery.
Fang has a great scouting ability, and Gaia is a great sensor too. If we can bait their scouts, we can interrogate them without stirring the pot with the nearby villages.
We need to find who is behind the scenes, and what he promised the perpetrators."
Varden's face darkened with understanding. "A staged fight, huh? We'll make it look convincing, but not too destructive. The key is making sure they believe we've taken the bait."
Isgram nodded, his thoughts already racing. "We'll need to make the village look vulnerable—just enough to draw out whoever's orchestrating this. They'll want to capitalize on any perceived weakness."
Varden glanced over at his warriors, already calculating how to position them. "And what about Fang? He's our key to making this plan work. If he's not ready, it could backfire."
Isgram grimaced. "Fang is stronger than we know. His recovery will come quickly, but until then, we need to hold the line. Gaia's abilities will give us an edge in sensing movement around the village. We can't afford to show our full strength yet."
A long silence passed between them, both weighing the gravity of their plan. If it failed, it could trigger a real war, one that no staged fight could stop.
Varden broke the silence. "I'll pull back my warriors for now. We'll keep patrols light around the perimeter, give the illusion that we're distracted and unprepared. Meanwhile, your group can focus on setting up the traps."
Isgram's eyes glinted with resolve. "We'll need to communicate in secret. The fewer people who know the real plan, the better. If anyone on the inside catches wind of it, we'll lose our advantage."
Varden nodded. "I'll inform only my most trusted men. But once Fang is back on his feet, we'll need to move fast."
Isgram looked off towards the clinic, his thoughts lingering on Fang's recovery. "When Fang is ready, we'll strike back. And we'll find out who's playing this dangerous game. Once we know, there will be no mercy."
Varden smirked grimly. "For now, we play the part of vulnerable fools. But when the time comes, they won't see us coming."
Isgram met Varden's gaze, his voice low and determined. "When this is over, we'll show them what happens when you try to manipulate chosen ones."
"Don't forget us, dwarf." The man smiled with a cunning look on his face.
"You need to start preparing, Varden. I will go to fetch Gaia. In the meantime, keep Fang safe. I urge you."
"Do you not have another way to communicate with her? They could very well wait for you to run away and attack our village. We need to stay wary, Isgram."
"I thought my name was Dwarf by now, but you can be respectful too."
Chuckling, the stiff man was suddenly loosened up and to the surprise of his men, he even smiled an ear to ear smile.
"I must say, I missed such fights. Being on border duty for so many years, I rusted on the rack instead of being on the front lines. My last fight was in the war, and that was many full moons ago."
"A fight can invigorate you, no doubt in that, but don't grow to love it. You might get too attached to Fang as it is his favorite activity!" Isgram and the man now laughed, making the men around look at them as if they'd gone insane.
"I will consider the opportunity with grace, but now let's get to it. I suggest you call Gaia while staying here, do you have any familiar or spell to do so?"
Isgram knew several spells that fit the mission at hand, but they were all very mana consuming. Knowing it was the best option, Isgram summoned a fire dragon once more.
'The mana drain is unbelievable, I am getting a bit dizzy. From now on I should save up my mana for the moment the perpetrators show themselves. I must stay vigilant in case this Varden is in on this operation...'
"Call Gaia here, guide her to the village."
A dragon roar boomed across the sky, and the flaming dragon took off with a single thrust of his wings.
Varden watched the fire dragon soar into the sky, its fiery wings cutting through the clouds like a beacon of Isgram's power. He whistled softly. "I'll admit, I don't often see magic like that. Impressive, Dwarf."
Isgram gave a tired smile, rubbing his temples as the mana drain weighed on him. "That spell takes its toll, but it's the fastest way. Gaia will understand the signal and head here. I just hope she gets here fast."
Varden raised an eyebrow. "Rest up while you can. You'll need your strength if this plan goes south. And don't worry about your friend, Fang. Alona will see to that, she is our best."
Isgram nodded, though unease flickered in his eyes. "I know. But Fang isn't invincible. Neither am I. We need to be careful with every step we take from here on out. If the empire catches wind of our ruse before we're ready, they'll strike hard and fast."
Varden crossed his arms, looking thoughtful. "You're right. I'll send out extra patrols, but subtly. We'll make it seem like we're just reinforcing the village, nothing more. In the meantime, I'll prepare my men for the 'staged' fight. When the time comes, we'll make it look real enough to fool even the sharpest of eyes."
Isgram's eyes glinted with approval. "Good. Make it convincing, but not deadly. We need to walk a fine line here—just enough to bait them out without giving them a reason to bring the full force of the empire down on us."
Varden gave him a calculating nod. "Consider it done. We'll start setting up around the perimeter, but stay close enough to keep an eye on Fang. He's our linchpin in this entire plan."
Just then, a distant roar echoed from above. The fire dragon had disappeared into the horizon, leaving only the faintest trail of smoke. Isgram clenched his fists, hoping Gaia would reach them soon. "She'll come. Gaia's never one to leave us hanging."
Varden grinned. "Let's hope she gets here fast. If we're going to pull this off, we'll need all the help we can get."
As they parted ways, Varden turned back to his men. "Alright, you heard the Dwarf! Start setting up positions. This 'fight' needs to be perfect."
Isgram, meanwhile, walked towards the village outskirts, trying to save what little mana he had left. Thoughts raced through his mind—Fang, the empire, the unknown hand manipulating events from the shadows. One thing was certain: the stage was set, but the players were not yet fully revealed.
Isgram muttered to himself, "Soon enough, we'll know who's behind this mess. And when we do, they'll regret underestimating us."
With that, he vanished into the shadows of the village, waiting for Gaia to arrive, and for their enemies to make the next move.
Hello everyone, I would be more than happy to know your thoughts till now.
If you have anything to say there are comments on Webnovel, just press down here to comment.
Thank you for reading, we have reached a steady number of readers by now too!
I am writing this book for the sake of my own fun and I hope you're finding it well written and enjoying the comedic moments.