"By this time, they're probably trying to escape the area where the Bacharoth had hidden them. I'm certain that they're somewhere in the estate, most probably around the cottage by the lake."
"If I remember correctly, that's where you first spotted the Bacharoth."
Ilya nodded her head and said, "Yes, that's also the Bacharoth whom I felt the most pressure from. It might be the original Bacharoth or the strongest out of the 236."
Before giving a reply, the sorcerer approached Ilya and knelt in front of her. Seeing how eager the young man was, Ilya was grateful to know that there's someone unselfish among the Obelisk Sorcerers.
"How do you think we should deal with this situation? There's no Manna in the vicinity. We're practically unarmed." The Sorcerer frantically stated, his hands joined as if to beg.
"There's no Manna in the vicinity that we can wield. However, the Bacharoths would still need to use Manna to contain the Commander and the Count. Do not expect to sense a large amount of Manna. Instead, try to search for fragments that might lead to the two Lords."
"But how do we do--"
"Pardon him, Lady Gertrude. He's a newly instated Sorcerer, so he has not undergone proper training yet."
Much to Ilya's astoundment, it was the leader of the Obelisk Sorcerers who interrupted the young man. She darted her gaze towards the middle-aged man, who looked as if he never aged from the moment he turned twenty.
Truth be told, he was already aware of why Ilya was acting dismissive towards them. The very actuality that Manna could not be wielded freely inside the Hamlin estate put the Sorcerers at a disadvantage.
On the other hand, the knights who had trained with weapons and had sturdy bodies would be preferable to lead the operation. Moreover, the Obelisk was the first to declare that they refused to cooperate with the Empire. No wonder that the Nobles were adamant to accommodate them.
Although he couldn't dismiss the hurt of being ignored, there was no place for him to put his emotions over his judgment. It was imperative that they resolve the matter as quickly as possible.
"Rather than just tracing Manna trails, you want us to trace their life force, yes?"
"Exactly," Ilya replied in satisfaction, "That will be most effective. I am aware of the difficulty of this mission. Withal, the capabilities of those two are beyond the strength of an entire legion. Their participation in the battle will be vital for our victory."
The leader dared not contest Ilya's claim. They all knew, deep down in their minds, that she was saying the truth. By the same token, the Obelisk Sorcerers had to gain the trust of the knights. In that way, they would be able to turn to them for support.
No one had said it out loud. Be that as it may, everyone inside the barrier was aware that the Hamlin Estate could be the final location of their graves.
They were only afraid that their fear might dominate them if they were to be vocal about it.
"I understand. Leave the matter of finding Commander Halkias and Count Schatten to our group."
"I'm very grateful for your cooperation."
The leader of the Sorcerers finally gave a genuine courtesy to the lady prior to making his departure. The other Sorcerers followed suit after uttering a brief farewell to Ilya.
The moment they were left alone, Dantalion debated on initiating small talk with Ilya. There was nothing else for them to talk about aside from the danger they're facing. While she was preoccupied with her contemplation, a heavy sigh escaped Ilya's lips.
"What's wrong, Lady Gertrude? Are you in pain, perhaps? Do you want to drink the medicine now?" Dantalion asked in succession, her hands fiddling on what to grab.
"Yes, please. How long does the effect of one painkiller last?"
"Approximately six hours, Your Grace. Still, your stomach should be full before drinking the pill."
Ilya peered at Dantalion, then to the boxes behind her. She noticed that the physician brought a lot of things, even those that were unnecessary. But she didn't reproach Dantalion for it, knowing that the woman felt only concern for her.
"Do you have something for me to eat?" Ilya asked with a smile.
Dantalion quickly nodded her head, answering as she picked up one of the boxes, "I know that you haven't eaten since yesterday, so I brought some sandwiches."
The woman took out a small plate, carefully placing the neat slices of sandwich on it. She then handed the plate to Ilya.
"Thank you. You can eat too, Lady Dantalion. It will be more enjoyable to eat with someone."
"Thank you for the offer," Dantalion said as she sat properly beside Ilya.
After eating one slice, Ilya was done. She couldn't stomach any more than that. While waiting for Dantalion to finish, her gaze chased the ranks of knights from afar.
"Lady Dantalion, do the knights have something to eat too? They should eat before going into battle. Look at their eyes, they're sunken. Do they have enough budget for food?"
Leahmir Dantalion slowly turned her head towards Ilya. Her grip on the sandwich loosened, making it fall to the ground with a splatter.
"Oh, what happened?" Ilya queried as she started to clean up the mess. "Lady Dantalion, are you alright? Is something bothering you?"
Upon hearing Ilya's worried utterance, Dantalion snapped out of her musings. She lightly grabbed the Lady's wrist.
"Please leave the cleaning to me. Don't dirty your h-"
"No, I already started it. Let me finish this."
Again, Dantalion was at a loss. She just stared at Ilya who was diligently tidying up the mess that she made. The woman opened her mouth to speak, but closed it immediately after.
"If you want to say something, just speak. Why are you being so cautious?" Ilya remarked, feeling the lingering gaze of the woman beside her.
Though Ilya wasn't looking at her, Dantalion went on and shook her head. She then responded, "No, it's nothing, Lady Gertrude."