On the next day, by the time the rooster crow.
Seven figures appeared on the horizon line with the sun behind them.
It was Raz and the other warlocks.
Noticing them coming, Mack stopped studying the rune circuits he engraved in his mind, he was trying to replicate a few small ones that he saw at the mage tower.
Raz approached Mack and threw his mask back to him while also putting his bag by the side.
While putting on his mask, Mack gave a quick look at the warlocks, and didn't see any injury.
It seemed everything went smoothly again.
"Did you get info about another one?"
Asked Mack after putting the Mask.
Raz gave a quick nod.
"How far is it?"
Raz raised 1 finger, then closed his hand and pointed to the south.
"Ten miles south? Its not far."
Raz shook his head.
"A hundred miles?"
Raz gave a quick nod.
"Shit. is too far. We don't have time to go there."
Raz gave a quick nod. He knew too that they didn't have many time to spare.
Mack took the bag and looked inside. It had now 24 crystals there. This was their third time robbing a tower.
Mack's gaze went back to Raz.
"And what about the mage army? Any news?"
Raz shook his head.
"Ok that leave us with a few days if they depart anytime from now."
Mack looked at west and wondered why they were still there. The war was over. Probably there were a few warlocks that run and hid, but for an army of that size they should have searched the entire area in not more than a day.
Mack could not guess the reason of why they were still there.
"Lets hope that whatever is delaying them keep pestering them until we finish the next part of the plan."
Mack threw the bag onto his back and started walking.
"Come! lets find a more secluded place. We can't do the next part in the open."
The green plains stretched by miles and miles, but from time to time, small lakes and tree lines appeared. They just needed to find a place like that. One that would avoid any curious passer-by.
"Oh by the way, I forgot to ask, why the mages at the first tower seemed so concerned when you talked with them?"
Raz's gaze went up, like trying to remember something, then talked something.
For a brief moment, he forgot Mack could not hear.
Raz raised his hand and pointed his finger to the front.
His finger was pointing to Mack.
"About me? How is that possible? Did I become famous?"
Raz took his sword and drew two runes on the ground.
# 100 mages #
"100 mages? So, they somehow know we eliminated that group of mages?"
Raz gave a nod and quickly drew a few more runes.
# Not us. You. #
"Yeah, I killed them alone. But if you didn't use that Essence trick or art or whatever, I would not be able to power up. And also, we lost a few men while I was unconscious. If you guys didn't protect me after that, I would be food for worms now. Or worst."
Said Mack in a serious tone, those guys didn't value all what they have done until now.
Raz scratched the back of his head like someone that wanted to argue, but at the same time felt proud of his actions. In the end, he said nothing.
"Ok. Listen up. We are a team, and there is nothing like me doing all alone or receiving all the praises for what we do. And also, I will need to count on you guys again in the next part. I will need you guys to protect me again because I will be extremely vulnerable."
Mack looked at all the warlocks in the eyes. They were only seven now, eight in total, including Mack.
"We do all we can, always. The rest is up to fate. This way, even if some random meteorite falls upon our heads, we can rest with a peaceful mind knowing we did all we could."
Everyone looked at Mack and gave a nod.
Unknown to them, he already had become their leader.
Even Raz started treating Mack like that. Not because of Mack's strength but because of his odd methods and quick actions. Mack didn't delay too much ins his actions and was always moving. Always going somewhere or doing something.
A man of action that thought out of the box could bring more change than an army of thousands.
And Mack.
Mack was a crazy bastard. But one with a good head.
Mack knew when to retreat, and when to risk his neck. He knew when to go crazy and when to run. He had very few principles that he followed, but those few, were rock solid in his heart and mind.
For Mack, there was not a life worth living if he didn't live it according to your own beliefs.
And one of those was to never leave a friend behind.
Those light constructs that Mack initially though were just pre programmed NPCs were as real as himself. They showed emotions, rage, pride, lust, and even greed. They reacted to everything around them like humans would do.
He wished he could bring them along when leaving this gate of the tower. But he knew, deep down, he knew they were bound to this giant array above this entire battlefield.
As all of that passed through his mind, Mack could not avoid feeling a bit depressed.
Some things he was still too weak to change.
~sigh~
"Lets go! We can't stop now."
Said Mack, turning his back and walking.
If he delayed any second more, he would eventually let his depressed face be seen.
And those guys already lost everything.
Mack could not let them lose hope.
Hope is all they have.