The horses' hooves resounded on the cobblestone streets, accompanied by the rhythmic rumble of carriages.

The departure of the followers set the busy roadway in motion, including those who followed the cursed magi, Jeffrey, and his minion, Aizel.

The flow of people and carriages gradually shifted, clearing a path for their respective journeys.

"So you are saying that Bastard now has 3–4 more people in his group somehow?" The half-bald person asked.

"Yes Donald, he has four guys with him in his group. That was the information I received," Jeffrey replied.

"They won't be any problem to us; we will get rid of them and take the artifact from him," the middle-aged person said.

"But what if they have someone stronger in their group, Lumos?" Donald asked.

"I will handle it then. You, along with Jeffrey and Aaron, will take care of the rest," Lumos said.

So the kid's name is Aaron," Aizel thought.

Aizel accompanied Jeffrey at the front of the group as they set out on their quest. He put his hood down and tried to fit in with the environment by keeping a low profile.

"There are even rumors that the princess has come to the Beast Kingdom along with some mages," Donald said, attracting Aizel's attention.

"What is she doing here instead of focusing on the tournament?" Lumos asked.

"I don't know about that, but one thing I feel good about is knowing how she would have reacted after we stole right under her nose hahaha,"

"It is not only us; the condition that the Felgura kingdom is in right now, I can already see many going to betray each other in the upcoming years.

"Theodora will destroy them not only from the outside but from the inside too," Lumos said.

"We made a good choice, or we would have been their slaves till the war and then would have died like dogs."

"Just look at Aaron...

"Don't talk about me or I will kill you," Aaron suddenly said as he stared at Donald.

"Calm down, boy, I was just..

"Don't Donald. Leave it,"

Donald sighed.

There is something up with this kid,"

[Don't think about it too much, Master]

Under the cloak of the late-night sky, their journey had brought them closer to their designated destination.

The moon cast a gentle glow upon the landscape, revealing the faint outlines of trees and distant hills.

The air grew chilly and heavier with expectation as they continued to move forward. The road they were traveling seemed to go on forever, and its purpose was buried in mystery.

"How much longer, Jeffrey?"

"We are closer to the cave in which they are hiding right now." He replied.

"Jeffrey...

"Yes, Lumos?"

"Where do you think you are taking us?"

"So your senses have improved."

Emerging from the depths of darkness, the elusive Whiskerkins swiftly emerged from their hidden perches, their forms blending seamlessly with the shadows.

They moved forward toward the oblivious followers with silent resolve. They crept closer like ghosts in the darkness, undetected until it was already too late.

"You asshole, you sold us out to them," Donald shouted.

"Whatever reason you had, I will make sure you tell me everything after I deal with them...

In a display of unparalleled swiftness, Soren shot forward like a comet hurtling through the night sky.

In the blink of an eye, he closed the distance between himself and Lumos, leaving onlookers in awe of his incredible speed. Soren's heightened gravity caused him to release a crushing punch, which landed squarely on Lumos's face.

The impact sent Lumos soaring through the air like a cannonball, upending everything in his path, and causing trees to tremble and topple in his wake.

Without hesitation, Soren pursued his target with relentless determination, determined to ensure Lumos could not escape his grasp.

In the midst of the escalating battle, a burst of golden wind exploded between the remaining mages, knocking them backward. Seizing the opportunity, Zareena swiftly surged forward, her movements a blur as she closed in on Soren's position.

At the same time, Raven, Edumont, and Seraphine swung to the right flank and converged on where Donald had been launched.

Aizel and Aaron remained atop their mounts, while a short distance away, Daisy perched atop a towering tree, her bow drawn and ready to provide crucial support to Aizel.

In the midst of the chaos, the sounds of Whiskerkins engaged in fierce combat with the followers echoed throughout the forest, the clash of spells and clash of weapons reverberating in the air.

Aaron's eyes narrowed and fixed on Aizel with an intensity that suggested he was prepared to fight. He summoned his sword with a single gesture, the blade shining brightly in the moonlight.

"Whatever reason you have for this, you can tell me. I don't want to fight you," Aizel said.

"Why? Are you scared? You were pretty good at acting.

"I almost thought you were just a nobody Grade II mage, but now that I look at you, I can feel that I can die if I make any mistake," Aaron replied.

"I am sure you must have had a reason to betray the kingdom as a kid. You were already a royal mage at such a young age."

"You don't know a shit about me," Aaron yelled.

"Yes, that's why I would like to know. I know someone that might be able to help you."

"Stop talking shit. You all talk the same and then do nothing."

Aaron disappeared into the night in a flash, forcing Aizel to hone his senses and awareness.

He scoured his surroundings, searching for any trace of Aaron's presence.

An onslaught of arrows driven by the wind halted Aaron's advance as Aizel's improved vision focused on a dark figure emerging from the shadows.

*Tsk*historical

"Listen to me again kid, don't make me do this,"

"What can you even do? I can kill you in an instant, and you won't be able to know how you died."

Aaron vanished once more in a flash, leading Aizel to take quick action. Retrieving a box-like container adorned with ribbons, Aizel secured it over his nose and mouth.

With deftness, he hurled a black sphere that exploded upon impact, unleashing billowing clouds of dark red and black smoke and shrouding the area in an eerie haze.

What the fuck is this smoke?" Aaron thought.

What is he doing? Daisy also wondered.

Aaron saw a shadow among the billowing smoke and made haste to get closer to it. However, as he emerged from the darkness, the thick smoke assaulted his senses, seeping into his eyes and lungs.

The sharp spice in the air became more intense, making his eyes water and his throat tighten.

Violent coughs wracked his body, hindering his ability to see clearly and leaving him disoriented in the hazy environment.

Out of the veil of smoke, a gleaming gauntlet materialized, radiating a brilliant white light.

Without warning, it struck Aaron squarely in the abdomen, causing his coughs to intensify with even greater force.

The impact jolted his body, and he felt agony surge through him. The gauntlet's bright illumination just contributed to his confusion, making it more difficult to regain his breath.

"Don't mess with me kid; you aren't even ready to be my punching bag," Aizel said, his voice coming out of the box-type mask sounding a little creepy.