Chapter 226: [226] Artie’s S-Rank Spell

“Ehh?! Help, help me please!” Just as Eliron took his stance, he heard a loud cry from behind him.

He turned to his back, only to see that Alexander had been wrapped up in a ball made by Yennefer’s shield.

As he slammed his fists into it, trying to break free, Eliron gave him a blank stare. “Are you serious?”

How could he let himself get captured just like that?

“Well, that is one down.” Artie filled the air as she lifted her staff. “One left, this will be easier than I thought.”

Eliron frowned. “I wouldn’t be so confident if I were you.”

“Oh? We’ll find out soon enough if my confidence was warranted.” Artie glanced at Yennefer. “Let’s do it.”

“Wait, really? I thought you wanted to fight him alone?” Yennefer asked, seemingly surprised.

Artie nodded. “I did, but it looks like he’s about to get serious… it is only right that I respond in kind.”

’Hmm?’ Eliron stroked his jaw. “Is she bluffing?” He did not know of any spell in her repertoire that would make a difference in this situation.

’Unless…’ Eliron smirked. ’She must have learned a new spell…’

Now he was really curious. Just what sort of spell did she learn?

Yennefer lifted her magic staff and planted its butt on the floor. “Blessing.”

Artie was immediately engulfed in a bright golden glow, small particles of light shimmering around her.

She closed her eyes for a fraction of a second and raised her staff. “Parade of a thousand whispers.”

When she opened them, her green eyes were glowing a vibrant gold, shimmering golden mana burning at the edges of her iris.

The room became intensely bright as multiple shimmering disks, portals of light, appeared in the air around her, then out of the portals, arrows made of light began to peek out.

There were arrows of different types and sizes; those meant for piercing armour, arrows specially used for crushing bones, even ballistic arrows the size of trees were present!

They all snaked out of the portals, each one directed at Eliron.

’To think she had this hidden!’

Even in the face of such a life-threatening spectacle, Eliron felt like congratulating Artie. After all, this was her first S-Rank spell, and if she managed to complete it, it would be SSS-Ranked!

’Defending against this is going to be a pain though…’ Eliron frowned as he braced himself.

“Alright, let’s get this over with.” He said with a smirk.

Artie did not reply, he was not sure if she could even hear him at this point. She raised her hand and, like a knight commander, brought it down. With it came the rain of arrows.

The projectiles cut through the air with an almost bestial howl, a flood of gold rushing through the small corridor.

Eliron’s eyes widened as he was bathed by the golden light. ’Why are there so many?!’ The spell he knew of wasn’t this powerful.

He glanced at Yennefer, who was watching the battle with a small smirk.

’It must be the effect of her spell…’

It seemed even Yen had grown as well. What he was seeing right now was nearly two times the number of arrows that there should have been.

’Heh… is she really trying to kill me?’

They were so bountiful that there was not even a single escape route. No matter where he moved to, he would be hit.

“HOLY—?! I very much value my life, do something about this!” Alexander whined from behind him.

’I’m going to have to break through them.’ Eliron calmly thought, unperturbed by the volley of arrows approaching.

He drew his fist back, his muscles contracting with raw strength.

But just as the arrows were inches away from him, they all vanished, and then the sound of laughter reached his ears.

“Heh?” Eliron gave them a blank stare.

Both Artie and Yennefer were laughing as they watched him.

“So? Is that enough for your test, Lord Eliron?” Artie asked, a mischievous smirk on her face.

“So you knew…”

“Of course, who wouldn’t recognize that handsome frame of yours?” Artie teased.

“Handsome frame… I’m wearing a mask…” Eliron sighed, then his eyes suddenly widened. He had forgotten that there might have been a recording device in the hall!

“Don’t bother about it, I already destroyed the recording device during our fight.” Artie replied as though she could read his mind.

Eliron sighed in relief. “So, for how long have you known?”

“The very beginning, of course.” Yennefer walked up to them with a smug smirk on her face. “We even made a bet. ’How long will it take before Eliron does something crazy.’”

She folded her hands across her chest. “I won, of course.”

“Something crazy?” Eliron repeated her words with a playful frown. “Just who do you think I am?”

So all this time while they were fighting, they already knew he was the one and were just being a nuisance…

He sighed. At least he didn’t have to go too far. If Artie hadn’t recognized him, then he would have had to knock her out.

That was something he wasn’t too keen on doing.

“So you think I look ravishing, don’t you?” Artie did a little twirl, showcasing her clothing more.

Then she smiled slyly and leaned towards him, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “So you are into witches? That’s pretty kinky, isn’t it, Lord Eliron?”

Eliron ran his hand through his face. ’So this was why she asked that question?’

He stepped a little closer and allowed his eyes to move over her, slowly. “And what if I say I am?”

Artie tried to keep a straight face, but she barely lasted a second before she averted her gaze.

“It seems I have taught you too much…” she muttered in a low tone. “Still, why say that while wearing a mask?”

“You’re hiding all the goodness behind that hideous thing—”

Yennefer suddenly stepped between them, her face beet red. “W-what are you two doing?!” She yelled as she pushed them both back.

“Ummm… it’s great that we all know each other and all…” Everyone turned around to see Alex waving inside the ball.

“But could you please drop me—Ack!” As he was speaking, Yennefer undid her spell, leaving him to fall flat on his face.

Alexander immediately sprang up to his feet and dusted his shirt. “Thanks.”

“So what are you really after?” Artie folded her hands across her chest. “Robbing the royal treasury is pretty bold…”

“Do you think I will go so low as to rob them?”

“Wait, so you aren’t stealing anything?” Yennefer looked skeptical.

Eliron waved his hands dismissively. “Huh? Of course I am. Why else would I be here?”

“Hmmm…” Yennefer hummed while frowning.

“But I am not stealing anything from the royal treasury though.” Eliron explained. “I just need to get to the treasury to get access to the room.”

Artie glanced at the hall behind them. “Then I think you should get moving.”

Eliron nodded. He had sensed it too. “It looks like reinforcements have finally arrived. Took them long enough…”

<•••>

’To think someone would break into the royal treasury at such a time!’ Reginald, the Grand Marshal of the Donia army, thought as he raced up the stairs, a group of well-armed knights following after him.

Many of their powerful knights had already moved to the border, awaiting orders to begin the southern march to Castle Kasket.

Because of this, many key figures were missing from the palace!

But never did Reginald imagine that anyone would be so bold as to actually attack them.

’They even used wind magic to silence the castle…’ If not for one of the guards seeing lightning burst through the walls, they would have been oblivious to what was happening.

Normally, Reginald would not have gone there personally, but a threat so close to the king’s quarters was not one to be treated lightly.

They needed to apprehend the suspect immediately, and if they could not, they would execute them on the spot.

“Ready yourselves, men! We do not know who we are up against. Keep your wits about you and do not drop your guard.”

From the level of destruction he could see, the smell of ashes and the crumbling walls, it was clear that it was no ordinary thief.

When they got to the hall that led to the treasury, one of the knights said, “This is strange…”

“What do you mean?” Reginald asked.

The knight looked skeptical as he spoke. “There was a witch stationed in this part of the hall. Was the thief really able to beat a witch?”

’A witch?’ Reginald glanced at the hall, his frown deepening. Now he knew why the hall was a mess, the witch must have done everything in her power to keep him at bay.

Since she was not here, there was a chance she had been an accomplice and did all this for show.

But on the other hand… Reginald’s eyes darkened. There was a chance the witch was long dead and the killer had stowed away her body.

“Which of the castle witches was assigned to this place?” Reginald asked.

“It was not any of the castle witches, my lord.” The knight replied promptly. “It was one of the newly indoctrinated members.”

Reginald shook his head. “How unlucky, this was her first day and she was already tied up in such a mess.”

He hoped that at the very least she was alive. “What is her name?”

“Lady Artie, I believe.”

As the words left the soldier’s lips, Reginald’s face turned pale. He knew that name, how wouldn’t he when more than half his men couldn’t keep their eyes off her during the ceremony!

She was a beauty beyond compare, a wood elf, and one of the Elven Lord’s people.

Reginald remembered what Prince Alex told him was the cause of the incident at the tower…

It seemed she was someone the Elven Lord cared for deeply. If she was killed in this incident…

The Grand Marshal’s blood ran cold.

There was no telling what action the Elven Lord would take!

“Move your asses! We are heading straight for the treasury!” He barked as he sprinted forward, a large gust of wind blowing past as he left his soldiers behind.

’Please God, let her be alive!’

The fate of Donia might very well depend on it.

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