Chapter 10: Ice and Deceptions  

They weren’t dead—just asleep.  

Sleep spell?  

The thought struck Rapir instantly.  

At that moment, Gaon spoke. “What kind of magic do you specialize in?”  

Rapir snapped to attention, aiming his staff and chanting, “Ice Spear!”  

The moment the incantation ended, an ice spear formed at the staff’s tip and shot toward Gaon.  

Clang!  

The spear exploded in midair before reaching him.  

What?  

Rapir froze, bewildered. 

The explosion wasn’t his doing. If not him, then who?  

Only one person.  

He looked at Gaon, swallowing hard as dread washed over him.  

“Is that it?” Gaon asked.  

In that moment, Rapir realized Gaon hadn’t missed the mana mark—he’d chosen not to remove it.  

Why?  

I was the target.  

Rapir’s mind raced for a way out. 

Fighting was futile; the exploding Ice Spear proved Gaon’s magic outclassed his.  

When Rapir didn’t respond, Gaon muttered, “If that’s all…”  

“Ice Spear.”  

An Ice Spear, fifty percent larger than Rapir’s, materialized instantly. 

Its mana was overwhelming.  

4th Circle…!  

Rapir was certain Gaon was a 4th Circle mage.  

How, at that age?  

He looked barely mid-teens, yet a 4th Circle? 

Even Bellio, Rud Tower’s greatest talent, reached it at twenty-two.  

The spear hurtled toward him.  

“Ice Wall!”  

Rapir conjured a barrier and fled, pouring all his strength into escape.  

Why’s there no sound?  

By now, the spear should’ve hit the wall, causing a blast. Yet, silence.  

No way…  

Swallowing hard, Rapir realized Gaon was controlling the spear’s trajectory, a feat requiring immense mana and focus.  

Then, his senses screamed—a massive mana surge. 

Turning, he saw the Ice Spear closing in.  

Raising his arm, he braced for impact. 

Dodging was pointless; Gaon would redirect it. Minimizing damage was his only option.  

Crack!  

The spear struck his arm, freezing it instantly. 

The cold spread, engulfing his body. He tried to resist with mana, but the gap in power was too vast.  

His vision darkened. 

He knew losing consciousness meant death, but he was powerless.  

Rapir collapsed, frozen.  

Gaon studied the icy figure, thinking, Are mages weaker now than fifty years ago?  

He’d cast the Ice Spear at a level a 3rd Circle mage from his time could’ve countered easily. 

He’d expected Rapir to block it with magic, but instead, he used his arm—and failed.  

Is it just him?  

Perhaps Rapir was an outlier. Other 3rd Circle mages might surpass their predecessors. 

Skill varied even within the same circle, as it had fifty years ago.  

“Hm.”  

Disappointed, Gaon had hoped to gauge modern mages’ strength. 

He chanted, “Wind Cutter.”  

A blade of wind sliced through Rapir’s frozen waist.  

Clang! 

Crack!  

His upper body slid to the ground, shattering.  

“Fire Wall!”  

Flames consumed the remains. 

Gaon glanced at the fallen mercenaries—three from the guild, the rest unfamiliar, but all bore the same emblem, likely from one group. 

Each had intended to rob him.  

He’d subdued them instead of killing them to frame Rapir. 

Not perfectly—he didn’t care if it was uncovered. A little chaos was enough.  

“Ice Spike.”  

Ice spikes erupted from the ground, piercing the mercenaries.  

“Ugh!”  

“Argh!”  

They woke briefly, then slumped, lifeless.  

With the would-be robbers dead, Gaon turned away.  

Four days’ travel.  

He’d planned to gather information in Tren, but the Fire and Rud Towers’ presence changed his mind. 

He’d head to the city of Rabes, four days away, for answers.  

Gaon set out for Rabes.  

***

Red Axe Mercenary Corps Headquarters  

“Where the hell are they?”  

Captain Reak frowned, irritation clear in his voice.  

Vice-Captain Fleon replied, “No idea. 

They rushed out earlier, saying they found a good score. 

Maybe something went wrong?”  

“Ugh, I told those idiots to lay low with only a few days left!”  

The door burst open, and Levi, sent to find the missing members, entered.  

Reak and Fleon’s faces darkened at Levi’s grim expression.  

“What happened?” Reak asked, his tone serious.  

“I found them,” Levi said, hesitating. “They’re all dead.”  

“What?!”  

“How?!”  

Reak and Fleon were stunned.  

“What do you mean, all dead? Was it the Blaol Corps?” 

Reak asked, suspecting their rival mercenaries.  

“No,” Levi shook his head. 

“They were killed by ice magic—likely Ice Spike.”  

“Ice magic?”  

“Yes. I dug deeper and… Rapir was nearby.”  

“Rapir? Rud Tower’s deputy branch leader?”  

“Yes.”  

“You sure?”  

“Multiple witnesses saw him, and he was headed toward where our men died.”  

Reak fell silent, his face unreadable. 

Fleon and Levi watched him cautiously.  

Finally, Reak spoke. “Grab your gear.”  

***

“Still no sign of the deputy?”  

Rud Tower’s Tren branch leader, Clion, asked his aide, Kaf, with a hint of irritation.  

“No,” Kaf replied warily.  

Clion shook his head. “What’s he doing out there…”  

He’d heard from the branch members that Rapir had left for personal business, yet he hadn’t returned.  

“There’s an important meeting today, and he knows it…”  

The issue was a critical agenda that needed addressing.  

If not for the Sailer family…  

Rapir, the third son of Count Sailer, was backed by his father’s influence, making it hard for Clion to complain.  

A crystal orb glowed, signaling a visitor.  

“I’ll check,” Kaf said, stepping out.  

He returned, visibly shaken.  

“What’s wrong?” Clion asked.  

“Well…” Kaf glanced at Reak, who’d arrived unexpectedly. “Captain Reak is here.”  

“Red Axe’s captain?”  

“Yes.”  

“Why?”  

Clion was baffled. Why would Reak visit at this hour, and personally?  

“He wouldn’t say, only that he’ll speak to the deputy. I took him to the reception room.”  

Clion’s eyes sharpened at Rapir’s name. 

Rapir was out on personal business, hadn’t returned, and now Reak was looking for him. 

Were they connected?  

He stood and headed to the reception room.  

“Captain Reak, it’s been a while,” Clion said.  

“Branch Leader Clion,” Reak replied.  

“What’s this about? Can’t tell me?”  

“I’ll be direct. My men were murdered.”  

Clion’s jaw dropped. 

The Red Axe Corps was among Tren’s top mercenary groups. 

Who could’ve killed them?  

No way…  

A suspicion formed. “Is this tied to the deputy?”  

Reak nodded. 

“Our investigation points to him. I’m here to confirm. Where is he?”  

Clion was speechless. Rapir, the culprit? Unthinkable.  

“Why do you think that?”  

“They were killed by Ice Spike—his signature spell. Multiple witnesses saw him near the scene.”  

Clion froze. 

Ice Spike was indeed Rapir’s specialty, and with witnesses, Reak’s suspicion was reasonable.  

Personal business… murder? That makes no sense.  

There was no motive.  

Did something go wrong?  

It seemed Rapir’s errand had spiraled into trouble.  

“He hasn’t returned,” Clion said. 

“I’m not lying—I can show you his quarters.”  

“I’ll take your word. When’s he back?”  

“I’m waiting for him too. He said he’d handle personal business…”  

Clion trailed off, studying Reak. 

“Can you tell me where your men died?”  

The door creaked open, and Kaf entered, his face full of panic.  

“What now?” Clion asked.  

“Headquarters called,” Kaf stammered, glancing at Reak. 

“They say Deputy Rapir is dead.”  

“What?!”