landbeastnovel Chapter 198 This is just the beginning
Chapter 198 This is just the beginning
Chapter 198 This is just the beginning
Deep in the woods, the air was filled with the damp, musty smell of grass and trees.
Bella frowned, hurrying along, her robe slightly disheveled by the low bushes.
With the blessing of several spells, her figure emitted a faint white light.
With light, hurried steps, she was rushing towards the mage tower.
"As long as I get to the tower, I still have a chance—Kane, I underestimated this man."
As she hurried along, she muttered to herself in a low voice, a complex and unfathomable look flashing in Bella's eyes.
This Nord spellcaster, which should have been nothing more than a Nord spellcaster she could control at will, repeatedly thwarted her plans.
This led to a series of setbacks for her, even putting her in her current predicament.
About ten minutes later, she crossed a meadow, and just as she was about to step into the woods ahead, she suddenly stopped and whispered into the woods, "My dear student, are you here to capture me too? —"
As the words fell, only an empty echo drifted through the forest, as if everything that had just happened was merely an illusion.
But Bella maintained her sideways posture, speaking to herself into thin air: "Your illusion magic is indeed quite good. Using concealment, you blended into the trees, and your aura was extremely low—"
But you forgot that when a person deliberately conceals themselves, even the slightest fluctuations in their breath will always alert the small creatures around them.
"Therefore, the best way is to use a sound illusion technique—to create a new sound to cover up this subtle movement, so as not to give away any clues."
"Consider this the last lesson I'll teach you."
As soon as she finished speaking, the shadow of the thickest ancient tree in the upper right corner faded away, slowly revealing a figure with white hair and a white beard.
Arundel lowered his eyes slightly, looking at his mentor, who was elegant and looked much younger than his actual age.
His expression was complex, with pain and struggle hidden in his eyes.
He opened his mouth, his lips moved, and finally he spoke with difficulty: "Mentor, you—are you really not mind-swayed?"
Bella chuckled and took two steps forward, showing no sign of panic or fear of the student's staff.
"To cast mind control on a third-tier mage? It's not entirely impossible. But do you think I'm capable of it?"
She smiled calmly, a stark contrast to her earlier demeanor in the cabin.
Arundel received an answer, but his eyes showed even more pain.
He gripped the staff tightly with both hands, the tip of the staff drooping slightly, yet he still managed to aim it with difficulty at Bella's chest.
Bella chuckled softly again.
"When did you find it?"
Arundel shook his head.
"You acted too hastily. I only reported to you the information about bringing Lord Kane into the city and my agreement with Asler, but unexpected things happened."
And you seem completely unconcerned about Asler being possessed by a demon, without even asking a single question, which is highly unusual.
Bella chuckled, seemingly oblivious to the struggle on his face.
"So, you're going to put the greater good before your own family?"
Arundel lowered his head, his shoulders trembling slightly.
"Back then, because I was too old and couldn't master the first-level spells for a long time, I was almost expelled from the academy."
When everyone else had given up on me, you spoke up and kept me, giving me a chance to continue my studies and helping me through the most difficult time.
"Later, among all my classmates, you specifically chose me to stay and become a lecturer in the Illusion Department. Those classmates who were more talented and younger than me were all sent to remote areas—"
You even faced considerable criticism for this, with other deans accusing you of favoritism, but you never defended yourself.
"I have never forgotten this kindness. Even after I have advanced to the second tier and gained my own status, I have never dared to forget it."
Bella took two more steps forward, her smile widening. She approached gracefully until she was just a step away from the tip of Arundel's staff.
"Then, my dear student, make your choice." She paused slightly, the smile fading from her eyes. "Will you ignore your mentor and allow me to return to the mage tower in exchange for the power to protect myself? Or—"
"You're stopping me for that mage academy that, besides me, hardly anyone really cares about you?"
She stretched out her right hand, gently placed it on Arundel's staff, and pushed it downwards, causing the staff to fall.
Arundel struggled to close his eyes, but ultimately offered no resistance.
Bella's smile grew even wider.
She patted Arundel's shoulder gently, her tone slightly seductive.
"The academy's involvement in the Sussas royal court dispute is a foregone conclusion."
The conflict between the noble council, the royal family, and the academy will only escalate; no one can remain uninvolved.
"Join me, Arundel. I will reserve a place for you in the future academy—you can take my place and become the head of the Illusion Department."
Upon hearing this invitation that had once thrilled him, Arundel's expression showed even greater struggle, his eyes tearing at each other with hesitation and pain.
Bella chuckled softly.
"Can't you do it for me, my dear Arundel?"
Arundel gazed at her smile and sighed inwardly.
He suddenly closed his eyes, and just as Bella thought the battle was won and a confident smile appeared on her face, he abruptly swung his staff and shouted, "Magic Staff Strike!"
An invisible force field emanated from the tip of the staff, shooting directly at a clump of bushes not far away.
boom!
A dagger that had silently flown by was knocked away in mid-air and flew back.
Kane then emerged from the woods.
He looked at Arundel and Bella standing side by side, his gaze finally settling on his former comrade-in-arms.
"Arundel, is this your decision?"
"Lord Kane, I have no other choice."
Arundel raised his staff and cried out in anguish.
"She is my mentor. When everyone else gave up on me, she was the only one who believed in me and saved me."
Therefore, I must repay this kindness.
Kane stared at him.
"Even if this plunges Sussas into turmoil, or even triggers a war?"
"even so."
Arundel took a deep breath, then said without turning his head, "Master, do whatever you want to do as soon as possible."
Bella chuckled softly.
"Alright, I'll leave your friend to you."
Her figure gradually faded away and eventually disappeared without a trace.
Seeing her leave, Kane immediately tried to chase after her, but before he could take a step, an ice arrow shot out and embedded itself deeply in the soil in front of him.
"Lord Kane, I'm sorry."
Arundel whispered, but stood firmly in front of Kane.
"You are no match for me."
"I only need to delay you for a moment."
Kane shook his head and suddenly said, "Arundel, now that Dean Bone and Dean Flint have both taken action, all the forces involved have entered the game."
So, why do you think the Dean of Ling Shu, who led the delegation, never showed up from beginning to end? And what role did the Grand Dean of the academy play in all of this?
Do you really think that only the two of us were aware of Bella's plan?
"You mean—?"
Arundel's expression changed drastically; even now, a sliver of hope remained in his heart.
"Even if I hadn't shown up, your mentor's plan would most likely have failed."
As Kane spoke, he slowly drew his scimitar and aimed it at his former comrade-in-arms.
"As for your teacher fetish" — go to the dungeon and calm down first.
The next moment, a thick fog suddenly rose, quickly spreading and engulfing the two figures.
"Arendel should be fine—but I must speed things up and activate the mage tower's defensive spells as soon as possible."
Bella hurried through the forest, heading back towards the mage tower.
The eight mage towers of the Susas Mage Academy each wield different powers.
As the master of one of the towers, she naturally had absolute control.
A mage tower can often provide a great boost to the mages stationed there, significantly improving both their defense and attack capabilities.
Even a fourth-tier mage would find it difficult to breach a mage tower controlled by a third-tier tower master without the support of a large army.
These towers, built at great expense and over several years, were endowed with multiple functions from the very beginning, including defense, attack, storage, and cultivation.
The mage tower inside the academy, located near the royal court, bears the important responsibility of protecting the capital and safeguarding the royal family.
Bella quickly left the dense forest, and the view suddenly opened up before her.
She quickly blended into the ordinary mages moving about in the academy area.
Under the influence of illusion magic, her face had become indistinguishable from that of an ordinary mage in the Illusion Department, like a drop of water merging into the ocean.
However, just as she was about to reach her mage tower, she saw a crowd gathered in front of it.
Many mages from the Illusion Department were kept outside, and there was much discussion about it.
Bella, now disguised as an ordinary mage, frowned and instinctively grabbed a male first-tier mage beside her, asking, "Colleague, what's going on? Why is everyone blocking the tower from entering?"
The mage's eyes glazed over for a moment, clearly because Bella had secretly cast a slight illusion on him.
He then naturally frowned and replied with dissatisfaction, "It is the Dean of the Spiritual Pivot of the Academy of Bewilderment and Control."
He suddenly led a team of on-duty mages into the tower, drove us all out, and wouldn't let us go back in! This is so unfair!
"He may be the dean, but this is our Illusionary Arts Department's mage tower, not their Bewitching Arts Department's place. Why should he say we can't come in just because he wants to!"
Bella's expression immediately turned ugly upon hearing this.
She slowly raised her head and looked up at the towering spire that reached into the clouds.
The white tower stands beneath the blue sky, gleaming faintly. That was once her place, her last refuge.
"The coffin—" she murmured, a sinister glint in her eyes.
The person who was supposed to be the head of the delegation in her plan and destined to bear the blame for the impending conflict had seen through her plan and cut off her escape route in advance. Looking at the crowd outside the tower who were still arguing with the mages on duty and were full of resentment, she knew that she could no longer get close to the mage tower.
A resolute glint flashed in her eyes, and without hesitation, she turned and strode quickly toward the outskirts of the academy.
As she approached the academy gate, she immediately used an invisibility spell, instantly becoming transparent and completely concealing her aura.
She calmly passed by the two unsuspecting monks on duty without making a sound.
Not far from the academy's walls and gates lies the boundary between the academy area and the royal court's territory, where a low stone wall divides the two areas.
A blond sheriff stood by the boundary line, a one-handed sword at his waist, arms crossed, scanning his surroundings warily.
Upon seeing this, Bella's heart stirred slightly, and she immediately dispelled her invisibility spell, her figure slowly appearing.
"Who?!"
The sheriff was startled by the sudden appearance of the figure and immediately drew his one-handed sword, pointing it at Bella.
"Who are you? What do you want by suddenly appearing here?"
Bella suppressed her inner turmoil, after all, she had already left the academy's territory.
She said expressionlessly, "I am Bella, the head of the Illusion Department."
"Take me to the inner court; I have urgent business to report to Prince Grayson immediately."
"Lead the way, sheriff."
She slightly raised her chin, her tone carrying a hint of arrogance. The blond sheriff clicked his tongue, his voice laced with sarcasm: "A big shot, huh?"
As he spoke, he slowly approached Bella.
But just then, Bella looked at the other person's appearance and felt a vague sense of familiarity.
No—you're Kane!
Without the slightest hesitation, Bella instantly activated "Blade Protection," creating a faint, transparent barrier.
However, the "sheriff" in front of him suddenly revealed a mocking smile.
The one-handed sword in his hand swung swiftly!
The moment the sword tip collided with the protective barrier, the force field shattered, but the one-handed sword also paused for a moment.
At the same time, he threw away his one-handed sword, suddenly closed in, and slammed a heavy punch into her abdomen!
Intense pain instantly swept over Bella's entire body, abruptly interrupting the incantation she hadn't yet uttered.
She flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the cold ground, a trickle of blood escaping from the corner of her mouth.
The excruciating pain in her abdomen caused her to curl up and convulse.
She struggled to lift her head, and in her blurred vision, the appearance of the "sheriff" in front of her kept changing.
First, it turned into the gray-black skin of a drow, and then quickly reverted to its human form.
"Kane—how could this be—"
""
A surge of resentment welled up in her eyes, but before she could finish speaking, everything went black and she fainted.
The commotion at the entrance alerted the monks on duty inside the tower.
Two red-robed mages rushed out of the door and were shocked to see Bella lying on the ground: "Dean Bella?! What is she doing here?!"
They immediately looked at Kane, who was still dressed in his sheriff's uniform, instinctively raised their staffs, and their voices trembled: "You—you're a sheriff? No, a human? What do you want?!"
They knew that being able to defeat a third-tier mage meant that the opponent possessed at least equal, or even stronger, combat power.
Kane ignored their warnings and simply looked at Bella, who was lying unconscious on the ground from the blow to her abdomen, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
A third-tier mage—indeed difficult to deal with.
He does indeed possess a certain level of "disguise," but simply changing his appearance would never fool Bella.
Therefore, he deliberately used magic to transform himself into a drow race, and then used "disguise" to disguise himself as a blond sheriff.
As for this outfit—it came from some unfortunate fellow who was unconscious in the forest.
In times of emergency, one must act expediently and not worry about anything else.
Seeing that Kane ignored the warning and instead moved closer to Bella, the two mages on duty turned pale, their staffs glowing faintly, and they were about to cast a spell.
"stop!"
A clear, cold female voice suddenly rang out.
Footsteps approached from not far away, and Logan Susas, accompanied by her corpse servants, walked slowly closer.
She glanced at the unconscious Bella and Kane beside her, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes: "You actually caught her."
"It was her own mistake."
Kane shook his head. If Bella hadn't allowed him to get close, he probably wouldn't have been able to do anything to this third-tier mage.
After advancing to the third tier, spellcasters have a plethora of ways to protect themselves, making the situation truly troublesome.
He ignored Logan's "what are you pretending to be modest" look, looked down at Bella who was lying unconscious on the ground, and frowned slightly.
"Catching her is just the beginning; what follows is the real trouble."
",