Under the Oak Tree

388 Chapter 149

"As I've mentioned before," Ruth began, settling himself by the campfire, "the barrier was designed to temporarily weaken the dragon by obstructing its ability to gather mana. The church never divulged the intricacies of the barrier's functioning, but my guess is that it prevents anyone from manipulating the natural flow of mana. The high priests who took part in the Dragon Campaign referred to it as the Invoked Sanctuary. Once activated, it renders magic useless within its confines."

Maxi lowered herself onto an empty pail, her expression disconcerted. Until this point, she had believed the barrier would have only affected the dragon. 

Stirring his porridge thoughtfully, Ruth continued, "This rendered most mages, including myself, powerless during the final battle. Given that offensive magic is ineffective against the dragon anyway, the campaign's military leaders opted to weaken Sektor, even if it meant incapacitating the mages."

Maxi let his explanation sink in, then raised a question. "But... couldn't the dragon have simply flown past the barrier? A monster's wings are usually immobilized first with magic during a raid, or at least a shield cast before an attack. How was Sektor prevented from flying away if the mages were unable to use magic?"

"Dragons do not use their wings for flight. They are only used for steering while levitating with magic. In essence, the barrier not only hindered Sektor from gathering mana, but it also prevented it from taking flight."

Ruth shoveled a spoonful of porridge into his mouth, his brows knit as though he were recalling something.bender

"The major force during Sektor's campaign was the Temple Knights, and they dictated all strategies. It was only logical, given that the Remdragon Knights were merely a unit within the Wedonian army. The Temple Knights boasted renown across the Seven Kingdoms. Had the military leaders' plan succeeded, Sir Riftan would never have become the Dragon Slayer."

Maxi's eyes widened in astonishment. "Th-Their plan failed?"

"The initial plan aimed to force the dragon into self-destruction by depleting its mana, rather than slaying it with a sword. Dragon bone ranks among the world's sturdiest materials, second only to adamantine or orichalcum. Dealing a fatal blow to a dragon with human weapons is near impossible. Thus, the original strategy entailed weakening Sektor with the barrier and relentlessly attacking until it drained its mana reserves. Given the immense amount of mana required to mobilize its nearly a-hundred-sixty- kevette body, the military leaders anticipated a swift depletion. However, Sektor's reserves exceeded our estimates, imperiling the entire campaign. If Sir Riftan hadn't intervened, the whole endeavor would have been a colossal failure."

Ruth let out a heavy sigh. "I'm certain even Sir Riftan himself was unsure of his success. While he did manage to slay the dragon, absorbing its flames nearly ruptured his mana pathway. It's a miracle he wasn't reduced to ashes." 

Maxi's gaze fell to her bowl, her face turning ashen. Though she had heard tales of Riftan's reckless feats during the Dragon Campaign, she had not known they had been in such desperate circumstances. Losing her appetite, she weakly lowered her spoon.

"If we fail to stop the dragon from coming back... will Riftan be forced to take such risks again?" 

"If the dragon returns with its former might... yes," Ruth affirmed.

After he scraped the last of the porridge from his bowl, Ruth took a swig from his flask. He added flatly, "But should Sektor be weaker, Sir Riftan might not need to stake his life. An undead dragon could potentially be more susceptible to divine magic. Nonetheless, the optimal course remains preventing its revival entirely."

Maxi gazed up at the overcast sky with forlorn eyes, watching the sporadic snowfall. For years, the monsters of the Pamela Plateau had amassed mana from all over the Seven Kingdoms. Sektor's resurrection could only be a matter of time.

Suddenly seized by urgency, Maxi hastened to finish her meal. She joined Ruth on the way to the military barracks, where they found Riftan, Ursuline, Hebaron, Kuahel, the other Temple Knights, Richard Breston, and the high priests.

The atmosphere within the spacious tent buzzed with tension, and Maxi's gaze darted nervously to Riftan. Towering before a grand table, he was explaining something to the group of skeptical onlookers. Undeterred, he pressed on with a confident timber to his voice. Maxi tried to hide a proud smile. Listening to him seemed to dispel all her anxiety. 

Stepping closer to the table, she sank into one of the vacant chairs. Everyone poring over the city's layout with grave expressions turned their attention to her. Kuahel, his arms crossed and his eyes closed, spoke first.

"Your timing is impeccable. We were in need of a mage's expert opinion." He pointed a blackened gauntlet-clad finger to a spot on the map. "Could magic be used to dig a tunnel here?" 

Frowning, Maxi studied the parchment. "You wish to create a tunnel beneath the rampart? It is feasible, but..."

She craned her neck to read the recorded width of the walls, her eyes narrowing. "To prevent the tunnel from caving in, we would have to dig well below the wall. That would take time... during which the enemy would become aware of our presence."

Memories of soldiers being pierced with arrows or doused in scalding oil along the ramparts flooded her mind. 

Riftan seemed unfazed by Maxi's cautious evaluation. Moving a miniature wooden soldier over the map, he countered, "There is a deep trench up north along the wall. The terrain is full of rocks and trees, making the trench bottom invisible from the rampart."

Maxi studied the map intently, her mind working to visualize his description.

"The stealth unit will tunnel from the north," Riftan continued, "while the main forces launch an attack on the city. We're likely dealing with only a handful of mages controlling the undead, so that should be enough to keep them occupied. While they're engaged, the Temple Knights will infiltrate the city and open the gates for the rest of the army."

Ruth broke his silence with a question. "How many will make up the stealth unit?"

"Five, including myself," Kuahel answered promptly. "We will open the south and west gates at the same time, enabling the Remdragon and the Knights of Phil Aaron to charge in from both sides."

Breston, who had been smugly listening to the exchange, sneered, "And who will take which end?" 

Maxi knew why he was asking. The path to the western gate was wide, with an entrance big enough for two baggage wagons to come in abreast. The southern route, however, was narrower. The knights entering from that way would have to form a long queue, leaving them vulnerable.

Suddenly anxious, Maxi bit her lip. Breston's inquiry was a subtle manipulation, pressuring Riftan into choosing the riskier task. If Riftan opted for the safer path before the leaders in the tent, it could undermine his authority as the supreme commander. True to form, Riftan chose the southern gate.

"The Remdragon Knights will move south while the duchy's army lays siege," he began. "The Knights of Phil Aaron will move west. As for the tunnel dig..."

Riftan's eyes moved between Maxi and Ruth as if wrestling with a difficult decision. Maxi was on the verge of volunteering, but she held back. She wanted to leave the choice to him.

"Maximilian Calypse," he said eventually, his voice grave. "I leave the task to you." 

Maxi felt a thrill down her spine. This was the first time he had entrusted her with a mission. Suppressing the urge to beam like a child, she managed a calm nod.

"U-Understood."

"Elliot will accompany you," Riftan said firmly. "Once the tunnel is ready, you are to rejoin the army immediately."

With that, he began to dispense instructions to the others. Ruth was to wait with the Remdragon Knights to serve as offensive support once the battle began. The mages of the Wedonian army and the high priests were assigned to assist the duchy's forces in the siege and attend to the wounded.

When the meeting concluded, the group began to filter out of the tent. Maxi hurriedly left as well, intent on preparing for her mission. She was planning on taking magic stones and devices as a precaution, and she would have to change into attire to blend better into her surroundings. Wrapping worn gray linen on her head would also cover her conspicuous red hair.

As she was lost in these thoughts, she felt a hand wrap around her arm.

"Maxi."

She met her husband's dark eyes. Despite his impassive expression, she sensed an underlying anxiety.

"Promise me you won't push yourself," he said gravely. "If ever you think the plan will fail, you must return to camp immediately." 

"I-I understand. I give you my word," Maxi replied, nodding obediently.

His dark gaze bore into hers, and he muttered uneasily, "I think baring my heart would be less terrifying than this."

Maxi gently took his hand. "I feel the same."