Chapter 14: Chapter 14: capital confrontation

We had a few hiccups regarding mana reserves along the way but nonetheless, Mi'ara and I have have finally arrived in the capital with time to spare. We intend to rest here for a night then immediately leave afterwards at the left gate. From there we will head south towards the protagonist's village. After making sure her and her family are safe,  we'll head further south to free the dragon general. Hopefully we'll get said dragon to fly us to the N'esk territory. Last bit about flying on a fully fledged dragon will draw a lot of attention, but who's gonna pick a fight with a god damn dragon. I'd imagine most would faint after witnessing a single spell.

That aside, getting decent lodging was rather simple since the capital gets so many visitors. This visit should be quick and eas-

"It appears we're being followed. However our purser seems to be followed by another three," Mi'ara speaks up.

God damn it. Not even an hour in and the organization has already found us. Best bet for staying hidden would probably be to knock these people out before they report back. I doubt the organization sent these people with knowledge we would be here. Likely someone noticed the quality of our gear and decided to gather more info on who we are. I doubt they realize who I am yet due to the enchantments on my cloak and the changes to my appearance and demeanor. I'm a completely different from Bernadette after all. My gait will be completely unlike that of a noble's. 

The men stalking our stalker are likely back-ups meant to get any info to higher ups regardless of if something goes wrong. This is going to be annoying. Thankfully I already had the anti-eavesdropping spells up the minute I stepped through the right gate.

"Mi'ara pretend you're a guide once I drop the anti-eavesdropping magic. From there we'll pretend to split off. You deal with the three back-ups as stealthily as possible. I'll walk into an alley and confront the main one. He's lively more combat oriented if he's upfront after all."

"Understood," Mi'ara replies. 

How dependable.

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Cornelius PoV

While I was going about my business in the capital, I was floored. I saw someone I thought I'd never see again. The forest has been particularly dangerous lately so I don't know how they survived in it, but I found the young lady I serve Bernadette. Their hair has been cut short in a manner unbeifitting of a noble and their face was covered in dirt, but that was unmistakably them. If I can convince her to come back the organization could salvage their original plans. Doing so will redeem me in the eyes of the organization. However who's this snakefolk woman with them? They seem to be canceling out sound with magic so I can't hear their conversation. Is that woman a mage? Bernadette couldn't use air magic, so it'd have to be her. They look more like a warrior though...

And like that it seems they deactivated the spell. From their parting words it seems that snake woman was acting as a guide. SHIT! Bernadette is moving towards the slums. She won't find anything good there. I must pursue lest she is hurt or worse.

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Sam PoV

"Why don't you come out? I know you're following me."

"Ahh, so the little miss knew all along. That's no fun."

"Isn't she to perceptive for her age?"

"Our hiding is the third best in the thieve's guild, boss. Her equipment is enchanted too. I'm not too sure about this."

"Ah shut up will you! A brat like her can't do shit. The enchanted equipment just means we'll make a killing hahaha!"

You are reading story The Young Lady Has Run Away at novel35.com

After turning to confront my follower . . . or apparently followers, I found three common ruffians instead of the organization member I was expecting. The grunts are at least smart enough to tell that something is off though. They're somewhat intelligent actually. Usually people who attempt this is stories are brain dead. Its kinda refreshing really.

"Bern! Are you unharmed?!"

While I was enjoying the refreshing feeling the thugs gave me, it seems the organization cut them down. Which is good because that means I don't have to deal with them, but bad because its FUCKING Cornelius who did it. With his armor I'm basically forced to show at least a little of my hand if I'm to get away. For now lets try talking.

"Thank you for helping me, sir knight, however I think you've got the wrong person. My name is Sam, not Bern."

"You can't fool me Bernadette. I know you too well. You may have gone so far as to change your appearance and demeanor, but I can still tell. I don't know why you ran away, but please come back. Your parents miss you, I miss you. We can fix! So will you please come home?"

Damn I was hoping the politeness would throw him off. Bernadette would never show politeness to anyone under her position, even Cornelius. Although with Cornelius, Bernadette would act rude on the surface but still listen anyway. 

Looks like I'm gonna have to go into battle mode. My body strengthening is still working even when standing around the anti-magic armor. I wonder why that is? What I'm thinking will need some testing, but if it works out, maybe I won't need to show my dragon magic.

It seems Cornelius noticed something as he braced himself slight before I even started casting. It doesn't matter much though, as I cast a attacking fire spell. When it reaches Cornelius, the fire goes out like expected. 

"Please don't do this Bern! Lets just talk this out and go home. We don't have to fight!"

'Yeah right I think', as I prepare a water ball next. It hits and splashes away. Hmmm... interesting. Cornelius looks a little confused.

"Do you really hate the idea that much? Don't you want to see your family or his highness?"

I've already had a theory that fire magic is fueled by mana. This experiment so far has added more credence for this theory. The water however, didn't disappear. This looks promising, but I need to be sure as I'll need to move immediately after casting. I finally cast an earth spell. A few pebbles lauch towards Cornelius but slow down DRASTICALLY when near the armor. Cornelius expression becomes blank for a moment, then cramps while I put on my mask I really should have remembered to put on earlier.

"Bern? How are you able to cast earth magic? Aren't your affinities water and fire?"

[Summon 33]

I summon some arsenic as a powde. I then throw the powder at Cornelius with the assistance of earth magic. As the powder approaches him, the armor slows it down, making it linger in the air.

"Gah! To resort to throwing sand in my eyes is . . ."

After apparently getting some in his eye, he quickly collapses holding his stomach. He'll probably soon start vomiting.  Arsenic was often used by people who were to impatient to wait for their parents to die so they could get their inherentance naturally. It was used enough in these types of assassinations that it even nicknamed "inheritance powder". The reason it was used so much was because it was hard to notice in food, and because it mimicked diseases like dysentery. Giving the people who used it some plausible deny ability. 

While it won't kill him without prolonged exposure, that amount is certainly enough to allow me to get away.