Badge in Azure

As Lex’s action took effect, her infantrymen set up the magic trebuchet. The defence force in the city would not have any thought about sending their mages to the east of the city.

Even though Nash was tough at the very beginning, he could only complain hardship to himself. He thought Lex would not have the courage to attack the city, but Lex had set up the trebuchet and she was supported by coordinated action on the east gate. Lex obviously wanted to butcher in a large number.

Everyone knew that the number of mages in the Bitter Water army was few folds of a normal army. In a short battle, the advantage might not be obvious. With more mages, it meant that when the battle time was dragging longer, their recovery power would be shocking.

It was said that Holy See used the same way to build the Sacred Knights. Every troop had a priest and those knights could release an unbridled sword aura.

The number of soldiers in the city was already less than the Bitter Water army. If the battle time was shorter than them, it was impossible for Fort Strand to defend themselves. Lex did not attack the city at the beginning because she did not want to lose any of her soldiers.

Lex’s Bitter Water army had followed her since the very beginning. Some were the second generation. The father was discharged from active military service while the son took over. That kind of soldier loyalty was extremely high, Lex did not want them to lose their lives at the city wall. She wanted to set up a bigger scale of concealment magic at night, to sneak the trebuchet up to the city gate quietly. Then she wanted to make a chip on it with her advantage in speed. Now, they could only do it forcibly and that was what Lex was upset about the most.

Lex’s vehicle had arrived outside the city very quickly. Two low level mages released flying puppets to continue to spy on the movement within the city from the sky.

The flying puppets were not the eye of the dead, what they saw would not be transferred back in an image form, but in magic wave. The mages depended on the magic wave to determine the message that was sent by the flying puppet. That was real empirics, a new mage would not be able to grasp the technique regardless.

There were too many low level mages in Bitter Water Prefecture and more than a handful could control flying puppets.

Very quickly, the mages updated Lex with the latest news. The war in the east of the city seemed to be extremely tragic and the fluctuation of elements was terrifying. Lex knew that the magic chariots had appeared.

“Daniel, that bastard, he got me into such big trouble.” Lex sounded unfriendly and she asked again, “How long until the magic array is set up?”

“Three minutes, Your Highness.”

“Then, we will wait for another three minutes. First, adjust the trebuchet, aim at the front of the city wall according to magic formation. I am not sure where they set their trebuchets, but they were definitely distributed regularly. Be careful, do not let the puppets fly too near, they will be shot down.”

Lex then closed her eyes and rested to attain mental composure. The two grand mages looked at the sky. Although Fort Strand was not considered as a strategic post, they were afraid that their enemy had big scale flying puppets too.

The big scale flying puppets could bring along a lot of magic material that could burn, explode, and quickly destroy the trebuchet.

Three minutes passed by very quickly. There was a huge magic array set up on the ground and the entire ground was covered with food while there was a magic pattern etched on it. Lex came to the middle of the magic array, surrounded by six grand mages and she activated the magic array.

A huge light soared up. Lex’s image was magnified by a few hundred fold and cast in the air, facing Fort Strand. The defence force at the top of the city wall looked sallow as they had never heard of such magic.

Lex was like God, overlooking the city. She slowly spoke.

“Nash, tell your mage to speak on your behalf.”

Nash looked up at the huge magic image in the sky and he knew that he was washed up due to the sagging morale of his soldiers. Morale was really important and Lex used psychology of a normal human being to release a magic that was not offensive but developed fear in everyone.

That was fear towards magic and Lex was the embodiment of magic.

“Grand mage Sauron…”

The gray robed mage sighed and started setting up a magic sound array for Nash. Both parties communicating as such was something Lex was willing to see. If Nash refused to, every soldiers could only hear Lex, that situation would be worse.

Sauron set up the magic sound array and beckoned Nash to speak. That valiant general of the empire looked up into the sky and spoke in a low voice, “Lex Your Highness, did you want to attack the city of the Empire? Even if you are a royalty, this is treason.”

Nash spoke and wanted to beat Lex by the way he talked.

Who was Lex? She was smart since she was little. She smiled faintly and all the soldiers were attracted by her smile, they even developed a ridiculous thought involuntarily.

“Your Highness… is a good person.”

That was a magic hint. These strong young men had overlooked Lex’s beauty and developed a friendly feeling. To the strong, the hint would not take effect, but to normal soldiers, the magic hint had strong effects. Sauron stood by the side and looked in silence. He had ways to eliminate such influence, but he could not as Lex was a grade-6 mage and she had a grade-8 sorcerer as her backing.

Sauron practiced really hard to become a grade-6 mage and it would be really difficult for him to become a sorcerer. If he did so, he would most likely be killed by Lex’s teacher.

“Nash, let me ask you, are you still loyal to my father?” Lex did not question him, but severely reprimanded. The soldiers were anxious, they suddenly felt that they were on the wrong side.

Who was Lex? She was the Princess of the Empire. Her father, was the most friendly king. The Great Chanake was the most popular king in the entirety Qin Empire history. Not only were local nobles loyal to him, even the people had a good opinion of him.

A king could easily make people revere him, but it would be very difficult to make people feel friendly toward him. The Great Chanake was such a person and Nash was suddenly at loss for words.

Then, he replied bitterly, “His Majesty is still the one that I respect the most, but the King now, is your younger brother.”

“Nash, the order was given to you by Safilos, but not my poor brother. Open the city gate and let me pass. I shall pretend that you did not make this mistake.”

Lex did not explain whether she wanted to attack or why she wanted to attack. The moment she spoke, it was as though all fault was on Nash. Nash was carrying out a military order, what fault did he have? Unless he was going against Safilos for Lex there was none. Did he want to stay alive?

Lex was observing Nash’s reaction, but suddenly a bodyguard got close to Nash and talked to him quietly. Nash’s expression changed enormously.

The east gate was opened and damaged. That was alright. There were two magic chariots that rushed into the city!

That was like building two mini magic towers in the enemy’s city. Nash felt as though his organs were burning within and he suddenly screamed, he spat blood and fell on the ground.

“It was a losing battle!”

He could actually use the calvary on hand to escape. Would Safilos let him slip?

“General Nash…” The gray robed mage looked at Nash who fell. He wished to speak, but he did not on second thought.

Nash raised his head and his eyes showed hopelessness. He swallowed his saliva with blood forcefully and smiled sadly, “I understand that you do not want to offend Lex, you shall leave.”

Sauron looked embarrassed, he did not want to offend Lex because he did not have a powerful backing mage. What if he had got to grade-6? If he were to hurt Lex, the three grade-9 sorcerers in Holy Rock city would probably give him a lot of trouble. Most likely he would be killed by Lex. There were six grand mages with Lex just to make the magic image bigger.

There were only about fifty mages in the city and most of them were low level mages, they were not their match. The mages were basically the same as him, no backing. A real affluent mage would not follow an army, but would find a place to practice magic themself.

The mages that followed an army might be richer than lordlings, but in other mages’ eyes, they were all poor.

Lex was helpless too. What she did would mean that she was at the opposing side of Safilos and there was no turning back.

Those stupid bastards at Holy Rock city, what was the use for the empire to stretch continuously? The royals could not even protect their own imperial clan and they could not even control their nobles. Safilos might be courageous, but would he be able to make all nobles submit with the threat of force?

When her father went on expedition, nobles all over the country sent soldiers to participate. There were of course private interests, but most importantly they approved of her father.

Now? Even weak nobles in Phoenix rose in revolt against Holy Rock city. Was it still the Qin Empire? Where was the honor of the Grukos family?

Although her father died, Lex’s belief grew firmer. She would not be affected by those predictions anymore. Merlin was great, but she could not ruin her own life for another great person.

“Your greatness was not related to me.”

Lex had let go partially of her pressure. As she shed all pretences of cordiality, everything about the Qin Empire in the future would not be safeguarded by her. Not unless she became the Queen of the Qin Empire.

Bitter Water Prefecture should be something that she safeguarded, just like what people in Phoenix were doing. If Safilos continued to push her, then it would be war.

“Teacher…” A white robed mage called softly next to Sauron. He hesitated deciding whether he should defend the city for Nash.

“All of you, leave.” Sauron’s face grew sallow. He had four students with him and they were all carefully trained, all of them were white robed mages. He was only about sixty years old and he was very proud of it. The one outside of the city was only about twenty years old, maybe? She was already a grade-6 mage. Sauron already felt discouraged.

“Teacher!” The four white robed mages were shocked. They did not care whether they were to leave, but it would be dangerous for their teacher to stay back.

Sauron smiled bitterly, “I would not attack the princess, but I have to at least ensure the general’s safety.”

A mage must have pride. If Sauron were to leave then, he had to conceal his identity and never appear before anyone anymore. Surrender was perhaps the best option. He had to compete first though. To surrender before fighting was such a humiliation.