Magus Reborn

133. Verdis (1)

Kai was more than sure there was going to be another spy among the Mages. Veridia was ambitious and calculating; it was unlikely she’d risk everything on just one hidden agent. So, when each of the Mages—some with a flicker of hesitation— agreed to swear on a mana oath after a brief discussion, Kai couldn’t mask his surprise. A few still looked troubled, glancing at each other with furrowed brows, but their resolve held. They had made their decision.

That was good for him— on paper, at least. But it did little to quiet his paranoia.

As the Mages exchanged uneasy glances, Kai slid a folded note across the table toward them, detailing the contents of the mana oath. He had spent hours last night crafting it after the banquet, thinking through every possible way a spy could leak information to his enemies.

Unlike the broad strokes he had used for the barbarians, this oath was thorough, covering every avenue of treachery he could imagine. He left no room for ambiguity.

As the Mages read through the specifics, their eyes widened. The room’s air grew tense as if they could feel the weight of the words pressing on their shoulders. One Mage with a scar across his cheek muttered under his breath as he scanned the paper, his brows furrowing deeper with each line:

"I swear by my mana and my core, to uphold my loyalty to Count Arzan Kellius, never to speak, write, convey, or imply any information that may compromise the safety of his city or his plans, directly or indirectly, to any entity without his explicit permission..."

A younger Mage, a girl with a trembling hand, read another part aloud as if testing the strength of the words:

"I bind myself to this oath, knowing that a breach will result in the immediate collapse of my Mana heart and the stripping of all mana-based abilities..."

Kai watched their reactions closely, his expression neutral but his mind racing. "You can still decide to say no. Once you make this oath, there’s no turning back."

His words were the final warning to them. But each Mage, after a tense moment of silence, nodded, one by one. Some swallowed hard, but they all placed their hands over their chests, calling upon their mana to seal the oath.

A pulse of energy rolled through the room as their mana flowed into the vow, swirling through the air like threads of blue light, binding each Mage to their promise.

As the mana settled, Kai scanned their faces, wondering if any of them possessed hidden items to circumvent the oath, something that could parse out loopholes or manipulate its effects. But he shook off the thought quickly, grounding himself in the knowledge of the magic he wielded.

Mana oaths were a special breed of spellwork— ancient, uncompromising. They couldn’t be broken without devastating consequences. You could only hide loopholes in the wording, and he had left none this time. His fingers traced the edge of the note, now crumpled from the Mages’ hands, and he let out a breath he hadn’t realised he was holding.

If these Mages truly had hidden agendas, they wouldn’t have bound themselves to a contract this airtight. For the first time in days, a small knot of tension unravelled in his chest, but he kept his guard up. After all, paranoia had kept him alive this long.

Kai took a deep breath. For the first time in days, he allowed himself a small, rare smile. One spy Mage. Just one.

It could have been far worse. But before he could savour the moment for too long, Jacks interrupted him.

"So, what now, Lord Arzan?" Jacks asked, crossing his arms. "We’re all members of the Sorcerer’s Tower, right?"

Kai nodded. "Yes, unofficially. But before you can join officially, you’ll need to complete the paperwork at Archine Tower to be transferred to Veralt under my command. They’ll probably allow it without much issue after getting every information about the beast wave. Once that’s sorted, I’ll start teaching you new spells, and we’ll go over your methods for taking in mana, refining your techniques."

A murmur of excitement rippled through the mages. They exchanged eager looks, but Jacks raised a hand, willing to ask another question. "So... does that mean we’d need to go back to the capital?"

Kai shook his head, then paused. "From what I know, you can just send a letter to request the transfer. But..." He hesitated, gauging their reactions. "I need a few of you to return to the capital."

"Why?" Another Mage, a woman with a lightning scar on her forehead, asked warily.

Kai sighed, crossing his arms. "I need a list. Specifically, a list of everyone who’s been tested by Archine Tower’s Mages to know if they have all three mana organs. The Tower must have records and I would need them."

The Mages exchanged puzzled looks, and Jacks narrowed his eyes. "What do you need a list like that for?"

"You don’t need to know. But I’ll need some of you to get a copy of that list for me. Everyone tested in the last twenty years. If you can do it, I’ll personally reward you. Consider it an opportunity to earn a little more than just my approval."

The promise of a reward seemed to soften the tension in the room. A few of the Mages exchanged nods, already thinking about the risks and the potential gains. Kai kept his expression neutral, though inside, the gears of his mind churned.

The list was essential for him to identify more Enforcers. He was already discussing sending Mages to different parts of the kingdom to look for more Enforcers, but that wasn’t as easy. But a list from the tower might help pinpoint those who had the two mana organs essential to become an Enforcer.

According to him, there was a lot of untapped potential in the whole kingdom. And he wasn’t about to let it go to waste.

Kai raised an eyebrow, curious. "Why do you think it’s a good idea?"

Klan leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Well, one of the rules you put in is that higher-ranked Mages can’t bully or take credit for the work of those beneath them. At Archine Tower, there was none of that— no protection for novice or apprentice Mages. You could have your research stolen or be forced into dangerous assignments, and no one would bat an eye as long as you didn’t cross someone with power."

Klan nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it’s been a problem there for as long as I can remember. Having a rule like that, it gives us—everyone—a sense of fairness. That we’re not just under the thumb of whoever has the most connections or the highest rank."

Kai listened closely, taking in their perspective. It confirmed his suspicions about the flaws within the Archine Tower and reinforced his decision to put the codex in place.

He nodded slowly, a thoughtful look crossing his face. Then, he met their gazes directly, shifting the conversation to the real reason he’d kept them back. "I have a specific task for one of you," he said, his tone carrying a weight that made both of them straighten in their seats.

They exchanged another glance, the atmosphere suddenly tense. "What is it, Lord Arzan?"

Kai’s eyes sharpened. "I want one of you to go back to Archine Tower. Not just for the reporting and the paperwork about your transfer."

Klan furrowed his brow. "Then?"

"Beyond the list I already talked to you all about, I need someone there who can act as my eyes and ears. An informer. Someone who can keep me updated on the Tower’s movements, any... irregularities that might be of interest to me."

He looked at their reactions carefully. The request was a dangerous one, but if he was going to build something in Veralt, he needed to know what Archine Tower was upto.

Klan and Jacks both stiffened at the implication, but neither looked away. They understood the consequences of what he was asking. It wasn’t just a matter of allegiance; it was a step into a game far more dangerous than just getting a list for him.

"Look, I’m not asking you to spy on any Savant Mages or put yourselves at unnecessary risk. All you need to do is live your life in the Tower as you normally would, while keeping your ears open. Send me reports about the rumors, any strange happenings, or shifts in attitude within the Tower. From time to time, I might ask you to do something specific, but I promise there won’t be anything dangerous.

And if you agree, I’ll make it worth your while. I’ll personally teach you spells that even Magus Veridia wouldn’t know— spells that could give you an edge. And I’ll help you reach the next circle faster. You’ve seen how I work. You know what I’m capable of."

At that, their eyes twinkled with interest. The promise of unique knowledge and a chance to ascend through the ranks faster than the usual grind was tempting— more tempting than either of them wanted to admit. But they exchanged a look, a silent conversation passing between them.

They both seem to know that what Kai was asking wasn’t a simple favour. Even if he claimed there wouldn’t be danger, this task would bring a new level of uncertainty to their lives. They had already made their mana oaths, binding themselves to Kai, but this would take that commitment a step further.

After a moment, Jacks cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "This... isn’t something we can decide right now, Lord Arzan. It’s a lot to take in."

Klan nodded, his face more serious than usual. "We’d like some time to think about it. If that’s alright."

Kai inclined his head. "Of course. Take the time you need. Just remember, the opportunity won’t wait forever. If you choose to accept, the rewards will be there. And if you decide not to... well, we’ll move forward as we are now, no hard feelings."

With that, the tension in the room softened a bit. Kai knew he had planted the seed, and whether or not it took root was now in their hands.

***

The sound of hooves thundered across the dirt path like a desperate drum beat.

The rider, hunched forward on the back of a weary horse, clutched the reins tightly with bloodied hands. He kept glancing over his shoulder, eyes wild and panicked, as if expecting shadows to leap from the trees and drag him back into the darkness. Blood dripped from a gash on his forehead, where an arrow had narrowly missed its mark, cutting a shallow groove across his brow. Another wound bled sluggishly from his shoulder, soaking through the tattered remains of his cloak.

Despite his injuries and the hollow ache of hunger gnawing at his belly, he urged the horse forward, pushing it beyond its limits. His lips, cracked and dry, moved without pause, forming the same desperate words like a mantra. "Please be close... I need to reach Veralt... fast. Otherwise, Verdis will fall... to the wrong hands."

His voice trembled, barely a whisper over the rush of wind. His mind spun with images of what he had left behind. He couldn’t stop now, not when he was so close, not when Verdis’s fate hinged on his message reaching the right ears.

He swallowed hard, his throat dry as sand, and urged the horse to pick up speed despite its laboured breathing.

The muscles in his legs ached from clinging to the saddle, and his vision blurred with exhaustion. Days without proper food and rest had carved hollows into his cheeks, leaving him gaunt and ghostly. But he kept going— the only thing that drove him forward was the slim hope that he might reach Veralt before it was too late.

Then, as the horse crested a final rise, he saw it— Veralt. The city’s walls loomed over the landscape like a stone giant, high and imposing against the darkening sky. Relief washed over him, making his body sag in the saddle. He released the breath he had been holding, a shaky, half-choked sound escaping his lips.

"If Lord Arzan is really as great as the rumours say," he muttered to himself, eyes fixed on the city that might be his last hope, "then Verdis... might still live."