Tale of a Hedonistic wizard-Chapter 451: Wizard tower

As the shadows swallowed W’ithas and Rhedel, a horrifying realization dawned on the gathered warriors.

Angelina turned her gaze to where the Archaic Citadel had stood just moments before. Where the ancient stone towers had pierced the sky, there was now only empty air and swirling mist.

"The Citadel!" she cried out, her voice cutting through the settling dust. "It was a diversion!"

Behind her, Elowen and Alaryc huddled beneath a hastily erected magical barrier. They were barely alive; the chaos extraction had taken their life source out of them too.

Debris from the battle littered the ground: shattered stone, scorched earth, and the lingering whispers of shadow magic.

Jaegar stood at the edge of the clearing, his broad frame tense as he maintained a defensive stance. Scattered around him lay chunks of masonry and splintered wood—testament to the power of the spells that had been flying through the air.

"They planned this," Felaern said grimly, his keen eyes scanning the area where the Citadel had stood. "W’ithas never intended to win the fight. They only needed to keep us occupied long enough for whatever spell they had placed on the Citadel to take effect." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Angelina then said, "As we know, the citadel moves through space, and I think they waited until it started moving again and held us here."

Felaern nodded, thinking the same, "They have already got three of them."

Angelina said, "Yes, but first we need to save these young ones."

Daratrine sheathed her blade and moved swiftly to where Elowen sat. She knelt beside the younger elf, her hands gentle as they checked her condition.

"Gone," Angelina finished, her attention turning to the quiet boy beside Elowen. She studied Alaryc with newfound interest, noting his unassuming appearance that belied his importance. "The extraction would have taken the lives of these children, but they somehow didn’t kill them. I think they aren’t ready for the ritual yet."

"This boy, he is the next wizard lord. I think they didn’t want the wizard tower and the holy kingdom on their tails right now."

Jaegar turned at these words, his first real look at the boy they’d been protecting. His weathered face showed surprise as he took in Alaryc’s features. He was about his age, and his face became violet, his life draining away.

"The next Wizard Lord?" Felaern’s eyebrows rose as he regarded the human youth. "Then we must act quickly."

Daratrine rose from beside Elowen, her decision made. "He must be taken to the capital immediately. The Wizard Tower can protect him while his powers mature."

"Agreed," Angelina said, stepping forward. "Jaegar and I will escort him. The wizard tower can save him, and I have some people to meet in the capital too."

Felaern nodded, his hand resting on his sword hilt. "Take him with all haste. We’ll escort Elowen to Autumnhold. The elven courts must be warned of what has happened here."

He fixed Angelina and Jaegar with a stern gaze. "Return as quickly as you can. And be careful."

The two of them nodded their understanding.

Angelina moved to Alaryc’s side, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Jaegar took up position on his other flank.

No further words were needed—they all understood the gravity of their situation.

The groups separated, each taking different paths through the forest. Angelina and Jaegar led Alaryc toward the Capital road, while Felaern and Daratrine guided Elowen in the direction of Autumnhold. As they parted, the first rays of dawn began to pierce the canopy above, casting long shadows through the trees—a reminder that even in the darkest times, light would always return.

Behind them, the empty clearing stood as a silent testament to what had been lost. Where the Archaic Citadel had stood for centuries, only scattered stones remained.

Archaic Citadel was a mysterious place, and where it would have disappeared, they have no idea. For now, they thought of saving Alaryc and Elowen.

The knights have left long since, and they were hasty as they didn’t bother with the introduction with them.

Jaegar was feeling frustrated over the fact they had failed to catch those Bande de serpents. Seeing the citadel up close, he felt the connection with it, like he belonged in there.

-

The Wizard Tower rose like a spear of obsidian against the evening sky, its crystalline surfaces reflecting the dying sunlight in patterns of deep purple and gold.

It was the main tower, Arcaniac Trov, present in the capital city of the empire.

Right now, the atmosphere in the tower was grim. The lookout for the young wizard lord was going on thoroughly. The wizards, dressed in robes, gathered in front of the main gates.

And suddenly a portal materialised right before the main gates, where the Tower Guard stood at attention, their silver-trimmed robes marking them as battle wizards of considerable skill.

From the portal emerged Angelina, followed behind by Jaegar, who was carrying Alaryc.

The wizard guards saw them and instantly recognized them.

"Lady Angelina!" The guard’s eyes widened in recognition. They even recognized Jaegar as someone said—Prince Jaegar!!

Her presence at the Tower was rare enough to cause a stir, but it was the unconscious form of Alaryc that truly caught their attention.

Something passed between the guards—a flash of recognition, perhaps even fear.

"Notify Lord Badock immediately," the captain ordered, and one of his men practically fled up the tower steps. "Please, my lady, come inside."

They were barely through the gates when Badock appeared, his arch-wizard’s robes swirling around him despite the still air.

The Tower Lord’s face was deeply lined, his grey beard neatly trimmed, but his eyes burned with an intensity that belied his age. Those eyes fixed first on Alaryc, then narrowed as they took in Jaegar.

"Take the boy to the Healing Chambers," Badock commanded, and several attendants rushed forward to receive Alaryc from Jaegar’s arms. "Master Thorne will see to his care personally."

As soon as Alaryc was safely away, Badock’s demeanour changed. His hand shot out, fingers tracing complex patterns in the air. "Seize him," he ordered, pointing at Jaegar.