Magus Reborn

New territory didn't always come with new land and people to rule. It came with responsibilities—burdens that make one feel as if they had boulders pressing their weight down on them. And sometimes, those responsibilities came with problems. Land disputes were one of the more common ones out of them, and today, Francis was facing one of the worst kinds.

The kind where a noble thought he could take what was rightfully someone else's.

As he listened to the man who had brought the message, Francis was already planning on what to do next. Once the full story was clear, he had made his decision. He could've delegated it to Mina or Siton, but there were some things you didn't leave to subordinates, especially not when it involved a noble.

He would handle this personally. He needed to.

With that decision made, Francis organized his party. Two Enforcers—Bran and Talon, and Khoph, a Mage who had been particularly free and agreed to join them quickly. Lord Arzan had told him of a few Mages he had good hope for and the man was among them.

The three of them were perfect. Strong enough to deal with any conflict, but not overbearing enough that the other party takes it as a sign of war.

As they got on top of their horses and set off toward Greten, a village that was to the left of Veridis, Francis couldn't help but feel the unease that came with riding at full speed. The horses galloped along the rough paths, the wind whipping at his face, and he almost felt as if he might fall off a few times. But this wasn't his first time dealing with such matters. He knew the importance of being quick. If Baron Idrin had any designs on delaying things or making trouble, Francis didn't want to give him the chance.

Baron Idrin, in particular, was no stranger to Francis.

Three winters ago, the previous lord of Veralt and him had come to an agreement. They had needed grain to go through winter, but in exchange Idrin had asked for their iron mine instead of coins. As a result, the deal had been rejected.

Shortly after, bandit activity in the area had increased particularly against the remaining farmlands, and rumours swirled that Baron Idrin had something to do with it. But at the time, there was little that could be done. The Lord had been powerless to act, and Idrin had known it. But things had changed now.

Under Lord Arzan, the rules were different. Baron Idrin couldn't throw his might and sway off men as he pleased.

As Francis rode alongside men strong enough to deal with any knights Idrin might throw at him, he felt confident. No more would the Idrin's kind get away with these underhanded schemes, he thought to himself.

After two hours of swift, scary and risky riding, they finally reached the village. Though he was happy to have finally arrived at the place, the scene before them was tense.

A large group of villagers had gathered just outside the walls, and a sizable contingent of armoured men stood at the front.

In the centre of it all, two men stood. He recognised one of them as Baron Idrin who talked animatedly with his hands flying in the air with every word he spoke. The person he talked to was Chief Norej, an elderly but sharp-witted man who had attended one of the meetings Francis had held some months ago with Zorgar over development of Verdis and its villages.

Francis fixed his gaze on both of them. Baron Idrin screamed as arrogant and demanding as he remembered. A tall, skinny man, draped in a rich purple cloak. His long chin looked down on anyone who stood in front of him. And his eyes bore into Chief Norej's face as if he was trying to prove a point. He seemed to be deliberately talking loudly, trying to keep the attention of everyone at him and snickering from time to time.

The old man, with a downturned gaze, appeared to be lowering himself, likely trying to placate Idrin, but he was powerless.

It was then that Francis and his group were noticed. Baron Idrin, Chief Norej, and the others turned their heads in unison, their gazes shifting to the approaching party.

The villagers parted, making way as Francis, Bran, Talon and Khoph walked towards the baron confidently.

Idrin's eyes narrowed, and his posture stiffened. He stopped talking, taking in the newcomers and seemed to recognise Francis by the way he focused on him.

With a quick gesture from his wrist, Francis gestured for his men to dismount. As his foot touched the ground, he immediately made eye contact with Baron Idrin.

"Baron Idrin, what's going on here?" Francis asked, and without giving any time for Idrin to answer, he continued, "I've been informed that you're attempting to encroach on the lands granted to Count Arzan by the King himself. Don't you know that's enough of a reason for the crown to punish you?"

Idrin's lips curled into a snicker, clearly amused by the audacity of the man before him. "Francis," he said with a mocking tone, "you seem to have grown a pair since the last time I saw you. Talking like this to a Baron, when you're just a commoner."

Francis didn't flinch. Instead, he put up his hands and stopped Idrin right then and there. "I've been tasked by Count Arzan to manage his territories. I have enough power to speak to you like this, especially when you're trying to push into lands that don't belong to you."

Idrin threw his head back and let out a big belly laugh as if the idea of Francis having any power was a joke. "Am I?" he retorted, his tone dripping with mockery. "I don't think you understand. I've been in a land dispute with Baron Morcant for years now, over that gold mine right there in between the hills." He gestured grandly toward the hills in the distance, a sharp glint of greed in his eyes. "That's the real reason I'm here, Francis. This land has been mine for far longer than your precious Count Arzan has even been in the picture."

Francis's mind whirled as he listened to Idrin's words, vaguely recalling Zorgar talking about it, but as the baron hadn't made any moves in the last few years, he had expected it to be a matter of the past.

"My lands stretch to those hills too, so I have the right to the mine," Idrin said in a tone that made it seem like he'd been self-reassuring for so long, he fully believed that he was right. Then he pulled out a crumpled piece of parchment from his coat and waved it in front of Francis. "The man who previously lorded over this city, Henderson, even agreed to part with it for a good sum of coins. Not only the mine, but even this village right here. I have the agreement right here."

Francis's brow furrowed as he took in the document, but he didn't look impressed. He'd heard nothing of such a thing. "Henderson had no right to make such an agreement," he said. "He was a traitor to the crown, and the crown will agree with me. That piece of paper is worthless."

Idrin's face reddened with rage. His fingers tightened around the parchment, crumpling it as his glare turned cold. "My claim isn't worthless," he spat while clutching the piece of paper to his chest. "It would be in the best interest of both of us if I were to take that mine. Otherwise..." He trailed off ominously, his eyes flicking toward the knights behind him.

At that moment, the knights drew their swords in unison. The group of armoured men around Idrin began to shift, weapons raised in readiness. Francis's own Enforcers, however, were quick to react. They pulled out their blades, the steel clinking as it met the air, prepared to defend their own. Tension thickened like a cloud over the gathering, the villagers, who had been quietly observing the scene, started to back away. A lot of gasps and whispers spreaded.

Francis, however, didn't flinch. "Otherwise what?" he asked calmly, daring Idrin to make the first move.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

He signalled to the Mage they had brought along. Khoph, who stood at the edge of the group, immediately lifted his hands. Mana pulsed in the air as he started creating a spell structure. A yellow light followed the path that his fingers trailed in the air.

The spell structure hung right when he was done, ready to unleash at the opponents.

That made Idrin's knights halt mid-motion, their weapons now suspended in the air, eyes wide as the force of the spell made them pause. Baron Idrin himself faltered, his confident smirk faltering as he regarded the Mage's display of power.

Francis inhaled deeply and took a step forward.

"I suggest you rethink your position, Baron," he said. "This is Count Arzan's land, and no amount of empty claims will change that."

Idrin sneered at Francis, his lips curling as he gestured toward Khoph. "You brought a Mage to this when I'm here for a peaceful discussion?" he scoffed. "It seems the rumours of your count's rise aren't a lie after all. But understand this—just bringing a Mage won't let you roll over me."

Francis clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing as he stood tall against Idrin's taunts. "All your knights and guards point to something else," he retorted. "I came here because I heard you were trying to take over Greten. If you were truly here for a peaceful discussion, your men wouldn't be brandishing swords."

Idrin's face tightened at Francis's words, but he quickly recovered. "Why did you come, then? I expected Count Arzan to come to deal with this himself. I've heard so much about him. Unfortunately, I was too sick to attend his ceremony, but I did send him a gift. Did he consider himself too high to come to meet me to discuss the dispute?"

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Francis ground his teeth at the mention of the Count. He couldn't reveal anything about Lord Arzan's situation with his absence in Veralt. The idea of discussing his lord's venture, or anything more about him, wasn't a conversation he was prepared to have. Instead, he simply responded, "My lord is in secluded meditation right now. He's tasked me with solving this issue. I have all the powers to make a decision here."

Idrin looked him over with narrowed eyes, seemingly processing the words before a sly grin returned to his lips. "Is that so? Then okay. Let's have a negotiation. In three days, let's meet right here in the village to solve the dispute. I don't care if your lord comes or not—until I get my hands on that mine."

"Sure, in three days. But you won't get the mine," Francis said with a nod.

Idrin chuckled darkly, clearly amused. "Let's see about that."

With a final sneer in Francis's direction, Idrin turned on his heel, motioning for his men to follow him. They began to march back toward their territory, leaving Francis standing at the edge of the village, his mind turning over the conversation.

The tension in the air remained, thick as ever, but Francis couldn't shake the unease that churned in his gut. As Idrin's men disappeared over the horizon, Francis continued to watch them, brow furrowed in thought.

As soon as they saw that Idrin was out of sight, Bran walked forward. "What are we going to do now?" he asked.

"We'll talk," Francis replied. "Try to negotiate and keep the land dispute on the back burner for now, but something's off."

Bran frowned. "What do you mean?"

Francis sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I know Idrin. I've met him before. He's the type to act like a dog to higher nobles, trying to win favor. Lord Arzan is a count with a growing reputation. It doesn't make sense for him to show such an attitude. Idrin is looking for conflict."

"But he's talking about a land dispute. Is it not real?"

"It seems real, but aside from the agreement Hendrerson gave him that I had no idea about, the issue hasn't been mentioned for a long time," Francis said honestly. "And if there's no mention of it, why would Idrin bring it up now, after all these years? It feels fishy to me."

Bra nodded at that. "So, are you going to tell Lord Arzan about it?"

Francis's gaze turned to the horizon, his heart heavy with the uncertainty of it all. "Yes," he answered. "I'll send word to him. I hope he returns soon. Something's brewing, and I can't shake the feeling that this is more than just a simple land dispute."

The Enforcer said nothing more, and soon they all mounted their horses to go back to Veralt. In his heart, Francis wished that the lord would be back soon.

***

Kai left the Blackwood estate with a lot on his mind, having given William plenty to consider. He wasn't sure if the Duke would ultimately agree to form an alliance, but at least he knew they hadn't left on bad terms. The tension between them had dissolved somewhat, and Kai was certain that Duke Blackwood would be keeping a close eye on him from now on, for better or worse.

Once they had left the estate behind, Kai and his group began heading west into the Sylvara grove. He knew that while the forest was part of the Lancephil territory, the elven lands connected to it were independent. Due to that, the grove was somewhere in the middle.

Kai had heard rumours of King Sullivan's repeated attempts to conquer the elven lands, hoping to gain access to the Elder Tree in his youth, but despite his best efforts, he and his forces had never even come close to reaching it. The elves were considered mysterious, and the Elder Tree in Sylvastra was seen as something of a legend.

Curiosity gnawed at Kai as they walked, and he couldn't resist asking, "What's the reason Sylvastra is hidden so well? Is it the doing of the Elder Tree itself?"

Raven nodded thoughtfully, her gaze distant as she walked. "In a way, yes," she said, "but it's mostly the work of the elders. You'll understand better as we get closer. I believe you'll like what you see."

The conversation faded as they continued deeper into the forest, the sounds of wildlife filling the air. Then, without warning, a rustling from the underbrush caught their attention.

A beast strodded forward, standing at least eight feet tall at the shoulder, with a muscular frame covered in coarse, dark fur that shimmered faintly in the dappled sunlight. Its head resembled a mix between a wolf and a bear, with a pronounced snout, jagged fangs glinting as it bared its teeth, and two curling horns sprouting from its forehead, adding to its menacing appearance.

Gareth instinctively moved to charge, but Raven held up a hand to stop him. "Wait!" she whisper yelled.

"Let me handle it."

She extended a hand, and from her fingertips, a green light appeared—Raven's spirit—Jata. It floated forward, silent and graceful, approaching the beast with cautious steps. The animal seemed to pause, its instincts alert but not aggressive. The little wisp of energy pulsed, once, twice, thrice—it was communicating with the large beast.

The beast grunted, huffed and puffed, finally coming to an understanding. Moments later, it snorted in recognition and retreated back into the trees, vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.

Kai watched the entire interaction, his gaze fixed on the spirit and the beast. It was a fascinating sight, but his curiosity wasn't just about the beast—it was about Raven and her spirit. Claire, walking beside him, couldn't help but glance at the spirit with a twinkle in her eyes.

Turning to Raven, Kai couldn't hold back his question. "How did you do that?" he asked. "I didn't sense any magic emanating from Jata."

Raven smiled slightly. "I just got my spirit to talk to the beast," she explained. "One of the elders formed a druidic bond with the creature that rules over the Sylvara groves. All the beasts are under it's command. I had my spirit remind it that we are protected by that elder, so it ran off."

Kai's eyes widened with interest. "That's… fascinating," he admitted and gave a smile. "I've never looked into druidic magic before. It's an entirely different kind of power."

Raven nodded. "It's not well understood by many outside the elven community. But it's a deeply rooted magic. The connection between spirit and nature is something that can't easily be replicated."

Kai nodded at that.

As they continued their journey through the forest, he found his thoughts consumed with the concept of druidic magic. It was a field of power he had never explored, and the idea of understanding it—maybe even harnessing it—was an exciting possibility. He couldn't wait to learn more and already decided to ask for some books on it once he reaches Sylvastara.

After walking through the dense forest for some time, the group finally reached an river, its surface smooth like glass, reflecting the sky and the trees surrounding it. Raven didn't pause to admire the view, however. Instead, she moved swiftly to a nearby bush, lifting aside branches to reveal a long boat hidden beneath them. It was crafted from wood, twigs and vines. Kai noticed engravings all around its surface.

"It's an elven made boat," Raven said, gesturing for them to board. "We'll be travelling by river now."

Kai and the others exchanged glances before stepping into the boat. It was surprisingly sturdy despite their light, organic appearance, and the board was flawless. Both the twins took the oars as Kai moved to check the Seals that seemed to be powering the boat.

Gareth cleared his throat loudly as he settled into his boat. "Is the river safe?" he asked, looking out at the waters with suspicion.

Raven gave a small, almost amused smile as she took the lead. "Not exactly," she replied. "There are often river beasts that come out of the depths. But I don't think it will be any big problem. They're easy to deal with. And we have Lord Arzan here." She nodded toward Kai, "Either way, let's not waste time. We need to get to Sylvastra."

***

A/N - You can read 30 chapters (15 Magus Reborn and 15 Dao of money) on my patreon. Annual subscription for both of them is on too.

PS - How's the cover? It's for Amazon release.