The Frost Mage

Our convoy proceeded toward the Rooted forest, which was a path that we needed to take before we reach the city itself. There are multiple paths toward the city, but this would be the safest one out of all of them, the other ones have either savage bandits or wild monsters who will ambush them at any second

Well, the chances of us getting ambushed here aren't too low as well but compared to the other ones, this was the safest path due to us being able to secure multiple escape routes. And this place contains the graveyard of most of the soldiers of the Vane who died in battle. Since I've heard that most of the bandits are former veterans of the war, I'm positive that they won't do any funny business around this area...

But if there's anything that I learned from history, it's that things never go along the way we want them to be...

As we proceeded towards the forest, all of us suddenly felt shivers down our spine. Followed by a chill that made me unconsciously shake. All of the knights quickly draw their swords, despite being inexperienced it seems that they too sensed that something was off...

"Milord, please stay in the carriage..."

Rudeus who also seemed to be drunk all the time was looking serious for once...

"No need to tell me..."

...Fighting has never been my forte, even back when I was at the palace people would often snicker about how bad I was in my swordsmanship lessons...

As my knights were glancing around the forest, a sudden attack came from the trees, a white mist that was quickly directed at the carriage that was in front of mine. Once the mist has passed by, the entire carriage, including the horses and the knights were seemingly frozen...

"Enemy attack!"

"Where did it come from?"

"Shit, what the hell was that?!"

Another mist was also directed at the carriage behind us, which also resulted in it being completely frozen. The knights that were riding on it were shivering like crazy, from the looks of it they were experiencing something similar to a very intense frostbite

The knights were in a panic in the face of the anomaly that just happened to us, me included...I tried to wrack my head and come up with a possible cause for this, and only one thing came to mind. I didn't want to believe it at first, but all the things happening now could only lead to one answer-

"It's a mage! Stand strong men and don't panic! They'll wipe us out if we dilly dally like maidens, spread out and search for em'!"

The knights came to their senses and did as Rudeus told them, they grabbed their arrows and sent a volley of shots in the direction in which the attack came from. I heard a bit of rustling when the volley of fire was being made, and just a few seconds after that a cloaked figure jumped down from the trees

She was wearing a white mask so I couldn't really tell any of their features, but one thing is for sure...The cold atmosphere that's surrounding her...She's the attacker, and she's definitely not normal...

I have heard tales and rumors about them, but this is the first time I've ever encountered one. Normally they would never come out of hiding in the areas near the capital due to the strict enforcement of the church and the Empire, so I suppose a nearly lawless and run-down city would be the perfect spot for them

"Identify yourself, mage! You've just attacked a convoy that is under the protection of the Imperial flag, and you've made a mess out of my men too. Don't expect me to go easy on you now"

Rudeus stepped forward and pointed his blade at the mage, his eyes were fierce, and I could clearly sense his intent to kill...but...

I slid closer to Rudeus and whispered in his ear-

"Are you sure you can take that mage on?"

"Hell no, milord. A single one of those guys could do all sorts of supernatural bullshit, you saw what this bastard did to our guys...We're greatly unprepared for this fight"

Go figures, I assume that he was just bluffing earlier?...Well, that's better than appearing weak to the enemy

"So what do you suggest? That we turn our tail and run?"

"Don't put it like that, milord. I prefer to call it a 'strategic retreat' but you've got the gist of it ...we just need to find the right opportunity, who knows what else could that mage do..."

I glanced around and looked at the situation at hand, the mage had frozen both the front and the back carriage which completely boxed mine that was in the middle. Escape using this carriage would be near impossible...

I then glanced at the cloaked figure who was slowly walking towards us...I can't help but wonder why the mage positioned her attack to be this way. If they're out to kill or capture me then the mage should've targeted the middle one first and it would be all over, they don't even have to show their face out like this...So chances are she's probably not after my life, she'd be one piss poor of an assassin if she was after my life...

As I was lost in my own thoughts, the mage raised their right hand, it suddenly glowed a bright blue light, after which the same mist was released from it and was launched towards us. It was very fast, almost too fast for my eyes to see

Luckily though, Rudeus tackled me out of the attack, and we were able to hide behind the middle carriage...Though the cold from her spell was practically causing my bones to shake...

"Shit, keep shooting! Don't give that bastard even a moment to cast another one of her tricks!"

The nearby knights began to fire volleys of arrows again, she was out in the open so I assumed that one of the arrows would get her but...before they could even reach her, she cast some sort of spell which made a wall of ice rise from the ground to act as her cover.

The arrows of the knights could only bounce off in the face of that sturdy wall, and since she now has breathing room, she cast more of those spells at us which turned the surrounding area into ice

"Tch, sly little bugger"

"What a mess..."

This is bad...I dunno if the mage has more of their friends lurking about, but we can't stay here any longer. Considering that the middle carriage is also immobile now I figured that I'd help Rudeus by releasing one of the horses that are still fine, that way we could immediately ride out the moment she stops

"Great thinking milord" It seems that Rudeus also took notice of my plan

"Dunno if this will work though, from the looks of it she's firing those spells like it was nothing"

"Yeah, I also can't help but notice how she has this much steam. But don't fear milord, these types of spells would usually cost a lot of mana to use, she's fine now but sooner or later she has to stop whether she likes it or not unless she wants to die of exhaustion"

"Hmmm, I suppose so. Hey, you seem to be quite knowledgeable about mages?"

"Haha! Oh, if you only knew how troublesome these buggers were in the Forgan War then you'd know about them if you want to live"

I see...seems that he's not the drunken fool that I thought him to be. Really, I should learn to never judge a book by its cover...

Rudeus then peaked from the carriage and began to muse to himself

"I didn't really notice it at first due to how chaotic it was, but this mage seems to be quite young. I'd say they're about your age, milord"

"Hoh, I'm surprised you can tell? Are you sure they're not just really tiny?"

"That's a possibility, but based on how the mage is attacking us I could only imagine him being some brat. Both of us are at a standstill right now but the mage is still firing off spells like it's no tomorrow, my guess is that the bastard is panicking because they'd expected us to back off long ago"

Hmmm, that does line up with the mages' actions now...

"So what are you saying? We could take the mage down here and now?"

"Too risky, milord. Our primary goal is to reach the city and I plan to stick with that"

"Agreed" I'd also like to avoid fighting unprepared either

"If that's the case then I'll leave it to you, Ser Rudeus"

"Hehe, you won't regret it!"

Saying this, Rudeus ran out of cover and began to charge on the mage

"Now men!"

The knights hearing his queue picked up the injured knights that we had among our ranks and began to retreat. I myself had already ridden on my horse and was about to leave, but I realized a crucial flaw about this...Ser Rudeus doesn't have a horse...

"Haha! Come you little shit!"

Rudeus charged like a wild beast with his sword in hand, seeing this the mage clearly panicked and began to launch the cold mist in his direction, but with his quick reflexes he was able to dodge the spells being directed at him with ease

The mage then waved both hands, and multiple crystal shards began to form out of the cold air, they were sharp and I myself feel like I'd bleed if I touch the tip of those things. The crystal shards were launched at quick speeds which made them a deadly projectile...

But Rudeus was able to deflect each of those shards with his sword, and without losing any speed at that...

"Hahaha! Is that all you got?!"

He then jumped over the wall that the mage created and brought his sword overhead, his blade was mere inches in reaching the head of the mage, but the mage was able to dodge and counter-attacked by launching those shards, to which Rudeus deflected with his sword

The mage then tried to create what looked to be some sort of sword made of ice by the use of some spell, but Rudeus didn't let the mage a moment to breathe and immediately attack the moment he was able to regain footing. The mage was fighting a disadvantageous battle with a half-made sword, the mage was being demolished by Rudeus' skills, It was like watching a squire facing off against a member of the royal guard

"Ggh..."

I could see the eyes of the mage practically shine through that mask the moment they saw the opening that Rudeus had for an instant. The mage immediately brought down their sword in an attempt to cut his head, but Rudeus merely smiled in the face of their attempt

"You're making this too easy for me"

Rudeus dodged her attack and stepped on the blade with his right foot once it hit the ground, the mage tried to move the sword but it was no use, Rudeus was about to pierce the head of the mage with his blade, but the mage was able to dodge at the last second, so his sword could only graze the elbows of the mage instead

"Tch!"

I heard the mage click their tongue before casting a spell that affected the entire area near her, Rudeus was luckily able to step back just before the spell has been cast. Once out of the range of the mage, Rudeus let out a sigh of relief and seeing this opportunity I moved my horse closer to him

"Ser Rudeus, let's go!"

"Milord?"

Seeing me in the distance, he ran as quickly as he could and rode the horse that I was on. I immediately pulled the reigns, and my horse began to ride in the same direction my other knights went on

"That little fiasco that I pulled off was supposed to act as cover for your retreat you know?"

"That's a lovely way of saying thank you, and you're welcome as well Ser Rudeus. There were no horses left so I took my sweet time waiting for you"

"I would've been fine with walking to the city milord"

"Haha! Spoken with such confidence, you sure showed that mage earlier who was boss, huh?"

"Actually the bastard was one tough cookie. I reckon I would've died had the fight lasted a bit longer"

His tone actually sounded serious, but from the looks of it earlier he was only one step closer to finishing the mage off...

And speaking of the mage...

I glanced back as we ride away and I saw the figure of the mage kneeling down while clenching their wound If I knew better it seems that the mage was crying...I guess Rudeus really left em' quite the beating eh?

...I didn't exactly know why but...Seeing the mage like that lit up the spark of curiosity inside me...