My eyes snapped open as I jolted up to a seated position in my bed. My silk pajamas stuck to my skin as I was covered in sweat.
"Rudeus? Are you alright? Did you have a bad dream?"
My beautiful wife, Ariel Anemoi Asura, laid in bed beside me.
"What a strange dream...", I muttered as I held my hand to my throbbing head.
"Sounds like you need some comforting", Ariel said with a sly grin on her face as she laced her arms around my abdomen and pressed her chest up against me.
The sight and feel of Ariel's perfect body embracing me quickly turned me on. Her unruly hair complemented her natural beauty with an especially sexy appeal, especially knowing it was caused by what we had done together last night. Yet, despite Ariel's obvious inclination for another session, a terrifying chill ran down my spine at the thought of it. It must be that strange dream I just had...
I stood up out of our bed, untangling myself from her embrace, much to her dismay.
"I'm sorry Ariel... I don't feel too well. I think I need some fresh air."
"Alright...", she relented with a pout. "Be careful out there. It's the middle of the night."
"I will."
I slipped on my boots and draped my robe over my pajamas and walked out from our tent.
"Hmm? Is everything alright, Lord Rudeus?"
Luke, one of the two men standing guard outside our tent, greeted me. He wore golden armor trimmed with intricate, black patterns with the Asura Royal symbol inlaid on the chest. The man beside him wore a red mage's robe and glasses; his name was Derrick Redbat. These were Ariel's two most Guardian Knights.
"Yeah. I'm just having trouble sleeping. I'm going for a short walk."
Luke scowled in response. I knew why. He didn't like the idea of me, possibly the future King of Asura, wandering off on my own.
"Don't worry. I can take care of myself. Keep an eye on Ariel while I'm gone."
"As you wish."
Luke bowed in respect and returned to his position standing guard outside the tent.
I covered my head and face with the hood of my robe as I walked away from the tent. The robe I was wearing was the old, grey robe I used to wear as an adventurer. It was well worn and very nondescript. I wore this when I wanted to go unnoticed. Sometimes you need time to yourself, right?
Our camp occupied a small clearing in the middle of a dense forest. It consisted of only three tents, one of which belonged to Ariel and I. Ariel was making the treacherous journey back to Ars, the capital city of Asura. Ariel's father had just passed away, leaving the throne open for the taking. We are on our way back to Ars to compete with her brothers for the throne. Her older brother, Grabell, had noble backing, but Ariel had the love and support of the populace.
Due to Ariel being seen as Grabell's main rival for the throne, multiple assassination attempts have already been made on her life. Not only was I Ariel's husband, but also her strongest supporter.
Ariel was an incredibly strategic thinker. Oftentimes I think she married me for political gain rather than love. Not only was I an incredibly powerful mage, but also had the influence that comes with being one of the Seven Great Powers. Marrying me could very well give her the final push she needs to claim the throne.
This forest we are in is the same one that merchants pass through on a regular basis to travel between the Asura Kingdom and the Northern Territories. Only we weren't taking the established route through the forest. In an attempt to avoid assassins, we made our way through the forest avoiding all the roads. This meant we couldn't take a caravan and had to travel light, bringing only what our horses could carry.
Another downside of avoiding the beaten path are the bandits that plague this forest. Obviously, mere bandits aren't much of a match for highly trained and well outfitted soldiers, but it means that we must remain ever vigilant. Luke and Derrick stood guard each night and rested the best they could on horseback during the day while we traveled.
The brisk air felt refreshing and helped me take my mind off that strange dream. The uneasy feeling I had began to fade into the background as I made my way into the dense tree-line. Since I couldn't sleep, I decided to use my time effectively and mapped out the area surrounding our camp. Hopefully it will let us get a fast start on our travels in the morning. Once the sounds of birds chirping signaled morning had come, I decided to head back to camp.
By the time I got back, the camp was already bustling with activity. Ariel's knights were busy packing up the tents while some of her retainers worked together to prepare breakfast for everyone. Ariel was already dressed and sat beside the campfire where Derrick and Luke were sleeping. She was chatting with another of her knights who stood beside them.
"There you are, Rudeus!", she chided. "I can't believe you wandered about all night. I hope you're not planning on sleeping during the day!"
"Of course not. I couldn't sleep so I decided to make use of my time. I've mapped out the forest surrounding us to find the easiest route forward."
"Well, that's good at least. I hope you managed to clear your mind at least."
"Yes. I'm all fine now. Sorry to have worried you."
"That's quite alright. We're all under a lot of stress right now. Once this ordeal is over and I've managed to claim the throne, things should calm down."
"That just means we'll be fighting with uppity nobles rather than bandits and assassins."
"They will only fight with me but once. After I make an example of the first of them they'll know I'm not a monarch to be trifled with."
True enough; Ariel can be quite frightening when she wants to be. That being said, I'm certain that the both of us will be constantly busy with a mountain of government business once we take power. That was the only downside to marrying a Princess. I wasn't the type to enjoy dealing with nobles and other royal affairs.
Ariel and I were riding our horses in the front of the group. Typically, a princess would remain in the back of her escort, for safety purposes. Earlier in the morning, however, Ariel and I would ride in the front. Luke would take over around midday when he woke up, but for now I led the pack. Regardless of my position, Ariel always remained at my side as it was the safest place for her.
Thank God that I trained myself to always keep my Magic Power Eye activated at all times. If it wasn't for that I never would have noticed. It happened without even the slightest sound. Not a whisper or rustling of leaves to give even the slightest warning.
Coming from behind some bushes on our left side, an ice projectile shot forth at incredible speed. It was shaped like a small spear and was headed directly for Ariel's neck. The burst of mana was the only thing that allowed me to notice the incoming attack. What's even more surprising is that I didn't sense any mana aura from that direction. Whoever fired the attack was a master of controlling their mana. That, combined with their silent spellcasting would make them an expert assassin of the highest degree!
I instinctively summoned a wall of earth to block the incoming attack just barely in time. I had to summon the wall so close to us that it knocked over Ariel's horse. I managed to stop it's fall before it crushed Ariel's leg underneath.
Needless to say, the sudden attack startled everyone in our group. Despite the surprise, all of the knights immediately moved to encircle Ariel.
"We're under attack!", one of them yelled.
Luke and Derrick were jolted awake and only took a moment to get their bearings and join the rest of us. I activated one of the pre-made spells I had inscribed into the gauntlet on my right hand and the Magic Armor Cliff, Zanoba, and I had designed was summoned around me.
*Clang!*
The sound of metal striking metal rang out as Luke narrowly deflected an attack from a hooded assassin. I prepared a [Stone Cannon] to assist Luke, but before I fired it I saw several other mana signatures charging towards us from all angles. This wasn't a lone assassin!
"Watch out, we're surrounded!", I yelled out as I fired the [Stone Cannon] and took out one of the attackers.
An all out brawl ensued with each of the knights intercepting incoming attacks. I cast the quagmire spell around us to slow the approach of the hooded figures.
All of them wore matching robes, all in black. masks and hoods covering their faces.
*Crick..*
The mud surrounding us froze solid. Another [Ice Blade] shot forth from the depths of the forest. This time I summoned an entire earthen dome around our entire group... at least I intended to.
"Princess!"
Luke jumped in front Ariel, taking the full force of the attack. The [Ice Blade] pierced through his armor and deep into his chest. Luke collapsed to the ground in a pool of blood.
'Huh?'
I was stunned for a moment. My spell had been interrupted. Did this assassin know [Disturb Magic]?
Once again I placed my hand to the ground and conjured an [Earth Fortress] around Ariel and all the knights. I felt someone trying to disrupt the spell, but I expected it this time and managed to maintain control.
With everyone protected, I cast [Absolute Zero], freezing a wide area all around me instantly. I protected myself using [Heat Island] at the same time to keep the air around me heated. The Earth Dome surrounding Ariel was dense enough to everyone safe from the freezing temperatures.
I surveyed the landscape around me. All of the would-be assassins were frozen in place... killed instantly.
*Whoosh*
A slicing wind sliced through several trees as it headed straight for me. Seeing it coming clear as day with my Magic Power Eye, I could have easily canceled the attack with a [Wind Slice] of my own, but I didn't bother. I simply let the attack strike my armor at which point it dissipated harmlessly.
After seeing several attacks from the assassin, I was able to identify their magic signature. They may be able to conceal their ambient mana perfectly, but the moment they prepared their next attack I would know their exact location. It's impossible to conceal your mana when you are casting a spell.
Sure enough, after a couple more seconds I saw a sudden burst of mana from behind a different bush, slightly further ahead from where the last attack came from.
I cancelled their spell using [Disturb Magic] and then sprinted straight for them. I had the speed equivalent to a Saint-Tier swordsman thanks to my Magic Armor, so I caught up to them in an instant.
The Assassin jumped back in shock at my sudden appearance, but it was too late. I fired a [Stone Cannon], blasting a hole through their chest and pinning them to a tree. The assassin coughed up blood which soaked the mask covering their face.
"No, I can't have you die just yet", I said as I cast healing magic on their chest. I left in the stone projectile pinning them to the tree though.
"I need you to answer some questions for me first."
I pulled back their hood and peeled off their mask. What I saw shook me to my core.
"S-Sylphy!?"