He, the old man, the vice commander of the Royal guardians- smiled.

Yes, she was right. From what he had inferred from her speech, there was another enemy standing by. And that person went after the Royal Advisor when he was completely unprotected. Moreover, the assassin turned into a monster.

He had no excuses. He had failed. Even if Adrian stayed close by, he would not have been able to protect him. He himself was barely able to survive against the grey furred creature and that cheeky archer.

He heaved out a sigh, accepting his fate, as he watched a silvery white magic circle appearing before her palm. He did nor retort, nor did he want to.

From the Duchess’s countenance, he knew that he did not fail his last ever mission; Adrian Darkheart, the Royal Advisor of his beloved nation was safe.

*Whoosh* *Whistle* *Grr*

A tornado-like drill formed in before the hovering angel, it’s extremity pointing at him below.

He took in a deep breath, probably the last breath he would ever take in, and closed his eyes. His whole life flashed before him- his parents’ deaths in the hands of imperials, acceptance into the the Academy, getting selected by the prestigious Royal Academy, participation in four major wars, loss of closest friends and comrades, rising through the ranks- everything.

But the smile on his face remained strong, not even flinching at the thought of his parents’ or comrades’ death. If he had one regret in his life, that would be not dying in a battle, fighting against a stronger ‘enemy’.

He had offed his magical senses. But from the closing whirling, whistling and drilling sound, he knew that the terrifying Heavenly Drill, the most penetrative magic spell in Ervilia, his death- was coming at him- but at a rather slow pace, unlike the supersonic speed the drill used to travel last time.

It was as if she was giving him time. Was it a form of respect? Or did she want to give him a slow death? Who knew? Who cared? He would die anyway.

His body subconsciously stiffened, wanting to dodge to the side when the spell came close enough. But he used all of his mental strength to stay still at that spot. However, the pain or the ‘sleep’ he was expecting did not come.

*Grrrrrrr*

All he could hear was a drilling sound from his right. He also felt dust and gravels hitting him gently.

His closed eyes knitted. He knew what happened… but why?

He slowly opened his eyes. But he could barely see anything as involuntary rears blurred his vision. He blinked a few times, driving them away. Despite the fluttering dust, he could see what was before him.

A youth wearing a black, bloodied and torn clothes was standing before him. Even though the old man could only see the back of the young man standing in front of him, he knew who it was. It was none other than the person he was assigned to protect, Adrian Darkheart.

He then looked to the right. Just a meter away from him, on the ground, was the opening of a ‘tunnel’. It’s diameter was two meters and as for the depth- nobody knew.

He looked back at the youth before him, and in front of the Royal official stood his mother. It did not even take a moment for her to traverse that mulch distance. As expected from one of the fastest Circlers in the entire continent.

She snapped her fingers. A white circle formed above the mother son duo, facing them. It began to gyrate fast, creating a mini hurricane enveloping the the pair within.

The old man knew what that spell was. It could be used to trap opponents and also be used as a soundproofing barrier.

He took a few steps back, for the sake of honouring their privacy.

Inside the spell.

“Why?” She frowned. “This is not like you. You killed a maid before, your favourite one at that, just because she got close to a servant.”

“It’s not the same, mother.” He shook his head.

“Aren’t both of them failures?”

“Yes. Traitors can’t be spared.” His voice turned cold for a second but it reverted back to its charming self again. “And mother, you can’t go around breaking my tools, can you?”

She sighed. “I don’t know what game you are playing now.” She reached out her right hand and gently caressed his left cheek. “But don’t hurt yourself.” Her dazzling silver eyes were twitching.

He smiled wryly. “I heard you almost killed Rosalyn?”

“I barely controlled myself.” She scowled. “She had the audacity to bring in three of your fingers.”

He sighed. “There you go again. You always jump at the opportunity of stalling my plans.”

“Fine. Fine.” She took back her hand and crossed her arms. Her already ample breasts stood out even more. “I won’t worry for you anymore more.”

He opened both of his arms and stood still.

“Hmph.” She looked away. “It’s not going to work, boy.”

But she sneaked a peek nonetheless, only to see him making a puppy face.

“Tsk.” She turned to him and opened her own arms. “You win.”

Both of them wrapped each other in a warm hug.

His hands caressed her back through her silver dress in a sensual manner, prompting her blood to rush to her cheeks.

After a few seconds he suddenly grasped her back with his claw-like fingers.

“Ah.” A soft moan escaped her lips, her face turned beet red.

“Not here, dear.” She whispered.

“As you wish.” He whispered back as he took those ‘claws’ back, letting go of her body.

After half a minute, they broke the hug.

She had already managed to compose herself.

She snapped her finger yet again. The white circular diagram above disappeared, along with the barrier of winds.

“Are you coming with me now?” She asked.

“No.” He shook his head. “I have official ‘work’ to do.”

“Tsk.”

“You brought her, didn’t you?”

“Yes, she will be here soon.”

“When will you come back home?”

“Right after this task.”

“Hmph.” She floated up in the air again. “You remember the deal, don’t you? I have kept my end of the deal. And you better keep yours once you come back.” She flew away with supersonic speed, already going out of the range of their sights in a moment.

He smiled.

“Of course.”