Chương 71: I Need To Disappear

[Stealth Already Active] It was probably the ninth time Talia had seen the message, but it would not be the last. She dismissed it with an irritated flick of her attention and continued creeping between the trees. Stealth made her incredibly difficult to detect. For someone without much perception, it could seem as if she had simply vanished. To sharper senses, the effect was subtler. Her footsteps softened. Her breathing disappeared into the night. The rustle of clothing blended with leaves and wind.

Her silhouette became something the eye instinctively passed over instead of focusing upon. It was an excellent skill, but Talia was not yet an excellent user. She froze as a twig snapped beneath her boot. Immediately, she tried activating the skill again. [Stealth Already Active] Talia stared at the message.

"Yes. Thank you." The Dragoneye Scout coiled around her wrist shifted its tiny head.

"Not talking to you." It settled again as she continued. A few minutes later, her hip brushed a bush and caused leaves to rattle. Talia winced. [Stealth Already Active] Another root nearly took her ankle. [Stealth Already Active]"It's not entirely my fault," she murmured.

"It's so damn dark out here." That was what she told herself, anyway. Somewhere well behind her, Orion was receiving everything the little Dragoneye saw - probably including every embarrassing stumble. At least he wasn't beside her to comment on them. Talia moved onward. The forest had become almost completely black beneath the canopy.

Moonlight occasionally slipped through in pale strips, but most of her world consisted of vague trunks, shadowed brush, and whatever ground she could make out immediately before stepping on it. Then the trees broke. It was just enough to see a faint orange glow flickering in the distance. Talia stopped as her heart immediately accelerated. Anxiety rushed through her, and excitement came right behind it. Her first actual field assignment.

She was not sitting across from Sevrin while he explained why three paragraphs of her report were technically correct but diplomatically stupid. Nor was she standing beside Orion while someone else handled the dangerous part. Scouting, gathering information, and doing something that actually resembled the person she wanted to become. Talia inhaled slowly, then continued. At thirty yards - she moved between two trees. Twenty-five - the Scout shifted once around her wrist.

Just a tiny movement - almost as though Orion were reminding her that he was still watching. Talia resisted the urge to whisper that she knew. At twenty yards - she could now see. Three tents had been arranged around a small fire in an intelligent pattern. The tents blocked most of the glow from escaping toward the road, while the camp itself remained illuminated enough for those inside to move around. Nearby sat a wagon - large and covered - with two horses tethered beside it.

It turns out that Vision had been remarkably accurate: Three or four people, with one larger transported object. All that had been discerned from four miles in the air and at least fifteen miles away. Talia was beginning to understand why Orion loved that drake. More importantly, however… The three people present were dark elves. That did not automatically mean Velkaryn. Sevrin had made that point more than once that dark elves lived elsewhere as well.

Cultures did not stop existing simply because one city had become powerful enough to make everyone associate a species with it. Still… Three armed dark elves had inexplicably altered course toward a hidden settlement only a handful of outsiders knew existed. That made coincidence extremely difficult to defend. The first sat nearest the fire. Male, and older than Sevrin, at least by appearance. Close-cut pale hair, broad shoulders, and a heavy sword lay across his lap.

His eyes were closed, but his posture was too straight for sleep. Relevant Detail nudged her attention toward the weapon, the camp layout, the subtle way the other two had positioned themselves around him. Leader - probably a fighter - possibly both. The second person was much harder to spot. Talia initially counted only two people in the camp before something tugged at her awareness. Outside the firelight, a male figure crouched near the path they had apparently used to reach the clearing.

He'd chosen the best place to watch anyone approaching from the road while remaining nearly invisible himself. Talia smiled faintly. If she hadn't possessed Relevant Detail, she might actually have missed him. She shifted her route farther around the camp, deliberately avoiding his line of sight. The third person was a woman: Slender, long pale hair, robes, and a staff strapped across her back. She was currently half inside the wagon, shifting something beneath the covering. Talia narrowed her eyes for focus.

The vehicle rode low, so whatever they were carrying had serious weight. That said, it did not move as it would if it were a shifting animal or person adjusting position. Probably an object - or several - but the thick canvas prevented anything more from being discerned. Eventually, the woman stepped backward. Firelight caught her wrists, and black material glimmered around both cuffs. Talia's attention sharpened immediately. Nightglass.

There it was; confirmation of Velkaryn's involvement beyond a reasonable doubt. Talia glanced toward the Dragoneye, confirming Orion had likely seen it too. With that, the mission accomplished… Technically. She should leave; her instructions had been extraordinarily clear: Identify the group, learn whatever could safely be learned, and do not engage. Talia knew exactly what Orion would say if he were standing beside her. You've confirmed enough. The Scout wriggled lightly around her wrist. Talia stared at it.

"Stop that." It went still. She should absolutely leave at her earliest convenience... But— one more thing wouldn't hurt. She was already here, she had Stealth active, and they had no idea she existed. Returning from her first real scouting mission with three dark elves from Velkaryn was useful, sure… but returning with their Seal levels? Better. Talia carefully lowered herself behind a fallen log. [Stealth Already Active]"Yes, yes." She focused first on the woman.

[Third Seal: Mage] Talia caught herself before breathing in sharply. Third. That was significantly worse than she'd hoped. She was First Seal, and Orion was Second. A Third Seal mage alone would be a serious problem if things went badly. Talia quickly shifted her attention toward the hidden man. [Second Seal: Rogue] Wonderful. A Second Seal stealth specialist. The fact that Talia had successfully gotten this close without him noticing her gave her a brief flare of pride… then common sense smothered it.

Between a Third Seal Mage and a Second Seal Rogue, they were already outclassed. The Dragoneye shifted again. More insistently. Talia looked at it.

"I know." She began backing away, but the older elf remained beside the fire. Talia took a calming breath, then focused… This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. [Fourth Seal: Commander].., then his eyes opened, and Talia's blood went cold. The Commander stood so quickly that the Mage snapped toward him. One moment the sword rested across his lap, and the next it was in his hand. No wasted motion or confusion as he scanned the surrounding forest.

"I know you're out there." Talia did not move; nor did she breathe. The commander's voice carried calmly through the trees.

"I suggest you come forward quietly before this becomes significantly worse." Talia remained frozen behind the log. How? All she'd done was inspect his Status. There had been no movement, no sound, and no— Weave. A comment buried somewhere beneath a month of lessons from Sevrin. The higher someone's Seal, the more closely their awareness tended to intertwine with the Weave around them. Some described pressure, while others described heat or a distortion. Still, it was a vague awareness that something had changed.

Mundane sight and hearing eventually stopped being enough when dealing with advanced Awakened. Talia had known that academically, but knowing something and remembering it while sneaking through a forest were entirely separate skills. The Mage stepped away from the wagon as her staff came free. The Commander continued scanning as Talia watched him… Left… Right… Trees… Road… Brush… Then— Her direction. He looked away… Back again…. Away…. Then Again. Talia frowned as Relevant Detail stirred.

That wasn't random; his search lingered around her area too often. Not enough to pinpoint her, but enough to narrow it significantly. Talia's stomach dropped. He knew approximately where she was, and he was making a show of searching because— The realization hit her. Rogue. Talia managed one step backward, but an arm wrapped around her impossibly fast. Her wrist was wrenched behind her back as pain shot through her shoulder. Cold metal pressed against her throat, and Talia let out an involuntary yelp.

The Rogue pulled her tight against his chest.

"Play nice, little girl." His voice was quiet; almost bored. No anger or excitement, just cold professionalism.

"Walk with me calmly, and no one has to—" Metal cut through flesh. The Rogue screamed and his grip vanished as he stepped away from her. Something hit the ground beside Talia with a wet thud. His arm; knife still clenched in the severed hand. Talia spun. Orion stood behind them with his axe burning bright blue. Blood streaked across the blade only to hiss and evaporate beneath the magic coating it. The Rogue staggered away, clutching the stump above his missing forearm.

"Keth!" The Commander bent his knees to leap, but Orion disappeared. One instant he stood beside her, and the next he appeared behind the Mage with his axe already swinging. The Mage reacted instantly as a translucent shield of condensed Weave burst between them. Orion's axe crashed into it, and blue light exploded across white. The shield held, and Orion twisted with the rebound— But the Commander was already there. His sword came down, and Orion vanished again as the blade struck earth.

Orion reappeared beside Talia, and his breathing had already changed. The Commander turned almost as fast as Orion had teleported - his eyes tracked Orion differently now. He'd seen the movement twice, which was apparently enough to begin adapting. So much for surprise.

"Brace yourself." Talia looked toward Orion.

"For wh—" He slammed one hand into the ground, and Weave pulsed outward. The earth beneath Talia's feet changed as stone and false masonry erupted around her. She yelped as the ground rose beneath her into a tower. One of Orion's Dragonscale Redoubt structures punched upward beneath them, carrying Talia and Orion with it. Ten feet. Fifteen. Twenty. Talia grabbed the battlement as the sudden ascent tried to throw her backward. Below, three Scale Soldiers formed from reinforced illusion and Weave.

They positioned themselves immediately between the tower and the Velkaryn group. Just like that, the whole clearing had changed in seconds.

"The others are coming," Orion said. Talia looked at him.

"How?"

"Signal."

"When did you—""Stay sharp." Then he vanished. Talia stared at the empty place beside her.

"Wonderful." Below, Orion materialized with his summons. The Commander met him with a sword against an axe. The first impact cracked through the clearing like thunder. Talia immediately understood that Orion could not win that fight. He was strong, and his ability allowed him to reposition in ways most fighters would struggle to follow… But the Commander was Fourth Seal. He moved with the irritating economy of someone who had spent decades learning how little effort a killing strike actually required.

Orion swung, but the Commander redirected rather than blocked. Orion twisted before the counterstrike opened his throat, and a Scale Soldier attacked from the side. The Commander kicked it hard enough to launch it through a bush as another stabbed. The elf turned and parried, which Orion used as a distraction to teleport behind him. The Mage lifted her staff, but Talia moved quickly. Her bow came up as she nocked an arrow and fired.

The Mage barely looked toward her as a shield appeared, shattering the arrow against it. But the spell the woman had been preparing vanished. Talia smiled. There. She nocked another as the Mage looked up toward the tower. Talia drew and held, waiting for the mage's next move. If the Mage cast offensively, Talia would fire. If Talia fired, the Mage would defend. A stalemate. Talia could work with stalemates; every second mattered as backup approached. Aegis may come, and— Pain exploded through Talia's arm.

She screamed as her bow fell and plummeted to the ground below. A knife had driven nearly through her forearm. The Rogue materialized beside her; one arm gone while the other buried a dagger in her flesh. His face had gone pale from blood loss, but his expression remained horrifyingly focused.

"That," Keth said, "was unwise." Talia yanked herself away, and the dagger tore free. More pain flashed as her hand stopped responding properly. Keth slashed, and Talia ducked just fast enough that the blade passed through strands of her hair. She pulled her own dagger free with her good hand as Keth attacked again. Talia barely redirected the knife rather than truly blocking it. Metal scraped, Keth stepped inside her guard, and Talia retreated. His next thrust cut through her shirt but missed skin just barely.

The next strike came high, but then his elbow clipped her temple. Stars burst across her vision as she stumbled. He was down an arm and bleeding heavily, but Talia was still completely outclassed. She had never experienced combat like this. The adolescent dragon had been terror on a scale too large to comprehend, but Talia's role had been simple: Fire, move, and retreat. During Aegis's birth, she'd gotten her bow and held position through the standoff.

She knew how to think when things were frightening, but this demanded thought and movement simultaneously. Every second that passed contained ten things to think about Relevant Detail tugged as Keth lunged. His missing arm had altered his balance, so Talia stepped toward the absent side instead of away. His attack passed her and she slashed his ribs. Keth hissed despite the strike being shallow, and Talia moved again. Suddenly, a white beam ripped past her face.

Heat scorched her cheek as the bolt continued upward through the night. Talia's head snapped toward the clearing to see the Mage had fired from below. Another sphere of condensed Weave already gathered before her staff, but Orion intercepted. He teleported into the Mage's path and swung, but she abandoned the spell to raise her— Talia watched for one second too long. Keth's foot slammed into her chest and air exploded from her lungs. The railing shattered behind her as she fell.

For one horrible instant, there was nothing beneath her as the tower blurred above. Her hand caught a branch, but pain detonated through her shoulder as something popped. Talia screamed as her body stopped, but her shoulder did not. She couldn't hold. Her fingers opened, and Talia fell the remaining distance. Everything vanished for half a heartbeat as her chest refused to draw a full breath. Her right arm burned from the knife wound, her other shoulder sat wrong, and her ears rang.

"Talia!" She couldn't answer. A shape dropped from the tower as the one-armed elf held a dagger overhead. Talia stared upward, watching her land as he drove it straight toward her chest. This is too much. The thought came strangely calmly as Keth descended. Everything's happening too fast. Talia tried to move, but Her body barely shifted. I was too eager… I ran into this like an idiot. Her heartbeat slammed once. The world stretched as his arm began driving downward.

Talia saw everything: The blood on his sleeve, the tension in his fingers, and the knife point. She couldn't block, roll, or reach for a weapon… I need to disappear! Gold exploded from her body, sending Keth recoiling. The whole clearing flashed as Weave surged through Talia. She gasped as gtrength returned where exhaustion had been. Her shoulder remained dislocated, and her ribs still screamed every time she breathed… But something inside her had opened.

[Second Seal Unlocked] Talia's eyes widened, but Keth recovered immediately. He lunged again moments before another message appeared. [New Skill Unlocked: Decoy] [Decoy: Disappear into Stealth and leave a doppelganger in your place] Talia activated it without a single hesitation. Keth's dagger plunged into her chest, his face hardening with grim satisfaction. Then Talia dissolved in his grasp. Her body broke apart into black wisps and shadow scattered between his fingers. Keth froze.

"What the—" Talia emerged behind him; her stealth broke as her dagger drove into his back. Keth screamed, and Talia hooked her good arm around his neck. Her wounded shoulder shrieked in protest, but she ignored it as she dragged him backward. His missing arm prevented him from correcting properly, allowing Talia to bring her blade beneath his throat. Exactly where his knife had been against hers. Keth stopped, and Talia breathed hard against his back. He tried shifting, but the knife pressed closer.

"Don't." Nearby, the battle changed. Everyone saw her, and Talia tightened her hold. For the first time since Orion had entered the clearing, she had something. Not enough to win, but enough to buy time.

"That's enough!" Talia pulled Keth closer.

"Unless you want him dead, I suggest you—" FOOM. Condensed Weave crossed the clearing. Talia saw the light, then Keth jerked violently against her. For one moment, her mind refused to understand. The beam had struck him squarely in the chest… Then it had continued. Talia's eyes widened as her grip loosened. Keth sagged as she let him go, collapsing at her feet. A smoking hole had been carved straight through his torso. Talia looked down at herself where the same hole continued through hers. Her vision blurred.

There should have been pain, but there was only shock. There was an impossibly cold and hollow sensation inside her chest. Her fingers moved weakly toward the wound, blood spilling between them. Talia tried to breathe, but nothing happened. She waited for the next hammering beat of her heart, but it didn't come. Somewhere beyond the ringing in her ears, Orion screamed her name. The ground tilted. Talia's knees folded.

For just a second, she thought she saw golden light still drifting through the air from her Second Seal. Then everything went black.