Elevation of Mana Chapter 213 The Return

The ground was much as I had expected as I sped along over it. I knew that my rush was impotent, that no matter what had happened it had to have happened weeks ago, but that didn't change it for me. No, I pushed just as fast as I could to the wall, and what I saw did not please me in the slightest.

It looked like the monster had rushed it, sensing the fleeing elves or being fought near it. It should never, ever have gotten this close, and once I checked on everyone we needed to look into that promptly. The city needed defenses like it never had, my family lived here, and I wasn't going to let such threats idly wander in while I was away.

“Must have gotten in,” Chien observed as we got closer.

“Yes, made it through the wall,” I said through gritted teeth.

“But not far, and not near the workshop,” he said, trying to calm me.

“Our wall needs cannons.”

“Agreed, let's go home, make sure it's all alright first though.”

“If my girls are harmed, and if I find out those fops we left here didn't defend them...”

“I'll be with you, but let's see first.” His was the voice of reason, the voice of peace, but I didn't doubt him for a moment.

People pointed as I sailed over the city, ignoring the ruckus I was causing below. There was a reason people didn't do this often, as the many enhanced people below would quickly pick them out. It wasn't legal, per se, and it was quite frowned upon and I was sure someone would come to complain. There was even someone following us down below.

My home was fully intact when I landed, the best sign I'd seen all day. There was no appearance of damage, or anything to indicate the destruction had made it this far. However there were things that bothered me.

First was the clear fortification, the gates were closed and locked, and there were armed men and women watching the entrances with hard faces. I recognized all of them, but knew better than to land inside the gate, instead coming to rest just on the edge of my property. There were grimaces for only a minute, which quickly morphed into smiles and looks of relief from my staff.

What bothered me more was the man who came to a rest before me as I made the last few feet down. He was dressed in a guard's uniform and looked quite unhappy himself.

“Justin! I bear word that the council wishes to speak with you immediately. You're to come with me and...”

“Move.” That was the only word he received from me at his demand, harsh, cold, and angry. This man was in my way and I cared not at all for the council's opinions at the moment.

“You may not understand this, having been away, but while you were your wife has been...”

“Doing everything she has with my full support, now move, or be moved.”

“I'd listen if I were you,” Chien said from behind me, and I could feel his magic on the move. “Neither of us is in a good mood at the moment.”

The blatant hostility rolling off him was so incongruous with his normal manner that it almost shocked me. Then I remembered that he was and had been with me almost since the beginning, closer than a brother, and almost a son. It was gratifying, knowing that whatever awaited me he'd have my back.

Even more was the men behind this guard. My people, who'd taken shelter in my home were bristling at the poor fool who'd gotten in my way, and I could see them preparing weapons and spells. They weren't attacking yet, but had been stirred up like a hive and were ready to strike at the first sign of trouble.

Did he matter at all though? Few of the council members were left, and the ones that were were the weakest. They'd been the ones not strong enough to go with me to fight, the ones who weren't combatants. Perhaps they were depending on the threat of their fellows returning and keeping order if needed, but that wasn't going to happen, because they were all dead.

Tired of waiting I brushed the guard aside with a lazy wave of my hand. Not hard enough to kill him, but hard enough to toss him a good twenty or so feet. I was tired of people not heeding me, and once I'd seen what was going on, there were going to be some changes.

“How dare you!” he guard roared, and lunged.

Before he hit my shield though, he hit Chien's and came to a dead stop. This man wasn't particularly powerful by any means and we'd had time to prepare.

“If I see you again, I will kill you,” my assistant said. “So I suggest running and never looking back.”

His eyes went wide before Chien his piece said flung the man like a baseball going for the bleachers. I'd held back, but he was having none of it, if the man couldn't listen, he'd suffer for it. Would he survive the fall? Eh, maybe, physical magic users were pretty tough, even the weaker ones, but if he ignored Chien and got killed for it? Well, I wouldn't care.

That done we advanced, and nobody else tried to get in the way.

“What's the status and where are Isha and Adia?” I asked one of my people as I approached.

“Lot's of problems, and they should be here any moment. Sent a boy running for them when we saw you coming in,” he told me. I must have missed the interaction, busy as I was.

“Daddy!” I heard, and saw my daughter from across the nearby room. Isha had picked her up and was hurrying in our direction.

“Thank goodness you're okay, is everyone back now?” my wife asked, clearly worried.

“Yes, we're both back.”

She hitched, and I felt the eyes of the nearby employees shift to me.

“And the others?” A lot of our council had come with us.

I just shook my head. “Things did not go to plan. We won, but we're it. Now, what happened here?”

Before I could get answers though my longtime friend stepped forward.

“Hey Adia,” Chien said, reaching out for her. “Your mom and dad have some grown up stuff to talk about. Why don't you and I go get some snacks while they do. I haven't had anything sweet in way too long.”

As they left I watched, glad that he'd been thinking of keeping at least some of the details from worrying her. I'd fill him in later of course, but before I got too in the weeds with any of it it was better for her to be a bit further away.

“Need to thank him later, but anyway, what happened?”

“You saw the wall I'm guessing?” she asked. “Sit and I'll explain.”