CHAPTER 811: CHAPTER 811: SAFETY IS THE PRIORITY

"Where is Riley? Why hasn’t he returned here once?" Zion inquired.

[They were not informed?!]

The magician was wide-eyed at Zion’s question.

"My apologies, we thought you were aware. He was suddenly summoned by His Eminence. He was assigned to go to Marquess Heron’s estate. We haven’t received a word from him since," the magician reported.

Zion and Arabella frowned deeply at that, feeling more sense of dread.

"This seems to be bigger than we originally thought since he even summoned Riley who was supposed to be leading the search party.

Alwin didn’t like things not going according to plan so he would not change things without notice unless it’s an emergency," Zion concluded.

"Indeed. Alwin would have notified everyone first but he didn’t," Arabella agreed with Zion’s thoughts.

The plan was decided through a meeting with most of the attendees being Alwin’s elders. He would not disrespect them by randomly deciding to change a plan they had all agreed upon in advance.

Unless, the circumstances called for it and it was his last resort to change the plans even without prior notice.

"Inform everyone still searching for Prudencians to be more cautious. If there’s a signal to withdraw, return here immediately. Things may have gotten dangerous so be extra careful and prioritize your safety," Zion instructed.

The magician nodded and teleported back to Crux with the others.

"I’ll try contacting Alwin first," Zion said.

Telepathy from a great distance used a lot of mana but they had no choice now.

{Alwin. Alwin. Are you alright? Did something go wrong?}

Zion tried repeatedly but there was no response.

Zion tried using a magic orb, it did not connect. He brought out a magic staff, there was still no response.

"He is probably too occupied or cannot hear me since he’s not responding," Zion said as he contemplated what might be happening on Alwin’s side.

[Alwin had a lot of protective barriers that can be used even with low mana. And His Majesty had trained him with the sword and other weapons. He should be fine even if he was forced to fight at close range. But what if the agreement was a trap to eliminate Valeria’s magicians. We might have sent Alwin and now even Riley to the enemy’s camp.]

’No, I know it’s not a trap,’ Arabella had heard their thoughts.

Princess Seraphina and her allies were sincere.

But what if there was a traitor among their allies who had a high enough position to have been informed of their plans?!

Arabella gritted her teeth when she thought about that.

It was possible.

"I’ll try to contact him as well," Arabella said in alarm and rubbed her summoning ring.

Zion nodded in approval, "That might work better indeed."

[If it’s through Her Majesty’s summoning ring, he would likely hear it. He would be alarmed as well and would be forced to respond no matter the situation he was in.] Zion thought.

Arabella hoped Alwin would hear her and respond indeed.

{Alwin... Alwin...} Arabella just called out first.

{Did something happen?! Are you in danger?!} Alwin replied in alarm; Zion was right.

Arabella had never been this relieved to hear Alwin’s voice for the first time in a while. The last one was after he returned from Evania’s homeland.

{No, I’m fine. We are worried about you. It’s been an hour and you are not back yet. Are you alright? Did something happen?} Arabella threw him several questions at once.

{Damn it. So much time has passed already? Tell Zion to send magicians here in the Alba Household’s estate. And they should bring as many recovery potions as possible. Each magician should also have at least two knights guardian him and be ready for battle upon arrival.} Alwin instructed in a hurried voice.

’Alwin is indeed fighting at close range?!’

Arabella glanced at Zion and immediately said, "Alwin said he needs backup at the Alba Estate. He said to send magicians there and bring as many recovery potions as possible. And that each magician should have at least two magicians to guard them and be ready for battle upon arrival."

She quickly relayed Alwin’s words since time might be of the essence.

"We might have bitten a trap. Can he not teleport back?" Zion’s hands balled into fists.

Arabella did not know so she asked Alwin.

{Alwin, if there’s a traitor and we were set up, you should return here instead.}

{No. They were true to their word. But the pro-slavery faction had a dirty trick under their sleeve. No wonder they were confident in challenging us. And I cannot teleport back. I’m almost out of mana again and I’ve already drunk my last recovery potion. My hands are full right now as well.}

Arabella was wide-eyed at Alwin’s response.

The pro-slavery faction had an ace up their sleeve. They were not ignorantly challenging Valeria.

Arabella met Zion’s gaze and once again relayed Alwin’s words, "He said he barely has any mana left and cannot teleport back. He had already taken his last recovery potion and I think he is fighting right now."

"I see. No wonder he was not responding to me. It seems truly barely has any mana left if he could only reply through the summoning ring. This is bad. Something terrible must have happened," Zion concluded.

[The magicians remaining with His Majesty are busy maintaining the barriers to prevent the pests and disease from spreading. We cannot ask them to leave there. We could only use what we have here. We cannot put Alwin in too much danger. If something happens to him all hell will break loose. Not just His Majesty but even the Overseer will be furious. Not to mention Alvis. He might just lose his mind. But will Her Majesty agree to greatly lessening the number of magicians here?]

"Your Majesty, we have to lessen the number of magicians here waiting for Prudencians to heal," Zion asked permission.

"Yes, of course. Alwin’s safety is our priority," Arabella easily agreed.

In order of importance, Alwin was of course the priority even if he was just one person. After all, as long as he lives, he could save so many more lives and heal many more people.