Under the Oak Tree

414 Chapter 175

Maxi stiffened and shot Riftan a sharp glare.

Her husband kept his gaze fixed ahead and continued with remarkable objectivity, "How many soldiers are on standby in the northern castles?"

Unfolding his crossed arms, Sejuleu Aren replied, "We left around two hundred and fifty infantrymen in each castle. Since the walls were mostly intact, we thought that should be sufficient for defense."

"Send four hundred more and have senior mages dispatched with them as well." Turning to Calto, Riftan asked, "How many of your mages are competent in advanced defensive magic?"

The elder appeared to run some silent calculations. "Around thirty-four can summon wide-range barriers," he finally replied.

Lienna Moor Thorben was twirling a goblet of wine with a bored expression. She paused to grumble, "That means we can station about seven of them in each fortress - hardly enough to defend an entire city."

"The princess is right," Sejuleu Aren concurred, stroking his chin. "We should have the coalition's mages stay behind as well. There are five cities to protect, after all."

It took everything Maxi had to hold her tongue.

After a moment of heavy silence, Kuahel Leon finally opened his eyes and looked directly at Maxi. "How many of the coalition's mages are capable of defensive magic?"

"T-To my knowledge, there are currently thirteen - no, fourteen mages capable of summoning a shield. Among them, six can cast advanced defensive magic."

"That raises the number of senior mages in each fortress to eight."

"We should also exclude the offensive mages from the campaign party," Agnes chimed in, her bitterness evident. "Since magic doesn't affect the dragon, we would only be a burden."

Perturbed by the flow of the discussion, Maxi blurted desperately, "B-But...th-they would need mages to heal the wounded and cast barriers-"

"Both can be done with divine magic." Riftan coldly cut her off.

Maxi glowered at him defiantly, "There are monsters capable of dark magic...in the Lexos Mountains. You will need people well versed in magical knowledge to take them on."

"She is correct," Calto Serbel said. "Our investigation on the dragonians, the monsters responsible for this whole mess, shows that there are roughly forty to fifty of them. No doubt the most dangerous among them are the ones contriving to bring back the dragon. Considering the scale of the magic used, we are likely dealing with at least ten."

A man who had been listening in silence until then suddenly spoke."But won't the Invoked Sanctuary also strip them of their power?"

Judging from his large physique and salt-and-pepper hair, Maxi surmised that the man must be a northerner representing Balto's Southern Alliance.

Turning to Riftan for confirmation, the man said, "You told us magic can't be used inside the mountains."

"The barrier greatly weakens its potency but does not negate it completely," Ruth replied with a sigh. "Moreover, the monsters of the Pamela Plateau are acclimated to mana-sparse environments. They created runes that allow them to cast powerful spells even in unfavorable conditions. I would not be surprised if they can wield considerably powerful magic even within the barrier."

"But not as powerful as divine magic. We can handle the monsters," Kuahel Leon retorted flatley.

Though he furrowed his brow in vexation, Ruth begrudgingly agreed. "Indeed, divine magic is not affected inside the barrier. However, we don't have a complete understanding of the kinds of magic these monsters are capable of. To be fully prepared, the campaign party must also include someone skilled in deciphering runes."

This time, no one tried to refute him.

Like a cat on hot bricks, Maxi desperately kept her gaze fixed on Riftan's tightly shut lips. He finally opened his mouth to say, "Ruth Serbel, since you have successfully deciphered and manipulated one of their runes in the Pamela Plateau, I shall assign you to the campaign party."

That was the end of it. The discussion moved on to who would be sent as commanding officers to each of the five cities. Though Maxi tried to appear unaffected, she could not stop her expression from hardening.

It was nothing short of a deep betrayal. Even though she knew in her head that Riftan's decision had been a sensible one, her heart simply refused to accept it. She kept her gaze on the brazier in the center of the room as she strove to conceal her disappointment.

"Reinforcements will depart for the cities at daybreak."

When the meeting finally ended, the commanding officers rose from their seats one by one. Maxi hastily shot to her feet and strode out of the building. Though icy wind lashed her face, she felt nothing in her agitated state.

Suppressing her boiling anger, she cut across the square through the gloom of dusk. Out of nowhere, a hand roughly turned her around.

"We need to talk," Riftan said, peering down at her through narrowed eyes.

Maxi yanked her hand free. "I have nothing to say to you."

"Damn it, Maxi-" he snapped before stopping when he saw the tears in her eyes.

When he let out a low groan, Maxi turned her back to him. She said in a subdued voice, "I-I do not wish to argue with you in public. I would...like to be left alone for the time being."

With that, she fled to the guild house before he could stop her. A handful of people spoke to her when she entered the dim hall, but she did not have the energy to respond.

Hiding the tears running down her cheeks, she made a beeline for the stairs. When she reached her room, she slammed the door behind her and threw herself on the bed.

The self-control she had barely managed to maintain until now finally crumbled. Frustration came in waves as sobs racked her body.

She had no idea how long she lay there crying before a warm hand gripped her shoulder.

"Please don't cry."

Maxi looked up. Riftan was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking rather helpless.

"I-I thought..we promised to stay together," she said resentfully.

"We did, and that is why I brought you all the way here."

"But you are trying to leave me behind again!"

His face became a blank mask. "I am the supreme commander of this army, and it is my duty to lead our men to victory. If mages were necessary in defeating the dragon, I would've dragged them along regardless of their opinion, but that is not the case. Mages are practically useless in the Lexos Mountains, but their abilities are vital in defending the cities. Am I supposed to willfully take you with me despite all of that?"

Maxi's face contorted when she was unable to think of a retort. The hot tears welling in her eyes streamed down her cheeks.

Cupping her face in both hands, Riftan wiped her tears with his thumb, "Please don't cry."

"A-Admit it...You must have been glad...t-to have a reason not to take me with you," Maxi spat out between sobs.

Riftan's face fell ever so slightly. "Do you think it's easy for me to leave you here?"

He drew closer so that they were nose-to-nose and said evenly, "Do you really think I'm happy about leaving you when an undead army could besiege this city at any moment?"

"N-No, but you certainly think it's better than taking me to the mountains!" Maxi retorted, pushing his hands away. "C-Can you swear that you felt no relief...when the m-mages were excluded? That your concern for me p-played no part in your decision?"

Riftan's expression grew cold, and Maxi instantly knew why. She was essentially questioning his judgement as supreme commander. But instead of losing his temper as she had expected, he merely stared at the floor with a helpless expression, his hands resting in his lap.

After a long silence, he finally said, "To tell you the truth..I'm not sure." His clouded eyes flew to her. "I am incapable of making objective decisions when you're involved. Is it not the same for you?"

Tenderly brushing away the hair clinging to her forehead, he added, "Between staying behind in Vesmore and going with me, can you make the more prudent decision without being influenced by your emotions?"

Maxi bit down on her lip as a sudden urge to be willfully unreasonable overcame her. Being separated from him was the last thing she wanted. Right now, she wanted to argue. And hanging like a dark cloud above all was the fear that she might never see him again. She did not think she would be able to bear it.

Despairing, she peered up at him. The light from the fireplace cast a faint glow on his black agate eyes, and the sincerity she saw in them was like a knife to the heart. (lib Read. com)

"You make the decision," he said mercilessly. "I will accept whatever it is."

"I-I" Maxi managed to choke out, "wish to go with you."

Riftan slowly closed his eyes. "Very well. If that is-"

"But I shall remain here," Maxi spat as if she were vomiting blood. "I will protect the barrier.. and wait for your safe return."

Visible relief rose on his face.

After casting a resentful glare over him, her surging emotions prevailed, and she pounded her fist on his chest. "A-Are you pleased...to get the answer you wanted?"

"Is it wrong for a husband to be relieved at not having to lead his wife into danger?"

Holding her fist, he brought his lips down to kiss it. For some reason, this tender action only fueled her misery. She started pounding his chest with her other hand.

"H-Have you ever considered how I feel when I s-send my husband off to such dangerous places? I mistakenly believed...th-that we would stay together this time no matter what."

"Please..stop crying, Maxi."

Pulling her into his arms, Riftan pressed his cheek against her damp one.

Surrendering, Maxi burrowed into his embrace. "I-I resent you very much."

"I know," he mumbled while gently patting her back as if placating a child.

Maxi wound her arm around his neck and pulled him closer with all her strength. "That was a lie. I don't resent you at all."

She felt him take a deep breath.

"S-So..." she whispered imploringly against his nape, "you must return to me no matter what."

His voice sounded tight as if he were struggling to suppress something rising within him.

"I will."

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