Chapter 125: An Ambassador’s Arrival
The delegation’s pace slowed as they passed through the main gate of Gantz, a bustling city alive with its inhabitants’ vibrant energy.
The streets teemed with people hurrying to and fro, their footsteps blending into a symphony of bustling activity. Merchants called out their wares, enticing passersby with colourful displays. The air was filled with the enticing aromas of various cuisines wafting from street food stalls, tempting the senses.
As they ventured further into the city, their eyes darted around, taking in the sights and sounds. Brone, the group leader, a figure of authority, clicked his tongue, a subtle sign of annoyance. His gaze turned to his mage, a slender man riding a horse beside him.
"It seems your magic is not working, Derek," he scoffed with scepticism. "Everything seems fine here."
Derek’s expression tightened, contorted into frustration. Ever since their arrival in the kingdom, no discernible signs indicated the spread of the Laradie epidemic as he had predicted.
The magical item he had meticulously crafted and had someone placed in a remote cave on the border between Cassian and Dracor was intended to be the catalyst for the outbreak. It was a calculated decision, for the isolated location would enable the spread of the epidemic to occur unnoticed, evading suspicion and raising no immediate alarms.
Drawing on his knowledge of previous cases that occurred twenty years ago, Derek knew that the disease should have travelled and affected the cities within the kingdom by now. Laradie was highly contagious and easily spread, presenting a grave threat to the population.
Yet, his observations had failed to reveal any evidence of such an outbreak thus far. The absence of visible signs only deepened the mystery and heightened his sense of curiosity.
Derek’s confusion mounted, his mind swirling with frustration. He had diligently followed the intricate steps, chanting the spell flawlessly. This was not his first attempt at creating the enchanted item; years of dedication and meticulous practice had gone into perfecting his craft.
He had been so confident that this time would be different, that he would finally succeed. Yet, the undeniable reality before him revealed that he had failed again.
Anger welled within him, and a torrent of curses escaped his lips, a futile expression of his exasperation. However, instead of eliciting remorse or understanding, his outburst only prompted a disparaging smile from the leader of the Bargesians.