Ascension Of The Failed Mage

DO NOT READ

"The Hero has left us in charge of handling this situation. I suppose we all know how urgent this matter is. We will need to execute it tomorrow."

The one who spoke was Heshu—obviously the most sensible and oldest among the team.

Asa, Hogun, and Adu stared at him as they sat on the cold, earthen ground. With the Hero already gone with Lucy, saving the Elf Sanctuary fell on their shoulders.

"First things first. We convince Dustinel to assist us. Afterward, we move out as soon as possible tomorrow. According to the Hero's plan, which I agree with, we'll need to split into two teams."

While they all agreed with the Hero when he emphasized their lack of time, the group was still grateful that he shared his phenomenal wisdom with them. Heshu, as one who had led many comrades in the past, found the plan to be adequate.

He most likely could not have made anything better—especially considering the situation.

"Adu and Hogun will deal with liberating the Elves from the respective areas—the West and East. Asa and I will deal with the Elf Chief by moving for his residence."

"B-but, we don't even know where that is..." Asa murmured.

According to what Sam told her, the settlement where all the Elves lived—including her father, the Chief—had grown very desolate. Not only were the houses subpar, but there was no sign of the Elf Chief.

"That's why we have to get Dustinel on our side. I have just the right Magic Item to use. If it comes down to it, I can also use my Skill to coerce him." Heshu shrugged.

Since they were in a hurry, the most efficient means would work well the most. Unfortunately, there was a justified reason for hesitating.

"He's currently in a weakened state. Exposure to even more energy—especially one as toxic as Miasma—could kill him." He sighed.

The gentlemanly Demon felt conflicted. It was definitely something he could risk, but they had to look for another alternative in the meantime.

"I could… try persuading him?" Asa muttered, raising her voice the further she went on with her suggestion.

As the only non-demon in the group, she had been intimidated for some time now. However, if she didn't speak up, it would do a great disservice to the people she was trying to save.

Asa knew she couldn't have that.

"What makes you so sure he'll listen to you?" Adu snickered, staring condescendingly at the Ranger.

Asa was an Elf, everyone knew that already. Since it was essential to the plan, Sam had revealed it—which she was totally fine with. Everyone also knew about her status as the genuine heir.

However, what of it?

"Didn't Dustinel betray your family or something? Your mum is still being held captive, right? Yet he did nothing about her condition, or the condition of the other Elves. How are you so certain he'll listen to you?"

Perhaps Adu's intentions were to be condescending to the girl and induce her with despair, however, the points he made were pretty solid. Everyone glanced in Asa's direction—hoping for a valid response.

"I don't know what happened to him recently, but I have known Dustinel for longer than any of you have. If anyone can convince him at all, it'll be me. Besides, isn't it at least worth a shot?"

Her words weren't exactly convincing, which made them wonder just how she planned on getting a subordinate of their enemy on their side. Unfortunately, her point was equally valid.

They had to try any option they could.

"Well, we can try that. If that doesn't work, then we'll use your method." Hogun nodded in agreement, moving his gaze to Heshu.

"Pfft." They heard a disagreeable tone from the only one of their group.

"Got any better ideas?"

"Whatever." Adu shrugged, finally deciding to let go of the whole matter.

With everyone on board, they decided to count on the Elf Princess and whatever rhetoric she could rely on to bring an enemy to her side and save her people.

*

*

*

"U-urghh…" Dustinel slurred as he gained consciousness.

He could feel his body burn up and his joints ached as he moved. Wincing and groaning, he opened his eyes and took in the environment. It appeared he was in something resembling a tent.

"W-wha…?"

Dustinel grunted even more as he rose to sit up, feeling the soft mattress he lay on to assist in at least easing him of some measure of discomfort. It was a strange contraption—one which he thought was valuable.

Still, given how he felt, the sickly Elf could not enjoy the comfort as much as he wanted.

"I… I have the sickness too…" He murmured.

Dustinel slowly remembered everything. How he found out he was captured by a human… and how he lost so easily. He remembered feeling terribly ill, and now he confirmed it. His body was simply not acting the same as usual.

'This is bad…'

Dustinel was a sickly Elf, which meant his frame wasn't built for stress. Having such a sickness that caused so great a harm to regular Elves would definitely kill him!

'No… no!'

He didn't want to die. He wanted to live!

Wasn't that the whole point of assisting the Chiefl in administrating the affairs of the Elf Sanctuary? So that he wouldn't die?

"I-I'm sure if I tell him about my sickness… he'll cure me. Right? I'm valuable, so he will…"

No, who was he kidding? Dustinel knew the value that that selfish, arrogant, and self-serving glutton placed on anyone but himself. He would be lucky enough to escape death—not to mention a cure to something the Chielf was most likely ignorant about.

'Worst of all, the Supervisors are coming. He'll definitely not be in the mood to help me. I'm screwed… I'm screwed…' Dustinel itched his blond hair and gritted his teeth.

'I-if only I knew things would end like this… I would have done the right thing! I would have… would have…'

Dustinel's thoughts were suddenly cut-off by a sound just outside the tent. It was the sound of approaching footsteps.

'E-eeek!'

With every tap on the ground, the sickly, frightened Elf found himself trembling. It was a look of terror and horror—one that was most likely worsening his ill state.

Swiftly, he returned to his previous state on the mattress, pretending to be asleep. With his eyes tightly shut, he awaited the entry of the one who would enter the room.

'I'm too weak to stand a chance. I… I don't know what to do!'

Someone entered the room, but he dared not open his eyes, talkless of turning in the direction of the tent entrance. He simply shut his eye… even though he began to feel a glow on his finger.

'U-uh…?'

It was a faint glow. But it slowly grew brighter and brighter, and the sensation sent a feeling of energy down Dustinel's spine. Enough so that he didn't need to open his eyes to see the source.

He knew it already!

"T-the ring! No way… it can't be!" Dustinel didn't realize it when his eyes flashed open and his body turned in the direction of the tent's entrance.

That was when he saw 'her.'

His eyes widened, and the gap in his memory was filled with how he had felt the same sensation and seen the same effect of his ring before he was captured. Everything rushed in at once as he saw the beautiful form of his best friend's daughter…

"A-Asariel…?"

Her pointy ears were still not fully mature, but they represented her heritage quite well. Her glorious green eyes and her blond hair spoke well of her beauty. She was definitely the girl he remembered her to be.

"Dustinel…" Her voice trailed.

Her eyes were beautiful, but they coldly stared at him—and he knew why.

How could he expect any less?

'A-am I dreaming, though…? Is this a nightmare?' He thought to himself.

No, what did it matter? Whether dream or reality, there was only one thing he could do in the presence of Asariel Lucielle.

Dustinel mustered all of his strength and rose to his feet, rushing toward the Elf as his eyes widened and his body screamed of pain. He could see her expression depicting shock, but he didn't care.

He had to do what he could… NOW!

"I… Asariel… I…"

Just as he was about to reach her, he collapsed to the ground, wrapping his hand around one of her legs and crying out in both pain and sorrow.

"... I AM SO SORRY!!!"

Tears gushed from his eyes, and snot cascaded from his nostrils. The fact that he could touch her legs proved that it wasn't an illusion, and the evident pain and details around him told the bawling man that this was definitely reality.

That made it all the better.

"I'm so sorry for betraying your trust… for letting this happen to everyone… for allowing him to do this to our people… our Sanctuary!"

Dustinel knew he had no valid excuse, though his reasons were legitimate.

"P-p-p-p-p-please forgive meeeee!"