Descending Into A Novel-Chapter 79:Rayleigh Von Mez (9)

"You are to be deployed on the Elven battlefront. You are expected to reach there yourself within two weeks at the minimum."

Rayleigh sighed, ever since the war started. He had been constantly moved back and forth between different battlefronts. As the current strongest human mage, he was the one with the highest mobility and large scale power.

In wars like this, it was the high level power that dictated everything. Rayleigh’s presence would control the upper echelons, who controlled the middle who in turn controlled the lower echelons. These lower echelons naturally being the commoners.

Armies were only necessary to control the commoners. What was the point in ruling without any subjects after all?

Finally, Rayleigh himself was controlled by the emperor. They were all essentially pawns in the massive chest game that was the War of the Races. Humans going up against every other race to see who would be the overlords of the world.

Many were calling it the War to end all wars. The Last War. Rayleigh wanted to spit on their faces.

He quietly packed up his items, he didn’t have much. Only a few clothes, notebooks and his wand—something he received as a gift from the beastkins.

He had recently been gifted a wand by the Empire, or more specifically his father. Naturally, he snapped it in half and returned the broken halves back.

Gazing at the map he found the area he was supposed to be at. The Elven battlefront as it was being called.

Naturally, the main foe there were the elves. Prideful, long-eared and fair-skinned. With their long lifespans, they had hundreds of experts on par with humanity.

Even despite their low birthrate, when each member lived so long. Their numbers naturally accumulated over time.

He waved his wand, forming a circle around him as he mentally calculated the coordinates. Swiftly teleporting nearly half way across the continent in one single spell.

With another teleport, he soon reached the battlefront. Littered with massive holes and burn marks. It seemed as if the earth itself had been stabbed repeatedly by needles.

Rayleigh recognized this work. The one stationed here had likely been Knight Yudeus. Since Rayleigh was stationed here now. It likely meant he was dead.

Knight Yudeus was the one who taught him the Von Mez Spear Style. Although he preferred the longsword, his talent with the Spear made him amazing at it nonetheless.

He never hit him or William like the other teachers. Never scolding them. Never forcing them to train harder and harder.

That was a shame, he quite liked him.

He flew downwards upon catching sight of a human camp. Landing right in the middle, a few alarmed shouts rang. Before quickly calming down when he brought out his crest.

Soon, the commander in charge came out to meet him. A potbellied man with graying hair and a mustache. Smiling brightly when he saw Rayleigh.

Rayleigh could tell what kind of person this commander was immediately. A noble who had somehow bought their way into a leadership position.

How disgusting. Talking about honour and glory when they never stepped foot on the battlefield themselves. Forcing innocent young men and women to fight in their stead.

But he hid his disgust, introducing himself to the commander.

"I’ve been assigned to the Elven battlefront by Military High Command. I presume knight Yudeus has perished?" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

The man nodded, expressing the fakest sign of sympathy Rayleigh had ever seen.

"Yes yes such a shame. But to think they assigned prince Rayleigh to my battlefront. It’s my honour to have you here. "

He glossed over knight Yudeus’s death. Before quickly trying to suck up to Rayleigh.

"I’m tired from my travels and would like to rest now. When the enemy’s high level power appears, wake me up then."

"Of course, of course! I shall have the nicest tent and dinner prepared for you."

***

"Prince Rayleigh! The enemy’s mage has appeared!"

He opened his eyes, raising a hand to block out the sun that was in his eyes.

’Haah damn it, why did they have to attack now? It’s so hot at this time...’

Rayleigh wanted to rest for a bit more. But lives were counting on him here. If he didn’t show, then the high level power on their side would rampage among their army.

He quietly donned his cloak, flourishing his wand as he checked his current state.

Leaving the tent, he winced slightly at the bright sun that hung directly over them. Blinding him temporarily and making him sweat almost immediately.

He cast a spell to cool himself down, then casted a fly spell before shooting over to the battlefield.

The open plains looked even worse now. The grass trampled under the boots of thousands and thousands of soldiers.

But now, both sides were locked in a fierce standoff. Entire lines in formations standing still. Leaving the entire battlefield empty.

...except for a singular elf standing in the middle. Sandwiched between the two lines as she waited patiently.

Rayleigh’s entrance caused a few shouts of excitement. As the replacement for knight Yudeus, many clearly expected him to be someone just as strong. If not stronger, and knight Yudeus was famed for his ability with the spear.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, making eye contact with the elven lady.

She was dressed rather similarly to Rayleigh. Also donning a cloak and holding a staff in one hand.

A mage, that would make her his first one that he had fought in this war. His only enemies lately were the warriors from the other races.

Landing in front of her, the two met each other for the first time.

Rayleigh couldn’t help but admit that she was extremely beautiful. While all elves were naturally good looking, she was exceptional.

Her flawless pale skin, her long golden hair, her refined facial features. The pointed ears. She was easily one of the best looking women he had ever seen in his life.

She seemed rather surprised at his appearance as well. Staring at the wand in his hands.

"A mage? I was told the humans have no good mages. "

He shrugged his shoulders, "I’m a special case."

"You’re Rayleigh Von Mez aren’t you? The creator of dimension and time magic."

"That’s me, I’m surprised even the elves have heard of me."

"We are naturally aware of such a figure like yourself."

The two of them stared at each other a bit longer. Rayleigh glanced back briefly at the human army, before turning to see the elven army. Which was too far away to overhear them.

"...truth be told. I do not wish to fight in this war. It is a waste of lives. All just to satisfy my father’s ambition."

"I believe so too. But many believe it to be a good chance to put humanity back in their rightful place."

The two smiled at each other, that brief conversation had revealed much about themselves.

"I suppose we should start fighting now shouldn’t we?"

"It seems so, my brother is getting worried."

The two of them raised their weapons—wand and staff respectively. A grin on their faces.

"Don’t take this too seriously."

"My, I would never! I always put my all in every battle."

With that, the two began their fight. Both immediately moving backwards, before casting several spells each.

’Future sight, false present clone 9x, temporal crawl.’

His eyes seemed to glow mysteriously, just then. Nine different clones of Rayleigh appeared next to him. Each dressed the exact same, wielding the same wand as they combined their powers together in one spell.

A golden bubble formed around them, encompassing nearly the entire battlefield without including any bystanders within.

Her movements slowed, making it look as if she was stuck in a thick gel. Her staff pointed at him as she herself casted several spells.

Thick vines burst out of the ground. Reaching towards him, at the same time. A swirling wall made of leaves appeared around her.

Casting a teleport spell to dodge the vines, he felt a bit of surprise when they continued tracking him.

He and his clones all raised their wands at the vines, before casting the same spell.

’Dimensional Isolation.’

Several rifts opened in the air, swallowing up the vines as they tried to reach him. Before shutting off once they were done.

The two of them looked at each other. A serious expression on their faces.

"Was it tracking my mana? That’s an interesting spell."

"Your clones too, I can’t differentiate between them and you."

The two of them gradually flew higher and higher, as mages. They had the most destructive potential. The last thing they wanted was to cause casualties among their own armies.

The two of them reached a height that made them look like specks for the others on the ground.

He and his clones raised their wand again, aiming at her.

’Dimensional Crack.’

Purple fissures appeared in the air. As if the very reality itself was breaking. The cracks travelling towards her, before being abruptly interrupted by a storm of green leaves.

The cracks destroyed the leaves at first, continuing making its way towards her. But the number of leaves surrounded it completely. Causing it to stop as it ran out of fuel.

"Quite a dangerous spell there."

"You stopped it didn’t you?"

At this height, no one could hear then speak. Letting them express their true thoughts.

Yes, the two of them were holding back on each other.

Rayleigh himself knew several spells that could target her position right away. No doubt she could do the same.

But he chose to target the vines first and then casted a spell that had an easy to predict trajectory and took time to travel.

She herself hadn’t made any serious moves. Only defending against his spells.

"I’m glad there’s someone with some common sense. Ive been worked to the bone lately. Having to teleport here and there to different battlefields."

"Me too, I hate fighting. I would much rather remain inside and study magic. Don’t you agree?"

He nodded, "So we have an agreement then? Acting like we’re fighting when we’re really not?"

"Well, if we did fight. You would probably win. So yes, we are in agreement."

Rayleigh sent another spell at her which she easily blocked again. Before retaliating with a torrent of sharp leaves.

"Come to think of it, I don’t know your name."

"Sophia. Sophia Arwen."

He blocked her leaves, but not before letting it shred one of his clones to pieces. Letting it dissipate into mana.

"Sophia...that’s a nice name..."

He smiled, extending his other arm which wasn’t holding a wand.

"Would you like to go on a date with me?"