52 Let's meet!

Selv stood outside Brine City and looked back with a sigh.

[I should be fine now.] He was now far enough from the camp that he could barely see the light from the fire camps. He made sure not to be followed as he used the cover of night to leave camp.

[I learned everything that was possible in a single day. Let's go back.] The surroundings were very dark and unfamiliar to him, but somehow this did not slow him down. His destination was a little farther away north.

Half of his mind was busy making sure he was on the right track while the other was listing everything he had found out during his mission. He would need to make a report soon after all.

Most people would concentrate solely on the forest, but Selv was not just anyone, and there was nothing in this area that could threaten him.

[Let's see.] He started recalling every important thing he had noticed during his short stay in Brine City. Luckily he had a good memory as he could not take notes, it would be too suspicious.

As he walked, the trees and plants in front of him acted strangely. Branches and trunks all moved away from his path.

[They are consolidating their basic industries to prepare their war effort. Mining and weapon craftings are in full swing. The defense wall and troop training are to prepare for war against the Kunalls. I found strange devices that constantly distribute water, I also felt strange mana fluctuations I have not been able to pinpoint, so they might have a powerful mage. As for leadership…]

Selv paused there and turned back toward Brine City. He continued with a shaky voice, as if he was forcing himself to keep his own opinion out of his report.

[The leader has managed to bring together multiple groups of refugees and kept order. He has brought forward new ideas and technologies that are slowly improving the quality of life of his people even if they are still a far cry from 2 or 3 years ago.] That next part was particularly hard for him to formulate. [He… He is somehow respected by his people, despite his… Eccentricities.]

*Sigh*

"I don't get it." He said to himself. "Could it be that the king noticed I was a spy and was acting like a fool on purpose?"

But he then remembered a particular scene he witnessed late in the afternoon.

****

He was back from visiting each of the workshops under the pretense of checking them out to decide his workplace. He was very thankful to Eric for the perfect cover.

He was now walking toward the center of Brine City. He had not yet decided on his next move, but he figured being close to the leadership wouldn't hurt his mission. That was when he suddenly heard what he could only describe as a desperate boyfriend with a very small vocabulary praising his girlfriend.

"No I am serious! You are really cute! Super cute! Cutest ever!"

[Urk. Go do your flirting somewhere else!] Even his honed self-control was barely enough to keep from shouting. Yes, you guessed it. Selv was actually single. Luckily he noticed something before he snapped. [Hm? That voice…]

The noise came from a big tent guarded by two very embarrassed soldiers.

[That's the King's voice coming from miss Mia's tent isn't it?]

"But you'd be even cuter with this! Looks how pink it is… And so soft too-GYAAA!"

The loud shout was followed by Cat throwing someone out of the tent.

[She asked Lt. Catherine to throw him out huh. I guess even kings have their troubles.]

[Wait… If he has the outfit now, then he had already ordered it this morning before speaking with Miss Mia?] Selv had to praise Chris' confidence and planning capability.

[Still… All of this is for nothing. It failed.] But then Selv noticed Chris' oddly satisfied and smug expression as he stood back up and left with his bodyguards.

[Ah… He managed to leave the outfit behind.]

****

*Sigh*

Selv finally came to a conclusion.

[No way he noticed me… He most likely wouldn't even have cared if he did. I mean who knows the kind of stunts he pulls every day in front of his people.]

Selv had another flashback to Chris' satisfied mug and decided to add to his report. [If anything, he is more than willing to accept even the smallest of victories, no matter how ridiculous...]

Selv kept listing his findings for the next twenty minutes, until he finally stopped and looked around. He was at the meeting point. He raised his right hand, murmured a few words, and a small ball of light made of magical energy appeared. It was only visible for a single moment as thousands of luminescent insects rushed to cover the light. He waited until the ball was twice as large before releasing his spell. The fireflies hovered a bit, confused and clearly drunk on the mana, before rushing into a single direction.

[That's my cue.] Thought Selv as he followed the luminescent trail. The trail became thicker and thicker until, after a couple of minutes, he finally heard a voice.

"You are back." Said a woman with a serious face. Her hand was up in the air and a large ball of light covered in fireflies could be seen. The irregular light from the fireflies movements illuminated her face and highlighted her stern features.

Selv was stunned briefly by her appearance before answering. "Sana. Good to see you."

"Were you followed?" She asked in her usual deadpan tone as she canceled the spell attracting the fireflies.

"I was not. I made sure of it." Selv snapped his fingers and his body quickly changed shape, his disguise melting away to reveal a tall elf with short dark hair. His beaky nose was now gone, and his height was a few centimeters shorter.

"Impressive as always." Commented Sana, which was rare praise coming from her.

After all, Selv's specialty was very different from the other elves. Everyone had something they were better than others, and some even had unique powers. This was the case of Selv. His disguises were not illusions, but legitimate transfigurations. His body completely changed for each of his disguises, height, hair, skin color, moles, body odor, and so on. The best part was that a spell was only needed to start and end the disguise. This made him an excellent spy as no spell was active to maintain his new form. This meant he could remain in disguise as long as he wanted as it didn't cost him any mana. And best of all, even talented mage would not be able to detect he was in a disguise with normal means as no spell was active, at best they could only detect mana coming from him, the same as any person talented in magic. Of course there was down side to his spell… But this is for another time.

"The mission?" Asked Sana.

"Mostly a success. Let's go." He answered with a smile.

[Hehe. I wonder what kind of expressions she'll show in response of the human king's antics? I've heard a lot of great stories from his people.] Selv suddenly felt in a playful mood.

"Hey Sana. Want to hear something interesting?"

… …

...

The next day. The two of them faced Camus.

Selv had finished his report, and Camus was feeling a headache coming.

"Well, that's certainly interesting." Said Camus. He just wasn't sure if this was the kind of 'interesting' his Queen and Goddess sent him to investigate.

"What do you think Selv? Can they stand up to the Kunalls?"

Selv hesitated a bit. "We already know they can easily eliminate the Kunall patrols and each time they do so they weaken the scout camp a bit. I think… I think they can take on the scout camp as well if they prepare well enough. But they are not ready for the retaliation from the eastern fortress."

"Sana?" Asked Camus.

"I think there is nothing to lose. In the best case they can hold the Kunalls, and we find an ally. In the worst case they get wiped out, but this will still lighten the load of our troops up north."

[Yeesh.] Thought both Camus and Selv.

"Alright. Let's meet." Decided Camus.