Meeting After Attack

 Ardent observed as the bodies of the fallen guards and Mages gathered near the town hall. He watched as the spouse of the fallen, along with their children, if they have any, or parents if they still a bachelor, cried their heart out.

 His heart wrenched at the sight, despite him not knowing them that well.

 'If only I use my strength from the get go. If only if I don't hold back!' he thought grimly.

 He cause this. His inaction caused great losses, which was just as bad as him killing them himself.

 Catlin, his cute and kind fiance, sensed his distress and went to his side, patting his shoulder.

 "You can't save them in time."

 'Yes, I can.'

 "If you don't fight the strong one, he will destroy all of us when you handle his subordinates."

 'No. If I prioritize the other sides I might kill them quickly before killing the leaders. I'm strong enough to do that.'

 "Don't feel bad. If not for you, we will all die or worse."

 'No- well, it's true. I manage to make things better. But it still left a bitter taste in my mouth.'

 "Thank you, Catlin, for your kind words." Ardent replied, his body leaning to his fiance. The blonde girl smiled, doing the same thing, as both watched the somber atmosphere in front of them.

-x-

 As the strongest Mage, Ardent was seen as the leader of the Mages at the moment, and probably in the future, though he don't plan on holding on the job. At least without getting more experience in leadership first.

 Though, he has to do it now. Right now, he gathered the Mages and the village elders, discussing their current course of action.

 "From the two bandits' statement," Ardent did not like what he and Calais did to them, but it either a bunch of scum that planned on killing and enslaving his village, or his village, well, there are no contest, "they were ordered to attack the village by someone of high status in Cruom City."

 The revelation was met with a look of disbelief by everyone, before it transformed into one of acceptances. 

 "Make sense. If the village is gone, the person behind the bandit could create a new village or have greater influence compared to when we hold some share." the chief exclaimed. Being an experience leader who occasionally visited the large city once in a while, he learned a bit of the politic behind the scene.

 "Greedy bastard that want to have everything if they can." the leader of guard spat out. "We are lucky Mage Ardent is talented and become a 3rd Circle Mage, or we will be destroyed." The other elders nodded. All of them learned of how the fight will end with the village's destruction of not for Ardent massacring the bandits.

 "But, if they can send many 2nd Circle Mage, what stopping them from sending in a 3rd Circle Mage?" one of the elders asked in worry, "Mage Ardent is a 3rd Circle Mage but he should be less experienced compared to whoever they send."

 The worry of the elder was based on fact and the belief of older Mage usually better than younger one, at least in term of strength. Which is not a wrong belief, but failed to count for everything that make a Mage powerful.

 "I can handle them." Ardent promised, 'Besides, I'm already a 4th Circle Mage, and I'm planning on reaching the 5th Circle as soon as possible.' he added in his mind.

 Yes, his true strength had been at the 4th Circle, at least a few month before the discovery of the dungeon. He had refrained himself from showing off his strength, but that stopped now.

 "After this meeting is over, I'm going to search for any bandits in case they are more of them," he suddenly told the participants of the meeting.

 "Also, I'm planning on practicing inside the dungeon so I can become stronger faster." he said with a burning conviction.

 Some of the elders looked like they wish to speak, but a glare from the 3rd Circle Mage (or so they think) make them stop. Which is good for their health as Ardent looked like he will use them as target practice should they annoy him in his current state.

 Seeing no one against his decision, Ardent flew using his Wind Magic, one he did not told anyone but Catlin, though some had seen him using it.

 Calais looked at his sister and asked, "Sooo, when did Ardent can use Wind Magic?" 

 Catlin had a cramped look on her face, "When he become a 3rd Circle Mage, apparently." she replied.

 "Wait," Calais said, "Before, he can use Water and Fire Magic when he was a 1st Circle Mage, and then add Earth Magic to the mix when he become a 2nd Circle Mage. Now, as a 3rd Circle Mage, he can use Wind Magic."

 The eldest son of Cross rubbed his temple, "At this rate, he will unlock a new attribute every single time he raise his Circle."

 Catlin nodded in agreement. "I can see that."

 Despite saying it in a cherry tone, she could not help but worried of her fiance.

 'Please Ardent, tell me if it's hurting, so I can be there to help you.'

-x-

 After the meeting ended with the most important personal having left, Catlin decided to head towards his parents in-law's house, to tell them what happened.

 When she arrived, she spotted Grace waiting outside, a worried look on her face.

 "Catlin!" she cried out, the slightly plump woman running towards her. 

 "Where's Ardent?! Where's my boy!?" she asked in a hysterical manner. Catlin did not blame her. If her child get involved in a dangerous situation, she would like do the same thing as her.

 "Mother, let's get inside, and then we can talk about him." Catlin try to pacify the older woman. She looked like she wanted to say something about it but relented, letting the blonde pushed her back to her home, where Catlin faced an even greater trial.

 Telling them of what happened.