Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 190: A Way Out ()

"And if they do not?" Estelle asked uneasily.

"It is not a matter of ’if’. They certainly will not, dragons do not bargain with sorcerers or anyone for that matter. Lord Starron will ensure the Black Network never achieves their goal." Dante replied with conviction.

"So...my father is in danger?" Estelle asked nervously.

"Not exactly. Harming the Lord of Fort Blazed so directly would be openly declaring war with the stronghold. The Black Network cannot afford it yet."

"Beyond that, they do not have what it takes to kill Lord Starron. He is a dragon lord and a revered warrior of Asvar."

"Even if they cannot reach their goal, the Black Network will still have to retreat."

"They stand no chance against the blazed dragons. The only temporary upper hand they hold is the spell that prevents the blazed dragons within the castle from shifting."

"However, a dragon in human form is only slightly less powerful than in his dragon form, the Black Network knows that."

"The element of surprise is on their side for the time being, they will be sure to retreat before the tables turn...no blazed dragon will be harmed." Dante assured.

"Then why must father send me away?" Estelle asked, despite knowing it was because of the item she held.

"To ensure your safety, Lady Starron. You are afterall Lord Starron’s greatest weakness, if you are taken captive, the Black Network will win."

"The only way the Blazed dragons can turn the situation around is if they do not have you to worry about." Dante replied blankly.

Being called a weakness was not exactly pleasant but Estelle knew Dante was right, if she was back in the blazed castle, her father would be unable to focus on battle.

"My only concern is... dark magic is unpredictable. If the Black Network fail in their goal, will they truly leave empty handed?" Dante pondered aloud before he sighed.

"I trust your father’s ability and judgement. I will send you out of Fort Blazed and to your uncles on patrol so you may relay to them what has happened." Dante decided as he offered a hand to Estelle, noticing her struggle to catch up.

Estelle absentmindedly took Dante’s offered hand and the two continued through the forest path at a swift pace.

The forest path leading out of the blazed castle cut through a large portion of Fort Blazed but at some point, they would have to emerge from the forest in order to get out through the city gates.

"The Black Network will be hidden in plain sight, keeping an eye on the city gates in search of you. We will have to be careful." Dante said to Estelle as they got closer to the forest’s edge.

Estelle thought over it for a moment, Fort Blazed was titled a great fortress because it truly was.

With towering, impregnable walls and the city guards standing guard, regulating the entry and exit, other than dragons whose path were through the skies, everyone else had to prove their identity before getting through.

The security was especially tight at late hours and before dawn when the flight patrol was away.

Since Fort Blazed was an important center of commerce guarding a good number of trade routes, such level of security was expected, most especially since Fort Blazed was relatively close to the hidden city.

Of all the races the dragon shifters had conquered, the hidden city of the dwarves could still be considered independent of dragon rule.

Hence the dwarves were always mischievous and plotting with malicious intent, for the protection of the human merchants travelling the trade routes, Fort Blazed had to be completely secure.

After considering it for a moment, an idea came to mind.

"At this time, there is a supply arriving Fort Blazed from the blacksmith guild at The Rudder. After delivery, the merchants leave immediately without delay so they may return in time."

"It has been so for many years, if we can blend in with those merchants, no one will find us suspicious or pick us out." Estelle relayed to Dante.

"You know your way in and out of Fort Blazed even in such a situation... commendable." Dante murmured with a nod of understanding.

"I have lived here all my life. No one knows Fort Blazed better than I...yet I would rather this be the only time I have to sneak out of my own home." Estelle replied with a heavy sigh.

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"Halt!" A soldier from the city guard called out, stopping the entire supply group.

Estelle and Dante stood at the back of the group, dressed in robes they had snatched from two members of the guild a short while ago.

Even at this time, Estelle still felt guilty about leaving the two blacksmiths unconscious in an alleyway, but this was the only way she could think of to leave Fort Blazed at this hour.

The blacksmiths could still leave when the sun was up, but the moment the Black Network realized Estelle was no longer in the blazed castle, they would scour the city in search of her.

Estelle kept her head low as the city guard inspected the carts and checked the identification tags of all the members of the blacksmith guild.

Going down the line, the city guard soon arrived at Dante and Estelle who were at the end.

Dante handed his identification tag over and the guard inspected it before moving to Estelle.

Estelle stretched out her hand to show her identification tag, still keeping her gaze down so the hood of her cloak hid her face.

The city guard inspected the identification tag and handed it back to Estelle.

Just when Estelle was about to breathe a sigh of relief, the city guard reached for the hilt of his sword.

"Your identification tag is right...but for a blacksmith, your body build is rather off. And where is your guild crest?!" The city guard demanded in a cross tone.

Estelle winced knowing they had been caught, it was ironic how Lord Starron trained the human guards in person only to have them be much too observant when Estelle had hoped they would not notice.

From the corner of her eyes, Estelle caught a flash of metal and she knew Dante would draw his blade...