Supreme Magus novel Chapter 430

’Why would an Awakened need to steal in such a blatant way?’ Lith thought while going downstairs.

’Even a bit of spirit magic would be enough to get her what she wants without drawing so much attention.’

’Maybe she just discovered her powers.’ Solus pondered. ’Otherwise I can’t explain how she still has a red core. Another thing I can’t understand is how she can possibly keep Invigoration active while moving.’

Lith found several guests of the hotel staring at the scene through the windows.

"I told you we shouldn’t have picked a hotel in the outer rim, you damn cheapskate!" A middle aged woman was angrily whispering to her husband, like she was afraid of drawing the attention of the crazed thief.

The couple was wearing a grey dressing gown with the hotel’s insignia over their clothes.

’One silver coin per night is cheap?’ Lith shuddered at the idea of how much money more luxurious accommodations would require.

"Why? Does this happen often?" He pointed his forefinger toward the events unfolding outside.

"Of course, it’s the gods damned outer rim." The woman was clearly annoyed at Lith’s question which forced her to state the obvious.

"Every year, when winter approaches, all kinds of vagrants and lunatics fill the roads of the city to find shelter until spring. Because of those hungry beasts, the crime rate always spikes. Speaking of hungry beasts, why are you still here?

"Aren’t you a Ranger? It’s your duty to uphold the law!"

"Not inside Othre. At the moment I’m just a tired traveler." Lith wanted to investigate the mystery, but the woman’s rudeness had almost changed his mind.

"The hotel would greatly appreciate your help in keeping its guests safe." Someone promptly added.

Lith turned around towards the voice. It belonged to a silver haired man dressed like a member of the staff. According to the tags on his chest, his name was Penon and he was the night manager.

’Please, help them.’ Solus pleaded him. ’Some of the people outside are badly wounded. They need a healer and you will get your money back. It’s a win-win situation.’

Lith didn’t care about a single silver coin. Penon’s offer was meaningless to him. Solus’s plea and discovering how the heck someone of that age with no experience with magic could possibly Awaken was another story.

Lith came out from the hotel and extended his arm, using spirit magic to paralyze his opponent. He didn’t expect it to work. To be able to knock down men way taller and heavier than her, the woman had to be able to use fusion magic.

Lith’s intention was to check how effective spirit magic would be against such a weak Awakened. Best case scenario, he would manage to slow her enough to hold her in place and get some answers before the city constables arrived on the crime scene.

Contrary to his expectations, his tendrils of mana were sucked by the woman’s Invigoration technique and completely nullified.

’What the heck?’ Lith thought. ’Invigoration shouldn’t work that way. Absorbing someone else’s mana is like drinking poison.’

The homeless woman screamed in pain before turning toward Lith and releasing a fire wave the size of a truck. The spell was powerful, but there was no technique or planning behind it. Like a child throwing a tantrum, its energies were violent but chaotic.

Lith needed but a thought to take control of the fire wave and snuff it out. Before he could counter attack, the woman clenched her belly and collapsed to the ground. Lith had no idea what was happening.

He wanted to use Invigoration to study her body, but he knew that if she adsorbed it too, she would die before she could answer his questions.