My Free Will System: Transmigrating Into My Favorite Immersion Game
Chapter 42: Chapter 42 : Busted

"Sneaking skill, check. Invisibility spell, active. I have all the tools I need to stalk the Alaric. I am going to replace out what you're up to Alaric and you won't see me coming" Elias snickered to himself

"[Invisibility], [Sneaking]," Elias casted his spell and activated his skills, the combination of the Invisibility spell that rendered him…invisible plus the 'sneaking' skill that rendered him nigh detectable when activated made him seem like he was not even in existence.

Elias had scheduled his activity for the rest of the day to be centered around King Alaric, he was going to secretly follow the king around to see if he would replace any clue as to why his whole attitude changed suddenly.

Elias began by watching the King's room, he noticed that the king mostly just ate and slept in his room in the morning, and in the afternoon he would meet with family heads and have a discussion with them which mostly involved when next they would hold a banquet or festival.

Whenever important matters that required Alaric's action were brought up, he would waive the idea and instead present less pressing and effort-requiring topics.

The family heads looked like they were tired of the meeting, all of them except Thane of course, Thane not only encouraged and followed up with the King's talk about lax living, parties, and celebrations, but he also sucked up to the king at any opportunity.

He would flatter and indulge whatever the king did and said. After their meeting was dismissed, the king ate and slept.

Come evening, the King's itinerary involved listening to ballads, jesters and other performers showcase their crafts until he fell asleep on his throne, and was carried back to his room to continue his slumber which lasted until the next morning. For two straight days Elias secretly watched the king, and what he concluded was that;

"Alaric is one fucking laid-back king. The man basically does nothing, and when he does do something, it amounts to nothing. His itinerary is lax and unproductive. Has he gone senile from old age? Still, I think something is off with him, I can feel it" Elias soliloquised

"At least I know the sneaking skill and Invisibility spell work perfectly, so that's a plus I guess," he said, as pulled off his shoes, and dropped face-first into the comfort of his plush bed.

"I should take today as a rest day, and then go give the flares feedback on mine and King Alaric's decision.

If I were to fight the mountainous beast, I need the activation of Lira's blessings.

It would be wise for me to save it until the right time, but I don't think I have a chance against something of that size without it, currently at least" Elias sighed before he dosed off

********

"What kind of a kingdom is this, I can't replace anything to fight in that isn't entirely made out of metal or too restrictive" Elias sighed, then proceeded to stuff his face with a lamb bite.

"I wonder if that pickpocket kid is doing okay, he was a smart kid, I wonder if he is stealing from another person right now." He chuckled

Elias followed the directions the kid led him in to reach the flares' hideout.

As Elias emerged from an alleyway that led to the hideout, but instead of meeting an abandoned house, what Elias saw was a group of soldiers, dressed in full armor as if they were ready to fight a war, at least forty in number and four men dressed in flowing robes.

"Soldiers and mages? Have the flares been discovered?" Elias's expression stiffened at the sight before him

Elias's eyes widened at what he saw next; a group of people bound in chains and collars, the flares. Elias could recognize a few faces from his last meeting with the flares amongst the people escorted in chains.

His heart dropped when he saw Loria too, he could miss her, even in a crowd filled with numerous people.

Her expression betrayed her feeling of regret, yet it was filled with undeniable rage. She too had been caught, as almost everyone else, Elias waited till they were all carried away in a barred carriage.

"I didn't see Carius, that huge flare man that caught the kid and some other flares. If I had to count, I would say five flares were missing, Carius included.

That's good news, all is not lost yet, but just who informed the soldiers about the flares, because there was no way the King's soldiers knew exactly where to look" Elias thought aloud, stroking his bare chin with his thumb and index finger

Just then, Elias saw a boy emerge from the flares abandoned house, tears dripping out of his eyes profusely, he recognized the boy, it was the pickpocket boy that led him there.

"Oh no. What have you done kid?" Elias muttered

He approached the boy, and the moment the boy's eyes set on him, he ran and hugged Elias, this time genuinely, "Mister! I thought they killed you, I thought I was too late" the boy cried, soaking Elias' clothes with tears

After the boy had calmed down, Elias sat the boy down, and squatted down beside him, "What is your name kid?" Elias asked

"Theodore," He replied sharply

"I'm Elias, not Mister and I'll call you Theo for short. So tell me Theo, what happened here? What did you do?" Elias asked softly

The boy looked down, seemingly embarrassed at his actions, "I thought Miste—Elias sacrificed himself to let me live, I thought they were holding you captive.

I didn't want you to die because of me, so I went to the soldiers to report immediately, but they sent me away and threatened to arrest me If I came back.

But I told them I would rather be arrested than have you die because of me, I kept pestering them every day but they kept on ignoring me until today.

I don't know what changed their minds, but they found me this time and asked me to take them to the place I told them about. That's how I brought them here." Theo narrated, his voice raspy from crying too much

Elias furrowed his brow as he listened, "That's how it is. I see" he remarked

Theo looked up at Elias, "Did I do anything wrong Elias? I feel bad" He asked innocently

"You did nothing wrong Theo," Elias comforted the boy, "Have this, and stop picking people's pockets, else you will replace yourself in difficult situations like these. Got it?" Elias advised as he handed Theo a small pouch of shillings, 8 shillings to precise

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[Spell Name: Invisibility

Description: Renders the wearer invisible

Duration: As long as the user's mana is not depleted

Cooldown: 40 seconds ]

[Skill Name: Sneaking

Description: Makes it nigh impossible for the user to be detected due to any physical factor. E.g. Footsteps, breathing sounds, heartbeat, clothes ruffles.

Duration: Remains active until deactivated. While active, causes the user's stamina to rapidly deplete

Cooldown: 40 seconds ]