Ascension Of The Failed Mage

"You've become a loose end, and as such, you need to be eliminated."

The instant he heard this, shady man's eyes bulged.

A dark, grim realization dawned on him. He hadn't been spared at all. He was still going to die, and at the hands of his colleague nonetheless.

"N-no. Y-you can't..." He struggled to speak, trying to move his shaky body.

"Oh? Didn't you just say how you wanted to kill yourself for the sake of the mission? You couldn't do it because of that pesky man's interference, right? Well, here is another opportunity... you can die for the cause right here and now!"

The shady man trembled more violently, but he couldn't raise his body to escape. Even if he did, such a damaged vessel could hardly amount to anything.

Even in his peak state, he wasn't confident about escaping from the stern-faced man, talkless of his current damaged state.

The only thing he could do now was to plead.

"P-please... I won't say anything! I won't do anything. Just give me one more chance!" He begged.

However, even that was a futile attempt. His fate was already sealed.

"Don't worry... since you couldn't properly kill yourself, I'll do it for you. Have no fear, I'll make it painless."

There was no escaping his fate. He was going to lose his life.

"You bastard! Even though I've done so much of your dirty work! You dare toss me away like this? You bastard! You owe me!" The shady man ranted, powerless to stop what was coming.

"I don't deserve this! I don't deserve—!"

Before he concluded his protest, the stern-faced man lightly touched his shoulder, sending shivers down his spine.

"Be grateful... I'm sending you off personally." The stern-faced man stated calmly.

In an instant, a blur was shone and the glitch that had taken away the man appeared once again, covering his whole body.

>BZZZTTTZZZZ<

"Begone..."

"Uarghhh! I don't deserve this! I don't des—" He screamed as his body became shrouded in the strange spell.

Suddenly, his body started turning into dust, fading away in an instant.

Memories flashed into the man's mind, remembering how he had faithfully served the man who had betrayed him, how he had served their master.

"How many have you killed? How many innocents have died by your hands?" He heard a whisper.

It was the stern-faced man speaking to him in his ear, one of the only few remnants of his body.

"Countless, right? Did you really expect a happy life and a satisfactory ending after doing all that? What a fool... you were nothing more than a dog."

"Urrkhh..." The man's mouth moved slightly, slowly turning into dust.

"Consider this recompense for all the people you've killed."

Tears formed in the man's eyes. He never chose this path... the way of blood. However, he was just one who found himself in such conditions.

For him, who never chose how he was born, to also be deprived of the right to choose his death... It was a tragedy beyond reason.

'You... you fucking hypocrite...' His mind rang, as his blurred line of vision caught the sight of the stern-faced man one final time.

'... You're the same as me. To that man... you're nothing but a dog too!'

His eyes instantly lost all sight, fading into oblivion, and the rest of his body instantly followed suit.

'I truly don't... deserve this...'

As the ashes slowly mixed into the surrounding area, the glitch vanished. It had completed its task.

The stern-faced man proceeded to the windows, opening the blinds, and then the glass casements to bring in fresh air.

The bright glow of moonlight penetrated the dark area, bringing light to the office. The man slightly smiled for the first time, watching the dark clouds part for the bright moon's glow. The dust escaped from the man's office, leaving for the wide expanse outside. The winds carried the minuscule remains of the shady man, separating them far and wide.

"What a foolish dog, still affirming his worth until the very end." His voice suddenly broke into the silence that filled the room.

"Unlike him, I'm well aware... just what my place is in the Grand scheme of things."

Suddenly a knock sounded on the entrance door of his office.

The stern-faced man slightly tilted his head and looked to the door in curiosity.

"Who's there?"

The knocking ceased instantly.

"It's me, sir. Kerah." A sonorous voice sounded from beyond the door.

As soon as he heard this, he sighed and proceeded to the door, not wanting her to enter inside the office that still smelled of the putrid aftereffects of forbidden magic.

Slightly opening the door, he looked through it and saw a small figured woman who, despite her tiny frame, was actually in her late twenties.

She had the uniform of a maid since she was one of the many maids who worked in the whole manor, and a member of the elite that served his superior directly.

"The Duke has called for you. He's currently in his sleeping quarters."

The stern-faced man narrowed his eyes and then nodded.

"I'll be there shortly." He responded.

The maid, Kerah, nodded and turned back, instantly scurrying away into the night.

The stern-faced man sighed and closed the door. He rubbed his chin and went to close the windows, covering the blinds too.

"I wonder what Duke Versacee Dunroe wants from me now. Well, as his Personal Advisor... I ought to keep up appearances." He muttered, leaving his office behind as he went to the Duke's quarters.

"This charade will soon be over. I just have to obtain the girl!"

*************

"Ciara, there's something you must know." Noir suddenly spoke, starting Ciara a little.

His voice sounded grim and his expression was serious.

"W-what is it?" She asked.

"I..." Noir began.

Now that he had somehow regained his aloof self, he didn't know how to properly express what he had to say, or whether to say it, to begin with.

"

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[A/N]

Things are about to get a bit more... interesting

Can someone sense a conspiracy?