Reincarnating As A Prince in the DC Universe

36: Dark Mages Attack 2

The serving girl returned with a steaming plate of roasted meat, thick slices of bread, and a hearty stew accompanied by a mug of amber liquid. She placed it on the table with a smile, though her eyes lingered curiously on Aiden's unfamiliar face.

"Enjoy," she said before hurrying off to tend to another table.

Aiden wasted no time, picking up his utensils and digging in. The flavors were rich and robust, the meal a welcome reprieve of which he ate heartily, savoring each bite as the warmth of the food filled him.

As he ate, the conversations around him painted a picture of the kingdom's state.

"Did you hear? Some villages still haven't recovered from the last attack."

"They say the king's men are stretched too thin."

"Rumors of dark mages have been spreading like wildfire. It's like the war wasn't enough; now we've got internal chaos."

"Do you think the Third Prince will step in?"

"I don't think so. My cousin who also fought in the war said that not even the Gods could heal him."

"My Word. To think that someone called the strongest human would be in that state. How powerful were the enemies?"

Aiden's ears perked up at the mention of his name, but he kept his expression neutral, pretending to focus on his meal.

It was clear that the kingdom's people were uneasy, their fears feeding on uncertainties.

Finishing the last of his stew, Aiden wiped his mouth and set the mug down. He reached into his pouch, pulling out a few gold coins, and left them on the table. Without a word, he stood and exited the tavern, the cool night air greeting him as he stepped outside.

The region, known as Whispering Hollow, was a mix of quaint cobblestone streets and bustling market stalls, though it was quieter at this hour.

Aiden strolled through the streets, letting the sounds of distant chatter fill the momentary calm.

Eventually, he made his way back to the castle. As he stepped past the towering walls, a sudden, sharp sense of danger made his steps falter. He frowned, his instincts screaming a warning that sent a chill down his spine.

'What threat could make me feel this way?' he thought intriguingly.

He paused, closing his eyes as he sent out an imperceptible psychic wave. It rippled outward, unnoticed by any ordinary observer. Moments later, his mind locked onto the presence of seven powerful magical energies, each unmistakably at the Archmage level.

Opening his eyes, Aiden exhaled slowly. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he unclasped his cloak, letting it fall to the ground.

"Don't you think your actions are a bit unbecoming for Mages of your calibre?" he asked, his voice calm but carrying a razor's edge of warning.

Silence filled the air for a beat before the energy in the surroundings shifted. One by one, the seven mages stepped into view, their expressions varying between confident smirks and cold indifference.

The tension in the courtyard grew heavy as Aiden squared his shoulders, his presence remained commanding despite the odds.

"As expected of your Highness, truly an enigma to look up to." One of the mages intoned with a chuckle and then turned to his comrades. "See? Didn't I tell you we were wasting our magic hiding from him?"

Aiden's eyes swept over the group, his expression unreadable as the mage who had spoken stepped forward. The man's molten eyes glimmered with amusement, a fiery aura crackling faintly around him in the cool evening air.

"Kael Dorn," Aiden said evenly, his voice calm yet laced with authority. "A pyromancer who once defended Atlan's borders. How far you've fallen to be skulking around like a thief."

Kael grinned, unfazed at Aiden's recognition of him. "Oh, your Highness, you flatter me. I'm merely here to do my part for the cause."

The other mage who Kael had spoken to, stepped up beside him, her sea-green eyes shimmering in the dim light. "You shouldn't be so quick to judge, Prince. After all, even the noblest tides shift."

"True, however, I didn't expect the tide to sink so low," Aiden replied, his gaze cold as he turned to the lady who just spoke. "Sylara Veyne, I presume?"

The woman narrowed her eyes in mild shock. She didn't have any relationship or acquaintances with anyone who was close to the Third Prince. 'How does he know my name?'

"You're probably thinking; How doese he know my name? Eh? Well, that's for me to know and for you to find out." Aiden said with a smirk as he continued sweeping his gaze through the group.

The group bristled at his words as another dark mage, sneered as golden sparks crackled around him. "Big talk for someone facing seven Archmages. I wonder if that confidence will hold when we show you what true power looks like."

"And you must be Valkir Zane. To think a Mage of the Tower would fall so low. Finn would be quite disappointed. You were his Idol." Aiden said with a hint of pity in his tone.

This man was one of the few individuals to have developed this level of Forbidden Magic to this stage.

The lightning mage growled as the golden sparks coming off him intensified much to Aiden's appreciation. He too had once seen this man as the perfect role model for Finn and he hadn't been wrong.

The sheer destructive might he could feel coming off those bolts of lightning was enough to make any weaker Archmage feel intimidated, however, Aiden's gaze didn't linger on him and turned to a dark mage who had remained silent, his shadowy form blending into the darkness.

He didn't recognise this one. Similar to his light element, the darkness elemental aura around this man was unique.

Aiden's gaze moved lazily to the last three, his expression coldly amused as he addressed them.

"Aelindra Thorne, the Frost Queen who couldn't hold her own against a band of lesser mages on the northern front," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "I wonder, are you hoping your ice might finally chill someone other than yourself?"

Aelindra's jaw clenched, her magic spiking in response, but Aiden didn't give her a chance to retort. His gaze shifted to the next mage.

"Eryndor Valen, the unyielding rock of Atlan," Aiden said with a faint smirk. "Tell me, how does it feel knowing that the only thing you're good at is being a blunt instrument?"

Eryndor's hands balled into fists, veins pulsing on his temple as Aiden's piercing eyes turned to Liora.

"And Liora Dray, the Wind Whisperer," Aiden said with a chuckle. "Your talent for running away faster than anyone else is legendary. Are you here to blow away the tension or just hoping to escape unscathed again?"

The air around Liora churned with anger, but she said nothing, her narrowed eyes locked on Aiden as he made sarcastic remarks on them and their infamous feats.

These were all what they hoped would never see the light of day if they could control it.

Aiden however, unconcerned of their feelings crossed his arms, his smirk deepening. "The three of you—masters of the elements, reduced to puppets for a cult. It's almost tragic. Almost."

Eryndor crossed his arms, his stone-like frame radiating unshakable determination. "The boy doesn't even know when to be afraid. Typical of royal arrogance."

Liora sighed, the breeze picking up around her as she spoke. "We could've done this the easy way, but no, you just had to show off, didn't you?"

Aiden's lips remained curved in a faint smirk, his eyes gleaming with a calm intensity. "If I didn't, how else would I remind you why Atlan still stands?"

The air grew still for a moment, tension thick enough to cut. Kael's grin faltered, replaced by a flicker of unease.

The group exchanged glances, some bristling at his words while others hesitated.

"You may outnumber me," Aiden said, taking a single step forward, "but I promise, this will not end in your favor."

"[Domain Expansion: Spatial Domination]"

And just as the words left Aiden's mouth, the seven mages felt it. A disconnection from Reality as an invisible force surged outward, wrapping the space in an oppressive stillness.

The world around the seven mages seemed to blur and warp. Their connection to their magic, a lifeline they had honed over decades, felt severed, as if the very essence of reality had betrayed them.

The ground beneath their feet stretched and contracted unnaturally, and the air became dense, suffocatingly heavy.

"What… What is this?" Liora stammered, her voice trembling as she tried to summon her magic. The wind around her sputtered and vanished like a dying flame.

"It's impossible…" Eryndor growled, attempting to call forth the strength of the earth. But the ground, his ally in countless battles, remained inert, unyielding to his will.

"Spatial Domination," Aiden said calmly as he walked towards them, his voice cutting through their mounting panic. "Within my domain, I control everything. Your magic, your movements, even your thoughts, nothing escapes me."

That was a lie but Aiden didn't feel the need to let them know that. Within his Domain, he controlled reality, that much is True in the sense of energy. However, as long as they had a higher energy pool, they could always break free.

The dark mage, the one Aiden had yet to name, stepped forward, his shadowy form flickering like an ember struggling against a gale. "Impressive," he said, his tone cold but laced with curiosity. "What's your goal here, prince? To intimidate? Or to kill?"

Aiden's gaze sharpened. 'This guy is strong,' he thought. He didn't notice it earlier but right now, he could feel this guy mana was more robust and condensed than the rest.

Still, the faintest trace of a smirk tugged at his lips. "My goal?" He tilted his head, stepping closer. "It's simple. To remind you that no matter how far you've fallen into your darkness, there are still depths even you cannot reach."

The atmosphere within the domain tightened further, and the mages, despite their Archmage status, struggled to retain their composure.

Aelindra's icy demeanor cracked into a frown as she staggered, sweat dripping from her brow. "Enough of this!" she hissed, trying to summon her magic in vain. "You think this display of dominance will scare us? We are Archmages!"

"No," Aiden replied coolly. "You were Archmages. But here, you're nothing more than fish caught in a net."

With a flick of his wrist, space itself seemed to ripple, and the seven mages were forced to their knees, their powerless forms trembling beneath the weight of his domain.

"Now," Aiden said, his voice low and lethal, "choose your next move wisely. You don't get second chances in my domain."

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