The Legendary Mage (Alavin)

Two middle-aged male apprentices quietly approached the herb garden, exchanged glances, and vaulted inside. They were some of the Grand Elder's Elite Protégés, his closest confidants.

The Grand Elder was well aware of the deep bond between the Botanic Haven Elder and his apprentice, Mariela. If the Elder knew something, it was possible Mariela did as well. Even if she did not, she could be used to coerce the Botanic Haven Elder into revealing the secrets of Atlantis.

Thus, the Grand Elder had assigned two Protégés to secretly capture Mariela amid the chaos on the mountain summit.

"Mariela, we've come to visit you," the two Protégés burst into the room, but it was already empty.

Where was she? This was bad!

The Protégés' expressions shifted. Their mentor had repeatedly stressed the importance of capturing Mariela at all costs. If they failed, they would answer to him with their heads.

"Curse it, search!" The two Protégés split up, dashing into the dense forest, hunting for Mariela.

All the Botanic Haven apprentices had been alerted, rushing towards the peak. Such sudden and intense explosions were surely no ordinary occurrence.

Mariela was raised in Botanic Haven, a mystical grove where she learned the secrets of every leaf and blade of grass. She managed to avoid everyone, quickly making her way to the foot of the mountain. As she was about to look back toward the peak, her mentor's voice echoed again, "Mariela... flee... find Alavin... remind him... it may... be exposed..."

Her eyes narrowed slightly. Exposed? At that moment, the loud sounds from the mountaintop ceased abruptly. Still, the churning clouds continued violently, resembling a raging river tide, drawing Botanic Haven's dense mists towards the summit. The sight was majestic, but it caused Mariela's heart to sink time and time again.

"Survive..." The last whisper from the Botanic Haven Elder drifted faintly and vanished.

Survive? The light word felt like an invisible hand gripping Mariela's heart with force.

With a trembling body and tears streaming down her beautiful, icy cheeks, Mariela clenched her teeth and, with her frosty sword in hand, dashed into the dense woods, fleeing towards the secret trails behind the Organization.

Shortly after her departure, two Protégés followed in pursuit. One of them sniffed the air and grinned, "It's her scent!"

"Chase her! Don't let her escape."

"Worry not, she won't get far."

The two Protégés followed Mariela's faint scent and quickly gave chase.

Atop Botanic Haven.

The swirling mists formed a vast barrier, isolating the mountaintop from below, keeping the Botanic Haven Protégés from intruding.

The Grand Elder, together with the other Elders, had taken control of the Botanic Haven Elder's soul, plunging him into a deep coma to prevent his suicide. After securing this, the Grand Elder let out a sigh of relief and picked up the arm lying on the ground. His expression was far from handsome, twisted into something ghastly.

The other Elders were both shocked and scared, having not anticipated the Botanic Haven Elder to be so formidable.

Lord Viperbane spoke indifferently, "Your arm is only broken, not shattered. With proper care, there's a chance for it to mend."

"I will heal. Worry not about my strength," the Grand Elder said, feigning composure, unwilling to show weakness.

"With Commander Kashann and him under your control, Cobalt Strike is essentially in your hands. The rest is up to you, and we shall not intervene further. You have six months. After securing Cobalt Strike, arrange for Celesse and Mariela to be wed into my house and announce the alliance." Lord Viperbane reminded him. The ambush was over, not perfect, but satisfactory.

"And there's Hamund. Help me control him."

Lord Viperbane advised, "Perhaps you should try to win him over instead of eliminating him. With Commanders Kashann and the Botanic Haven Elder gone, Cobalt Strike is already weakened. Don't waste any more resources."

Enduring the intense pain from his severed limb, the Grand Elder replied, "Control him first, then I can persuade him."

After leaving people to secure Botanic Haven, they returned along the same path to the Mystical Grotto, but the scene that met their eyes shattered any semblance of composure they had left.