Ichor Cell-Chapter 21: Stakeout

The sun hung low, the last of its light kissing the horizon when Alex gently shook Elara awake. Her eyes fluttered open, momentarily unfocused before sharpening in recognition. She let out a quiet groan, her body protesting every movement.
“Already?” she whispered, squinting toward the window where thin, fading sunlight still bled through.
“Yeah,” Alex said softly, pulling away to give her space. “Sundown's close, and I’m assuming the estate isn't exactly around the corner.”
Elara pushed herself upright with considerable effort, wincing as pain flickered across her features. “Hopefully I can sleep in a real bed once this is over.”
“I just want a bath.” Duran commented from his corner. He’d remained awake, unblinking and still as he watched over their mage’s recovery, continuing to cement their suspicion that sleep was simply something he no longer required. “And I sincerely hope our role remains purely observational.”
“Once again, I’m not suicidal.” Alex sighed, rubbing his temples. “We’re not equipped for anything more than a quick retreat right now.”
A tense silence settled over the trio as the men dressed quietly, exchanging ruined clothes for the fresh ones Elara had brought. Only once they had changed did Alex fully realise the state his outfit had been in. Staring at the bloody rags laying at his feet, he shuddered at the intense smell they released. “Jesus, this is what I smelled like? Why didn’t you tell me to change sooner?”
“Smelled?” The young woman raised an eyebrow, pinching her nose shut in an exaggerated gesture. “You still do.”
Alex flipped her off with an eyeroll, prompting a small laugh out of the woman.
Once fully dressed, he drew a steadying breath and faced his companions. “Alright. Quick rules: If anything seems off, we bail. No heroics. No foolish risks. We keep our heads down and get out at the first sign of trouble.”
“Understood,” Duran replied firmly, nodding once.
Elara, still pale but with her gaze clear and determined, gave a nod as well. “That is the plan.”
With that settled, Alex approached the door, nerves taught despite his outward calm. His fingers curled around the handle, pausing for only a second before swinging it open.
It was time to face whatever awaited them at the Miganos estate.
The heavens were awash in muted amber and gold as the trio slipped cautiously from their temporary shelter. Alex moved ahead, senses sharpened by anxiety, eyes scanning every shadowed alleyway and corner.
Behind him, Elara walked silently, her face drawn with lingering exhaustion, and Duran trailed last, a makeshift bandage wrapped around his head to conceal his hoof dent from prying eyes.
The city grew steadily quieter the longer they walked, the vibrant chaos of day fading into a hushed murmur of twilight. Occasionally, distant sounds of revelry drifted toward them, likely from a tavern where some carefree souls were partying the night away.
Soon enough, they reached the towering stone wall Alex remembered from his first frantic escape through the city, stopping a few dozen yards away. Even in his memory, it hadn't seemed quite this imposing.
Rising nearly sixty feet above their heads, it was a formidable barrier of white stone, its surface intricately etched with countless runic inscriptions that seemed to shimmer faintly under the emerging moonlight.
Watchtowers dotted its length every three hundred meters or so, giving any defenders plenty of cover in case it was needed.
A gate—small compared to the behemoth of a wall, but still wide enough for two carts to go through side by side with room to spare—was embedded into its base some distance away from them. It was manned by several bored looking guards at the end of their shift, their tired gazes roaming aimlessly over the street before them.
Elara noted his stare and stepped closer, glancing upward with a faint smile. "Welcome to the border between worlds." She murmured softly. "On this side, the commoners struggle daily to eke out a living, living in constant fear of what tomorrow might bring. On the other…" She gestured vaguely upwards. "It's an entirely different existence."
“Seems a bit excessive, no?” Alex questioned, tilting his head towards the colossal structure. “There’s no way all of this is required just to keep out some commoners. Is it to defend against something? Does it Rumble occasionally?” He smirked.
Elara shook her hand side to side. “Eh, there’s two reasons. The first, official one, is indeed the threat of attack—monster or man. It wouldn’t even be wrong to say that it’s the
main
reason.”
“And the second reason?” He prompted when it became clear the young woman was waiting for him to ask.
“Well, that’s status.” She answered with a sardonic smile. “This wall is by far the single most expensive thing most of the people on this side of it will ever see. The sheer scale and value of it is meant as a display of this city’s wealth. The fact that it also shows the peasants their place is just a happy coincidence.”
Alex sighed heavily, already gauging the challenge ahead. He glanced sideways at Elara. "I suppose that means that going through the gate isn’t as straightforward as walking up and being let through?"
Elara snorted softly. "Unless you've suddenly become nobility, you'd need special authorization or a hefty bribe. Even then, considering our circumstances, we'd probably attract more unwanted attention than we could handle."
"Figured." Alex muttered, rubbing his jaw thoughtfully as his gaze slowly travelled up the sheer wall again.
While he pondered, Duran stepped forward, carefully adjusting the makeshift bandage wrapped around his head. "Perhaps we could find another way—someplace less heavily guarded?"
"Unlikely." Elara said with a frown. "The entire perimeter is patrolled. Even if we find a quiet spot, what are we going to do once we’re there? I don’t really have any means to go through a ten-foot-thick, magically enchanted wall."
“Well…” Clearing his throat, Alex brought the other two’s attention back to himself. “I don’t know about through, but I do believe we can go over it.”
“Over it?” Duran glanced disbelievingly upward, before turning to the woman in their party. "Miss Elara, it appears Alexander has taken leave of his senses. Under these circumstances I can’t help but question his capability of mounting a successful rescue operatio- ow.”
His objections were interrupted by a sharp rap to the back of the head.
“I’m not crazy, you ass.” Alex sent the man a threatening glare, before returning his attention to the wall. “With my recent growth, I don’t believe it impossible for me to scale the wall, even while holding two people. As long as we manage to find a place that’s out of sight, I’m pretty sure I could get us over in a matter of seconds.”
Elara crossed her arms skeptically, arching an eyebrow as she scrutinized Alex from head to toe. "You're serious?"
"Dead serious." Alex replied firmly. "Look, I've tested it. The strength I can now generate with my magic is no joke. Carrying both of you at once won’t even be that hard."
Duran cleared his throat delicately, still rubbing the back of his head. "It's not that I doubt your sincerity, Alexander, but... this is quite the distance you are talking about."
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Alex rolled his eyes at them. "I'm aware. Trust me—I wouldn't suggest it if I wasn't sure."
Elara exchanged an uncertain glance with Duran before sighing in resignation. "Alright, fine. Assuming you aren't wildly overestimating yourself—"
"I'm not," Alex interjected.
"—
assuming
you're not," She emphasized with a pointed glare, "We still need to find a section of the wall where we're not immediately visible. Let's go."
Moving swiftly but carefully, they skirted along the imposing wall, sticking close to the shadows cast by nearby buildings and thick hedges. Soon, they discovered a stretch of wall partially obscured by a cluster of short, leafy trees, providing at least some cover from prying eyes.
Elara glanced around cautiously, making sure no patrols were within sight before turning to them. “Now, if you’re really serious about this, then I can make us invisible so we aren’t caught, but I can only hold it briefly. My mana circuits are still damaged from earlier, so you better move quickly."
"Understood." Alex nodded sharply. He quickly hooked an arm around each of his companions, lifting them effortlessly onto his shoulders. Elara yelped in surprise, while Duran steadied himself silently, though Alex heard him mutter a quiet prayer to himself.
The mage closed her eyes, whispering softly under her breath as she carefully drew mana into the air around her. A gentle shimmer washed over them, the spell wrapping around their forms as they faded from view. Her breathing quickened almost immediately, and Alex felt her flinch in discomfort.
"Hurry!" She hissed, voice strained. "I can't keep this going long."
Drawing in a deep breath, Alex directed a powerful surge of mana down into his leg, feeling the muscles tense and coil like a spring.
The sudden influx of strength was as intoxicating as ever, but now wasn’t the time to get caught up in self-admiration. Focusing on his target, he bent his knees, gathered himself, and leaped.
With a jolt, the ground vanished beneath them in an instant. The wall blurred past as they shot upward, his companions letting out surprised exclamations at the sudden acceleration.
Ignoring them, Alex soared to over half the height of the massive barrier before gravity reclaimed its hold. Reacting swiftly, he twisted his body midair and pushed off a slight protrusion left by the enchantments covering the wall, soaring upwards once again.
Near the top, Alex reached out, gripped the ledge firmly and pulled himself and his stunned passengers smoothly over onto the narrow walkway that crowned the wall.
Gently setting Elara and Duran down, he turned with a quiet smirk, breath only slightly quickened from the exertion. "See? Told you it wasn't impossible."
Duran straightened out his robes, his pale face betraying no expression beyond mild surprise. "That was... certainly an experience."
Elara on the other hand stumbled briefly as she regained her balance, shooting Alex a glare that was equal parts angry and nauseated. “I’m never doing that again.” She forced out as she clutched her stomach.
“Well, you’re free to believe that, but unfortunately you kind of have to.” Alex replied dryly, chuckling at her groan of despair. “We’re only halfway there. We still need to get back down the other side, so you should both climb on when you’re ready.”
As he spoke, Alex quickly surveyed the surrounding area, idly noting that the section of wall around them was currently deserted. He could hear a few guards talking in the closest watchtower, but they didn’t seem like they were going to stop anytime soon, which their mage no doubt noticed as the trio flickered back into view.
Turning to look deeper into the city, it finally struck him why Elara had called this wall a border between worlds.
From their vantage point atop the towering structure, the sharp divide between the commoners and the city's elite became painfully apparent. On the side they'd just left lay the commoners district—densely packed streets filled with modest homes, primarily wooden structures standing shoulder-to-shoulder.
While relatively clean and orderly, there was no denying the cramped, practical nature of the area, clearly built more for function than comfort or aesthetics, and the quality of construction only worsened the closer to the outskirts you looked.
But right in front of them, separated by a mere dozen feet of wall, the contrast was staggering. Wide, immaculately paved avenues stretched elegantly between pristine mansions, each more opulent than the last.
Ornamental gardens, lush and painstakingly maintained, bloomed vibrantly under the soft illumination of enchanted streetlamps. Marble fountains gleamed gently, the sound of flowing water creating a serene backdrop to a district built entirely on wealth and privilege.
Alex stared down, momentarily speechless at such blatant disparity laid bare before him. The difference wasn't merely stark; it was staggering, almost offensive in its casual display.
“Ok, let’s get this over with.” He was brought out of his depressive thoughts by Elara’s resigned voice. “I’ll only be able to hold the spell for a few seconds, so go quickly.”
Turning around with a quick nod, he scooped his two companions over his shoulders once again and leaped off the wall, aiming for a nearby roof to break their fall.
With a slight exertion of will, he flooded mana into his leg once more, bracing himself just before impact. Despite this, the unexpected weight of his added loads buckled his knees, driving them into the stone with a sharp
crack.
“Nngh!” He let out an agonised grown, unceremoniously dropping his burdens as white hot pain lanced up his thighs and he collapsed onto his face.
“Oh gods,” Elara exclaimed, scrambling quickly to her feet and rushing over to Alex. "Are you alright?"
“I’m good.” Alex grunted out through clenched teeth, biting back a groan as his fractured kneecaps started knitting themselves back together. "Just misjudged that a little. Gimme a minute."
"A little?" Duran repeated dryly, brushing off his clothes as he rose. "I’d hate to see what a larger misjudgement might look like."
Alex shot him a nonplussed glare, but the undead man’s expression didn't falter. Rolling his eyes, Alex waved off their concern, gingerly getting back up and testing his legs before nodding once, satisfied. "I'll manage. Come on, we need to move before someone investigates that noise."
Setting off, the three moved carefully across the rooftop, staying low and silent as Elara led them further south. In the distance, the streets slowly filled with activity, lavish carriages and elegant nobles converging steadily upon a particularly impressive looking estate.
“Apparently they aren’t fully advertising this event as an execution.” Alex told the others what he’d gathered from the little he could overhear with his enhanced hearing. “The people coming here think it’s a banquet for building connections, though there are a few rumours that some criminal is going to be put to death afterwards.” His face darkened. “As
entertainment.
”
Elara nodded her head. “The rumour was probably spread by the Miganos themselves. They can’t just announce that they’ll be killing someone publicly, but they need some way for you to know their plans. The rumours are their backup.”
“Well, they have my attention.” Alex frowned, his anger growing. “They better not regret drawing it.”
Eventually, they reached their destination, stopping a few rooftops away from the massive compound that made up the estate. While they were indeed in the inner city, where only the rich and powerful resided, it was very clear at a glance that the Miganos were on a whole other level compared to their neighbours.
The sprawling complex occupied several hectares of prime territory, enclosed by intricate fencing and meticulously maintained hedges. At its center rose an imposing four-story building, its elegant towers and massive columns gleaming brilliantly under the soft glow of enchanted lights, effortlessly overshadowing everything nearby.
Thankfully, it seemed the event wasn’t going to take place within the structure. After the guests entered, they were led off to the side to a large gazebo covering an area half the size of a football field, where various drinks and refreshments awaited them.
Settling quietly against the cool stonework, Alex scanned the arriving guests with narrowed eyes. Progressively more elegant carriages arrived, each bearing distinctive crests and insignias clearly denoting their noble origins.
The air below buzzed with restrained excitement and underlying tension, evident even from their elevated vantage point.
Alex frowned slightly as a particularly fancy carriage rolled through the estate’s grand gates, its crimson and gold colours bold and distinctive. Its appearance caused a great commotion amongst the gathered guests, many of them expressing surprise and consternation at their presence.
"Any idea who they are?" He asked their resident noble expert, worried that another powerful obstacle had appeared in front of their rescue plan.
Elara leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing. "That's the Kerune family." She explained quietly. "Rivals of the Miganos. Them being here can’t mean anything good."
“Oh?” Alex raised an eyebrow. “Do you reckon they’d help us if shit hits the fan later?”
“Hits the… what?” Elara sent him a weird look before returning her attention to the estate. “Maybe.” She shrugged. “You never know with these nobles. One day they’re trying to kill each other to the last, and the next it’s as if they’re best friends. Best not to hold out too much hope.”
Another carriage soon followed, its silver and sapphire banners shimmering faintly in the lantern light. Elara made a quiet sound of recognition. "Now
that’s
an issue. That's the Levoris family, the last of the big three families. They’re soon to be allied with the Miganos through marriage, so they’ll definitely step in to hinder us, if only to protect their future interests.”
Alex’s jaw tightened. More nobles, more politics, more complications. He shook his head slowly, keeping his voice low. "Remember, if it’s really looking hopeless, then we pull back. As bad as I feel about it, us dying with Grenil won’t help anyone.”
Duran shifted quietly next to him, his posture rigid and alert as he watched the arrivals below. "Then we should remain ready. It won't do for us to miss our chance if it comes."
Alex nodded quietly, settling deeper into their hidden vantage point. He did briefly wonder why the other man was so on board with risking himself to rescue some man he’d never even met before, but quickly dismissed the thought to the back of his head.
Below, tensions simmered between enemies, allies greeted each other, and the ignorant simply enjoyed the night, oblivious to the powder keg they had walked into.
The stage was set. Now all they could do was wait, watch, and hope for an opportunity.