Magus: A Supernatural LitRPG Saga (Apocosmos Book 2) by Dimitrios Gkirgkiris (romantic love story reading TXT) 📕

"It doesn't require enormous intelligence to reach this conclusion, good dwarf," the dragon replied, a hint of sarcasm in his deep voice.

"Ommanth, is it true that you can cast spells?" I asked, my tone serious, in an attempt to cut their conversation short.

"Of course I can," he replied instantly. "All dragons are capable of--"

"I mean, can you still cast spells?"

"Why, yes I can, Alexander. Just because I'm imprisoned in here, it doesn't mean that I've lost my abilities."

"I told ye dragons can't be trusted, half-Celt," Rory said and waved his index finger in the air. "Sneaky fuckers, all of them."

"What is the meaning of this?" Ommanth asked.

"Why did you keep this from us?" Louie pressed on.

"I did no such thing. There are no spells that can leave my prison, so I don't see in what context I should have mentioned the issue."

What he was saying made sense. If there was no way his spells could reach us from where he was, there was no reason he would have brought it up.

"I'm not even sure why you'd think I can't cast spells anymore," he said, mirroring my thoughts. "I thought we were past the point of not trusting each other."

"You're right," I said and nodded at his remark. "It's just... you know. This thing with the doppelgänger replacing Leo."

"I see. If you're thinking I could somehow extract some knowledge from this person," the dragon continued, "I am afraid I can't touch them."

"Actually, I think you might still be able to help us," Louie added. "Will you be able to tell if she speaks the truth?"

"That I can do, Louie," the disembodied voice said. "It's a simple spell for me and since I'm the target, it will work."

"And ye'll know for sure if she's lying?"

"Judging by her level, most certainly."

"Are we doing it then?" the doppelgänger asked.

"Ready when you are," I prompted, and placed the dragon's orb on a table.

"Okay. Go ahead, Viki, is it? Start with a blatant lie."

"I love giants," she said and almost spat at the mention of the word.

"Okay, even a blind man can tell she is lying," Ommanth said, "but my spell lit up as well. So you're good to go."

"Tell us about you," Louie said before I had the chance to voice any questions.

"Ah, let's see," she said, sounding a bit surprised by the question. "My name is Viki Anthur and I'm a doppelgänger. You probably don't know a lot about my people. We try to keep a low profile. There's a lot of discrimination against us."

"Ye mean because ye can deceive people and nobody would know any better?"

"Because of people like you, dwarf," she said, but now her voice didn't sound angry at all. Just rather tired. "My tribe lived in the Blue Ridge Mountains for hundreds of years. We kept the place clear of giants and minded our own business away from people who would judge us based on our race. We were thriving... until Abrathion decided that he wanted to employ us."

"So you are working for him?" I asked.

"I am. But not because I want to," she continued. "Like I said, we aren't very eager to pick up our swords and fight, lest it's to protect our lands and people. We refused at first, but men like him do not take no for an answer. Especially since I'd be a great tactical advantage in his financial ventures, being able to infiltrate his enemies and gather information without being noticed."

"He's got someone you love," Louie deducted.

"My wife," the doppelgänger answered, but now her eyes looked through me. "Yelena, the love of my life. You know doppelgängers live lives changing bodies. We are old and young, women, men, and everything in between. But for all the spectrum of our life's journey, we only mate once. And my one is now held hostage by Abrathion."

I didn't say anything, but instead looked at the orb.

"She's telling the truth--" the dragon said, but was promptly interrupted.

"I'm not done yet," she said. "I apologize for deceiving you all, but I would burn the world to cinders if it meant saving my Yelena."

"All truth," the dragon said.

"If you're wondering why I'm asking for your help now, it's because I know you'd do the same for your Rhiannon. Because I know you can understand my pain."

I pursed my lips in anger and looked her straight in the eyes. I knew Ommanth had said she was telling the truth, but I wanted to see it for myself, to discern if she was just playing with my feelings. Yet all I could see in there was despair. They were the eyes of a woman who had lost hope and was honestly reaching out for a helping hand. How could I not give it to her, when I knew what would happen if I didn't.

"We will take back Leo," I said after taking in a deep breath. "We will rescue Yelena. And then we will kill Abrathion, so that this ends once and for all."

"That's the spirit, half-Celt," Rory yelled, taking me by surprise.

"You don't need to come, Rory. You have your own goals and--" was all I managed to get out.

"Nonsense. That fucker has been playing boss far too long," Rory said and then turned to look at Viki. "And ye know I'm against slavery and taking hostages as a principle."

"You're a good man, Rory," I said and figured this was as good a time as any to tell him about the decision I had taken regarding our business partnership. "And I know I've been going on and on about retiring as soon as my savings allow it, but if we make it back, I think I'll stick around until we can fund your army and reclaim your home."

"Ye would..." the dwarf whispered, seemingly at a loss for words. "Ye'd really do that, lad?"

"Of course," I said, smiling. "It's what friends do."

Rory's bottom lip trembled momentarily and he started stroking his beard awkwardly. Not finding a