A Mage?
What is a Mage doing in this remote area?
Seranya, holding Shen En, stood at the study door. Old Ai’s gaze shifted from his son to the white-robed elder behind him: “Archmage Horn, this is my son, Shen En. He’s been over three years old for a few months now.”
The elder nodded slightly, his cloudy pupils fixed on Shen En’s face, as if trying to peer into his soul.
“Lord,” the elder’s voice was raspy like sandpaper, “I am truly ashamed to arrive so late at night, but the matter is important, so I won’t beat around the bush. The Arcane Tower has observed an anomaly in the Eastern Territory’s magic field. The Magic Council has ordered me to come and warn you—there might be ‘undercurrents’ infiltrating the border soon.”
“Undercurrents?” Old Ai frowned.
“The Morning Dawn Church calls them ‘Blasphemers,’ and in the Imperial Court’s secret reports for a thousand years… they are called the ‘Witch Cult.’”
Shen En’s breath hitched.
The timing was off.
Could it be that this world wasn’t entirely following his setting?
Old Ai’s expression was grim: “The Witch Cult has reappeared?”
The elder pulled a roll of parchment from his sleeve. The dark red wax seal bore an emblem of a tower encircled by stars—the symbol of the Arcane Tower.
“This is intelligence shared by the Magic Council,” he handed the scroll to Old Ai. “Over the past three months, seven villages in the northern part of the Eastern Territory have been massacred. The Kingdom sent an army to Suppression them, a full thirty thousand men, all beheaded and dismembered, with no survivors.”
“Thirty thousand…?!”
Edwin’s voice was almost inaudible, “Even livestock would take days and nights to slaughter, wouldn’t they? How could this be? How did the Witch Cult treat those corpses? Did they impale them on stakes, circling the altar…?”
The elder shook his head, seemingly unwilling to elaborate on the matter. He handed the parchment to Edwin.
“To prevent the Witch Cult from entering the Empire, the Church has already dispatched the Judgment Knight Order for advance deployment. Mages from the southern end will also send people to assist with defense in advance.”
Old Ai unrolled the scroll, and Shen En seized the opportunity to peek.
On the yellowed page, a talisman-like totem was roughly drawn:
A vertical pupil opened in the center of a twisted hexagram, its edges splattered with brown bloodstains.
The Witch Cult’s altar mark—this totem was identical to how he first described it in his book.
It seemed that even if this world had minor changes, the general scope was still within a controllable state.
It should be that this world had refined the details he hadn’t been able to perfect.
“Thank you for the Magic Council’s intelligence,” Old Ai put away the scroll, his knuckles unconsciously rubbing the hilt of his sword as he pondered, “but Klaist Territory is quite far from the incident, and the Empire is different from the Kingdom. With the Silver Wolf Emblem bestowed by the Imperial Court, if the Witch Cult dares to invade…”
“Lord,” Horn suddenly interrupted him, “Forgive my bluntness, but do you truly believe your territory can withstand the Witch Cult?”
Upon hearing this, Edwin remembered the thirty thousand men from the Kingdom…
Most likely, they were all sacrificed to the White-Haired Witch.
He truly had no confidence.
“Furthermore, this time the Witch Cult is somewhat different from before. The attackers are ‘cloaked in black robes, with eyes like snakes and scorpions,’ already non-human. The Bishop also possesses a high-level spell—the Bone-Corroding Curse.”
“Bone-Corroding Curse?”
The gnarled wooden staff tapped lightly on the bluestone floor, and a blue light suddenly illuminated its tip. The air instantly grew cold.
Seranya, holding Shen En, pulled back a little.
Shen En, however, stared motionlessly at the elder. He very much wanted to witness what was called magic…
The elder closed his eyes as if chanting something, then held his palm upward and flat. A small black orb ascended in his palm.
The black orb had no heat, but it was like a frozen river in winter, seeping bone-chilling cold every second.
Shen En was somewhat mesmerized.
It’s just that this old man’s spell seemed to be used rather unskillfully; the magic within it was fluctuating, flickering on and off.
However…
When could he see magic?
“This is the Bone-Corroding Curse.”
In the courtyard, a branch of an old oak tree happened to extend over the second-floor corridor. The elder casually plucked a green leaf.
“I am now applying high-level magic resistance to this green leaf. This effect can basically withstand all attacks from Law-level (Tier 2) Mages.”
As he said, the old man applied high-level magic resistance to the green leaf, then dropped it into the black orb in his right hand.
The black orb actually ignored that thin film representing resistance.
The green leaf immediately began to fade, its flesh gradually collapsing. The veins, like drained blood vessels, turned from emerald green to grayish-white, and then peeled away in layers like old wall paint.
A green leaf, just like that, suddenly vanished.
Beautiful!
It’s just… this old man actually dared to openly use such a forbidden curse in front of his own father, which the Church strictly prohibited. He probably didn’t intend to scare the two of them either.
Indeed, Old Ai’s expression suddenly turned very unpleasant.
“Lord—”
“The principle of the Bone-Corroding Curse is similar to this,” Horn closed his palm, and the black orb instantly extinguished. “It doesn’t destroy objects, but directly disintegrates their structure, even ignoring magic resistance and taking effect from within the object. Even if you, Lord, have the family crest bestowed by the Imperial Court, I fear it will be of no avail against this.”
The Empire had three major powers: the Royal Family (government), the Church, and the Arcane Tower.
These three forces checked and balanced each other, jointly maintaining the Empire for a thousand years.
The emblem bestowed by the Royal Family granted honor buffs to the Lord and his subordinate knights.
At that time, by chanting prayers, they would receive certain buffs, including but not limited to enhanced movement, magic resistance, and so on…
This was also why Old Ai initially said he could handle it.
“Some priests of the Witch Cult are skilled in these evil spells, and there isn’t even a Mage in your territory who can provide effective defense.”
Edwin fell into thought: “Although that’s true, our territory is downstream in the Eastern Territory, and the Witch Cult is upstream. They would need to pass through several Lords’ territories before reaching here, so it’s not necessarily…”
The elder shook his head: “Although this is a small village and town, it bears the responsibility of early warning and joint defense. Furthermore, the nearby Golden Iris City is a vital fortress for entering the Empire. If the Witch Cult invades in force to besiege Golden Iris City, your land, Lord, will likely bear the brunt.”
“……”
Although Old Ai was a bit worried, he also knew that the old man was trying to intimidate him into agreeing directly.
He was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled: “Master, why don’t you state your conditions directly? The Arcane Tower wouldn’t just help a border Lord with defense for free, would it?”
The elder’s grayish eyebrows twitched: “The Magic Council requires ‘observation rights’—for the next fifteen years, apprentices from the Tower can freely enter and exit your territory to record monster movements, and you must prohibit the Church’s Holy Knights from stationing here. In exchange, we will help you defend your territory in the future.”
“The Magic Council’s people are truly far-sighted; they’re already eyeing my place.”
“The Magic Council has its own channels for acquiring information.”
“That’s true, but…”
Old Ai smiled easily, seemingly unconcerned: “Do you think the Church will agree? The Church’s people have always been looking for loopholes in the Magic Council, just like what you used just now, Master—it should be considered a ‘secret art’ explicitly forbidden from research within the Empire… What do you say?”
The elder stroked his beard and chuckled softly: “The Church won’t agree, but we only need to obtain the Lord’s permission, don’t we? And to stop them from coming here, we will be more sincere than them, won’t we?”
“……”
In silence, Old Ai and the elder exchanged glances, then both burst into laughter.
“Alright!” Old Ai’s expression quickly sobered. “But I have an additional request.”
He reached out and pinched Shen En’s chubby cheek: “Please, Master, teach this boy how to read and write, so he doesn’t keep peeking through the study door crack every day.”
Shen En looked over accordingly.
This was his father finding a way out for him.
Very good.
Learning magic early was also a good thing.
However, Horn merely stroked his beard, holding his head proudly, showing no intention of agreeing.
Edwin realized this, and his expression began to turn unpleasant again.
“Master?”
Horn chuckled softly and shook his head: “Lord, it’s not that I’m unwilling to agree, but the Royal Family has a regulation that magic cannot be privately taught.”
Bah!
Shen En really wanted to spit at this old man.
If he didn’t want to teach, he didn’t want to teach. What kind of excuse was that?
Don’t think he didn’t know that the Arcane Tower’s people took whoever they wanted as students. There was never any rule about not being able to teach privately; they just needed to register their origin at the Mage Registration Bureau.
The reason why the Empire’s magic was monopolized by the upper echelons was because these magic practitioners were one more arrogant than the next.
If you weren’t an official or a noble, they simply weren’t willing to teach.
Horn right now was clearly looking down on their family.
He thought they were just country bumpkins.
Shen En could overlook other things, but ever since he transmigrated to this world, he had spent three years with his current parents and received their nurturing grace. He absolutely could not let them swallow this insult.
Shen En deliberately sized up Horn, to make the old man notice him.
Horn, stroking his beard, did notice that something was amiss with him, so he asked, “Is there something you want to say?”
“Grandpa, may I ask a question?”
“You may.”
“Just now, was what Grandpa used magic?”
“Precisely.”
“Then why did those black orbs flicker on and off like candles just now?”
Horn frowned slightly, feeling a hint of unease, and asked, “What about it?”
Shen En blinked, “I recently read a fairy tale book, and there’s a story in it called ‘The King’s Mage’!”
“You could read at three years old?” Horn stroked his beard and chuckled, “Is it that story about the Mage who was expelled from the Mage ranks, ran off to a mortal kingdom to show off tricks, and then, full of himself, went to fight a dragon, only to be swallowed by it?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“What about this story?”
“Grandpa, do you remember? In the story, when the Mage cast spells, the light also flickered on and off, just like your spell just now!”
Horn’s smile suddenly froze.
“The book says that’s because he was an uneducated, fake Mage! He couldn’t even control the most basic magic power, which is why his spells flickered. But even so, he still bragged about himself to the villagers and the King who didn’t understand magic, making everyone believe he was the legendary Archmage.”
Shen En paused, seeing Horn remain silent, and continued in a child’s voice:
“Because no one had ever seen a true Archmage, the story spread like wildfire, and the people and the King all believed him. They supplied him with good wine and food, and over time, with everyone’s flattery, even he himself believed he was the so-called ‘Archmage’!”
“But in the end, when he went to fight the dragon, belly protruding, staff in hand, full of confidence, he ended up dying in the dragon’s mouth.”
“I wanted to ask, Grandpa, why was the black ball just now flickering on and off, just like in the storybook? Could it be that you, Grandpa, are also a Mage sent by the King?”
Horn’s face darkened further; he still said nothing.
The story was truly not made up by Shen En.
This fairy tale was widely circulated in this world, its moral being to advise children to learn humility and not to brag aimlessly.
And flickering magic was indeed a sign of unstable magic power supply.
Shen En’s citation was clearly using his identity as a child to subtly mock Horn. He compared Horn to the “Imperial Teacher” in the story, implying that Horn, like the Imperial Teacher, couldn’t even manage basic magic control, yet still put on airs in front of outsiders.
Pedantic, arrogant, conceited.
He had even cast aside the “Ten Virtues” required for Mage registration. What was he if not a fake Mage?
Such a person would be seen as a joke even by three-year-old children in the Empire, and would be ridiculed by some old fellows in the Magic Council.
Horn indeed became angry: “You… you ignorant child! This is precisely the subtlety of the spell!”
Shen En, however, maintained an innocent expression and voice: “Then why was that black ball spell just now like what was described in the fairy tale? Was the fairy tale book wrong?”
“This is—”
Horn was momentarily speechless, the words of explanation stuck in his throat, unable to come out.
Because no matter how he explained it, his spell was simply not refined, and it was indeed a poor imitation.
He had also intentionally shown off his research results to people who didn’t understand magic, wanting to bluff these border people of the Empire.
But what was strange was that this child, only three years old, could actually detect his magic power fluctuations?!
What, was he going to lie to a three-year-old child?
Lie and say that was the nature of this spell.
But if people in the Magic Council found out he was exposed by a child on the spot and lied to save face, they would probably laugh at him for the rest of his life!
Was he going to get angry with a three-year-old child?
That would be even more laughable!
Horn also saw Edwin and Seranya on the side trying to suppress their laughter, and his face grew even uglier.
Shen En, however, showed no fear.
Even if this old scoundrel refused to help defend the territory later, Shen En would still find a way to get others from the Arcane Tower to help in the future.
Among other things, the demi-humans in the Mage community were very friendly.
...
Shen En was waiting for this old scoundrel to storm off in anger without looking back, but to his surprise, the old man, after getting angry, started stroking his beard and laughing loudly:
“Children’s words are innocent! Children’s words are innocent! Although these are the words of a child, they are not inaccurate in the slightest! Indeed, it is my own lack of skill, yet I had the audacity to show off in front of others. I hope Lord and Lady will be very understanding, very understanding!”
After speaking, he leaned on his staff and sincerely apologized to the couple.
Shen En, on the other hand, was startled, not expecting this old man to have some magnanimity.
As the saying goes, one doesn't hit a smiling face, so the couple could only accept the apology and return the courtesy.
“Just now, did you see through it?” The elder looked at Shen En again.
Shen En shook his head, hugging his mother, and continued to act like a child: “I just saw some things like flowing water, flickering and fluctuating inside.”
“That is magic power. You are only three years old, and you can actually see the flow of magic power?”
“Not really…”
Shen En continued to act like a child, but Horn became extremely interested in him, his cloudy pupils fixed on Shen En’s face.
This time, Shen En clearly saw a circle of silver Pattern appear deep in the elder’s pupils, slowly rotating like gears.
Detection magic!
He had written this thing; of course, he knew what it did!
You old scoundrel!
You’re playing dirty, aren’t you?!
He desperately reined in his thoughts, pretending to be ignorant, while using the abstract concepts he learned in his previous life to loop in his mind.
Biden has diarrhea, Trump is pooping!
The silver Pattern suddenly stopped.
The robed elder was first stunned, took small steps backward, and then looked at his empty left hand, his heart filled with extreme surprise.
Why was the magic power gone after casting the spell?
“Interesting…”
The elder murmured softly, his withered fingers suddenly pressing on Shen En’s forehead.
A cold sensation pierced his skull, and Shen En seemed to hear the clicking sound of gears meshing in his mind.
Just as he was about to be unable to resist, the silver bracelet inside his sleeve suddenly emitted a faint light.
No one else present noticed this, only Shen En felt the bracelet on his wrist glowing and heating up, as if all the magic power had been absorbed...
“Archmage Horn!”
Seranya sharply stopped him.
Old Ai frowned tightly, his hand already on the hilt of the sword at his waist.
The robed elder quickly withdrew his hand and stepped back, his pupils, where the silver Pattern had dissipated, glowed terrifyingly, “Madam, there’s no need to be nervous, I was just confirming something.”
“Your Excellency is going too far, aren’t you! Why bother with a child?!”
The robed elder immediately turned to Old Ai, this time he was no longer arrogant, but leaned on his withered wooden staff and apologized again:
“Lord of Klaester Territory, I agree to teach magic. Your son has great magic talent. When he is six years old, we will have specialists come to supervise the Mage Tower. At that time, Lord, you can rest assured to entrust your son to us, please rest assured!”
After speaking, the robed elder bowed his head and apologized again.
Although Old Ai’s dissatisfaction had reached its peak, he knew he couldn’t turn hostile at the moment.
No matter what, Mages were more reliable than the current Church.
“Will six years old be too late?”
“Not late, not late. Magic is a lifelong study. For these two years, let your son first learn to read well and understand the basics of magic. I will send a dozen basic books over. If your son is not interested in this, or can’t even understand a single book, then he is not destined for magic, and I have no good solution.”
“......”
“What do you think, Lord?”
Edwin sighed in his heart, released his hand from the sword hilt, and bowed: “Then I thank the Archmage.”
The robed elder was quite satisfied, and returned the bow: “Hmm, it’s late at night. If there are no other matters, please excuse me for taking my leave first.”
“Archmage, take care.”
The robed elder finished speaking, and bowed his head in apology again.
But as he was about to leave, the old man’s expression suddenly changed.
In an instant, he quickly chanted, raised his hand to cast a blue barrier to protect the few people in front of him.
With a loud “boom!”
A huge rock crashed down, and the entire pavilion collapsed and shattered.
What happened?
Anyway, by the time Shen En came to his senses, he had already been carried by his mother and jumped down to the inner courtyard.
He saw his father, Edwin, standing on the bluestone slab in the inner courtyard, holding his sword, blocking in front of the mother and son, his brow tightly furrowed.
And around them, dozens of large and small black figures had already surrounded them.
These black figures had pointed hats, were all cloaked in black robes, held scimitars, and their entire faces were hidden under their hoods, with only two holes for their eyes, so dark that no light could be seen.
And standing in the very center was a priest holding a staff, with a pitch-black hood.
Edwin held his silver sword with both hands, his face solemn: “Witch Cult…?”
Hiss…
Shen En’s heart, however, was churning with stormy waves.
The plot isn’t right.
They’re here already?
...