Dago arrived at the Academy's main gate.
The guards were noticeably more numerous, and the Wizards entering and exiting were expressionless and solemn.
He tentatively activated Detection Art to scan a few passing Wizards, one of whom, a middle-aged Wizard, glared at him with a fierce look.
"Are you trying to die? How dare you use Detection Art on an Academy Wizard?"
The middle-aged Wizard flicked his hand, and a magic wand hidden in his sleeve slid out, pointing at Dago as he shouted loudly.
Seeing the energy particle fluctuations gathering at the tip of the magic wand, Dago raised his hands and quickly said, "Sorry, it's a misunderstanding. I'm not aware of the Academy's rules."
Seeing that the middle-aged Apprentice Wizard made no further moves, Dago slowly pulled out his Level 3 Apprentice badge from the Wizard Alliance on his neck.
The middle-aged Apprentice Wizard's expression softened considerably, and he slowly dissipated the energy fluctuations from his magic wand, walking towards Dago.
"Kid, be careful next time. The external situation is very tense right now. Don't recklessly use combat Wizardry on your own people," the middle-aged Apprentice Wizard told Dago before hurrying away.
Dago patted his chest, let out a sigh of relief, and nodded, seeing many people watching the commotion...
He quickly swiped the Academy gate's identification device and entered the Academy.
Because Aynak Wizarding Academy was protected by Rune Megastructures, the Aynak Town Mortal Army Command Headquarters had moved into the Academy castle to prevent extraordinary assassinations by hostile forces.
On his way to the Academy castle, Dago saw many Wizards with hurried expressions; the usually elegant hems of their robes were covered in dust, their brows were furrowed, and their eyes held anxiety.
More and more Academy Wizards were being dispatched by the Academy to protect the villages around the Town or to intercept enemy advance Wizard units.
The urns of Academy Wizards were constantly being sent back, and most of them were people they knew.
Dago arrived at the Academy's castle and found the temporary Aynak Town Guard Office, which was currently responsible for the military defense of the Aynak Town area.
This was a large room that Dago had visited before, cleared out from the Academy Dean's Office, with two guards in chainmail and longswords standing at the entrance.
"I need to go in and see the officer inside; I have important intelligence to report," Dago said to one of the unblinking guards.
"No one can enter without a warrant," the soldier said firmly, looking straight ahead.
Dago's head ached now; where was he supposed to get a warrant? He could only stand foolishly outside the door, thinking of a solution.
Just then, the middle-aged Wizard Dago had met once was striding towards the room, preparing to enter.
Dago quickly stopped him and said, "Hello, Wizard, I am Dago Heka, and I need your help with something."
The middle-aged Wizard did not blame Dago, stopping to say, "You can just call me Raymond Wizard. Tell me what it is."
"I have important intelligence I want to report to the officer inside."
"Alright, seeing as you're a Level 3 Apprentice Wizard of the Academy, come in with me."
After speaking, he gestured for the two guards to make way and led Dago inside.
Inside, several men dressed as knights in luxurious plate armor sat at a walnut long table, pointing, writing, and drawing on a large parchment map.
Seeing the middle-aged Wizard enter, the men all stood up, making a fist-to-chest salute with their right hands.
"Raymond Wizard!" they shouted loudly.
Only then did Dago realize the middle-aged Wizard held a high position.
Raymond took the head seat at the long table, waved his hand, signaling everyone to sit down, and looked at Dago, who was standing beside him.
"Speak, what important intelligence is it?"
Dago took out the Dark Blood Council badge he had looted from the Black Robe Wizard and showed it to everyone.
Immediately, everyone's expressions changed; some were uneasy, some calm, and some even gritted their teeth.
"Where did you get this from?" Raymond asked calmly.
"The forest outside the Town. I live there."
"Did you kill him or did he escape?"
"Killed him."
"I never thought there'd be a talent like you in the forest."
Raymond looked at Dago with appreciation, then quickly went to the large, pieced-together parchment map and began to examine it.
"Come and see exactly where it is on the map," he raised his hand and beckoned Dago.
Dago put away the badge and walked towards the wooden stand where the map was hung. Everyone was looking at him, and he felt a little nervous.
He carefully examined the map and finally found the approximate location based on the marked terrain features.
Dago pointed at the map, and everyone looked over, their expressions changing again.
"Too fast, they retreated too quickly," Dago heard Raymond mutter with a displeased expression.
"You must speed up the recruitment of the Town's militia units. Get as many as you can, right now."
Raymond then loudly gave orders to the knight officers.
They strode out of the room amidst a clatter of clashing steel.
Now only Dago and Raymond were left in the room; Raymond was gesturing on the map.
"Raymond Wizard, since you know this intelligence, may I request that you send a Wizard to guard the forest?" Dago said softly to Raymond.
"That's not realistic, Dago. The forest is too big, and we don't have enough manpower or time," Raymond's attention remained on the map.
"Then can the Academy accept the people living in the forest?"
"Dago, you have made a contribution. Based on the Dark Blood Council member you killed, you can become my 副官 and move into the Academy. As for the others, I am very sorry."
Raymond looked at Dago then, speaking to him with the intention of recruiting him.
"I have friends in the forest; I cannot abandon them," Dago said after a moment of silence.
"How about this, I have a suggestion: the Academy will assign a Wizard to form a Forest Patrol with the Wizards living in the forest, how about that?" Raymond suggested with a smile.
"That works."
"Alright then, please wait here for a moment. I will use a communication crystal to call him over."
Raymond took out a white crystal inscribed with runes, in its very center was a perfect large triangle...
On two sides of the triangle were two symmetrical heptagonal facets, possessing extremely high purity and transparency.
"Viser, come to the Town Guard Office for a moment," Raymond said into the communication crystal.
About ten minutes later, a young Wizard with platinum-blonde short hair, freely flowing, with a few strands of demonic purple dyed at the tips, walked in...
He performed a disciple's 禮儀 towards Raymond.
He nodded slightly, simultaneously touching his left chest with his right hand. This action symbolized "By the Wizard's heart, I show my true self."
He did not look at Dago, directly facing Raymond and asking, "Mentor Raymond, is there something you need me for?"
"Viser, you need to go out and get some experience. There's just such an opportunity now, to form a Patrol with another young talent in the forest on the outskirts of the Town."
Raymond's gaze was as calm as water as he spoke slowly.
"I will follow your instructions, Mentor," Viser then glanced sideways at Dago.
"Dago, this is Viser. At only seventeen, he is the youngest Level 3 Apprentice Wizard in the Academy's history. I hope you two get along well."
Raymond said to Dago, indicating that they could leave, then looked at the parchment map.
Dago and Viser exited the room together. Dago sized him up as he opened the door for Viser.
As Dago was observing Viser, the other person was also observing him, but only casually scanned him a few times before looking away.
Dago felt that this guy seemed to look down on him, but then again, he was a genius Wizard Apprentice of the Academy.
"Your name is Dago, right? You go and contact the rats living in the forest to gather together, then come find me tomorrow. I hope you don't drag me down."
Viser's voice was cold, with a hint of unchallengeable assertiveness.
"Alright, Viser Celestial Dragon," Dago naturally didn't give him a good look either.
Viser ignored him and turned to leave.
Dago quickly returned to the forest to find Old Marico and tell him the good news. The Academy's willingness to provide assistance meant they had another glimmer of hope.
........
The midday sun was torn into fragments by the tree canopy, scattering sparsely on the treehouse clearing.
The iron spit over the campfire sizzled with oil, as monster meat mixed with venison rolled in the flames...
The aroma filled the air, but it couldn't dispel the gloom on the brows of the Wizards gathered around.
This gathering was initiated by Old Marico, and everyone who came was a Wizard resident of the forest.
Old Marico saw Dago arrive and immediately invited him to sit beside him, then took out a parchment map.
"Old Marico, everyone's here. If you have something to say, say it quickly; don't waste everyone's time," a sharp voice rang out.
Looking up, it was a thin, middle-aged man in his forties, with an impatient expression.
Old Marico ignored him and spread out the parchment map in his hand. Ten pairs of eyes, reflecting the firelight, focused on the red markings on the parchment map.
"The Dark Blood Council's vanguard has already reached the outskirts of the forest," Old Marico's bony finger heavily poked the map.
"Then let's keep them all in the forest." Before he finished speaking, a young Wizard abruptly threw a gnawed bone into the fire, sparks splashing onto the runic tattoo on his arm, glowing faintly red.
"Idiot!" one of the middle-aged Wizards suddenly spoke, lightly tapping his finger, and the campfire instantly shot up three zhang high flames, startling everyone to step back.
"The Dark Blood Council dares to come out in full force, they must be confident of defeating the Academy. You still want to keep them in the forest? You'd only be offering them sacrifices."
He sliced off a piece of crispy roasted meat and chewed it unhurriedly.
The young Wizard, losing face, loudly retorted to the middle-aged Wizard, arguing with him.
Amidst the noisy arguments, Dago, who had been silent, suddenly raised his white hand. A biting cold wind suddenly arose, and the crowd quieted for a moment, many also calming down.
"Instead of arguing about these things, let's solve the problem," Dago pointed to the Academy badge on his robe, "I have already communicated with the Academy people, and they are willing to provide assistance."