Chapter 39: Returning to the Capital

All the wine in the world will eventually run out! Even the finest feast must come to an end! No gathering, no matter how long, must finally part! What must come, will come; what must go, cannot be stayed.

Amidst clinking goblets and scraping cutlery, as the thick candles were about to burn out, Shaoke had to return to his residence to pack the items he planned to take with him the next day. Everyone escorted Shaoke all the way to the outskirts of the town and assigned two soldiers to protect him.

As Shaoke was about to leave, the battalion commander whispered softly beside him, "Mage Xueye, I have served here for fifty years and have never encountered a mage as easy to get along with as you. Although you are also somewhat reclusive, you have never cast aside the lives of the soldiers. You respect them, and for that, I thank you! Mage Xueye, I wish you a safe journey! This is the sentiment of all the soldiers. That's why everyone pooled their money to organize this gathering. Even though not all the soldiers could attend, I believe you understand."

Shaoke was slightly taken aback. He softly recited the spell to dismiss the magical effect and removed the hood covering his head. "Battalion Commander, thank you! I apologize for my actions earlier. I never imagined the soldiers would feel this way. I... Please tell the soldiers I'm sorry! Mage Xueye cannot bid farewell to each of them individually."

Shaoke did not rest well that night. The faces of the people he had met over the past two years kept flashing before his eyes: the captains, Iron Tower, the young physician, and the many soldiers whose names he couldn't recall. He knew that after this parting, they would likely never meet again. Even if they did, the vast differences in their social standing and positions would prevent them from ever recovering that faint sense of admiration and affection they had shared during this time.

One by one, Shaoke placed various books, scrolls, papers, and magic materials into several large chests. He caressed the wooden hut he had lived in for nearly three years with a sense of nostalgia, feeling a deep sense of loss. The orphanage of his youth was not his home, nor was the academy. Although this place wasn't his home either, he had spent nearly two years managing his life in this small wooden hut. So many of his firsts happened in this little hut, and leaving so abruptly filled him with a deep reluctance to leave.

"Shaoke Xueye, stayed here for two years and ten months." Shaoke carefully carved this line of text along the edge of the wooden bed with an engraving knife, then smiled self-deprecatingly. Not a great habit, is it!

Before dawn, Shaoke, who was still awake, heard the crunch of footsteps outside. He cautiously pushed open the window and saw countless figures moving beyond his Alert Ward. The soft rustling sounds carried over with the cold wind. Shaoke quietly cast the zero-tier spell "Pierce the Night" on himself and observed. It turned out to be the soldiers from the town, led by several captains, who had gathered outside the ward, careful not to disturb him.

Touched, Shaoke gently closed the window, lit a candle, and signaled to the soldiers outside that he was awake. Seeing the light in the wooden hut, the soldiers waited a moment before approaching and standing quietly outside.

Shaoke emerged and asked a few soldiers to help carry his luggage. He then said to the captain, "Why did you come so early? Look, the soldiers are freezing!"

"Mage Xueye, it's no trouble at all. I asked them to come early to wait for you so you wouldn't have to wait anxiously. But many soldiers insisted on coming along after hearing about it, so the captain allowed them to," Physician Ino chimed in from the side.

Although Shaoke wanted to say more, he opened his mouth only to find that any words would feel hollow. He could only remember this kindness. What else could he do?

When everyone arrived at the military camp in the town, the soldiers who had stayed behind had already prepared a hearty breakfast for Shaoke. They had also gathered many local specialties from the Misty Forest. Before Shaoke could even refuse, Physician Ino stepped forward to explain, "Mage Xueye, this is everyone's heartfelt gesture. Although it may not be valuable..." As he spoke, Physician Ino's voice choked up. Although his interactions with Shaoke had not been frequent, every time they undertook missions together, Shaoke had always done his best to help him. Every soldier who had been injured here had received a visit from Shaoke. During Shaoke's time here, the soldiers' casualties had been minimal. Reflecting on the recent incidents that occurred while carrying out missions alone with Mage Yija and Mage Kiya made Physician Ino even more reluctant to see Shaoke leave.

As dawn broke, the battalion commander arrived with a merchant. "Mage Xueye, this merchant is the only one returning to the nearest city today. You should travel back with him. You'll have company along the way."

Shaoke looked up and recognized the merchant who had sold him goods some time ago. He was short and thin, with a furry tiger-skin cap on his head. His sparse beard was flecked with his frozen breath, and his dark eyes darted around occasionally. He wore a thick, full-length lamb's wool robe, cinched at the waist with a palm-wide leather belt, giving him a spirited appearance.

The merchant smiled amiably. "Mage Xueye, I am honored to accompany you on this journey." Shaoke was in no mood for casual conversation and merely nodded in acknowledgment before falling silent.

Since Mage Yija and Mage Kiya had not yet arrived, everyone went inside to wait. Iron Tower helped load Shaoke's chests and the gifts from the soldiers onto the merchant's prepared wagon so they could depart promptly.

Everyone sat in silence inside, unsure of what to say. Suddenly, Shaoke remembered seeing injured soldiers waiting outside with the others earlier. He asked, "Battalion Commander, why did I see injured soldiers outside? Did they have a conflict with the adventurers in town? If such things happen again and we are in the right, we must band together against them. If necessary, we can ask Mage Yija and the others for help."

"Ah!" The Elder Physician, who had been sitting quietly with his head down, sighed but said nothing. Physician Ino, upon hearing this, choked up and said, "Mage Xueye, it has nothing to do with the adventurers. They wouldn't dare! It's... it's from the injuries sustained during the recent mission with Mage Yija and the others."

"Oh!" Shaoke felt uneasy. Perhaps if he had gone along, these things wouldn't have happened. "It's fortunate they were only injured. In the future, if you encounter large groups of magical beasts, it's best to avoid them. Mage Yija and the others are still somewhat inexperienced."

Physician Ino wanted to say more, but his father, the Elder Physician, stopped him. The other bystanders did not discuss the matter further.

As everyone sat in silence, a soldier reported, "Sirs, Mage Yija has arrived."

When Shaoke and the others went outside, they found that only Mage Yija had come, while Mage Kiya had not shown up. This left everyone somewhat dissatisfied. Physician Ino muttered, "Look, after causing the deaths of several brothers a few days ago, he doesn't even dare to face Mage Xueye, who taught him."

Shaoke did not hear what Physician Ino was muttering. After the two mages exchanged formal greetings, Mage Yija said helplessly, "I apologize, Lord Mage Xueye. Mage Kiya overdid his meditation yesterday and has not yet recovered his focus, so he cannot come. Please forgive him."

Shaoke didn't particularly care whether the other came or not, as they had no deep connection. He had only waited out of courtesy and convention.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Shaoke felt it was getting late and time to leave. After all, they couldn't stand around talking forever. He formally bid farewell to everyone and boarded the carriage specially prepared for him by the merchant.

As the carriage moved farther away, the soldiers' shouted blessings gradually faded away. Shaoke only faintly heard the young physician shout, "Mage Xueye, send us letters when you reach the capital! I will definitely open a materials shop in the capital. When you come to buy, it'll be free. When you..."

Physician Ino's voice slowly faded into the distance. Although Shaoke did not look back through the carriage's rear window, scenes of everyone bidding him farewell flashed through his mind: the many soldiers whose names he couldn't recall, the captains, the Elder Physician, Physician Ino Swan, the loyal Iron Tower, the middle-aged blacksmith who barely spoke a word all month, and, for some reason, the thin, slightly balding tavern owner—perhaps because he had swindled Shaoke out of the most silver coins.

Only after two or three magic hours of leaving the town did Shaoke have time to observe the carriage he was in: a spacious four-wheeled carriage pulled by two draft horses. Although it was somewhat bumpy, the interior was quite comfortable—thick black carpet, small cushions, a portable writing desk, and a small copper heater. Shaoke was deeply impressed by the merchant's arrangements. Although he didn't know if the military had paid the merchant in gold coins, Shaoke decided to give him another gold coin for his exceptionally thoughtful service. He remembered that when he first arrived, he had ridden in a dilapidated carriage with cold winds constantly seeping in through cracks in the roof. Although Shaoke had paid him enough, such service was highly unsatisfactory for a respected mage. In the end, before leaving, Shaoke had used the combustion powder he had brought with him to set the merchant's broken carriage on fire. Although the merchant was furious, there was nothing he could do against a mage with no shame.

Leaning against the cushion, Shaoke silently pondered his thoughts, but the more he thought, the more uncomfortable he felt. In the end, he simply pulled a book from his traveling pack and began reading. At noon, Shaoke did not get out of the carriage for lunch but had an attendant bring it to him. After receiving the mage's silver coins, the merchant diligently prepared the most sumptuous lunch for Shaoke. However, the merchant mentioned that dinner would be complimentary and, of course, equally lavish. After all, one silver coin was enough to pay for three hearty meals.