Chapter 72: The Day Before

After the mage left, Shaoke no longer lingered to admire the capital’s scenery. He hailed a carriage and hurried back to the estate.

Upon Shaoke’s return, the officer handed him another letter, saying, “Respected Mage Xueye, this letter is for you,” and promptly passed it over.

Shaoke accepted it and asked, “Is dinner ready? Have the servants bring it over.” The officer nodded and immediately instructed the servants inside to serve the already-prepared meal, along with a small cask of wine.

After dinner, Shaoke quickly opened the letter from the female mage. Her message was nearly identical to the elder mage’s. At the end, she once again invited him to join the Mage Guild, assuring him that even if he practiced advanced meditation techniques, he need not worry about medicinal supplies—her mother would take care of them.

Shaoke folded the female mage’s letter and placed it back into the small box. In his reply, he wrote that he would consider the offer further. In truth, after reading her response, he had already decided against joining the Mage Guild. One reason was his reluctance to rely on her support; another was his fear that her mother might look down on him. Moreover, he still clung firmly to his aspiration of becoming a true Battle Mage. To realize that dream, he believed only prolonged life-and-death combat could make it possible.

After a brief meditation session, Shaoke decided to test the effects of the advanced meditation techniques he had acquired. He chose to begin with the method designed to enhance mental energy. With focused effort, he slowly guided his mental energy to trace the intricate patterns. Though he failed once, after consuming another drop of Empty Stone Liquid and drawing nourishment from the Empty Stone Bead, he succeeded without major difficulty. Once his mental space settled, he carefully attempted the tracing again. This time—thanks to countless prior practice sessions and one previous attempt—he finally succeeded.

Guided by Shaoke’s mental energy, the complex Three-pointed Star Magic Array began to rotate slowly. The refined mental energy flowing from the diamond-shaped pillar array suspended in his mental space entered the star array at a slightly accelerated pace. This energy circulated once through the Three-pointed Star Magic Array, then dispersed—only to be refined again by the refinement array before re-entering the three-pointed star. This cycle repeated until Shaoke’s concentration was nearly exhausted, at which point he ceased his meditation.

By the time he finished, it was already early morning. Shaoke briefly assessed the changes in his mental space. Perhaps because he had only just begun practicing this technique, he noticed no significant increase in his mental energy. After some reflection, he resolved to continue using this method for several more days to observe its specific effects.

In the following days, after mailing transcribed First-level Spells to the mages stationed at the border, Shaoke immersed himself fully in spell practice. Fortunately, by consulting the officer, he learned the location of the designated spell practice grounds. Through long hours of training there, he eventually managed to cast the newly learned Second-level Spells with relative ease—though true mastery still demanded considerable effort.

After several days of practicing the advanced meditation method, Shaoke found that his mental energy did not exhibit the control difficulties both the elder mage and the female mage had warned about—a fact that puzzled him. When he inquired via letter, the female mage asked whether he had been taking any high-grade medicines and suggested he suspend their use temporarily to see if any change occurred.

However, Shaoke chose not to follow her advice. After reading her reply, he wondered whether the refining effect of the Empty Stone Liquid was what made his mental energy easier to control. Unwilling to discontinue the medicine, he began experimenting with the advanced meditation method to enhance his magical power instead.

After applying the advanced meditation method within his magical energy space for several days, Shaoke discovered that manipulating his energy while casting Second-level Spells had grown somewhat more difficult. Following a failed attempt at casting *Blazing Ray*—which triggered several days of turbulence in his magical energy space—he wisely abandoned this high-level meditation practice.

Once his magical energy space stabilized, Shaoke ultimately gave up using this advanced meditation method for cultivating magical power. One reason was his lack of sufficient funds to purchase medicines comparable in grade to Empty Stone Liquid to support his cultivation. Moreover, he felt that having to spend additional time refining newly generated magical energy after each meditation session rendered this method less efficient than his previous approach.

Days slipped by quietly amid spell practice and correspondence with the female mage. During this time, the mage who had previously clashed with Shaoke visited him several times, hoping to persuade Shaoke to meet with another noble. After repeated refusals, the mage departed, hurling harsh threats. Though he entertained thoughts of teaching Shaoke another lesson, Shaoke remained confined within the estate, never venturing outside. His daily routine consisted solely of either visiting the spell practice grounds or meditating in his room. With the Senior Officer forbidding him from issuing challenges, the mage could devise no way to humiliate Shaoke—and ultimately pinned his hopes on the battlefield, wishing fervently that the mage who had repeatedly rejected his invitations would never return.

The day of departure from the capital approached amid this uneventful routine. The female mage never again raised the matter of Shaoke joining the Mage Guild; she had likely already guessed his decision.

One day, just as Shaoke returned from spell practice, the officer on duty at the gate sought him out, saying, “Respected Mage Xueye, the commander requests your presence,” then added in a low voice, “He probably intends to have you depart soon—the three-month period is nearly over.” With that, he excused himself, knowing the mage before him would likely need time to prepare.

Shaoke carefully wrapped his “spellbook” in black silk and stored it in the pouch he carried with him. He then sat quietly in his chair for a moment. He hadn’t expected the time for departure to arrive so swiftly. Immersed in the study of magical knowledge, he had scarcely noticed the passage of time. Though he had long prepared himself for the battlefield, he now felt a flicker of unease.

By the time Shaoke appeared before the Senior Officer, a magic hour had passed since the officer’s summons. The Senior Officer looked at him with dissatisfaction. “What? Starting to worry now that you’ve heard you’re leaving? If you regret your decision, you may leave immediately.” As he spoke, he picked up a sheet of paper covered in writing and began to read it.

Shaoke shook his head. “Commander, having made my choice, I cannot and will not regret it.” He turned the staff in his hand. “When do we depart? What preparations remain?”

The Senior Officer nodded. “Hmm! No need to move out just yet. However, come here tomorrow after breakfast—and don’t forget to bring all your belongings. Oh, and you may temporarily store any bulky items here to avoid delaying our arrival at the front lines.” He then handed over the paper he’d been reading. “After you return, record the items left here on this sheet. You may reclaim them later by presenting this document.”

After leaving the Senior Officer’s meeting room, Shaoke felt pressed for time. It was just past noon, leaving him only the afternoon to prepare for departure. Rushing back, he didn’t immediately begin packing. After a brief pause, he took a carriage to seek out Mage Loki.

Despite the unpleasantness of their previous meeting, Shaoke still hoped to see them once more before leaving—he did not wish to carry unresolved discord between them for the next ten years.

It was during the midday break, so Shaoke met both Mage Loki and Mage Feiyi without difficulty. Upon seeing Shaoke still clad in his black robe, both mages’ expressions darkened.

“Mage Xueye, are you truly determined to go to the front lines? Can’t you reconsider?” Mage Loki looked at Shaoke with a helpless expression, his voice hoarse as he tried to persuade him once more.

Shaoke shook his head. “Yes, Mage Loki—I am leaving the capital. I depart tomorrow. I wished to bid you farewell before I go, and I apologize for my rudeness that day.” Shaoke performed a formal Mage Etiquette, then glanced at Mage Feiyi, whose face remained stern. He opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words.

Mage Loki sighed, glanced at Mage Feiyi, and said quietly, “Mage Xueye, after we returned to the capital, we received the personal effects of that mage who aided us in the Misty Forest. I think you understand what that implies.” He lowered his head slightly. “Back then, the military officials claimed that area wasn’t dangerous—that he wouldn’t even need to fight. Yet he lasted only two years there. His talent was exceptional. Had he not gone to the battlefield, he would certainly have advanced to Third-Tier Mage within five years. He spent less than half a year in the Misty Forest back then!” An agitated Mage Loki waved his hand forcefully. “Yes—he could have become a Third-Tier Mage within five years.”

Shaoke gazed silently at Mage Loki. He hadn’t realized that Mage Loki’s vehement opposition to his going to the front lines carried such deeper meaning. “Mage Loki, I initially thought you…” His words were cut off by Mage Loki.

“Mage Xueye, if you insist on going to the front lines, I can only offer you the same blessings I gave when we parted ways in the Misty Forest. Beyond that, there is nothing more I can do.” Mage Loki raised his head again, looking directly at Shaoke. “Is becoming a Battle Mage really that important?”

Shaoke remained silent for a moment, then nodded. “Yes—becoming a Battle Mage is extremely important to me. I do not wish to be a mage who merely stands behind warriors, casting spells. Nor do I wish to curry favor with nobles and Great Merchants to accumulate wealth. I believe the intense battles on the battlefield are the most potent auxiliary ‘medicines’ every mage needs for advancement.”

—Little Seven thanks all brothers for your support! Thank you!