Chapter 140 First Signs of Dispute

After calming the turbulence in his meditation space, Shaoke lit a smokeless candle and began studying Abyssal by the candlelight. He wanted to learn Abyssal as quickly as possible because this language gave a boost to most of the spells he currently knew, though the extent still depended on the spells' inherent nature.

Studying Abyssal was no easy task. The strange, intricate lines gave Shaoke a real headache. Luckily, there were plenty of explanations in Ancient Magic Script to help him out. Generally, a single Abyssal character could represent a sentence, or even several sentences, in modern Common Magical Language. A handful of Abyssal characters could easily convey a whole paragraph, which not only increased power in spellcasting but also, to some extent, sped up the caster's casting speed.

Just as Shaoke was immersed in this mysterious linguistic world, a light knock at the door broke his concentration. "Mage Xueye, may I ask you some questions?" Mage Roland's somewhat uneasy voice came from outside, quickly stating his purpose and hoping this former companion could offer him some help.

Seeing it was Mage Roland, who hadn't visited for several days, Shaoke promptly stopped his work, invited him in, and poured him some wine. "What brings you here, Mage Roland?" Although Shaoke noticed the other had lost his usual ease, he didn't mention it, merely inquiring about his reason for coming.

"Mage Xueye, I'd like to copy some of your promotion experience. I think it would be of great help to me." Mage Roland said, looking anxiously at Shaoke, unsure if he still remembered the promise made earlier.

After hearing Mage Roland's purpose, Shaoke nodded gently. After a slight hesitation, he said, "My notes aren't complete yet. In a few more days, I'll copy a version for you." Then he added, "Come to my place tomorrow evening. By then, I should have it fully recorded."

Mage Roland thanked him, excited, and invited him to relax together at the tavern for a while. After some consideration, Shaoke decided to go, as he thought of telling Female Mage Roman about what had happened there.

It was at this moment that Mage Roland noticed the Third Rank robe Shaoke was wearing and that distinctive staff. Looking at Shaoke's calm expression, Mage Roland felt a deep pang of jealousy. He couldn't understand why, despite his talent not being much inferior, he still needed several more years to advance. Puzzled, he gave a slight, private shake of his head, then left the room first, waiting outside for Shaoke to prepare.

When the two arrived at the tavern again, Mage Roland wisely parted ways with Shaoke, going off to find a female mage or barmaid he fancied.

As Mage Roman saw Shaoke sit down, she beamed at him, congratulating him once more on his promotion. But at that moment, through the gap in his cloak, she quickly noticed the special staff in Shaoke's hand and the Third Rank mage robe he wore.

"Mage Xueye. Why did you make the choice so quickly? Do you think the Blizzard Legion isn't suitable for you? Or do you want to leave here?" The smile vanished from Female Mage Roman's face. She swallowed hard, then asked Shaoke the reason for his decision in a tone of extreme disappointment. "I just hoped you could wait a bit longer. By then, the appointment from the Blizzard Legion would come, and we wouldn't have to be separated."

Seeing the disappointment in Mage Roman's eyes, Shaoke had to fight the urge to look away. "I can get a lot of things in that mage corps that the Blizzard Legion cannot provide. And besides! Besides, after I'm promoted to Fourth Tier Mage, I will still return to the Blizzard Legion." Shaoke tilted his head slightly, avoiding her gaze, then spelled out all the perks of that Mage Corps. Afterwards, he begged for her forgiveness.

"Can you tell me any other reasons? I don't believe you made this choice just for those reasons." The female mage's voice caught. She felt very disappointed that Shaoke dared not look her directly in the eye. "Look at me. Don't avoid me. Okay?"

Shaoke turned back awkwardly. Seeing the somewhat sorrowful expression on her face, he reached out and took her hand to comfort her. "I didn't mean to avoid you. I just felt..." At this point, Female Mage Roman quickly stopped him, repeating her earlier question, then withdrew her small hand, clutching her wine glass with both hands, silently waiting for his answer.

"I don't want to, after leaving the army, end up working as a guard for nobles and merchants, scraping by on a few gold coins, all because I'm not strong enough. I don't want to lose my life inexplicably in future conflicts. Nor do I wish to be looked down on by others again." Shaoke's emotions were clearly agitated as he spoke.

"Can only the Death Mage Corps prevent such things? The Blizzard Legion can offer the same, and it's just as good." The female mage refuted Shaoke's words somewhat helplessly. "If you don't want to be bound for a long time, you could just stay in the army until you reach the Seventh or Eighth Tier. By then, I don't think you'd encounter the situations you described. Moreover, aren't you also bound in the Death Mage Corps? And one day, you will leave the Death Mage Corps."

Time slowly passed as the two kept arguing, each trying to persuade the other. Unfortunately, apart from attracting the attention of other mages, there was no progress at all.

"Mage Roman, just let him go! Since he has already taken up the staff unique to those mages, I believe he must have accepted the 'Death Covenant.' We have neither the ability nor the right to oppose such a covenant." A clear voice suddenly interrupted the argument between the two, clearly pointing out that their current debate was a mistaken action. Because since its appearance, no mage who violated the Death Mage Corps' covenant had survived, not even if they were a top noble or a relative of a high-rank mage.

The one who interrupted them was a Third Rank female mage standing nearby. She raised her glass in a toast to Shaoke, then expressed her blessings for his joining the Death Mage Corps. Of course, whether it was genuine blessing or silent mockery, Shaoke didn't take it to heart. He simply silently and firmly continued on his chosen path. After all, he had no way to turn back now.

The other mages around also tried to mediate the argument, as this was now an unchangeable fact. Amidst the mediation, the female mage leaned back in her chair, disregarding her image, and began to cry softly. When Shaoke tried to step forward to comfort her, she refused.

"Mage Xueye, I want to be alone for a moment. Can you wait?"

Looking at her eyes, red and swollen from crying, Shaoke actually felt that his choice was a very wrong one. But immediately, he cast aside this regretful thought, because no matter how much he regretted it, this choice could not be altered.

"I'll wait for you on the city wall." Shaoke gently wiped the tears from her face. "Don't cry. You'll ruin your face." After saying this, he thanked the mages who had come to mediate, hoping they could help comfort Mage Roman properly and calm her spirits. After all, prolonged and intense emotional instability could potentially damage a mage's mental strength.

After taking another look at Mage Roman, who had closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair, Shaoke pulled up his cloak, picked up the unique staff, hesitated for a moment, and finally turned and left the tavern, heading towards the section of the city wall they often visited before.

Still standing on the previous platform, smelling the lingering scent of blood, Shaoke couldn't help but shout loudly. Of course, his actions once again startled the soldiers patrolling above. Apparently, the soldier leading the patrol recognized this mage who was shouting loudly on the city wall without any regard for decorum, so he didn't approach for detailed questioning and simply led his soldiers to continue their patrol.

Shaoke stood on the city wall for an unknown length of time, his mind in turmoil. He stood there alone, ignoring the biting cold wind, straining to lift his head, quietly gazing at the stars in the sky and the full moon suspended in mid-air.

The full moon gradually disappeared, and the stars vanished from sight unnoticed. Shaoke scanned the surrounding walls once more but found no trace of any female mage. Thinking of the scene of her crying last night, he felt the staff in his hand become unbearably heavy, as if he no longer had the strength to carry it.

After staying on the wall a while longer, as some mages and a large number of soldiers arrived, Shaoke decided to leave.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, Female Mage Roman suddenly appeared before him. The earlier worry dissipated instantly with her appearance, relaxing Shaoke. "Mage Roman..."

She grabbed Shaoke's arm, her small hand covering his mouth. "Xueye, let's leave here. I want to have a good talk with you." As she spoke, she lifted her still-pale face, silently waiting for his answer.

Looking at her red, swollen eyes, Shaoke nodded. He took off his own cloak and carefully wrapped it around her, putting the hood up to conceal her swollen eyes. "Alright." With that, he and the female mage headed towards the direction of the tavern.

Since it was still early, there were hardly any mages in the tavern. When the female mage, wrapped in Shaoke's cloak, returned with him, the few mages still there couldn't help but let out soft exclamations. These mages, after trying to comfort her all night, finally saw results and were quite happy. They greeted Shaoke and the female mage, then left the tavern to rest.

The female mage who had been the first to mediate their argument earlier leaned close to Mage Roland's ear, whispered a few words, then happily left with her companions.

Female Mage Roman sat silently beside Shaoke. After a moment of silence, she said, "After you leave here, will you still remember that there was once a female mage here who liked you?" After saying this, she pushed back the hood covering her head and stared intently into Shaoke's eyes, waiting for his answer.

"I just want you to know, no matter how much time passes, I will remember you just as you remember me." Shaoke whispered his answer into Female Mage Roman's ear.