Chapter 150 Some Unexplained Changes

Mage Roman was somewhat dissatisfied with Shaoke changing the subject, but after glancing at the mages who were still watching them, she knew now was not the time to ask Shaoke about the Death Mage Corps. So, Mage Roman introduced the few Second-Tier Mages to Shaoke one by one and explained their connections.

It turned out these Second-Tier Mages were new mages who had only recently arrived at the fortress. They had either accepted the agreement to join the Blizzard Legion on the way or here, so the female mage had to provide them with some assistance to help them adapt to the environment here as quickly as possible.

After explaining this, Female Mage Roman introduced Shaoke to those Second-Tier Mages, saying, "This mage, like me, is also a Third Tier Mage. If you have any questions regarding spell knowledge, you can ask him from time to time. I believe he will be happy to answer." She then turned to Shaoke and affirmed, "Isn't that right, Mage Xueye?"

Shaoke looked at the female mage's utterly serious expression and hesitated for a moment before saying, "That's right." He then addressed the mages, "As Mage Roman said, I can answer some of your questions about spells." As he spoke, he glanced at the female mage and, seeing her nod in satisfaction, was put at ease. He didn't want to provoke the dissatisfaction she had suppressed for a long time over minor matters.

After the Second-Tier Mages finally saluted Shaoke and introduced themselves, they agreed to leave the tavern together. Just before Shaoke arrived, Mage Roman had already explained some spell knowledge to them. What they needed now was not to listen to the private matters of the two mages for an extended period but to return to their rooms and study the knowledge they had just heard.

After those Second-Tier Mages left, Mage Roman called for wine from the maids and slowly savored it. "With those youngsters here earlier, I didn't drink much," she said, shrugging at Shaoke and tidying her somewhat disheveled white hair. "Now, can you tell me about your situation during this time? I want to know." As Female Mage Roman spoke, her voice grew somewhat choked. "If I hadn't thought you were about to return, I would have given up long ago."

Hearing the female mage's reproach, Shaoke leaned his staff against a nearby table, took her hands, and said, "I didn't expect things to be so urgent that day." He then sat down beside the female mage, gripping her hands firmly, and gently comforted her.

"When I learned you had left, I thought you had gone to transcribe spells. Fortunately, I didn't think you would be transcribing for too long." Mage Roman drank another cup of wine and wanted to continue, but Shaoke quickly stopped her.

"Those matters aren't suitable to discuss here. Let's go outside!" Shaoke grabbed the female mage's arm, hoping she would leave with him. "I think the battlements are a good place to talk. Our voices won't be overheard there."

"Do you only know the battlements as a place?" Mage Roman obediently followed Shaoke out of the tavern but rejected his suggestion. "There are many mages and Soldiers on duty there now. It's not suitable for our conversation." As the female mage spoke, an uncharacteristic coyness came over her. "You haven't returned to your room yet, have you? I can go back with you." After saying this, she felt ashamed of her bold words but then tightened her grip on Shaoke's arm. "I'll go to your place to take a look and help you tidy up your room."

After hearing the female mage's words, Shaoke nodded heavily. "I'm the only one in my room."

Mage Roman chuckled softly. "I know." She then leaned closer to Shaoke and took his arm.

"Did Mage Roland tell you?" Shaoke asked suspiciously. He thought only Mage Roland would have told her about his situation, as he wasn't familiar with the other mages. Even if he was, it was only the kind of familiarity between neighbors in a big city.

Female Mage Roman didn't answer Shaoke's question. Instead, she suggested walking around the fortress for a while. The two mages talked idly about events in the fortress and occasionally visited shops to look for magic materials.

As the sky gradually darkened, a blizzard once again struck the fortress. Seeing Female Mage Roman's wind-chapped and pale face, Shaoke decided to take off his cloak and drape it over her. "Shall we go back? The wind and snow outside are too heavy." To prevent his voice from being carried away by the storm, Shaoke leaned close to the female mage's ear and loudly voiced his thoughts.

Contrary to her usual etiquette, Mage Roman stubbornly shook her head this time. She suddenly hugged Shaoke and said, "I want to see more of this fortress. Can't you fulfill this wish of mine?"

Faced with Mage Roman's uncharacteristic stubbornness, Shaoke had no choice but to accompany Female Mage Roman as they continued walking slowly through the streets, braving the wind and snow.

The sound of hurried hooves caused the few pedestrians on the street to quickly move aside, even the carriages were no exception. Hundreds of tall warhorses, precisely controlled by their riders, galloped past Shaoke and the others like a roaring gust of wind.

"Let's go back! If this continues, the wind and snow will block the cavalry's line of sight." Shaoke frowned, gently pushing the female mage toward the side of the road to keep her as close to the inside as possible. He had once again heard the sound of hurried hooves approaching from ahead.

"It's fine. These cavalrymen won't make such a low-level mistake." Mage Roman turned her head and smiled at Shaoke. "You should trust the strength of the Blizzard Legion." She then pointed at the cavalry rushing toward them and shouted loudly in Shaoke's ear, "They are the Blizzard Knights of the Blizzard Legion. Don't worry! Those cavalrymen can't compare to our knights." As she spoke, she slightly raised her head, clearly feeling great pride in these so-called Blizzard Knights.

"They patrol the fortress these days. Some nobles and merchants in the fortress have become restless again. I really don't know what those rotten heads of theirs are thinking." The female mage mockingly explained to Shaoke why these cavalrymen were doing this. "Tomorrow, Xueye, tomorrow I believe the number of nobles and merchants in this fortress will definitely decrease by a small half."

After hearing the female mage's explanation, Shaoke listened as another group of cavalry arrived, which made him uneasy about the current situation. "Mage Roman, let's return to the barracks. If what you say is correct, the military department will definitely dispatch us to participate in the battle. And it's dangerous for us to be outside like this." He then forced the female mage to stop and repeated his suggestion in her ear.

"We don't need to worry." The female mage shook her head in refusal. "The battle will start at midnight. There's no danger around us now." She pointed ahead, signaling Shaoke to look at the cavalry rushing toward them. "They'll keep this up until midnight." As soon as she finished speaking, another group of cavalry approached, but Shaoke noticed their speed wasn't as fast, and there were quite a few of them—about three to five hundred in total.

The cavalry stopped in front of Shaoke and the others. One of the cavalrymen shouted loudly, "Mages, return to your residences. It's not safe here now."

After hearing the cavalryman's words, Mage Roman felt very embarrassed. Fortunately, she knew the strength of these cavalrymen, so she stepped forward, performed a mage's salute, and stated her identity. The cavalryman took the token and casually handed it to a companion behind him, instructing them to pass it to the mage in the group.

"Pleased to meet you." A somewhat elderly Male Mage dismounted, hunched over as he moved to Shaoke and the others. He carefully examined the white hair visible on the female mage and muttered softly, "From the Roman family?" Without waiting for the female mage's response, he turned to look at Shaoke, who was gripping his staff tightly, and frowned. "Hurry back to the barracks! We've had some lapses in control." He then returned the token Mage Roman had given to the knight but still dispatched a hundred-man cavalry unit to escort the two back to the barracks under their protection.

Watching the cavalry rush away, Shaoke shared his thoughts with Mage Roman. "Blizzard Knights? Each of them is at least a Sixth-rank Warrior?"

"No, they're just Blizzard Cavalry." Mage Roman once again took Shaoke's arm. "Let's go to your place now." She then added somewhat awkwardly, "It's too cold outside. I think sitting in front of the fireplace with a drink is the best choice." As Mage Roman spoke, she smiled slightly. "If we had the ability, I think watching the fireworks in the fortress from the battlements tonight would also be nice."

"Were those who escorted us back Blizzard Cavalry?" Shaoke posed a new question to her. "What's the difference? I didn't notice any distinction between them."

The female mage shrugged and tucked her small hand under Shaoke's arm. "Blizzard Knights usually operate in groups of over a hundred, while cavalrymen mostly form groups of three to five hundred." The female mage clearly didn't want to discuss this issue with Shaoke and only gave a brief explanation. "We don't have the ability to distinguish their differences now, but I believe once you successfully advance to Fourth Tier Mage in the Death Mage Corps, you'll be able to easily tell them apart."

The two continued talking like this until they returned to Shaoke's room. However, upon entering the barracks, several Fourth Tier Mages guarding the entrance looked at them strangely and reminded Shaoke that it wasn't suitable to go outside tonight. Of course, they believed that even without their reminder, these two mages wouldn't venture outside.