Chapter 97 A New Choice

Mage Roland recounted to Shaoke in detail the information he had heard. Finally, both sighed softly, knowing that these mages who had been withdrawn from the battlefield might never advance again for the rest of their lives. At this moment, Shaoke suddenly remembered the first-tier old mage he had encountered in a small town when returning to the capital. Perhaps these mages would end up like him too!

The two chatted a while longer, then Shaoke was the first to suggest they head to the tavern for a while. Although Mage Roland was somewhat surprised, he readily agreed to the proposal.

The large courtyard that served as the tavern was filled with many mages who had just come off the battlefield. Numerous young and beautiful maidservants, carrying trays and plates, fluttered like butterflies among the mages. Eventually, one would catch a mage's eye and be taken out to another small courtyard for some fun.

Mage Roland stayed outside as he usually did, since his arrival had immediately attracted the enthusiastic attention of several familiar maidservants. Shaoke shrugged and entered the building, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the atmosphere outside.

Quickly scanning the mages inside, Shaoke spotted Mage Roman in her usual spot. However, a young mage was already sitting in the seat he usually took, talking animatedly to Mage Roman about something.

Shaoke gathered his cloak about him and quietly walked over to the female mage, sitting in a chair beside her. "Mage Roman, is your task finished? You seem to be in good spirits!" Shaoke noticed that Mage Roman, unlike last time when she appeared haggard, now looked somewhat slimmer than before but her expression was quite cheerful.

"Mm. Not bad." Mage Roman nodded, ordering a drink for Shaoke. "You look well too. I heard you've temporarily ceased fighting." Mage Roman smoothed her hair. "Mage Xueye, always keeping your hood up can feel oppressive and even affect your mood."

Seeing Mage Roman's serious expression, Shaoke hesitated for a moment before removing the hood of his cloak. He smiled at the female mage. "Thank you for the reminder." He then glanced at the mage sitting in his former seat and noticed that the other was also a third-tier mage. "A friend of yours?"

Mage Roman nodded but did not introduce the two mages to each other. The third-tier mage shrugged and gave Shaoke a friendly smile. "Ah, so that's why the lovely Mage Roman turned me down! It seems someone has already beaten me to it." He raised his glass to Shaoke, and both took a light sip.

Mage Roman blushed and glared at the mage. "If you have nothing else to discuss, you may leave. I need to discuss some matters with my future comrade." She glanced at the slightly embarrassed Shaoke, frowned, and added, "My future comrade in the Blizzard Legion. What, do you want to join our Blizzard Legion?"

"No, I'm quite comfortable in the Blue Feather Legion. Hmm! Really comfortable, and the treatment is much better than in your Blizzard Legion," the third-tier mage hastily shook his head in protest. "I think you and your future companion should both join our Blue Feather Legion. Don't worry, the people in the Blizzard Legion won't give two hoots about you."

The three mages chatted for a while longer. Then the third-tier male mage stood up to take his leave. Not being able to invite Mage Roman did not mean he had lost his charm. He believed other female mages would be more than willing to spend a private evening with him.

After the third-tier mage left, Shaoke asked Mage Roman, "Does he often come to invite you?" As soon as he finished speaking, he felt he had broached an inappropriate topic. "Sorry, I just..."

Mage Roman gently swatted Shaoke's arm. "Yes, he comes to invite me after every mission. If you hadn't come today, I would definitely have accepted his invitation." She chuckled softly, took a sip of her wine, and looked at Shaoke. "What, do you feel important now?"

Shaoke smiled wryly and nodded. He knew the female mage before him was teasing him, but such teasing wouldn't provoke anger in any male mage. "Now that you mention it, I suppose I do. Looks like I'll have to start following you to the tavern then." They exchanged a smile and simultaneously raised their glasses for a drink.

With Mage Roman's permission, Shaoke slowly told her about what had happened to him over the past month. He concluded with a sigh, "If I hadn't persevered, I'd probably have been sent back by the military department by now. And I'm afraid I would never be able to reach the third tier again."

Mage Roman listened quietly to Shaoke's tale. Finally, she stood up and sat opposite Shaoke, carefully observing the increasingly changed young mage before her. She sighed softly, which reminded her of some past events. "Mage Xueye, I think you will soon be promoted to a third-tier mage." She paused briefly. "Actually, you shouldn't have become a military mage. From what I know, mages with high talent in magic cultivation don't tend to live long on the battlefield. More often, their personal will is destroyed on the battlefield, and they can no longer progress in magic. Fortunately, you haven't met the same fate as your predecessors."

Shaoke merely chuckled a few times without offering any defense, focusing on eating some pastries on the table. Occasionally, he stole a glance at the beautiful face of the female mage sitting opposite him, recalling certain things.

"Mage Xueye, you... do you still want to stay in that stone tower, boringly killing those poor warriors?" Mage Roman watched Shaoke's furtive expression with amusement but didn't expose him. Instead, she carefully lifted her small foot clad in a long velvet leather boot and gently tapped Shaoke's calf, reminding him to maintain a necessary image.

Shaoke quickly grabbed a napkin to wipe his mouth and subtly moved his leg back. "For now, I feel my progress in magic is still quite fast there." As soon as he finished speaking, he felt the female mage's small foot kick him again. Seeing the glare from the female mage, he cautiously refrained from moving his leg this time, instead carefully feeling the cool sensation transmitted from her leg.

"Mage Xueye, do you really think continuing like this will make you a battle mage?" Mage Roman was quite satisfied with Shaoke's compromise. She raised the corner of her mouth slightly, nodding contentedly as she questioned him.

"Battle mage!" Shaoke sighed softly. "I can only passively accept orders from the military department. What else can I do?" Feeling somewhat frustrated, he raised his glass to Mage Roman in a toast and downed it in one gulp. He actually knew that even if he were promoted to a third-tier mage while staying in that stone tower all day, he would never become a battle mage—merely a sniper mage requiring meat shields for protection.

Mage Roman chuckled softly, rubbed her temples, and then smiled wryly. "There's a position I'm not sure would suit you, and that post is somewhat dangerous. Many mages have lost their lives or their chance for further progress in such roles."

"Can I learn more about it?" Shaoke replied somewhat uncertainly to the female mage. After ordering another drink for her, he quietly awaited her response.

"A place where mages can fight freely and independently." Mage Roman looked at Shaoke and explained slowly. She wasn't yet sure whether she wanted the mage before her to join such endeavors.

"Have you been carrying out missions there?" Shaoke, noticing Mage Roman's somewhat unnatural expression, finally asked.

"Hmm!" Mage Roman nodded. "My team lost a companion during the last mission, so we need other mages to fill the vacancy." Seeing Shaoke's interest, Mage Roman quickly informed him of the dangers involved in such missions. "First, a team consists of one third-tier mage and four second-tier mages. Then, we begin eliminating the empire's mages in a long, narrow canyon. Each team must stay in that canyon for a month before leaving, then come here to rest for a while." She added, "There are also some low-order warriors accompanying us for close protection."

"Have you been carrying out such missions all along?" Shaoke couldn't fathom the military department assigning such tasks to female mages, which he found utterly incomprehensible. "Could you give me a detailed introduction to the specifics of this mission?"

Mage Roman smiled and provided Shaoke with a detailed explanation of the mission's requirements and precautions. Finally, she gently kicked Shaoke with her foot. "If I weren't so dissatisfied with the mages assigned by the military department, I would never let a mage like you, with just over a year of actual combat experience, participate in such a mission. When the time comes, I'll provide you with some protection on the battlefield. Besides, there's also a young female mage in my team! She has only accepted invitations from a few mages. Do you need my help?"

Faced with Mage Roman's introduction, Shaoke ultimately declined. "Mage Roman, I think I still need to attack warriors for a while longer before accepting such a mission. After all, by then, I'll have richer spellcasting experience." He slightly turned his face away, avoiding the female mage's gaze, fearing she might mock his cowardice.

"Hmm! That's fine too." Contrary to Shaoke's expectations, Mage Roman did not mock him. Instead, she slowly twirled the staff on the table and said with a smile, "Couldn't you order some lunch for me? I feel a bit hungry." She turned her head, indicating the other mages around them who had already started their meals.

"As you wish, my respected and beautiful Miss Roman." Shaoke abruptly stood up, performed a mage's response salute, and quickly called the maidservants to bring lunch.

For the entire day, Shaoke and Mage Roman stayed in the tavern discussing various topics. Shaoke frequently asked the female mage about battlefield matters or raised doubts about cultivation, hoping to progress faster with her help.

The female mage did not disappoint Shaoke, patiently answering his various questions time and again. However, when tired, she would have Shaoke pay some money for the nearby maidservants to give her a massage, after which the two would continue their conversation. During this time, the third-tier mage who had left earlier returned, holding the hand of a second-tier female mage. He gave Shaoke a friendly smile. "You need to work hard! Tonight, you must invite our beautiful Mage Roman to your place. I'm sure she'll be very willing." Under Mage Roman's waving staff, he led the newly invited female mage and left the tavern cheerfully, gradually disappearing into the distance in a carriage.