Chapter 215: The Female Mage’s Request (Seeking Forgiveness, Brothers)

Before I go to the battlefield, I have to have a child. Otherwise, the Roman family's mage bloodline might die out." After saying that, the female mage just stared at Shaoke, waiting for his answer.

"Do we have enough time?" Shaoke gently massaged the female mage's temples. He hadn't heard when the military would send them into battle, only that this time they wouldn't be fighting alongside large groups of soldiers and warriors.

"I knew you weren't paying attention." The female mage shot Shaoke a fierce glare. "Two years. In two years, if we're lucky, we can definitely have a kid." With that, she blushed, burrowed into Shaoke's arms, and squirmed a little, putting her words into action.

Of course, Shaoke didn't refuse this behavior. Just as he was about to get started, a soft knock on the door interrupted them again. This pissed both mages off. The female mage even suggested Shaoke put up defensive spells and soundproofing arrays on the door. But that was just a frustrated comment, since this place wasn't really their private space.

Shaoke didn't let the guest in, since Mage Roman was still fixing her clothes inside. The one knocking was Mage Yisier, who gave the male mage a teasing look before asking about Mage Roman. It turned out some magic materials in the lab were almost ready, and they were waiting for Mage Roman to come back for the experiment.

Mage Roman, now dressed, came out with a red face and left with Mage Yisier. Of course, she couldn't escape getting teased by her friends when she got back. Luckily, the bald officer's two wives took some of the heat, since they'd also gone to get cozy with him before he left early.

After seeing Mage Roman off, Shaoke got another message: Mage Yija was waiting outside.

It was the same tavern as before, but this time it was just the two mages, and they'd moved to a nicer, smaller room. Young maidservants waited on the two mages, and neither of them turned down the attention.

"Mage Xueye, I'd like you to attend a gathering tomorrow evening. It's organized by some small magical families, and you might meet some interesting companions there," Mage Yija said after the toast, quickly getting to the main purpose of the visit.

Mage Yija's kind of pleading tone didn't convince Shaoke to go to that boring banquet, leaving Mage Yija pretty helpless. After a short chat, the two mages went their separate ways. Of course, Shaoke didn't take this matter to heart, as the impending war made him feel the urgency of time even more.

That night, after stopping his reading, Shaoke began meditation. The drug vortex in his meditation space had never stopped. With plenty of energy and the silver light helping him out, he was progressing almost four times faster than other mages at his level. If he hadn't spent so much time reading books and studying languages, he'd have advanced even faster. After all, other mages meditated for at least seven to ten magic hours a day, while he only did about three.

Late at night, the female mage snuck back into Shaoke's room. Interrupting his gesture practice, they began to passionately entwine. Finally, when the female mage could barely keep up, Shaoke stopped, tightly holding her waist, and after a violent shudder, collapsed weakly onto Mage Roman, breathing heavily.

"Get off, don't forget what I just told you," the female mage said weakly, trying to shift the male mage off her back. After kissing her back a few times, Shaoke rolled aside and quietly watched what Mage Roman would do next.

Turning over, Mage Roman took the prepared medicine, used a silver-furred brush to draw a complex array on her lower abdomen, and began chanting a spell. As the spell progressed and gestures formed, a spell structure infused with a large amount of mental energy and magic power appeared in her hands. It then settled into the array on her abdomen, emitting a pink glow before the array vanished. The female mage stopped her actions and lay on the bed, breathing rapidly. The recent exertion had drained her strength, and suppressing her sensations to cast this special spell had left her exhausted.

"I hope this time it works," Shaoke said, holding the tired female mage and gently rubbing her lower abdomen and sides as she had taught him, to increase the chances of conception.

The female mage let out a comfortable moan and, panting, shared her guess. "My mother said it took her and my father three years using this method to have me," she said, touching her belly helplessly. "They were both fourth-tier mages back then. I just hope we're luckier." With that, she lightly punched Shaoke's thigh. "Don't you want a child now?"

"I..." Shaoke started to defend himself, but Mage Roman covered his mouth with her hand. She continued, "I know this behavior isn't good, but I'm afraid of dying on the battlefield in two years and ending the Roman mage bloodline. It's selfish, but I have no other choice." She stopped him from moving, turned to sit on him, and began gently massaging him.

"And your uncle?" Shaoke didn't understand why the female mage was so obsessed with continuing the bloodline now, but he didn't ask in detail. Realizing his words might be misunderstood, he quickly added, "Why would you be in danger on the battlefield? The military would never allow that." He kissed her lips firmly to dispel her worries. After a passionate response, the female mage answered his doubts helplessly.

"My uncle only studies magical items and never interacts with female mages, and..." She seemed to recall something, shook her head, and stopped.

In the following days, the mages became busier. The female mage Roman, an alchemist, was especially occupied, often going months without visiting Shaoke, leaving her desire for a child just a wish.

Soldiers stationed in the capital were sent to the western front in waves. The battles at the Bloody Fortress against the Desasi Empire ceased, and large numbers of warriors and soldiers were redirected westward. Similarly, a war with an eastern empire that had lasted millennia also stopped, with soldiers passing through the capital to the western front.

As time passed, the number of mages in the capital surged. Occasionally, when Shaoke and Mage Roman strolled through the city, they encountered many mages: wandering mages, those from the Mage Guild, military mages, and even a few from the Desasi Empire. All this made the capital's atmosphere tense. Fortunately, major legions set up patrols in the city to maintain order.

One day, after Shaoke finished a combat practice session with a fifth-tier mage, a messenger mage ended the spellcasting session for all present.

"Military orders: prepare for battle. In one month, you will go to the front. The military expects you to be ready." The mage then distributed large stacks of paper filled with text. These documents and seals proved the mages' early appointments and identities, and would serve as vouchers for rewards after the war.

Most mages lost their desire to continue practicing. Though they knew the battlefield awaited, the reality made them anxious. They wondered if they'd return to the capital for their rewards. Shaoke, however, didn't leave the practice ground. After his opponent left, he found another fifth-tier mage to continue his release exercises.

Fifth-tier mages casting fourth-level spells didn't take much time; they were nearly as fast as Shaoke in that regard. Some who had advanced longer could even use powerful fifth-level spells in practice. Fortunately, they couldn't master many single-target attack spells or mental or magical power attacks, which gave Shaoke a chance to defeat them.

A few days later, Mage Yija, Mage Fei, and Mage Loki visited Shaoke at Blizzard Castle again. This time, they didn't go to the tavern but met in Shaoke's room.

"Mage Xueye, you might reconsider joining Mage Yija's family. Low-rank mages who join mage families might avoid going to the battlefield this time," Mage Fei said after a long silence, breaking the ice. Mage Loki also joined in the persuasion, while Mage Yija half-closed his eyes, observing Shaoke. Over time, the demeanor of a noble family heir had grown stronger in Mage Yija, making Shaoke uncomfortable. He felt those half-closed eyes seemed to look down on him, though that was just his personal impression.