Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 55 (Part 2)
“What are you talking about? Who the hell are you?”
At that moment, someone appeared behind Drok.
It was a person with a hood pulled low over their face. Although their face was hidden, their voice indicated that they were definitely not old.
“What a mess. Getting hurt by the likes of these guys.”
“Could it be… Rodin?”
“At least your eyes are still sharp. That’s a relief.”
Rodin slowly walked up to Drok. His pace wasn’t fast, but no one dared to stop him.
“Who are you?”
“I know this guy. I’m here to save him.”
“You think we’ll just let you? Everyone, take him out—”
“Think carefully about what you’re about to say. If you finish that sentence, you’re dead. And all your comrades will die too.”
Rodin’s threat made the deserters hesitate.
A sense of unease they couldn’t explain began to creep in. It felt like if they made a wrong move, they really would all die, just as he said.
“Heh, these guys didn’t hesitate to attack me, but they’re scared of you.”
“My legs are in perfect shape.”
“True, people are more afraid of mages than knights.”
Knights were like gods to soldiers. Seeing them swing their aura-infused swords was terrifying and something the soldiers couldn’t even think of opposing.
But their fear of mages was even greater than their fear of knights.
To soldiers, mages were a definite existence, but one that seemed almost mythical. They were like a nightmare, a living hell, who could kill hundreds with powerful flames and change the course of a battle.
“A m-mage?”
“Is he really a mage?”
“Hey! Because of you, we’ve been caught. I was going to kill them all in one shot. Tsk.”
Rodin, with a disappointed expression, began forming a 3rd-circle Fireball.
The large fireball, bigger than a person’s head, floated slowly in the air and positioned itself between Drok and the deserters.
The fireball swayed side to side, as if warning them that approaching meant certain death.
“A mage! Run for it!”
“We can’t win! We can’t beat him!”
In an instant, the deserters scattered. The ones who had been so determined to get revenge on Drok were now nowhere to be found.
“Tsk, you only scared them off?”
“Yeah, it’s too much trouble to kill each one.”
“They’ll come back for revenge, you know?”
“They might come after you, but not me. *Recovery.*”
Rodin chanted in runes, casting a 5th-circle healing spell. The white light that started at his fingertips lingered over Drok’s side and thigh for quite a while before it finally dissipated.
“Ah! Thanks.”
“And take this.”
Rodin pulled a potion from his backpack and tossed it to Drok. It was a potion crafted with ancient magic.
The potion originally came in a 1-liter container, which amounted to around 40 bottles.
But during various experiments to confirm the potion’s efficacy, Rodin had used up a lot of it. Now, only seven bottles remained. With the one he had just given to Drok, there were only six left.
“A potion?”
“It’s precious. It’s different from the potions you know. Don’t sell it. Use it when you’re hurt. You can apply it to wounds or drink it if your internal organs are damaged.”
This was the first time Rodin had ever given anyone a potion made with ancient magic. Not even Hedler, Lant, or Cory had received one.
As he healed Drok with Recovery, Rodin noticed that Drok’s aura was not quite right. It seemed that Drok had lost control of his aura briefly while fighting the deserters.
“Drink it? A potion meant for healing wounds?”
“Yeah, you can.”
Potions made with ancient magic were different from the ones currently being produced in many ways. Notably, they could treat both internal injuries and external wounds when ingested.
Moreover, it was known to have a calming effect on mana that had become turbulent due to excessive magic use. Though unconfirmed, Rodin was sure it would also help stabilize Drok’s unstable aura.
“Thanks.”
“I’m leaving now.”
“Hey! You’re just going to leave an injured man behind?”
Drok looked disappointed, but Rodin turned away coldly.
Rodin had defeated the deserters who were trying to kill Drok. He had healed Drok with a 5th-circle Recovery spell and even given him a rare potion crafted with ancient magic.
It was safe to say that Rodin had done all he could as a comrade.
“Why? Do you have something to say?”
“Just…stay a little longer.”
“Gross. Oh! The Imperial Army entered the training camp. They’re heading back north now, but I doubt they’re in a good mood.”
“Of course they’d be in a bad mood after wasting their time.”
The Ingram Empire’s soldiers would undoubtedly be upset, but the Kingdom of Riyaz would be equally unhappy about missing the perfect opportunity while the special forces training camp commissioners fled. If Drok were to meet Commissioner Kser or Commissioner Habinon, things wouldn’t go smoothly.
‘Not that I’ll run into them, though.’
Kser must have known that the Kingdom of Riyaz was biding its time. Once he reached the port city of Melcos, he would likely board the first available ship and leave as soon as possible.
“And you should be able to find Merion if you head that way.”
“Merion? Number 87?”
“Weren’t you two close?”
“We were until last year. But after I reached 4th Tier knight, we drifted apart. He started avoiding me.”
Rodin didn’t know much about the relationships between his fellow trainees. Aside from Hedler, Lant, and Cory, he had hardly ever had personal conversations with anyone else.
“Then who are you close with?”
“Tory… but he’s dead.”
Tory had also been a 4th Tier Knight, which allowed him to be close to Drok.
However, he didn’t make it back from their last mission with Hedler, Lant, Drok, and Darren. He tried to escape while badly burned, only to be shot in the neck with an arrow.
“Ugh, forget it. Do whatever you want. I’m leaving.”
“Where are you going?”
“North. To where I was born.”
When Drok heard that Rodin was going to his hometown, he looked at him like he was crazy.
He understood, though. Rodin himself didn’t fully understand why he wanted to return to his hometown.
“Why would you go there? Didn’t you get sold off?”
“Exactly. Why would I go back there? I’m curious too.”
“Wait. Don’t leave just yet. Stay with me for a bit. Those guys might come back.”
Rodin left Drok behind and cast a 5th-circle Fly spell. In an instant, his body rose into the air and quickly disappeared northward.