Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 56 (Part 1)
Duke Bernstein of the Ingram Empire and his strike force, who had come to attack the Special Forces Training Facility, decided to return to their homeland.
Through the familiar magic of the mage, they learned that the encirclement was not yet complete, so they hurried back on their journey.
However, not everyone returned to the north. Count Ferrios, Commissioner Albrecht, and the 3rd Circle mage Edric, who was skilled in tracking magic, stayed behind at the training facility.
“Edric, what do you need?”
“It’s best to have an item belonging to the person we’re trying to find. The older the item, the longer the tracking can be sustained.”
From the very beginning, Edric had delved into tracking magic when he first learned 1st Circle magic. It was a choice dictated by the plans of the Ingram Empire.
Edric had no complaints.
From the start, his magical talent score was not high. At best, his growth potential was limited to the 3rd or 4th Circle.
In the Ingram Empire, 3rd and 4th Circle mages were as common as dirt. Even if he grew normally, he would just remain a mediocre mage.
He thought it wouldn’t be bad to become a specialist in a specific field instead.
“Pig, did you hear that? Where are the belongings of that little brat?”
“He’s number 108, so they should be in the barracks.”
“Let’s go.”
Commissioner Albrecht led Count Ferrios and the 3rd Circle mage Edric to the barracks.
As they passed the second floor and reached the third floor, they saw signs of a hasty escape all around.
‘Did the commissioners take all the kids with them?’
Albrecht, who was left behind, was filled with discontent at the situation that seemed abandoned. He couldn’t shake the ominous feeling that he might soon be discarded.
The only fortunate thing was that only two people were watching him: Count Ferrios and the 3rd Circle mage. With fewer people keeping an eye on him, there was a chance he might be able to escape.
“Where is it?”
“Here, room 301.”
“If it’s his belongings…”
They searched the room and found a few items. There were clothes labeled 107, and a few more labeled 57 and 58.
However, they couldn’t find a single item labeled 108. Commissioner Albrecht also searched diligently, just in case, but as expected, there were no clothes labeled 108 anywhere.
“What is this? Didn’t you guys even give the kid clothes?”
“I-I don’t know.”
It was unreasonable to expect commissioners, who were not instructors, to be aware of the supply situation for the trainees.
There was no way Commissioner Albrecht could know if the instructors or trainers had withheld supplies.
“What about other places?”
“Ah! He spent a long time in the Advanced Archive 3. All the items there have been managed by number 108 for a long time.”
“Let’s go.”
The three of them moved quickly, passing by the lakeside. The beautiful scenery made them pause for a moment.
“This is a nice place.”
“Yes, it’s a place for spirit summoners… Ah, right. Number 108 also made a contract with a spirit.”
“Hmm? A spirit summoner?”
“I heard he only made a contract with a water spirit and didn’t undergo any special training in spirit magic. His talent is low… Yes, that’s correct.”
Count Ferrios repeated the words “water spirit” several times, then soon erased them from his mind.
If it were a wind spirit, its exceptional scouting ability might make the pursuit difficult.
If the target intentionally fled far away or detected them early and set a trap, they could face significant trouble.
But with a water spirit, there was no need to worry about such things. Unless there was a sudden downpour, the chances of being detected during the pursuit were low.
“Is this the place?”
“Yes.”
“Step aside.”
The Advanced Archive 3 was locked. In their haste, they hadn’t brought the key.
*Shrrk!*
With no other choice, Count Ferrios drew his sword and forcefully cut the lock. Before the aura of a 6th Tier knight, the lock was sliced like a rotten branch.
*Creak!*
As Count Ferrios pushed with his strength, the heavy door easily swung open.
“These are clothes. Edric, how about it?”
“Let me check. Chasing One.”
Edric used his magic on the uniform of the Special Forces Training Facility marked with the number 108. It was a spell to track the person deeply connected to this clothing.
“How is it?”
“It’s strange. The traces are very faint. He should have worn this often.”
Rodin usually wore Jito, the Familiar summon, as his clothes. Jito occasionally went for a stroll around the area, and the uniform Edric was holding was what Rodin wore during those brief times.
“So, can you find him or not?”
“I can only determine the direction. But there’s a time limit. After just a month, the remaining traces will almost completely disappear.”
“Only the direction within a month? That should be enough. We’ll meet him if we follow that. Let’s go. Edric, lead the way.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
Count Ferrios was a 6th Tier knight of the Ingram Empire, once hailed as a prodigy. At the mere age of 31, he had reached the 6th Tier, raising expectations that he might become the next master of the Ingram Empire.
But his rapid growth ended there.
Now in his mid-forties, Count Ferrios remained a 6th Tier knight. Although he was still relatively young for a knight of that level, he no longer carried the great expectations of the past.
As with anyone striving to reach the pinnacle, he lacked just one step. Those who take that step ascend to the position of glory, while those who don’t, remain stuck in place.
Count Ferrios was the latter. Few still expected him to become a master.
* * *