Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 61 (Part 1)
Rodin was only 14 years old. Though he was larger than his peers due to the nourishment he received at the training center, he didn’t possess the stature or build that would make him appear as an adult.
Because of his young age, there were those who underestimated him. Moreover, having made money by selling potions, he had attracted the attention of the riffraff who loitered in the back alleys.
Rodin sat on his horse, his gaze fixed straight ahead. At the end of his line of sight stood seven thugs, armed with swords, axes, and hammers.
“Hand over everything you’ve got and get lost!”
One of the group stepped forward and spoke. Though he tried to sound forceful, his voice lacked confidence.
“Hmm, you do realize that I’m a mage, right?”
“Hah! Do you think a mage’s belly can’t be pierced by a knife? Stop babbling and hand everything over!”
“You could try stabbing my belly, but… hm?”
Jito alerted Rodin from behind that someone was approaching. Almost simultaneously, Rodin felt a faint vibration.
‘Four. They’re on horseback.’
Sharing his vision with Jito, Rodin checked the group approaching from behind. It was a group of three men and one woman.
‘They’re the ones I saw at the inn.’
Shortly after, the four horsemen arrived. One of them stepped forward and glared at the thugs.
“See? I told you I recognized them when they were leaving the city.”
“Yeah, yeah, you were right. Hey, you bad guys. What are you going to do? Do you want to fight us too?”
“Th-th…”
The thugs, who had been there first, faltered at the sudden appearance of the new group. Their opponents were not lightly armed.
The thugs also had swords, axes, and hammers, but the newcomers wore leather armor and carried weapons and shields. Moreover, they were all on horseback, and their stances were anything but ordinary.
“You’re a mage, right?”
“Yes. I am a mage. Do you have business with me?”
The only woman among the four approached. She held a staff in her left hand, looking every bit the stereotypical mage.
“Are you planning to kill those bad men?”
“I’m not sure. I’m still inexperienced with the ways of the world. What do you think I should do?”
“How about just chasing them off instead? There’s no need to shed blood, is there?”
The female mage swallowed nervously.
She had realized that the young-looking mage in front of her was a Third-Circle mage. She knew this thanks to the magic embedded in the staff she held.
While staffs usually enhance specific attributes depending on the type of orb attached, they can also be imbued with magic, essentially becoming artifacts.
The female mage’s staff contained a spell called “Mana Circle Detection.” Unlike most mages who store attack, evasion, or defense spells in their staffs, hers was different.
Rodin had concealed two of his mana circles with a hide magic, revealing only three. In other words, he was presenting himself as a Third-Circle mage.
In contrast, the female mage was only a Second-Circle mage. Although the difference was just one circle, a Third-Circle mage was recognized as a formal mage, a distinction far above that of a Second-Circle mage, who was still considered an apprentice.
“Hmm, so you’re here to save them, worried that I might go too far.”
“Yes. I’m a mage too, and we mages can’t stand being underestimated. You were probably planning to inflict terrible pain and then kill them.”
“I wasn’t planning to, but they were getting a bit annoying. If they’re willing to just leave, I’ll let them go.”
Rodin had never intended to kill them. He figured it would be enough to injure them slightly and make them retreat.
“Thank you for showing mercy. Many people are struggling because of the long war. They’ve lost their jobs too.”
“If you’re willing to handle it, then I’m grateful.”
With Rodin’s permission, the men finally drew their weapons and threatened the thugs.
“Hey, you dumb guys. If you had fought that mage, you’d all be dead. That mage is stronger than all of us combined. Got it?”
“Th-th…”
“Enough talk. Get lost. And don’t ever try this again.”
As soon as one of the men gave the order, the thugs fled without looking back. Watching them run away, Rodin thought it was a good decision to let them go.
“Nice to meet you. We’re mercenaries. I’m Bron, and I’m sort of the leader.”
“Sort of? You’re the leader of our mercenary group.”
“That’s right. Only two of us can read, and we can’t leave everything to Ellice.”
“Yeah, if Ellice were in charge of the group, we’d be ruined.”
Judging by their banter, they seemed quite close. All four appeared to be in their mid-twenties.
Bron, who claimed to be the leader, was a man with brown hair and a sturdy build. He carried a sword and a shield, but the shield was small, and the sword was thin and long. It was easy to deduce that he used a style of swordsmanship focused on speed.
“Since I’ve been mentioned, I’ll introduce myself too. I’m Ellice, a Second-Circle mage. It’s an honor to meet a Third-Circle mage.”
“Third-Circle?”
“Really? A real Third-Circle mage? The kind that’s recognized as a formal mage?”
“No way. He looks so young.”
Ellice’s words shocked her companions.
It was rare for someone of Rodin’s age to be a Third-Circle mage. Such talent was usually only seen in the Magic Towers.
“Quiet down. We haven’t finished introductions yet. Let’s all introduce ourselves first.”
“Oh, right. I’m Marlon. I’m a swordsman and a mercenary.”
“I’m Baker, a swordsman as well, and this mischievous mage’s older brother.”
Bron, Ellice, Marlon, and Baker.
The four made up a mercenary group of three swordsmen and one mage. All the swordsmen were well-built, and their equipment was well-maintained. The female mage also had a sharp look in her eyes.
‘They’re a decent party. But a mage in a mercenary group… that’s unusual.’
Rodin knew how rare mages were.
It was extremely rare to find a mage in a small mercenary group, especially one made up of people in their mid-twenties.
“My name is Rodin. As you can see, I’m a mage, and I’m probably a lot younger than you.”
“Wow, nice to meet you. Where are you headed?”
“For now, I’m thinking of going to Bontis. I lost my identity token.”
“Oh!”
Without an identity token, one was assumed to be a slave. This often led to people being captured and sold into slavery simply for not having one. In the Kingdom of Riyaz, some even deliberately stole identity tokens to sell people as slaves.
But no one would mistake Rodin for a slave just because he didn’t have an identity token. The idea of a mage being a slave or a slave becoming a mage was beyond their comprehension.
“There should be a branch of the Magic Tower in Bontis, right?”
“I’m actually considering getting a mercenary badge instead. I don’t mind becoming a mercenary.”
“Oh, then why don’t you come with us? We have business in Bontis as well.”
“Business? It’s more like we’re broke, so we’re heading to Bontis.”