Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 88 (part 1)

The journey had continued for four days without any significant issues.

On the morning of the fifth day, Rodin abruptly stopped the carriage. Dozens of people had gathered on a slightly elevated hill up ahead.

“Brother, are those bandits?”

“I don’t think so.”

The city was too close for it to be bandits. They had passed through a small city just three hours ago, and another small city was just three hours ahead.

With the cities being so close, there were far too many people, horses, and carriages traveling between them. Any bandits in this area would inevitably face attacks from both cities.

“Brother! Someone’s coming.”

“Hmm. Stay inside.”

Two of the people on the hill started approaching Rodin’s carriage. They wore different types of military uniforms.

Rodin stepped forward to meet them.

“What’s the matter?”

“A territorial battle is scheduled ahead.”

“Ah!”

The reason the soldiers were dressed differently was because they belonged to different territories from the start.

Their role was to prevent unrelated people from approaching and to guide those who were expected to arrive to their respective sides.

“It won’t take long. The lord said the battle should be decided by noon.”

“Our lord also doesn’t want this battle to drag on. If you wait a bit, it’ll all be over. We apologize for the inconvenience.”

“I understand. But who are all the people on the hill?”

“They’re spectators, and some are from other territories, here to observe the battle.”

So, this was the territorial war he had heard about. Captain Krondel had mentioned territorial battles, but Rodin hadn’t expected to see one so soon.

“May I go up the hill to watch?”

“Yes, of course. But we won’t guard your carriage. If any valuables are stolen, we won’t be held responsible.”

“Got it.”

The soldiers left. Rodin moved the carriage a little closer and then cast a protective spell around it.

“Can we go outside?”

“It’s a war. There’s nothing good for you to see.”

“What about me?”

“No, not you either. You can watch when you’re older.”

After warning Bianca and Larry to stay put, Rodin climbed the hill.

The hill was only about 20 meters high, but it was wide enough to hold over 100 people. Rodin moved through the crowd and discreetly used magic. His body floated up into the air, giving him a clear view of the scene below.

Rodin deliberately used Levitation, a 3rd-circle spell, instead of the 5th-circle Fly spell to conceal his true abilities.

“Oh! Magic!”

“Is he a mage?”

“I’ve never seen a mage before!”

“Don’t territorial wars always involve mages?”

“But they’re so far away. You can’t even see them properly.”

The crowd reacted with excitement when they saw Rodin use magic. They seemed to want him to show off more magic.

Rodin ignored them. He hadn’t learned magic to become a spectacle for others.

“It’ll take a while.”

Rodin descended back to the ground. The two sides were still in a standoff.

He returned to the carriage, keeping his hood low to cover his face.

As Rodin moved, the crowd parted to let him pass. No one present had the courage to block a mage’s path.

“Time to study.”

“But we were supposed to watch the territorial battle!”

“It hasn’t started yet.”

Though Larry and Bianca pouted, Rodin continued with their lessons.

Today would be the last day of their studies.

They had already learned enough words. From here on, they could learn new vocabulary naturally through experience or by consulting a dictionary themselves.

“Let’s review the words. This one is…”

In the middle of their study session, faint sounds could be heard from outside. Rodin immediately recognized them as the shouts of people.

“I’ll be back.”

“Okay, brother. We’ll stay here.”

“Right. Look after Bianca.”

As soon as Rodin stepped out of the carriage, he floated up again. He cast Eagle Eye, a 2nd-circle spell, to enhance his vision.

The battle unfolding in the distance now appeared as if it were happening right in front of him.

“About 100 men on each side?”

They weren’t fighting with their entire forces. Each side had over a thousand men, but only 100 from each were engaged in the actual battle.

“It makes sense.”

Captain Krondel had said territorial wars happened frequently. If they deployed their entire armies every time, no one would want to become a soldier.

“Hmm.”

The 100 combatants weren’t ordinary soldiers. Each side had around ten official knights of the 3rd rank, while the others appeared to be 2nd-rank.

“Their level isn’t that high.”

The battle was intense, but neither side could gain a clear advantage, and casualties began to mount on both sides.

As about half of the combatants fell, one side slowly began to take the upper hand. The outcome was determined by how many 3rd-rank knights survived.

“It’s over.”

Though Rodin was certain of the outcome, he didn’t leave just yet.

This was his first time witnessing a territorial battle. Since he might get involved in one in the future, it was worth watching carefully at least once.

A horn blared loudly from the side that had sensed their defeat. The 3rd-rank knights who had been massacring their enemies halted their swords and retreated.

Thus, the territorial war came to an end.

Once the battle was decided, the nobles from both sides met in the middle. They set up a small table and chairs, talked for a while, signed something, and then parted ways.

“So, this is how it ends. It’s not like they become sworn enemies.”

Whether or not there were lingering emotions depended on what was at stake in the battle.

If it was a territorial war over moderate rights, the losing side didn’t have to be too upset. They could simply grow stronger and reclaim their losses in the future.

However, if the war involved something crucial to the survival of the territory or the pride of the nobility, the stakes were much higher.

In such cases, all available forces would be mobilized, and the humiliation of defeat would be unbearable.

“Fascinating. It’s almost like a game.”

There had been no mages in this territorial war. Perhaps both sides had agreed to exclude magic power, or maybe there were no mages in the territories at all. It had to be one or the other.

“Brother! How was it?”

“Hmm, next time there’s a territorial battle, let’s watch it together.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. You should see it too.”

Rodin resumed driving the carriage. The lingering impressions of the territorial battle stayed with him for quite some time.

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Hyung_Otaku2

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