19 In Exile After the Killing Part 2 (1/2)
Saleen burst through the door to the laboratory. Jason saw Saleen in a dishevelled state and asked in surprise, ”Saleen, what happened to you?”
”Teacher, I am in trouble. I killed the son of Earl Sufonso.”
”Just an earl?” Jason was not very concerned about worldly matters. To him, it was not a big issue to have made an enemy of an earl. Having witnessed Saleen’s growth these past few years, he knew that Saleen was not a troublemaker.
”Teacher, there is a magical tower in Yaoyang City!” Saleen replied in a panic.
”Oh?” This had gotten Jason’s attention. If the other party had a powerful mage, he would not interfere directly. Based on Saleen's current level, offending the Earl would be punishable by death.
”How did you offend him?”
”I was only passing by, and saw him about to kill someone...” Saleen did not dare mention his relationship with Decca. What he had said was not wrong. Saleen had already agreed to the request for compensation by the other party, which had been quite low. If not for the tyrannical behavior and rudeness of the Earl’s son, Saleen would not have injured or killed anyone. His first round of attack had not even been intended to be lethal.
”Saleen, even if you were in the wrong, I should still protect you,” Jason said as he sighed. ”However, should the other party's mage write me a letter, I will not be able to interfere with this matter. You have killed someone and must pay for it.”
”Teacher, have I caused you trouble?” Saleen asked the question that had been bothering him. He was worried that the other party's mage would be angered, and that he had implicated his teacher.
”No, this is between you and the Earl. That mage and I will not do anything. Saleen, you will not blame me for not intervening in this matter, will you?” Jason looked at Saleen, and asked this somewhat guiltily. He had planned to start coaching Saleen in magic once he had advanced, but now there would be no such opportunity.
”Teacher... this matter was due to my rashness. I must leave.” Saleen was very aware of his predicament. If Jason were unable to help, that furious earl would definitely tear him into pieces.
”Wait a moment.”
Jason pulled out a few boxes from beneath the experimentation station and opened them, searching for a few items for Saleen.
A white worn-out mage robe; a balaclava with some tears and a magic symbol near the chest; a necklace, set with a long chain of smokey quartz. Smokey quartz could increase a mage’s affinity to elements. A rugged leather sack that could be worn diagonally across the torso.
Saleen’s gaze landed on the last item. That item was a ring; a piece of clear white crystal had been set on the silvery grey-colored metal.
White crystals were very precious, and could augment the restoration of magic chords. It was too advanced for a mage apprentice. Saleen did not know what to say, and did not know whether he should tell Jason that he had already become a mage.
”Saleen, this magic robe was given to me by my teacher. It can be worn from Grade 1 to Grade 3. There are three constant magics on it.”
Jason touched the remaining few items, and continued, ”Your affinity to the elements is very weak. This smokey quartz necklace will probably be of some help to you. There are some magic books I used to read in the sturdy leather sack and should be sufficient for you to read until you attain Grade 3. This ring with white crystal… you will find it useful.”
Saleen put on the magic robe in silence, donned the necklace and ring, and slung on the leather sack. Jason said to him, ”Go pack your things. I need to prepare for the earl who should be appearing soon. You should set off immediately.”
Saleen did not say anything else. Ulysses had let him off without anyone knowing. His teacher had let him go to face the earl’s wrath directly. He hurriedly returned to his room, retrieved the family badge from his box, and tucked it into the inside of his belt. He also stuffed the stack of meaningless debt collection slips into his leather sack. They were useless but since they had been left behind by his father, he would keep them just out of remembrance.
Four thousand gold coins worth of bank notes and ten Grade 3 magic nuclei, together with one hundred and eight gold coins in two money bags, were put into his leather sack. Spending money of eight gold coins was put into his money bag, which hung at his waist. He put on his new boots, and without bidding farewell, Saleen leapt out of the window and hurriedly escaped into the mountains.
He did not have a horse. Even if he had one, he would not be able to outrun the Earl's troops.
After threading through the wilderness in the mountains for more than half a month, the weather had become colder. Saleen had yet to spot any way out. He did not even come across a village. It was a good thing that he had formed his magic chords, as his movement had become more agile. An ordinary wild beast would have required him to use a Grade 0 spell to deal with it, but he did not meet with any danger.
He was alone and distinguished the directions based on the sun, moon, and stars. He walked towards the southeast; his destination was the Qin Empire.
While Earl Sufonso was powerful, his power could not have extended all the way to the Qin Empire. Even the Holy See was unable to have any influence over the Qin Empire, failing to build a church even after operating for a hundred years.