Chapter 28 (1/2)
Chapter 28: Leaving for a New Beginning
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
It was finally daybreak.
As the Dark Elf Army slowly retreated, Link too sighed, but in relief. The effect of Magical Murmurs was about to wear out. He could already feel the exhaustion seeping into his bones.
He would face three months in the weakened state of Ailing Mana, leaving him no choice but to seriously contemplate his course of action during that time.
He had been too noticeable last night. There was no way the Dark Elves would let him go for what he’d done. He would probably face countless assassinations from the Death Hand throughout those three months.
Gladstone City was very close to the Black Forest. The further he was from the city, the safer he’d be.
Throwing a glance at Annie Abel, Link rejoiced. Not only had he rescued Gladstone City, he had saved the future Legendary Assassin, truly changing the fate of the Firuman Continent.
Annie walked up to him. Link smiled and nodded to her. Then, as she looked on in shock, he leapt off the city walls and cast a Vector Resistance Field once more.
Under the Spell’s rebounded effect, Link fell towards one of the small alleys of Gladstone City. He still wore the effects of the Cat’s Agility and so he landed lightly.
He had completed his mission and gotten what he wanted. Each second he spent in Gladstone meant more danger. There was no need for goodbyes.
Celine was already waiting for him in the alley.
“Let’s leave,” Link said as he smiled at her. They had agreed on this beforehand.
Celine nodded. They walked through the alley for a while before turning onto a small path. When they had sneaked out of the city and reached far beyond the sight of anyone else, Celine took on her demon form. She brought Link close in preparation for the long-distance flight they would undertake. Link did his best to stay calm as the position was quite dangerous. Shaking out her wings, Celine soared into the skies.
Gladstone still didn’t know of Link’s disappearance. They were still searching for the powerful Magician who had rescued the city. Of course, there was nothing to be found.
Tales of the Magician spread throughout Gladstone.
Some said he was a messenger of the God of Light. Others said that he was a prodigy of magic. While yet others said that he was the master of fire.
All of these were pure speculation. The truth was long buried by the sands of time.
All the people knew was that the Magician had come from the Magic Academy of Flemmings. And so, in the Flower Gardens of the rebuilt Magic Academy stood a large and tall statue.
The statue was that of a young man, his facial features crafted vaguely. Holding a magic staff and wearing a gray robe, he stared into the distance. The statue was called: The Guardian.
A simple line was annotated below: He saved Gladstone.
Of course, this was all in the far future.
When Celine flew past the boundary of Gladstone, Link saw two new notifications appear on his interface.
The first notification read:
Mission Completed: Save Gladstone
Game Player receivers 100 Omni Points.
That was great!
The second notification was:
The effect of Magical Murmurs has worn out. Game player will be in the weakened state of Ailing Mana. All stats will be reduced by 90% for three months.
That was terrible. Link sighed to himself and checked his current condition.
Link Morani (Noble)
Level-4 Normal Magician
Mana Recovery Speed 0.92
Maximum Mana 24.1
Weapon: Fire Crystal Staff
Supreme Magical Skills: None
Condition: Weakened state of Ailing Mana.
His Mana Recovery Speed and Maximum Mana had both reverted to that of the average Magician’s Apprentice; it would stay that way for three months! This sucked.
Though he was labeled as a Level-4 Magician, it was only in name, and largely due to the Level-4 Flame Blast he had cast earlier. The skill level of a Magician on the Firuman Continent was equivalent to the highest level of magic they could cast.
Truth be told, Link only had some elementary knowledge of magic theory. He had a long way to go before he could truly become a great Archmage!
“Are you sure that you want to go to the East Cove Magic Academy?” Celine asked.
“Yes,” Link nodded.
He’d foraged a lot of basic magic books from the Flemmings Magic Academy’s library. He should be able to read and digest them quickly. Once he learned enough of magic’s basic foundations, he would apply for enrollment. He probably wouldn’t lag behind then.
But there was another important reason for him to go to the East Cove Magic Academy.
In the game, a terrible incident had occurred within less than half a year after the Change of the Bloody Moon—the Demon Tarlvess escaped from his three-century-long imprisonment at the East Cove Magic Academy.
Tarlvess was a true demon of the Deeps, and his power was almost Legendary. The only reason he was captured was because a human prodigy in magic three centuries ago by the name of Bryant overpowered him.
Bryant had managed to attain Legendary status despite the low density of Mana at his time and age. His battle with Tarlvess had been fierce and long. It lasted two days and two nights; the aftermath of their battle formed a deep valley where the East Cove Magic Academy now stood.
Now, however, the mighty Mage had long since passed away. Though weakened by the magical barriers Bryant had cast three hundred years ago, Tarlvess still had the formidable strength of a Level-8 Demon.
Blood flowed from the academy in rivers at the cost of his escape. The dean, a Level-7 Master Magician had paid the price of his soul to chase Tarlvess off with the Level-8 Spell, Demon Cage. Even so, less than half of the academy’s Magicians survived and the valley was leveled flat. This was the most significant event since the Change of the Bloody Moon. It had been called the Mourning of Magic.