Chapter 191 (2/2)

Well, then, now that the tiger had spilled out his story; Link began to understand the motive behind his seemingly odd behavior earlier. He stared at the thick black fog that surrounded the tiger, then he reached for his wand and pointed it towards Dorias.

“Expulsion!” he chanted.

Expulsion

Level-5 Spell

Effects: A high-level dispelling spell that can expel very strong magic from a target.

This was a spell Link recently mastered in his spare time. It was from a notebook written by Master Magician Grenci where he recorded invaluable lessons he’d learned and his precious experience along with his Supreme Magical Skills. Naturally, Link found the spell to be interesting, so he took the time to master it.

Once the spell was cast, a fist-sized light orb radiating with the colors of the rainbow took form at the tip of Link’s wand and flew straight towards the Wind Tiger Dorias. It danced around the tiger for a while, showering it with its glorious light. Everywhere the light hit on the tiger’s wounded body the remnants of dark energy and dark elements that remained inside were squeezed out and scattered into the air.

Once the spell was complete, Dorias’ body was completely purged and purified, and not a thread of dark elements remained. It moved its body tentatively and started to stand on its feet. It then began to walk in circles. At first, his steps were wobbly and unstable, but soon enough, it regained its footing and gained its speed again. Even the wounds on its body were almost healed now, and the bleeding had completely stopped. He was recovering at an astonishing speed!

It must be stated that one of the reasons for its speedy recovery was the Wind Tiger’s own relentless will to live. It then stopped in its track and turned towards Link.

“Master,” it said, “did you come down south to eliminate those fugitives?”

“No,” answered Link as he shook his head. “I had another plan in mind.” Even so, Dorias’ question had reminded him that there were still some mighty and, most probably, evil escaped prisoners still at large. He should do something about it.

As for this magical beast, he had at first intended to keep it as a battle animal and used the Soul Stamp to control it and keep it in its place. But now that he’d heard the beast’s story, Link had started to empathize with Dorias, so much so that he felt uncomfortable using the Soul Stamp on it.

The reason for this was simple, it wasn’t so much out of sympathy, nor did he intend to let this beast go free. He just felt that for such an upright beast who also possessed high intelligence, there would be no need to use the Soul Stamp or any other spell to get his loyalty. Instead, a few simple psychological tricks would suffice.

Link made a move as if he was about to leave, but then turned his head around at the last moment.

“The human world is full of cruelty and greed,” he said to the tiger. “It’s too dangerous for a magical creature like you. You should escape and go as far away from here as possible and don’t come back. Also, don’t commit any more crimes.”

After that, Link pulled up his hood and simply turned around and left.

Dorias was caught off guard by Link’s actions. This was completely unlike what he’d expected to happen. This Magician had saved his life and banished dark elements from his body, yet he just left him here before he could even say thank you?

“Hey, wait!” shouted Dorias. “Are you mocking me?” Dorias was a mighty Wind Tiger after all! He would never just run away from his obligation to repay a debt of gratitude!

Link ignored him and just kept on walking. He soon entered the forest and continued heading towards the South. After about half a mile, he heard the rustling sound of light and swift footsteps following him. Soon the loud voice of the tiger emerged out of the silence of the forest.

“Hey! Human Magician!” shouted the Wind Tiger. “Where are you going?”

“Why would that concern you?” asked Link, concealing a smile.

“Of course it concerns me!” answered the tiger. “You saved my life! I can’t just leave you! This isn’t the way I, the honorable Wind Tiger Dorias, should behave!”

Link smiled secretly but remained unmoved in his words.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “It was no big deal.”

“It’s no big deal to you, but it was a matter of life and death to me!” answered the tiger. “Besides…I have nowhere else to go. And now that the Syndicate had put a price on my head, it won’t be safe for me to move alone. Why don’t you let me go to the Girvent Forest and hide there? I won’t harm anyone, I promise!”

Although Dorias could be a little too upright and naive sometimes, it was still very clear of the tight situation it was in at the moment. It was aware that the world was a dangerous place for a magical beast. Right now, there must’ve been countless other pursuers who were out to capture it. If it still remain as a lone tiger, there was no hope for it to survive!

If it wanted to live, he would have to find strong allies. Obviously, the Magician in front of him was a man powerful enough to save him. Furthermore, he had saved its life, yet did not demand it to do anything for him in return. Dorias was sure that this was the kind of man he could trust!

Link knew Dorias was in his hands now.

“How about we work as a team?” suggested Link. “I will protect you and give you shelter, and you will become my Warrior. Once we return to the North, I will let you stay in my estate. I will order my people to prepare food for you that would suit your taste, groom your fur, trim your nails, clean your teeth and so on. If you want to, I can even send my people to find you some wives. Would you like that?”

“That doesn’t sound too bad at all!” answered Dorias, his eyes shining brilliantly. He never even dreamed of such luxurious treatments! Tsk. He might even get a few wives and would have people serving him all the time. Just thinking about it had made his mouth water!

“Very well, then,” said Link. “If so, then kneel down now and let me ride on your back to the Opal City in the South.”

“Alright; you’re not that heavy, anyway.” Dorias then somewhat reluctantly let Link step on his back. He would only allow this for someone like Link. Had anyone else make this kind of demand to him he’d eat them up in one bite, even if they had saved his life!

The Wind Tiger’s speed was indeed as fast as it was rumored to be. At first, Dorias was jogging slowly as his body was still weak from the attacks. But then, Link cast the Elemental Cure on Dorias, so its speed accelerated very quickly as its body healed. It had taken them less than two hours to traverse the distance of about a hundred miles, and they were now at the gates to Opal City.

“There’s the headquarters of the Southern Magician Alliance in the city,” said Dorias. “It’s full of Magicians there; I can’t go near it.”

“Fine, wait for me here,” said Link. “I’ll be in the city for a while.”

Link then hopped down the tiger’s back and entered the city gates. His perceptive soul had now detected the tangled mess of dark energy inside the city even from here.

There are definitely demons from the abyss in this city! Link thought. Good. That means that Celine isn’t far from here then.

…

In a Southern Magician Alliance Meeting.

Right at the moment when Link entered the city, a brand new investigation team had just left the Mage Castle and was entering the Opal City as well. The team comprised of 30 people and was led by Master Magician Hanlott. Among the members of the team was one of Hanlott’s disciple, Wavier.

“The demons are evil entities that must be exterminated,” said Hanlott before their departure. “Whoever stands in our way in this mission will be regarded as our enemy, whether it’s the Syndicate or anyone else!”

“Exterminate the demons!” echoed the team members.

Wavier had joined his colleagues in shouting those words as well, even though he was unknowingly gripping his Merlin’s Wand tightly in his hand. An image of the woman who had stolen his heart popped up in his mind.

Forgive me, thought Wavier as he gritted his teeth. This is my duty; it is what I have to do.

Hanlott didn’t notice his disciple’s odd behavior. He could only sense the high spirits and full enthusiasm shown by the Magicians in his team and was deeply satisfied by it.

“Let’s go!!” shouted Hanlott. It was his last command before they left the Mage Castle and head for the Opal City.