Ambush

Half a month passed, and Argell Capell and his group did not arrive at the border camp on time. To prevent any accidents, Shadow was sent over. Their suspicions were correct; the Assassin had indeed come here, which was a real help to Jialan.

Shadow stroked the longbow in his hand and suddenly said, "You must have graduated last year, right?"

Jialan froze for a moment, then gave a wry smile. "Yes, I spent two months in the imperial capital and was assigned here." He looked towards the distant snow-capped mountains. "I've been here for a year now."

At the same time, he silently added in his heart: I've been in this world for nineteen years.

Sometimes he still dreamed of that bustling world, with its towering buildings and flashing neon lights. Those memories felt as distant as another person's dream.

"A Spellcaster, known as the most difficult to advance, and you've already reached a new rank in just one year?" Shadow's voice rarely carried a hint of emotion. "Your talent shouldn't be ordinary. Why would the military dispatch you to such a barren land for border patrol duty?" His tone gradually rose. "Has the military's supply of Spellcasters become so abundant that it's overflowing?"

Jialan turned his head in surprise. This Half-elf, who usually lacked even an expression, now had his brows furrowed, and his emerald green eyes flickered with obvious anger.

"Uh..." Jialan didn't know how to respond for a moment. The military's assignment system was indeed not entirely fair, but Shadow's reaction was a bit too intense.

"Sorry." Shadow seemed to realize his lapse in composure and quickly returned to his usual indifference. But Jialan had keenly noticed that his pointed ears were visibly reddening at an alarming rate, deepening from a pale pink to a rose color.

This discovery left Jialan dumbfounded. This guy was actually... blushing?

The atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

"Actually..." Jialan carefully chose his words. "Although the conditions here are harsh, they are very helpful for the cultivation of an Ice Mage." He raised his Staff and waved it gently, causing the surrounding snowflakes to slowly condense into an ice cone. "See, I couldn't have improved this quickly in the imperial capital."

Shadow gazed at the crystal-clear ice cone, his tense shoulders relaxing slightly.

"Even so..." His voice returned to its usual calm, but the pink on his ear tips had not faded. "Wasting talent is a crime."

For the next period, Jialan stabilized his realm while learning several new spells copied from the military's archives. Of course, these were only the most common ones; those with bizarre and immense power were not something an ordinary Spellcaster like him could obtain. He also had to make time to craft Scrolls and prepare potions, leading a busy yet fulfilling life.

Another half month passed just like that. One day, Jialan was summoned to the military camp by Captain Kendy Lawrence. Shadow was also there. Holding a conscription order, he directly conscripted Jialan, something Kendy's rank could not refuse.

Although it was only a temporary conscription, Spellcasters were a scarce resource everywhere. It sounded good as a temporary conscription, but Jialan suspected it would be a one-way trip.

Kendy was furious, his white beard trembling uncontrollably. According to regulations, his camp required a formal Mage.

However, Mages were extremely rare, and this position was often vacant. Even when filled, it was usually by Mage apprentices who would try to leave as soon as they advanced. This place was too barren; no formal Mage was willing to stay here.

After finally getting a formal Mage, since Jialan's arrival, there hadn't been a single death among the patrol teams. Previously, losing one or two soldiers every month was common, highlighting the importance of a Spellcaster in the team.

Kendy was very unwilling, but the issuer of the conscription order was not someone a mere Captain like him could overturn.

As a member of the military, Jialan also could not refuse. He returned to his cabin and packed important books, spellcasting materials, and Scrolls into his Spatial Bag. He had already inquired with Shadow on the way; they were heading deep into the Misty Forest, which was bound to be fraught with danger, so he only brought essential items.

Most of his experimental equipment was left in the cabin. After setting up a few simple protective formations, he and Shadow hurriedly entered the depths of the dense forest.

They had only been in the forest for two days.

"Something's wrong." Shadow, who was running, suddenly stopped. His white cloak flickered in and out of the mist. His voice was soft, yet it sent a chill down Jialan's spine.

Jialan gripped his Staff tightly. He suddenly sensed a faint, lingering scent of blood in the air, mixed with the aroma of pine needles and snow, making him feel nauseous. He steadied his mind and slowly extended his consciousness.

"To the left." As soon as Jialan spoke, a cold glint whizzed through the air.

Almost instinctively, Jialan raised his Staff. The Ice Mirror Technique embedded in the Staff condensed to his left. The arrow shattered the mirror and fell onto the snow. His heart rate suddenly quickened, and a cold sweat had already broken out on his back.

"Three." Shadow's voice remained calm. "No, four."

Before he finished speaking, a dark figure swooped down from the treetops. Jialan saw Shadow draw a dagger with his backhand. With a flash of cold light, the figure slammed heavily onto the snow. Blood bloomed on the white snow, like a seductive flower.

But the crisis was far from over.

A whistling sound came from the right. Jialan turned quickly, muttering a few words. An ice cone condensed in the air and collided with the incoming arrow, shattering into countless ice crystals. In the refracted light of the ice crystals, he saw a tall figure charging out of the mist, a greatsword in his hand gleaming with a chilling light.

Shadow quickly drew his bow, and arrows shot out like meteors, forcing back the tall figure. Jialan rapidly retreated, drawing an arc with his Staff in hand, chanting softly.

"Flash!" Jialan suddenly swung his Staff, and a blinding white light erupted from its tip, instantly illuminating the entire forest.

This was a beginner-level light magic spell, very simple in structure, which Jialan cast in two seconds. The ambushers were caught off guard, blinded by the intense light, and retreated, covering their eyes.

"Let's go!" Jialan shouted in a low voice. Taking advantage of the enemies' temporary blindness, the two quickly retreated towards the depths of the dense forest. The mist swallowed their figures once more, leaving only angry roars echoing through the forest.

Jialan and Shadow moved swiftly through the mist. The ice and fallen leaves underfoot made faint crunching sounds, but they were quickly swallowed by the thick fog. Shadow's gaze was as sharp as a falcon's, constantly vigilant of the surroundings.

"They won't let us go easily," Shadow said in a low voice, a hint of gravity in his tone. Jialan nodded, understanding that the ambushers would not give up the chase just because of a Flash spell. As expected, not long after, hurried footsteps and low shouts could be heard from behind them.

"Keep moving, I'll hold them off." Shadow suddenly stopped, turned, and drew his bow. A pitch-black arrow was nocked on the string, aimed in the direction of the pursuers.

Jialan hesitated for a moment but quickly nodded. He knew that a Spellcaster's body was too frail and their speed too slow. Only by having Shadow hold off the enemies could he escape the encirclement and prepare for an attack. A prepared Mage could unleash unexpectedly powerful combat abilities.

He ran forward quickly, simultaneously tossing a white Scroll behind him. The Scroll disappeared silently on the snow, transforming into an extreme chill that enveloped dozens of meters around them. "Skating Technique," a beginner-level ice-element area-of-effect control spell, made the enemies' feet slip, temporarily blocking the pursuers' path.