Opening Remarks

Leaving a pile of gifts for Fire Bat to transport into the valley, the not-so-large but extremely valuable team soon departed along the narrow mountain path.

Ganis chatted idly with Downs along the way, "This, if I may ask, what is your Master's name? We've come twice, and it's hard to report back to His Majesty..."

"Alas! Honestly, I'm not yet a direct disciple of Master. But my Master said it's okay to tell you, his surname is [Tesla]."

"Lord Tesla?" For some reason, just mentioning the name brought to mind the image of the Thunder God, who appeared with terrifying lightning, for Ganis and the other powerhouses around them.

One had to admit, the first impression was too profound.

After asking for the name, to show respect, Ganis and the others placed a hand over their chests and bowed towards the legendary Fire Bat on Downs's shoulder.

This courtesy was perfectly executed.

Everyone knew that this Fire Bat was the eyes and ears of the legendary Arch Mage Tesla. This was done purely out of etiquette and respect; they truly didn't know the extent of this "[eyes and ears]".

Uh, the visuals Laifu could provide through soul connection were roughly equivalent to a 4K high-definition surveillance camera on Earth, with night vision and Dolby surround sound.

In fact, this guy even had ultrasonic perception sharing, but that wasn't something humans could hear.

Thanks to Laifu, even though Lein couldn't leave the valley, he still felt like he was playing a story-driven first-person adventure game.

This feeling of the other party knowing you were watching, yet thinking you were using a 19th-century Earth film camera, while you were actually watching 4K ultra-high definition, was truly peculiar.

Ganis continued to chat, "If Lord Quijote successfully deals with that Mage tower, what are your plans afterward?"

"Uh, I haven't thought about it. I'll ask Master when the time comes. I feel like Master will probably let me travel around."

"If you're traveling, it would be better to find some followers to protect you. Even in the era when magic was most prosperous a hundred years ago, Mages of Formal rank and above would travel in groups."

Nearby, Master Famit enthusiastically added, "The Cervantes Kingdom will be your strongest backing."

Downs felt a little awkward, "This... Master has always seemed indifferent to your kingdom. If you don't mind, I'd like to form a small team at the Adventurers' Guild."

Adventure, that was the romance of the young.

Even though Downs had received strict knightly training since childhood, his heart, yearning to explore the mysterious, to adventure, and to unleash himself in the vast, free world, had never been extinguished.

Seeing the longing in Downs's eyes, Ganis gave a wry smile. He exchanged a look with Famit and immediately understood his thoughts.

Frankly speaking, such a novice Mage, even if his strength had reached the high ranks, could easily perish in the past hundred years.

The world was perilous; no one would indulge you.

If Downs was too reckless, the Cervantes Duchy wouldn't be able to protect him.

However, with such a legendary Mage as his Master, that was another matter entirely.

Who knew if the Master would split space the next second and beat the hell out of whoever dared to provoke his disciple.

The protection of powerful figures was sometimes that unreasonable, requiring no reason at all.

What else could Ganis and the others do?

They could only serve him with utmost care.

Originally, Ganis had prepared himself to pamper this young master. Unexpectedly, after walking for a while, Downs suddenly said, "That's right. My Master prefers to keep a low profile."

With that, he clapped his hands, and a dazzling halo suddenly enveloped him and the Sunny Rainbow White Horse beneath him.

His attire didn't change much. Bo Le transformed into a seemingly magnificent but ordinary horse, and Laifu became a common pet owl.

Bo Le expressed its dissatisfaction in a very human-like manner, snorting and huffing. Only after Downs stuffed several carrots into its mouth and coaxed it, explaining that the human world was a bit dangerous, did Bo Le snort, grudgingly agreeing.

The team continued to move forward. Fortunately, Downs, who came from a knight apprentice background, not only had excellent physique but also lacked the pampered habits of the mages in history books, making their interactions quite harmonious.

It took them ten days to leave Vulture Dragon Mountain and reach Cervantes City.

As the capital of a kingdom, it couldn't compare to the capital of the Barbarossa Empire. The fifteen-meter-high city walls were certainly grand, but they could only awe a 'country mage' like Downs.

Lein, who was peeking, merely grunted and paid it no mind.

Crossing the fifteen-meter-wide moat via the drawbridge, they arrived at the city gate, wide enough for four carriages to pass abreast. Downs felt strange glances cast their way.

The passage into the city appeared to have three lanes, but in reality, there were only two.

Civilians formed one line, and adventurers carrying weapons formed another.

Civilians certainly didn't dare to look; merely glimpsing Ganis and his guards was enough for them to lower their heads in greeting. Those who dared to cast lingering glances were naturally adventurers.

After glimpsing the striking, lightning-symbol adorned, purple-blue robe on Downs, they couldn't tear their eyes away.

"Mage?"

"Impossible! Besides those who claim to be Formal Mages but only perform parlor tricks, where are the Mages these days?"

"He must be a Warlock!"

"But he looks like a decent person!"

The adventurers stirred.

This was the Age of Demise of Magic, but it didn't mean no one could use magic.

Warlocks were the exception.

If Mages learned and mastered magical knowledge and principles to cast spells in a structured manner, then Warlocks were the arcane opposite of Mages.

Warlocks didn't cast spells based on knowledge or reason; they relied purely on instinct, or awakened innate magical talent within their blood, releasing powerful explosive energy through their bodies.

The most classic Warlocks are descendants of races adept at magic. For example, descendants of noble ancient dragons, or those who bathed in dragon blood as infants, filling their bodies with draconic power.

Or perhaps they were born within a magical vortex, the vortex infusing their bodies with chaotic energy.

Compared to Mages who restrain magic with order and can cast spells regularly, Warlocks are the epitome of those who can only use magic at noon, because they'll be finished by morning or evening.

Imagine, when arcane energy pulses beneath your skin, calling for release, what would you do?

Blast it all out directly?

Or use your power with restraint, exploring the limits of your body's endurance bit by bit?

Or perhaps increase your upper limit little by little?

Sorry, even the Warlocks themselves don't know their limits, let alone anyone else.

That's why adventurers have such conflicted attitudes towards Warlocks. They crave the magical power of Warlocks, yet fear these individuals might suddenly lose control and turn themselves into kamikaze infantry.

Interestingly, people in this world are categorized.

Different professions often wear badges on their chests or sleeves to identify themselves to others.

The adventurers waiting at the city gate craned their necks, but couldn't spot any insignia.

As they tried to get closer, they were stunned to see how impressive the escorting party was. They were entering the city through the noble's passage, making the adventurers sheepishly withdraw their gazes.

Ganis: "Shall we go to the state guesthouse to rest first?"

"No! Straight to the Adventurers' Guild."

"Alright, Your Excellency, as you say."

The Adventurers' Guild in the royal city of Cervantes is located in the south of the city. The guild hall, with its marble sculptures of famous adventurers adorning the outer walls, had its large double wooden doors pushed open that morning by an excessively young mage.

To everyone's surprise, he performed a rather elegant bow.

"Good day, everyone! I need to find a few partners to accompany me into the Noan Mage Tower. Competent ones, no troublemakers." His tone was calm, his face youthful, and his lips curved into a smile.

Logically, such a newbie would naturally be met with mockery and ridicule from the veterans in the guild.

But there was none!

Because a Lightning person, identical in silhouette to him, stood beside him, perfectly replicating his every movement.

Such an opening statement shocked everyone present!