Black-Robed Mage Kevin

The leader's concern made the comrades feel as warm as spring.

Bai Xiaowen put on a flattered expression, but his heart was full of disdain:

"Having the chief steward Grima arrange things for me counts as a quest reward? A Resistance Army dog tag, a bunk in the Spiked Helm City barracks, and some pots and pans? No way. I'm not passing up such a good opportunity!"

Bai Xiaowen's expression turned solemn, and when he spoke, his voice was full of high spirits:

"No arrangements are necessary, Lord Usok. I left warm Volterren and came here so the Northern Frontier could be liberated one day sooner! A comfortable life is nothing but poison that corrodes one's fighting spirit. What I want is greater power, so I can devote myself to the Vikings' cause of liberation."

The people in the hall wore all kinds of expressions. Young men like Loga, along with the row of muscular Viking brutes on the right, looked at him with solemn respect, as though they had seen a moral paragon. Many of the civil officials seated on the left, however, had rather odd expressions.

Usok coughed. "Young warrior, you still have a long road ahead of you. Do not rush to pursue power. You must wait for the right opportunity."

"Actually, Lord Usok... I've encountered one such opportunity right now, one that comes only once in a lifetime!"

In full view of everyone in the lord's hall, Bai Xiaowen suddenly pulled out the Soul Stone!

"I risked my life to seize this Soul Stone. It will grant me great power and aid our cause!" Bai Xiaowen declared loudly. "But it has been sealed. My lord, I ask you to help me break the seal on this Soul Stone!"

Bai Xiaowen had repeatedly weighed his options before choosing this moment to reveal the Soul Stone.

First, Usok and his men could not possibly report him to the North County Monastery or the Imperial Knights. They belonged to opposing factions.

Second, Bai Xiaowen was a new warrior who had just rendered great service. In order to win people over, Usok could not possibly rob him outright. A formidable owl like Usok surely understood the principle of spending a fortune to buy a horse's bones. If he turned around and Devoured Bai Xiaowen's Soul Stone, who else would dare join the Northern Frontier Resistance Army in the future?

Several mages in the row on the left stared at the Soul Stone with astonishment, then began whispering among themselves.

Usok glanced at the Soul Stone.

"Kevin!" Usok looked at the black-robed mage seated first on the left. "Take a look at this stone."

Kevin, the black-robed mage, nodded and extended a hand toward Bai Xiaowen.

Bai Xiaowen shook his head. The Soul Stone remained in his palm, with no sign that he intended to hand it to Kevin. "Master Kevin, I can simply hold it up for you to inspect."

Though he was not afraid of being robbed, Bai Xiaowen worried that the black-robed mage Kevin might be tempted by the treasure and use some magical trick to switch it out, then claim it was an ordinary stone. Who would Bai Xiaowen cry to then?

A trace of displeasure appeared on Kevin's pale face, but he still faithfully obeyed Usok's command. He closed his eyes slightly and released his spiritual power to examine the Soul Stone.

"My lord, he is correct. This is a Soul Stone, and it is currently sealed by a rather powerful force," Kevin said as he opened his eyes. "I can sense many wills of the dead within this Soul Stone. If its power can be fully utilized, it could certainly create a formidable summoning necromancer."

The people in the hall frowned slightly. To ordinary people, necromancers who manipulated corpses and skeletons were synonymous with the obscure and sinister, people to be avoided at a respectful distance.

However, the Vikings revered power and did not hold much prejudice against necromancers. If they had been people of the Empire who worshiped the Lord of Light, their reactions would likely have been much more intense. They might even have started shouting for blood.

Usok asked, "Young man, are you truly willing to give up a warrior's glory and choose the detestable necromancer as your profession?"

Bai Xiaowen answered without hesitation, "My talent is better suited to becoming a mage rather than a warrior. No matter what kind of power it is, as long as it helps the Vikings' freedom and the Northern Frontier's independence, I will pursue it. No sacrifice will be too great!"

Bai Xiaowen spoke with stirring passion, and the group of Viking brutes nodded repeatedly.

Kevin's eyes seemed to scan Bai Xiaowen once before he said, "My lord, this young man's physique is rather frail, but his spiritual power is strong. He is indeed better suited to become a ranged spellcaster."

Usok nodded. "It seems I have no reason to stop him. Kevin, you are the most powerful mage in my territory. Can you help him break the seal on the Soul Stone?"

Bai Xiaowen immediately looked toward Kevin, the black-robed mage.

It had to be said that reaching this point in the S- Tier class-change quest was already a crucial step. Bai Xiaowen was still quite nervous.

He feared that this black-robed mage would make excuses to refuse. If that happened, the other mages would not take it on either. The Resistance Army route would effectively be cut off.

Fortunately, Kevin, the black-robed mage, did not refuse. He readily said, "No problem."

Whew. Bai Xiaowen let out a breath of relief and hurriedly thanked him. "Thank you, Master Kevin." He handed the Soul Stone to Kevin without concern now; he no longer feared that Kevin would switch it out.

"However..." Kevin's single word immediately set Bai Xiaowen's nerves on edge again.

Bai Xiaowen wanted to beat this sickly bastard to death. Why did he have to pause so dramatically when he spoke? Nothing good ever followed words like "but," "however," or "although."

"However what?" Since he was asking for help, Bai Xiaowen still cooperatively asked.

Kevin swept his gaze across the hall, cupped his hands to Usok in farewell, then said to Bai Xiaowen, "Come with me."

The two passed through a corridor and entered a study. Bookshelves stood against the walls, and there was also an experimental table covered with various vessels.

"Sit wherever you like. This is my laboratory."

Kevin toyed with the Soul Stone in his hand and said leisurely, "You stole this Soul Stone from Farga, didn't you?"

"How did you know?"

"Heh. Every spellcaster has a unique aura. The seal on this stone contains Farga's spiritual energy, and I happened to meet Farga once before. I also heard that Farga stole a sealed Soul Stone from the North County Monastery and was hunted by royal knights, even fleeing to another plane. I never expected this Soul Stone to end up in your hands." Kevin sounded rather emotional.

"It has nothing to do with Farga anymore. It's mine," Bai Xiaowen emphasized.

"Relax, relax." Kevin waved both hands repeatedly. "I have no friendship with Farga, and I certainly will not inform on you to those bitches at the North County Monastery. I merely received word yesterday that Farga had been captured, so I was making idle conversation. All right, let us return to the main point."

Kevin took a scroll from the bookshelf and slowly unrolled it. A hazy glow of energy spread across its surface. He placed the Soul Stone at the center of the scroll and began breaking the seal as he spoke. "Breaking the seal is not difficult, but the energy in your Soul Stone seems to have already been exhausted. If you want to gain power, simply removing the seal will not be enough."

Bai Xiaowen was overjoyed inside, but his expression remained calm as he asked, "Can Master Kevin replenish it with energy?"

Kevin shook his head. "A Soul Stone's hunger cannot be satisfied by ordinary energy. It must Devour souls. The stronger the soul, the more suitable it is. I cannot help you with that. However, I can point you toward a place."

Bai Xiaowen played along. "What place?"

Kevin worked leisurely. When the energy glow on the scroll had completely faded and it had become a sheet of waste paper, he picked up the Soul Stone and handed it to Bai Xiaowen. Then he said, "That place lies one hundred and fifty li north of Spiked Helm City. It is a forgotten cemetery where powerful ancient Viking warriors are buried. The souls there will certainly meet the Soul Stone's needs."

Prompt:

"You learned about the Frozen Ancient Tomb from Kevin, the chief mage of Spiked Helm City."

"Quest progress has been updated."

"S- Tier class-change quest: Black Soul Stone. Current progress: Seal removed 1/1, charge 0/100."

Bai Xiaowen took the Soul Stone thoughtfully and asked, "Master Kevin, I will go to that ancient tomb to gather soul energy. Is there anything you need my help with?"

Kevin smiled. "Me? No need. I have no interest in necromancy. One final reminder: go to the ancient tomb as soon as possible."