Backlash

Backlash

Roderick carried the unconscious girl in his arms and carefully laid her on her own bed. Standing beside it, he looked at the girl, who had fallen completely asleep, and called out without a trace of emotion, "Astartes."

"Remilia's breathing is long and steady, her pulse stable, and all vital signs are normal. The concentration of unknown dissipating energy is relatively high. Current condition is being analyzed..."

"Astartes, that wasn't what you told me before." Roderick's response turned even colder. Anyone hearing those icy words could sense a blazing volcano sealed beneath a frigid layer of ice, ready to erupt at any moment.

"She is not in mortal danger. Perhaps this was caused by forcibly materializing the magical energy within her..."

"Astartes, didn't you foresee the consequences?"

"For now, she can only be observed for a period of time. According to calculations, there is a high probability that Remilia will awaken her power. I can guarantee her eventual survival..."

"Then why didn't you tell me beforehand? You shouldn't have hidden this from me!" The volcano was about to erupt.

"Article 1,574 of the Mars Manufacturing Directorate Artificial Intelligence Administration Regulations: securing the greatest benefit for the host at the lowest cost is the duty of every... This matter brings only benefits, no harm, to both her and you."

"Astartes, enter a new directive. Remilia's health and safety are now the highest priority. When necessary, this directive may override all other priority orders." Roderick's anger came swiftly and faded just as quickly.

"But this command goes against the will of the Omnissiah..."

"Execute the order, Astartes. I will not say it a second time."

After a brief silence, Roderick once again heard the voice in his mind. "Glory to the Imperium, Lieutenant. Mareotis Forge Temple salutes you. The Omnissiah watches over you..."

"Analysis indicates that Remilia's brain has entered a protective state of dormancy. The burst of magical energy exceeded this body's capacity..."

Closing his eyes, Roderick sat quietly nearby and sensed the girl's life force. He relaxed slightly. Perhaps she would be fine after some sleep. Although Astartes had concealed the consequences of this operation, he himself had also lacked sufficient awareness of the dangers of magical power. He had awakened an energy capable of immense destruction within an ordinary girl, yet he had treated it far too casually.

Both he and Astartes bore some responsibility for Remi's current condition. Letting his anger out in embarrassment really was a way of evading responsibility, and it could not solve anything. Forget it. I'll talk about it after Remi wakes up.

May the Holy Light bless her. May it keep Remilia safe and unharmed. Roderick could not help praying inwardly. A strange energy slowly rose within him, gradually enveloping his entire body.

"Pure positive energy. Do not resist it. Based on the feedback from your soul, this is the Holy Light."

Following the guidance in his heart, Roderick slowly spoke several words. "Holy Light." Guided by him, a bright golden radiance spread out. Gentle energy flowed over the girl's entire body, and Remilia's slightly rapid breathing returned to normal beneath the Holy Light. Before he could rejoice at the return of the Holy Light, Roderick cast another skill: Cleanse. A transparent sphere of light spiraled from above Remilia's head toward her legs, finally vanishing into the air like a burst bubble, leaving no trace behind.

The long night stretched on, and everything beyond the window was silent.

Inside Dalaran's white mage towers, a mage dressed in deep blue robes was reading the magical notes left behind by his mentor when the magic stone beside him suddenly began to tremble. It emitted a steady buzzing rhythm of three long pulses followed by three short ones.

Before long, blinding red light began flashing throughout the mage tower, staining the study walls with an ominous crimson. This was the communication function built into the magic stones Dalaran issued to all graduated mages. Three long pulses and three short ones signified the most urgent emergency. Morris sensed the magic stone's fluctuation. It was a signal from his junior apprentice brother, Albert. Ever since their mentor had passed away, Albert had left Dalaran and never returned. By the time the location signal confirmed that its source was in Southshore, Morris had already fully armed himself, opened a portal, and appeared instantly before the anxious Albert.

"What danger required you to use the highest emergency signal? If the Inspectorate finds out, you will be severely punished." Morris stepped through the portal and swiftly scanned the surroundings. He found no danger, nor did his junior apprentice brother show any signs of mental control, so he could not help asking.

"It isn't danger. I found someone—a girl with magical talent beyond that of any human." Overwhelmed by both excitement and shock, Albert gave a complete account of what had happened. Even Morris was left dumbfounded. After recovering, Morris finally said, "Although I believe what you are saying, this is simply too incredible. I need to confirm it in person before I can report it to the council."

"Of course. I'll take you there in a moment." After waiting until dawn, the two hurried eagerly to Roderick's home, only to find the knight sitting in the living room with his eyes closed, resting.

"I'll wake her up. Please have some tea." Roderick politely greeted Morris and Albert before heading upstairs.

"Remi, it's time to get up." He gently shook the girl's shoulder. Remi opened her eyes groggily, saw her brother standing beside the bed, and said with a grin, "I slept so well yesterday. I even dreamed about Mother."

"Yes. At noon, we'll go visit Mother." Roderick comforted her, then told her that Dalaran had sent a mage. By the time the girl had hurriedly washed up and gone downstairs with Roderick, Albert and his senior apprentice brother, Mage Morris, had nearly finished the whole pot of tea.

Ignoring Albert's complaints, Morris quietly listened as Roderick recounted everything once more, carefully examining the girl sitting across the table, who looked so obedient. Truly a child favored by heaven. Even Morris could not help sighing at Remilia's face, which rivaled that of a high elf.

"I understand the situation. Personally, I am willing to believe your account, but this matter is too important. What I mean is, can she demonstrate it again in person?"

Albert was about to agree when Roderick calmly said, "She fainted at the end yesterday. I mean, could this kind of energy eruption harm her body?"

"Ah, Remi, are you all right? I was in such a hurry to go home and contact Morris yesterday that I never expected this to happen." Albert asked with concern as well.

"I'm fine. I slept very well yesterday, Brother Albert. You don't need to worry about me," the girl said obediently.

After hearing Roderick's description, Morris thought for a moment before speaking. "This is somewhat similar to a mage suffering a mild magical backlash. Remilia appears perfectly normal, so there should not be any major problem. Her magical power is still rather weak, and she did not awaken much energy. Fortunately, she stopped in time, so there were no other serious consequences."

"However, if a proper mage is interrupted while preparing to cast magic, the mildest outcome is the immediate loss of casting ability, requiring a period of elemental recovery before they can cast again. In severe cases, they may be torn apart by violent magical energy or transformed into a magical aberration. Do not engage in such dangerous behavior privately again."

Only then did Roderick truly relax. He watched Morris cast a spell called Tranquility, which calmed the various turbulent magical elements and ensured Remilia's safety. Morris then took out a diamond-shaped crystal shimmering with purple light. After infusing it with magical energy, he slowly raised it into the air.

Following Roderick's instructions, Remilia closed her eyes and began lightly hypnotizing her own consciousness. Unstable magical energy immediately gathered around her, only to be calmed by Morris's spell.

Though he had been mentally prepared, Morris's shock was no less than Albert's had been when he first witnessed it. Gesturing for the girl to stop sensing the energy, Morris spoke in an unsteady voice. "Miss Remilia, on behalf of Dalaran and the Kirin Tor Council, I formally invite you to study at Dalaran Magic Academy. The academy will arrange for the most powerful mentors to guide you onto the path of magic."

Seeing the barely concealed excitement on the Dalaran mage's face, the girl unexpectedly shook her head. "Ask my brother. His decision is my decision."

Morris turned toward the quiet knight without the slightest surprise. Had he not seen Roderick in person, he would certainly have assumed the man was an archmage with an exceptionally thorough understanding of magic. Otherwise, how could he have sensed Remilia's hidden magical talent?

"Thank you very much for the invitation, but I would prefer to visit Dalaran in person. Also, my younger sister has been poorly disciplined since childhood and has a rather unruly temperament. As for the matter of her mentor, I hope her own choice can be respected," Roderick said neither humbly nor arrogantly.

After hearing that, Remilia happily wrapped her arms around her brother's arm and smugly made a face at Albert. What else could Albert say besides smile bitterly? A magic apprentice who had not even enrolled yet was negotiating terms with the Kirin Tor Council. Roderick truly was confident.

Morris pondered for a moment. "Very well. This afternoon, I will open a portal at Albert's home. Please make your preparations." Putting away the crystal and bidding Albert farewell, Morris cast the spell to teleport to Dalaran. He waved at everyone and vanished into thin air.

"Wow, I'm going to learn magic too! Then I can just chant a spell whenever I want to go somewhere!" Excited, Remilia clamored for Albert to tell her about Dalaran. Roderick also needed to go to the training grounds to arrange the day's work before they all met at Albert's home to prepare for departure.

With his mind filled with thoughts of Dalaran, Roderick arrived at the training grounds absentmindedly. He told Alwyn and Adrian to continue arranging the tests and to identify guards with combat experience, as well as townspeople capable of handling clerical work. The Guard members who had passed yesterday's tests began basic formation training. Seeing that everything was proceeding in perfect order, Roderick bade everyone farewell, but suddenly remembered something and headed toward the council hall.

"Roderick, you handled the Guard restructuring very well. I had worried that you would offend too many people, but it seems I was wrong." When Heni Mareb saw Roderick, he spoke with satisfaction. His old friend's son had such a steady temperament, which pleased him greatly.

Roderick recounted Remilia's situation in detail. Mayor Heni looked astonished after listening. "Dalaran? Roderick, do you still have the ring your father left you?"

"I've kept it safely at home all this time. Why?"

"Wear the ring when you go. I do not have many connections in Dalaran, but with that ring, I believe those mages will not deliberately make things difficult for you." The mayor said this as he rubbed the bronze ring on his own hand, worn smooth with age.

Still full of doubts, Roderick returned home and carefully took a sturdy box from a hidden compartment behind the fireplace. A plain, pitch-black ring lay quietly upon the velvet inside.

Roderick picked up the ring and examined it closely. Its face was engraved with a galloping steed. With only a few strokes, it vividly conveyed the horse's imposing momentum. It was the only relic left by his father, who had died beneath Blackrock Mountain. He gently slipped the ring onto his finger. It fit as though it had been custom-made, without the slightest deviation.

"No unusual energy detected. Its primary component is iron, mixed with small amounts of copper and silver. It possesses excellent resistance to oxidation and relatively strong thermal conductivity..."

An utterly ordinary signet ring. After hearing Astartes's analysis, Roderick checked his attire in the mirror and headed toward Albert's home.