Badge in Azure

Chapter 106: Joey’s Tricks (Part 1)

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

How important was Saleen? Before this, this question would have been very easy for Viscountess Lex to answer. However, she had been unbelievably shocked by the magic array that Saleen had drawn. She also knew of a magic array like this, and it did not matter how ugly Saleen had drawn it. She could see the similarities within.

“You want to know his secrets?” Joey asked straightforwardly.

If Lex was willing, he could easily extract Saleen’s memory even though it was not something he would usually do. However, if it was Lex’s request, he could not care less about what he himself wanted.

“No, I only hope he survives. Master, do you believe in fate?” Lex asked.

“Fate is but an arrangement by the gods. Of course, that is nonsense,” Joey replied and laughed.

“Yes. Since fate has nothing to do with the gods, I hope he survives.”

“Lex, you are as stubborn as your father.” Joey shook his head, the laughter gone from his green eyes.

“Joey, both Saleen and I have our own small secrets. These secrets might end up changing the Myers Mainland, or perhaps they are just an arrangement by the gods. However, I am a mage and to know the results I will need to find them out myself,” Lex said seriously, looking at the immobilized Saleen.

Saleen had once been just an investment to her and it had not mattered whether there was anything to gain from him. However, things were different now. Saleen’s secrets had at last caught her attention.

“For me it is nothing but a small matter, but for him, it is a matter of life and death. What do you request?” Joey halfheartedly granted Lex’s request. Saving the life of a Grade 2 mage was a small matter in his eyes, but that did not mean he would go around saving just anyone.

For a person to gain, they needed to lose. This was a principal for all mages. If Saleen wanted to live, he would need to sacrifice something.

“I still do not know. Just let him follow me for now. Some things cannot be forced.” Viscountess Lex suppressed her longings and said this nonchalantly.

Kindness was something that could backfire if it was repaid too early. Moreover, Saleen’s teacher was too secretive, and if she went too far, it would not do the empire any good. If his teacher had managed to become friendly with a Grade 9 sorcerer, it would not be good to offend him.

Sigh. If only those people from Alchemy City had listened to the royal dispatch. Would the empire still have been in conflict with the Holy See for this long? They would have attacked a long time ago.

Saleen entered a borderless darkness. The Darkness Screen spell was an interesting spell, but it was not so much fun to enter it. The effect of this magic was completely reliant on the user’s motives. Moreover, this magic definitely demonstrated the difference between grades.

Many spells did not have a fixed grade. For example, the Fireball spell could be cast as soon as a person was Grade 2. However, in Faerun’s hands, the Fireball spell had constantly been upgraded. The fireballs that Faerun now released had the strength of a Grade 6 spell.

The Darkness Screen spell was a spell that started at Grade 4. Saleen did not know what grade Joey was, but to be able to solve a problem that a Grade 8 sorcerer could not solve, he must have been at least Grade 8.

A Grade 8 Darkness Screen spell had a much deeper meaning to it. Saleen had learned the Figaro formula and could easily analyze the sequence of a Grade 1 spell, and could try analyzing a Grade 2 one. If he had enough time, he could even analyze Grade 3 magic. As for Grade 8 spells, if he started now and analyzed it until he died, he would perhaps be able to analyze the tip. He could not see, could not hear, and could not feel. Even with the sensation of having his senses stripped from him, Saleen was not flustered. If Joey had wanted to kill him, he had more than ten thousand ways of doing so. Moreover, this was not something he had not experienced before. When he had first used his family badge, he had not been able to feel anything but pain. Some things became easier after getting used to them.

At least Saleen could still feel his existence now, particularly with his left hand. His magic chords and focus had not disappeared, and he tried releasing a Fluorescence spell.

The magic was released successfully but Saleen could not see any light.

Elemental counteraction…

This was a property of Dark Magic; any Light Magic would demonstrate the characteristics of elemental rejection. These two types of magic were hard to control and Saleen had only been able to read up about them using magic notes. Usually, mages interacted with the four basic types of magic: ground, water, wind, and fire.

Within this magic radius, any elemental magic below Grade 7 would be counteracted. This magic was so simple. It suppressed any magic under its grade and left one powerless.

The simplier it was, the harder it was to deal with. Even if Saleen had been a Grade 7 sorcerer in that instant, he could have only forced his way in and used a Grade 8 spell to destroy the Darkness Screen spell.

What was someone to do in eternal darkness? Saleen did not know what others would do, but after experimenting with a Grade 0 spell, he slipped into deep thought.

Everything that he had done since beginning to study magic flowed through his heart, and he realized that his goal had always been so insignificant. It was either to live or live slightly better. That was all.

In comparison to him, everyone else was living a better life. His teacher had left his country of origin to go to a foreign city to train and find his future on his own, Baron Cook had wanted to restore his family’s glory, Canghong had wanted to excavate ruins to become rich, the holy masters did not even need to be mentioned, and even the dead Loki had wanted to bring back a dragon’s magic nucleus to make Lex happy.

What were Viscountess Lex’s ambitions? Saleen thought carefully and realized that he did not really know Lex.

Viscountess Lex had nurtured so many mages and yet had not asked for anything in exchange aside from wanting them to protect Bitter Water Prefecture. However, this was not even truly a request to the mages. If BItter Water Prefecture were ever to be in danger, even without any promises, Saleen would help in battle.

There were traces of his life there. The teachings of the sorcerer had held… a little warmth to them. He had never seen Faerun as his teacher, but if someone were to hurt him, what would he do?

If someday he discovered that he hated a life of travelled, it seemed that he had only two places to settle down. One was Bitter Water Prefecture, and the other was Sika’s village.

Sika, Sika…

This Caucasus warrior had been silently supporting him, never leaving him alone. It did not matter if it had been bandit gangs, holy priests, or the white deacon. Sika’s reaction had been to swing her cudgel and create opportunities for Saleen.

Sika, I’m not a priest. Don’t fight so hard for me.

Sika lowered her head and said softly, “Yes chief.”

Saleen became a little choked up as the past flashed through his head, clear as day. If he were to die like this, would he have too many regrets? At the very least, he needed to repay the concern that Sika had shown him

If he were to live, there were so many things that he would be able to do aside from causing trouble for Earl Sufonso.

Saleen slowly calmed down. Had Joey not said that he could still live for another three years? He needed to sell his gemstones to help Sika’s village, help Lex expand her powers, and find his teacher and give him whatever he had obtained. As for Earl Sufonso? Whatever he had done had been under the influence of the Holy See to throw Sikeqinya and the Qin Empire into conflict. If the Holy See got their way, he would not be able to do anything about Earl Sufonso either. If they failed, even if Saleen did not exact revenge, things would not turn out well for Earl Sufonso anyways.

Slowly bending his fingers, Saleen realized that he could still move his left hand. With that, he released two water shields between his hands. These two low-grade spells managed to stick completely to his hands, unaffected by the magic of the darkness screen.

Saleen laughed. Who said he was not talented enough? He immediately thought of a way to destroy the darkness screen, taking out the family badge from the Ring of Gifts and holding it in his left hand. A Grade 0 Poison Detection spell was released and the surrounding darkness elements rushed rapidly into the badge.

Boom…

Saleen fell with a loud thud onto the floor. The Darkness Screen spell had disappeared. Without the balance of the elements, the Grade 8 spell could not sustain itself.

Even Joey was shocked. Saleen had managed to break down the Darkness Screen spell. This was impossible. Being a Grade 2 mage, even if he possessed any godly equipment, he would not be able to use it. This was a rule.

Saleen laid on the ground. His left hand had almost fractured under his weight and his nose hurt terribly. However, compared to the pain caused by the badge, this was nothing.

“Lex, since you have requested it, I will save him. However, that depends on whether he is willing to accept the terms,” Joey said intentionally, finding it amusing too. It had been a while since he had come across such a peculiar low-grade mage. Anyone who came to find him was usually respectful and did not dare to say a word.

Perhaps ten years back, had there been someone? He seemed to have been killed by him. The Darkness Screen spell could hurt someone if they were trapped inside of it for too long, as their life force would be sucked out completely. This little mage might have been at the worst point of his life, and yet his will to live had not been sucked out. He did not know what Saleen had used to get out of the darkness screen.

Once Joey was interested in something, he naturally would not let it go. He had already decided what he wanted to request. This little mage had much research value…

Saleen had thought he was doomed. He had no idea that he had become a subject of Joey’s research. Lying on the ground, he was looking a little shabby. However, he could not control his body and could only stay in a fixed position, waiting for the negative effects to disappear.

Fortunately, Lex had a heart and she helped him up. Joey did not stop her, allowing her to carry Saleen to the stone platform.

“Lex, I have created a set of magic equipment. Go change into it and see how it looks.” Joey did not immediately attend to Saleen. Seeing the badge in Saleen’s hands, he had a vague idea of how Saleen had managed to escape. Something was amiss. In the darkness screen, a Grade 2 mage had been able to use the powers of his equipment?

“Yes.” Lex took the ring from Joey’s hands. Naturally, the equipment was inside.

Seeing Lex leave the laboratory, Joey walked over to the platform to look at Saleen. Saleen was calm, able to understand the passionate gaze from Joey. It was the same way Faerun had looked when he had been dismembering the enemy’s corpse. However, his muscles were out of control and being calm was the only expression he could manage.

Joey casually released a Grade 7 spell: Magic Liquid.

The blue liquid entered Saleen through his body’s surface, rapidly removing the negative effects. This was the first time since Saleen had used the badge that he had recovered so rapidly, yet he was not particularly happy. It seemed like magic liquid could immediately end such negative effects. Grade 7 magic was too far away.

“I can save you, but I have three requests in exchange,” Joey said to Saleen who was lying on the platform. Saleen was motionless, having a look of helplessness about him.

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