Mage Legend

The Elf Forest seemed to come alive all at once, with bird songs, the murmuring of trees, and the sound of flowing water joining in the elves' grand chorus. All the natural elves clearly expressed one idea with their voices: even if their Tree of Life withers, this song will never cease, and neither will this battle.

The sound traveled far, seemingly propelled by some magical force towards the clouds, reaching the heavens. Lynch and Kuboert, at the Residual Star Swamp, heard it clearly as well.

They were now hidden behind the trees at the edge of the wetland, keeping their bodies as low as possible. Though Kuboert, soaking in a puddle, complained about the black mud staining his Holy Robe, he quietly endured it upon seeing the same stains on Lynch's Mage Robe.

"What exactly are we waiting for here?" The priest, hearing the elves' song, knew the battle had begun and felt a surge of excitement: "So the elves' battle songs are as majestic as well. Just like the charge horn of our Holy Pate's Paladins, filled with surging life force!"

"That is a hymn praising the Moon God, not a battle song," Lynch said after listening for a while, "I think you should learn some Elf Language. It will help you understand their culture."

"I'm trying my best to learn," Kuboert scratched his head, saying, "Having left the Holy Pate this time, I realize there are too many things to learn, while my life seems very limited. Now, I greatly admire your journey of learning through travel and adventure as a mage. When I return to the Holy Pate, I will suggest to the bishop that we increase the opportunities for priest apprentices to study abroad."

"And then to spread the teachings of the Holy Pate more widely?" Lynch said, "Relying on the strength of those priest apprentices? I think, they find it hard to even protect themselves. The wilds outside are not like the comfortable Priest Temple, even rangers have a better chance of survival than priests. Few apprentices of Pate can survive before reaching the level of an Official Priest. Especially when they lack mana and are constrained by such harsh precepts."

"When mages still roam this world, many are hostile towards them. I think you are more aware of this than I am. Yet, Pate's priests do not bear this burden. And our great Light God Pate is always watching over all his people. Miracles always appear. I think, there's no reason to worry about their safety."

Lynch glanced at Kuboert and said no more. He did not expect to convince this priest in front of him. In fact, he did not expect to persuade anyone who constantly speaks of miracles.

"Will the enemy really show up here?" After a brief silence, Kuboert spoke.

"Naturally," Lynch maintained his usual smile, "Things are going to be very exciting here."

"Exciting?" Kuboert always felt Lynch's smile held many meanings, too many for him to decipher, which made him very uncomfortable. "I hope you already have planned out what's supposed to happen here, I don't want..."

"You don't want to lose your life meaninglessly, is that it?" Lynch retorted unceremoniously. At that moment, Kuboert felt the smile on that face to be extremely annoying.

"No!" said Pate's priest, "If I lose the ability to fight before sending the enemy to the hell they belong, that would be the greatest disgrace of my life."

"Aren't you afraid of death?" Lynch unexpectedly put away his smile and seriously questioned him.

"Death? It's nothing more than returning to the side of the great Light God, allowing my soul to hear his teachings up close, what's there to fear?" said Kuboert. "The only thing I'm worried about is wasting the capabilities bestowed upon me by Pate Bright God. If my life cannot showcase its brilliance, that would be the most dreadful thing."

Lynch cast another glance at the priest, then redirected his gaze to the other side of the Residual Star Swamp. Perhaps he had anticipated Kuboert's response, or maybe he needed to reassess the middle-aged man before him. However, the mage did not lapse into silence. He said, "Religious fanaticism oftentimes has such replies."

"And what do you think?" Kuboert asked. "I'm not trying to persuade you to start believing in the Light God; I'm simply curious. What exactly do you mages think about? Especially at that moment a thousand years ago when you declared war on the gods."