MTLNOVEL Chapter 24: Lich and Dragon
The snow-covered forest on the outskirts of Linlopes.
Space slowly twisted and tore apart.
Bruto, dressed in a white clerical robe, stepped out of the portal and appeared in front of Simon and Aikleion.
The three Liches looked at each other.
Bruto asked quietly, "I heard there's a dragon?"
"Yes," Simon shrugged, "Maybe more than one. That's why we called you here; it could be tricky."
"That's not the point. The point is... Does it have treasure?" Bruto added, emphasizing, "I mean Gold Coins."
Simon and Aikleion were taken aback.
"Probably... maybe... we don't know. What do you need the Gold Coins for?" Aikleion asked.
"That's a little secret I can't tell you yet. Let's go, let's start tracking that dragon." Bruto cackled.
Hmm, a very authentic Lich laugh.
At this moment, the soul fire in Bruto's eye sockets burned brighter than ever.
...
The desert night sky was filled with stars, like fireflies dancing across the heavens.
After a long while, realizing he couldn't change anything, the small Beastman dejectedly climbed ashore. He squatted by the riverbank, looking utterly crestfallen.
"What's wrong? Do you want to become like me?" Andrew asked, hands on hips.
The small Beastman looked up at Andrew and nodded hard, then stared at Andrew with anticipation.
"Sorry, that's not possible for now. Unless you become a Mage like me. That was Magic, not the effect of water," Andrew said, brushing the small Beastman's flat nose in a smug manner before turning to leave.
"Become! Mage!" the small Beastman suddenly cried out, then knelt and kowtowed sharply to Andrew.
Andrew was taken aback, turning slowly to look at the small Beastman prostrated on the ground.
Looking up, the small Beastman's forehead was still covered in sand. The kowtow had turned his forehead red and black. He looked at Andrew with expectation.
"You want to be a Mage?"
"Yes!"
"But I've never seen a Beastman Mage, not even one. Beastmen have a shorter lifespan than humans; they are not suited to becoming Mages."
The small Beastman stared at Andrew, seemingly not understanding. Then, repeating his earlier action, he kowtowed again and shouted, "Become! Mage!"
Andrew was at his wit's end and could only smile wryly before walking away.
The small Beastman remained kneeling, watching Andrew from afar.
Bending down, Andrew gently picked up the sleeping Christina. Christina opened her eyes slightly, seeing Andrew's restored appearance, she smiled. She joyfully touched Andrew's face.
"Yes, I've returned. There's plenty of water here. Go back to sleep."
"No, I want to stay awake to watch you." Christina struggled to stand, then kept staring at Andrew, never getting tired of it.
"Become! Mage!" the small Beastman shouted again, his forehead almost bleeding.
"What's wrong with him?" Christina asked, noticing the small Beastman.
"Nothing," Andrew shrugged, "He wants to learn Magic from me, but Beastmen aren't suited for Magic."
"Not even a little?"
"Not really, but he won't achieve much. He can't become a powerful Mage," Andrew said, looking at the small Beastman while muttering an incantation. A flash appeared in Andrew's eyes, and he continued to himself, "Moderate Magic potential, strong for a Beastman. But from an elven perspective, more suited to rune work. Being a Mage is not for him."
"Become! Mage!" the small Beastman shouted for the fourth time, his forehead really bleeding now. He seemed unfazed, continuing to stare at Andrew.
"You see, we can't even communicate smoothly. I don't understand their language, and he barely understands ours."
Christina suddenly looked at Andrew with anticipation. "Maybe you could teach him something simple. Just something he can learn, to fulfill a child's wish."
Hearing this, Andrew was momentarily taken aback. After hesitating for a while, he called, "Come here!"
The small Beastman clearly understood this, scrambling to his feet and rushing to Andrew's side.
Bending down, Andrew patted the small Beastman's head and asked, "Where are your parents?"
The small Beastman looked at Andrew in confusion.
"Parents, do you understand? Father and mother."
"Slave!"
"They were taken as slaves?"
"Dead!"
"I don't understand, were they taken as slaves or are they dead?"
"Slave! Dead!"
Andrew frowned.
"Slave! Dead!" the small Beastman repeated, then rambled on, "Beastmen not slaves! Elder! Battle! Abyss! Victory!"
Andrew got more confused as the small Beastman spoke faster and more incoherently.
"Become! Mage!" That part was clear. It was the fifth time the small Beastman had said it.
Turning to the side, Andrew asked Christina, "Do you really want me to teach him Magic?"
"Yes," Christina nodded.
"Alright. I'll fulfill a child's wish. But I'm doing this for you, not for him. You're the real child here." Turning back, Andrew asked the small Beastman, "You, name."