Scepter

Part 6

When Yannick woke up, he still felt dizzy, but the weakness throughout his body had noticeably improved. He tried to gather magic in his palm and found that the situation was much better than before. The meager amount of magic, which was previously negligible, was gradually recovering. At this rate, if he didn't need to heal others again, he should reach the peak state of a low-level cleric within half a month.

During these days, he deeply understood the meaning of "having to lower one's head under someone else's roof". The multitude of mages forced him to leave the peaceful town of Jed and live a miserable life as a free healer, especially Asur, who repeatedly attempted to kill him.

Yannick was certainly not one to be pushed around, but the current situation forced him to swallow his pride and even spend his magic to heal other mages, in order to deepen their good impression of him and thereby divide their relationship with Asur, and ultimately preserve his own life. But in the end, it was still his lack of strength.

"You're awake."

Although Yannick still had his eyes closed, the voice on the other side noticed his state.

His chin was then pinched and lifted, forcing Yannick to open his eyes.

"I suppose disturbing someone's rest isn't something a gentleman would do." The cleric met Chris the mage's gaze, his expression calm and unaffected.

The mage leaned in close, "Those guys went to mine for demon ore and won't be back for a while."

"So?" The cleric reached for the hand pinching his chin, but was unexpectedly held back. He was taken aback as the fingers slipped down his wrist, pushing up his sleeve to reveal his not-so-strong arm, and the cleric's mark on it.

Before Yannick could react further, the other person let go. "Confirming your identity."

"Using such a flimsy reason to harass a cleric, isn't that beneath a mage?" Yannick raised an eyebrow, unperturbed.

He always felt there was something off about Chris. Despite being a high-level mage, he mingled among a group of low-level mages. And despite being in a cave full of demon ore, when other mages were going crazy, he remained indifferent and instead engaged in meaningless conversation.

What's more, Chris's attitude towards him was different from other mages. Asur was one thing, with his radicalism representing the thoughts of a significant portion of the continent's mages. Others like Afra and Lily, while milder, still carried a hint of wariness. Ultimately, they were still from two different camps.

But Chris was different. Yannick often felt his gaze on him, as if with an observational and sinister curiosity.

Yet, Chris suddenly proposed, "Are you interested in cooperating with me?"

Yannick was puzzled, trying to grasp his train of thought. "Cooperate in what?"

"I'll provide you with shelter, and you'll help me reconstruct the system and principles of light magic, including demonstrating and exchanging magic."

"You want to learn light magic?" Yannick was surprised. "The light magic of clerics and the elemental magic of mages are two completely different systems. It seems they can't be reconciled."

"Those who say such things have never truly understood magic," Chris retorted coldly. "Magic is a type of magical element. Throughout the continent, there exists this magical element, whether it's the light magic derived from inspiration from the church or the elemental magic of mages, consisting of the four natural elements of wind, earth, water, and fire."

The cleric faintly realized that the knowledge he had always sought seemed to be opening up a new window because of these words. Compared to Afra and the others, certainly, this high-level mage before him was more capable of answering all the questions in his heart.