Rising Shadows: The Fight for Freedom I

Chapter 71: Alliance

"Brother, why have we only learned martial skills instead of magic from childhood? Mother is a powerful sorceress!" Although Darn had never witnessed their mother, Kriya, casting spells with great prowess, he couldn't help but imagine himself as a mage and thus posed the question.

"That is because you and I lack the innate talent for magic! Moreover, mages and warriors are different; everyone can train their bodies. Even if one cannot forge fighting spirit, they can still enhance their strength to some extent!"

"But mages cannot do the same. A mage, even a mere first-level apprentice, must be able to sense the omnipresent magical elements in the universe before they can even begin to generate magical power, use spells, and manipulate the forces of air, earth, rivers, and the elusive magical elements!"

"Furthermore, to advance further down the path of magic, mages must invest far more time and energy than warriors. All mages not only possess magical power but also require extensive knowledge! Have you not noticed that all mages spend their days in the mage tower, diligently researching spells and magical energy? If Father were also a mage, do you think he would have the energy to manage the affairs of the governor's office and become a commander of a province?"

Karl's explanation was straightforward, and Darn understood immediately. Although cultivating fighting spirit may lack the vast power of a mage's spells, it offers a considerable amount of personal time. A mage, on the other hand, has no time to concern themselves with worldly matters while striving for self-improvement.

Darn's memories corroborated this notion; in his youth, he recalled that their mother, Kriya, would leave for the mage tower in Lutetania early each day, only returning at night, and sometimes even staying overnight at the tower.

Well, if that's the case, then cultivating fighting spirit seems to have more promise. Thankfully, I lack talent in magic; otherwise, I would have been confined in that cold stone tower since childhood, with no time for leisure... Frowning in contemplation, Darn reluctantly reached a conclusion.

A bit disappointed and somewhat unwilling, Darn had come to understand that mages could not be trained en masse by the military. However, he still found it hard to comprehend. Although training mages was challenging and their numbers scarce, could it not be possible to assign just one mage to a legion?

Considering the number of legions in the Kingdom of Bylins, a hundred or so mages would suffice. From what he knew about the mage tower in Lutetania, there were several hundred mages within. While most of them were apprentices and low-level mages, still...

"Fool, have you forgotten that all mages are nobles! Even if some mages come from common backgrounds and are fortunate enough to have ample resources and time to study spells, how could such individuals be willing to join the military and be bound by its constraints? Moreover..."

"Moreover, think carefully. Aside from providing immense benefits to the military, what else can the spell for rapid message transmission do?" After a pause, Karl lowered his voice, almost leaning toward his brother's ear, and spoke meaningfully.

What else can it do? What is my brother trying to tell me? Darn looked at his elder brother with a puzzled expression.

"Would any kingdom allow its ministers to conspire together?" Karl asked softly.

"Of course not!"

"Then, would a king permit the generals of various provinces to communicate freely?"

"Ah-" Darn understood, and he also recalled everything he had seen in the mage tower. He realized why there were specific registrations when sending messages through spells, why manipulating that magical crystal ball required the presence of three or more mages, and why, in the tall stone tower, there were not only mages but also local officials and soldiers of the kingdom.