“Hi, Leylin.” Bessita looked to be rather indifferent.
“Come here! Leylin, let me introduce you. This is Alexander!” George pointed at a youth with reddish-brown hair.
“This here is Lana! And the beauty in pink clothing is our long distance attacker— Shiera!”
After that, George introduced the two female acolytes beside him. Lana was alright, but Sheira aggressively pinched the flesh on George’s waist. He immediately let out exaggerated sounds of pain; it looked as if these two had a less innocent relationship.
Leylin couldn’t help but glance at Sheila more closely. She wore pink hunter gear that exposed a pair of milky white thighs. She was tall and carried a green wooden bow, looking to be a good match with George.
Even Leylin had to admit that George had pretty good taste.
“Leylin, why aren’t you introducing your two friends here to us?” After saying that, George mock punched Leylin’s chest, which stunned him a little.
He looked at his own attire and then responded.
For the sake of convenience while travelling, Leylin and his two Grand Knights had on civilian clothing. After obtaining the old witch’s spirit force compression method, he would also habitually conceal his energy waves, which indicated that he was an official Magus.
His two spiritually bound slaves were treated the same way.
Hence, George and the others, who were still acolytes, obviously were unable to discover Leylin’s concealment and treated him as a regular acolyte.
“These are my two friends. We met on the way and appeared to be going to the same place. They aren’t very talkative and are a little antisocial!”
Leylin threw a sculpture of a wyvern into Number 2 and Number 3’s hands. “Take this and leave first. We’ll meet at our destination!”
Upon receiving their master’s secret instructions, Number 2 and Number 3 nodded and left on horseback.
“Leylin, it’s best if you’re warier when interacting with them. I always feel uncomfortable around them…”
George looked at the figures of Number 2 and Number 3 as they left, and he whispered to Leylin.
“Don’t worry, I know my limits!”
Leylin nodded.
“Haha… Let’s not talk about this anymore. Leylin, we haven’t met in six or seven years, huh? This time, we have to drink to our heart’s content!”
George naturally put an arm around Leylin’s shoulder, and one could hear his excessive and proud laughter from miles away. “Guess what? Two years ago, I advanced and became a level 3 acolyte! Even my mentor complimented me for this! But it’s not much; it can’t be helped that I only have a fourth-grade aptitude.”
Due to this chance meeting, Leylin and George dispelled all thoughts of leaving the city and returned inside. They found a small bar and prepared to reminisce.
After two beers, Leylin had gleaned everything he wanted to know from George.
George was obviously still a student of Ennea Ivory Ring Tower, and so was his girlfriend, Sheira.
Bessita, Lana, and that guy called Alexander were all acolytes from the Wetland Gardens Academy.
The reason for their trip here was to complete missions issued by their respective academies. George and Bessita knew each other well, so the two little teams naturally travelled together.
“We’re in deep trouble. We were actually allocated a defence mission in which we must enter, as well as establish a presence in the Eternal River Plain’s secret plane!” George had a look of prolonged suffering on his face, and when they got to this topic, even Sheira and Bessita looked gloomy.
The secret plane was under the control of official Magi, and a few acolytes like them wouldn’t be able to create a tiny disarray within. They were but cannon fodder, and could die at any time.
Leylin glanced at these people. In this group of five that had temporarily been banded together, George and Bessita were level 3 acolytes, and the other three had reached level 2. In general, their total power was similar to the group of five acolytes that he had destroyed outside the Zither Moon Town.
“Oh, right! How about you, Leylin? Your aura seems pretty strong. You must be a level 3 acolyte, right?”
George seemed to be asking without any intent. Bessita, who was using a straw to drink her beverage, visibly strained to hear his answer.
“I was lucky enough to advance to a level 3 acolyte a few months ago!” Leylin chuckled.
“It’s not easy to advance to a level 3 acolyte! Come! Let us drink to our future as Magi!”
George hid none of his thoughts and yelled, attracting the attention of the surrounding people.
“Cheers!” Six glasses of beer clinked together.
After a bout of drinking, George asked, “Leylin, where are you now? In the Abyssal Bone Forest Academy? Only after entering my academy did I find out that the Abyssal Bone Forest Academy was a dark Magus academy that was at odds with us. It’s even forbidden for us to communicate with them.”
“What? Abyssal Bone Forest?! That Abyssal Bone Forest Academy?”
The moment the words came out of George’s mouth, Lana and Alexander were like kittens who had had their tails stepped on, and jumped in shock.
Sheira didn’t say anything, but the gaze in her eyes was more guarded when looking at Leylin.
“Alright! Alright! Don’t be this tense! Leylin and I are good friends; he is different from other dark Magi…”
Only then did George realise the slip of his tongue, as he stood and awkwardly gave a closure on the topic.
Chapter 197 – George and Bessita
Leylin rubbed his nose upon seeing the cautious expressions of the few people around him.
In the Magus world, dark Magi and light Magi were archenemies. And in the Eternal River Plains, which was surrounded by the opposing forces on each side, not attacking after finding out Leylin was a dark Magus showed the immense trust they had in George.
“I left the domain of the dark Magi a few years ago and now live in Nightless City.”
Leylin thought and spoke a half-truth, “I’m currently studying at Four Seasons Garden.”
“See? I knew it! Leylin, you’re brave and honest. How could someone like you be a cruel dark Magus?”
George laughed out gleefully.
Shiera and the others appeared very embarrassed.
The number of Magi that had been killed by Leylin was not public knowledge, but those Magi would have been furious after hearing George’s words.
“Oh, by the way, Leylin, are you going to the secret plane?”
The Eternal River’s secret plane was a major event that triggered an earth-shaking response among the Magi of the south coast. The information regarding the secret plane had spread very quickly, and George and the others were not entirely clueless about it.
Leylin saw George’s anxious look and the other acolytes’ trading gazes, and he immediately understood.
It seemed that George thought Leylin to be one of the acolytes, who were naive and wanted to try their luck within the secret plane.
Of course, this wasn’t surprising since after news about the secret plane spread, acolytes and Magi alike from all over started to convene at this location.
The whole journey was laced with danger. Some died en route, and others would struggle at the entrance and be unable to enter, while others were lured or coerced by the larger powers and became cannon fodder.
There was an extremely small minority of acolytes who would be successful in acquiring some resources from the secret plane and return to Nightless City and other Magi cities. This resulted in a reaction from the magicians in the cities, which in turn incited more acolytes to adventure into the plane.
It was clear that George and the others also considered Leylin to be just like these acolytes.
“Leylin…” George turned silent, seeming to be carefully considering his next words. “The danger inside the secret plane is not something that we acolytes can handle. Only the official M
agi, who are the main forces inside the plane, can stay within for long durations of time.”
“Many of my friends suffered inside. You’re still young and need not…”
“Just let him go!” Bessita suddenly spoke up.
“If he’s lucky, he can get some resources and even advance!”
George furrowed his brows. How could one count on such a thing as luck? Bessita was speaking of it too lightly.
“Actually, I was issued a mission by the academy. I have no choice but to go inside the secret plane.” Leylin sardonically stated.
“I see… No wonder then. I warned you only because it doesn’t seem to be in your nature to undertake such a dangerous task.” George patted his close friend’s shoulder in empathy and forced a smile.
“In this situation, we are probably all in the same boat and might even be assigned to the same location. After all, within the secret plane, the light Magi have gathered and created an alliance.”
After hearing that Leylin had been forced to come to the secret plane just like them, Shiera, Alexander, and the others revealed expressions of sympathy. Leylin’s situation was one they could empathise with.
These kinds of missions were usually suicidal by nature. Only those who had no backing or acolytes who had offended important people would be dispatched by their academies to complete these missions.
When he turned, he saw a hint of an expression on Bessita’s face. Something that seemed like… delight?
“Is this girl still brooding over what happened last time?”
Leylin inwardly grinned and actually found this a novelty.
At his current level, he had already left Bessita far in the dust.
Many Magi had died at Leylin’s hands; what trouble could a lowly acolyte cause?
No matter how she bared her fangs and made threatening gestures at Leylin, she was akin to a small kitten playing with him.
“Since we’re all going the same way, how about you join us too, Leylin?”
At this moment, George put forth a proposal.
“Sure!” Leylin gauged that he still had quite a bit of time and, considering the speed at which George and his friends were travelling, he could reach the Eternal River Plain’s secret plane well before the deadline. Thus, he agreed.
His relationship with George was quite good, so he could help out if the need arose.
Besides, there were still some matters that needed to be resolved between him and Bessita.
“Very good. Since Leylin’s a level 3 acolyte as well, our combined battle strength has increased by a lot. Even if we meet a bandit, there’s no need to be afraid.” George seemed very excited.
The other acolytes did not refute him.
“Bandit? You’re actually afraid of bandits?” Leylin asked, rather stunned. In his mind, the so-called bandits were just peasant farmers with grass pitchforks and fishing spears.
“Oh, you don’t know about this?” George seemed to be even more amazed than Leylin. “I can’t believe you came this far when you’re so overwhelming ignorant about the whole situation!”
Immediately, George carefully explained to Leylin, “If it was a bandit group composed of only ordinary humans, then there’s no need for us to worry. Shiera can single-handedly kill all those who come. However, the situation at the Eternal River Plains is different. Due to the number of acolytes travelling there alone, bandit groups that specifically target magicians have appeared. There are even rumours that official Magi are behind these bandit groups.”
Due to large increase in the number of magicians travelling to the Eternal River Plains’ secret plane, the public security in that area was extremely chaotic. Some scattered dark magicians naturally had the idea to fight for the resources.
However, as these dark magicians were mostly acolytes, their strength was inadequate when compared to Leylin.
If they were official Magi, the greedy dark magicians would be unwilling to attack, but if they were mere acolytes, then the they would not be as hesitant. Compared to the light Magi, who had grown in a protected environment like flowers in a greenhouse, acolytes on the dark side who had matured under the law of the jungle were obviously more powerful in battle. With their superior fighting instincts and their manipulation of timing when attacking, they were far more capable than their light acolyte peers.
Most of the acolytes in the area, especially those who were leaving, might be carrying some precious resources from the Eternal River Plains’ secret plane. If bandits ran into any of these acolytes, it would be enough for them to make a fortune!
There were several dark magician acolytes that had these thoughts.
Hence, the way to the Eternal River Plains’ secret plane was full of danger.
Many acolytes who were dreaming of panning for gold usually died before reaching the secret plane.
Leylin thought back to how he had not run into any big bandit groups during his journey.
Occasionally, he had encountered a few inexperienced local thieves that had been dealt with by Number 2 and Number 3.
These two men had already advanced after receiving the incomplete runes of Branded Swordsmen and all ordinary men or acolytes were easily dealt with with a few sword attacks.
“So that’s what’s happening. It seems that I’ve been rather lucky.” Leylin massaged his temples and laughed.
“I can’t help saying this, but man, your luck is too good! However, this has just been the outlying areas. As we continue to travel further into the Eternal River Plains, there will be more of these kinds of bandits. As the light Magi will focus all their energy on the secret plane, some entrances might have a generous amount of warnings placed, but other regions will just be disregarded…”
George had a good grasp of Leylin’s character and knew that this friend of his was not what he seemed to be on the surface. He was sure to have some trump cards.
He wasn’t wrong either, since Leylin knew how to adapt to circumstances and act accordingly.
The stronger Leylin was, the more secure his band of comrades would be. If he continued asking further, it would only result in Leylin being pressured to leave, which did not work well for their situation.
It was but a mere assumption, but since Leylin could advance to a level 3 acolyte so quickly and receive solo missions, that meant he definitely had a great trump card. Poor George didn’t even consider the possibility that Leylin had already advanced to an official Magus.
After all, there was a wide chasm between a level 3 acolyte and the realm of official Magi.
Even if it was the most amazing genius, promoting to the Magus realm before 30 years of age was in itself a most outstanding speed of advancement.
George, who knew that Leylin only had a third-grade aptitude, did not bother considering that all.
“Good! Now that you’re a member of our group, let’s enjoy a toast.” George, as always, was very welcoming and put an arm around Leylin’s shoulder, patting Leylin’s chest with his other arm.
“At least we’re not lacking good wine nor beautiful women. Do you see that red-clothed beauty beside the bar counter? She’s making bedroom eyes at you. If you just go up and speak to her, I bet she’ll she’ll be yours tonight! And then… heh!”
Warlock of the Magus World 1-596 Page 152