Ever since Garrett Nordmark made a bold statent during the expanded eting of the review committee and was embarrassed by his teacher, he had stopped paying attention to the situation in Nederland.
"Isn't treating patients more enjoyable?"
"Isn't research more engaging?"
"The council doesn't broadcast international news daily, and the other continent is always in turmoil… In fact, there's not even dostic news, let alone international."
So, when Garrett was pulled out of the hospital by the Magic Council and asked to show so "sincerity," Nederland had already reached the third episode.
Episode one: the Nederland nobility petitioned in rags, and the king generously agreed.
Episode two: a new governor arrived, resistance movents surged, many churches were demolished, and holy statues were smashed.
Episode three: the Church and the king gathered a large army for a brutal suppression. It was said that Cardinal Gravira, previously appointed as the Grand Inquisitor of Nederland, proclaid, "I would rather have a poor Nederland that believes in the Radiant Lord than a wealthy Nederland that blasphes."
In this round of suppression, tens of thousands were hanged or burned at the stake. Gallows stretched from the gate of the Duke of Nederland's castle to ten miles outside the city. Every city square, every town, and every village tree had bodies hanging from them.
Even among the Nederland nobility who petitioned the capital, the highly esteed Earl of Delft and General Godfrey were arrested by the king's general and publicly beheaded in the square for treason.
"So, what do I need to do?" Garrett was bewildered. His mind was still filled with dical terms, occupying over 90% of his mory, making him look dazed.
"Are we going to war? Do I need to go to the battlefield? Should I organize a team of battlefield doctors? Which group am I with?"
"No, you don't need to go to the battlefield for now." The review committee mber who ca to communicate couldn't help but laugh. "What a joke, sending him to the battlefield? Never mind his status as a legendary disciple, his value in the rear, in research, is far greater than on the battlefield! He's like a goose that lays golden eggs!"
"Just cure those cases as soon as possible. Once cured, send them over or show them to the visitors, that's our way of showing sincerity. Can you cure them within ten days?"
"It's a bit tricky, this can't be rushed..."
"How about half a month? Twenty days?"
"I'll try my best..."
Satisfied, the visitor left but turned back to Garrett before leaving, lowering his voice: "By the way, you'd better prepare in advance. You might not go to the battlefield, but others in your mage tower, like Mage Worton, might have to."
"What?!"
Garrett exploded. He selectively ignored the first part, focusing only on the latter half. Aurora going to the battlefield? How co he didn't know?
When would she leave? For how long? What mission? With the main force or a small detachnt?
How dangerous was the mission? How many people could she bring, and what was the highest allowed level of those people?
Garrett spun in circles, bombarding the visitor with questions. The visitor could only shake his head repeatedly: "I don't know, I really don't know. It's just an intention so far. Any mage of a certain level and combat ability might have to take turns going to the battlefield. I was just asked to give a heads-up..."
Garrett fell silent. After making sure there were no urgent cases needing his attention, no surgeries to lead, and no research problems needing his on-site guidance, he stomped his foot and rushed back to the mage tower.
"Aurora! Aurora! Is it true you're going to the battlefield?"
"Boom!"
A loud explosion echoed from the depths of the magic practice room. After a while, Aurora Worton erged, her face covered in black soot and her hair a tangled ss.
"Not so soon. My teacher said it would be in two months, and we would only go for a few missions, not stay long. Three months to half a year at most..."
"Why is Archmage Carlisle like this!" Garrett stomped his foot. He understood the reasoning: Elental mages had the strongest combat power and destructive capabilities, so it made sense for them to go to the battlefield. Aurora, as a disciple of the Lord of Thunder, couldn't hide behind others. A level 6 mage could easily hurl fireballs to destroy an army or a section of city wall.
But Aurora was different! Unlike Andrew Lynn, who had extensive battlefield experience and could challenge higher levels, Aurora had been in the lab since arriving in Nevis and had no outdoor adventure experience. Garrett had at least been to the Black Gate Peninsula and the wilderness, but Aurora hadn't!
"Can't you not go?" Garrett asked hopefully. Aurora shook her head without hesitation: "Impossible. My teacher said all senior disciples of the Lord of Thunder must take turns performing tasks, no exceptions. And..."
He looked up, his bright eyes seemingly gazing through the stone walls of the practice room at the Tower of Heaven.
"I've been in Nevis for so long, eating and using the council's resources. It's ti to contribute."
Garrett was frustrated. Seeing Aurora was firm, he stomped his foot and went to find Archmage Carlisle: "If I can't stop you, I'll ask the senior brother to stop you!"
Archmage Carlisle listened to his request with a smile and then firmly shook his head. "No."
"Why not? Isn't he just one person?"
"It's not just one person. Garrett, do you know how the council operates?"
Archmage Carlisle waved his hand, revealing a map. The Kent Kingdom, Nederland, Brolin Kingdom, and the distant Rhine Kingdom, the Radiant Church's direct territories: "Every mage must contribute to the council. Either guarding mage towers and providing resources, discovering and training potential magic students;"
He waved his hand again, and pure white lights lit up across the kingdom, representing the mage towers from the capital to towns.
"Or producing, manufacturing magic items, guiding workshops, mines, farms, and providing economic sources for the council;"
Nevis City lit up with golden light, like a river of flowing gold.
"Or engaging in research, leading the developnt of magic, even assisting high-level mages in research;"
Blue light illuminated Nevis City and major county cities.
"And of course, so mages fight on the front lines against the Radiant Church."
From the border to the sea, to Nederland, and even the continent's heart, red light lit up, reminding Garrett of the mages' blood and lives.
"Elental mages play a significant role on the front lines. Our status in the council was built through generations of mages' battles!"
Garrett fell silent. Archmage Carlisle sighed, patting his shoulder: "Low-level mages, especially young ones, are considered training objects and won't be easily sent to the battlefield. But Aurora is a mid-level mage now, and he must bear his responsibility—"
This ti, all level 5 and above elental mages in Nevis, who regularly received council stipends, must prepare for the battlefield. Whether defending the coast, dealing with enemy ships at sea, or participating in military operations in Nederland.
"As for the exact work... it's decided by drawing lots. Based on level and spell direction, similar mages and needed positions are determined by lot."
Archmage Carlisle's expression was stern. All cheating possibilities were eliminated: no marked slips, no spell-controlled draws, no divination spells for peeking. Under the supervision of the tower spirits and senior mages, whoever drew the lot took the job.
Fair, just, and open.
Garrett had nothing more to say. To get Aurora out now, the cost would be too high. Even legendary mages might not afford it, as it would undermine the council's recruitnt system, fairness, and integrity.
He lowered his head in frustration. Archmage Carlisle sighed, walked a few steps away, then returned: "While there's ti, equip him well, provide good followers, and let him train in combat. Lack of experience can be deadlier than low levels or insufficient power..."
Garrett nodded silently, determined to equip Aurora with the best defensive gear, enhancents, potions, scrolls, and find good followers. For physical combat, old Morgan could train him, but for magic combat...
While thinking, a warning exploded in his mind: "And you, be prepared. Do you think you won't go to the battlefield?"
Please take a mont to rate this novel at Novelupdate.
User Comments
0 comments from readers