Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
“Human mage, are you planning to follow us to the Orc Royal Court?”
Pet wasn’t sure about the human’s true intentions. Was he bluffing, or was he being sincere? A human going to the Orc Royal Court was like something out of a fairy tale; wasn’t that practically asking for death? After all, humans were nothing more than a less-than-delicious food source to orcs.
“Of course, otherwise, how can I prove myself to you?”
The young mage chuckled elegantly. “Although the Orc Royal Court is a dangerous place, I am a mage from the South Continent, backed by the entire Saint Lodia Empire. Besides, I’m not going there to cause trouble, so what is there to be afraid of?”
A palpable sense of pride and self-importance emanated from his tone.
Pet, the lion-orc, opened his mouth, suddenly unsure of what to say. Was this mage a fearless rookie? Yet, his audacity was remarkably well-reasoned. Was he ignorant and unafraid? But he clearly had some knowledge of the Orc Royal Court.
“Going to the Orc Royal Court? Unbelievable! You are a very brave human. I don’t really have a good impression of cowardly humans, but I think you deserve respect.” Bart looked at the young mage with admiration. Although he didn’t know the mage’s identity, judging by his noble and elegant demeanor, his status was definitely extraordinary—a world apart from the magi under his command. For someone like him, Bart was more willing to build a good relationship. It didn’t matter that this young mage was currently only an Archmage, a minor figure whom he and Bart could easily crush. But his future, and the forces behind him, were definitely not something that two orc warlords could easily shake.
The young mage was unfazed by the overtures of the green-skinned warlord Bart. Respect from orcs… a bunch of barbarians whose brains were filled with nothing but muscle. Every day in the Empire, people who wanted to see him could form a line from his father’s Mage Tower to the entrance of the Yakin’s Magic Academy. With a casual wave of his hand, he stepped aside and then produced a large stack of scrolls from his Space Ring, pulling out one to begin healing his subordinates’ injuries.
With a “buzz,” light elemental energy suddenly surged in the dark dungeon, quickly reaching a boiling point. The pitch-black dungeon was instantly illuminated as if it were broad daylight. Pet and Bart were no strangers to this intense magical fluctuation; it was a powerful spell comparable to a High Priest’s healing linkage, Saint’s Heal. Yet, such a precious spell was inscribed on sheepskin scrolls. The mysterious mage, through his actions, demonstrated to them what background and wealth looked like! If they weren’t mistaken, that entire stack of scrolls was Saint’s Heal. Bart’s curiosity about the mage’s identity intensified, and he became even more determined to build a good relationship with him. The Cain Continent was so dangerous; having more friends meant more paths. Compared to the complex Bart, the lion-orc had fewer thoughts. His entire mind was focused on the lost Tear of the Sea God.
“Bart, what should I do now?” Pet, the lion-orc, was now desperately seeking help. He wasn’t very familiar with Bart, but they were both orcs, so he could only turn to Bart for assistance. The air fell silent at that moment, as if congealed. Bart frowned. He hadn’t intended to get involved in this matter any further. But now that the mysterious mage was going to the Orc Royal Court, how could he stand idly by if he wanted to build a good relationship with him? Immediately, he fell into thought. After a while, Bart’s eyes lit up. He had actually thought of a method.
“Pet, have you heard that the Ancestral High Priest by His Majesty’s side has the ability to backtrack through illusions, allowing us to see details we otherwise wouldn’t through certain mediums.”
“Backtrack through illusions?” Pet looked stunned. He had been fighting on the front lines for a long time and had only recently returned to the Orc Royal Court in the past few months due to the Emperor’s decree. He would soon be heading to a new battlefield to fight the Naga sea monsters. He knew very little about the people and matters within the Royal Court. He knew of the Ancestral High Priest, known as the Imperial Teacher, who held a status equal to the Emperor. This High Priest usually kept a low profile and rarely appeared in public, even wearing a mask when he did. In his hundreds of years of life, Pet had never seen his face. He only knew that this Archpriest possessed mysterious abilities, even wielding the power of foresight.
“Backtrack through illusions, I know of it,” the mysterious mage, who had been standing aside, suddenly spoke. “Although this spell is not as powerful as a forbidden curse, and is only slightly stronger than high-level magic, the mental strength required from the caster is monstrous. Even most Star Source Mages rarely manage to cast it. Even if they force themselves to cast it, the effect is poor, and they suffer from splitting headaches and severe exhaustion.” He spoke with such authority that the two orc warlords listened, wide-eyed and dumbfounded. Bart only knew a superficial aspect of it. The matter of the Ancestral High Priest being able to backtrack through illusions was told to him by his father. It was said that during the Third Continental Conflict, the orc legions were defeated by the human allied forces on the edge of the Death Desert. The first Orc King, the ancient Red Dragon Sotan Trick Natorotto, had gone missing, and even the Orc God Seal was lost. If this divine artifact fell into human hands, it would become a great weapon to restrain the orcs. At that time, the second Orc King, the current Orc Emperor Kulkul Dragonheart, immediately dispatched a large number of Orc Warriors to search frantically in the Death Desert for a week, scouring almost every corner of it, but they couldn’t find the Orc God Seal. The scouts sent out clearly reported that the human allied forces did not possess the Orc God Seal. In the end, Kulkul despaired and was about to give up when the Ancestral High Priest happened to achieve a breakthrough. Afterward, the Ancestral High Priest used a dragon claw from the first Orc King, the ancient Red Dragon, to locate the Orc God Seal. At that time, the method used was a special spell: backtracking through illusions.
“If the Ancestral High Priest is willing to use backtracking through illusions, then the Tear of the Sea God will definitely be found, and we can also determine the identity of the thief.” With the mysterious mage from the South Continent backing him, Bart’s tone immediately became more confident. He straightened his back, his crimson eyes fixated on Pet, the lion-orc. He slightly tilted his chin upwards, imitating the mage’s gesture. He looked as if he was saying, “Well, aren’t you going to thank me properly?” With hope rekindled, Pet’s dejected demeanor vanished, and he was once again revitalized.
“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s set off now!” he urged impatiently. “We can’t delay any longer. I have a premonition that the longer we delay here, the further the Tear of the Sea God will be from us.”
But Bart wasn’t in a hurry. Leaning against the wall with his warhammer, he appeared relaxed. “It will take at least a week to return to the Orc Royal Court from here. In that week, the Tear of the Sea God will have already been taken away. Sooner or later, the outcome will be the same. We can only determine the location of the Tear of the Sea God and then launch an attack to reclaim it.”
“But…”
“I know you are anxious, but please don’t be.” Bart patted the lion-orc’s shoulder to comfort him. “What we want is nothing more than a result. Now that we have a solution, and this young, learned, powerful, and mysterious mage is willing to accompany us… What is most important to us orcs in our lives?”
“Blood and glory?” Pet tilted his head.
“Nonsense!” Bart glared, patting his own sturdy chest. “It is to repay grudges and return favors!” He continued, “Master Mage came all the way from the South Continent; surely he hasn’t eaten yet. Shouldn’t we extend our hospitality as hosts?!”
