Surviving The Fourth Calamity

After a moment of silence, Hill gathered his spirits and said, "Uncle Adrian must have brought me a lot of news, right?"

Adrian shook his head and replied, "It's a good thing you didn't go to the capital. I disagreed even with the teacher's suggestion that you should find your own way. The teacher is already a Magister, and I'm an Archmage. How could we fail to protect a child? Thankfully, the teacher didn't listen to me."

Hill couldn't help asking, "Is the capital in chaos now?"

"The King is dying!" Adrian exclaimed. "The Crown Prince is still just an ordinary Knight, and the Second Prince is already a Sky Knight! Although he's a fool! Even the Little Prince and the two Princesses have become Grand Knights."

Hill, puzzled, asked, "Does the Crown Prince have many supporters?" Saral had only gone through three Kings, all of whom were Sky Knights capable of living 4 to 500 years. The Crown Prince was almost 80 years old, how could anyone support him? The Old King had only managed to survive his long-lived predecessor because he was a Sky Knight.

"No one expected the King to age so soon. Everyone thought the Crown Prince would die before the King. Everyone was waiting for his death; no one wanted to fight to the death with a prince.

But given the current situation, the Crown Prince will definitely hold on for another 10 years, after all, he's the eldest son. Don't forget that he has a son who reached the rank of Grand Knight at the age of 20, and now it's said he's on the verge of becoming a Sky Knight," Adrian said with a sneer. "Not to mention he's married the eldest daughter of the Duke of Morlan! The capital is in total disarray. Most Magisters in the Mage Tower have shut their doors."

"Most of them? What about the Archmages?"

"There will always be those who believe that pursuing worldly power is easier than mastering magic," Adrian said indifferently. "A few of the teacher's disciples who had left have also returned."

Hill understood. "Could it be that some believe my maternal grandfather could be dragged down by these former expelled disciples?"

"No, it's that some people think the teacher wants revenge on them!"

"Is the Earl going to have a bad time?"

Adrian suddenly laughed, "I thought you didn't care."

Hill spoke calmly, "I don't care. But that doesn't mean I don't want to see him run into misfortune."

"Then you will get to see it. After all, everyone is pulling people to their side. Perast's meddling in the court isn't light, else all those people wouldn't have helped him back then. Owing favors means there's no escaping now, wait for his downfall!" Adrian said. "The teacher has asked me to stay here with you for a while."

Adrian's father was a Marquis, and his mother also had a trace of Royal Family blood. Nobody knew whether, in the end, all the Great Nobility would have to choose sides. After sending him out, Fran probably planned to lock himself away until it was all over.

Hill nodded in agreement, "It's just as well, there are still many things in my tower that I haven't arranged properly, and the magic arrays on the external walls of my lands need to be inscribed."

Adrian rolled his eyes at him, "Am I here to do the grunt work?!"

Hill replied with a bitter smile, "As an Archmage, you don't need to spend your days in meditation. I need to work a little harder."

At the Archmage stage of the Mage Profession, the soul and body can communicate with the elements at all times, and when the body is completely immersed in the elements, naturally entering the Magical Guidance Stage, there's no longer a need for long durations of meditation to draw on the elements.

When the Elemental Body is formed, and it's time to use Soul Energy to provoke Elemental Resonance, that's when one reaches the Legendary level. Therefore, Archmages who need the help of the Magic Tower to draw in elements are the individuals most often found at the Mage Tower.

Adrian said regretfully, "I can't help you with that. I'll make you a copy of my Magic Book. Don't just rely on the spells awakened by Magicians; you must study and read more. Becoming a Magician, you can't be blinded by your lineage, you need to understand why Legendary warlocks are rare—it's because most Magicians rely solely on the spells they awaken!"

Hill understood perfectly well that Magicians indeed were very powerful at low levels. There was no need to painstakingly learn spells; the Magic Ring inscribed the spells at awakening, and all of them could be cast instantly. If one only wanted to live a good life, being a Magician was indeed a profitable Profession.

However, the path to higher heights is difficult once the temptation of bloodline is excluded. The ease that came with being a Magician in early stages must be completely paid back upon reaching Legendary status. If one could not resist the temptation of the bloodline, humanity would slowly be lost, ultimately degenerating into a creature of bloodline.

Therefore, Hill had to read and watch extensive materials, laying a profound foundation at every stage, and not allow himself to be lost in the strength of his own bloodline.

Adrian brought Hill a message box used to communicate with Fran. This was an expensive item to use and even more expensive to purchase. It could only be installed by a mage and was limited to use within the Magic Tower. Once activated, it could no longer be moved, and each use consumed a large amount of mana; surprisingly, only the Tower Spirit could read its contents.

Though costly to use, it was best not to be without it when necessary.

Fran, not yet a Magister, had no entitlement to a tower of his own since they were Royal Family properties, with the seven 12-story Magic Towers only allowed to be headed by Magisters.

With only four Magisters in the entire Royal Capital, Fran quickly chose a tower to move into after he became a Magister. By the time he learned of Hill's whereabouts, it was already winter. The winters in Saral were quite cold, and travel was inconvenient, so there was no need to leave home for non-urgent matters.

Fran hadn't planned on asking Adrian to come over; he wanted to train him for a few more years before sending him out. After all, he had several attendants to send messages.

Unexpectedly, the Old King's health declined further in the spring, and Fran sensed trouble brewing. So he simply had Adrian come over, bringing the message box to install.

Fran and Adrian agreed that if there were no urgent matters, they would communicate every six months. Fran would explain in detail the situation in the Capital, forbidding them from entering the country to gather information on their own. Unless it was a matter of life and death, they were not to send him messages. Once everything was over, Fran would notify them.

Adrian installed the box on Hill's desk, then Hill called List to establish the connection. Adrian watched Hill's Tower Spirit without comment, knowing long ago that Hill would not use the image of Melanie. He had once told Fran that as long as Hill didn't end up using the appearance of that maid and mother for his Tower Spirit, he would be content. Fortunately, Hill still had the self-awareness of the Mage Nobility, which was good.

Even as mages dote on their followers and companions, they typically have them become Knights. Hill's decision to let Boen study spells was quite rebellious. Although Adrian didn't approve, Hill was using his own share to aid Boen, and Lina was very dedicated, so he didn't strongly resist. With Melanie's precedent, Hill's occasionally out-of-line behavior did not incur Fran's displeasure.

But Adrian truly worried about Hill's disregard for class distinctions. If he were too affectionate toward Lina's family, overly transcending the limits for servants, it would surely displease Fran. Thankfully, Hill was still rational.

Hill paid no attention to Adrian's gaze; as soon as List made the connection, the other box began transmitting a large amount of information. Hill watched List, surrounded by elemental light, with great curiosity about the principles behind the device. He definitely had to study Magic Alchemy more, it was truly fascinating!

Using Magical Resonance, List released the information sent by Fran. Fran's half-figure appeared in the air, prompting Adrian and Hill to quickly sit aside and listen attentively.

In his usual indifferent tone, Fran told them to mind their own business and read more, not even to touch the boundary of the nation without his word. The Crown Prince's movements were suspicious, and the Second Prince was desperately searching for life-extending methods and remedies, with all Magic Towers having been visited. Regrettably, the Old King favored a seductive mistress these past two years, falling ill several times without repentance.

The Little Prince unexpectedly had a horse-riding accident last week and has been bedridden ever since. Fearing trouble, both Princesses have now returned to their husband's territories.

A Grand Knight suffering injury from a fall was an insult to all knights. Whoever targeted the defenseless younger brother certainly made a statement, ruffling the feathers of every uninvolved party.

The gloomy Crown Prince Edward and the brash and unbridled Second Prince Charles had even targeted the seldom socially involved, martial-focused Little Prince William, sending shivers down the spine of anyone wishing to stay clear of this affair.

Hill and his companion exchanged glances, "Uncle Adrian, the Little Prince is just in his twenties, isn't he?"

"28 years old, the youngest child of the King. He is 12 years younger than the Crown Prince's eldest son."

"We'd better just obediently follow orders!"

"Yes! Absolutely! I'll carve Magic Rings for you whenever I have time!"

No one knew who would emerge victorious in the end, but the Saral nobles probably had to choose sides now. However, not even the foolish would dare threaten a Magister like Fran, likely the Magister with the fewest vulnerabilities. The remaining two were abroad, facing enemies at home. Those who stirred up trouble behind the scenes in the past perhaps now regretted their actions.

Hill was quite pleased; with things turning out this way, those responsible would likely expose themselves. Fran's temperament and methods would surely obliterate them. Hill wouldn't consider that without this person, he might not have had the chance for reincarnation; he deserved no mercy for using other people's lives as pawns in his schemes and intrigues.