Chapter 58: The Artisans of the Wasteland (1)
I turned and gazed up at the towering black citadel. It must have been a simple tower at first.
Over time, additional structures were built alongside it, then fused together, expanding into what now stood as the Magic Tower.
“Sir Knight, are you ready?”
“Yes.”
I answered Shave’s question. Although the mission was over, my destination was not the Azure Wings Headquarters. While tending to my wounds and recovering my body, a letter from the Empire had arrived.
A new mission was assigned.
“Accompany the Magic Tower?”
The mission’s content was perplexing: travel with the mages to the dwarves’ land and destroy the “repaired” mana generator.
Though I lacked the knowledge to fully grasp its value, I understood it wasn’t an ordinary device.
“The mages treated it like a treasure…”
The Empire wasn’t trying to claim it either. The order was to destroy it only if it was repaired. Conversely, if it wasn’t restored, it could be ignored.
I recalled stories shared by my seniors at Azure Wings. Occasionally, the higher-ups issued seemingly nonsensical supplementary missions. This must have been one of those times.
The Empire’s orders were absolute; defiance was not an option. Turning away, I rejoined the mages.
The Magic Tower prepared an envoy to the dwarves’ land, Black Forge.
The delegation included dozens of mages, among them five Ether-class mages, whose strength rivaled senior knights.
The very air rippled with every breath they took. Mages of their caliber had become one with the environment. Their gestures and movements stirred mana in response. I watched them carefully.
“Saeorin! Over here!”
Turning toward the voice, I saw Envy leaning out of a carriage window, waving energetically.
After spending several days together, the distance between us had lessened considerably.
Climbing into her carriage, I noticed her gaze trailing over me. Having regained my health, I no longer looked frail, exuding a new kind of allure.
People, regardless of gender, found themselves drawn to me. Envy rubbed her eyes lightly before asking,
“Is it uncomfortable?”
“No, it’s much better now.”
I turned my head at her question, revealing the straight metallic blade strapped across my back.
“Mage Killer.”
That was the nickname the mages had given it. I reached back, gripping the sword.
Unlike before, mana no longer leaked from it, thanks to the sword belt provided by the Magic Tower. They had explained that it blocked the flow of mana.
This made it easier to carry on. Additionally, the belt had been enchanted with a weight-reducing spell.
Although the magic wasn’t permanent and would need to be re-applied every six months, it was a welcome bonus.
“This is your first time going to Black Forge, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then trust me! This is my third visit!”
Trust her? To do what, exactly? Resting my chin on my hand, I gazed out of the carriage window, my expression indifferent. Envy, watching me quietly, remained speechless for a long while.
In another carriage, Ether-class mages sat discussing amongst themselves. Their presence alone caused the surrounding air to tremble.
“Why was the knight allowed to accompany us?”
“It was the higher-ups’ decision. We couldn’t oppose it.”
“The Empire hasn’t claimed ownership of the mana generator… Perhaps it’s nothing to worry about.”
“Maybe because it isn’t functioning properly? They might assert ownership after the dwarves repair it.”
“I’d rather avoid antagonizing the Empire…”
“Perhaps we should split up midway to…”
***
The journey was remarkably comfortable. Lying inside the carriage, I stared at the ceiling.
Compared to the carriages provided by the Empire, this one was far superior. Envy mentioned it was enchanted with magic.
Magic, from my experience, seemed to be a universal solution. The Magic Tower’s magic extended far beyond combat, permeating everyday life. Unlike sorcery, magic was deeply integrated with human existence, branching out like an unruly tree.
“If the opportunity arises, I’d like to learn…”
Not in-depth, of course. Simple spells for cleaning or movement assistance would suffice.
“Saeorin! It’s time for dinner!”
At Envy’s call, I rose. The meals provided by the Magic Tower were surprisingly agreeable, catering to nearly every palate. Stepping out of the carriage with her, I licked my lips, anticipating the meal.
Clunk—
As the carriage door closed, the two of us emerged. My gaze instinctively swept the area.
Whenever I entered an unfamiliar place, I immediately assessed my surroundings—a habit born from instinct.
That’s why I noticed it quickly.
“The group is smaller…”
There were fewer people. It wasn’t an illusion. Cold winds swept across the darkened plains, but there were no tracks indicating the other carriages had moved on. They hadn’t left ahead. They must have split off during the journey.
Looking around, I noted the confused expressions of the nearby mages, including Envy. These were people I’d grown relatively close to during the trip.
“What…? Where did everyone go?”
“Did the group split up? Did anyone hear anything about this?”
I was highly attuned to emotions. A liar’s scent would inevitably shift, carried by the wind for my sensitive nose to discern.
Thud—
With a light leap, I glided through the air, landing gracefully in front of a carriage. In a single bound, I crossed ten meters to stand before the driver’s seat.
I climbed onto the platform beside the mage at the reins, resting my hand on the hilt of the White Dragon Sword.
“Tell me what you know.”
“W-What are you talking about…?”
“Why has the rest of the group disappeared?”
All eyes turned toward me and the mage on the driver’s seat. Some mages gripped their wands tightly, reacting to my hand resting on the sword.
It was a mistake—my emotions had gotten the better of me. Letting out a sigh, I removed my hand from the hilt. The other mages lowered their weapons in response.
They, too, were curious. Why had the delegation split in half? There were no signs of a skirmish, and no prior explanation had been given.
The mage on the driver’s seat hesitated but ultimately began to speak.
“Well… It was on the orders of the Ether-class mages. They decided to divide the group…”
“For what reason?”
“I didn’t hear the details, but… something about handling matters at the border…”
Sniffing the air subtly, I confirmed the mage wasn’t lying.
The mages left behind with me didn’t seem overly concerned. After all, the destination was the same, and the route was well-known.
While splitting up might delay them by a few hours, if we moved quickly, we could easily catch up with the others.
Most of the mages thought so, and I, too, didn’t consider it a pressing issue. What weighed on my mind was the mana generator that had gone with the other group.
“Now, now! Let’s all calm down,” Shave interjected, attempting to manage the situation. “How about we rest for the night? It’s already quite late.”
Shave, a Mystic-class mage, was the highest-ranking among those left behind. His suggestion went unchallenged.
After finishing our meal, we settled in for the night. There was no need to assign watch duty, as the mages’ protective spells replaced the role entirely.
The next morning, the group started earlier than usual, knowing we needed to move swiftly to catch up with the distant delegation. After packing and climbing into the carriages, we departed at a brisk pace.
By midday, we reached the border.
Beyond the towering cliffs, an expansive wasteland unfolded before us. Billowing clouds of dust evoked the image of a giant’s shadow moving across the land.
Unlike the Empire’s lush and verdant territories, the dwarves’ lands were harsh and barren.
Our group drove the carriages toward the cliff’s edge, where the only way forward was a bridge spanning the chasm.
The bridge was broken.
“Damn…”
“Who would do such a thing?”
Climbing down from the carriage, I inspected the severed bridge. The break wasn’t on our side; the remaining length of the bridge swayed in the harsh wind, disconnected and hanging limply.
My gaze traced the wagon tracks leading right up to the cliff’s edge. It was clear.
The delegation from the Magic Tower had crossed this bridge mere hours ago.
They were also the ones who had destroyed it.
My expression darkened as I stared into the chasm.