Chapter 15: The City Guardian Mage

Chapter 15: The Garrison Mage

Xia Zuo was taken away by the sinister old man for experimental potions, thereby escaping the bandit raid that reduced his village to ashes—unlike his hometown, which was burned to charcoal. He was the only one to survive and escape from the clutches of that wicked man.

Wilson pondered briefly and then understood what the boy meant, a faint bitter smile appearing on his face.

“Yes, little one. You truly are the sole survivor from several villages in the south.”

Xia Zuo looked at Audrey, who gave him a silent cue to continue.

“Uncle Wilson, did children go missing in those villages before they were raided?” he asked.

This was a simple connection between the evil old man and the bandits. The sequence of their appearances might have been coincidental, lacking substantial evidence to prove they were working together.

It was difficult to conclude they were definitely allied based on this.

Xia Zuo stared thoughtfully at Wilson and added a few more words.

“The parents might not have believed their children were missing, so no reward notices were posted on the bulletin boards. My roommate in the underground chamber, Little Nose, said he came to learn alchemy, hoping to gain the old man’s approval by assisting with experiments and become his alchemy apprentice.”

The three charred corpses briefly flashed through Xia Zuo’s mind.

If only, before the cauldron exploded, I had moved faster and dragged Little Nose into the corridor too, maybe...

He lowered his gaze and sighed silently.

“My companions underground, even at the brink of death, believed drinking the potion was just a test from that despicable alchemist, and remained obedient to him. They never thought they would lose their lives underground. Little Nose naively thought that if he couldn’t endure the potion’s toxicity, the old man would send him back to his parents…”

Audrey took the boy’s hand beneath the table, soothing his sorrowful mood, silently mouthing:

“Let’s pause for a moment. Stay quiet.”

Xia Zuo immediately closed his mouth and looked at Wilson again.

The man had fallen into a strange calm, his eyes vacant and unfocused, staring absentmindedly at the plates on the table.

In the silent private room, only the faint sound of breathing could be heard.

Xia Zuo and Audrey sat quietly, afraid to make a sound.

After about two minutes, Wilson took a deep breath, his stern expression returning, the dullness in his brows swept away, and a sharp light gleamed in his eyes.

“I reviewed all the casualty reports and cross-checked the number of deaths with the village registries in the fortress archives. Each ruined site was missing some children’s bodies, and their parents never sought assistance from the fortress soldiers stationed nearby.”

Wilson’s gaze burned into the boy’s eyes. “Little one, can you describe that old man in detail?”

“Sure!” Xia Zuo leaned forward on the table edge, dipped his spoon in tea, and sketched the rough layout of the underground chamber, meticulously recounting everything he remembered.

Since his data-enhanced transformation by the ‘golden finger,’ all information he memorized was deeply etched in his mind, stored in his knowledge repository.

His memories of the underground alchemy lab remained vivid.

“Is the old man’s cane and those three silver coins still with you?” Wilson asked solemnly.

“The cane is in the leather suitcase at the residence, and the coins are with the big sister,” Xia Zuo replied, glancing at Audrey.

“I keep Xia Zuo’s coins separately, all stored in the suitcase’s inner compartment,” Audrey nodded.

A trace of pleasure flickered across Wilson’s face. Clasping his hands on the table, he asked again:

“Audrey, do you remember where you met Xia Zuo?”

“Of course. I roughly located the underground chamber on the circus map. Xia Zuo said he traveled north for two days, so the chamber must be in the woods northwest of the Pieck Fortress,” she answered.

Seeing his old comrade’s expression, Audrey realized the information Xia Zuo provided was crucial and shared everything she knew.

Wilson slapped the table with both hands, unable to suppress a broad smile.

“Ha! These crafty bastards, I finally caught their trail.”

He stood up, placing his right hand over his chest.

“Audrey, Xia Zuo, the Pieck Fortress needs your help. Come with me into the castle. I will introduce you to the garrison mage.”

“It’s my honor,” Audrey said, standing and bowing slightly.

---

At the mention of ‘mage,’ Xia Zuo’s eyes instantly widened, shining with anticipation.

…

Audrey returned to the inn to change into leather armor, while Xia Zuo took the silver coins and the broken cane.

The two boarded the carriage at the inn’s entrance, accompanied by Wilson as they entered the castle.

The Pieck Fortress was divided into two areas.

One was the civilian city district.

The other combined the military camp and the fortress—the castle district.

A low wall, moat, and massive iron gates separated the two zones.

Entering the castle district required a pass or an invitation.

Wilson’s carriage was inspected by the castle guards at the drawbridge.

The soldier clad in gray chainmail recognized Wilson but still stopped the carriage with his halberd.

Beneath the steel-colored helmet, the soldier smirked slightly, checked Wilson’s pass, and scrutinized the tall Audrey and the plain-faced Xia Zuo.

“Open the gates! Lord Wilson has returned!”

The soldier stepped back to clear the way and waved toward figures atop the castle walls.

Behind the gates lay a gently sloping hill.

The castle stood at the hill’s end.

Its five-story height, combined with the terrain, made Pieck Castle the tallest structure in the entire fortress.

Patrolling soldiers marched past a bustling training ground.

Near the camp’s low shelters, resting soldiers gathered in small groups, playing chess and joking.

Wilson and his party proceeded directly to the castle’s great hall.

Here, the floor was covered with luxurious deep red carpets—soft and sound-absorbing, lending quiet dignity to the castle interior.

Wall sconces cast gentle flames, and guards in the corners stood as silent as statues.

The trio ascended the spiral staircase, pausing briefly on the fourth floor.

Wilson entered a corridor and spoke briefly with the fortress commander.

After a minute or two, he returned and led Xia Zuo and Audrey to the fifth floor.

This floor was spacious but cluttered with many items, giving a cramped impression.

Apart from several load-bearing pillars, there were no corridors or room walls—just an open floor plan.

The walls were adorned with oil paintings of arcane and intricate designs.

Xia Zuo cast Detect Magic on each frame, receiving the same response:

“Unknown artifact schematic map. Due to insufficient knowledge and perception, no further details could be obtained.”

Beneath the paintings were bookshelves filled with volumes in an unreadable language.

“Unknown alchemy tomes. Due to insufficient knowledge and perception, no further details could be obtained.”

Xia Zuo curled his lips in dissatisfaction. There was nothing here he could understand.

Yet, there was quite a lot.

A small curtained area contained a divan and wardrobe.

Wooden panels concealed a washroom.

In the central area stood a complex alchemy bench, with two common crucibles gently heating liquids, aided by automatic stirring arms.

Nearby, shelves piled with various metal parts of differing shapes.

The master of this floor stood with his back to them, rubbing something in front of him with a lecherous grin, occasionally laughing excitedly.

“Ah~ I’ve found another bandit hideout. Just a few more, and I’ll have my report ready. Wahahaha~ The ladies in Starry Night City are waiting for me.”

“Cough, cough,” Wilson coughed awkwardly.

The lecherous figure waved a hand without turning around, speaking casually.

“Wilson, just sit wherever you like. I’ll be ready soon.”

“Curvy lady, want something to drink? On the tea table, there are dried fruits and beverages.

“And that sly-eyed little brat over there.

“I smell fiery solvent on you. Later, tell me how such a little guy controls such a fierce potion?”

The lecherous man’s robe was stained with grease, and every time he rubbed his hands, they glistened with oil.

Why does this garrison mage dress worse than me? I thought a garrison mage would be an old man with flowing beard, a sage living apart from the world...

Xia Zuo secretly scoffed, expressionless, and cast Detect Magic on the man.

[Name] ???

[Identity] Garrison Mage of Pieck Fortress

[Health] ??? (Healthy)

[Strength] 3

[Agility] 6

[Endurance] 4

[Vitality] 3

[Perception] 9

[Willpower] 3

[Spirit] 15

[Charisma] 4

[Specialty] ???

Spirit 15 points!

What does this mean?

The spirit attribute is described as follows:

Spirit influences your receptiveness to elements and energy. The higher your spirit, the less consumption and difficulty you face when controlling elements and energy.

Reaching 15 spirit points definitely qualifies you as a mage!

The 'golden finger' unlocked [Health Regeneration] at vitality 5.

So, will new abilities unlock when spirit reaches 5, 10, and 15 points?

Five spirit points might unlock mana? Magic power? A blue bar?

Judging by this garrison mage’s stats, it’s likely that at 10 spirit points, elemental affinity-related talents unlock.

Xia Zuo glanced at his own character sheet.

[Spirit] 1.2

He’d gained 0.2 spirit points from reading and still had three free attribute points.

He planned to save up and jump straight to 10 points!

“You little brat, you seem quite envious of me,” the lecherous figure said, shaking his hips proudly.

“I became a mage all thanks to my natural talent~”

Bullshit talent, it’s just elemental affinity at birth. When I raise my spirit to 10 points, won’t I have it too…

Xia Zuo rolled his eyes at the lecherous figure.

The man suddenly rubbed the object in his hands faster, making grunt-like exertion sounds.

“Don’t run, don’t run! Once the bandits mount their horses, I can’t catch them. So frustrating... Ah, forget it. I’ll look again this afternoon.”

He shook his sleeves and tucked his hands inside his robe.

Turning around, he revealed a face as young as Xia Zuo’s—a chubby, honest-looking mage with plump cheeks and large bright eyes.

(End of chapter)