Chapter 155 - The Highlord
“Haha, I’ll go up to the tenth floor first.” After waiting for the middle-aged mage to finish listing the dozen prohibitions at last, Mason was already eagerly holding his pass and heading straight up the spiral staircase. Before he left, he said wretchedly, “I wonder what treasures are hidden on the tenth floor…”
“See you at nine.” Walking into the largest magic treasure house in the Felan Kingdom, there were perhaps few mages that would not be moved. Orrin left a few words hastily, and disappeared in a twinkling of an eye.
“Okay, see you at nine.” After separating from his two teammates by the steps, Lin Li did not rush to the upper floors, but went straight through the corridor to the hall on the first floor of the Omniscient Tower.
Coming in from the main entrance of the hall, Lin Li saw a row of huge bookshelves that were filled with all kinds of books. A large desk was placed in the middle of these bookshelves. Some young mages were sitting by the desk in twos or threes, each concentrating between a thick stack of books. Judging from the magical wave emanating from them, most of them were above level-six or seven, but they were only in their twenties, and several of them were even younger than Lin Li. He reckoned that these were all young talents specially trained by the Alanna Guild of Magic.
Lin Li walked gently into the hall. After circling around in the middle of a row of bookshelves, he quickly found what he wanted.
It was a thread-bound book with a black cover. What was recorded in it was not a magic spell, but a biography written by a bard based on hearsay after the Dark Ages; it included the life of Highlord Osric.
In the hall on the first floor of the Omniscient Tower, besides a variety of low-level spells, the most common books were probably these anecdotes. It was just that this light read was obviously less popular than low-level magic spells. Just like the one in Lin Li’s hands—when it was picked up and shaken lightly, the thick dust on the cover was shaken off. It was probably some years since anyone had last picked it up to read.
“This…” Lin Li scratched his head, and asked in doubt, “Can you use it?”
“I’m a genius. It doesn’t matter if I can’t use now. After a year and a half, maybe I can even use a level-15 spell…” When Mason finished, he looked around furtively, then lowered his voice and said, “Besides, even if I can’t use it, other people can always use it. I can take them back to Chevan City…”
“…” Lin Li listened to this and suddenly understood that it was no wonder the tower was like a military restricted area. All access needed to be certified and all kinds of annoying rules were laid down. It was all because there were many people like Mason…
However…
It didn’t seem to be a violation of the rules. Anyway, when the Alanna Guild of Magic approved them coming to the Omniscient Tower, they had most probably thought about this. He should also copy some the next day. That old fellow, Gerian, would probably be spoilt with delight when Lin Li brought it back to Jarrosus when the time came…
Lin Li was turning things over in his mind as he crossed the lawn with his teammates. They walked along the corridors all the way back to the guild hall.
As soon as the three of them entered the guild hall, Mason pulled Lin Li’s sleeves from behind, and said, “Felic, look over there…”
“Look at what?” Lin Li was taken aback.
“To your right… quick, look…”
“How come it’s this guy…” Lin Li looked in the direction that Mason said and immediately saw a familiar figure—a fellow in his twenties; tall, handsome, and dressed in a well-tailored blue mage robe. His appearance seemed to be in line with a lady’s standards of Prince Charming; it was a pity that he walked with a limp, making people feel uncomfortable when watching…
“Matthias…” Lin Li was somewhat surprised. He knew very well the strength of his strikes. When the four Arcane Missiles went down, Lin Li knew that this guy would probably be bedridden until the end of the trial. It had only been ten days, and the fellow could walk already; was he not merciless enough at the beginning?
“I didn’t expect this guy to be able to walk so fast…” Mason was also surprised.
“He won’t be able to walk again soon.” Orrin’s eyes were fixed on Matthias, who was still in the distance. The dense chill in his voice seemed to freeze even the air. With Orrin’s character, how could he possibly forget the incident back then? It was probably the first blow that Orrin suffered after coming to Alanna. He had always been very proud; apart from Gryffindor, no other young mages were worthy of his attention. Although there was Felic, he was a monster, and could not be measured by human standards.
But, Matthias’ sneak attack was always on his mind. Now that he had run into him in the guild hall, how could Orrin let him off that easily?
“Felic, I’ve got something to discuss with you.” Orrin, who never asked for help, had used the word “discuss” for the very first time today.
“Don’t worry, I won’t interfere.” Lin Li did not even have to ask; he knew what Orrin wanted to do. After receiving the fireball with his body that day, Lin Li knew he had guessed wrong—Matthias’ strength could never be above Orrin’s. The reason why Orrin was injured was probably due to a sneak attack.
Lin Li wasn’t worried at all now that Orrin wanted to finish off by himself. So, he coolly agreed to it.
“Thanks.”
In the meantime, Matthias discovered the three figures.
This was perhaps what “meeting enemies opens new wounds” meant.
Matthias looked at the three men as if he were going to eat them; his fists were tightly clenched. From a distance away, Lin Li seemed to be able to see the bulging green veins on his forehead.
But, Matthias quickly smiled.
Mason rubbed his eyes to make sure that he was not wrong. The guy was really smiling, and he was smiling very brightly, such that Mason thought he had seen a ghost. He subconsciously poked Lin Li, who was beside him, with his hand. “Felic, do you think that guy’s so mad he’s become neurotic?”
“Maybe he was scared into it…” Lin Li responded irresponsibly. In fact, he was puzzled as well. From Matthias’ words and deeds, Lin Li could tell that he was not someone that easy to dismiss. Lin Li did not believe that Matthias was someone who would meet enmity and smile.
Had he really become neurotic from the scare, seeing how brilliantly he was smiling?
“I can’t believe that you all are still alive…” Just as the three of them were wondering, Matthias limped towards them, the smile still on his slightly pale face.
But, in Lin Li’s opinion, the smile was exceptionally uncomfortable to watch. It was like when Old Merlin was smiling at Gerian—he was obviously so furious that he could vomit blood, but he was still putting up a smile on his face. It was unbelievably fake.
“I say, Matthias, can you stop smiling so fakely? There are no outsiders here. Everyone knows I’ve broken your limbs. Take it easy; there’s nothing to be ashamed of…” Lin Li was an honest man—he’d always say anything that was on his mind. But, being too honest often hurt other people…
“You…” Matthias almost couldn’t catch his breath. The smile he had tried so hard to squeeze out was distorted immediately.
“Matthias, listen to my advice. It’s better for a disabled man to cleanse his heart and limit his inner desires. Don’t worry too much about things like whether we could come back alive or not. It’ll affect your recovery,” Lin Li spoke with sincerity as if he was really concerned for an old friend.
“What did you say?” After all, Matthias was only in his twenties. How could he stand this kind of provocation? His hands were tightly held into fists, and fire seemed to be bursting from his eyes.
“Look, you’re agitated again…” How could Matthias rival Lin Li in eloquence? Matthias had only spoken a few words, and he was already trembling in agitation.
But, then again, according to Lin Li’s character, how could he possibly have said so much to Matthias? As early as when the latter came to incite them, Lin Li would have delivered a fireball straight to him. Would he be crapping so much with Matthias? What crap…
Half the reason for wasting so much saliva was for Orrin.
Lin Li actually couldn’t wait for Matthias to pounce on him after provoking him with a sincere face. Then, he would run on him a few words and drive him into a fair duel with Orrin. It’d be considered fulfilling Orrin’s wish.
However…
Matthias seemed to be behaving a little out of the ordinary today. This fellow had to have taken the wrong medicine. He was still glaring angrily with his fists clenched a moment ago, but he relaxed very quickly, and even put on a fake smile on his face. “Forget it. It doesn’t make sense to be angry with a country bumpkin like you…”
Having said that, Matthias leaned close to Lin Li’s ear and said in a low voice, “However, you must be careful not to make yourself become like me…”
“Ah… what?!” How could such a threat frighten Lin Li? He looked at Matthias in surprise, and raised his voice so much that half of the hall could hear him. “Mage Matthias, did you say you are impotent? Oh my God, that’s terrible…”
Almost half of the guild hall was attracted by this exclamation. At least dozens of mages looked towards them at the same time…
“…” Under the sympathetic eyes of the mages, Matthias was flushed as he told himself, Endure, endure!