Age of Adepts

Nightfall.

The Marsh Wetlands at night was a unique sight of its own.

Emelia had started a fire on a clearing by a lake, and she used a pot to cook a stew. She had picked some fresh mushrooms along the way, and the stew was smelling very nice.

Remi had vanished somewhere when the sun went down.

Greem wasn’t worried about him at all.

After all, he wasn’t a Third Grade Spirit of Pestilence for nothing. If Remi were to go berserk, he alone would be enough to turn an entire area into a land of death instantly.

Meanwhile, Greem had arrived at the top of one of those colossal mushrooms when night fell. He sat at the edge of the mushroom cap and looked down at this uniquely different planar environment. His heart was filled with awe and respect for the wondrous work of nature.

Dense and humid mist hung in the air of the marshes, causing the stars above to appear blurred and faint.

“Guest from afar, before we find a place to talk, don’t you think…you could save Blackwing first?” Moat might look small in size, but there was no fear or humility in his voice. Instead, his voice was filled with a commanding confidence.

Greem raised his right hand and looked at the charred creature in his grasp. He chuckled slightly.

“I’m only good at setting fires, not so much at saving people. If you, sir, have some way of healing him, I will be more than willing to witness your powers!”

“Very well, since you have no objections, just hand him over to me.” Moat’s face was still hidden beneath the seaweeds, making it hard to see the changes to his expression.

He was leaning on a black staff that was slightly taller than himself. He tapped the staff against the ground, and a green beam of light landed on the Blackwing.

The charred skin on its body crackled and fell off, revealing a new layer of skin beneath. Even though it was on death’s door earlier, the Blackwing instantly became lively once more. However, out of fear of Greem’s might, it remained limp on the ground, not daring to move a single inch.

Since a Fourth Grade Sage was asking for mercy for this creature, Greem had no choice but to relent.

He snorted lightly and waved his right hand, cutting off the Blackwing’s poison stinger.

The stinger fell onto the mushroom cap and bounced slightly. The Blackwing trembled in pain, but it didn’t dare to struggle too much.

“Go. Next time, use your eyes and don’t make an enemy of someone stronger than you!” Greem cast the Blackwing aside and kept the poison stinger for himself.

There were some scales on the poison stinger as well. That was more than enough for him to examines the scale powder!

The Third Grade Blackwing instantly flew away without turning back once it was released. Its unreasonable, barbaric aura of ferocity was also gone.

Moat did not object to any of this and watched on calmly.

Greem smiled when he smelled the fragrant smell of stew from beneath the mushroom. He invited Moat graciously, “Emelia’s meat stew is done. Sir Moat, why don’t you grace us with your presence and join us for dinner!”

Moat smiled.

“I hope I won’t be a bother!”

Emelia wasn’t at all surprised at the sudden appearance of Moat, the Sage of the Marshes. They had come into contact with a Sage of another region before this, after all. These Sages seemed to have an unusual way of communicating amongst themselves.

Thus, Emelia had predicted that Moat would find them a day after they entered the Wetland Marshes.

She diligently helped the two Fourth Grades sit by the fire and filled a large bowl of stew for each of them. The three of them then feasted on it, along with a helping of bread and cheese.

Greem glanced at this Sage of the Marshes with his unusual appearance as they ate. Finally, he couldn’t help but ask, “Sir Moat, may I know what species you are exactly?”

In all honesty, Greem had been trying to guess at Moat’s species from the moment he saw him. Unfortunately, every one of his guesses didn’t quite fit the mark.

“Hahaha. My species might be somewhat out of your expectations,” Moat chuckled and said, “I am a Swamp Giant!”

A Swamp Giant. A one-meter-tall Swamp Giant.

Greem was utterly stunned in confusion when he heard Moat’s reply.