Badge in Azure

Chapter 76: Figaro Formula (Part 1)
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

If it hadn’t been for the sorcerer’s demonstration, Saleen would have thought that it was impossible for such a thing to happen. A lower level offensive spell had actually managed to counter a higher level offensive spell.

However, that very situation had just taken place right before Saleen’s eyes. A sorcerer had managed to do just that.

Most people would always feel regretful that they would never be able to achieve what a sorcerer could. Strong mental calculation capabilities needed to coordinate with one’s concentration. A mage’s concentration was precious. It was needed to control magic throughout the entire casting process. Concentration would always grow after every round of meditation, but its rate of growth was almost undetectable.

Viscountess Lex looked across Faerun to catch a glimpse of Saleen, but she did not speak. Saleen felt her gaze as though fire had just scalded his face. The viscountess’ gaze had disrupted Saleen’s thoughts, and then he heard the sorcerer who was standing on the stage say, “That’s all for today everyone. Saleen, you stay back.”

No one dared to marvel at the sorcerer’s instructions, as that would have meant disrespect to the sorcerer. The rest of the people stood up, bowed to the sorcerer, and left the hall quietly. Saleen did not move at all, wondering why the sorcerer had asked him to stay behind.

Viscountess Lex and Faerun walked side by side as they left the hall. After several moments, she asked, “Faerun, do you intend to pass down the teachings of the Figaro formula to Saleen?”

“No, I have only told him some fundamental things. However, he has a good foundation in magic, so he realized that on his own.”

“Do not teach him just yet.”

“Viscountess, in the past, you said that I have the authority to pass down my teachings to whoever I want,” Faerun replied firmly. He did not succumb to the pressure from the viscountess as they had been taught by the same teacher. If it had not been for the difference in their backgrounds, they would have been of the same ranking.

“Do you like him very much?” Viscountess Lex asked Faerun out of curiosity.

“Yes.”

“Wow. In the past ten years or so, thousands of people have tried to make you take them as your apprentice, but you were never moved until now. Does that mean that you intend to keep Saleen as your student?”

“The exact number is twenty six thousand and twenty-four. But only about one percent of them eventually stayed. These people were all talented, but no one were as hardworking as Saleen. You have seen his Icicle spell before. Could you have done it when you were his age?”

The viscountess narrowed her eyes, causing her eyebrows to become arched, and exhaled deeply. The weather had become frosty, turning the exhaled air into clouds that came from her mouth.

“Indeed, I was unable to do that when I was at his age. But if he wants to be a Grade 5 mage at my age, that would also be impossible, right?”

Viscountess Lex was still young and competitive. Faerun smiled and said, “Saleen’s teacher must be very powerful, and I should not force Saleen to be my disciple. I only want to give him some help.

“That is why I do not want you to teach him the Figaro formula just yet. Bain has sent some people to investigate Saleen’s background. Judging from his accent, he must be from northern Sikeqinya. Give me three months to gather concrete information about him. If he is proven to be free from suspicion, I will not stop you anymore.”

“Viscountess, you think there is something wrong with Saleen?” Faerun inquired. Faerun did not wanted to be involved in the affairs of the viscountess, but he was not clear about Saleen’s background either.

“When Saleen came before me for the first time, he brought Loki’s last words. Do you still remember who Loki is?”

“Yes, I do. He has died?” Faerun said regretfully.

“Yes. If Loki had not died, he would have been able to be promoted to a grand swordmaster in two years’ time at most.” Viscountess Lex sighed, and then continued, “Saleen brought Loki’s badge which I gave to him personally. If Loki were still alive, the badge would not have been in other people’s hands. In the beginning, there was nothing to be suspicious about, but Saleen brought the green dragon’s magic nucleus that belonged to Loki.”

When the viscountess saw that Faerun was deep in thought about her words, she continued, “Even though the green dragon’s magic nucleus is the weakest out of the dragon family, any nucleus from the dragon family is extremely rare, and not even a Grade 6 magic beast would be able to match it. Saleen is only a Grade 2 mage. Wouldn’t he have been tempted to keep the green dragon’s magic nucleus for himself?”

“Maybe Saleen didn’t come for you,” Faerun replied straightforwardly.

“Perhaps he came here to seek refuge. That is why we must conduct a thorough investigation into him. You must understand that I will be reaching adulthood next year. I wouldn’t want any trouble to happen before that. If Saleen is here to seek refuge, I am fine with that. My only worry is that he may be related to the Holy See.”

“The Holy See…” Faerun’s eyebrows plunged as he frowned. Even though he did not believe that Saleen was working for the Holy See, this matter concerned the safety of the viscountess, so all precautions needed to be taken.

“Alright, I understand now. Until Bain’s men come back with concrete information, I will not teach Saleen anything about the Figaro formula.”

“Let’s go. I want to exercise my lower body today. Get your men and accompany me in hunting,” Viscountess Lex said while stretching her body. Behind her, the eyes of the young mages lit up with excitement when they saw her do that. These young mages had come here to learn magic, but who could have turned a blind eye to the viscountess’ wealth and beauty?

When Saleen returned to the courtyard, he realized that no one was there. Only Sika was there, waving her weapon about and practicing her fighting technique. Actually, the sorcerer had not really had anything special to tell Saleen when he had asked Saleen to stay behind. The sorcerer only demonstrated the spell and hand movements for the Ice Blade spell. Saleen was puzzled by this, because the spell itself had been memorized and was holistic, and the teacher had already demonstrated it before. In fact, money could buy the execution method for any magic that was Grade 3 and below, and this did not pose a problem for Saleen in the short term.

“Where is Nailisi?”

“Sleeping,” Sika replied as she stuck up her mouth. Sika could not understand how Nailisi could sleep for over ten hours every day without getting bored. Aside from mealtimes, she never saw Nailisi appear. As for Sika herself, she was too used to running around the mountains all day. This courtyard seemed too stifling for her even though it was already so enormous.

Sika remembered what the village chief had told her before. No matter how ferocious a beast was, as long as it was captured and fed for two years, it would also become a pig. Sika felt exactly that way now. She was just doing nothing and living every day awaiting her own doom.

“Getting homesick?” Saleen asked. Looking at her expression, Saleen was able to guess that Sika was in a bad mood.

“I don’t know.” Sika grew even more confused after Saleen asked her that question. It was already winter. Would there enough food stored for the village? If there was not enough food, the Holy See would come and wreak havoc, and then dupe some youngsters into going away with him. Sika wondered whether the village chief would have been disappointed in her, now that she didn’t want to return despite being richer than before.

“Actually, it would have been best if we had returned to Caucasus, but we have crossed paths with the Holy See’s deacon and our murder would be exposed. The Holy See’s underlings are active in Caucasus, and if we met them we would be facing a lot of trouble. I’m just afraid of implicating your village, and I’m worried about Aini as well. If the baron is still alive, then we will definitely be in trouble once we leave the Bitter Water Prefecture.”

“Oh?” Sika had just learned the Qin language recently and was still unfamiliar with it, so she did not know what had really transpired. She had only known that the baron was a bad guy. When she heard what Saleen said, she actually calmed down.

“But the viscountess is very smart. She… will help me do an investigation into the problem. Once we receive more information, we will decide whether to leave or stay.”

Even though Saleen loved living under the sorcerer’s teachings and training, he did not want to make Sika suffer. When Saleen had been at his weakest, Sika had used her weapon and beliefs to protect him. Training wise, he would take the initiative to look for a teacher to continue training once he advanced to Grade 4. Even if Earl Sufonso really despised Saleen, he would not dare to attack him again.

Even though Jason was only a Grade 5 mage, he was the most powerful mage in Saleen’s heart. Whatever questions Saleen had, Jason had been able to answer them without much thought. As Saleen’s ambitions had grown, he had finally understood what this meant.

Succession.

Only the strongest of sorcerers would possess this kind of inheritance, leading to the cultivation of a mage master like Jason.

The Figaro formula did not need to be learned here, at the Bitter Water Prefecture.

“Saleen, that actually won’t be necessary. We can just get people to deliver the money to the village next year. It’s just that I no longer have the magic beast soul so I’m having difficulty practicing my fighting technique. I would like to buy a magic beast. May I?”

“Why not? As long as we can get one, the money is not an issue.” When Saleen learned that Sika had been vexed over this matter, he actually became more at ease. It was pretty cheap for mercenaries to purchase a magic beast, because the value of a magic beast was in its magic nucleus. As long as a person did not purchase the magic nucleus, even if they were to get a Grade 6 magic beast, it would only cost a few thousand gold coins.

For a low-level mage, this was a huge sum of money. However, Saleen had taken sixty thousand gold coins from Aini and still hadn’t spent it yet.

When Sika heard that Saleen was supporting her decision, she grew more cheerful and said, “I shall go bathe now. You must be busy. Please go and do whatever you need to.”

“What?” Saleen was surprised by Sika’s response. He had already grown accustomed to Sika being very messy. She could even make new leather armor very dirty. But just then, he realized that Sika had cleaned her leather armor. Her hair had also been combed very smoothly, with a hint of fragrance.

Saleen shook his head and made his way to Faerun’s room. It was already noon, and Saleen was Faerun’s assistant. It was bad to skive. Not everyone managed to get an opportunity like this.

Faerun was not in the room and Saleen felt bored. He looked around the room and realized that there was an obvious difference between Faerun’s room and his teacher’s room. Faerun did not keep a collection of magic books. The whole laboratory was spick and span, and the tools on the table were neatly organized with the exception of the stack of gold pieces on the table.

The gold pieces remained in the same position that they had been in the other day when they were shoved around. Saleen had a sudden urge and walked towards it, beginning to observe it closely.

The more than three thousand pieces of gold possessed a kind of mysterious aura that Saleen could not put his finger on. Despite the alchemy having being destroyed by Faerun, the gold pieces had not fallen to scraps, but had kept their miraculous arrangement.

Saleen tried casting recollection magic but it did not work. The magic patterns on the gold pieces rendered him unable to complete the memory. Saleen grew even more intrigued now that the magic had not succeeded.

The Figaro formula was a phenomenally difficult puzzle in the study of magic. There were a total of over eight thousand arrangements, and each arrangement was intertwined so that a starting point could not be identified. If a mage was able to understand this formula, then he would be able to deduce the original arrangement. The original arrangement was said to contain the fundamental laws of magic.

However, the oddly amazing thing was that every single mage who had understood the Figaro formula had deduced a different original arrangement. This, in turn, had caused the study of the Figaro formula to be unable to be published into an educational book. Even if a mage shared his experiences, a person would still need to learn bit by bit from the beginning.

The individual could only digest the guidance of others slowly. It was impossible to attain all the knowledge at once. Hence, Saleen was not very passionate about the Figaro formula. He had a teacher, so he was not afraid of not receiving any pointers.

But the pile of gold pieces were obviously a challenge that Faerun posed to him, since it was an amazing arrangement.