Fire Mage

Becoming a Light Mage, huh? Zephyr returned to the Tower, focusing all his attention on creating a mana circle in his mind. It was a complex rune circuit designed to gather elemental energy and store it in one's soul. Thanks to the book he found in the illusory library, he faced no difficulty building the mana circle.

Next, he took out an offensive light spell book, Radiance Strike, and began constructing the spell in his mind.

Though it took over 30 minutes, the process was smooth.

Soon, the quest completion notification appeared, along with a golden gem embedded in the amulet.

Zephyr pulled it free and analyzed it.

…

[Name: Amulet of Light

Description: A masterfully crafted amulet of polished silver, set with a radiant opal that shimmers with shifting colors. Intricate runes glow softly around the opal, hinting at powerful enchantments.

Rank: Rare Artifact

Effects:

Light Spell Offense Boost – Increases power, range, and potency of offensive light spells by 20%. Light Spell Defense Boost – Strengthens protective light spells by 20%. Special Spell Effect: [Sun Shield] – 2% chance to auto-activate a Rank-1 [Sun Shield] when struck in combat. [Sun Shield] Effect – Creates a radiant barrier absorbing damage, reflecting some back to attackers, blinding melee foes for 10 seconds or until broken.]

…

An incredible item, Zephyr thought, weighing the amulet. It felt heavier than his sword. Nothing comes free.

"I feel like I'm being fattened up before the butcher's block," he muttered, slipping the amulet over his neck. He quickly drank the stamina potion in one gulp.

Just as he reached for the daily quest, the Keeper's Watch vibrated with a new notification.

…

[Main Quest 3: Path to Crazy Woodlands

Description: Find information about the Crazy Woodlands and reach the destination before February 5th.

Reward: Dawn Potion of Strength (+1 permanent Strength)]

…

Crazy Woodlands? Where's that? Zephyr furrowed his brow in confusion. After thinking it over, he decided to head to the Tower's library to search for information.

After searching the library for over an hour, Zephyr finally located the place mentioned in the main quest.

"A border woodland between the Ember Kingdom and the Rogue Throne, huh?" He frowned as he studied the map. The distance from the Iron Kingdom to the destination weighed heavily on his mind.

It's actually 450 kilometers from Iron Capital. By carriage, that would take more than two weeks.

Zephyr knew the only way to make the journey in time was by changing horses every day.

I have around thirteen gold coins—enough to buy only two horses. If I buy a horse here and sell it at the Border Town, I'll lose one or two gold coins. Horses might be cheaper there, but it's still a loss. By the time I reach the destination, I'll be left with nothing but a tired body and a handful of silver.

Still, he decided to bet everything on this strange quest.

Without hesitation, he informed his professor of his departure and left the Tower.

Zephyr wasted no time and pressed on toward the Ember Kingdom. By the end of the third day, he arrived there and began his journey toward the Crazy Woodlands.

Along the way, he kept up his training, steadily improving his strength.

For several days, he didn't stop at any towns or cities. Finally, he reached the border of the Crazy Woodlands.

As soon as he stepped into the outer region, the "Keeper's Watch" notification popped up.

Oh? The quest's completed? His eyes flicked to the reward appearing in his inventory.

But something else caught his attention. His finger moved quickly, tapping the blue interface to check the next quest.

[Main Quest 3: Find the Messenger]

Description: A lone envoy from a distant nation arrived at the Rogue Throne to deliver important information but is being hunted by a shadowy organization. Find the Messenger and protect her from her enemies for six months.

Reward: Clue to the ??????

Failure Penalty: Failing this mission will dismantle the United Council and ignite a decade-long war between the Sacred Empire and the Rogue Throne. This will mark the beginning of the Chaos Era.

Why does the reward show question marks? Zephyr frowned at the new quest icon.

Another messenger? But the penalty shocked him most.

Her death could trigger a war between the Sacred Empire and Rogue Throne? How important must she be?

Confusion settled on his face.

He glanced at the six-month time limit and felt the mission was more dangerous than he had imagined.

I'm far too weak to protect even a normal civilian. Although he'd raised his sword aura skill to 100%, he still needed over a week to master his other two skills.

In truth, his progression was absurdly fast. But the danger ahead was greater than he could handle.

And I've only constructed one light spell model.

As he mulled over his next move, a sudden gust of wind swept from deep within the Woodlands, followed by a shockwave that snapped three branches and crushed small plants.

The force threw Zephyr against a tree trunk.

He crashed to the ground, groaning as a sharp pain shot through his head.

It fucking hurts.

He staggered to his feet, wincing.

"What the hell was that?"

Eyes sharp, he scanned the area and moved toward the shockwave's origin.

He passed towering trees, caves, and trickling streams before arriving at a wide clearing surrounded by grass, small trees, and bushes.

But what froze him in place were the bodies strewn across the ground—black-robed figures, chopped and broken.

Swords, spears, shields, and arrows littered the area, and the earth was soaked crimson.

At the center stood a red-haired woman in her forties, shielding a young girl. Two swords pierced her chest from behind, but she remained upright, cautiously scanning for more enemies.

She's barely alive.

Zephyr could see she was on the brink of death, unsure what to do next.

As he watched, a shadowy figure materialized a few meters overhead and plummeted like a spear.

The red-haired woman's eyes snapped upward as she summoned a greenish sword aura around her blade and curled her lips into a grim smile.

"I've been waiting for you, bastard!" she snarled in the familiar Naan language, causing Zephyr's eyes to widen.

Summoning every ounce of strength, she leapt toward the attacker.

The clash was instantaneous, followed by a rippling shockwave.

Within seconds, two bodies fell from the sky, landing amidst a puddle of blood that soaked the lone young girl.

They killed each other.

Zephyr's gaze shifted to the girl.

She looked about fifteen, with blonde hair, a square face, and thick eyebrows. She stood barely 145 centimeters tall.

But her bluish eyes—so captivating—they almost pulled him into a trance.

The girl knelt on the ground, tears streaming as she clutched the severed head of the red-haired woman.

What should I do? Zephyr hesitated, then stepped out of the bushes.

The girl noticed him and spun around, her face draining of color.

"I'm not one of them, young miss," Zephyr said, raising his hands as he approached. "I only came after hearing the noise. Do you need help?"

Her face hardened with suspicion.

"A-Are you from the Sacred Empire? Can you prove it?"

Zephyr touched his silver bracelet, activating the 'Analyse' skill.

A moment later, information appeared on a holographic blue screen:

[Name: Christine Ver Lockwood

Age: 14

Race: Human (???)

Class: None

Sub-Class: Poet (Self Awakened)

Pathway: None

Title: Child of Edhen

Attributes:

Strength: 8

Dexterity: 7

Constitution: 7

Wisdom: 10

Class Spells: None

Sub-Class Skills: Singing, Music Weaving, Arcane Knowledge

Additional Skills: Sixth Sense

Affinities: Music-Divine, Nature-Prodigy, Luck-Genius, Fire-High, Light-High, Water-High, etc.]**

"Unfair," Zephyr muttered, staring at her affinities.

I heard only Mr. Charles Nightwind in the entire Rebirth Tower has the Divine affinity—and he got it by drinking a legendary potion.

Seeing such a fragile girl blessed with so many innate affinities made him feel how cruelly unfair the world could be.

Wait… Christine Ver Lockwood? Isn't she the seventh Princess of the Sacred Empire?

He quickly composed himself and bowed his head.

"I'm Zephyr, from the Silvercrest Household, young miss. I'm Baron Cedric's illegitimate son."

"S-Silvercrest?" Christine's eyes widened, then she asked hesitantly, "Can you help me with something, Mr. Zephyr? I need to deliver an important message to someone in the Rogue Throne Empire. If you help me, I promise to reward you generously!"

A princess of an empire, chased by powerful enemies... But why send only one bodyguard to a faraway nation? Did she come secretly? Zephyr had many questions, but for now, he focused on keeping her safe.

"I don't know what happened, young miss, but you're clearly still in danger." He glanced around, cautious. "Let's get somewhere safe first."

"I want to bury my aunt properly," Christine said, looking down at the bloody head.

Zephyr stepped forward quickly, striking the back of her neck with a swift motion. She went limp.

"Though I respect your wish, we don't have time," he said as he caught her and dashed toward the deepest part of the woods.