Mage Legend

"Sometimes yes, sometimes no," Lynch thought for a moment and said: "If I were trapped in a nutshell, then perhaps I would call myself the King of the Universe; but in this vast world, I truly dare not have such confidence. However, on the other hand, isn't it this vast world that makes our lives so enjoyable?" He scratched his head and continued, "If I were locked in a prison filled with endless changes, a place that could never be fully explored, then I wouldn't consider it a prison. Therefore, a small being like myself pairing with the infinite universe is truly the happiest thing."

"Your thoughts are always very unique," Zilvra smiled, looking into Lynch's eyes: "Even though the starting point is the same, you always manage to see different results. Tell me, Mr. Mage, what do you see when you look at me?"

"This question is really difficult," Lynch smiled wryly: "If I were to answer from a rational standpoint, perhaps I could answer you. But right now, the emotional turmoil has completely overwhelmed my ability to think, leaving my mind unable to clear any thoughts. So, you'd better ask another question."

"There's no need," Zilvra turned her gaze back to the sea, not letting Lynch see her expression. She said, "Actually, I heard a much better answer than I imagined. Lynch, why don't you tell me about your past? What did you do before coming to the Underdark?"

"Oh, that's quite a lot," he said, looking at Zilvra: "At least in comparison to my age, that's indeed a lot..."

On the other side of the ship, in the cabin where Lynch and the others were, Knight Macken was polishing his treasured sword. Sometimes, his heart was filled with passion, feeling as if his blood boiled, and that everything tomorrow would be beautiful; but other times, he became very depressed, burdened by the past, which weighed heavily on him. Ever since his Paladin title was revoked, he lost the most crucial pillar supporting him. Perhaps in the past, he never thought that pure white armor was that important, but now he fully realized this yearning came from the depths of his heart.

"God of Pate, what should I do?" Although Macken's hands continued to work diligently, his thoughts drifted far away: "I call for your name in my heart, hoping for your response. Even though the Knights removed my title, I still wish to walk on the path of light, if... if..."

Macken remembered what happened before. A young knight was suspected of violating the teachings of the Light God Pate and was about to lose his qualification as a Paladin. He argued with reason yet no one listened to his defense. Just as the Knights were about to make their final judgment, the young knight used the Divine Arts of the Light God Pate in front of everyone, proving he had never been abandoned by Pate. Eventually, the council decided to reconvene the trial. Though the young man later sacrificed himself in battles against the Beastmen, his innocence was eventually proven, with the Light God Pate acknowledging him as a Paladin.

"Perhaps I should also try using a spell?" Macken murmured to himself. After the encouragement from Lynch, the once shattered heart began to loosen a bit. "But if there's no response, what should I do?"

His whole body stiffened, seemingly frightened by this thought. After a long pause, he finally said to himself: "I now have little to lose, so should I abandon even the last vestige of courage? Should I not face the future?"

So he knelt down, using the most devout language to pray to the Light God, expressing his faith. He then silently recited the code of the Paladins over and over again, remembering the sacred meanings represented by each word.

He stretched out his palm and softly chanted the simplest spell from the Divine Arts. But there was no response on his calloused hand.

Knight Macken fell to the ground, relieved of his greatest burden, yet within that relief lay his last hope. "I did indeed go against the principles of the Paladins, and I should be punished severely. What should I do?"

As he muttered to himself, Soka happened to run into the cabin. The freed little tiger and the little angel had been playing hide and seek and had long disappeared to some unknown place. Soka thought he could lure the white tiger out with some treats, so he came to the resting cabin to rummage through the luggage.

But upon seeing the old man sitting on the ground, the little angel immediately forgot about the tiger. She tiptoed over and gently asked: "Grandpa, what's wrong with you?"

"Ah…" Macken sighed, looking at the innocent young girl before him: "It's nothing, don't worry about it."

"No, you're lying to me," Soka mimicked an adult's stern tone as she adopted a little adult's attitude, like her mother's: "When someone sighs and says it's nothing, there must be something. Knight Grandpa, what were you doing just now?"

"I'm no longer a knight, so don't call me Knight Grandpa," Macken lovingly patted Soka's head, like caressing the child he never had. He said: "If it makes you happy, just call me Grandpa."

"Why are you not a knight anymore?" Soka tilted her head and asked: "Brother Lynch said you were a mighty Paladin who specialized in fighting bad guys. He also said that if anyone mentions Paladins, you're the first one he thinks of."

Of course, Lynch first thought of his best friend Wislin, with Macken being the second. But Soka felt switching the order of these two names didn't really matter.

"Thank you, little Soka," Macken said: "It's just that now I've been abandoned by the Light God Pate, unable to fulfill the mission of the Paladins anymore. I haven't felt the calling of the Light God in a long time."

"What's the big deal?" Soka pouted and said: "Remember Uncle Kuboert said I'm still the Holy Maiden of the Light God. But I've never heard any 'callings'. Yet, Brother Lynch calls me every day."

"Holy Maiden of the Light God?" Macken looked at Soka with confusion and asked: "What exactly is that about?"

Soka looked around, then cupped her hands around her mouth and leaned into Knight Macken's ear to whisper: "Knight Grandpa, you mustn't tell anyone, I'm a little angel." She then mimicked the mage's voice, pretending to be serious: "If you blab, beware the bad guys will catch you and eat you."

Knight Macken smiled and nodded, happily helping Soka tidy up her hair blown by the sea breeze. Now, he finally discovered what he should do.