Mage Legend

On the way back to the Morgan house, dwarves frequently greeted Lynch and Zilvra. They said, "Hey, tall ones, are you here to visit the Dwarf Kingdom? Then stay a few more days!"

The mage returned their greetings with a smile but did not stop walking. This dwarf city was built around a mountain cave, making it very easy to find one's way. Lynch's Eye of Insight could operate after leaving the All-Knowing Tower, and he was now observing the entire city, taking in everything.

He spotted the figure of the dwarf Morgan, the red-bearded warrior hurrying toward the palace. In the direction he was heading, there were many Snake-men in uniform armor, holding spears decorated with little flags. They stood still in front of the Dwarf King's palace; they were surely the Snake-man Leader's guards.

After turning several street corners, Lynch saw a round object flying toward him, which could only be the Demon Statue Norton. Using a mental connection that could bridge distances, Norton could sense his master's location. The Demon Statue flew out even before they returned to the dwarf residence.

"Attention: Master detected, welcoming Master!" The sphere circled around Lynch. "Soka asked me to convey: Why hasn't Brother Lynch come back yet?"

"Is everything okay? Heiss didn't cause you any trouble, did he?" Lynch entered the courtyard, and the first thing he saw was the Witch Demon standing at the door. It was painted with oils, draped in colorful fabrics. Judging from the artistic style, it must be a creation of Soka.

The Witch Demon didn't react to this attire, neither showing like nor dislike. It stood like a statue at the door, as if everything around it had nothing to do with it. Golden flames flickered slowly in its pupils, as if it had become a misanthrope, indifferent to everything happening around it.

"Brother Lynch!" Soka ran out, then said with a face full of complaints, "You left without telling me how many days you'd be gone, it's so boring here! Grandpa Macken won't let me go out, I can only play with the tiger, Norton, and the skeleton!"

The mage patted her head, crouched down, and said, "I know, now let Sister Zilvra take you out for a walk, I have important matters to attend to." Lynch gave Zilvra a glance and then walked up to the Witch Demon Heiss.

The drow brought the Angel outside, while the mage remained focused on the Witch Demon Heiss. Light continuously rotated in his Eye of Insight, with penetrating power reaching deep into the flames in the undead's eyes. Suddenly, the mage swiftly extended his left hand and gripped the Witch Demon's neck bone. Heiss only reflexively raised a hand but immediately put it back down.

"Speak, Witch Demon! Tell what you know but have always wanted to hide!" Lynch commanded, "How long do you plan to keep playing this deaf-and-dumb act?"

The undead slightly tilted its head but did not speak. Lynch snorted, "You've been operating in the Ridge Mountains for a long time, how could you not know about the Snake-men's actions? What exactly are they excavating, and why are they cooperating with the dwarves?" His Refined Gold left hand exerted pressure silently, the hardest material continuously squeezing, making the Witch Demon's bones emit cracking sounds. Lynch said, "If you still want a complete body, you'd better start talking!"

"Oh, master, mage master." The Witch Demon opened its mouth and emitted a hoarse voice, its skeletal hands placed on Lynch's left hand but not daring to use any force: "Master Lynch, have pity on me. Please loosen your hand, and I will speak."

"Do you think I'm bargaining with you or doing business with you now?" Lynch slightly relaxed his grip but still held the Witch Demon tightly: "Speak what you know, then I will consider letting you go."

"Those Snake-men, they've been digging since a few years ago, continuously excavating downward. I even captured two or three specimens once." The Witch Demon said, "They are digging up the ruins of an ancient battlefield, it's said there's treasure there, but there are also powerful weapons, countless weapons usable. But the Snake-men don't seem to know how to repair weapons. They approached the dwarves. That's what I know."

Lynch stared at the Witch Demon, saying nothing for a moment. This answer was too reasonable, explaining everything. But would Heiss be so honest according to his character? Lynch had to consider another question: "Why is the Witch Demon tight-lipped about such matters, willing to play deaf rather than speak?"