Chapter 78: The Mage Hill (Part 2)

"I do know a bit about Meliron," the old man in the black robe rasped, letting out a dry chuckle that grated on the ears.

"Meliron is from the Abyss Fortress," he said calmly, his sharp gaze sweeping over Baron Sellen's face, a faint, knowing smile on his lips.

"The Abyss Fortress?"

Baron Sellen's face turned ashen, and he couldn't suppress a shiver. Despite his best efforts to maintain composure, Merlin, keen as ever, noticed his unease.

"How could he be from the Abyss Fortress?" Baron Sellen's brow furrowed, his face flushed.

Merlin also saw that the sturdy Cook looked perplexed; he clearly had no idea what this "Abyss Fortress" was.

"Master Hill, could you explain more about the Abyss Fortress?" Merlin asked, picking up on Baron Sellen's reaction and realizing that this organization must be extraordinary. Otherwise, Baron Sellen wouldn't look so shaken.

The old man gave Merlin a sidelong glance, his wizened face twisting into an amused smile as he replied in his hoarse voice, "The Abyss Fortress is a powerful organization of spellcasters. I believe the Baron has heard of them."

He paused, then fixed his gaze on Merlin and continued, "Like me, Merlin, you're a free mage—free to wander, free from constraints, or so it seems. But the reality? We're nothing more than wandering mages. In the Black Moon Kingdom, besides wandering mages, there are also many powerful spellcaster organizations. These organizations provide access to spells and have strong mages who pass on their knowledge and experience in constructing spell models. They also offer training in alchemy and potion-making. Joining one of these organizations gives you a real chance to become a powerful spellcaster. Wandering mages like us rarely progress to anything more."

Merlin listened intently, knowing little about spellcasters in the Black Moon Kingdom beyond what he'd learned from Elder Aita's notes. Now he was beginning to understand the different factions among spellcasters in the kingdom.

First, there were the free mages—the largest and most dispersed group. Though they were independent, most were weak and remained at entry-level, unable to advance without new spell models or guidance from more experienced mages. With no resources or training, these free mages often stayed at the lowest levels and earned the pitying nickname of "wandering mages."

The second group consisted of the organized spellcaster factions. These groups attracted powerful mages, wielded vast resources, and offered spells, potion-making materials, and alchemical tools, making them the most influential forces in the kingdom. Some of the larger organizations even rivaled the strength of entire kingdoms.

The third group was the spellcasters in the military. Many of these mages had originally been free mages who joined the army to gain access to spell models, potions, or casting tools.

"So Meliron really is from the Abyss Fortress?" Merlin asked, his brow furrowing. When he looked at Baron Sellen, he saw that the Baron was pale, and his troubled gaze revealed his deep anxiety.

The old man nodded, his raspy voice taking on a more serious tone. "Yes, Meliron is indeed from the Abyss Fortress! He's quite lucky, too. It's not easy to join a spellcaster organization, even a relatively smaller one like the Abyss Fortress. Without a special token or the favor of one of its core members, entry would be impossible."

The old man's voice hinted at envy. Perhaps he, too, had once wanted to join a spellcaster organization but had never succeeded.

"Mage Hill, if we kill Meliron, will the Abyss Fortress retaliate?" Baron Sellen asked at last, breaking his silence. This was a crucial question; whether or not the Abyss Fortress would respond would shape his entire approach to dealing with Meliron.

Hill gave a slight nod, his tone more somber. "For the son of a minor baron to join the Abyss Fortress, he must have earned the favor of a core member. If you kill Meliron, it could very well anger that individual."

Merlin's eyes brightened as he suddenly realized something. If a powerful figure from the Abyss Fortress truly intended to intervene, would Mage Hill still have accepted Baron Sellen's invitation?

Seeing the understanding in Merlin's expression, the old man nodded and continued, "The Abyss Fortress is indeed formidable, Baron. But you see, it's far from Pugas City, and this area falls within the influence of the Shadow Domain."

"If a powerful mage from the Abyss Fortress dares to act in Pugas City, it could have serious consequences—perhaps even inciting a conflict between the Abyss Fortress and the Shadow Domain."

"A conflict between spellcaster organizations… no one can afford the repercussions of that," Hill said, a trace of fear showing on his face as he mentioned such a possibility.

"Whew…"

Baron Sellen let out a long sigh, visibly relieved as he began to regain his color. With a slight smile, he said, "Indeed, the Abyss Fortress is formidable, but Pugas City is under the Shadow Domain's sphere of influence. Even if the Shadow Domain doesn't care about minor matters, a direct intervention by a powerful mage from the Abyss Fortress would be a different story."

With this realization, Baron Sellen's expression grew colder, and a faint killing intent crept into his gaze.