Alchemy VS Magic Medicine (Part 1)

"As everyone should know, the Fourth Dynasty fell apart shortly after it was established. It took centuries of war for the current situation on the mainland to form. The current location of the Phoenix Empire used to be the place where the Fourth Dynasty banished its offenders. Even though the land there is fertile, it is too isolated and only two roads link it to the outside world."

Saleen listened to Baron Cook recount history while he referenced it with knowledge from his memory. Very soon, he understood how everything had begun.

The fall of the Fourth Dynasty had to do with the Phoenix Empire. This used to be a place where offenders were banished; they were abandoned to survive on their own. Before long, this fertile land experienced a massive population growth and slowly became a region that was uncontrollable.

The Fourth Dynasty possessed the entire mainland and were therefore uninterested in this small place until the emergence of the black mages. This led to them growing cautious. The black mages went around setting up altars, executing all who rebelled against them in the name of upholding justice. They repeatedly attacked, expanding their reach to the other regions. At that time, the Sacred Holy See had not yet been built, but many had already given their faith to the God of Light and gained magical skills.

A prophet warned that the mainland would eventually crumble due to the existence of the black mages. The Fourth Dynasty did not believe in the God of Light, but the kingdom had a great amount of mages, alchemists, and astronomers.

The astronomers gave a similar prophecy. The kingdom started fearing for its existence and decided to send an army to end the rebellion.

This clean-up was the first of many defeats for the Fourth Dynasty. After consecutive failures in the clean up, black magic had extended its reach, already controlling a large portion of the Qin Empire’s present day land. The Fourth Dynasty’s powers waned, leading to the rise of many lords and numerous rebellions.

The Fourth Dynasty struggled and survived for another century, but could no longer control the entire mainland. Thus, they had no choice but to acknowledge the existence of ten independent states. This, however, did not stop the tumultuous times on the mainland. Princes from many fragmented states did not cease their efforts in trying to suppres black magic.

In this period, a particular house rose to power. It swiftly destroyed the many black mages and seized control of the eastern mainland. This was the beginning of the Qin Empire. This house had possessed a great number of mages who had great ambitions of creating a Fifth Dynasty to unite the mainland.

At this time, the sacred Holy See had also increased its might during the many years of conflict. Oftentimes, when humans were desperate, they would seek emotional gratification to prevent themselves from mentally breaking down. The pastors of the sacred Holy See rapidly expanded their army and supported the Taggulasi Empire.

The Sikeqinya Empire came into power with its army. The Taggulasi Empire had the support of the sacred Holy See. The Qin Empire obtained its power from magic along with the remaining powers of the Fourth Dynasty. Together with the formation of the Cloudflow Empire, the Myers Mainland was formed. Adhering between the four empires were ten independent states which formed a neutral zone.

The only difference was in the Phoenix Empire. This had been the birthplace of black magic and the lords of the Qin Empire had no desire to rule this place. Finally, the Qin Empire decided to enfeoff a state out of this area, forming the beginning of the Phoenix Empire.

The duke of the Phoenix Empire had been a favourite general of the Qin Emperor. He had never lost a battle and was named the Undying Phoenix. Under his rule, black magic disappeared within decades.

"I have been summoned here by the king, in reality, to survey black mages. This castle used to belong to a black mage and many unsolved deaths have occurred in this place over many years, with many suspicious people moving about. The duke reported them to the emperor, who placed much emphasis on this matter and has sent a larger number of troops to defend the inside of numerous castles. "

"Why aren’t there any mages?" Saleen asked in surprise. To defeat a black mage, the best method was to use a mage to suppress them. The Qin Empire was not lacking in mages, but in this castle, Saleen had not seen any sign of them.

Baron Cook gave a bitter smile. "There used to be a powerful mage here. However, around this time last year, he brought his student to Sun City saying we could look for him if anything happened. You know, I’m only a baron…"

"How about us? Can we only wait for death to come?" Aini asked indignantly.

"Let’s listen to the baron’s opinion first," Saleen interrupted. At this point, there was no point in complaining. He understood Aini’s feelings, as he too was an unlucky person.

"There are six hundred soldiers, a hundred and twenty strong servants, and three hundred women, children, and artists in this castle. Those who can fight do not even make up a thousand. We do not have enough strength to attack, only defend. A hundred and twenty miles from here lies another castle; there is more manpower and a mage stationed there. He can send a distress signal. We can only wait for help from Sun City," Baron Cook remarked despondently.

The number of soldiers he currently possessed already exceeded the empire’s standard and this was with special permission from the emperor himself. If he had not been in the Phoenix Empire, he would have been impeached by the lower House of Commons. Even so, he wasn’t confident in dealing with black mages, especially those who possessed a double-headed eagle.

"Baron Cook, how is the strength of these soldiers?" Saleen saw the defeat in Baron Cook and was afraid that he would give up on mounting a defense. If the baron were tp be captured, there was a chance that he would not die since he was of value. However, if Saleen were to be captured by the black mages instead, it was over. To a black mage, a mage’s soul was worth ten thousand times more than any other commoner’s.

"Sijia is an intermediate swordmaster with nine beginner swordmasters under her. Out of the six hundred soldiers, a large portion of them are beginner swordmasters; only the officers are slightly stronger."

"Baron, there is still us," Flamenco uttered.

Baron Cook’s eyes lit up. That’s right, Saleen might have only been a Grade 1 mage, but this was not a battle in the wild. In the castle, Saleen’s powers would be amplified greatly. Flamenco and the others were swordmasters too, so this would multiply the great powers in the castle.

Black magic might have been powerful, but unlike normal magic, it could not control elemental powers. A normal soldier could kill a black puppet, but with this many swordmasters, defeating a headless rider was possible. As to whether the black mages would personally strike, all of that would be left to fate.

Baron Cook was not rubbish; he too was a hardworking swordmaster. As long as the enemy was not targeting the castle, there was still a chance of victory.

"Baron, are there any magic laboratories in the castle? Sir Aini is an alchemist, and I know how to refine some magic medicines as well," Saleen wondered. Since the original mage had left for Sun City, he wouldn’t stand by ceremony. They should use up any remaining things the original mage had left behind.

Baron Cook pondered for a second and agreed to Saleen’s request. At the brink of death, he couldn’t care less about offending some great mage anymore. Even if this reached the ears of the emperor, he would be in the right. If he died, there wouldn’t be any trial to fight.

"Sijia, bring Aini and Saleen to the laboratory."

"Yes sir."

Saleen stood up and followed Sijia to the doorway before abruptly turning around and addressing Baron Cook.

"Baron, I hope you will not let the soldiers know about the double-headed eagle. Only let them know of the emergence of the black puppets."

Baron Cook nodded in agreement; he had expectations of Saleen. This was a very traditional mage, unfazed in the face of danger. If he hadn’t been reminded by Saleen, the news might have spread. He immediately realized that if the soldiers knew about the existence of the double-headed eagle, it could destroy their morale.

"Sijia, besides your people, no one else is allowed up the tower. Is that understood?"

Sijia nodded without a word and left the study with Saleen and Aini. Sika looked left and right and departed with Saleen. She did not understand a word from the others and hence saw no point in staying.

The magic laboratory was not locked. As the great mage saw it, no one in the castle would dare step in even half a foot. Despite how flourished magic was in the Qin Empire, for a commoner, it was still too cryptic. Towards cryptic things, humans were usually respectful but distant, and from a certain perspective, mages had overstepped the boundaries of humans.

Mages carried a curious attitude towards experimentation, analysis, and returning things to their original states. Since the passing of the Goddess of Nature, the number of mages believing in the gods had gradually decreased. By present day, no mages believed in anything anymore.

A mage’s existence was for uncovering the truth of the world.

This motto had been etched into every mage’s heart.

Sijia led the three to the doorway of the magic laboratory. With one foot through the door, Saleen turned to Sijia and said, "Actually, there’s nothing to be afraid of with black magic."

"You’re a mage. Of course you can say that." Although Sijia had regained her fighting spirit, she couldn’t dispel her fear of black magic. If it had been black puppets, she definitely wouldn’t have been afraid, but the enemy had black mages who had been able to create a double-headed eagle. Headless riders and evil dragons had once been the nightmare of the entire mainland, and hundreds of millions had died because of them.

"You’re afraid because you do not understand it. If you had a chance to be near a black mage, even if you were only a beginner swordmaster, you would still have a chance of killing him," Saleen finished, and without waiting for a reply from Sijia, took a step back and closed the door of the laboratory.

Sijia stood dazed along the corridor for a second, her eyes giving off a determined look at last. She was a genius swordmaster. No matter the problem, she could use the sword in her hands to settle it. Retreating blindly was a sign that one was staying in the same spot without advancing. She was grateful for the guidance from Saleen, and giving a salute to the door, she turned and left.

The laboratory was very big, with three tables and a small study area in the back. However, there were no valuable magic books inside, only some common books found in the Qin Empire.

All the laboratory tools were presented on the table. Evidently, the great mage had not had enough space to store them. Empty spaces lined the four walls, and a great amount of magic ingredients were placed on the wooden shelf. Saleen glanced at them: they were cheap items. The precious ingredients must have been taken away by the great mage.

Aini was slightly disappointed. Saleen patted his shoulder and remarked, "Aini, even if there were any precious ingredients, you wouldn’t have been able to use them anyways."