"Right, I am."
Then, as the old magician slightly crooked his finger, Duwei felt his hand suddenly felt light! The Magic Scroll hidden under his sleeve was gone and amazingly was now in the hands of the old magician!
"Look, this scroll is made by me." The old magician glanced at it then put it away in his gown. "Finally returned to its owner."
"You…you came here to take back Vivian's things." Duwei smiled forcefully.
"That was my original purpose…but, after meeting you, I changed my mind." The old magician laughed…
Duwei sensed that something bad would happen, but when he was about to jump up from the chair, he felt very light…
The old magician didn't use any spell. He had merely beckoned his finger towards Duwei and Duwei could not move! He started floating in the air!
Having lost control over the rest of his body, he could only roll his eyes. He felt just like a huge lump of meat hanging on a hook!
"Listen, kid." The old magician touched Duwei's head and said, "Oh, seems like I am right…you have an interesting object on your head…you use magic with this thing?"
Duwei was too shocked to even roll his eyes this time!
How did he know?!
"My lovely student was going out for the first time on her own, then was cheated out of all her belongings…she even almost died on that island and lost her pet…" The old man said in a mocking tone while staring at Duwei. "As I was heading back home, I coincidentally discovered that a part of my poor student's memory was erased with magic! As a responsible teacher, shouldn't I do something about it?"
The old magician waved his hand, and immediately, Duwei was able to talk, "You…you think I did that?"
"Hard to tell. I didn't think so at the beginning." The old magician's eyes flashed, "But you, a kid from the Roland Family who was without any talent in magic, can now suddenly can use it? I should think, that island must be the key right?"
Duwei carefully examined this magician…. He wanted to defend himself, but the old magician put him at a loss with only one spoken sentence!
"May I know….Chris, is he good?"
Duwei was truly astonished this time!
Chris! He knew that Devil's servant, Chris!!
*****
The next morning, all of the servants were frightened…their little master was missing!
On the rooftop that Duwei had rested, there was a letter written by the person himself.
"A magician has taken me away."
This single line was written by Duwei. He didn't write "kidnap", but only left behind a vague message of "taken me away".
Obviously, Duwei's note was approved by the magician, who took Duwei away.
It was because, on that note, there was not only Duwei's signature…but also a symbol.
No one knew what it was, except Solskjaer, the only magician in the castle, who understood.
"It seems like the private stamp of a magician." Solskjaer thought for a while. "Some of the older magicians are used to leaving that mark in place of a signature. We can go to the Magic Union and check it."
What made everyone in the castle feel nervous was…that Duwei was taken away by a magician! The last time when a magician kidnapped him was only a month ago!
Was it because at that time, the Roland family and the Magician ran into a dispute? Was this an act of revenge?
This urgent matter was immediately reported!
But the strangest thing the people felt was, when the symbol stamp was sent to the Magic Union, they unexpectedly maintained silence!
Even Earl Raymond, when he came to know that his eldest son was kidnapped by a magician again, his first reaction was anger! No matter how much he hated this son, but to carry out the same act twice, this meant that they were provoking the Roland Family!
But, after seeing that symbol…Earl Raymond immediately calmed and kept silent! That's right, he didn't say a word to anyone about it!
It was all was so different from the last time. After Duwei was kidnapped this time, the Roland Family and the Magic Union both kept a strange silence, as if there was an unspoken agreement between them. News of this event was suppressed…
Solskjaer, who was getting nervous, finally got a piece of information from the Magic Union. It was disclosed by a staff member who was selling magic components in the Magic Union.
"The stamp belongs to a very great magician, who the Magic Union don't dare to offend! He is not recorded in any documents in the Magic Union…that man, don't mention your little master, for even if he takes the son of the king away, the King would also keep silent!"
****
Duwei felt terrible!
First of all, he didn't know what kind of magic this man was using on him…because Duwei only felt his body was not responding at all!
This was a strange "kidnapping" event!
For the Duwei right now, his head and consciousness were the only things that was still his own, but everything else was controlled by the magician!
Just like now!
The old magician was relaxing on the grass, leaning under a tree and observing Duwei when he suddenly gave an order.
Duwei cursed this old man from the bottom of his heart, but he didn't have any way out of this situation!
Because this old man just said, "Set up a fire!"
And the powerless Duwei could only stand. He got busy with picking up sticks, setting up a fire, no matter how much the black smoke affected him, no matter how angry he was…his body was totally out of control!
He was just like a puppet!
He looked at the old man, who brought out something from the little pocket of his gown. It was obvious that it was a magic tool, because the old magician retrieved a lamb shank, a nice bottle of wine, even a set of new clothes and some bottles from that little bag.
It seemed as if an unlimited number of things could be stored in that bag.
Then, the old magician ordered, "Grill the meat!"
Duwei then "looked at" himself and carried out what the magician's command!
This was torture!
As Duwei worked, he spoke angry words of abuse.
But the punishment from the old magician was very simple. He just glanced at Duwei and said, "Slap yourself."
Duwei could only watch helplessly as his own hands moved to slap him!
After few slaps, Duwei could would only stay silent and did not complain…although he continued to curse the old magician over and over again in his mind, he didn't dare to say a word out loud.
After the old magician felt full, he looked to Duwei at the side, and suddenly laughed, "Your cooking skill is so nice. I haven't had such a tasty grilled meat for long time."
Duwei directly rolled his eyes.
"Now, sleep!" Old Magician finished his talk, leaned against the tree and closed his eyes.
And what about Duwei?
He didn't want to sleep! But his body was controlled by the old magician! He could do nothing as he stretched his body, lied down and closed his eyes!
No matter how hard he tried, he could not open his eyes and remained still!
It was because the order of old magician was: Sleep!
What's going on? Duwei felt like he was a computer in his previous life, coding the program, which would then execute its functions without hesitation…it didn't matter whether he was willing to do this or not!
In the past five days, the old magician had brought along Duwei while always heading north.
From the beginning, the old magician had taken Duwei away from the castle by flying that night, and afterwards continued moving north. After one day, they had passed a town where the old magician let Duwei buy two horses.
Duwei didn't resist, he couldn't even escape. Right now, he only had the freedom of thought, because the old magician fully controlled his body.
Duwei had asked the old magician about the magic that was used on him.
He didn't answer.
Duwei had also asked him why he knew about that island and Chris, and whether he was acquainted with him.
He didn't answer.
Duwei asked where they were going to.
He didn't answer.
Duwei was going crazy.
Busy with traveling in the daytime, especially riding on a horse for long hours. Since Duwei was not a strong person, this was a hard experience for him. His body could not stand the tough journey, but the old magician did not want to let him free.
"Why do we need to ride on horseback?" Duwei finally asked, "You are such a great magician, you can go everywhere by flying."
Finally, the old magician answered this time.
"The place we are going to is a very special. Long hours of flight would use up my magic power. I have to conserve all of my strength before arriving."
That was the only question from Duwei that the old magician bothered answering.
What made Duwei feel frustrated was that…he could not call Saimel out!
He knew Saimel was inside his body, but this magic creature wouldn't show up.
Heading to the north day by day, the climate got a bit cooler. The Roland Plains was in the south with a warm climate. Duwei was wearing a very thin shirt. During the next few days, Duwei could feel the cold of the environment, his hands becoming stiff. When he was on the horse, he was always shivering.
Finally, the old magician showed a bit of sympathy towards Duwei. He taught Duwei some weird gestures, and when Duwei was about to rest, he had to perform these gestures once…
It seems like the exercises in Duwei's previous life, but much more foreign. Also, there were some actions that required bending the body, which were too difficult for Duwei. But under the "orders" of the old magician, even though it was painful, he would still do as he was told!
But oddly enough, it had a significant effect! Every time Duwei performed the exercise once, he felt a warmth from the inside! This heat overwhelmed the cold!
He did this exercise every day, and Duwei could feel his body getting stronger, day by day!
On the 20th day, they arrived at the Northern Continent. The weather here was still colder than before. There was no green areas nearby, because everything was covered by ice.
When the winds in the North Continent blew over Duwei's face, it was like being cut across with a knife. The difficulty of the journey was rising even more.
They encountered a blizzard!
The snow blocked the road, and the horses could not pass through it. When people walked in the snow, the snow was too deep enough to bury a person up to the calf.
The old magician finally showed some kindness when they found a small town. In a small pub, the old magician let Duwei stay in the room, and then he went away.
Duwei didn't escape as the magician left orders to make no sounds and only to stay in the room.
In the evening, the old magician came back and brought along a large amount of luggage. He opened the things he brought in front of Duwei, and from it came out a coat, leather armor, a sheepskin hat, and a pair of boots. Finally, there was also a long knife.
"Get dressed, we are about to go." The old magician gave a simple order.
"Where…are we going to?" Duwei asked again.
And at last, the old magician gave the answer, "The Frozen Forest."
The thing that made Duwei confused was that the old magician spent Duwei's money to buy all the things. When Duwei was caught, in his pouch there was more than a hundred gold coins.
Duwei wore a fur coat, a sheepskin hat that covered his ears, and he also put on some snow boots with a broadsword hanging on his waist…Duwei looked like an adventurer, who had always gone to the Frozen Forest.
When they left the hotel, there was a small sleigh outside, and four grey dogs were lying on the floor.
The sleigh was really small, Duwei could only squeeze in with the old magician, and the magician was still wearing the white gown….he seemed to not be scared of the cold. When Duwei was sitting next to him, he found out the secret. This old man had used magic. When Duwei was sitting next to him, he felt like he was sitting near a heater. The old magician was emitting warmness from his body.
"Huh, knowing magic is not such a big deal." Duwei hummed.
But he was curious, as there was no driver for this sleigh.
This old magician was really a "Genius", he even knew how to drive a sleigh; he didn't even need to yell, he just sat in the sleigh and said, "Let's go!".
And then the dogs started running! The old magician didn't need to control the direction, the malamutes would know the way and they kept running. On the white snow, there was a very long track formed from the sleigh. They were heading towards the north.
Even though Duwei had worn the coat and the hat, he still felt the biting pain when the freezing wind blew on his face. He couldn't even open his eyes. He could just sit closer to the warm old magician to get some comfort.
The wind in the North was like a sharp knife…Duwei had lived in the southern area even in his previous life, and he never went to the north before. He had just experienced this freezing climate a few times before.
On the way, he had to stay with this evil old magician and this god damn climate!
It was still sunny, but there was no warmth. Duwei was frozen like an ice cube. If he had rubbed himself a bit, his skin would burn. Duwei was in so much pain that he thought that he might die.
The Frozen Forest was located to the north…where people said it was at the most northern part of the continent.
There, was also the official "Borderline" of the Roland Empire. Normally, the citizens of the Empire were not allowed to head to the north.
As they went further to the north, there was not only the freezing snow storm in the Frozen Forest, nor the unlimited forest area…but the most important thing was that it was one of the two places where there was magic monsters living on the continent.
The Empire had troops stationed to the south of the Frozen Forest. Northern "Storm Troopers" of the Empire were spreading along the borderline at the south of the Frozen Forest, and there were checkpoints along all the roads to the Frozen Forest.
Of course, these were only the observable ones.
But secretly, there were many mercenaries, and also some small-scale adventure groups, which headed to the Frozen Forest every year…and these people were all talented. There were terrible magic monsters inside the frozen forest, but in their eyes, these were shining gold coins!
If they sold the monster's fur, or the different monster cores of the monsters in the south, much more money could be earned.
This "Smuggling" was almost an open secret. The Empire actually acquiesced.
The troops stationed at the Southern boundary of the Frozen Forest were used to blocking normal people from entering this dangerous area; but for those adventurers with great skill such as magicians, or senior knights, they could hide silently from the patrols of the troops. For those large scale teams, they even fought with the troops because of the benefits gained from the smuggling.
People in the Roland Region loved fighting much, and although there were only a few magicians, there were many knights. But due to the benefit gained from adventures, many people had still tried to fight for that.
Duwei and the old magician were heading to the north from that town, and after a half day, they arrived at the checkpoint. When the Empire soldiers saw the white gown…These soldiers were obviously stronger than Duwei. There were a few senior knights only wearing a leather corset, with their hairy chests were exposed. They were standing at the checkpoints, whilst grabbing some snow and rubbing themselves. They sang very loudly while they were rubbing.
This checkpoint was built on the continent without using stones…The frozen soil in the North was much harder than the stone. Every summer, when it was warm, they would just grab some softer soil and build it up, water it, and after the freezing night, a wall would be built.
Looking at those soldier with a thick white gown, leather hat with icicles, Duwei didn't know if he should feel shocked or what, so he just huddled tightly.
The old magician whistled, and the four Malamutes stopped just before crossing.
There were almost a hundred soldiers at this checkpoint. When they saw a little sleigh stopped in front of them in this snowy place, they immediately gathered around it. These soldiers were intentionally touching their broadsword. The leader stopped showering with the snow and also grabbed a spear whilst he rushed to there.
On the snow, this knight's running speed was very fast. He just ran a bit and then he stood in front of Duwei. By looking at his appearance, he could be called a "barbarian", as the long beard almost obscured one-third of his face, which made him look very rough, but therefore his martial should be very great by looking at him and how he ran on the snow.
These soldiers blocked the road, and when there was a person who wanted to speak, he glanced at the outfit of the old magician, and he shut his mouth immediately!
The soldiers in the North knew many things, such as every year, there were magicians who liked to come to this place, and catch some rare magic monster in the forest since the magic cores were their favourite magic ingredient.
They looked at the outfit of the old magician and they knew his identity…Although this old magician didn't have any badge on the gown.
It was normal to have this thing happen in the Frozen Forest…the magicians that came to this place knew the prohibition of the Empire. Although the status of magicians were prestiged, to avoid provoking the Empire, they hid their identity by not showing their magic level badge. So, they could show their identity of being a magician to threaten the soldiers while the could hide their real name and identity.
Since there were only a few magicians on the continent, if they hanged the badge, other people would know their level. If people wanted to give them trouble, they could go to the Magic union and check. Based on the level, the appearance of the magicians could be found out.
So, in the Frozen Forest, the magician would only wear the gown without the badge. This was not a secret habit…It was so called "Doing a bad thing anonymously."
Duwei was staring and looked a bit excited. In his point of view, it is impossible for this small troop to block their way. Although Duwei didn't know how powerful the old magician was…by virtue that he could have trained a magic genius like Vivian, and that he could give a dragon to his apprentice as a gift … the strength of this guy should not be weak.
If they really got a fight, Duwei bet that the magician could defeat these hundreds of soldiers in a few seconds.
But Duwei was disappointed.
The magician stopped the sleigh quietly and got a Parchment from his pocket – in the Magic Union, they didn't like using the normal paper, all the things were recorded on parchment.
"Sir, here is the official document from the Magic Union." The old magician gave the parchment to the Barbarian Knight, "The Magic union give me the authority to enter this Frozen Forest."
By looking at this calm old magician, the leader of the knight's was shocked a bit.
Although he looked rough, he actually was a detailed person. In the past few years, he was ordered to be stationed at the checkpoint of the Frozen Forest, and he knew many things. This was not the first time for him to meet a magician.
But most of the magicians were arrogant. They could actually use magic and fly over the checkpoint, or act like the wind to enter the forest directly; most of the soldier didn't even know that.
But most of them liked to show off their magic to the soldiers and walked through the checkpoint.
Since this was the habit they all knew, if a magician really wanted to insist forcing his way through, no one could block him.
So, it was very rare that such a kind magician could bring out the legal document politely and looked like wanting to negotiate.
With suspicion, the knight leader received the parchment.
The parchment looked old, the words on it were blurred, there was even some scrap. The leader put it on his hand carefully as he was afraid of destroying that.
As he read the words on the parchment…the leader felt shocked!
"The person with this letter can enter the Frozen Forest without condition, any Empire Arm Force or local authority cannot stop him or her! The validity of this letter is for…one hundred years!"
What the f*** was that? One hundred years validity?
...
This old man was not joking? The leader could not stop to think about this and that. He did meet some liars before….
Everybody knew that in this place, the army generally didn't dare to stop the magician, but there were some liars wearing the magicians gown to cheat the army.
But, by reading the signature on the document…
"King of the Roland Empire, Austin V, and the Leader of the Roland Continent Magic Union, Julidia."
The King of the Empire and the Leader of the Magic Union countersigned on the document?
The most unbelievable thing was…
The King of the Empire Austin V had been dead for 60 years already! The Leader of Roland Continent Magic union had been changed too! The Leader who signed this letter died 40 years ago when he was 119 years old.
Signatures from the former king and former leader of the Magic union?
Who the hell was he?
The leader could recognize the Authenticity of this document surely! The signature could be fake, but the stamp on it could not be fake! The stamp of the King of the Empire and the Leader of the Magic Union both got the magic security marking!
When he received the document on hand, the two stamps gradually appeared on the parchment, then faded out…
The leader immediately showed serious respect!
This old magician in front of him must be at an extremely advanced level! At least he was an old man who was living in the period of the former Empire King and the former President of the Magician Party!
This kind of person, the little leader could not take the responsibility of infringing!
The leader even could not stop thinking…100 years validity…so how old was this old man now?
He rolled up the parchment respectfully, gave it back to the magician with both hands politely and said, "Dear sir, welcome to the Frozen Forest! 27th Patrol Unit of the White Wolf of the Regiment of the North Imperial Storm Legion welcomes you! Should you have any requirement, we will try our best to help you! "
The old magician replied politely, "No, please just get out of the way."
In short, soldiers in front moved away, even swept out the snow at the gate immediately, and then lined up to farewell the old magician's sleigh.
They left until they could not see the gate, Duwei could not stop to ask, "Is the document real?"
"Yes…"The old magician replied, "But, today is the last day of the validity."
Duwei said, "Last day?"
He looked at the side of the old magician and asked, "How…old…are you?"
"Little kid, has the Roland family teacher degenerated to such an extent? You should use an Honorific when asking the age of the senior." The old magician laughed and said, "Hm….my age…"
At this moment, the old magician's eyes flashed a trace of melancholy and said, "I forgot it."
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GOT IT