章 21: The Second Disciple
"Magic God! Y-You're the Magic God!"
"Took you long enough to figure that out..." Amused by Chen's outburst, Roan held his chin with his wrist and chuckled wryly.
"N-No way… The Magic God? A-Am I dreaming? B-But… weren't you supposed to be on the Frontier?! H-How could you be here?"
"Hmmm? Haven't you heard the news? I've quit the Alliance!"
"Q-Quit the Alliance?"
Chen's stoic face went through yet another array of changes. His face churned green, and his lips weren't able to stop trembling. His ears and eyes weren't immune to the shock either. Everything on Chen's body was moving involuntarily, and no one in the room could blame him.
"Oh? It's been over a month, and you've yet to hear the news? That's odd… Are they covering it up?"
Roan puckered his lips and fell into a deep silence. When he'd left the Alliance, he did so in a hurry as he knew how staunch the opposition could be. In particular, Roan's good friend, the Aura Emperor Kassadin, was sure to do everything in his power to keep him locked up at the Frontiers. Therefore, it made sense that the Alliance would publicise Roan's resignation just to narrow down his whereabouts.
That was the main reason why Roan had been so careful when it came to concealing his identity. He'd even gone so far as to craft an elaborate disguise that would hide his key features, including that massive Magic Source that towers over everyone else's.
"Hmmm, that actually makes my life much easier."
"W-Wait a second… S-Sir Magic God?"
"What is it?"
"D-Did you really quit the Alliance and left the Frontier? I-Isn't it risky to leave the frontlines? W-What if the Demon Army attacks?"
"Hey, hey… your speech is becoming more like Yachi's the first time we've met." Roan teasingly glanced backwards at the white-haired beauty. She was taken aback that the ball was thrown on her court and just stuck her tongue out in a childish rebellion.
"Haha, just joking… Ah, you were asking about the Demon Army, right? You don't have to worry about them, at least for the foreseeable future."
"What do you mean?"
At the moment, the Human Alliance and the Demon Empire were at a ceasefire. The Great Magic War had been ongoing for far too long, and the battles at the Frontiers had taken a significant toll on both sides. However, whether it was for pride or for greed, the war never seemed to end.
Demons killed humans. Humans avenged their fallen by killing Demons. Demons roared in anger as they killed Humans, and the cycle went on and on. There was no clear winner, and the two entities seemed set on battling for eternity.
But then… The Magic God appearance broke that balance.
Roan's power was so powerful that even the Demon Emperor had to take a step back and admire his grandeur. No one in the world could match Roan, and the Demons knew that.
So, as much as it killed them to do so, they were forced to sign a ceasefire. The Demons could no longer attack Eusora, and they were to stop all hostilities against Humans. They could defend themselves if the humans decided to invade, but if they dared step foot on Eusora… The Magic God's wrath would rain down fire against their prized armies.
"The Demon Empire will no longer try to invade Eusora. At least, that was the guarantee that the Demon Emperor gave me."
"T-The Demon Emperor?"
"That's right… Although he's the leader of the Demons and the undisputed sovereign of Aezazan, he isn't one that would renege on his promises."
Roan dropped his shoulders in jest as his gaze wandered away from Chen's healing body. He glanced out the window, towards the beautiful blanket of stars directly overhead. The radiance of the full moon was reflected off his crystal-clear hazel eyes, and his jaw dropped slightly. However, it was quickly brought back to a warm smile.
'Come to think of it… It was a full moon on that night as well...'
"Don't worry about the Demons. You have better things to think about now!"
"B-Better things?"
"Hehe… Are you really that oblivious? Or are you trying to play the main character troupe of being dense to the very end?"
"T-That..."
Chen blinked rapidly. His mind was racing at a thousand kilometres an hour, and his face was twitching in an odd direction. Chen knew very well what Roan wanted. The man had been repeating it in his ear for the past few days after all.
"Could… could I ask you a few questions first?"
"Sure thing! Ask away!"
"Sir Magic God… As far as I know, you weren't from any lineages, right? So why are you accepting disciples?"
The Magic God's story was known throughout the Human Continent. Roan didn't join any Magician lineages. He wasn't a genius who was brought into the tutelage of a Magic Tower, and neither was he a scion who had inherited his position. Roan began as an orphaned child who had joined the Alliance as his last way out. However, with sheer will and determination, Roan had climbed through the ranks and ascended to the pinnacle of the Magic World.
Everyone who knew about the Magic God has most definitely heard that story.
"Hey, what's with this discrimination? Who said that you have to be part of a lineage to pass down magical arts?" Roan frowned in dismay as he chided the young man.
"Any Magician, if they're willing, can start their own Magic Tower or School. Of course, they'll need the appropriate power and resources, else no one would join under them. Therefore, in modern-day, where the number of Magic Towers are as numerous as the stars, it's much easier for an established Magician to just join an existing lineage to impart their knowledge. However..."
Roan folded his arms and raised his chin up in the air like a defiant delinquent who had been called to the Principal's office.
"Do you think that I'll join any of the third-rate organisations? Me? The Magic God? It makes more sense for me to create my own lineage, right?"
As expected, Roan's sense of superiority didn't allow him to join any of the established Magic Towers. No, even if he wanted to, there weren't any organisations in the world that could provide Roan with his true goal.
"I see…" Chen bit his lip and thought silently for a while. "Then, Sir Magic God… Are you creating a new Magic Tower? What's your goal in that?"
"Quite simple actually… I need a place to churn out slaves-... disciples for me! I'm bored of constantly fighting on the frontlines with no disciples to help me out. Since you've been at the Frontiers, you should have seen it, right? How one Magic Tower Master has a dozen disciples at his or her bidding?"
"... yeah."
"It's so unfair! As THE Magic God, I should have hundreds of disciples helping me out! Why should some no-name Magic Tower Master get all the fun while I stand alone?"
"Uh-huh..."
In all honesty, Chen was unable to keep track of the Magic God's thoughts. He was a being that transcended all and THE premier Magician that all of humanity looked up to. If Roan wanted servants or disciples, all he needed to do was to say the word, and there would be millions queuing at his doorsteps.
Anyone would be honoured to serve under the Magic God, let alone become his disciple. In fact, Chen had overheard rumours that some elite young magicians attempted to defect their own Magic Towers just to stay near the Frontiers in hopes of catching Roan's eye.
So, for Roan to accept disciples whilst wandering about the countryside...
'There must be a deeper reason for Sir Magic God to do it this way...'
Chen was immediately able to sense that something was off. Yachi came from a mere farming village, where information and knowledge were scarce. Thus, she wasn't educated enough to understand the full intents of the Magic God's thoughts. Chen, however, could sense that there was something more under than meets the eye.
'But… isn't this the perfect opportunity for me? Somehow, I caught the Magic God's attention, and he wants to bring me in as a disciple. He'd even healed my injuries that no one else in the world could treat...'
The young man's mind slowly but surely tipped in favour of Roan. After all, there only seemed to be endless benefits if Chen reached out and grabbed Roan's helping hand.
'No, what am I saying? Even if he weren't the Magic God, I should do everything I can to repay this debt!'
"I have one final question, Sir Magic God..."
"Hmmm?"
At this point, Roan noticed the slight change in Chen's demeanour. His tensed shoulders were now dropped, and the dark clouds that covered his existence were now extinguished. It was as if the young man had taken a new lease at life. He was no longer the downtrodden Adventurer that Chen had seen just a few days prior.
And with that… Roan knew what Chen's answer was going to be.
"What is it?"
Roan beamed with a knowing smile. Chen blinked twice as he watched the Magic God turn from the almighty being that everyone knew and feared… into a single pure human being that smiled from the bottom of his heart.
Chen held back his chuckles before turning his body down to the floor. He went on both his knees, dragging his forehead down to Roan's toes.
If Roan wanted Chen to be his slave. So be it.
If Roan wanted Chen to fight wars on his behalf. So be it.
If Roan wanted to become the Monarch of the World. Chen would do everything in his power to make it happen.
That was the least that Chen could do for his benefactor. The man that had given him a second chance to right his wrongs. But… every story had to begin somewhere.
And Chen's… was going to start now.
"Please, Sir Magic God… Accept me as your disciple!"
❖❖❖
Eusora. Frontier Alliance Branch.
Kassadin Bromm. A fifty-nine-years-old hulk of a man who towered at over two metres tall. Ranked fourth on Heaven's Listing, Kassadin stood at the pinnacle of humanity. As an Aura Emperor, he was unparalleled on the battlefield. Magicians from all over the continent respected his overwhelming might, regardless of their affiliation.
Although Kassadin was from the Aura Council, his affable and magnetic personality attracted followers from all walks of life. It didn't matter if one was a Spellcaster or an Aura User. If one was from the Church or if they were a heretic Witch. Kassadin's charisma appealed to them all.
Which was the main reason why Kassadin was able to obtain the Alliance's coveted Chief of Defence role.
And to top it all off, Kassadin was a good friend and mentor of sorts to the elusive Magic God! All in all, Kassadin was the epitome of humankind. If the Magic God was stood at his lofty peak, detached from the mortal world… It was Kassadin that most Magicians strove towards.
Kassadin's boundless kindness to all inhabitants of Eusora... His infinite strength and bottomless Mana Source… It all bound together in the name that he was most known for.
Kassadin Bromm… The Sky King.
And what was the Sky King, the man that every young boy and girl idolised currently doing?
"Fucking Roan! Where the hell did you disappear to?!" Kassadin cursed wildly, spitting saliva all throughout the virtual monitor.
Standing anxiously in the middle of his office, Kassadin rapidly moved the holographic map that sprung out from a magical scroll. He zoomed in and out, hoping to find any residue reports that his agents might have overlooked, but it was to no avail. Every corner he checked, every report he read… they all gave him the same thing.
"Your excellency, please calm down."
"How could I?! That motherfucker just disappeared into a puff of smoke! Even our top operatives can't find a single clue about his whereabouts?"
"Well… He is the Magic God..." Kassadin's assistant rolled her eyes while bearing a wry smile. "If the Magic God wants to hide, how can any of us find him?"
"Tsk, fucking useless!"
The Alliance's Chief of Defence spat angrily and returned back to his seat. His richly coloured brown eyes had reddened significantly, mostly due to the sleepless nights that he was having. Roan's resignation had stirred up a frenzy among the upper brass of the Alliance, and all the top leaders had been bugging Kassadin throughout.
'Did you do piss the Magic God off?'
'Why the hell didn't you chain him down?'
'How are you going to find the Magic God?'
All of those questions came flying right at him, and Kassadin's stress levels had increased exponentially as a result. Roan was an essential asset during the Great Magic War. No, he was an important asset till this very day! His mere existence was the reason why the Demon Emperor had decided to sign the ceasefire.
So what happens when Roan unknowingly disappears?
"Just thinking about it gives me a headache..."
"Your excellency?"
"No, it's nothing..."
Kassadin rubbed the temples of his forehead and reached out for his jug of water: "Continue monitoring the map and inform me if there are any changes."
"Yes, sir!"
"Sorry about that… How's damage control?"
"We've managed to keep it mostly under wraps. Only the top Alliance members should know about the Magic God's resignation. But there is one problem..."
"What is it?"
"The Shadowsoul Witch House… they're moving suspiciously."
"Pfffttttttt!!!"
Kassadin spat out the water in his mouth and dropped the mug on the floor. At the same time, his face started twitching and shoulders, convulsing.
"Your excellency?!"
"No, it's nothing… Keep going." The massive man placed his elbows on the table and hid his face away.
"Ha… The Shadowsoul Witch House, under the instructions of the Witch Princess, has launched a full investigative task force to track the Magic God. They're questioning every one of our operatives, and shockingly enough, they were able to identify many of our spies. They have also infiltrated our intelligence network. I'm afraid that the map that you see before you have already been leaked to the Witch Princess."
"I see… So that lass has moved, huh?"
Kassadin sighed and folded his arms.
"Your excellency, what should we do about the Shadowsouls? Even though they are a prestigious Witch House, their actions are clearly crossing Alliance rules."
"Good point," the Alliance Chief frowned before reverting back to his bitter smile. "Leave them be for now."
"But..."
"We have enough on our plate! Besides, it's only a matter of time before the other organisations demand access to our databases as well so that they can join the search. Not to mention, we can use that lovestruck moron to our advantage. She knows Roan better than anyone else."
"Is… that so..."
"Yes," Kassadin replied succinctly before turning his chair around.
"Keep an operative on that lass. Although we're using her to lead us to Roan, we can never let her capture him. Remember that! It's a matter of life and death!"
"O-Okay?"
Kassadin didn't elaborate any further and rested his heavy back on his recliner.
'Don't blame me, Roan. You're the one who made me resort to this… Now, either you return to the Alliance, or get caught by that lass that you love SOOO much. Pick your poison.'
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