The Song Of Sword And Magic

Chapter 44: Treating Their Wounds 

[Translator — Asuka]

[Proofreader — Karane]

Inside the tower, Niss, Rae and Hersey were waiting in front of a huge bronze mirror. After Fern and Stan staggered out of it, Rae secretly heaved a sigh of relief. 

“Heroes, you’ve completed this difficult mission, gotten the sacred seal and returned safely. That’s incredible.” Hersey praised them.

“Hersey, is everything inside the Source of Magic really illusionary?” Niss asked. After her experience in the Source of Magic, she had many questions to ask Hersey. 

Hersey swept a look over them and realized that they were all injured. The traces of tears and dirt on their faces suggested that what they had gone through in the Source of Magic had a tremendous impact on their minds.

“The Source of Magic has always been a training ground for any who wish to enter it. You can only get out of it after going through what it wants you to experience.” Hersey led them to an empty space and told them to take a seat. “All of you have suffered severe injuries both physically and spiritually. Take a seat here. I’ll treat you now.”

***

All of them took a seat except for Niss as she was still thinking about her experience in the Source of Magic. As she was sitting down, she asked, “What do you mean that it’s a training ground? Can you elaborate on it?”

Hersey started with Stan first as he hovered his hand on the young knight’s injury on the left leg. As a beam of soft light radiated from his hand, it covered Stan’s injury in it. “In fact, rather than stopping you, the Source of Magic is trying to get rid of your inner fear and help you gain a new understanding of yourself.”

While Niss nodded, Rae chimed in, “So, the Source of Magic is something we must go through? Otherwise, we’ll still fail our mission even if we manage to reach the end of the journey. Am I right?”

Noticing something in her words, Hersey took a look at her and shifted his attention back to Stan’s injury. “You can say so. That’s why the Source of Magic is also a dangerous place. If it doesn’t allow you to pass the trial, you’d be better off staying in the illusionary world than going on with your journey, for you’ll be killed in the end.”

“What do you mean by that? And where’s the end of our journey?” Niss asked in puzzlement. 

“Niss, I hope you’ll understand that the archmages are hiding something from you because they’re trying to protect you.” Hersey heaved a sigh and moved up his hand to the injury on Stan’s arm. “After the treatments, I’ll have a talk with you alone and tell you something.”

Niss pressed her lips together, for she knew that the archmages were indeed hiding something from her, but when Hersey broke it to her in such a straightforward manner, she still found it hard to accept. However, since Hersey had promised to tell her what she needed to know, her suffering previously was worth it.

Hersey was a powerful magician, so it only took him a short time to heal Stan. Following that, he hovered his hands on both of Stan’s temples. “After going through a battle, all of you are exhausted both physically and mentally. I’ll help you recover some of your spiritual energy so that you can continue your journey as soon as possible.”

“I thought we could take a rest here for one day.” Fern looked at him doubtfully and asked.

Hersey lowered his hands without responding to Fern. “Mr. Knight, even though your wounds have been healed, it’ll still take some time for your ligaments and muscles to recover. Furthermore, you’ve lost some blood, so for the following weeks you’ll feel weaker than usual.”

***

Stan got to his feet and moved his limbs. Just when he was amazed by the power of magic, he suddenly felt dizzy and almost collapsed to the ground, so he hurriedly took a seat again.

“You feel dizzy because you’ve lost too much blood.” Fern explained. “You’ll need to eat better food for the next few days.”

Hersey walked up to Fern and crouched down to examine his burns. Upon a closer look, he asked in shock, “These burns are not caused by ordinary fire. Did you come across a high-level magician?”

“Yes, I remember that his name is Hol.” Fern replied as he turned to Niss.

“Yes, he is Hol. He should be a magician from the Tower as well.” Niss added. 

“I know him.” Hersey said as he pondered on it. “He’s a resolute and obstinate man. Once he thinks his decision is right, he’ll never be swayed by anyone. He’s a dangerous man.”

Niss nodded in agreement. “Yes, he almost killed us, but he cleared my doubts in the end.”

“Oh?” Hersey smiled. “Perhaps that’s the intention of the Source of Magic. Your soul could only be cleansed when you managed to persevere till the end.”

“The Source of Magic is such a wonderful existence.” Fern was amazed. 

“Anything or anyone who has something to do with magic is wonderful.” Stan added.

Suddenly thinking of something, Rae asked, “Can anyone in this world break into the Source of Magic with his own willpower if he doesn’t personally enter it?”

As Hersey examined whether there were any burns that were left untreated on Fern’s body, he answered, “Theoretically, when a magician is powerful enough, they can break into the Source of Magic. After all, we can connect ourselves to the Source of Magic through magic.” After restoring some of Fern’s spiritual energy, Hersey walked up to Rae and placed his hands on her temples. “Did you come across Moses?”

Rae had closed her eyes to receive his treatment, but she opened her eyes in shock when she heard that. “You know that Moses is my master?”

Hersey gave her a faint smile. “The treatment is more effective when you close your eyes. Don’t waste my spiritual energy.” After Rae closed her eyes, he went on with his words. “Everyone in the Magician’s Tower knew that he took advantage of his disciple to try out shadow magic. His reputation had been tarnished, so he left the Tower and never came back since then.”

“Master…” Rae muttered.

***

“The first time I met you, I already figured that you’re his disciple. What you just said confirmed my speculation. After all, there’s no one else in the world other than Moses who has a disciple who learns shadow magic as well as the power to enter the Source of Magic.” Hersey giggled.

Rae opened her eyes and explained seriously, “My master was left with no choice. He didn’t take advantage of me by asking me to learn dark magic.”

“I know. I know. Close your eyes now.” Hersey waited for her to shut her eyes. “I know him very well, and he’s complimented you more than once to me, so I believe he’d never make you a guinea pig.”

Tears started streaming down her face when she heard that. 

Hersey smiled. “I understand why he’d do such a thing. I have a disciple who is about the same age as you. Moses and I always compared the two of you. According to his description of you, you’re so much more obedient than my disciple.”

“What did your disciple do that made you say so?” Niss asked curiously.

“She… As a disciple of an archmage, she’s more interested in archery instead. Although she’s excelled in magic, she…” Hersey was lost for words for a moment. “Have you ever met a magician with a bow on her back? Kay is one such magician.”

Niss and Rae chuckled upon hearing that as they found the archmage before their eyes benevolent.

When it was Niss’s turn, Hersey got up and stretched his back. “Oh well, I guess I’m really old now. I feel knackered after treating only three people.”

“Our injuries are severe, so you’ve already done an excellent job treating us.” Rae thanked him.

Hersey nodded. “I’ll have a chat with Niss alone when I treat her. All of you can take a rest there and have some food that I’ve prepared for you.” He pointed at a room in the tower. “You can walk around in the tower, but don’t leave this place. I’ll tell you the reason later.”

***

After the three of them left, only Hersey and Niss remained on the same spot. Hersey placed his hands on Niss’s temples as she closed her eyes.

“The disciple of the Magician’s Tower, have you realized that this trial is more than just getting the magician’s ring for you?” Hersey’s voice suddenly turned stern. 

Initially, Niss was clueless about all that as she transitioned from confused to angry. But now, she could accept her fate peacefully. “Yes, I understand.”

“So, do you understand why the archmages didn’t tell you about it?” Hersey questioned. 

“Were they worried that I would be terrified and wouldn’t accept the trial?” Niss replied dispassionately.

“That’s just one of the reasons. Also, would you believe them if they told you about it at that time?” Hersey asked.

“I probably would find it inconceivable and.. be at a loss.” Niss bit her lip.

Hersey nodded. “That’s why they’d rather make you think that it’s just an ordinary trial as you’d find out the truth in the process. By then, you’d be able to accept the truth more readily.”

At this moment, Niss was calm as she listened to the truth that was supposed to be surprising.

“There will be more truths for you to discover further down the line, but you have to remember that whatever the truths are, you have to stick to your faith. The world is full of evil people. You can only remain righteous by following your heart.” Hersey gave her some guidance. 

Niss nodded and memorized what he taught her.

Hersey’s voice turned gentler as he said with a smile, “Your companions are all trustworthy people, so you can trust them. They’re the only people you can rely on when you fall into danger.”

At that instant, the memories of what her companions had done for her flashed across her mind. In Sheepfold Village, it was Fern who fended off the zombies for her. In Black Swamp, it was also Fern who risked his life to lure away the wolves. In Wet Port, it was Rae who took care of her. In the Source of Magic, Fern and Stan took turns to carry her on their back as they ran for their lives. Apart from that, they had always taken good care of her on the journey. She had never lived in the wild before, so she was really grateful just how much her companions had done for her.

“Yes, I know. I’ll treasure them.” Niss promised.

After moving his hands away from her, Hersey took a seat in front of her. “Alright, the treatment is over. Now, I’ll give you some tips for your future journey. It’s time the Magician’s Tower did something for you. Although it’s not an order from the archmages, I’ll just do it on their behalf.”

Niss opened her eyes and listened to him attentively. Sometimes, she would also ask some questions as time went by quickly.

***

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