The Song Of Sword And Magic

Chapter 46: The Horrifying Truth

[Translator — Asuka]

[Proofreader — Karane]

At that moment, all of them were stunned by what Hersey had said.

“You mean the evil magicians?” Niss exclaimed. 

“Yes, they’re evil magicians who have learned forbidden magic.” Hersey wiped away the sweat on his forehead. “They must be thinking that I’m not aware of their existence.”

“When we were on our way to Doyle, we were attacked by an evil magician on White River. Two ships that were full of corpses crashed into ours.” Niss narrated their experience on White River. 

“It’d take a large number of corpses to fill two ships… Those scumbags of the Magician’s Tower are so callous!” Hersey’s face contorted in fury.

“You mean those corpses were actually humans killed by the evil magician who attacked us?” Niss asked in a trembling voice. 

“Yes. I think they could be the seamen and the passengers on the ships. Some of them could also be the villagers from a nearby village.” Hersey shook his head and landed a fist on the table. “If it weren’t because it wasn’t the right time yet, I would have exposed all of them!”

Niss crossed her fingers and placed them near her chest. Lowering her head, she closed her eyes and prayed for those innocent people who were killed ruthlessly.

***

“Then what should we do now? I understand why you have asked us to stay in this tower but wanted us to leave Wolfsburg as soon as possible, but how are we going to flee from the city?” Fern asked the most pressing question. “I guess Byron has told the knights to surround this place.”

“You’re right. So, the best way now is to make them think that you’ve failed to come out of the Source of Magic.” Hersey composed himself. “I’ve cast a magic barrier around the tower. They can only see the reflection of the boundary, so they won’t notice that you’ve already returned.”

“Won’t the evil magicians keep an eye on this tower? I’m afraid a magic barrier can’t fool them.” Rae asked worriedly.

Hersey sneered. “They won’t even dare to come near here, for they’re worried that I’ll discover them if they approach this tower.”

“Would you not have discovered them had they stayed further from you?” Rae questioned. 

“I have to admit that in some aspects, dark magic is superior to other branches of magic. After all, dark magic is incredibly powerful, so if they’ve stayed further from me…” Hersey appeared to be hesitant. “Other magicians wouldn’t notice them unless they have some special ways, but the evil magicians can always notice other magicians.”

“And how did you discover them?” Rae hit the nail on the head.

“I-I…” The old magician rubbed his hands together in hesitation.

“Don’t worry. We won’t expose your secret.” Fern found it amusing as he didn’t expect to see him looking so embarrassed. 

Hersey gave him an alarmed look. “Since they’ve done such a thing, they can’t hide forever…” He ran his fingers through his beard. “In fact, I’ve studied a bit of dark magic. That’s why—” he said irresolutely. 

“What?” Rae and Niss leaped off the chairs in shock and interrupted him. “How could you…” Niss was lost for words. 

“I haven’t finished my words yet! Sit down.” Hersey brushed away the sweat on his forehead with his sleeve. “If I hadn’t studied dark magic, how would I have noticed them? Furthermore, I’ve only studied a little about the ways they use dark magic and the prerequisites to learning it. That’s why I’m now able to sense the presence of the evil magicians around me.”

Hersey was worried that his juniors would flare up at him again, so he hurriedly gave an explanation. Following that, he used the other sleeve to wipe his forehead and eyes. “Do you get it now? I have never learned dark magic, I’ve just studied a little about it.”

Sitting back on her chair, Niss pressed her lips together and stared at the old magician. On the other hand, Rae had calmed down. “So, they don’t realize that you’ve discovered them because they have never expected that you have learned… Oh sorry, you’ve studied a little about dark magic.”

“Yes, remember this. I’ve only studied a little about it.” Hersey demanded.

***

Seeing that the magicians were deep in the bicker, Fern hurriedly brought them back to the main issue. “Alright. We won’t even tell anyone that you’ve studied dark magic. But now, how are we going to leave the city?”

“Oh, yes. Time is running out, so we’d better talk about it now.” Hersey gave him a grateful look. “There’s a secret passageway beneath the tower. It’s called a secret passageway instead of a tunnel because most Doylans are not aware of its existence.”

“How is that possible? Wasn’t Edra I the one who had this tower built? How could the Doylans not know about this?” Stan found it hard to believe.

“It’s because the passageway wasn’t built by the Doylans.” What Hersey said shocked Stan. “Of course, it wasn’t possible to dig a passageway when so many Doylan knights were around. It was built from outside the city.”

Stan finally understood it as he nodded and motioned for Hersey to continue speaking. 

“In fact, this passageway was built centuries ago. Not long after the tower was constructed, the first archmage came over and commenced the excavation.” Hersey raised the cup and realized that there was no tea in it. Holding the cup in his hand, he never poured himself another cup of tea. “Every archmage who had guarded the tower would repair and maintain the passageway by using magic. Therefore, centuries have passed, but the passageway is as good as new.”

Fern suddenly thought of something. “Did anyone flee from the city using this passageway before?”

Hersey swayed his empty cup. “Yes. Every one hundred years there would be some travelers like all of you who would use the passageway to leave Wolfsburg, but this time it’s different.”

Rae raised her head, for she knew what he meant by that. “It’s not been one hundred years yet, right?”

“That’s right. Never before had the Dark Tide returned earlier than expected in the past because the Dark Lord has been sealed off. Without the Dark Lord’s summoning, the Dark Tide will only awaken every one hundred years. That’s why this time we’re in a more perilous situation, and the burden on your shoulders is heavier,” Hersey stopped what he was doing and said solemnly.

“So, what caused the Dark Tide to awaken earlier this time?” Niss already had an answer in her heart, but she was hoping that Hersey would tell her otherwise. 

“Just like what I’ve said, the Dark Tide won’t awaken earlier on its own. It’ll only return to this world upon the Dark Lord’s calling. So, the only possibility is that…” Hersey stared into Niss’s eyes for a moment. “The Dark Lord has awakened as well.”

Anxiously, Niss slumped into the chair. “How is that possible? The Dark Lord was sealed off by the Seven Gods in ancient times. How did he break the seal?” Niss spoke in a choking voice. “No humans can ever go against the Dark Lord. Even the ancient gods had to use up all their power to defeat the Dark Lord.”

“There will be a way, Niss.” Hersey’s gaze turned soft as he looked at the young magician. “Since the ancient gods had defeated the Dark Lord before, I’m sure they’ll return to help us in our fight this time. The Seven Gods will never give up on Wallis and humans.”

Niss fell silent and looked at the magic cane in her hands. Under the firelight, the gemstone appeared to be dark green. She had never expected that she would face such a crisis one day. Now that she was confronted by all these, she felt as though the burden on her shoulders were so heavy that she could never straighten up. At the thought of this, she trembled slightly and sobbed.

Fern gave her a helpless look, for he knew that it was unbearable for her, but at the same time, he was also intimidated by the danger looming on them. “Since the Seven Gods will return, and humans are so powerless against the Dark Lord, is what we’re doing now meaningful at all?” Feeling sorry for Niss, Fern posed this question to Hersey in an agitated manner.

Hersey waved his hand to motion for the mercenary to calm down. “I understand how you feel, and this is indeed unbearable for you. But, if humans don’t fight hard to defend ourselves, why would the Seven Gods help us? Only when we have tried our best will the Seven Gods choose to lend us a hand.”

Fern took a seat beside Niss and wanted to pull her into his embrace to console her. However, after a moment of hesitation, he still didn’t have the courage to make such a move. So, he pulled her hand toward himself and gripped it with both hands so that she would understand that he was always there for her. 

Niss wiped away her tears with her other hand and raised her head to look at Fern. The mercenary before her eyes had gone through many ups and downs with her on the journey. Every time she felt helpless, she would secretly hope that he could save her from all the trouble. At this moment, his steadfast gaze and warm hands once again gave her the sense of security she needed. It was as though with him by her side, all the problems would be solved.

“Everything will get better, Niss.” Fern consoled her.

Niss grunted with pursed lips and stopped crying. 

“Everything will get better, Fern.” She recalled that when they were staying the night in an abandoned village in Doyle, Fern also told her the same thing outside the house. “Yes, everything will get better.”

***

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