Blood tax

Chapter 15 The Little Research of the Stationed Mage Rudias
In the silent night, Griffith's mind turned all kinds of thoughts.

Assuming the goblins and corpses were made by Isis, why did he hunt Galadia?Who is behind him?Any accomplices?

What is the identity of the elf lady who has fallen asleep by the bonfire?What was she looking for when she came here alone?She would go to Homon Watts just like me and spend a few years together!

Is my encounter these days a coincidence or the arrangement of some force?why me?
Some answers may be found in Bayeran.Teacher Heinz from Reserve Command will help.

At this time, light footsteps and bushes came from a distance, slowly approaching Griffith's position.

The apprentice knight immediately crouched up, raised his shield towards the sound, and patted the sleeping Galadia with the other hand.

"There is a situation!"

……

"Good evening, dear traveler, I am Rudias, the garrison mage," the visitor stepped out from behind the trees, lifting his hood to reveal his aged face and grey hair, "my mage tower is nearby, It's shabby, but it's still more comfortable than sleeping in the wild. If you don't mind, can you have a drink with me?"

"Good evening, esteemed Master Mage." The vigilant Griffith said together with Galadia, who was just woken up from her sleep and was still in a daze, like two elementary school students.

Rudias!

It turned out to be Rudias, the resident mage accused of black magic research that Isis had followed!

I just saw the case file about him during the day, and I met him at night.

"Thank you for your kindness, stationed mage." Galadia caressed the blue crystal pendant hanging around her neck, glanced at Griffith, and said calmly, "It's really good to be able to sleep on the bed. Woolen cloth!"

……

The garrisoned mage tower is hidden in the woods by the roadside.The grey stone walls and roof look rudimentary, and the small courtyard outside the living room is planted with nectarine trees and flowers.The atmosphere here is calm and gentle. If you don't look at the high spire, you can't imagine that this is the residence of the mages who govern extraordinary events.

Griffith immediately thought of the text on the investigation record - no residual magic power from black magic was detected.

Not to mention black magic, there is almost no fluctuation and breath of magic here, just like the private residence of a country noble.

"The noble elves are able to come to the poor house, it's really glorious!" The mage stationed cheerfully bowed to Galadia, "I feel a strong power, your Excellency is a Sequence 8 Beyonder, right?"

"Yeah." The elf replied casually.

"You are a Sequence 9 of the Lawbreaker pathway, aren't you?" Rudias asked the two of them to sit down at the long table in the living room and gently asked the apprentice knight, "You can be promoted to a Sequence 8 barrier-breaker in the future, And then the lawbreaker who gave us headaches?"

"Yes, Master Mage." Griffith replied.The Lawbreaker is a common Extraordinary Sequence, and Sequence 7 is said to be the upper limit of growth.This information is publicly known and there is no need to keep it confidential.

Answering this question, Griffith looked down at the tea on the table.A piece of tea leaves floats in the shabby teacup, pretending to be a cup of tea.There were some meals on the simple wooden table, but there were no servants who were doing chores.

"Wait a minute," the resident mage turned around and walked into the kitchen, serving out two soups to serve his guests, "Have you eaten dinner? If you don't mind, you can try my craft."

Griffith looked at the food on the table.There was soup in the large plate, with a few leaves floating, a bald fish head stood upright in the soup plate, staring up at the roof...

Even if they hadn't eaten dinner, the two of them couldn't swallow this dish anyway... Galadia gently pushed the fish head into the soup, covered her eyes with a boiled vegetable leaf, and smiled reluctantly. Asked: "Master Mage, how did you find us?"

The place where the two camped was on a hillside away from the main road, some distance from the mage tower.

"Although my mage tower is shabby, it is also a mage camp stationed in one place," Rudias said with a smile, "In addition to the expensive and impractical teleportation circle, the Beyonder characteristic monitoring circle that should have is also drawn nearby according to regulations. This area, I sensed it as soon as you came. Camping in the wild really doesn’t suit your beautiful and noble status, so I took the liberty to invite, please don’t dislike it. Come and taste my craftsmanship.”

Galadia nodded slightly, without being polite to the mage.

Griffith looked at the mage who was drinking soup with his head down, and then looked at the undecorated living room.Although Griffith is only the lowest extraordinary sequence, but the long-term training and fighting has made him develop a keen intuition.

This mage tower is so ordinary, there must be something wrong.

A resident mage is not an ordinary mage but an administrative position exclusively for a spellcaster.They are often the highest leaders of the Extraordinary in a region.Although it is difficult to find powerful mages in many remote places, the annual review and inspection of the Magic Council and the kingdom will not be slack.

If they fail to produce enough research results, officials will reprimand them or even deprive them of their positions and choose someone else.

Rudias is in such a position, but there is almost no disturbance or residue of magic in the station. How did he pass the annual examination?
"What kind of research have you been doing recently?" Galadia asked Griffith's concern. "The annual review is not easy, right?"

"Familiar," the resident mage replied simply and clearly, "don't look at me like this, I am also the official researcher and supplier of the familiar!"

Familiars are magically bred creature servants, which may be owls, bats, rabbits, cats, dogs, or whatever.

Griffith turned to look at his comrade, who happened to meet Galadia's eyes.Both thought of a particular creature.

"As we all know, there are various powers of different natures in this world," Rudias introduced slowly, "We can drive magic power through the configuration of magic; Beyonders have the exclusive abilities of each sequence, and do not need magic configuration. It can exert a magical power similar to a spell, and it will not be disturbed by the blood of the spellbreaker."

The stationed mage glanced at Griffith, and then said: "Besides, the favored ones can obtain rare powers through prayers, which are similar to magic but not systematic. Among them, the grace of the Holy Light is the most popular, but it is very hypocritical. The most interesting thing is the power of those unspeakable ancient gods.

"It is the sublime, the force that creates life."

Galadia slowly put down her knife and fork.Although the philosophy is different from the source, the mages have always been full of respect for the Church of the Holy Light, and public contempt for the Holy Light is rare.However, Rudias' problems didn't stop there.From his remarks, it is confirmed that the garrison mage in the outlying area is researching some forbidden powers.

Griffith stood up from his seat and took two steps back, his hand on the hilt of his saber.Although it has not been long since they entered the Mage Tower, this chat is about to go on.

"Then, Your Excellency invited us, are you going to introduce us to those interesting powers?" Galadia rubbed her forehead and turned her eyes to the side door.It leads to the basement, from which a tyrannical and bloody aura is leaking.

There is something hidden there, ready to show up.

"You really don't want to drink some of my soup?" Rudias said regretfully. "Just one sip will save us from a lot of unpleasant and bloody experiences~ How did you find out? My potion should be free of Colorless and tasteless!"

Just can't drink it.Griffith glanced at the blinding fish soup.

"Okay, then let me introduce some of my trivial work," Rudias snapped his fingers at this time.Griffith, who had been highly nervous, jumped up and drew his long sword to protect himself with a round shield.Galadia swiftly flashed past, pulling up her longbow to hide behind him.

The mage tower, which was calm just now, was suddenly filled with surging malice.Some kind of chaotic and twisted creature hidden behind the small door beside the living room broke through!

"Look, the perfect combination of the blood of orcs and elves, strong orcs." Rudias stretched out his hand, "You must have never seen such research!"

Following the rumbling footsteps, a strong figure more than two meters tall pushed open the side door and strode in.

This strong creature has the bronze skin of an orc, a well-proportioned body, and two pointed ears can be seen with a trace of an elf, but his face is extremely ugly and murderous, and his tyrannical red eyes sweep across Galadia's face. , a wretched and greedy look appeared in an instant.

"It's really difficult to cultivate elves as a mother, and the result of just combining with goblins is not very impressive," Rudias said smugly, as if the chef was introducing his dishes.

Goblin!Griffith immediately realized why there was no trace of magic in the mage tower.

Rudias' research did not drive the power of magic, but instead created new creatures by multiplying magical life.

Galadia bit her lip, and a stream of light shot directly into the heart of the strong orc.

"Oh," the giant man took the blow with his naked upper body, and only shook his body slightly under the close-range blow of the elf.Arrows pierced through thick flesh but were not fatal.The strong orc then stretched out his hand to break the arrow shaft and strode forward.

Galadia fired another arrow like lightning, this time aiming at the strong orc's left eye.

Between the lightning and flint, the strong orc raised his left hand, and the sharp arrow penetrated into his wrist but failed to hit the vital point.

What a great speed!Griffith was taken aback.Not only can this creature resist Galadia's attacks with just its body, but his movements can even catch sharp arrows shot at close range!

This is not an enemy that apprentice knights and elves can fight against.

"Retreat!" Griffith hurriedly raised the round shield, and the heavy blows of the strong orcs followed.

Griffith couldn't even see the opponent's movements clearly, and his round shield and the bones of his left forearm were shattered, and he flew out directly, hitting the elf who was retreating rapidly.The two slapped the wall behind them together and fell to the ground at the same time.

"Isn't it amazing?" Rudias rubbed his hands together and said excitedly, "The offspring born after the mating of goblins and elves are too weak, but they can inherit a little bit of precious essence. The orc genes are reinforced, and new orcs who are stronger and more agile are born."

Griffith struggled to stand up, and was immediately caught by the strong orc and thrown aside.The red-eyed strong orc grabbed the long black hair of Galadia who was about to get up, and slammed it against the wall.The elf's delicate face was smashed with blood, and the blood flowed from the forehead and the corner of the eyes, and half of the face could not see the original appearance.

"Oh!" Rudias was taken aback, "After such orcs mate with elves again, the offspring produced by a very small probability have their own advantages. Higher, faster, stronger ,More beautiful!!"

Galadia struggled to touch a pendant around her waist.The strong orc quickly grabbed her slender fingers and twisted them hard.

"what!"

The terrifying sound of bone cracks and screams made Griffith unstoppable, and he took out the two daggers from his waist and threw them at the enemy.The strong orc did not dodge or evade, and took the attack with his back.

"Sorry forgot to mention," the mage said cheerfully, "My strong orc has the characteristics of a mad orc, and an attack that cannot be fatal will only stimulate his body and make him more ferocious. Gee, the elf's body can't bear it. live."

As if to prove that the mage's words were true, the strong orc smashed the scarred Galadia to the ground, and then began to tear the delicate light armor and shirt.

Galadia's body flickered with several crystal rays of light, and the magic real shot of the bodyguard began to provide defense, but under the suppression of powerful force, it only persisted for a while before being shattered.

Griffith turned and pounced on the garrisoned mage, slashing his sword towards his head.

"Expand flame configuration 12; shape, ball; superimpose, throw!" The stationed mage has waved his wand, and quickly uttered the language he had set to activate a spell, "Fireball."

A large, fiery ball of fire shot out from the front of the wand.Griffith sank quickly, and the hot flames brushed his shoulders, hitting the strong orc's back directly.

"Boom!" The strong orc flew out by this blow, smashed a big hole in the wall and flew into the flower field in the courtyard.

"You did it on purpose?" Rudias tilted his head to look at the big hole that was smashed open.

Griffith didn't answer, raised his hand and threw the sword at the mage.

"Useless and useless! The mere Sequence 9 attack is not enough for noble mages!" Rudias didn't have time to chant again, he quickly tore off a talisman on his body, and the prefabricated blue shield spell appeared and bounced off. long sword.

As soon as the voice fell, Griffith had already rushed in front of the mage, dodged around to Rudias' left hand, and punched him without waiting for the opponent to sing.

Rudias was beaten back on the spot, his head pounded into a ball, and his white teeth mixed with blood splashed out.

Griffith grabbed the mage by the collar and yanked it forward, hitting him with an uppercut in the jaw.Rudias was knocked flying and smashed backwards on his desk.

At the moment of the fall, Rudias's body shone with silver light, and the automatic triggering of the rapid casting formed an invisible wall to block the apprentice knight.

This is the power of the Mage Tower.Although the use of magic spells may be disturbed and interrupted, it is already at a disadvantage to fight the mage in the preset position.

Griffith took out his axe and smashed it towards the shield.

"It's useless, soldier," Rudias laughed as soon as he regained his senses, "I can't break through my shield with this level of force. How? Since you can't do anything, why don't you come with me? Enjoy the wonderful scenes of strong orcs and elves, but that's pretty wild..."

The strong orc who was hit by the fireball and fell into the courtyard has stood up.He was full of energy, and his strong legs stepped on the delicate lawn, as if the attack just tickled him.

The strong orc was still holding a piece of rag, which was the result of when he tore the collar of the elf just now.

(End of this chapter)