Badge in Azure

Mages could only cast spells that were at most one grade higher than their own. After casting the spell, their mental strength and magic chords would all be wiped out. As a result, mages’ learning speeds were greatly reduced and many that were not guided by any teachers would often lose their way.

If a mage cast a spell that was two grades above their own, the knowledge they gained would more than make up for the loss in time. Most wealthy mages would be able to train better even without any teachers.

The prices of such scrolls would always remain high. Most mages that possessed such scrolls would usually choose to study them and could not bear to use them. Only someone like Saleen would have no qualms using them since his intention was only to sign a contract spell.

The problem was that Saleen used the scroll because he had no other choice. On the other hand, Isabella was ready to use it for an unimportant victory.

Even if she was from Tanggulasi Empire, she had no need to participate in such a competition if her intention was to pledge her allegiance to Saleen. He would never reject a grade-5 mage even if he already had the Sregl Island sorcerers by his side.

This was why Saleen wanted to meet Isabella immediately after he had announced the result. Rather than speculate, he would rather find out from her face-to-face.

Since this female mage wanted to see Saleen, he would fulfil her wish. If her intentions were found to be bad, Saleen was more than willing to kill her on the spot.

When Isabella walked into the room, she did not sense any pressure. She was surprised that the room only contained about ten people with Saleen seated in the center.

She studied the Lord of Metatrin City carefully from head to toe. This young mage was not wearing proper mage robes and was wearing a strange-looking long robe instead. It looked like a war robe worn by powerful warriors with patches of leaves sewn on it. When Isabella glanced at Saleen’s fingers, she noticed three magic equipments; two bands and one ring.

Saleen looked at her with his blue eyes and did not let out any form of aura or mental strength. The people behind him did the same and concealed their powers.

Isabella suddenly realized that this young man was the Lord of Metatrin City. The people around him were all much more powerful than her, yet they were all willing to submit to Saleen’s influence.

Based on Isabella’s observation, Saleen’s attitude was the reason why the people behind him were willing to fall in line and follow his orders.

Saleen was observing this female mage. She was wearing a typical gray magic robe, but this one was brand new. There were six rings on her hand which was the maximum number of rings a mage could wear, any more would have been useless.

Isabella was a pure Tanggulasi name. She had brown eyes, pale skin, and a necklace around her neck that was also magic equipment.

Saleen looked carefully with his elemental eyes and concluded that Isabella was not carrying any lethal equipment.

“Isabella, you have used such a method just to see me. Tell me, what do you want?” Saleen asked directly. Normally, mages did not engage much in courtesies, but Saleen had eliminated them entirely.

Isabella raised her head to look at Saleen and said, “My Lord, I wish to become your follower.”

Saleen was no longer the same mage that was running for his life. He was not surprised by what she said. He shook his head and said, “You are not telling the truth. Besides, all the followers that I have are more powerful than you.”

Isabella did not feel upset or embarrassed by the rejection. Instead, she was pleased. Saleen would only be someone worth following if he could tell that something was not right. A person that would immediately display the desire to recruit this grade-5 mage would have no future.

“I still have one-hundred bandits that have stayed behind in Laiyin Duchy. They can serve you as well,” Isabella added.

If Saleen did not have Nailisi, Isabella’s offer would have been an attractive one. Isabella’s company of bandits were rather reputable in Tanggulasi Empire and they possessed decent fighting abilities. Nailisi was already close to completing the demon city, Saleen would have millions of demons that he could deploy. Saleen, would rather have a low-level leader that could lead soldiers than one-hundred bandits.

Saleen did not lack men. He lacked talented subjects that could lead men.

“Isabella, to become my follower, you have to earn my trust,” Saleen was even more direct with the female mage.

Isabella thought about it and began slowly, “My Lord, it’s not that I am unwilling to say, but things are a bit complicated. I think I am someone worth recruiting by you, my Lord.”

“There is a way to explain even the most complicated matters. Give her a chair,” Saleen asked Nailisi for a chair.

Nailisi brought over a chair to Isabella and studied this female mage with a smile and thought, “Why do only old men and pretty girls want to follow Master?”

After Isabella sat herself down, Saleen suddenly realized that the female mage’s hair color had changed slightly. She did not seem to be able to control this change and it might be the result of an injury.

“I am from Tanggulasi. Hmm, I have not been doing well for the past few years. I was about to advance into a sorcerer, but my hideout was discovered by the Holy See and I was almost killed,” Isabella was unwilling to recall this unpleasant memory, but she knew that Saleen would not want her if she did not tell the truth. “I led my men to flee to Laiyin Duchy and successfully escaped from the Holy See. After I heard about Metatrin City, I wanted to come and see if there were any opportunities. That’s when I saw him…”

Isabella raised her hand and pointed at Nicholas.

“I was hit by a strange divine spell that will slowly devour my magic chords. I was a grade-6 mage at my peak, but have since degraded into a grade-5 mage. If this continues, I will become a grade-4 mage very soon. Since you have recruited this red Grand Bishop, I think he will surely have a way to heal me.”

Saleen understood because Aini was in the same predicament once. A talented element mage was left with no other choice, but to pursue death magic instead.

No wonder Isabella was able to cast a grade-7 scroll. Only her magic chords would degenerate while her mental strength remained unchanged.

“What else?” Saleen pursued.

Isabella did not expect Saleen to continue asking. She had already said plenty.

“Almost all the people around me each possess a special ability. You are not that powerful yet…” Saleen’s attitude angered Isabella. She was a prideful person and was not the kind of bandit that people typically thought of.

Saleen continued, “Nicholas is a grade-9 holy priest. Why should he save you? Just because you look pretty?”

“My Lord, my ability…” Isabella paused for a while. Suddenly, she drew a dagger from underneath her robes and pointed it at Saleen. This dagger was infused with an irregular sword aura.

Of course, Isabella had no intentions of killing Saleen. Her actions were not swift and she said, “What about this?!”

Isabella was a Professional that was trained in both magic and sword aura. Saleen looked at this female mage as if he had seen a monster.

Eleanor, who was standing behind Saleen, suddenly drew her short bow and deflected Isabella’s dagger with the tip of her bow.

As the dagger left Isabella’s hand, she was hit by a Fossilization spell cast by Eleanor.

Eleanor looked at Isabella coldly and said, “Trained in both magic and combat? I am as well, but I am better at it.”

Saleen was secretly pleased. Eleanor had acknowledged her identity and now knew when to step up for him. Saleen had always felt that it was a bit of a waste that she had always keen to leave. Now, Eleanor no longer displayed that sort of mindset. This time around, she even took the initiative and greatly demoralized Isabella.

Isabella was stunned. She had thought that she was the only one in this dimension with that ability. She never expected that Saleen would have someone who was stronger than her in both magic and swordsmanship.

Eleanor continued to stare at Isabella, but was actually thinking to herself, “The Marquis was unwilling to pass down such skills even to me. Could Isabella be his lover?”

Before the Marquis disappeared, he always had a soft spot for female mages. All mages had a way of making themselves appear younger than they really were. Some female mages still looked around twenty years old just before they died.

At this point, Eleanor could not help but unleash a bit of killing aura.

Isabella could sense the intention to kill and felt uneasy. She retreated slightly and bowed her head and said, “My Lord, have I done anything to upset you?” Saleen was also feeling uneasy when she asked him this question. At first, Saleen did not feel very strongly about her attitude, even when he was questioning her intentions. Now, this beautiful female mage suddenly had intentions to kill him, could it be…

“Eleanor, stand down,” Saleen said calmly. Isabella suddenly realized that from the very beginning, Saleen had not moved even a finger. Saleen did not seem to care even when she drew her dagger earlier.

“Isabella, do you wish to remain by my side or will you leave after your injury has been healed?”

Isabella hesitated. At first, she had intended to leave after healing herself. Of course, she would have a way to terminate the bond. Eleanor’s appearance helped her understand that her abilities might not be as enticing to Saleen after all.

“I…,” Isabella found it hard to continue. She wanted to stay, even though that was not her original plan. She had never thought about following anyone. If she did, she would have become a private mage in a big noble family long ago instead of becoming the leader of bandits. Leading a free life was what she had always yearned for.

“You have already been targeted by the Holy See, what is there to think about? Sign a contract. I know now that you did not intend to kill me,” Saleen said and took out an empty scroll and began to scribble out a contract.