Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 882: Chapter 678: Secretly Holding Kelben Back

The spell known as the Magic Activating Rope can be a lifesaver for a bard at a low rank, but at higher levels, it’s an art of play.

The professor specializing in rope skills teaches a general wilderness survival course, yet countless archmages desire to attend his private, special classes. It’s said that just one session goes for 2,000 gold coins, and yet it’s priceless.

Moreover, this bard is always a welcomed guest at the major courts of The North, favored by the princes and nobles.

In the beautiful palace of Elaströ, he has some acquaintances that Hill understands quite well.

Lynn glanced at Hill with a hint of a smile on his face, then swiftly stood up to bid farewell.

Hill could tell that his friend Lynn both wanted to tell Hill about his source of information and was reluctant to explain why he had such a friend.

Clearly, there’s a compelling story in there somewhere, a story that could at least amuse Hill for a few days.

After pondering for a while, Hill decided to let Lynn off the hook for now, no longer pressing for more answers.

Just for the sake of his friend, who apparently had read the ”Hill’s Biography” yet never mentioned a word of it in front of him.

Of course, more importantly, in the world of Toril, there are no secrets that last forever.

Eventually, he will learn about it, and Hill is in no rush at all.

He’s quite patient with matters concerning his friends.

Hill looked up at the group of white-throated birds outside the window; they were chirping away, possibly discussing Lynn’s mission.

These adorable birds used to be merely backup tools for bards to relay private messages, and very few people raised them.

After all, training them to recognize routes while associating scents with certain individuals requires considerable effort.

Lynn had only started raising two flocks after arriving in Agleya City; luckily, these flocking birds teach their offspring, and their families grow quickly when they receive ample food.

In the coming decades, messengers like these birds will likely become much more important.

Even if the Weave stabilizes enough to allow the use of low-level spells and message transmission, it wouldn’t be as safe as it once was.

The crucial issue is that sent messages can easily end up on other people’s communication lines, leading to countless public embarrassment incidents.

Many bards can simply hang on the news network and gather countless stories that are popular in taverns.

If one doesn’t want their transmitted messages broadcast worldwide, most magic-based professions will need to reconsider opting for more reliable messengers.

The white-throated birds are quite good; unless they willingly do so, it’s impossible to find the three feathers carrying messages even if they were plucked clean.

Moreover, despite their cute appearance, these birds have quite a temper. If they encounter something they can’t tolerate, they may even die of anger.

Thus, though lacking strong combat powers, they are indeed excellent messengers. However, true sincerity is required in exchange for their services, as they won’t willingly work with insincere efforts.

Hill beckoned the leader of the two flocks of white-throated birds down, hoping it could help lure more of its kind to Agleya City.

The bird happily agreed: the nuts here are especially tasty and nutritious, ensuring no hatchlings have trouble hatching.

It is more than willing to fulfill any request of this Nature Lord.

Moreover, the birds it brings will naturally follow its commands; expanding their species is a dream every animal leader yearns for, regardless of size.

Hill returned to the study, finding the thick Silvermoon City famous figures list, quietly flipping to the Elaströ section: the descendants of the Supreme Lady occupy dozens of pages, only those who became high-level professionals are recorded.

Including intermediates... spanning over a thousand years, Elaströ’s lineage is truly capable of forming an army.

To discover the origins of the purple-robed female mage, Hill feels there’s still some hope.

He silently retrieved an oil painting fragment, gazing at the familiar black eyes reflected in it, feeling a peculiar emotion: it’s likely that the mother and daughter were swept into Agleya City’s bay by a spatial storm because of this palm-sized fragment.

If those magical curio fragments from Icewind Valley fall into the hands of merchants, they’ll only be offered to intermediate mages.

After all, the low-rank ones couldn’t afford it, and high-ranks wouldn’t want it.

This oil painting fragment, for Weave mages who never touch advanced magic, could almost pass as a divine artifact.

And this junior mage, harboring Midnight’s soul in her mental sea, with aptitude so outstanding, any mage with insight would definitely take her as a student.

This young girl, with a blood connection to the former Mystra, will surely resonate with the divine soul consciousness in the fragment!

This is a mage life guided hand-in-hand by the Goddess of Magic, and during this time, the shortcomings Midnight may have in terms of abilities that the magic goddess should possess can be significantly compensated.

If Midnight internally agrees with some of the former Mystra’s views, the precarious relationship between the Goddess of Magic and the Deity of Mages can be eased.

The Tablets of Fate are like a masterful novelist, their logic clear, each piece intricately linked.

Hill couldn’t help but tap on the oil painting. Most importantly, according to the mage tradition, the first few years were the apprenticeship test period, all basic courses in the Magic Tower, not a real master-disciple relationship.

Especially during these years when spells couldn’t be used at all, apprentices had nothing to do but memorize text.

When the Weave stabilized, and that mage thought ’Midnight’ was a good seedling, wanting to take her as a real student, she no longer needed it.

Perfect timing to go out on adventures, make countless friends, and find a new beginning for the love and friendship lost in the chaos of the Years of Turmoil.

Among them, probably were Kelben’s twin sons, the two Magic Elector’s children, who certainly had an innate affection for this lovely and beautiful lady.

Compared to the stubborn, cold-tempered Grim Reaper Kelemvor, who often argued and fought with her, the twins who were identical in looks but completely opposite in temperament and personality, wasn’t the choice obvious?

Without the interference of All Gods, Midnight’s adventure would certainly be pleasant and exciting, and even if there were terrifying dangers, as long as she awakened her identity as a deity, she would surely save her friends and lover.

Because of the powerful Divine Power, she could save all regrets, once she understood this, would Midnight still feel that the identity of the Goddess of Magic made her lose too much?

At that time, Midnight... would surely become the real Mystra.

What a good way of education...

The Toril people sure are unlucky!

Hill knew his judgement was somewhat biased, but almost correct.

However, the Tablets of Fate probably didn’t anticipate that the first step would go wrong.

The largest ’Black Eye’ oil painting fragment was actually placed by Hill in the warehouse, never intended to be used.

Well, now we can speculate:

The savvy Black Staff Kelben, if he discovered the aura of the Goddess of Magic on ’Midnight’, would he choose to let his twin sons grow up with her in childhood or take action himself?

If he didn’t discover, then it’s even more interesting.

Relations weren’t very harmonious between Kelben and Elaströ, but suddenly a mother-daughter duo that clearly got driven out of Silvermoon City due to some misdeed came to him, what would he do?

In this situation, Kelben would certainly think of all kinds of ways to test the stability of the Weave, and the best method is to let the apprentices try.

They have a relatively shallow connection to the Weave, so even if there is backlash, it’s only a matter of lying down for a few days, but whether Midnight would understand Kelben’s necessity, Hill did not know.

Most importantly, did Kelben, who was once very interested in those relics, have a fragment of the Goddess of Magic painting?

Hill lightly tapped his fingers on the table, Deepwater City... couldn’t completely avoid dealing with Shade Soul City.

Although those Great Archmages are undead, they were once followers of the Sun God, and they love to make their living places extravagant, and they require a lot of spellcasting materials.

These are quite valuable goods in Deepwater City.

The Prince of the Shadow Souls would not keep Mystra’s exclusive divine artifact in hand but would certainly sell it.

Hill bit his cheek, no, he couldn’t make decisions based on these guesses.

Hill asked Marsha to call Terry.

The Little Golden Dragon came quickly.

He even used his prototype while selling wine now, very intimidating.

During this time, it’s almost the most prominent period for dragons, aside from those races known for strength being afraid to provoke, they dared go anywhere.

Many dragons took advantage and swaggered into towns in their prototype forms, not paying for items was minor, with robbery nearly written on their happy big teeth.

Of course, cities like Deepwater City don’t really fear dragons, as they have huge attack apparatuses on their walls.

But for ordinary towns, it was a bit troublesome.

Fortunately, because Dragon Madness has killed many... there are fewer dragons causing trouble.

”Terry, I remember there’s a strange alchemist in the inn, wearing a Sage Mage robe, always secretly selling weird potions in the tavern?”

”Yes, he lives in the penthouse suite with his wife.” Terry tilted his head, asking, ”The humans say his wife is a beauty, but I didn’t see it.”

Hill smiled and said, ”Find a way to sell this Strange Object to him. No matter how much you sell it for, you can keep it yourself, no need to share with me.”

Terry’s eyes instantly brightened, he took out gloves to change back to human form, then seriously picked up the oil painting fragment and examined it closely: ”Mystra’s item? Why sell it to him?

Selling it to Elaströ would probably make more money.”

”But selling it to him benefits me more. Otherwise, why would I give the money to you?” Hill answered with a smile.