The Vastness of Magical Destiny

"Kid, don’t look at me with that kind of gaze. For us magicians who cultivate Dark Magic, there’s no better place for our training and living than a place that connects the heavenly realm above to the underworld below. If it weren’t for some dark creatures lurking inside, I’d want to lie there now and never come out again," the pointy-faced magician seemed to casually lift the veil hanging between the two, but to Komer, his words were like a bolt from the blue.

"Mr. Rebry, I..." Komer started to say something, opening his mouth as if he wanted to explain, but the other stopped him with a wave of his hand. "Alright, no need to explain anything to me, I’m not interested in your messed up background. Being an heir to Dark Magic is not disgraceful, it’s just that the various prejudices on the Continent now make us Dark Mages walk with a bit of trepidation, even having to rely on other guises to cover up our true identities. Heh heh, but to find a fellow practitioner here is indeed a bit exciting for me, a noble lord, the honor of being a magician, who would’ve thought, who would’ve thought, you turned out to be a Dark practitioner who can’t show his face in the light, isn’t that a bit ironic?"

It was as if he was talking to himself, yet also as if he was asking Komer, the scruffy man’s words were filled with bitterness.

Komer’s spirits lifted, his gaze shifting fluidly. The other’s words undoubtedly revealed everything, that he was also a Dark Mage, which matched Komer’s intuition. However, the fact that he could mix with someone like Mundell—a Light Mage known for his cautious nature and self-discipline—made Komer admire his boldness and ability to conceal his identity.

"Mr. Rebry, I also did not expect that you and I would stand in the same trench. If the Church of Light knew that two Dark Mages suddenly appeared in the Caucasus, I wonder what they would think? Would they immediately send their Knights regiment or the guys from the Court to capture us? Perhaps we’d end up hanged on the gallows or burned at the stake," Komer shrugged his shoulders as well. Now that they were of the same kind, everything was much better. Having walked alone in the darkness for so long, it was indescribably wonderful to now encounter a companion.

"Kid, if this news leaks out, I could simply make my escape, and the Church of Light wouldn’t cling to me, but it’s different for you. That fool Malone represents the Church of Light, and his death is a challenge to the Church. Do you think they would let you off easily?"

With a smile that was not quite a smile, the scruffy man gave Komer a glance, and the cunning smile on his face sent a chill down Komer’s spine, as it appeared nothing could escape the other’s eyes, sending a shiver up his back.

"Kid, don’t think that what you’ve done is so secretive. Isn’t Onia suspicious of you? They just don’t act because of your status and the lack of solid evidence. Aren’t those two Thunderhorse Knights still active in your territory? Do you think they’ve truly fallen for the landscape of the Caucasus?" Mr. Rebry’s expression grew colder. "I don’t know why you killed that Malone character, but now you’re on a narrow path and must tread forward with a hard head. A moment’s inattention could plunge you into the abyss."

"Mr. Rebry, you didn’t come today to lecture me, did you? The mountains are high and the emperor’s far in the Caucasus; since I’ve evaded the first calamity, I believe we can also avoid future troubles. If the Thunderhorse Knights love to roam the Caucasus, let them be. Perhaps they really are taken with this new paradise for preaching and teaching," Komer said nonchalantly, boldly stating, "As you said, Dark Magic isn’t anything shameful. Why should the Church of Light get to rule over everything in this world, declaring who’s a heretic and who gets to be burned? Ridiculous! The Caucasus is mine, and here everything must obey me!"