Chapter 51
"And they found an animal expert to help identify the dragon bones, but how many dragons have you actually seen?"
"Oh dear old friend, I am not admired for my expertise in animals, but for my expertise in magic. However, I have seen many dragons. When you didn't know, I even battled a flying dragon on my own and nearly got bitten in half."
"That's quite an achievement." Xerath turned and went upstairs, leaving Virgil standing alone. The gentleman in the blue suit bowed apologetically and followed Xerath upstairs.
Before he entered the house, he took a special look at Sylas's door and realized that Xerath had set a trap. He suddenly found it very amusing.
How did we talk about fate in the beginning?
Virgil is a very noisy person, and the archmage knows this well. But at the same time, you can't stop him from being noisy. He travels alone on the continent, riding a Pegasus. Such adventurers are actually the most informed group on the entire continent.
"...Suddenly, all the bodies in the forest cemetery stood up! Some were human, and there were even various animals like magic wolves, wild boars, and a bear that was almost just bones... The thick fog engulfed me like the sea! As I still had a sense of direction, I quickly made Dvořák run backward. But I had gone too deep without realizing it, and before I knew it, the bodies had surrounded me..."
Sylas widened her emerald eyes, her little face filled with shock. She covered her mouth and said, "What do we do then?"
Virgil continued, "In my mind, there was emptiness, my dear little wild one. Honestly, I was so scared that I even forgot to pull out the arrows. Those ugly-shaped bodies suddenly appeared from the mist, so close to me. I thought I would be scared to death before they could eat me alive."
"And then? And then?"
Xerath chuckled softly, shook her head, patted Sylas's shoulder, and whispered, "Don't be afraid. Look, he's perfectly fine, isn't he?"
"But I want to know!" Sylas turned back, her eyes glistening like a deer, looking at the archmage. He gently held her hand, a faint smile brewing in his eyes. The little wild one turned her head again, "Virgil, tell us, please."
Virgil proudly raised Titus, "Dvořák suddenly accelerated, took a couple of steps, spread its wings, and flew out of the encirclement."
Dvořák is the name of the Pegasus, but Sylas didn't know it had wings.
"It has wings? But when I rode on it, it didn't fly."
"Darling little wild one, don't fly about in bad weather," Uncle Virgil advised earnestly.
Xerath added, "That's right, remember this."
"But it was really brave! Even Virgil got scared."
"As for being brave, I think it's probably just because Pegasus is not familiar with human faces," Xerath said coolly. "Scaredy-cat Virgil getting frightened by zombies is nothing surprising, because recognizing strange faces is an instinct of living beings."
Sylas heard about something like this for the first time, turning her head to look at her with bright eyes. These eager eyes often looked at her like this, which Xerath liked very much. No woman would not like sparkling jewelry, and now the most lovable jewelry in the entire mage tower is probably here.
In the gray eyes, there was a hint of warmth - possibly the orange color from the center of the storm outside had imprinted on them - when looking into the translucent emerald.
"This instinct makes it easy for you to recognize a sick companion and keep your distance from them."
Sylas asked softly, "Shouldn't we treat him then?"
Xerath laughed, "I believe that before there was medicine, people would choose to stay away."
Sylas didn't inquire further, which was unusual, but Virgil continued, "Don't be sad, little beast. There are more bad people in the world, so even if a few good ones die because of it, they will mostly die at the hands of bad people."
"But… what if? What if the one who is about to die is a good person?"
Virgil shrugged and said, "Everything that is born will eventually die. No one is necessary to live in this world."
Sylas lowered her head and wiped her eyes with her hand. She did it quickly, but only Virgil on the other side noticed.
Virgil instinctively glanced at Xerath, who was also staring at him. There was a cold silver light in her eyes and her narrowed eyes looked sharp. Virgil cleared his throat and in a soft and gentle voice, like soothing a crying lover, he said, "So, we should cherish the friends we have around us. I cherish my archmage friend, but unfortunately, it seems she doesn't think the same way."
With the same acting spirit, Virgil held Titus and had a pained and mournful expression.
Xerath coolly said, "No, old friend, I cherish you too, to the point that I tolerate many of your flaws. I hope one day you will understand how different my treatment of you is and show some mercy."
Sylas had been living with Aimekotes for over three years now, and since the day she arrived, the only outsider who occasionally appeared in this isolated mage tower was Virgil.
However, she suddenly realized that Virgil was very special to Xerath. The way they interacted was different from how she and Xerath interacted, as well as from how Xerath interacted with other people who exchanged letters with her, whether in praise or criticism.
"Will you leave after the storm subsides?"
"Yes, of course," he glanced at the dark sky outside, making the morning feel like night. But the rain often evaporated quickly once it touched the ground. "In fact, I might occasionally come to check some books about the Dragon War. You know, these diggers might not really be interested in research, they just want to make money."
Xerath suddenly widened her eyes and asked in astonishment, "What? Are you planning to do research?"
"What are you saying! Why are you doubting me?"
Xerath even pushed her hair away from her forehead and said, "Well, if you want to hire Sylas to help you with your thesis, that's fine. I can also guide you. But what's wrong with you? Are you okay? Did some girl you have been longing for suddenly leave you?"
"Oh, no," Virgil waved his hand in front of him, "How could that be possible? My heart doesn't stay for any girl."
"Did you happen to meet our previous teacher and got mocked by him?"
"No."
"It's so unusual, there must be a reason behind it, right?"
"Okay, okay, think about it, do you really understand the anatomy of a dragon's body? Isn't everyone just killing dragons and immediately cutting them up to sell?"
"Indeed, I don't understand." Dragons are really expensive, very few people can resist the temptation of a complete set of dragon products, it's enough to sustain an ordinary mage for several lifetimes.
"Not to mention, the ones that can be killed by humans are the lower-level flying dragons or the young giant dragons. Although this one is just bones now, it might still have fossils, indicating that it's an adult dragon that died in the war. If we don't figure everything out before the excavation is complete, we will only be able to see it in the hands of collectors, and it will definitely cost a lot of money."
"I can... lend you money."
"No, no, no, please don't. I can't afford it. I inquired about the price and I can't afford it."
"You can... form your own excavation team, then I can come and visit."
"The other party rejected several waves of private adventurers offering high prices. I only managed to get in through connections. Don't worry, I'll handle it. But don't forget to help me with the research paper, Sylas!"
"Ah, ah? Can you ghostwrite for me?" Sylas turned and asked Xerath.
"Yes, of course, no problem. It's better than letting Virgil die, right?"
"Hey! Don't say that about me! We are just collaborating on different tasks! I will include all of your names at the end!"
Xerath shrugged and smiled, taking a sip of her milk tea. "Are you sure no one will compete with you to publish the research paper?"
"Sure, definitely sure. Whether it's animal experts or greedy explorers, who cares about writing papers? Our names will be forever recorded in history..."
Virgil's voice was tempting, and Xerath's eyes ignited with bright silver flames. Obviously, they were both enticed by the phrase "recorded in history." After all, who doesn't like honor?
"Virgil, is the story you just told about zombies true?"
"Of course it's true! Why would you doubt me?"
Xerath said coldly, "You seem like the kind of person who makes up scary stories to scare children."
"Then I won't mention Dvořák popping out, I'll make it even more thrilling. Like, imagine I'm sleeping and suddenly engulfed in fog. Something starts rushing towards me, and I thrust my sword at it. But guess what? I see a pale, decaying face—" He said as he widened his eyes and made wild gestures, then lunged forward. Sylas let out a scream, and ripples appeared in front of her, and Virgil accidentally bumped into it, his face contorting.
"Ouch! That really hurt..."
Xerath chuckled and said, "Have you already forgotten how the little beast once left you in a miserable state, Mr. Demon Hunter?"
"I regret it!" Virgil covered his face and said, "What's wrong, Xerath? Did something come to mind?"
"Zombies don't just appear randomly. Although they can appear in nature, they are more likely to appear in places with a lot of 'shadow' and where there is dense fog... But..."
"But?"
"Did you forget? This is what the beginner textbook says. It's much easier for humans to gather 'shadow' and create undead creatures than for them to naturally gather. It's also easier for them to generate undead creatures."
"Who remembers things from a beginner textbook, except for weirdos like you! I can remember things like a magic wolf is usually a level C natural magic spell demon beast."
Titus let out a small bark, puffing up his chest. Virgil scratched him and whispered for a while before looking up to ask Xerath, "So, do you have doubts?"
"It's hard to say for sure. I'm not there, and I don't have the time or interest to get involved. Dealing with necromancy is the priests' job, not mine as an elemental mage. I still have students to teach."
