Chapter 46: The Mage and the Apprentice

Bruno's idea of combining Wind Sprint with arrows primarily stemmed from his past life's experience as a sniper.

Following the principle of "capturing the leader first to defeat the enemy," if he could assassinate the enemy's commanding general at the very start of the war, it would provide a massive strategic advantage.

Even if the assassination attempt failed, it would still strike fear into the enemy while boosting his own army's morale.

"I'm just one person. I won't be helping with road construction. Give me more time, and I'll try to establish the framework for enchanted weapons as soon as possible," Arnel said.

"Huh? You're not going to help with the road?"

"Of course not! I'm researching enchanted weapons and working on road construction? Right now, I'm the only mage in the entire Idar territory. Where do I have so much free time?" Arnel replied with a dark expression.

"Speaking of you being the only mage… Oh, right! Did you send out your letters?"

Bruno suddenly remembered that he had previously suggested to Arnel that he could invite (or rather, trick) some of his former classmates into visiting Idar.

"The letters were sent out some time ago. I'd say… they should be arriving about now…"

"By the way… where did you study magic?"

"The imperial capital, Saint Lawrence."

The cold early spring wind swept across the vast land, blowing from the northernmost province of Anglus all the way south. It crossed towering mountain ranges and vast forests, carrying with it the bitter chill of the empire's northern frontier. Within a single day, it traveled thousands of miles, finally invading the heart of the Norman Empire Saint Lawrence City.

Passing through the commoners' district, which was mixed with the scents of soil and poverty, and beyond the lavish noble residences that remained green even in winter, a grand and imposing structure stood tall, like a sleeping dragon lying between the imperial palace and the inner city.

Wide, bright steps of smooth marble led to its entrance twenty-one steps in total, symbolizing the twenty-one provinces under Norman rule at the time of its construction.

Ninety nine light-gray marble columns upheld a golden-gilded roof, each column a masterpiece of stone-carving artistry, displaying the empire's grandeur and prosperity to the world.

Luxurious purple silk adorned the pristine white walls, embroidered with the emblem of the Norman royal family a majestic eagle, its sharp gaze seemingly sweeping over the countless subjects bowing at its feet.

Three royal blue carpets stretched across the steps, mirroring the purple eagle banners on the walls, exuding an air of silent nobility.

This was the Regency Council of the Norman Empire an institution of power composed of five ruling dukes and hundreds of noble representatives.

Born during the reign of the "Wise King" Alexander, the council had grown over centuries into a behemoth capable of standing toe to toe with the imperial throne.

It was a symbol of power, a badge of wealth, and the product of the noble class's ongoing struggle with royal authority. Countless nobles had stood in its grand hall, delivering impassioned speeches to justify their pursuit of personal gain…

West of the Regency Council, about four streets away, stood towering mage towers along Alpha Row. Their gothic spires pierced the sky, visible from afar.

Each of these towering structures represented a renowned grand mage and the legacy of a particular magical school.

Arnel's teacher, the Grand Mage Glenn Galvin, resided in one of these towers.

But he wasn't just a grand mage he was also the chief financial officer of the empire, the personal mage consultant to Duke Lune, one of the five ruling dukes of the Regency Council.

Moreover, he was one of the elders of the Mage Guild, making him one of the most esteemed grand mages in the Norman Empire.

Lett stood at a stairway window, gazing toward the distant imperial palace and the imposing Regency Council.

The vast city of Saint Lawrence stretched as far as the eye could see. Noble estates and castles were scattered throughout, while the wide streets bustled with endless crowds.

Lavish carriages moved through the commoners, and armored knights patrolled on horseback, ensuring the security of the empire's power center.

Lett had once been just an ordinary man from the empire's western region. His family, tracing back three generations, had been mere commoners.

Yet, perhaps by some twist of fate, Lett was born with the ability to sense magical elements in the world.

Because of this, the local lord reported his existence to the Mage Guild, and as it happened, Glenn Galvin was the rotating grand mage stationed in the empire's western territories at the time.

Thus, Lett naturally became one of Galvin's apprentices.

However, his mediocre talent left him far behind his fellow apprentices. Even though he lived in the same mage tower, he would sometimes go three or even six months without seeing his teacher.

He knew his own worth if it weren't for the Mage Guild's rule requiring every grand mage to take in at least two apprentices per year, Galvin would never have accepted him as a student.

Lett still vividly remembered his arrival in Saint Lawrence.

He had been awestruck by the sheer scale of the city, filled with dreams of rising to greatness. He fantasized about owning a mage tower of his own one day, elevating his family's status.

But… dreams were grand, while reality was harsh.

Galvin's students numbered far too many, some were prodigies with unparalleled talent, others were noble born apprentices with deep backgrounds. As a result, those like Lett, with neither exceptional talent nor noble lineage, were left with menial tasks.

To this day, Galvin had personally guided him only three times, and each time, it had been brief and perfunctory.

Most of Lett's fundamental magic knowledge came from self-study.

Just then, two mage apprentices descended the stairs. The male apprentice leading the way casually said, "Lett! I accidentally broke a cup in the practice room. Clean it up later!"

"…Alright." Lett responded quietly.

That apprentice, named Regan, was Galvin's prized pupil. He received personal instruction from the grand mage almost every week and had already mastered all basic spells by the age of twenty-four. Recently, he had begun studying intermediate magic.

Yes, Lett's daily task was to clean the magic training rooms on the fifth and sixth floors of the mage tower.

He was not alone many apprentices in the tower shared the same fate. They had arrived in Saint Lawrence full of ambition, only to be ground down by the relentless passage of time…

There was no dramatic bullying, no malicious scheming because to the talented apprentices, those like Lett were mere dust in the wind, not even worth noticing.

By the time Lett reached the fifth-floor training room, everyone had already left.

He quietly swept up the broken cup shards and wiped away the spilled water. Then, taking out his staff, he began practicing the basic magic he had taught himself.

As he practiced, another apprentice cautiously entered the room.

It was Watson, the apprentice who lived in the room next to his.

"Lett…" Watson called softly.

"What is it?" Lett lowered his staff and asked.

"Arnel sent a letter!" Watson waved an envelope in his hand.

"What does it say?" Lett asked quickly.

Unlike most apprentices, Arnel had neither extraordinary talent nor noble grace. However, thanks to his father, Duke Lune, Galvin had no choice but to teach him seriously.

Perhaps realizing that his teacher's guidance was merely due to his father's influence, Arnel had left the mage tower without a word.

Lett and Arnel had first met in this very training room. The strong-willed Arnel had encountered the self-taught Lett, and despite their vastly different backgrounds, they had become close friends.

Watson glanced around, then whispered in Lett's ear, "He's inviting us to Idar!"

"Idar? Where's that?"

"A noble domain in the empire's far east. I've never heard of it before."

"But… why go there?" Lett asked in confusion.

"He says he's met a powerful grand mage one who has never taken a student before! And… apparently, this grand mage's understanding of magic is profound!" Watson said excitedly.

Three days later, under the cover of midnight, nearly a dozen apprentice mages left their respective towers.

They walked together along Alpha Row, heading east, leaving behind the grandest and most magnificent city of the Norman Empire.

Lett was among them.