The Magical Chronicles of Pride

Chapter 4

El’s footsteps gradually faded into the distance, the towering walls of Changping City left far behind him, and only a long trail of faint, uneven footprints remained in his wake. To avoid being chased by Alec and his men along the main road, El had carefully chosen a quiet, lesser-known path.

As he walked, he noticed that this road was unusually deserted. On the rare occasions that someone did pass by, they hurried along without stopping, their presence fleeting. The tall trees lining both sides of the path seemed to amplify the stillness, creating an atmosphere of peace and solitude. El was thankful for the lack of travelers—fewer people meant less risk of being recognized, and more importantly, greater safety.

As El trudged forward with his head down, lost in thought, a sudden, sharp voice pierced the air. "You little scoundrels! What are you trying to do to an old man like me? Don’t you know I’m too old to handle this sort of nonsense? Disturbing an old man’s rest carries serious consequences! If I don’t teach you a lesson today, you might think it’s okay to bully the elderly!"

Startled, El looked ahead and saw a group of people gathered beneath a large, ancient tree. Three young individuals—two men and one woman—were surrounding an elderly man. The eldest of the group held a long sword, his stance suggesting he was a swordsman. The other two, a man and a woman, were dressed in mage robes, clearly indicating their roles as magic users.

In the middle of the group stood an old man, his long white beard cascading down his chest. He was dressed in a striking purple mage robe, immediately catching El's attention. The moment El laid eyes on him, he had the feeling this old man was no ordinary figure. After all, anyone wearing a purple mage robe was bound to be someone of great power.

Although El didn’t know the old man’s precise rank, he was familiar with the significance of the robe. Even if he hadn’t directly encountered mages before, he certainly knew the lore surrounding them. On the continent of Aoyuan, only two colors of mage robes were strictly regulated: light purple robes, which symbolized a Magus of beginner-level rank, and deep purple robes, worn only by Grand Magi. The latter not only indicated immense magical prowess but also conferred significant status and respect.

Only a handful of Grand Magi existed on the entire continent, making those who wore the deep purple robe even more revered. Other mages were free to wear whatever they liked, but wearing one of these colors without proper rank would result in severe punishment from the Mage Guild.

It was said that in the last 300 years, only one Saint Magus had appeared on the continent, and the golden mage robe he wore was preserved as a prized treasure in the Mage Guild’s headquarters.

Perhaps out of admiration for mages or simply a desire to watch the spectacle, El found himself edging closer to the scene. However, he stopped a good thirty meters away, careful not to get too close and risk being mistaken as part of the troublemaking group. From a safe distance, he observed the unfolding drama, his eyes wide, hoping not to miss any of the excitement.

The swordsman stepped forward, bowing slightly in respect. "Senior, we apologize sincerely for our actions. We didn’t know you were resting in the tree. Please forgive us for our offense."

It was clear that the swordsman was the leader of the group of three. "You didn’t know I was resting in the tree, so you thought it was alright to kick it?" the old man snapped.

“Senior, it was a mistake. We truly didn’t mean any harm,” the swordsman continued, his tone humble and conciliatory.

“Mistake? And a simple apology makes everything fine, does it? What if I killed one of you and just said ‘sorry’? Would that make it alright? Disturbing an old man’s rest is no trivial matter. Even your teacher would have to bow to me! Do you even know who I am?” The old man’s voice grew sharper, and his words carried a hint of arrogance.

Before the swordsman could respond, the younger male mage behind him interrupted, his voice full of defiance. "Old man, we don’t care who you are! We’ve already apologized, so what more do you want?"

"Guo, show some respect!" the swordsman, whose name was Kate, snapped at him. "It was our fault."

“But Kate, we’ve already apologized!” Guo protested. “Why should we keep groveling in front of him? If he weren’t so old, I’d have dealt with him by now. I can’t stand his attitude!”

The female mage, who had remained silent until now, spoke up in a soft but firm voice. “Guo, listen to Brother Kate. He’s just trying to keep us safe. You need to calm down.”

Grumbling under his breath, Guo finally backed down. However, his expression clearly showed that he hadn’t fully let go of his anger.

The old man, amused by the situation, smirked at Guo. “So, you don’t want to fight me anymore, huh? A moment ago, you were all fired up. Now you’re backing down. Well, whether you want to or not, we’re going to have a little sparring match today. It’s been a while since I’ve had someone to practice with, and you look like just the right opponent.”

The old man pointed directly at Guo, his eyes gleaming with challenge. “I can tell you’re a fire mage, and a pretty decent one at that—advanced level, right? Well, it just so happens I’m a fire mage too. Let’s see which one of us is stronger.”

Provoked beyond reason, Guo stepped forward, fury burning in his eyes. “You think I’m scared of you, old man? Fine, let’s fight! But don’t blame me if you can’t handle it.”

Kate, realizing that the situation was spiraling out of control, tried to intervene, but it was too late. He could only sigh inwardly. Guo’s temper was as volatile as the fire he commanded. Perhaps this would be a lesson he needed to learn the hard way. Kate just hoped it wouldn’t cost him too much.

The old man smiled as though he had just won a game. "That’s the spirit, boy. Show me what you've got."

Without hesitation, Guo began to chant, summoning fire magic with a speed that demonstrated his skill. As his chant reached its c****x, a large fireball materialized in his hands. With a swift motion, he hurled the fireball toward the old man, the blazing orb flying through the air like a thrown grenade. The spell, known as “Blazing Inferno,” was a powerful mid-level fire spell that exploded upon impact, making it difficult for most to defend against.

However, to the astonishment of everyone watching, the old man didn’t cast a counterspell. Instead, as the fireball approached him, he casually reached out and caught it in his hand. He then began to toss it back and forth between his hands, as if it were nothing more than a toy.

Guo was left speechless. Kate, the female mage, and even El, watching from a distance, were equally dumbfounded. The fireball, a mid-level spell that even Kate might have struggled to block, was being juggled by the old man with ease.

With a sly grin, the old man threw the fireball back toward Guo. But this time, it split into two smaller fireballs as it flew through the air. The twin fireballs streaked toward Guo from both sides, their intense heat palpable even from a distance. El could feel the warmth radiating from the attack, and he wasn’t even close to the center of the battle.

Guo hastily summoned a defensive spell, “Flame Barrier,” hoping to block the attack and buy himself time to retaliate. But the two fireballs smashed through his barrier effortlessly, absorbing its energy and growing even more powerful. The fireballs then collided with Guo, detonating in a pair of explosions that sent him sprawling to the ground.

When the smoke cleared, Guo lay on the ground, his body charred and motionless. He looked more like a burnt log than a person. The old man chuckled, his voice filled with mocking amusement. “What a waste of a good fireball. Too bad I don’t need more charcoal at home.”

Kate’s anger flared as he drew his sword. "You’ve gone too far! Guo may have a temper, but you didn’t have to hurt him like this!"

The old man grinned, unperturbed by the blade pointed at him. "Oh? Do you want to fight me now too? But I’m just an old mage, not a swordsman. If you injure me, who’ll take responsibility for that?"